OK, I'VE BEEN READING A LOT OF CLOUD X TIFA RECENTLY AFTER I WATCHED ADVENT CHILDREN A WHILE AGO SO I JUST THOUGHT ID TRY THIS. THE IDEA WAS STUCK IN MY HEAD. SORRY IF IT'S CRAPPY.
Chapter 1, time of my life
He hadn't been home in 12 months. He had been staying away no matter what he had said to Marlene and Denzel. The children didn't take it well. Marlene took it the hardest that he was always leaving like her dad, speaking of Marlene, she didn't want to stay with me and Denzel anymore; Barrett came to pick her up about a week after Cloud left. She said I seemed very sad after Cloud had gone. I didn't believe her; but deep down I knew I was sad, broken, a wreck. I didn't know why I was a wreck when he wasn't around. I was just... after he and Denzel had Geostigma I just feel so protective of them...
And I didn't want it to show but I didn't want him to leave. He thought he had everything so god dammed hard! He lives in the past and needs to be bought back to reality...
Today, he came home. Denzel was sitting at the bar while I served a few of the nightly regulars. Denzel was doing Math homework and was asking me for help every now and then. A few of our friends were in the bar tonight. Vincent sat in the corner with Barrett and Cid while Marlene was out doing shopping for Barrett and herself while they were in town. She had grown up considerably and was now used to catering for Barrett which basically meant feeding him and watering him. Sid was here because he wanted a drink and he moved closer with Shera earlier in the year something about keeping an eye on me.
I noticed that Vincent looking at me while he was listening in to Barrett and Cid in a long winded conversation I couldn't make out. All I could see was Cid making big gestures with his hands. I downcast my eyes to the glass I was going to fill. I didn't make eye contact with anyone in the bar for some time before giving the costumer his drink and sitting back on a stool I had behind the bar for when I was tired.
"Rough night?" Vincent asked obviously having came closer to the bar a minute ago. I looked up at him for a second before sighing and looking back down.
"No." I answered absentmindedly drawing patterns on the bar.
"Missing him?" he asked raising an eyebrow at me while I still didn't look up but I remained silent, I didn't want to talk to Vincent right now...
"Do you need a drink sir?" I asked coldly in a business tone of voice, he was still a customer
"Guess you don't want to talk to me." Vincent said in his monotonous voice. 'Understatement.' I thought as Vincent started smirking a little at my silence before he walked back over to Barrett and Cid.
I watched as he walked back over to Barrett and Cid transfixed in watching a Cid used his arms again to gesture a point to Barrett. Vincent took his place beside Barrett before listening to the part in Cid's Story where they were at. I almost didn't even hear the door to the bar open as he entered. I heard his heavy steps as he came closer to the bar but I didn't look up; he had been away too long. I couldn't contain my anger as it bubbled inside me. 'He stayed away without even a call and now he just walks in and expects everything to be normal? Yeah right' I took a little thought to stop myself jumping over the bar and drop kicking him but if I did that I'd cause a scene...
"Cloud!" Denzel called from next to me he quickly jumped from his stool and ran to greet his hero. I on the other hand quickly got up and made it look like I was busy by fixing a guy a drink. As much as I secretly liked my best friend I had a right to be angry and ignore him right now. I shoved a glass at a customer a little too forcefully and apologised quickly before grabbing a glass from below the counter and cleaning it.
"I'll take a glass of anything." a voice said next to me. I knew the voice anywhere his voice was not often heard saying anything along those lines. Not in my bar. After not seeing him in so long I can honestly say that I was surprised he wanted a drink. The Cloud I knew hardly ever drank any alcohol. Even Cid, Vincent and Barrett looked over to the strange event.
I looked up and noticed his blue Mako infused eyes looking down on me expectantly. Denzel was next to him smiling up at Cloud then looking to me.
"Denzel, go get ready for bed. I'll probably come and tuck you in after work if I'm not too tired." I said stooping to the young boy's level and ruffling his hair as he nodded at me before running off.
I looked back up to Cloud.
"Any preference?" I asked coldly. I almost saw him flinch as I put my hands on my hips and moved away. Sometimes Cloud Strife tried my patience.
"No." he almost whispered looking away from me. I made him a strong drink and shoved it across the bar to him before walking over to some other customers and serving them. Cloud had quickly finished his drink.
"Another?" I asked not looking at him as I took the glass I saw him nod out of the corner of my eye giving me conformation to fill the glass with the cloudy liquid once again.
"Tifa-" He said quickly as I began to walk away. I turned and looked at him over my shoulder 'gonna tell me your sorry for being gone for a freaking year?' I thought looking straight at him to see the conflict in his eyes.
He sighed looking back up to my eyes before looking to his glass and gulping his drink down so his glass was half empty. Looked over the whole room watching Vincent nod and leave the other two men who were still finishing their drinks with a swift turn and a brisk walk. I turned back to the bar before they noticed I was looking and turned back to Cloud who was swirling the remainder of his drink in his glass. I sighed rolling my eyes and turning to serve a few more customers. I saw that some of the rush that had hit earlier was leaving and only a few remained. I remembered that we closed earlier today and smirked before remembering what I had to deal with.
I looked back to Cloud once again in anger. 'Why come home without an apology if you're just gonna leave again?' I thought looking over to him. I noticed that his glass was empty again. I filled it without saying anything. Neither did he. Until I tried to walk away. "Wait-" he said reaching out an arm and touching my shoulder.
"What Cloud?" I almost growled at him jerking my shoulder so his hand fell away. I saw Barrett and Cid hesitantly leave after Vincent almost if sensing my anger right now.
"Look, I'm sorry I was gone so long. I needed time to be alone and think and-" I cut him off so he couldn't speak anymore crap it's what he did every time he came home in the past. I knew how he sentence would end. 'I still need time. It what's keeping me away but I will be back.' I didn't want to hear the words anymore from him. It could tear me apart.
"Denzel was a wreck when you were gone." I lied looking away from him to the back of the bar. 'Maybe he won't noticed the sadness in my eyes that he won't stay long even now' "every morning he would wake up and say 'is Cloud coming home?' then he would look the empty bed beside him where Marlene used to sleep and frown. He would then look to me and answer his own question! It's not right to see the boy suffer! You're his dammed hero and you don't give a shit to call or even to come home!" I turned around quickly to slam my hands down on the worktop that he looked at now instead of me. He couldn't even look at me anymore.
"Tifa, I-" he started again obviously startled by my outburst.
"You what?" I asked narrowing my eyes at him quickly. He didn't answer me he just looked down and sighed.
"Whatever Cloud." I growled in a disinterested voice before walking away.
I didn't talk to Cloud again all night. The only interaction was when I made him a new drink. I couldn't keep count of how many I served him. After around ten, it was time for the bar to close. I ushered all the drunks out while Cloud remained rooted to his stool in a drunken trance. I quickly locked the door and started to clean the whole place up.
"Tifa." his voice asked from close by.
"What?" I snapped standing up and turning around. He was closer than I thought. I was almost pressed up against him as I stood there. I stumble back angrily before crossing my arms.
"Come and have a drink with Me." he asked almost calmly. I sighed at him looking into his eyes. I couldn't stay mad at him for that long.
"Cloud." I said a little calmer than I was earlier, he looked almost like a lost child.
"I'm sorry I was away, but I had things to sort out, I had things to think about." he placed a hand on my shoulder again before I quickly jerked it off out of habit from my anger he seemed a little hurt at the action.
"And you couldn't think here?" I asked as my anger flared up. I scowled at him and he flinched back almost as if he was scared of me, my first thought was 'good!' but I don't want Cloud scared of me, I don't want to fight with him, but he's so... So... I couldn't even think of how to describe how he was. Frustrating. Always gone.
"No." he said in almost a whisper just like he did earlier. He seemed quieter than he had been the last time I had saw him. More full of self pity even with a healthy amount of alcohol in his body.
"Fine." I sighed. Watching as he looked up at me. "I'll have a few shots while you have a drink. Company. Just like you want." I said walking past him back to the bar. I filled Cloud's empty glass before pulling out a shot glass and a bottle of Tequila Cloud sat down quickly knowing I wouldn't stay long.
At first there was a very tense awkward silence as I took a shot and Cloud played with the rim of the glass in his hand. I knew I wasn't going to break the silence and luckily after a few minutes Cloud did.
"How've you been?" Cloud asked quietly not looking up at me.
"Shit." I replied quickly and calmly banging my glass off the worktop as I bought it down. My anger went down my throat with the fiery alcohol. "You left me with your adopted kid, he keeps asking for you." I reminded him looking at Cloud who I had now caught staring at me.
"You?" I asked taking another shot. Cloud shrugged quickly looking away and covering his one arm with his hand. It was covered again.
"I've seen worse..." he said hoping I didn't notice him holding his arm.
"What did you do to it?" I asked quickly walking over and pulling on the sleeve that quickly came off. On Cloud's muscled arm was a tightly wrapped bandage. "WHO did it?"
"It's just a scratch" Cloud insisted before wincing as I touched it. Game over buddy... I stared at him with a glare that said 'seriously? You're kidding me!' before he sighed and unwound the bandage so I could see the long, deep, raised crimson red newly cut flesh on Clouds arm.
"How did that happen?" I asked in alarm motherly side kicking in. I knew it was Cloud, he would have a reason for the gash.
"It was nothing." Cloud assured me putting a hand over mine on his arm I hadn't realised I was tracing a finger up and down the raised line of skin.
"What happened?" I asked again looking at Cloud with an almost glare. He muttered something I didn't understand so I glared at him in the eyes as he looked up as he quickly wound the bandage back up on his arm.
"I fell off Fenrir okay?" he muttered putting his face in his hands and sharply taking in a breath. Maybe he thought I would laugh at him.
"How can you get injured like that falling off?" I asked curiously narrowing my eyes at him. He looked at me angrily with a dirty look on his face.
"Some twisted metal got caught in my arm as I fell." he added darkly reliving his experiences in memory form I cringed back taking another Tequila shot from the bar. The silence came again. Cloud drank his drink quickly while he didn't want to talk, in the end I spoke first.
"One more question," I asked hesitantly looking at him before taking my next shot and refilling the glass between us. He grunted in response telling me to continue.
"How long do you intend to stay?" I asked taking another shot while the chugged down his drink. He would suffer for all he drank in the morning. While I was still completely sober, he was looking at me -no staring at me- like I was the tasty steak in the window.
"That depends." Cloud answered taking the tequila bottle from me and swigging it. I scowled at him. I have to serve that to the customers and you just got your mouth around the bottle! Idiot, I'm gonna need a new bottle, you can pay... I'll tell you in the morning, Cloud. All of a sudden I detected some nervousness in Clouds voice as he held the glass tighter.
"On?" I answered him deciding to swig from the bottle too instead of using the glass. I felt a tiny bit tipsy now...
"You." he answered. Before I could react he had me pressed up against the bar with my wrists held to my sides as he held my tightly by my hips.
"Me?" I asked a little uncomfortable with the position I was held in. He nodded before I realised what he was going to do. "Clo-!" was all I managed to get out before his lips pressed down on mine. At first I was unresponsive. I was hesitant, he was drunk and this was wrong. But I want to know how something this wrong feels so right!
I started to kiss him back placing my arms around his neck as he pulled me closer with his hands on my hips. I pulled away for a second to see his face that was close to mine holding a small smile. I looked into his blue eyes and smiled at the sweetness of the faked emotions there. He was drunk, but I wanted him. I wanted to be his.
At the thought his lips came back down on mine. He licked and nipped my bottom lip and I opened my mouth allowing his tongue to enter my mouth. We both fought for dominance until Cloud pulled away. He grabbed my hand and led me up the stairs. I could feel him leading me urgently; I think he just wanted to find a room with an empty bed. My room was the first we came across.
Cloud lay me down on the bed his eyes hungrily looking over my body before he went back and kicked the door shut so Denzel wouldn't walk in.
I could almost feel the alcohol I had drank taking effect as Cloud came back over to me before getting onto of me and continuing his attack on my mouth. All too quickly what we were wearing was too much clothing and I remember that it had quickly touched the floor after I saw fit to voice the opinion. I don't remember much, I wasn't paying much attention, I just remember that Cloud and I had sex and both fell asleep soon after we had finished. The sleep was peaceful, if only the morning was the same...