Author's Note: As promised (and I try my best to keep my promises) an update every month. I hope you like it! Feedback is always appreciated!

Disclaimer: I own nothing at all.

The Risks of Gambling

Summary: [AU] Tifa didn't know she had a gambling problem until she staked her freedom… and lost. [CloudTifa] [ZackAerith]

Chapter 4 – Moving

"Nice work, Cloud."

Sephiroth placed down the newspaper, sliding it along the long rectangular mahogany table before it lied before Zack and Cloud. The two men glimpsed at the paper when it reached them.

The three sat in a spacious meeting room, filled with a large monitor hung against the wall, a large rectangular desk and chairs surrounding the desk. Sephiroth sat at the head of the table as Zack and Cloud sat across him at the other end.

Cloud had begun bringing Tifa along with him wherever he went, whether it be a gala, dinner, art exhibit or other social gathering. At each event, Tifa's beauty and charm immediately drew attention as local papers instantly found themselves with a popular subject, particularly for her showing up with the ever-so-quiet Cloud each and every time.

"You're doing well, Cloud," said Sephiroth. "Finally you're attracting positive attention instead of the negative."

Cloud remained silent, maintaining the scowl fixed on his face as he stared at the silver-haired man.

"Tell me, Cloud," added his boss, "is this woman actually your girlfriend or is she just a pretty date for pay?"

Cold silence was his answer. Sephiroth chuckled at the lack of response.

"Smart man," he commented. "The answer is irrelevant. The point is, the media is going to get bored of her simply being with you, Cloud. And when that happens, they will move on to the next best thing." He laced his fingers together, leaning back against his chair as a small creak was heard. "You need to keep their interest."

"How do you propose he do that, Sephiroth?" asked Zack with a scoff.

Cloud pointed his gaze towards the floor.

Seeing this, Sephiroth smirked. "I think Cloud knows just what to do."

The blonde looked at his boss. "Is that all?" he asked, his voice showing a hint of irritation.

Sephiroth nodded, and the two men immediately stood up and took their leave.

"As if the meetings aren't long enough," Zack muttered once the two left had left the room. He glanced at his friend. "Why do you always do that, Cloud?"

"Do what?"

"Bend over and do whatever Sephiroth tells you."

Cloud gave the raven-haired male a flat look. "He's our boss, Zack."

Said man scoffed, folding his arms behind his head. "Yeah, yeah… listen, I'm going to take my lunch break now. I need to get Sephiroth out of my system. You coming?"

Cloud shook his head at the offer. "Not today. I need to make a call."

Zack nodded, pressing the down button once he reached the elevator. "Alright, I'll see you later then."

Cloud nodded in return before entering his office. He walked over to his desk, taking a seat as he picked up the phone that rested idly against the corner of his desk. He dialed a few numbers before holding the phone to his ear as he listened to it ring.

"Hello?" the voice answered.

"Tifa," he greeted simply. "We need to talk."

"You want me to move in with you?"

Tifa's tone was full of skepticism as she paced around Cloud's living room, her fingers drumming against her hip. Cloud stood as his gaze followed her, watching her pace back and forth in circles.

He nodded. "It would only be until job gets done, which should only take a couple weeks based on the progress we're making."

"You're asking me to drop everything I'm doing just to help you," Tifa instantly replied, stopping in her steps as she turned towards him. She crossed her arms across her chest and frowned at him. "I have a business to run, Cloud."

"I'll take care of it," he replied matter-of-factly.

"But it's only been a few weeks! Isn't this too soon?"

Cloud shook his head. Imitating her stance, he folded his arms across his chest as well.

She sighed, running a hand through her hair. "I need to sit down," she mumbled to herself as she plopped herself against a soft love seat. She rested her elbows on her knees as she looked from the floor to Cloud. "Don't you think this is a little much?"

"You will be compensated," he replied back.

Her eyebrows knitted together at the answer. "You can't always buy your way out of things, Cloud."

"It's only for a few weeks," he retorted. "Everything with your business will be taken care of during the time." He shrugged. "Think of it as a mini vacation."

A vacation… across town? Tifa thought to herself as she contemplated his reasoning.

Seeing her expression, Cloud added, "I wouldn't be asking you this if it wasn't necessary, Tifa."

The tone of his voice made her look at him. His expression was calm as usual, but his tone held a sense of… need, though only a hint, not that he would ever admit it.

She stood up, walking around the room, looking at each wall from the ceiling to the floor. Her hands were laced together behind her back as she did so, and Cloud noticed she seemed like someone who was walking through a museum, studying each feature inside.

Tifa peeked her head outside the room, glancing around. Cold, white marble met her gaze at every turn, and everything was kept in pristine condition. Nothing was dusty, the floor was spotless, and there was always food in the fridge. She looked at Cloud's clothing. It seemed the laundry was done adamantly, as well.

Her eyes were squinted slightly when she met Cloud's cerulean stare.

"Who does the cleaning?"

"A housekeeper comes in once a day. She's quick and efficient."

"Cooking?"

"Food is always made ready to eat in the fridge."

"Laundry?"

"The housekeeper takes care of that too."

Tifa lifted a finger, tapping her chin thoughtfully. It was a large house, with a size anyone would be content with, and she was already comfortable with Zack and Aerith. Other people kept up the maintenance of the house, so she wouldn't have to lift a finger. Not to mention, the furniture was very comfortable, a little fact she had found out when she awoke the morning after her drunken episode with Aerith by her side.

Cloud was watching her expression carefully, feeling as though a weight was lifted off his shoulders when her mouth finally spread in a smile.

"Fine."

The clock had just struck midnight.

It had taken a few hours for Tifa to gather and settle her things in a room Aerith had picked out for her. It was down the hallway from Cloud's and right beside Aerith' room in case she needed anything.

Aerith had been kind enough to give her a grand tour of the house, which was much larger than Tifa had imagined. The mansion had a plethora of rooms, which Aerith explained were often empty because Zack and Cloud had nothing to fill them with, having only what they needed and few luxuries.

At the back of the house was a large garden. A sweet floral scent instantly filled the area as flowers of all kinds and colors were scattered around the area. A fountain rested in the middle as clear water poured out. A small pond rested in the corner where fish swam around freely. The sight was extremely calming as birds tweeted in the air and the water streamed into the pond.

As Tifa sat in the spacious living room by the kitchen, she was suddenly brought out of her thoughts when she heard movement behind her. She glanced over her shoulder, only making out a figure walking into the kitchen because it was too dark to see who it was.

When the refrigerator door opened, the light illuminated the room, letting Tifa see it was Cloud who was bent over and digging through the contents. She blushed as the light shone off the smooth bare skin of his back, revealing he wasn't wearing a shirt. When the door closed, she quickly turned around, feeling foolish because she was sure he knew she was there.

As if on cue, he asked, "Why are you still awake?"

She turned around, looking at his masked figure as she smiled, though she doubted he could see it. "I can't sleep," she admitted sheepishly, turning back around as she glanced in her hands where she had been holding a glass of water. She took a small sip before she felt the weight in the sofa shift. She glanced to her left to find Cloud had taken a seat at the edge of the couch.

"Is something wrong?"

Tifa blinked at the question. It didn't seem like one he would ask often. Nevertheless, she flashed him a quick smile again. "No, nothing's wrong. I just haven't gotten used to this place yet."

Cloud nodded, leaning back against the cushion as he closed his eyes momentarily.

"What about you?"

He opened his eyes, turning his head to look at her. "What about me?"

"Why are you still awake?"

The blonde remained nonchalant. "I was hungry. I got up for a snack."

Tifa glanced at Cloud's hands that rested motionlessly against his lap. She blushed at the sight of his toned torso, having been able to see it through the glow of the moonlight streaming through the curtains, bathing the room in a heavenly glow. She couldn't help but admit his chiseled physique was a pleasant surprise, but awfully distracting from the conversation.

She cleared her throat to clear her thoughts, shaking her head slightly. "But you aren't holding anything," she said plainly.

He shrugged. "Couldn't find anything."

"Oh," Tifa simply replied. She saw Cloud lean his head back once more, his eyes coming to a close. Her brown eyes couldn't help but travel over his upper body, from the muscle tone in his arms to the tight abs clearly defined on his stomach.

Cloud popped open one eye, noticing Tifa's stare on him. It had taken her a moment to realize he had been looking at her, causing her to blush profusely when her gaze met his as she ducked her head away.

"It gets hot during the night," he told her. Tifa knew he was indirectly explaining to her why was he was shirtless, causing her to blush to deeper shades of red. "Does it bother you?"

She shook her head. "N-No," she answered, inwardly cursing at herself for stuttering as she fidgeted her fingers. She felt ridiculous, behaving like a silly schoolgirl. She shook her head roughly side to side, taking a quiet breath to calm her racing heartbeat.

"You should drink warm milk."

Tifa tilted her head, a puzzled look on her face. "What?"

Cloud shifted his gaze towards her. "To help you sleep," he drawled. "Warm milk helps you sleep. My mother told me that."

"Oh," she answered, placing her glass of water on a coaster resting on the table counter in front of her. She shifted her position so her side was leaning against the couch as she looked at him. "What is she like?" she asked, partially wondering if he was going to answer such a personal question.

He looked away, looking ahead of him, his stare becoming distant. "I don't remember."

Tifa glanced down, mentally scolding herself. Why do I keep saying the wrong things? she thought, suddenly wishing she were holding her glass of water again as her throat became parched.

"I don't remember a lot about my parents," he admitted, breaking the small silence that had befallen them. "They passed away in a car accident when I was young."

"I'm sorry," she said, her voice empathic. "I can't imagine…"

Cloud shrugged. He didn't like the tone of her voice. He didn't want to be pitied.

"Is that why…?" Tifa began, before looking away, deliberately ending her sentence prematurely.

Cloud glanced at her, her question drawing his curiosity. "Why what?"

"No, it's nothing," she replied, nervously tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear as she avoided his gaze.

"Tifa." His voice practically commanded her to look at him. "Tell me."

"Well, it's just…" she began, fidgeting timidly. "You're very quiet."

"And?"

Tifa began playing with idle strands of her hair as discomfort settled within her stomach from her line of statements. "Well, you're too quiet. Unusually quiet."

Cerulean eyes blinked as silence fell between them for a moment. "I prefer it that way."

Tifa fidgeted once more. "Because of what happened to your parents?"

Cloud arched a brow at her question. "What do you mean?"

She bit her lip, suddenly wishing she had never brought up the subject.

Well, there's no turning back now, she reasoned with herself, noting Cloud's fixed stare on her.

As she began to explain, Tifa absentmindedly twiddled her thumbs. "It's just, you're very private. Is it because you don't want to get close to someone because you're scared of losing them?"

She noticed Cloud hold his stare on her for several moments, the intensity in his stare seeming to build with each passing second. She shifted uncomfortably under his sharp gaze.

Finally, he said, "No one's told me that before."

Her ears perked at the statement. "Am I right?"

"No."

Her shoulders slumped. Well, now she just felt silly. "What is it then?"

"What is what?"

"What makes you so private? Why don't you let anyone in?"

There it is, thought Tifa. That stare again. Except this time his eyes were squinted somewhat, as though he were contemplating whether or not to tell her.

She held her ground, not moving her eyes from his for a second. Though she'd be lying if she said that her stomach wasn't twisting in several knots from his stare.

"It's easier not to trust anyone," he told her.

"You're telling me you don't trust Zack or Aerith?"

The blonde shook his head. "They're different."

Tifa tilted her head thoughtfully. "What made you not trust anyone, Cloud?"

He glanced at her, then focused his gaze to the darkness in front of him. "Money… changes people," he answered her quietly. "People will do anything for it, and the more they get, the more their greed grows. They won't stop until they have every last penny."

While he was telling her this, his expression became remote once more, as though he were recalling a memory. Her eyes softened.

"Did someone betray you?" Tifa asked.

"Not someone, many people." He could feel her sympathetic stare on him as he kept his gaze firmly fixed to anything in front of him. "I don't need you feeling sorry for me. It's in the past, there's nothing that can be done."

She frowned at his comment. "I don't feel sorry for you," she replied, but she knew he was uncomfortable since he refused to meet her eyes. "Cloud, look at me."

He reluctantly did so, only to find her eyes boring into his. "What?" he asked, not liking the look she was giving him.

"Cloud…" she began softly.

A stilling pause filled the air.

"…Why are your eyes such a bright blue?"

The blonde lifted a brow. She took a ridiculously long pause, which made him fairly uneasy, for a question like that?

"My eyes?" he asked, watching Tifa nod in return as he blinked. Her eyes were shifting left and right as she looked at each one. "My company tests on genetic enhancements. I had poor eyesight, so they injected me with a regimen to help my eyesight."

"Did it work?"

He nodded. "It also gave me the ability to see at night as though it were as clear as day."

After he mentioned this, he noticed Tifa instantly shift and move one of the sofa pillows in front of her. He was inwardly slightly amused at her action, having already noticed that she was only wearing a thin, light blue silk nightgown.

"They're so pretty," she whispered, and Cloud arched a brow. "They have a sort of glow in the dark. It's really pretty." She flashed a smile at him. "Can I get a better look?"

He didn't answer, so she took it as a yes. She slowly inched herself closer to him, moving more tentatively when she would notice him tense. Once at a close enough proximity, she leaned forward slightly, seeing his eyes flash down before returning to her gaze.

After a couple moments, she gave him a dazzling smile. "They have tints of gold in them. How pretty."

He said nothing for a couple moments. Then, "Are you done?"

She leaned back and beamed at him. "Yep. Thank you."

He didn't answer; instead he leaned his head back against the cushion and closed his eyes once more. He wasn't going to tell her that while she had been studying his eyes, he had been looking at hers too, noting how thick her eyelashes were and how her brown eyes had hidden green specks in them, too.

"Cloud?"

Her voice drew him out of his thoughts. "What?"

"Can I ask you one more thing?"

He eyed her for a moment, then nodded.

"How did you meet Zack and Aerith?"

"They're both long stories."

"How long?"

"Too long."

She pouted. "Please, Cloud?"

He frowned. "Will it help you sleep?"

She nodded eagerly. "After this, I will go to sleep. Promise."

He sighed quietly, then relented. "Fine. I met Zack ten years ago, when I was thirteen. He was taking junk people had thrown out and fixing them up, then reselling them for a higher price. I noticed behind him he had spare parts for a motorcycle. I asked him if he knew how to make one, he said no, but I did. Then—"

He stopped when he felt something press against his shoulder. He looked down, finding Tifa resting soundly against him as she took even breaths.

Cloud blinked a few times. He hadn't noticed that when she had moved closer to him to look at his eyes, she hadn't moved away, and instead ended up still being in close proximity enough to doze off against him.

He slowly began to move, shifting to find a way to get out from beneath her, but instead it only made her nestle herself further against him by laying her head on his chest.

He immediately stiffened. He wasn't used to someone being so close to him, let alone touching him. But he couldn't help but notice how soft she felt against his bare skin.

Cloud inwardly sighed. He decided it would be too much of a hassle to move and carry her to bed. It would probably only wake her up anyway, considering he had spent enough effort to try and get her to fall asleep. He decided, for the sake of keeping her asleep, he would let her rest on him.

That, and she smelled really nice, too.