closed ⚡🌠 can we come back from this

[starshower]

Who: Eustace & Tifa
Which: Closed log
Where: Their treehouse, corgi tree, maybe some other places
What: After Eustace's Noctaere episode, he and Tifa try to put their relationship back together.
Warnings: Trauma, lots of sads, and then probably gross fluff after.


[It had been a struggle even getting home. After they and the others had arrived at Ori's home together, it was at Tifa's insistence that she and Eustace go back to theirs. For as grateful and appreciative as she was for all their help in saving the both of them, there are some things that Tifa would rather they be alone for, and this... whatever this is, is one of them. Never mind the guilt that she feels for having been the one to put them all through it—Eustace can argue with her all he likes, and they can all contend that they shouldn't feel that way, that none of it was her fault, but ever since she woke up from her weakened and frozen state, Tifa couldn't look any one of them in the eye.

Including Eustace.

Even as she walks with their arms slung around each other for support with Eria at their side, the journey home is silent. Only the stirrings of dawn can be heard—the birds that chirp in the canopies, the sound of dew dripping from the leaves, but nothing is quite so loud as their staggered footsteps, or her heart beating wildly in her chest, and her blood roaring in her ears.

Tifa tries to keep her anxiety to a minimum, tries to keep her thoughts straight, but all she can see are the claws of those lindworms as they came down to strike, and their scales that shimmered as they slithered around her. All she can hear are his desperate cries, and the sound of ice and electricity crackling as her vision darkened and her consciousness had begun to fade... She remembers the chill, the grips of death when it threatened to consume her, how cold his fingers were as they brushed against her face. The red in his eyes...

And then when she woke and saw the destruction he'd left behind. Saw her friends bruised and battered from battle. Saw him like that...

The thought is cut short by a sharp breath when they finally arrive at the foot of the stairs leading up to their home, her boot bumping against them when she hadn't been paying attention. The climb up is as dreadful as everything else had been, and she can feel the heat under her boots, the fires that try to claw their way out of the cage she tries to lock them in, to struggle against the trail of ice that forms in their wake. Even the tree's branches and leaves shudder as they walk through the front door, the flowers that decorate their tree that were once bright and vibrant freezing over and shriveling up, dying without a fighting chance.

It isn't until they're safely inside that Tifa so much as looks at him for the first time since they were at Ori's. Perhaps even before. Really looks at him. He's bruised and cut up, and he looks more tired than she's ever seen him.

Her hands fold together as she skirts her gaze away again, down to where she tries to stop her fingers from trembling when she bites back the urge to sob.

Tifa wants to say something, but... what is she even supposed to say? What can she say right now that would make this easier for both of them? She searches and searches her mind for an answer to the question that's been wracking her since they left the cliffside, but she's still coming up short of nothing.

Eria trots over and nudges Tifa with her nose, as if to encourage her to say something to break this tense silence before it all snaps. So, she blurts out the first thing that comes to mind in a voice so tiny that she's not even sure she's said anything at all, and it crackles, as if this is the first time she's ever spoken a word in her life. It certainly feels that way right now.]

... Do you want to get cleaned up first?

[First.

She kicks herself for it. Any other day and she would have suggested together, but her fear—not of him, but fear for them—is getting the better of her, and maybe that's for the best.]

Comments

[starshower]

I doubt you'll be saying that about the pan—

[It's then that the door flies open and with it, corgis. Many, many corgis. And some flower petals that the crisp morning breeze blows in too. Their choir of barks has already started, and Tifa only lifts her head at first to them all bound inside and straight to the kitchen where the bacon is sizzling, while the older ones trot over to greet Eustace and Tifa. Clover hops down from her perch and gives a wide stretch and a yawn before she's slowly making her way to the bedroom for some quiet—it's still way too early in the morning for her.

Idris hops up on his back legs to try and get a good sniff at the pan, and that's when Tifa bounds up to her feet and across the room to stop him.]

No, no! We don't go near the stove. It's hot and you'll burn your little paws.

[She kneels down and takes Idris by his paws, giving them a squeeze before she forces him down. Their bums all wiggle with excitement as they sit in a circle around Tifa, and she only looks back over her shoulder to Eustace with a sheepish, amused smile before she's getting back to work with prepping, making sure to get some extra crispy strips of bacon for the dogs.

It's chaotic, living like this, and anyone else think they might be crazy to have all of these dogs in their home at the same time, but it's this kind of chaos that Tifa has come to treasure and look forward to every day. Whether it's here or at the other trees, it reminds her that she still has a family to take care of here, and that she enjoys doing it.

Fortunately, it won't take long before she's padding over to the couch again, urging Eria to move so that she can sit as she sets down their plates, and she returns to grab their coffees as well... with all of the dogs in tow, following her back and forth between the living room and the kitchen. And as soon as she sits down next to Eustace, she looks across at the line of ears that peek up from the other side of the coffee table, their eyes staring at the plate of bacon.

....

.....]

Did you tell Eria to bring them by this morning?

[flamekthunder]

[Eustace is pinned down by Eria who has a very judging, "I know what you were trying to do" look, and Cadoc and Rhonwen also sit by him, staring up at him from the floor.

What. He can't cuddle with his wife???

But he does give them attention, rubbing his arm along Eria's back as she nestles up on his back while Eustace uses his other hand to scratch the corgis' ears, ruffling them as they settle in. It's chaos, but...it's one he, too, enjoys and prefers, the noise making the house and his life that much more filling.

It won't be until Tifa comes with the feed that he's finally able to sit up, Eria sticking to his other side as the other dogs gather around.]

No, but you know how she is.

[He's also eying the dogs. Don't they have their own bowls??]

[starshower]

[They do have their own bowls, but they want this bacon, and Idris once again lifts himself up so that he can rest his chin on the table so that his nose is right above the plate, and it twitches as he sniffs... and sniffs... and then whines when he makes eye contact with Eustace.]

I do.

[Tifa shoots a pointed glance at Eria, but it breaks into a smile because this, right here, is the thing that gets her up every morning.

And now she's nodding in Idris' direction, and Aerona joins him with her chin up on the table too with pleading, begging looks in their eyes as they flick between dad and the crispy bacon.]

Well?

[She nudges her head in their direction.]

[flamekthunder]

[Eustace just makes a small disgruntled sound. This was made for him...and Tifa. But the principle of the matter!!!!

...

.......

Tsk.]

Line up quietly and you can all have one piece.

[starshower]

[She can always make him more.

Tifa picks up the plate and pushes aside the crispier strips for him to take, picking one out herself and snapping it in half for them all to share, and she giggles when their ears swivel in her direction. One by one, they line up and trot forward, and Tifa hands him the pieces to feed as she breaks them, and they eagerly gobble them all up with the younger ones sitting down and hoping for more.]

No. The rest is for us.

[And she'll pointedly plate the rest for herself and Eustace because dad said one piece, and together, Idris and Aerona whine and skulk away with their half strips of bacon together.]

... Wasn't expecting to have such a busy morning.

[flamekthunder]

[After handing out their bonus breakfast treats and everyone goes to their own places to have the sound of crunching bacon fill the room, Eustace lets out a long sigh as he watches them for a moment, his expression softening before finally reaching for his own plate to take his share.]

Mm...

...

But it's not so bad.

[He then leans over and kisses her sweetly on the side of her head.]

Thanks for making this.

[starshower]

Mm-hm.

[She hums happily and leans to meet him halfway for that kiss, a flush rising in her cheeks. There's something about being able to take care of him like this that makes her heart feel warm and full, and watching him and the dogs enjoy their food so early in the morning just reminds her of all the things that she—they still have to fight for.

Leaning forward to start on her pancakes, she shuffles her feet so that Caerwyn can rest against her legs and keep them warm, and she rewards him with a brief scratch behind the ears.]

I hope you like it. I've been experimenting with recipes so the pancakes might be a little fluffier than normal.

[And true to her word, they are thicker and definitely fluffier than normal.]

[flamekthunder]

Oh yeah?

[He takes a mouthful and his eyes light up briefly at the fluffy taste.]

It tastes good to me... All of your cooking does.

[And then he's reminded of something and grins a little as he glances at her.]

As long as it doesn't have little flowers suddenly sprouting, that is.

[starshower]

[She punches him lightly on the arm.]

Hey! I've gotten better at that.

[And, as if to make a point, Tifa opens her fist and little glowing starflower petals flutter out of it onto his plate, and she grins at him before turning back to her food.]

I bet I could work them in and it would still taste fine.

[flamekthunder]

[He just laughs a little and plucks one of the flowers to playfully push against her lips.]

Hm...would it taste more like you? If so, don't use them for anyone else.

[starshower]

I guess you'll just have to try it and let me know what you think. Then again...

[Eria makes a small noise next to Eustace and gives them both a withering "not in front of the kids" look, and Tifa looks at her briefly before stealing the flower between her fingers and lifting it to her nose.]

It's not like you need to ask for pancakes.

["OH PLEASE," whines Eria.]

[flamekthunder]

[That earns her a louder laugh, his eyes shimmering a moment as he leans in close.]

No...I prefer just taking them for myself.

[But of course before he can kiss Tifa, Eria actually grabs the back of his shirt and yanks him back.

THIS IS NOT THE BREAKFAST THEY NEED TO HAVE RIGHT NOW. Or so how loud growling and grumbling suggests. But Eustace half expected something like this so he just laughs.]

[starshower]

[She half expected him to make it over while the other half had a feeling that Eria would step in, but Tifa still tried to meet him partway again, so when he disappears instead of meeting his lips, she falls back along with him and breaks into a fit of giggles, smiling coyly past him at the wolf who she imagines is rolling her eyes, if wolves could do such a thing.]

It's alright. Nothing wrong with having pancakes for lunch... or dinner.

[The dogs all perk up then, small boofs of "bacon? More bacon?" coming from around the table and Tifa buries her grin in a sip of coffee.]

[flamekthunder]

[He could make a quip, but he feels Eria grumbling and he just smirks before he turns around to ruffle her side (which she gives an indignant huff—and small thump of her tail) and then sits back up again to actually eat.]

Not for you.

[Just cutting their hopes and dreams right now.]

Any plans for the day?

[starshower]

Hm?

[Her brows arch with curiosity, and she lowers her cup.]

Not that I know of. Was just planning on staying in for the day.

[Then again, that's been pretty much every day which is surprising... She imagined herself working day in an day out at the Harvest a week ago, or cleaning the house until she scrubbed the wood raw, but she's been taking that much-needed rest that everyone has told her to. It feels a bit strange not having any plans or not being busy with anything for once... but...

Surprisingly, it's been nice.]

Why? Did you have something in mind?

[flamekthunder]

No... I was just thinking with all the dogs here, it's been a while since we took them out on a walk, let alone been to their tree.

[He reaches down to Cadoc who is by his knee, ruffling his ears.]

[starshower]

[She doesn't even need to think about it.]

After breakfast, let's get cleaned up and go. Wouldn't mind the fresh air, and... Could probably check up on both trees, to be honest.

[How long has it been since they've taken a walk to the flower's tree too???

But all of the dogs at least seem to agree, with the way that a few of them speak up, others lifting their heads the moment they hear the word "walk".]

[flamekthunder]

[A light grin.]

Should we make a little trip out of it?

[Like a picnic...they really could use the break.]

[starshower]

I wouldn't mind that at all. Seems everyone else is up to it, too.

[And so, the choir of barks grows ever louder. Tifa is already cutting herself a bigger bite of her pancake and stuffing it into her mouth, not bothering to finish chewing it before she speaks with puffy cheeks and a crinkled nose.]

A little family date.

[flamekthunder]

[He can't help but smile in amusement and reach over to playfully poke her cheek.]

Then we'll plan for that.

...Do we have enough food here to prepare or do I need to head out for a quick grocery run?

[starshower]

[And she'll playfully grab his wrist and pull it away, taking a brief moment to swallow the bite of pancake and wash it down with some coffee.]

I think I can figure something out. There should be enough for a couple sandwiches at least, if you're alright with that.

[Besides, if she's honest with herself, she'd rather keep him here and close to her if and when she can.]

I can get it ready while you wash up after breakfast, so eat up. And maybe we can stop by the markets on the way home.

[flamekthunder]

[Cute.]

All right. The dogs could probably help fetch whatever we needed, anyway.

[Wait, that's an idea—train them to pick up small groceries. (Why is there not a delivery system here yet—)

And with all that mind, they enjoy a peaceful breakfast. Of course...two pairs of eyes always linger at that plate of bacon, but Eustace is ruthless and eats his full share. He only hands them all another piece afterwards. Okay he always planned to give them one more, but they have to learn to wait and not beg!

Regardless, it was a peaceful, quiet breakfast with the usual idle chatter and enjoying each other's company. Despite protests, Eustace will help clean up the dishes before heading back to properly wash up and change into more fitting clothes. A few dogs follow him in, and although seemingly innocuous, there was a purpose.

Quietly in the bathroom he converses with Cadoc. In truth this whole ploy to get out to the Corgi tree was because after days of searching, they have finally found Tifa's missing necklace. While they had managed to return it to Eustace on the rare day he was out on errands and he had been able to drop both his and her necklace off to be repaired, he hadn't been able to retrieve it.

With the dogs help, they were able to pick up the necklaces and bring them to the Corgi tree. Eria thinks he's overcomplicating things, and maybe he is. But he wants it to be a nice surprise and involve everyone.

It doesn't take him too long to get ready and finalize discussions before he's back out.]

[starshower]

[She does find it a bit odd that some of the dogs follow him. That was something that Clover did on the regular but did the corgis usually do it? She shrugs it off as them just being over-protective and a bit clingy and while he's freshening up for the day, Tifa gets to work on prepping their picnic. There isn't much left in the way of food, given that they've exhausted most of their supply and haven't gone to the marketplace in a while, but she makes it work.

A couple of roasted chicken sandwiches, some cut vegetables and dip, a little container of mixed berries, some roasted nuts, and a canteen of water all packed neatly into a backpack... which, in the end, she's surprised herself with how much she was able to scrounge up.

It's all ready by the time he's finished, and she takes her turn in cleaning up and getting ready. And when they leave, Tifa, Eustace, and all of the dogs piling out of the house in a disorderly fashion, the sun is already midway through to its highest point in the blue skies. The tree is flourishing compared to even a few days ago when the blossoms had just started to form again with the branches brightly coloured with all its vibrant flowers that greet them, waving in the breeze.

Together, they go to the flower tree first, cutting through the dog park to get there. There's plenty of laughter as the corgis dart around on the grass, the younger ones chasing one another while the older dogs stick to Eustace and Tifa's sides. The flower dogs are there to greet them when they arrive, leaping up and barking their hellos, their tails flapping wildly as each one seeks pets and kisses and hugs while Rose waits patiently behind the pack, seated, but even Tifa can see that her tail swings behind her, thumping against the floor.

It'll be a while before they've all calmed down that they can leave again, now with all thirteen dogs in tow. They play along the way, flowers and corgis tackling one another and rolling around in the dirt together, and Tifa tries to remember the last time they were all in the same place like this, and all of them happy. It fills her heart with warmth and love, and she slips her hand into Eustace's and gives it a squeeze in a silent gesture of affection as they all walk together to the corgi tree.

By then, it's already almost noon after their leisurely stroll, and the corgis seem just as happy to be here as she does. They all bolt to the tree, barking and singing and begging for mom and dad to hurry as they come up the path.

With a bit of a sheepish smile, Tifa gives Cadoc a scratch behind the ear as he looks up at her from near her legs.]

Feels like it's been a while since we've been here...

[For Tifa, at least.

Fortunately, they have a big family that taking care of the corgis hasn't been much of an issue, and they've spent a lot of time at Eustace and Tifa's tree as well as with the flowers after the incident, but...]

It's nice to be back.

[flamekthunder]

[It's a wonder how walking with all the dogs again can feel so...invigorating. Refreshing. A reminder of past days and potential future ones. Seeing the Flower pups grown now is still a bit saddening, but they are no less cute and energetic.

When they reach the tree, Eustace softly smiles and squeezes Tifa's hand.]

Mm... Will probably have to do some clean up. But I wonder...

[He slowly walks forward as the corgis rush at the door, waiting to be let in while others run around the "yard."]

...Should we really keep leaving the dogs here?

[starshower]

Hm?

[She tips her head at Eustace as she opens the door for them, and they go rushing inside.]

You think we should keep them at our place? There even enough room?

[Not that Tifa has a problem with it. Quite the opposite, actually, and there's an amused swing to her voice as she watches them all run dart up the stairs barking amongst themselves. It's been more lively having them around, and they have definitely played a very big part in helping to speed up their recovery emotionally simply by being around.]