Burning Close

He's too scared to love. She yearns to be loved. He's the master of love. Physical intimacy is hard to peel off. Once attached, forever bonded.

CloudxTifaxZack

Author's Note:

This story takes place roughly a year after Advent Children and slightly AU.

Some things to take note of:

Midgar wasn't destroyed during Meteor Fall, but people have started moving outwards toward Edge.

Please read this as if it's AU, but most background of the original story will be here and there. Thank you :)

It's been a long while since I've last written anything. Happy reading!

Disclaimer: I don't own anything; FFVII belongs to SquareEnix.

Burning Close

Chapter 1

"Do you...love me?" Her voice was a plea.

"Tifa...I..." Cloud hesitated, eyes swimming with pain. "I'm not worth your love."

She knew. She knew that would be his answer. Yet, she didn't understand. "Why?"

"I...don't know how to explain," he muttered.

"Try me." She stood her ground. No more dillydallying. She was tired of it. Sick of it.

"Please, Tifa..." The azure eyes were cast down, like a child being scolded.

"Then tell me. Why are you still here if you don't love me?" Her voice quivered slightly. She wasn't sure if she wanted the answer.

At that, the blue eyes widened, peering at the ruby ones. "It's not that I don't...love you. Why would you think that?"

Tifa smirked, a twisted expression on her beautiful face. "Because I don't know what to feel anymore? Because whenever I try to get close, you push away? Because we were never clear with each other to begin with? Because I don't know when you'll leave me again?"

The bedroom darkened as thick clouds covered the moonlight seeping through the curtains.

"I promised back then that I won't run away anymore," he replied, slightly defensive. "It's been more than a year since then—"

"Yet I never feel like you're here, Cloud." The woman turned away from him, staring down at her hands as if she was holding onto something unobtainable. "...Where are you?" she whispered in the dark.

Hands rolled into fists as the Mako-infused eyes stared at the smooth brown hair. "I..."

Please just tell me you love me...Hot tears were bound to spill any second.

"I'm sorry." Suddenly, the man turned to leave, heavy boots hitting the wooden floor.

"What about that night?" Her last chance. "Under the Highwind?" Her final weapon.

The footsteps ceased.

She knew he'd stop. It was finally time to face the long buried memory, locked up deep within their hearts. It had been something unspoken, something forbidden, something that was there, yet not really here, something that might cause irreversible damage to their relationship— it was almost taboo.

Slowly turning around, the barmaid expected to stare at the back of the blonde's head, but instead, found cerulean eyes fixed onto hers. Unknown emotions swam in the pools of blue. Anger? Pain? Sympathy? He's feeling sorry for me.

"Tifa..." His brows were furrowed, lips pursed as if the woman standing in front of him was forcing him to choose between life or death.

"What was that night?" Tifa's breath hitched in her throat. Her heart pounded like mad against her chest.

"I thought...that night..." the blonde hesitated. "I thought...you knew how I feel? You felt it...didn't you?"

"I want to hear the words, Cloud," she whispered. "That's all."

"Tifa...I..." the man murmured, eyes boring into the ruby ones for a long moment.

Please, just tell me. I just want to hear it. That's all...She begged him through her pleading eyes. If anything, the blue eyes only faded even more.

"I can't," he said finally, looking away hastily. "Like I said, I'm not worth it. I'm not worth your love—"

"Who's to determine who's worth my love or not?" Tifa demanded. She clutched at her sides angrily.

The harsh tone caused Cloud to shrink back toward the door, into the shadows.

"No, please, don't—" Tifa took the few short steps forward and reached up to the man's cheeks, pulling him back. "Please don't leave..." Her lips quivered.

Closing his eyes, the man found himself leaning into the soft, delicate hands. "You said actions speak more than words..."

"Sometimes all a woman really needs are the words."

"You know how I feel..."

"I don't know anymore!" Tifa withdrew her hands abruptly and hid her face, pushing back the tears. She was frustrated with the man, frustrated with herself. Taking a deep shuddering breath, she whispered, "after that night...we never took the chance to really figure out ourselves." She paused, stopping her hands from shaking. "After saving the Planet...you had Geostigma. You hid from us. You left. You—"

"I came back," Cloud interjected.

Tifa's eyes gleamed up at the man. "Yes..." she murmured. "Yes, you came back. Because Aerith forgave you. You no longer felt guilty for her death."

"No, it's not just that."

She stared at the man then, waiting for him to elaborate. After several stilled minutes, the barmaid sighed, defeated. "So what else is it, Cloud?"

"I don't know—"

"Then tell me how you feel after this—"

Without another word, fingers reached and tugged at the blonde spikes, bringing down the thin lips onto hers. At once, an all too familiar warmth cascaded through her veins to the tips of her hair. The nostalgic scent of musk and mountain breeze filled her nose, drowning her whole. Her heart thundered loudly in her ears as she tampered with the forbidden fruit.

For a split second, Tifa thought Cloud was going to push her away. Unexpectedly, he deepened the kiss, tongue suddenly pushing past her lips, invading her mouth. She tasted of vodka and cherries and honey, bitter and sweet all at the same time. Strong calloused fingers found their way through the dark strands and onto the small of her back, closing the small millimeters between them, bodies pressed tight.

Slender fingers linked themselves around the man's neck. Too afraid to let go. Too afraid for the kiss to end. A kiss of passion. A kiss of desperation.

A rush of emotions surged through Tifa's mind as she held on tight. Tears flowed down the porcelain cheeks without her knowing. Tears of joy, tears of sorrow, tears of relief, she didn't know. A moan escaped her as the man moved away from her lips, trailing hot kisses down her neck, along her collarbone, up her cheeks, and to her ear.

"Do you know now...?" he growled, nibbling her earlobe.

Another moan brought the man back to her lips, invasion rougher this time. Pushing her back against the wall, Cloud bit the brunette's neck, repeating the question again. "Do you know now?"

Tifa gripped onto the muscular shoulders, trying her best to stay upright as the man pressed his arousal into her. Her breath quickened. Her face flushed. Her blood boiled. Burning sensations surged from the pulse on her neck all throughout her body.

"Tell me!" she gasped.

Silence. Everything stopped.

Ruby eyes fluttered open and found the usually calm blue eyes glaring at her, dark shadows burning in the pupils.

"Is this not enough?" the man hissed.

A single tear fell from Tifa's eye. "I just want to hear it..." Her voice was soft, feeble.

"I'm sorry."

And he was gone.

She was done. The man was obviously not ready for commitment, nor was he willing to move a step forward in their relationship. He didn't deserve one more chance. He's had plenty of them! Just three simple words. Three! Just three words to tell me how much he loves me and he chose not to say it. He's saving his face instead of wanting me. That's fine with me.

Zipping the black duffel bag close, Tifa Lockhart was ready to leave. Leave behind the past. Leave behind Seventh Heaven. Leave behind what she dreamed to be heaven. Whatever her dream was.

"Tifa..."

She turned around to see her ninja friend standing by the doorway, a frown on the young face.

"Yuffie," she gave a small smile.

"Are you sure about this?" Yuffie gave her a tight hug. "You know Cloud doesn't want this..."

"I don't know what he wants," Tifa replied. "Anyway, it's about time I think about myself, right?"

She glanced down at her hands. The very hands that fought for the world, fought for her friends, fought for her love. When did she ever fight for herself? When was the last time she actually thought about herself? All throughout the journey, she had always been there for her allies, putting a smile on her face even when her heart's tearing apart in pain and fear, always cheering them to stay strong...But when was the last time she told herself to "stay strong"?

Everyone had moved forward in their lives. Nanaki was still fighting "Gilligan," but with everyone's help, he was optimistic for the future. Cid and Shera were expecting their first child at the end of the year. He, Reeve, the WRO, and Barret had successfully helped various towns around the planet incorporate their newfound fuel source. Hoping to spend more time with Marlene, Barret now officially work at WRO's headquarter in Edge. Yuffie was also in the WRO, and thus, moved in with Barret, Marlene, Denzel, Cloud, and Tifa. Even Vincent helped out with WRO occasionally, though he seemed to be the only one who never really "moved forward."

And yet, what was she doing? Desperately hoping to feel loved, to be loved. Desperately clinging onto something that was never hers to begin with. It was time for her to move on.

"I'm not far," Tifa smiled. "I'm just gonna help out Johnny at Midgar."

"He's married, isn't he?" Yuffie raised an eyebrow.

Tifa laughed. "Yes, but Johnny and his wife asked me to help out at their bar. They just had a baby and Mona couldn't handle it by herself yet, so Johnny—"

"But what about your bar?" Yuffie interrupted. "Your Seventh Heaven? Isn't this yours?"

"It's just a short while—"

"Tifa, this is your home—"

"Please, Yuffie," the martial artist glanced at the younger friend. "I just need some space away."

"TIFA!"

A loud coarse voice and pounding footsteps sounded from the hallway.

"Why are you—what the hell—what are you doin'?!" Barret bellowed. Brown eyes darted back and forth from the duffel bag to Tifa. "Y-you're really packin'?"

Smiling (always a bright smile on my face), Tifa said, "Johnny asked me to help out at his bar while he helps Mona with their baby. I'll be away for a short while. Don't worry."

Barret gaped as he watched his friend throw the duffel bag over her shoulder, ready to leave. "W-what? I thought it was somethin' to do with Spike—?"

"It is..." Yuffie muttered under her breath.

"I'll see you guys later," Tifa waved, walking past the two friends.

"Did you say goodbye to tha kids?" Barret asked.

"Yup, I told them this morning before they left for school."

"And Cloud?"

The barmaid stopped.

"Don't tell me he dunno?" Barret placed a hand on her shoulder. "Wha' happened with you two?"

Don't.

"We're fine, Barret," she turned around and forced a smile, squeezing the man's hand. "I'll be going now. Take care, okay? Bye!"

With that, Yuffie and Barret watched silently as the long black hair disappear behind the doorway.