So this is that first fic of my Christmas series. There is going to be a fic a day until Christmas! Every fic is to be set in brothers verse (or something like it) and will (hopefully) focus in on the Strife brothers but of course will involve all characters of the verse. Planning on doing 1000 words at least for each prompt but we'll have to see how I go.

At this point I can't predict the pairings for this whole thing (at least re Cloud) but they'll probably the sorts of ones I usually write about.

Pairings for this prompt: Tifa/Cloud (which is the first time I've written this one)

Prompt: Lights

Every year Radiant Garden would light up on the First of December with Christmas lights. No-one knew who was responsible for it or even if the city council authorised it. It was just a thing that happened. It wasn't even the same lights that showed up each year. No, every year a different set and pattern of lights decorated the main streets of the city and everyone would once again be in awe of the creativity (and bank accounts) of whomever the source of them was.

It was an annual traditional of many residence of the town to make their way down to the main streets on the night of December 1st to see the Christmas lights turn on for the first time that year. The shops would always stay open a little later on those nights knowing that most of the town would be there to enjoy the lights and would be feeling joyous enough to empty their pockets on the merchants.

Every year the Strife brothers dragged themselves down to the main streets for the light show. They did not all come for the same reasons – Sora and Ven came for the lights, Roxas for the shopping, Vanitas came for the chance of causing chaos in the crowds, and Cloud came to see the work of his friend (not that anyone knew that). It was sort of a tradition for them despite never officially being named so and Cloud had long ago placed a ban on anything Christmas related until after the lights were turned on.

Of course Sora made up for the ban by starting the officially holiday celebrations with a bang, every year without fail.

This year he had managed to con all of his brothers into wearing Christmas party hats, and wrapped himself in tinsel so densely that everyone who ran into him was surprised he could even move. Throughout the evening he had trapped each of his brothers and wrapped tinsel around their necks before running off before they had a chance to lash out at him for it.

"Looks like he went all out this year," Tifa commented when she saw Cloud.

"Who?" Tifa was also one of the few who knew the real source of the Christmas lights so Cloud wasn't sure if she was talking about them or his brother.

"Sora. I have to admit I'm surprised you'd allow the choking hazard though."

"I didn't. He put it on me and ran off before I could tell him not too."

"And you didn't take it off after he left because?" Cloud chose to remain silent at Tifa's question and she let out a laugh.

"You're such a good big brother."

Cloud awkwardly tugged at the tinsel before his phone let off a chirp indicating it had received a text. "Apparently we need to go to the Main Square."

"Why?"

"Don't know, Ven just says we have to see it."

"Then let's go."

Apparently whoever did the lights put most of the effort into the Main Square. While all the other streets seemed to have smaller themes of the holiday season the Square was the meeting place of them all. The different styles gently mixed together around the edge of the Square while the inner section, high above the heads of all the people gathered there was a collection of lights that in their changing patterns told a whole story.

"Wow," Tifa managed to breath out as she and Cloud froze at the entry to the Square.

"You guys made it!" Roxas said, walking over to his brother's side. "Pretty cool huh? Whoever's behind this really went all out this year."

"Yeah…"

"You should really wait for it to restart; the story's great if you watch the whole thing. It's not that long either."

"Thanks for the advice," Tifa said managing to drag her attention away from the lights to give Roxas a smile.

"Yeah well, I'll leave you two too it. I'm gonna' go back into the shop where there's heating. Unlike Cloud I can't fall asleep in the snow and still be fine in the morning." Roxas tried to duck under his brother's swing at him but failed, instead being dragged into a headlock by Cloud.

"What did you say brat?"

"Nothing Cloud!"

Tifa laughed at the two brother's antics before turning her attention back onto the lights as they lit up for the finale of the story. Cloud let go of his brother as all the lights turned off for a few seconds before starting the story again. Roxas used the chance to run back to the heated safety of the stores.

Cloud took the two steps back so he was able to lean against the side of one of the buildings to watch the light show and soon Tifa moved so she was pressed against him. The two of them sharing some warmth in the cold night.

"Aww, aren't you two just the cutest," Ven said when he walked over to the pair once the story had once again been told and the square was briefly bathed in darkness. Cloud just gave his brother an unimpressed look. "It's pretty cool though – the light show."

"Yeah, it must have taken forever to rig up," Tifa agreed.

"Pretty impressive no-one knew about it then isn't it?" Ven asked and Tifa nodded. The ability to rig up and test such a visual masterpiece without anyone else knowing about it was nothing short of a miracle and everyone in the town was only going to be more desperate to find out the source of the lights after this year's feat.

"Thanks for telling us about it," Cloud said and his brother gave a shrug.

"No problem. I got to go though, Terra and Aqua are waiting for me."

"Fine, just be home at a decent hour," Cloud teasingly threatened and Ven agreed before running off.

"It's been a good night hasn't it?" Tifa asked as she and Cloud slowly made their way through the town idly window shopping for the gifts they would have to buy within the next 24 days.

"It has."

"Hopefully the rest of the holidays goes as well as tonight has," Tifa said.

"Hopefully," Cloud agreed.