First steps are often the most important ones...
Pairing: Cloud and Tifa
Timeline: About six months after FFAC
It was a regular day at Seventh Heaven, the bar Tifa Lockheart saw as her home. Her role as bartender was one she loved to play. Just like she loved to play the role of a mother to both Denzel and Marlene. She was always the first one to get up and get dressed. Then she would go downstairs and make breakfast for them. It was just about half a year ago that Cloud Strife had defeated the remnants of Sephiroth, his "living legacy" as some would call it. Kadaj, Yazoo and Loz had put up quite a fight and Cloud was in need of help when Tifa, Yuffie, Barret, Cid, Caith Sith and Vincent Valentine came to his aid. Tifa still remembers how she felt when Sephiroth entered the stage and he was determined to fight Cloud. It reminded her of their last battle against the tall man with silver hair in his black leathered costume. She didn't want to relive the nightmare, yet they had to defeat him.
After Cloud has succesfully defeated Cloud and his remnants, they went to her church. The church where Aerith Gainsborough used to grow her flowers. The flowers were still there, but Aerith wasn't. The flowers kept blooming and they made the severly damaged church so much better. It was like her spirit had never left the world they lived in. Tifa always knew that she held a special place in Cloud's heart, one she was afraid would never leave him. She often wished he showed her some of his feelings, even if they weren't meant for her, but he rarely did. Cloud was her best friend, but sometimes she felt like a stranger to him, she hated that feeling. She loved him but she never got the courage to tell him, afraid of his answer, afraid that she might be pushing him away... Yet today might be the day she finally got the courage...
It was around seven in the evening, Tifa had just put some of the winebottles back in the topshelf as she was about to open the bar to her guests. It was still early so she didn't expect many guests to come. In total five people came by, three men and two women. Tifa welcomed them and allowed them to take a seat. The three men came to play a cardgame and had been here a few times before. The women however, were new to Tifa. The women took their place in the back of the room, and took a look at the menucard. Tifa came by and took the orders of her guests and got to the counter to pour the drinks. As time went by the evening past, guests came and went, and Tifa did a good job taking and getting all of their orders. It was around 22.00 pm when she heard the sound of Fenrir, Cloud's motorcycle. "It was about time he showed up again," she thought to herself. She couldn't help but smile when she heard him push the door open. She turned around to get some empty glasses and put them on her tray as she heard him his footsteps closeby.
"Hi there, back from your deliveries?" she asked with a small smile on her lips as she looked him in the eye.
He simply nodded at her and then she noticed how tired he looked.
"Well make yourself comfertable, then I'll get you something to eat and drink." She said and returned the tray to the kitchen. She would wash the glasses later. Cloud went upstairs to put his swords there and then returned to the bar to take a seat. He was within her eyesight as she looked at him from the kitchen. She got his meal and made him a drink. There was a woman in the bar that had also spotted the young warrior. She was pretty interested in him and had her gaze fixed on him as he sat there. Tifa noticed it and tried not to pay attention to it, but it was hard. She had guests to attend to, but she didn't want that woman to make a move. The woman had long brown hair and blue eyes, she looked quite pretty, and she wore a red dress.
Tifa went to Cloud to serve him his meal and she put a smile up for her friend, after all she was glad he got back safe and sound. "Here you go, with compliments of the house of course," she stated as she put the plate in front of him. Tifa thought for herself a moment, thinking of a move that might draw his attention, and might even withdraw the attention of the woman, who was still staring at her. Tifa looked at Cloud, looked at those beautiful blue eyes, they looked right back at her ruby ones.
It was as if she got sucked into the ocean every time she looked at them. A bold move crossed her thoughts as she held out her hand and touched his face. She had her hand on his cheek and stroked it with her thumb. He didn't move, he didn't stop her. He closed his eyes and enjoyed her soft touch.
It caused her to smile, and she felt a little victory inside her. As she removed her hand from his face she told him to enjoy his meal before it grew cold. He agreed and started to eat. Then she went back to the bar and couldn't help but grin at the woman still sitting at the counter. That woman did a move, Tifa didn't expect. She got up from the barstool and went to Cloud. She didn't ask permission but went down to sit with him at the table. Cloud looked suprised, not quite happy with the woman's arrival. "Goodevening, I couldn't help but notice, aren't you the young warrior that saved us all from a horrible death a few months ago?" she asked.
Cloud sighed deeply, he didn't want to relive that moment again, nor wanted to tell her the story or play the role of a hero. Tifa noticed he was already annoyed by that question.
"Well, I'm Anna, and I think we owe you all a big thanks!" The woman, who's name was now revealed said to him and she put a hand on his arm. He was still eating so he removed his arm from his grasp. Anna didn't bother, she enjoyed being this close to her hero. Cloud silently finished his meal and turned to his drink.
"You are not the talkative type now are you?" Anna asked bluntly and sighed. Appearantly she expected something to happen, and when it didn't she got dissapointed. "Why do you bother me with these questions, if you already know the answer?" Cloud replied and looked at her. He found her annoying, he didn't want people to think of him as hero, he made quite the mistakes in the past, therefore he didn't think he would ever like to play the role of a hero.
Cloud was getting tired of Anna, but she kept trying to draw his attention. She moved closer to him and wanted to lay her hand on his arm again. He gave her a look that told her to let go of him, but she seemed to ignore it. She gave him a warm smile but it didn't work. If it were Tifa who gave him that smile, he wouldn't mind, in fact he loved to see her smile. It made him feel at home.
Cloud stood up from his seat and got his plate and now empty glass, and went to return it to Tifa. He completly ignored Anna and focused only on the bartender. Tifa cleaning the counter as time was drawing near to the closing hour. Cloud knew where Tifa put the plates, he went to the kitched and placed them there. After he had done so he quickly returned to Tifa, he wanted to show her how much he appreciated the meal. So he gently placed his right hand on her back and moved to her cheek, giving her a small peck on the cheek. His nose touching his skin briefly. She didn't see it coming so she blushed and looked at him. He gently smiled at her whispering a silent "Thank you" at her.
Anna noticed all of this and got up from her seat as well, she only needed a few steps to get to Cloud and Tifa. She was slightly upset by his move towards Tifa, but didn't want that to destroy her plans. "SO! Is that how you treat people that are interested in you?" she asked with anger in her voice. She put her hands on her hips making her look very angry and upset. No doubt she was upset by the way her hero acted. Tifa hated Anna already, she decided she had enough of her. She moved away from Cloud and took Anna by her arm, leading her towards the exit of the bar.
"Can you not see that he isn't interested in you?" Tifa asked rhetoricly and held the door open for her. Anna didn't want it to end that way and she looked at Tifa. She could no longer stand it and threw a punch at Tifa. Tifa on the other hand was a fighter by nature, and countered her first with her own hand. She pushed Anna's hand away and hit her with force. Tifa's punch was quite harder and hit Anna's face directly. Cloud looked suprised, this wasn't the Tifa he ever thought to see. She wasn't one who would hit others like she did with Anna. Then again she did ask for it. He wanted to go to her, but Tifa wanted to handle this herself. She struck Anna, which caused her to fall to the ground. Tifa helped the woman back on her feet, only to throw her outside. She didn't want people like that to ever enter her bar again.
The few remaining guests looked at their bartender, wondering if maybe they should leave as well. Tifa looked at them, trying to put up a smile. Cloud took her hand and let her back to the bar. She gave the remaining guests their last drinks and then they left. When the bar was empty Cloud stood up to lock the door and help her clean the bar. When that was done he looked at her, with a pleading look in his eyes.
"Are you okay, Tifa?" he asked a bit worried, since she hadn't said a word after she pushed Anna out of her bar. Tifa turned to him and nods in response. "I'm fine, I just... don't like people like her." He smirked after hearing her say that. "Yeah, I noticed that." He moved to her and put one hand on her shoulder, giving her some comfort, though he didn't quite know how. She loved his touch, just like the small kiss he gave her. It made her feel happy, even if the moment was short.
She turned to him, embracing him as she wanted to feel more of him. He gently wrapped his arms around her, as she placed her hands on his back. They stood there for a while, silently embracing one another and feeling content with it. They broke away when they felt two little children hugging their legs. Marlene and Denzel came downstairs, to see their adoptive parents and claiming a hug. Cloud and Tifa bent down and the four of them hugged eachother. "I am glad you're back home!" Marlene said as she hugged Cloud tightly. "Yeah, finally!" Denzel proclaimed. Tifa laughed, "Now, now is that how you treat your favourite hero?" she asked the children as she ruffled through Denzel's hair.
"You should get back to bed, I'll still be here when you two wake up, tomorrow morning," Cloud said as he ushered the children back to their rooms. "Only if you tug us in and bring as a goodnight kiss!" Marlene claimed as she went to her bed. Cloud agreed in this form of blackmailing and tugged them in their beds. "Goodnight" he whispered as he bent down to put a kiss on Marlene's head. He did the same for Denzel and went to the door, where he flipped the lightswitch and slowly closed the door.
He then turned to Tifa who stood there waiting for him. "I didn't knew when you would be back so I put some stuff in your room. I am planning on replacing some of the furniture. So your room is... a bit unacceble I'm afraid, sorry." He sighed, still feeling tired from the long journey. "Really? and now what?" he replied and looked at her. There was her smile again, she moved towards him and placed a hand on his chest. "Well, there is a solution, but you have agree in sharing a room with me." She led him into her room, she felt confident now that she threw a woman of his back, and she knew he cared for her. She knew it when he kissed her on the cheek. He had never done such a thing before, but it felt good.
"I guess you leave me no other choice," he said once they were in her room. She closed the door behind him and went to her bed. She took of her shoes and closed the curtains. She had her back faced at him as she started taking of her socks, and pants. Cloud was a gentleman so he didn't look as she put on her nightclothes. He took of his boots, then followed by his vest and pants. Leaving him shirtless and nothing left but a pair of boxers, he looked at her. She blushed slightly at the sight, she did enjoy it. But it was to soon to make any other bold move. So she went to her bed and put on the lamp on her nightstand. Cloud then switched the mainlight of the room and went towards her. She held open the duvet, allowing him to join her.
She put the duvet over both of them and smiled at Cloud. It looked as if she had made a step in the their relationship. She then turned her back towards him, making herself comfertable. She flipped the last light off, then felt his strong arm around her waist as he moved towards her. His chest was against her back, warm and welcome.
"This ain't so bad, I might get used to this," Cloud whispered softly to her, and Tifa chuckled. "That means I can leave the new furniture a while longer in your room?" she asked and leaned in closer to him. Closing his eyes he drifted into a slumber, giving her a small "Hmmm..." as an answer.