Hey there guys! The first chapter for my Zifa one shots, for all those who read my story "Family" there is a similar one shot there called "Cloud Strife the Hunk".

Hope you guys enjoy! Reviews are always generously appreciated!

Disclaimer: I don't own anything but the plot! Everything else belongs to Square Enix!

Zack Fair the Hunk


Zack huffed, hefting the heavy weight of one of Tifa's supply boxes onto one broad shoulder while holding the other box with his other arm, pressing it against his hip.

Damn it…why did these boxes have to be so heavy? There was probably liquor and other beverages inside for them to be so heavy, he recalled Tifa having complained about running low on stock for the bar.

"Hey there Zack!" a man in his mid-thirties called out to him in greeting and Zack grinned at him and returned the call. He would have chatted a bit with him but he didn't have the time and his shoulder started to ache.

Zack softly kicked the door to Seventh Heaven open, holding it open with his back as he shuffled his way inside.

The bar was packed as always on Fridays, though it seemed that there appeared to be more women than men here today. Tifa lifted her head to greet her next patron, her smile brightened even more upon spotting Zack.

"Zack!" she called, making her way around the bar and offering to help him with one box, he tightened his grip on both boxes as he smiled at her.

"Don't strain yourself Teef, I'm fine don't worry. Let me just carry these in the back." Tifa pouted, her hands on her hips but Zack just sent her a bright grin as he went in the storage room to place the boxes on the floor. Tifa had enough liquor for tonight, they would unload them tomorrow morning.

Zack closed the door to the storage room and moved to take a unoccupied seat right at the bar counter, he smiled as Tifa placed a glass of water in front of him.

"Thanks Teef, I need that. Today was really hot outside," Zack wiped his forehead as he gratefully gulped down the entire glass.

"Yeah, I know. Marlene and Denzel wanted to play outside but they came after half an hour, it was too hot for them to play and I didn't want them getting a possible heat stroke." Tifa wiped the moist spot on the usually spotless, dark wood.

"Are they asleep yet?" Zack's face looked hopeful, he always gave the kids a good night kiss and hug, it was something like a sort of ritual.

To his relief, Tifa shook her head in the negative, "No, I don't think so. I went to check on them a few minutes ago." Zack grinned and stood up, stretching his stiff muscles.

"I'll be right back!" he winked and jogged up the stairs, Tifa smiled and shook her head.

And then she was suddenly bombarded by…women.

Of all ages.

They were all trying to squeeze themselves on the countertop, looking intently at Tifa then at the stairs where Zack had disappeared to.

Tifa's burgundy-brown eyes widened, her hands stilling from wiping a mug dry, "Um…can I help you ladies?" she knew most of them, since some of them were regulars. They usually weren't very boisterous or bold when at the bar, so she was slightly perplexed by their behavior.

"What did you do?"

"Uh…come again?" Tifa blinked rapidly, what did they mean, 'what did she do'? Did she even do something?

"Your man…he's…he's wearing a sleeveless muscle shirt…" a blonde woman, somewhere in her late twenties, said dreamily, a hot blush covering her entire face.

"And those cargo pants that are so low on his hips…" a redhead gushed, fanning herself.

Tifa's blinking only multiplied, what?

"E-excuse me?" did she hear that right? No, she must be hallucinating. Yeah…probably from the heat.

"Come on Lockhart! Don't keep us in suspense! Fair usually doesn't wear sleeveless shirts or cargo pants!"

"His SOLDIER armor is sleeveless…"

"No, no, no, no, NO! He's not carrying that big-ass sword around now or those huge shoulder guards or whatever! Now you can see EVERYTHING! God damn I wish my Jake would look like that…" one auburn haired woman licked her lips, fanning herself slightly.

Well, it was true that Zack, because of the insane heat these past few days, exchanged his SOLDIER uniform for sleeveless shirts and green cargo pants, sometimes even pants till his knees to survive the heat.

Aha…

" So Tifa, you know what people say about guys carrying such big weapons around, right?" Jessie said, one of Tifa's regulars at Seventh Heaven, short, unkempt brown hair.

Tifa's eyes widened and her cheeks turned a light pink, "W-wait a minute, what d-does that have to do with anything?!"

"Spit it out Lockhart! We want the truth! I mean we obviously can't ask you about Strife since he's Aerith's guy, but Fair…come on…you're living together. A woman must be blind, dead and deaf not to jump that hot piece of ass." Jessie said once again and all the women around her shouted out in agreement.

The men behind the mob of women cringed, slipping further in the back, trying to avoid the large group of women talking about the man they viewed as a good guy and funny, helpful friend.

Tifa's cheeks were pink, but she quickly composed herself. She straightened her shoulders and casually started wiping a nonexistent spot on the bar, coolly saying:" I really don't know what you girls mean…"

They all gasped dramatically and Tifa thought at least one of them would faint, no such luck.

" You mean you never-EVER?! What?! You can't be serious! Every woman in Edge would kill to even sit next to the man let alone live with him in the same house! You can't tell me that you never imagined or at least tried seducing him! You sure got the gifts to do that."

Tifa shook her head, feeling a little self conscious when all the women suddenly started looking at her chest. She waved her hand once and barked, " Alright, enough already. I have other customers so I would really appreciate it if you girls would calm down, take your seats and not start screaming when he comes down again."

"When who comes down again?" Zack said extremely close to Tifa's ear, the woman almost jumped ten feet in the air when she noticed Zack standing directly next to her. How didn't she notice him until now?

It looked like the women did notice him alright. Most of them were shamelessly staring at him like he were a fine piece of the juiciest meat around and they were starving cavewomen hunting for food.

"Nobody, did you tell the kids good night?" she smiled up at Zack, ignoring how his muscles bulged when his arms moved to cross over his broad chest.

"Yeah, I did. I gave them a kiss in your stead too cause they said they would go to bed early." Zack smiled at Tifa and she heard some coos and "aww"s escape the women.

"So, do you ladies need anything at all?" Zack turned to address the rather large crowd literally on the counter top, at his beautifully blue eyed stare, they immediately sat down on the stools, as if they hadn't been interrogating Tifa about said man who just rose an eyebrow at their quick change of position.

"O-oh, no, no thank you! P-please don't mind us!" Eva, a woman in her early fifties, smiled prettily at Zack, her eyes dreamy as her gaze roved over his trained physique.

"Um, alright then." Zack smiled at them before brushing past Tifa and started washing the dishes, Tifa crossed her arms when she noticed that all the women's gazes were firmly fixed on the movements of his muscles as they worked beneath his arms.

Some people…

Tifa sighed heavily, she shook her head and went to clear the table of the empty plates and glasses.

"Zack! Do you mind handing me the brandy?" Tifa called over her shoulder, holding out a hand so Zack could give her the bottle.

Bad move.

Tifa forgot that she stored the brandy underneath the sink, in a small cupboard and Zack had to bend down briefly to retrieve it. Tifa swore she saw the eldest of the women, which was about eighty of age, almost suffer a heart failure at the sight of Zack's behind as the man bent.

She rested a hand on the side of her face and took the offered bottle with the other, thanking Zack along the way.

Needless to say, the bar was almost entirely filled with women at that point, with Zack switching between clearing the dishes, serving drinks and plates full of food to customers and helping Tifa with washing the dishes.

Now Zack wasn't really a oblivious guy, but Tifa had the feeling like he really didn't notice the stares that practically stripped him as he walked around the bar.

Damn harpies…

Zack went to serve a table drinks, for the fifth time, and noticed with a raised eyebrow that all the glasses he served until now were all full, "Uh, excuse me, but your glasses are all still filled." He balanced the tray with one hand while resting the other on his hip, confused.

The trio of women looking panicked for a moment, before the blonde suddenly grabbed the glasses and oh so discreetly dumped their contents on a nearby plant by the window.

Zack's eyes widened at the display, before slowly placing new glasses in front of them, warily gathering the now empty glasses and moving away from the table as quickly as he could.

Talk about weird.

Zack placed the tray on the counter top and looked at Tifa, before leaning forward and whispering into her ear:" Hey Teef, do you have any idea why the women here are all acting so strange today?" Zack shot her a blue eyed puppy look

"Oh, I can think of many things Zack…like wishing you half naked and dancing on the tables…" Tifa cleared her throat

"I don't know Zack, but I don't think it's something to worry about," she sent him a bright, innocent smile and he seemed to buy it.

Boy was she wrong.

"So, um, Mr. Fair, are you currently in a relationship with anyone?" a regular at Seventh Heaven asked Zack suddenly, twirling a lock of her hair around her finger.

The former SOLDIER leaned against the counter, arms crossed before he answered her:" Just call me Zack. Relationship huh? Sorry to disappoint but I'm taken." He sent her a bright, friendly smile, shooting a brief, devilish look at Tifa before it changed back to its sweet nature.

The woman almost choked on her drink before coughing heavily," O-oh, I s-see. T-t-thank you!" the woman quickly sprinted to another table full of women, presumably her friends or partners in crime and loud wails and disappointed whines were heard.

Zack shook his head and chuckled, he pushed himself away from the bar and said lowly to Tifa:" Hey Teef, I need a little help upstairs with the closet, could you come up once you close the bar? We can clean up tomorrow." He smirked at her and without waiting for her to reply, he went up the stairs.


After the last of the women finally left Seventh Heaven, Tifa released a long, drawn out sigh of relief. She rolled her tense shoulders, craning her neck from side to side slowly, carefully. She felt sore.

Tifa remembered that Zack said he had some problems with the closet so she didn't hesitate to head upstairs and enter the bedroom.

She heard a "click", indicating the door was locked, before glowing blue eyes suddenly filled her vision, though these eyes seemed a darker shade of blue than their usual bright shade.

A shiver ran down her spine at Zack's intense stare.

His deep voice penetrated the dark room, "You thought I wouldn't notice, did you?" it was too dark for her to see him but she heard that he was slowly circling her, it seemed like the temperature only grew.

"Notice what?" Tifa praised herself mentally that she managed to keep her voice leveled and calm, though internally, she was excited and nervous.

"The women talking at the bar. I knew what they were thinking but you know why that didn't make me blink even once?" Tifa's throat felt far too tight to verbally answer.

"Because I didn't hear what you were thinking," his fingers ghosted over her arms, goose bumps spreading over her skin as her body shivered at his scalding touch.

Tifa heard Zack's deep, husky voice directly by her ear, behind her, "Tell me Teef, what were you thinking hmm?" he softly bit her ear and Tifa bit her lips hard to not give a soft moan.

Damn him and knowing just where to touch her to make her brain turn to mush.

Tifa suddenly found herself unable to speak, unable to even breath. Zack's hot breath on her neck wasn't helping the situation at all.

"I-I don't know what y-you're talking about Zack," Tifa internally cursed herself for stuttering, feeling her cheeks heat up.

A low chuckle sent another shiver down her spine, "Oh really? You didn't forget that I used to be a SOLDIER did you? We don't just have the pretty eyes, but enhanced hearing too." He licked the shell of her ear and Tifa's breath hitched at the hot, wet appendage running up the rim of her sensitive earlobe.

Not good. He was winning.

"W-well, I wasn't thinking s-such things…" Tifa crossed her arms stubbornly and Zack chuckled lightly, before wrapping his arms around her waist and resting his chin on her shoulder.

"Are you sure about that? I bet I can do some things to change your mind…" Tifa's head was spinning as she felt Zack's strong fingers caressing her stomach, hips and back before kneading into her sore muscles at her shoulders.

"You dog," Tifa shot half heartedly, closing her eyes at the wonderful ministrations on her muscles, it felt heavenly.

"Always," Zack grinned widely, his grin almost rivaling the devil's himself, "How about a bath hm?"

Tifa couldn't say no to that, "A-alright…" she felt Zack plant a soft, loving kiss on her cheek before he disentangled himself from her and opened the bathroom door, revealing that he already had set a bath for her, the scent of herbs filling her senses as the steaming water just beckoned to her.

"Does the lady need some help with undressing?" Zack wiggled his eyebrows suggestively and Tifa laughed.

"I don't think I need help on that," but nonetheless Zack stood behind her as he helped her gently remove her black shirt.

"You worked pretty hard today, you must be beat. Don't worry, you can pay me back next week." his voice was soft and understanding, no traces of his earlier playfulness left.

"Next week?"

"We are going camping, did you forget? Barret said he would be happy to watch Marlene and Denzel while we are away." He bit her neck softly and Tifa shivered, playfully punching his shoulder.

The man laughed before he shook his head and helped her out of her clothes, it never failed to amaze Zack when Tifa shyly crossed her legs and covered her breasts.

"You'd think we aren't engaged for you to be so shy, after all the things we did to that poor, poor bed. Then again, it wasn't just the bed-ouch! Ow! Ok, ok, I give!" Zack yelped as Tifa lightly hit him on the head, her face resembling cherries.

Zack picked her up bridal-style in all her naked glory and gently lowered her into her steamy bath, she sighed breathlessly before leaning back in the bathtub, soaking in the water.

She heard shuffling from beside her before a naked Zack in all his trained, naked glory joined her in her bath.

Zack always treated other people first, setting his needs on last place at all times, it shouldn't have surprised Tifa that Zack suddenly took her foot and started kneading her overworked muscles.

"Good?"

"God yes," Tifa sunk further in the water, Zack's devilish grin was back full force.

"Hell, I'm not even in action yet and you're already moaning my title," he teased, receiving a splash from Tifa.

"You do know the women are joking when they say you have the body of a god," she couldn't help but tease him.

"Yeah, yeah I get it, you badly want to injure my pride today." He lightly tickled her feet, earning a small yelp from Tifa before she launched herself at him.

Both adults laughed joyfully as Zack contently held her in his arms, both naked like the day they were born, content to simply bask in each-other's warmth.

"I love you, you know that?" Zack affectionately kissed the top of Tifa's head, she nuzzled him under his chin, her smile widening.

"I love you too Zack," she kissed his chest before kissing him sweetly on the lips.

When they broke apart, Zack smiled warmly at Tifa and nuzzled his nose against hers, she always found the action to be so very cute, another trait of Zack's she absolutely loved.

"I'll still beat up guys when I hear them fantasizing about you," Zack made that clear, with a small, dangerous grin.

"I'll throw out any women who try to cop a feel,"

"Deal" both nodded at their respective conditions before they burst out laughing together.

They talked and laughed until it was well past midnight.


Bonus scene:

"Oh Zack, do you mind handing me the box over there?" Tifa pointed to a large box at the bottom left corner.

Zack bent and effortlessly lifted it into his arms, helping Tifa place it on a higher shelf, this time the bar was quiet, save for a few quiet conversations, but no heated whispers, no fanning hands, no blushing faces and definitely no hungry eyes trailing after Zack.

Tifa had made that perfectly clear and it seemed like her "warnings" had worked.

Zack noted Tifa's satisfied smirk and grinned widely, kissing her cheek as he whistled and went to serve the new patrons that arrived.

Nobody tried to cop a feel or dare say their fantasies out loud when one certain Tifa Lockhart had bar duty with the favorite, the second being Cloud, hunk of Edge making idle conversations and serving the patrons.

The women had learned that day just how protective and possessive a woman of Tifa's caliber can really get and none of them wanted to mess with the fearsome pugilist at that point if they valued their faces the way they were, free of bruises.

Phew, the end for this little chappy! I sincerely hope you guys (especially my good friend AkaiArashi1) liked it! Reviews are VERY WELCOME! THANKS!