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[flamekthunder]

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[flamekthunder]

[It's only now that he can finally look up at her and stare at her blankly.]

What?

[starshower]

[Well. That's a better reaction than she was expecting out of him...

Her fingers between his only tighten, and she lowers her eyes to them.]

Whatever this is... you still feel it, don't you?

[She can feel it.]

[flamekthunder]

...Just faintly.

[starshower]

[Tifa peers at him through her lashes, and he'll feel that thrum of familiar warmth in between their fingers, as if testing him.

She can't offer him her fear, not yet, anyway, but she can at least offer him this, if it will help soothe even those faint traces of it that still linger.

Whatever it is that hunted her, and him, that bit him... did ir want the dreamotion? It's the only logical conclusion, so... might as well test that theory.]

[flamekthunder]

[He's still not sure what it is she's trying to do so—]

...Tifa?

[starshower]

Hm?

[She's focused and her voice soft, her shut eyes only opening briefly to meet his.]

I don't know... [She can read the question in his voice, and offers an honest answer.] I don't know what's going on or what it is, but if it's dreamotion, or fear, or whatever you need to make it go away, then...

[flamekthunder]

[Now finally understanding what it is she's trying to do, he frowns and shakes his head.]

No, don't.

[...However he won't pull his hand away.]

I just need... A little time, that's all. In my head I know it wasn't my fault, but that doesn't change the fact I tried to hurt you... Wanted to hurt you...

[A trembling breath.]

And I was enjoying it.

Regardless of knowing I wouldn't really feel or think that, it still happened. It's not something I'll be able to forgive myself so easily...

[Especially not when it's what, the third time?]

[starshower]

[She won't heed his request, but instead, she only offers him the love that she has, the scent of starflowers filtering into the room along with a warmth to help thaw away any frost that might have remained behind.

Her head comes to rest against his where she buries her nose into his hair.]

Just as long as you don't push me away because of it.

[flamekthunder]

[A small sigh, uncertain if he's frustrated or grateful for her stubbornness. But he tentatively raises an arm to hug her, pressing his head against her.]

I'll try.

[It's not as if he really wants to avoid her, but it can still be overwhelming. And sometimes he needs that bit of space so he can end up crawling back to her once he's settled.

But he does know for certain that her presence is helping, so he won't push her away this time. He had that moment when he got the water, so at least that's a sign of improvement compared to the last time.]

[starshower]

[She can still sense his unease, if only by the way his arm tentatively holds her, and she tries not to tense under it.]

... Mm.

[It's hard not to be a little unsure. She still blames herself for what happened—it was her idea, her dream, and then it was her who had been so stuck in her own fantasies that she hadn't seen the signs sooner. If only she had, then they might not be here like this right now, the air so thin it feels like it's about ready to snap around her. If only, if only, if only...

Well, it's leagues better than the last time it happened, isn't it...?]

You should get some rest.

[flamekthunder]

[There's a stretch of silence before his voice is quiet against her ears.]

I'm...

[A small sigh.]

A little afraid of falling asleep again.

[starshower]

[At his voice, her fingers tighten around his.]

We don't have to sleep...

[If she's honest, she isn't fond of the idea of sleeping either. Not after that, and especially not when she knows that whatever it is that's affecting him is still... there. Even just the smallest trace of it.

But she will give his hands a tug, silently asking him to lie down as she climbs off him.]

Just relax for a bit, alright? I'll clean up.

[flamekthunder]

[Clean...

Ah.]

Wait, I should be the one—

[starshower]

No.

[She presses her lips to his in a light kiss to stop him. It's brief, not wanting to let it linger, before she pulls back and climbs up from his lap. If he is going to be hesitant about her taking care of him, then he needs to at least let her do it this way, if not the other.

Sliding off the bed, she first plucks her robe from the hanger and slips it on and wraps it around herself before making her way to the door.]

Just lie down, okay? I'll bring back some more water, too.

[flamekthunder]

[He looks at her with some uncertainty and disapproval before he sighs and sits back.]

...All right.

[He knows she wants to take care of him, and perhaps he should take this moment to sort himself out some more. It doesn't make the guilt feel any less, however...]

[starshower]

[With a sheepish smile, Tifa leaves the room and takes her time out in the kitchen. Longer than what she probably would need were she simply grabbing what she needed to clean up the floor because she, too, needs a moment to process everything in the quiet stillness, her own guilt threatening to overcome her completely and force her to withdraw back into her shell.

Except she knows that she shouldn't. She can't. She needs to worry about him, not herself—it wasn't her whose mind was toyed with by something again. If he can't bear his guilt on his own, then she needs to be able to shoulder some of it, too. That's what she does. That's what she's always done.

...

Though, more of his words stick to her like parasites, bleeding into her and making her worry all the more that she might be pushing too hard.

With a sigh, Tifa returns to the room with a small mop, some towels, and a full glass of water for him as promised. There's also a small plate of fresh, assorted fruits from the fridge that she sets down on his bedside table. And unless he says something to her, she's silent as she gets to work cleaning up. It isn't a big mess by any means so it won't take up too much time, but the quiet makes it feel like an eternity longer than it is.]

[flamekthunder]

[After she leaves, Eustace can only cover his eyes and inwardly groan in frustration. How did it come to this... And how can he fix it? He still doesn't have much of an answer by the time Tifa returns, and while he appreciates and thanks her for the fruits and water, he can only take small sips and the ensuing silence is stifling.

Especially when she's trying to clean up his own mess.

In the end he can't sit still, so before she completely finishes—]

Tifa, let me help...

[starshower]

No.

[Again, a quiet but gentle command, Tifa pausing to look at him.]

I'm almost done anyway.

[True to her word, she finishes up moments after that, leaving the room once more to set the mop aside for taking care of later. In the morning. After they've both had a proper rest. Around the bed she'll wander quietly, keeping her robe on as she sits on her side, quiet.]

There anything else you need?

[flamekthunder]

[He's left to sit and watch helplessly, a small sigh escaping him as he runs a barely restrained frustrated hand through his hair. Of course that frustration wasn't towards her, but to himself.

When she returns to the bed not long after, at first he can't quite bring himself to look at her, that guilt twisting and weighing him down. But a part of him realizes from past experience he can't go like this forever, either, that she is very likely feeling guilty and blaming herself for reasons she shouldn't. It's so sad and stupid that this has happened enough times that he can actually recognize the pattern.

And regardless of what he might think and feel, no matter how much he wants to avoid her for her own safety or retreat into that old icy cave...]

...You.

[His voice is quiet but clear as his eyes finally lift to meet hers.]

I just need you.

[starshower]

[She glances back over her shoulder at him when he says it, her heart thumping in her chest with both relief and sadness. Sadness that there isn't much else that she can do for him besides just... being here and offering him reassurances that she knows will take a while to pierce through the guilt that she knows he's feeling, because she feels it, too.

Outwardly, Tifa only huffs with a quiet sigh.]

You have me.

[All of her. Always. Whether he wants it or needs it, or not. He just needs to reach out to her.

But she will meet him partway for him to come when he's ready, patient, as she slides further onto the bed, shifting until she's closer...]

[flamekthunder]

[And he will meet her halfway, reaching for her so that his arms wrap around her waist as his face buries into her hair, her scent immediately calming him like he knew it would. And after a moment...]

...Don't blame yourself.

[starshower]

[She practically falls right into him, tucking herself in until her back is to his chest and his face in her hair, and her hands slide up to rest over his arms, already drawing soft, soothing circles and lines over them.]

I could say the same for you.

[It's offered with an apologetic laugh.]

It's hard not to... especially when it was my dream.

[flamekthunder]

But you didn't cause this. Something else must have entered and—

[It's then that his brain finally clicks and he stills.]

...Something entered...

[starshower]

Something...?

[Tifa turns her head just enough that she can look at him, their faces close, noses brushing together, but her eyes are wide as they stare up questioningly into his.]

And whatever it was... you think that's what bit you?

[That still doesn't make her feel much better about it, and the way that the starflower petals all around them rustle in that buzzing heat says as much...]

[flamekthunder]

[For a moment his thoughts race before his eyes narrow and there's a swear under his breath.]

That vampring.