Post-game AU - Followup to A Series of Moments - Tifa x Aeris


Two more days. She would wait two more days and claim that was her birthday. Tifa glanced across at Aeris who was reading her book as they sat under the blazing Costa del Sol sun. Her partner had been less than truthful about when her own birthday fell. She insisted it was a week later to disguise the fact that they were both still dealing with the fallout of Meteor when it actually fell. That had been last year and taking her cue from Aeris, Tifa had likewise insisted her birthday was seven days later than it was. Aeris had come clean two days after her alleged birthday this year and Tifa was determined to match this too.

If she was honest, she knew it was childish to maintain this fiction now that Aeris had come clean, but she wanted to be fair. She had celebrated her girlfriend's birthday late through no fault of her own, so Aeris could do similar. They would correct for next year and stop these little games. Not that she minded any of the little games. She reached out, brushing her fingers along Aeris's arm. The brunette looked up from her book for a moment, eyes visible over her sunglasses as she smiled and winked at Tifa. It frustrated a little how rapid the book drew her girlfriend's attention back to it, leaving Tifa to tan under the sun. It felt like mid-summer here, always one of the major draws of the resort town.

Tifa exhaled, the heat now becoming just a little bit uncomfortable.

"I'm going to go swim. Care to join me?"

Aeris looked up from her book, blinking at her and fidgeting. "I'm okay for now. I might come in in a bit - I just want to finish this chapter."

The response was a little disappointing, but she had no desire to inflict what she wanted on her girlfriend. She crossed the sand as fast as she could, the sand hurting her feet as she walked. The cool water was refreshing once she reached it and she plunged underwater, swimming out into the channel. She was glad they were here during the off-season; fewer families around. At times it almost felt like a private resort for the two of them. There were still others around, but few enough in number to not bother her.

Tifa swam along the shoreline with ease, gliding through the water. It was a slight pity that the beach was all golden sand. Despite the crystal clear water, there was little to see below the water. She recalled something about snorkelling and contemplated suggesting it as an activity for tomorrow. She swam ten more lengths, feeling much cooler and more refreshed, though it did not look like Aeris was going to join her. Tifa smiled at the thought of her getting far too involved with her book. Her damp feet helped with the hot sand, and it was much easier to walk back to the sun-loungers where Aeris was still reading. Despite sitting in near the exact same pose, somehow a small, square box sat in Tifa's sun-lounger. Wrapped in white paper and tied with a red ribbon Tifa tried not to stare at it.

"Aeris?"

"Mmmm?"

"I don't think this was here before."

Aeris glanced to her face and then down to the sun-lounger. Her lips almost quirked into a smile and she pressed them together looking back at her book. "Oh that," Aeris said, feigning nonchalance. "It's your birthday present." Her voice rose in pitch as she spoke, her lips now developing into a grin. Staring at her book for another moment, she looked up at Tifa, pulling her sunglasses down her nose. "Happy birthday, Tifa."

Tifa was smiling, but wanted answers. "But I- I mean, how did you-?"

"I called Barret last month to try and arrange getting everyone together for a party. They are surprisingly hard to contact at the moment. I guess PHS reception is still spotty."

"So Barret told you I'd been fibbing?"

"He did," said Aeris. "He also apologised for him and Marlene not being here in person, but he was able to send a present. It's back in our room."

"You're sneaky, Miss Gainsborough."

"Maybe. But how could I pass up the opportunity to see your surprise like that Miss Lockhart?"

Tifa leaned down, nudging Aeris's hat a bit further up her head and brought their lips together. "Thank you."

"No problem. Happy birthday."

"Can I open it now?" Tifa's gaze had slid to the present.

"Of course. Unless you want to wait and open it with the others?"

"'Others'?" she repeated.

Aeris smirked. "Yes. While I wasn't able to get in touch with everyone, I do at least have cards from most of our friends."

Tifa sank onto her lounger. "Gonna have to make sure to get them all something for their birthdays."

"Already started thinking about it," said Aeris. She gestured at the box in Tifa's hand. "Go on, open it."

Her head still whirling with the surprise, Tifa picked at the ribbon and pulled off the wrapping paper.