Another lot of huge special thanks to: anime hime7BmangakaGeogal2626Silentdeath BringerPoutingCutieand elebellyfor all reviewing on my last chapter. Thanks guys!!!!
Tifa smiled falsely to the annoying teenage girl who seemed to like telling her about how much her parents are a 'drag' and are 'well' annoying. She nodded once and watched as the girl spoke at an uncontrollable speed and she caught on the last few words like 'oh my god' and 'whatever'.
"I have to...go." Mumbled Tifa stepping backwards through the crowd, beginning to think she had come slightly overdressed seeing everyone was wearing either skimpy dresses or skirts.
She turned and picked up the wine glass downing it in one go. Tifa looked round seeing Cid who was standing at the window, his third cigarette of the evening in his fingers with Vincent besides him who was staring at the crowd. Tifa smiled at seeing the man dressed different, even if it was a plain back shirt and trousers at least it was something different. Cid didn't look like he had made much effort, more like Shera had made the effort for him.
She could see Yuffie in the middle of the crowd dancing like crazy a glass of wine in her hand and in her other another friend's hand. Tifa smiled sweetly, remembering she never had anything like this for her nineteenth birthday, a small get together at the Seventh Heaven, just her, Barret, Jessie and the others, (can't remember their names!).
The barmaid suddenly remembered there was a certain blond young man was missing from the party.
Cloud stared helplessly at the crowd below; maybe he should have left earlier so there weren't as many people to watch him walk down the stairs. He tugged at the end of his shirt and averted his gaze, he'd fought the greatest Soldier of all time, twice, and was still standing, how could he not walk down some stairs into a crowd of people?
He walked forwards, feeling his confidence boost slightly; he stopped dead at the first step and paused. He looked down contemplating he could jump over the edge and no one would see him get down, but then thinking such an entrance might cause some curiosity. Then he could walk quietly down the stairs, but then there would be more of a chance of someone spotting him. Or he could just run down the stairs and no one will take any notice.
Tifa looked round and stared at the top of the stairs, there was a blond man at the top and she smiled when she realised who it was, then all of a sudden, as if he had a sudden sugar rush he ran down the stairs missing nearly three steps each time. She held back a laugh when he finally disappeared from view and she walked into the crowd intent on finding him.
She rummaged past a group of teens who seemed to just be jumping on the spot in rhythm to the pounding music in her ears.
The brunette made it out the other side of the crowd and stopped. She stared at the man in front of her; she looked at the perfectly formed blond spikes and at the white shirt that showed off his muscular chest and shoulders. She felt her old teenage streak run through, seeing his dark blue jeans hugging a certain part of him and she shook the thought out of her head, guessing it was all the teens around rubbing off on her.
She slowly walked forwards and watched as the blond turned, he stared at her for a second his eyes surveying her and Tifa looked down at the floor nervously. She heard the blond stutter something and then turns back round gratefully taking the glass off the bartender. "Cloud, you look amazing!" The brunette cried taking three steps towards him placing her hand on his shoulder.
"You think?" He mumbled, taking a quick drink from the glass.
Tifa smiled and looked into his glowing mako blue eyes. "You really do look great Cloud." She laughed. Cloud lowered his glass, running thoughts through his head, knowing the woman was expecting a complement in return.
"You look pretty good too Tifa."
There was a cry of laughter and the two looked round watching Barret walk forward staring at the blond. "What happened to you, did you get knocked on the head or something?" Barret cried walking forwards clapping a hand on his shoulder hard enough to make Cloud's knees shake.
Tifa watched Cloud down the glass quickly and slamming it onto the bar nodding to the bartender to refill it. "Cloud, I think you'd better calm down." Added Tifa watching him quickly down the drink again. "I mean, you don't want to end up, well, off your head."
"If only." He mumbled, finishing the contents off. Tifa stared at him, never knowing Cloud actually get drunk, perhaps a perk of mako.
"Look what the cat dragged in!" Tifa sighed at hearing the oh-so to familiar voice.
"You, were invited?" She cried, at the red headed Turk, who slid down the bar.
"Yes, and don't act so surprised!" Snapped Reno, wiping his black and red shirt sleeve down as if the remark and somehow dirtied himself. "And look, Spiky here is drinking!" Cloud frowned noting how the party was already bad enough and had just gotten considerably worse. "How's about a wager Chocobo head?"
The blond turned on his heel, gracefully putting the glass back down on the bar. "Don't waste your time Reno." He muttered. Tifa took a step besides him smiling at the childish face across Reno's face.
"Hey, you don't look that bad Tifa, how's about later."
"Shut it Reno." Cloud suddenly snapped, silencing the normally un-silenceable Reno Sinclair. Tifa smiled sweetly up at Cloud, who obviously realised what he'd done and turned back round to disappear.
"C'mon Spiky, how's about our little wager?"
"Shut it Reno."
Tifa followed the blond and smiled once at Reno. She stopped suddenly hearing a familiar song fill her ears. "Cloud!" She cried, the blond stopped and looked over his shoulder at her. "It's my song!"
The blond turned fully and continued to stare blankly at her. "You know, everyone has their own song!" The blond shook his head and Tifa hesitated. "Will you dance with me?"
Cloud stopped suddenly and looked down at the floor, before slowly looking round at the beautiful brunette. "Come on Cloud?!" She pleaded walking forwards and grabbing his hand.
"I..." He began nervously scratching the back of his head. "I, don't know how."
"How to what, dance?" She smiled sweetly. "Didn't they teach you that at soldier school?"
Cloud's eyebrows rose and he smirked at her. "Yeah, right after home economics."
Tifa stared at him, hoping this was 'letting his hair down'. She tugged his hands to the edge of the crowd, but far in enough that they wouldn't be seen.
"Okay, put your hands on my waist." She began standing in front of him. The blond looked round nervously. "Come on Cloud!" She watched him raise his hands and then drop them sighing in defeat. "If you can swing that ton of a sword you can put your hands on my waist!" She grabbed his hands and pulled them onto her waist for him. He carried on staring blankly at her, his spine slightly bent from standing at least a meter away from her. "And we need to be closer." She took a stride closer, and Cloud's back went straight and he looked round nervously to check he wasn't being watched. "Cloud you need to relax."
"I am relaxed!" He snapped through gritted teeth. She smiled at him again and she watched him try to return the gesture.
"Then I put my arms, round your, neck." She lifted her arms doing as she said and the blond carried on to stand still. "Okay, now we dance."
"What am I expected to throw you in the air or something?" He began his hands tightening round her waist as if he was about to.
"No, no don't do that!" She said almost screaming, knowing the blond could easily throw her into the air. His hands relaxed but remained where she had placed them. "Okay, follow my feet, I'll lead." She took tiny steps backwards and then forwards the two barely moving from the spot.
"I thought the man, meant to lead?" Cloud said with a smirk plastered on his face.
"Well, yes they tend to, but judging by your lack of expertise..."
"Let me lead then!" Tifa couldn't help but laugh at him, she nodded seeing the seriousness in his face, as if not doing so would offend his pride.
Tifa allowed him to slowly pull her along, she looked up at him seeing the concentration in his face and his mako eyes suddenly locked with hers. "Am I doing it right?" She nodded again and licked her lips.
"You can do it like this as well." She stepped closer to him resting her head against his chest, she heard the beat of his heart suddenly increase, before slowing back down to its slow pace. She felt his head rest at the side of hers and his hands moved up behind her back almost holding her close to him.
Tifa closed her eyes, maybe Cloud wanted this too, the two of them locked in this moment that could stay like this forever. She licked her lips, wanting to whisper those three words to him, hoping he'd whisper them back.
She opened her eyes, seeing the birthday girl standing there in shock and besides her Vincent who was obviously making sure the teen wouldn't destroy the one thing he knew Tifa wanted for such a long time.
The music suddenly ended and it's slow pace was replaced with the heavy beat of drums. Tifa waited for the blond to let go, and he let his hands slid down her back and she stepped backwards. "Do you want to learn another dance?" She smiled sweetly, seeing his own peaceful smiled.
"No." He whispered. "I want that one, to be the only one I'll ever remember." He added, his smile growing wider, making Tifa's knees go weak, he was so much more handsome when he smiled. His mako eyes stayed fixed on her and she tried to hold his gaze. She almost jumped when she heard the crack of the balloons above them being released making her wonder if the ninja had asked them to be. She looked back and watched Cloud reach for her his hand grabbing his waist drawing her to him, she allowed him pull her and she dropped her hand on his shoulder. Their lips touched and Tifa closed her eyes, allowing the blond to explore her mouth. She gripped onto his shirt, hoping the moment wouldn't end.
Cloud closed his eyes, not sure why he was doing this, was this an insult to Aerith's memory? He suddenly let go and pushed backwards. Tifa stared at him her eyes opening suddenly, her eyes half full of questions and anger. "I'm...sorry...I." He turned round and walked into the crowd. You're such a fool Cloud Strife, how could Tifa ever like someone like you?
He stormed through the crowd, intent of getting back to his room. He didn't look to check if Tifa was following him. What's wrong with you? It was nothing more than a childish crush, of course she doesn't love you you've been fooling yourself, and she just pities you! These thoughts were what he needed like ecstasy for the mind.
He could see the steps now, this wasn't him, he didn't belong in places like this, after everything he's done, how could he possibly think he should be allowed to live a life of luxury?
Tifa stared after Cloud, tears forming in her eyes, not sure what had happened, she went to follow him but a hand grabbed her shoulder and she turned, ready to strike off any teenager who thought they might get lucky. Instead there stood the raven haired man. "I think he needs to be alone Tifa." Muttered Vincent, perhaps the one person who understood Cloud the most, even more than her, the person who had known him all his life.
The barmaid let Vincent pull her out of the crowd and he glared at Yuffie until she disappeared so she understood he was the only person who should talk to her right now. "Was it me Vincent, did I do something wrong? I didn't..." She began going into hysterics.
"I think, he still hasn't forgiven himself Tifa." The exTurk mumbled taking his corner besides the window handing the woman a glass of wine who took it gratefully. "Think about it, maybe he did love Aerith, and now sees what he's done as an insult to her."
Tifa looked at him his wine eyes glazed over as he stared at the floor. "Shouldn't I have done what I did?" She asked, hoping this wouldn't make the blond relapse to his old thoughts and old self. "I thought I was helping him, making him come here and get away from everything that happened in Edge, so that it will take his mind off things." Vincent didn't reply and Tifa took a another sip from her glass. "I need to talk to him Vincent."
She almost slammed the glass down and raced to the stairs, she quickly ran up them searching for his door.
She stopped in front of it and stared at the bottom of it, the light was on except it was being blocked, guessing he was sitting at the bottom. "Cloud, you don't need to open the door, but I'm sorry, if you weren't ready, if you don't even love me I'll accept that, but I do, I love you Cloud."
O.o what happens next?? I'm sorry if it went a bit sad near the end but I wanted to not make Cloud automatically except Tifa's love straight away, 'cause he's gone into a complicated kinda character in Advent and i always kind of thought he'd question himself over Aerith and Tifa, but what will he actually do...????