Author's Note:

Well here we go! :)

The whole collection is dedicated to the wonderful Fairheartstrife (not to mention - a little bribe...), so I hope you enjoy :)

Moments

chapter 1: drop

The air changed its quality, gaining a freshness so typical for the very first days of Spring. And the first heavy rains fell, vast lands drinking up the water with greed, naked trees reaching out towards the heavens with their branches, like women raising their arms with offerings for the gods.

Cloud wiped his goggles clean with an impatient move, cursing inwardly at the sudden rainfall and not paying attention to the nature's awakening from the wintery slumber. Even if it shouldn't be too much of a surprise – the seasons were changing, and for the whole day he witnessed black clouds gathering over his head. And of course the rain had to start when he was ALMOST home…

When he finally reached Edge, he was soaked through and through and there was that unpleasant impression that small lakes formed inside of his boots. And he tried really hard to ignore the amount of mud covering Fenrir right now, in his mind already seeing all the scrubbing he will have to do to get the varnish looking as it should.

"Screw this" he muttered as he drove through enormous puddles "I'm taking tomorrow off"

Within his mind he could already hear the scolding he was sure to receive, and dammit it wasn't his fault he was driving through a friggin' rainstorm. Alright, so maybe he shouldn't make his stay at the Golden Saucer as long as he had, but the urge to participate in at least one tournament was too big not to comply…

Fenrir slid through the muddy streets as he hit the brakes all of the sudden, a familiar flash of cream and black catching his attention. With utter surprise, he turned around and almost ripped the goggles of his head.

Well… he guessed he wouldn't hear a thing today as it was Tifa herself, sitting on a swing and looking towards the skies with a small smile on her face as the angered drops splashed on her skin. With long legs stretched out comfortably and slender fingers wrapped gently around the chains.

And Cloud really couldn't tell how come the mere sight of her could leave him breathless.

Maybe it was in the way the water slid down her cheeks and over the soft lines of her lips, and he could swear the rain itself was kissing every inch on its way.

Or maybe how her wet hair was sticking to her skin, dark strands teasingly licking at the alabaster tissue.

Or maybe it was just the sheer fact that it was her and the rain dancing all around, and she seemed to absorb every color of the sudden downpour with each single cell in her body.

It was then, as the soft purring of Fenrir's engine reached her ears through the grey torrent and the heavy lids fluttered open, elegant neck turning and burning red eyes rested on his frame.

His breath was gone somewhere as realization dawned upon him, how much alive she was right in that very moment. How much she shined, and how easily could she break and shatter despite her marvelous strength.

In that they were so much alike… bright and dark, and their world painted with every grey shade possible. They were like a unfinished sketch, with its rough lines but hiding a much softer side.

The air was burning his lungs as Cloud finally took a breath, waiting and watching as she moved in an unhurried way, taking slow steps, one foot in front of another, open palms brushing against her black clad hips.

He reached out first, the worn out leather of his gloves sliding with the greatest of ease on her slick skin.

Oh how he loved the feel of her lips moving against his, and he knew he could never tire of this. Of the scent and the taste and that soft hum that vibrated from the depths of her throat as she leaned onto him, hands clenching on the front of his shirt and pulling him closer. Of how their every kiss meant everything, represented every tear of despair and happiness, every good and pain filled memory and every single moment of weakens and retrieved strength.

Her eyes were like burning ambers beneath the lashes as Tifa not once looked, a soft, loving smile gracing her lips as they pulled away, the smell of rain and steel overcoming their senses.

"I thought the whole day about this" she breathed against his lips, kissing the corner of his mouth one last time "And I just had to come out and meet you…"

"I'm glad you did"

Tifa smiled at him again and then slid behind, her arms coming round his middle, her body a comfortable weight and warmth at his back.

"Tifa…" he turned his head slightly, his nose bumping against his cheek.

"Mhmm?" and her response was a soft purr that would wash over both of them, stirring something deep inside him, ringing louder than bells in his ears yet still almost drowned out by the engine's growl.

"You should go out in the rain more often"

She laughed and pressed her lips to the flash of skin on his neck, as the motorcycle growled with new anger, and then the streets became a hazy blur.

Cloud smiled lightly, the cutting touch of the watery torrent didn't bother him anymore.

And she was so beautiful in the rain with him.