[Old habits die hard, and they are even more resilient when no one has ever paused to tell her to stop taking it all on her own. To stop pretending that she'll be okay, to stop swallowing it all down and moving along, complacent to the fact that things are the way they are. It's always just something that Tifa's done. Others have their hardships, and they shouldn't have to worry about hers, is what she would tell herself. She could handle it, but if others needed her shoulder to help bear those burdens, then she would.

Eustace is no different. The only difference is her absolute desperation in wanting to help him, to shoulder some of those fears that he has, and to be the singular constant at his side; the one unchanging, unrelenting, unwavering pillar of strength. There is nothing she wants more in this world to be it.

But he's right, and his words shake her right down to her soul where they ring and resonate and try to sink in, into a place where she won't ever forget them.

"I want to do the same for you."

Tifa sobs out loud, her relief and her guilt palpable, and under his touch, her hands will feel hot, almost too hot to the touch as her emotions pour forth, unencumbered, the dreamotion soaking it all up and turning it into something tangible. She doesn't mean to, but hearing him say all those things, she can't help it...]

Please... [she finally manages in a broken voice.] Please don't think this is because of you, or that anything is your fault. It's not...

[Now that she's finally told him what she sees, what she still dreams about, she needs to be sure that he fully and completely understands this.

If he hasn't already withdrawn his hand, her fingers will curl tight around his.]

I want to share it all with you, but... I need you to promise me...