Disclaimer: Final Fantasy VII with the characters, items, places, etc. are the property of Square Enix, Inc. No infringement is intended.
Author's Note: This prompt, Vampire, was challenging yet fun to fulfill from the FinalHeaven Discord Server. Thank you to Denebola Leo for being the beta reader on my entry. I do have more ideas for this story, so it will be continued in the future.
The title of the story was inspired by Queen's song 'Play the Game'.
-. Play the Game .-
Chapter I: The Kiss
It was a mutual game between the two childhood friends as of late, one that was undisclosed to one another. Cloud had settled back into their home with the children, yet things were different within the family. He had adjusted his delivery schedule to be present in their lives more whether it'd be for setting the table, tutoring Denzel over his math homework or building a small table for Marlene. The little girl even convinced the blond to play a pretend session of teatime.
He was different with them, and he was different with her.
Around her he couldn't keep his eyes off her. When she walked across the room those cerulean eyes would trail after her. Around her he would linger more. When the children left for school in the morning he would sit and talk with her over coffee. Around her he would start to touch her more. When she was near him he would drive her crazy.
His fingers would graze her arm softly, brush her hair behind her ear before she had the chance to, even skim along her midriff as he just so happened to place his hand there when reaching for something while positioning himself behind her. The latter would freeze her from any task she was doing to relish his close contact, her eyes closing briefly as she shuddered throughout her spine. It was obvious that Cloud noticed this effect on her, as he give a soft hum in her ear before walking away.
It was that first moment he stepped up the game and she eagerly anticipated each play he made towards her. His sentiments would grow a little bolder each night alone in Seventh Heaven, the two sitting at the bar sharing drinks together. These moments would happen more when he had a few cocktails or beers, whatever he picked that night to loosen up. She began to research new concoctions for him to try, to get him to stay at the counter with her longer.
The alcohol served as a kind of magic for him.
Her latest mix was 'Blushing Kiss' from a few nights ago, a bold move just before he left on a two day excursion. The flirting and touching were always welcome, but she was hoping he would get the hint with the drink. His kiss was a small peck on her cheek, one he lingered a bit with before whispering in her ear 'good night', and left her standing still in the bar like a lovestruck fool.
There had been plenty of kisses between them in the past, so there was no reason to be shy with her. It was how she knew he enjoyed playing this game with her, a game she planned to win. She narrowed down her list of cocktails for a special drink tonight that would give him enough liquid encouragement to kiss her. Depending on how the evening went, she would have a ninja to be thankful for.
She shook the key ingredients inside the metal tin cup as she was expecting to see him soon. He had called her only an hour ago which gave her the necessary time to prepare for his arrival. Her heartbeat quickened when she heard the sound of Fenrir pulling into the garage. Taking a deep breath, she concentrated on pouring the cardinal colored cocktail into two martini glasses. She pursed her lips together with anticipation when she heard the garage door gently close. She turned to smile a greeting to him, which he gingerly reciprocated.
"I got the blood oranges like you asked for," Cloud announced casually as he placed the bag of exotic fruit on the counter. He never needed to say 'hello' or 'goodbye' between trips as he always made it a point to come back. The smile he showed her was always enough. "What is it for, anyway?"
"I'm going to make blood orange sangrias for Yuffie's birthday party here. She requested a Halloween theme," Tifa answered while leaning against the counter, her body angled toward the blond.
"It's November," he pointed out.
"It's Yuffie," the barmaid corrected with a radiant smile. "I'm going to have a few specials for the night, as she says an open bar party is what she wants. There will be 'Witch's Brew' again but I'm adding 'Vampire's Kiss' too."
"I'm starting to sense a theme," Cloud observed with a little chuckle.
"Would you like to try it?" she asked while flipping her hair over her shoulder playfully. Her cheeks flushed a bit at his comment, but she pretended it didn't matter.
"Try what?" he asked while quirking a golden eyebrow.
"The 'Vampire's Kiss' cocktail? It is vodka, raspberry liqueur and cranberry juice," she related to the man next to her. "I had some leftover ingredients from the last cocktail."
"Right," he replied as he took one of the ruby martinis between him and Tifa on the counter to sample the new mixed drink. The barmaid gazed at him as he lifted the glass to his pale lips.
"What do you think?" she coyly inquired of him as her eyebrow slightly raised.
"It's good," he set the glass down. One corner of his mouth curved up a little as he placed his hand firmly on the counter next to her hip. His arm acted as a hook when he knelt down beside her to open the mini fridge below, using his leather covered thumb to brush her exposed flesh lightly. Cloud had trapped her body againt the bar as he took his time searching for whatever beverage he needed. He was so close yet so far away at the same time. She bit her lip at this move, as innocent as it was, the touch was also so intimate for him to do. Goosebumps formed on her forearms from the continued contact as she waited for him to be done.
Standing up straight he grasped onto two beers in one hand, the other still trapping her against the counter. As he ascended he drew her in closer and Tifa couldn't help but shiver when his hot breath fanned against her earlobe.
"Care to join me?" From her peripheral view his passionate eyes acted as a magnet.
"Sure…" she answered as she angled her head to admire those sapphire orbs of his. Their faces were merely inches apart in that fleeting moment before he maneuvered away to take a seat. He was toying with her but she had no reason to stop him. After licking her lips, she joined him.
After the first beer he solicited more alcohol from her, sometimes the new cocktail, sometimes another beer. She participated as each drink offered the occasional touch as he opened up to her more. It never took that many to get the glint of mischief in his glowing eyes, a fact she noticed when he would be amourous towards her, as the need for more drinks was unnecessary. The barmaid didn't want him blitzed out of his mind if he decided to make another move, a much bolder move perhaps. She served him his last drink that evening, the 'Vampire's Kiss' while making her own glass.
Tifa drank her share slowly at her seat next to him, her stool now closer to his. He scooted her seat over earlier in between serving him which resulted in a sly smile from her as he tried to hide the fact. The floorboards creaked a little when he hooked his foot on the leg of the chair, but Tifa acted oblivious and continued to pour their last call for the night. Why jeopardize his efforts of seduction when he was willing to open up so much to her? Instead of being tense, his body transposed to tranquility. Facing each other Tifa nested her elbow on the bar top, her eyes focused on Cloud as he finished up a story from his latest delivery.
"What do you think is a 'Vampire Kiss'?" he murmured at the rim of his glass before he sipped on the red-blooded drink. This was his third share that evening.
"Hmm?"
Setting down his drink, he adjusted himself to lean in and lock his cerulean eyes into hers. "The name had to come from somewhere...and it makes me curious what it could be."
Her mouth parted a bit with how close his face was to hers. Keeping his eyes on her, he smoothly threaded his fingers through her chocolate silky hair, moving the tresses behind her shoulder. Cloud's eyes flickered over the smooth porcelain skin of her neck, now exposed to him. Tifa's heart fluttered delicately inside as she stared back, waiting for his next move. Standing up he gripped the edge of the counter to lean into the side of her face.
"Do you think I haven't noticed what you're trying to do to me, Tifa Lockhart?" Cloud whispered seductively into her ear, cupping her shoulder to keep her there with him. His hand didn't need to hold her as she wasn't going anywhere. Whatever he was willing to give, she would easily take. These nights at her bar between them were gratifying.
"I'm not sure what you're talking about...Cloud Strife," she replied meekly.
Running his fingers over where her shoulder and neck met, he chuckled lightly. "Then how come I don't believe you?"
Before she could deny again, his mouth suckled lightly at the side of her neck. Her breath hitched at the way his lips caressed her skin. She closed her eyes as she angled her head away to give him easier access. His tongue lapped at the sweet spot before he nibbled gently on her skin; at the same moment he squeezed her shoulder with his hand.
"Cloud…" she breathlessly whimpered.
At the sound of his name coming off her lips he stopped nuzzling her neckline. Tifa inwardly cursed for a moment until he lifted her chin, his blue eyes fixated on her red ones. The pad of his thumb brushed the bottom of her lip, her heart pounding upwards to escape the compounds of her chest. She was sure Cloud knew how dangerously close he was to her body. He stared down hard at her lips and it took all of her will power to hold still. She craved him, but he had to make the first move.
"Did you like my 'Vampire's Kiss'?" he playfully asked, brushing her hair out of her eyes with his free hand. His other still held her in place to not escape him.
She flushed furiously at the mention of his lips on her, as if her cheeks weren't red enough already. The corner of his mouth cocked up as his eyes danced playfully with hers.
"But that's the only kiss you get from me tonight."
"W-what?" Tifa blinked, dumbfounded he would dare stop.
"Well...you haven't made a drink for that one yet," he explained with a knowing smile.
"Excuse me?" She stood up from her chair to challenge him, her hands on her hips.
"Well this was the 'Blushing Kiss'," he touched her cheek as he recounted the other evening before trailing to her neck. "And here was the 'Vampire's Kiss'. But there hasn't been one to kiss you on the lips yet."
The sensation of his fingertips teasing her where his lips had been burned her skin like fire, her body still hot from the earlier nuzzling he dared to stop. He was changing the rules of their silent, yet fun, game by putting a label on it.
Taking a step back he cupped his own chin in thought. "I wonder what you'll come up with next. The drink to make me kiss you."
"Cloud..." she groaned out his name, clearly agitated with him.
Now acting oblivious to her reaction, he flashed her a smile as he disappeared upstairs to leave her alone in the bar. He was both cocky and confident tonight while playing hard to get. If he was going to change the rules, she would have to up her game.
Author's Note Cont: Both 'Blushing Kiss' and 'Vampire's Kiss' are actual cocktails you can try! The recipes are available online. There are a few different versions of 'Vampire's Kiss' so I used the simplified version in this story. Same ingredients that Tifa listed out above.