Just a Little Taste
One. . .Two. . .
Tifa inhaled.
Three. . .Four. . .Five. . .
Exhale.
Six. . .Sev-
A mirthless laugh escaped through Tifa's lips.
Unbelievable. She shook her head from side to side, disappointed.
"Tifa," Cloud started and looked straight ahead beyond the shore of Costa del Sol. The two sat at least two feet apart from each other, Cloud to her left. "I- I really don't want to talk about this now."
Tifa's lips twisted wryly, "You never want to talk about it. You're always avoiding this conversation."
And me.
Cloud sighed, "I told you I– "
Tifa cut in abruptly, "Why can't we go back to the way we were, Cloud? Where we actually communicated and shared our thoughts and feelings? It's not that hard!"
Cloud stayed quiet for what seemed an eternity before he answered. "Things have changed, Tifa. It will never be the same."
In her right hand, away from Cloud's view, Tifa clenched a palm size of sand in her hand.
She bit her lip before speaking, "That's because you don't want to go back to the way we were, Cloud. Those memories and feelings aren't even yours and you know it." Tifa gave a slight pause, "They're Zack's. They belong to him."
There. She said it.
Cloud's face scrunched up in anger as he turned his head sharply to face Tifa, who in turn, looked directly at Cloud. She wasn't going to back down. Not now. Not when she could get him to finally see. To finally have Cloud realize that everything has been a fallacy.
She wanted her best friend back. She wanted Cloud back to the way he was. The way he loved her before joining Shinra as an infantryman.
"They might have been Zack's memories but those feelings that I have for Aerith are real!" Cloud shouted.
Tifa's jaw slightly dropped. "Can you even hear yourself, Cloud?! You're talking as if Aerith is still alive!"
"My feelings for her will never change, Tifa. It doesn't matter if they were Zack's memories, I felt them and I fell in lo–"
She stopped Cloud before he said it. "She's gone, Cloud. Dead."
Tifa swallowed thickly. Aerith was one of her closest friends, in fact, one she confided in a lot (before her death) besides Yuffie. She hated herself at the moment. She sounded like a bitch for announcing Aerith's death so bluntly. But it was the truth. Cloud was so hung up on Aerith and still was.
It's been years since her death and six months since the fall and defeat of the ex-General and First Class Soldier, Sephiroth. Cloud was constantly mourning and practically bathing in self-pity and guilt.
Yuffie had brought up the idea of spending a couple of days at Costa del Sol, seeing how everyone was still stressed out after Sephiroth's resurrection and all of them were still on high alert; just in case Sephiroth didn't completely vanish. After a day had gone by during their stay at Costa del Sol, Tifa thought that it would be a good opportunity to talk to Cloud about his problem –refusing to let go and move on. She had set up a little picnic at the beach so they could be alone and away from ears that could hear their conversation.
However, unbeknownst to Tifa and Cloud, a black portal blended with dark purple and blue formed not too far from them. A figure stepped out of the ominous hole. A pair of amethyst eyes landed on the arguing pair.
Abruptly, Cloud stood up from his spot and glared down at Tifa. She wasn't going to let Cloud look down on her with that look, so she too stood up and faced him.
"What is wrong with you, Tifa?" Cloud asked in anger.
Tifa stepped closer to Cloud, her head reaching his chin. "What's wrong with me? That's a stupid question to ask me, Cloud. You should be asking that yourself! What the hell is wrong with you?"
And Tifa didn't stop at that.
"We all want our friend back. I want my friend back! You've been wallowing in self-pity and in guilt for years! We want to help you but you push us away every damn time. Cloud, it wasn't your fault for Aerith's death! She sacrificed her self because she wanted to! She knew what would happen if she got in Sephiroth's way," Tifa was out of breath as she had just spewed out what she had wanted to say a long time ago. "We don't know what to do with you anymore. I want to help but you won't allow it."
The whole entire time Tifa and Cloud were immersed in their conversation, the mysterious figure that had stepped out of the portal was now making his way quietly to the arguing duo. He observed, his eyes switching back and forth between Tifa and Cloud –watching the emotions shown on their features. It fascinated him, especially the woman that stood before him.
He smirked. This is going to be fun.
He could tell that the woman knew how to fight just by watching her stance against the blonde man. Her muscles displayed the toned and firm lines on her legs, arms, and back.
Cloud stood with surprise written all over his face at Tifa's confession, but his face contorted in anger again.
Cloud began, defending his reasons, "I wasn't strong enough to save–"
Her eyes shut closed and reopened before grabbing Cloud's shirt in her fists, lowering his face to hers. "Hear yourself, Cloud! Stop blaming yourself!"
Cloud stared into her eyes with a glare, "Let go."
Tifa looked back at him with fire in her eyes, "No."
His hands made their way up to where her fists held his shirt and gripped them tightly. "I said let go."
Tifa gasped unexpectedly at Cloud's slight force to pry her hands off and in the process pushing her away from him. She stumbled backwards with her feet and felt the world tilting until her head collided with the sand, which made a small 'tsss' at the impact sending the small salty grains to fly with the breeze of the ocean.
She lay there dumbfounded, "Why can't you be like the Cloud before? The one who. . .loved me?"
Mmm. I guess this is my queue. The stranger's lips pursed in a grim line.
Cloud was startled: one because his intentions were not to cause harm to Tifa, (though no damage was done physically) he didn't mean to push her and fall to the sand. He only wanted to pry her hands off of him.
And two because, well, a strange looking man appeared out of nowhere instantly trapping Tifa in his arms.
With wide eyes, Tifa stared into the light amethysts of the stranger. Not only were his eyes that strange purple color but his hair also matched his eyes. He smirked at her and then winked.
Before she knew it (and before she analyzed his attire any further), the stranger took off running, with her in his arms.
Her mind was running wild. Normally, Tifa reacted quick in situations like these but because things took an unexpected turn with Cloud and this stranger, she didn't know what to do or think at the moment.
Still caught up in her own thoughts, Tifa failed to see Cloud coming after them with his buster sword (which was placed into the sand before the conversation) in hand. One moment she found herself in some stranger's arms and the next she was flying in the air. However, this time with more awareness, she prepared for the fall and landed gracefully on the sand while her kidnapper swung out his weapon to block the buster sword from slicing him in half.
Next to her, she heard something crash. She looked to her right and she saw . . . the picnic basket? What's it doing here?
Her faced scrunched up in confusion. He couldn't have taken that while he was carrying me . . . or did he? Never mind that, Cloud needs me!
But without her gloves –which she left at the rental beach house–she couldn't really do much, although she could but, she fought best with them on as the pain wasn't as strong while she adorned them.
Her bare fists will have to do. But before joining in on the fight, she did a double take on the picnic basket. Tifa heard the grunts coming out of Cloud, showing a sign that his opponent was stronger than him.
She bit her lip and then narrowed her eyes. Mmm, I wonder . . .
Tifa slipped her hand inside the basket and took out a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. During her reach, she gripped on the sandwich and squeezed it in anger as she remembered Cloud pushing her away from him.
Jelly slipped between her fingers and slowly trailed down to her right wrist at the sour memory.
Why the hell did she have to help him after what he did? Oh that's right. That's because she cares for him deeply. And she always would even after he dismissed her love for him and didn't return it.
Cloud and her kidnapper where in the air ready to clash weapons as she threw her right hand back and let the sandwich go, hitting her kidnapper at the back of his head with a 'thump.'
The stranger turned quickly at the assault and landed his eyes on Tifa and right at that exact moment, she took the opportunity to swing the basket to his face.
Unfortunately, he caught it on time by the handle with fast reflexes and threw it at Cloud's face. Not expecting such thing to be thrown at his face, Cloud stopped swinging his sword and he was too late to block the damn thing. It hit Cloud square in the face and gave opportunity to the stranger to disappear and reappear behind Cloud and knock him out with his giant weapon.
Cloud plummeted to the sand unconsciously.
"Cloud!" Tifa shouted and started to run towards him. However, the stranger stood in her way, blocking her view from seeing Cloud.
His eyes bore into her with a playful glare which, had Tifa frozen and rooted to her spot.
"That wasn't very nice, Tifa."
His voice was smooth and cool, yet with an undertone of playfulness. Just hearing his voice made Tifa go nearly weak in the knees. And it wasn't helping that the stranger had such beautiful eyes that captivated her. And the way he stood with his weapon gave off the ambiance and aura of confidence radiating from him.
She shook her head. What the hell am I thinking? It's time to fight.
Tifa was the first one to make the move. She ran and sent her right fist flying towards his face, aiming to knock him back but he was too fast and sidestepped to the right and swirled behind Tifa. But she was able to react fast enough to also spin and stretch her right leg out to knock him down by his legs. And she did succeeded in that but yet failed.
Stunned for two seconds was her mistake.
Before going down, the stranger grabbed the crook of her arm and brought Tifa down with him, Tifa being underneath him. His right hand was under her neck while his right leg was between her thighs.
She was breathing hard and fast, her chest rising up and down against his. Her lips parted in astonishment. Those eyes.
His face was close to hers. He stared at her intently as his left hand glided down her right arm and brought her hand up to his lips.
He kept his gaze on her as he slowly brought Tifa's middle finger to his mouth. His tongue was warm as it swirled around her finger causing her to shudder and receive goose bumps on her arms.
And then she remembered. She had forgotten the jelly that had stuck to her skin.
Her breath got caught in her throat.
There was a glint in his eyes.
"Mmm. I want to know what you really taste like."
† † † † †
This is my first Final Fantasy fanfic and it will only be a two-shot (if my plans don't change). I dedicate this to my only bestie on here, Jeneshisu. Merry Christmas! This is my little gift to you. I hope you enjoyed it. The second part should be up in a few days, hopefully you don't have to wait too long.
And for those who have stumbled upon this, thank you for reading and I hope that you will leave comments!
