The night began to slightly chill the air as Tifa and Cloud sat together. From a ways off, Denzel and Marlene were still running about, laughing at certain points. Tifa smiled at Cloud who gave a small one back.
"They should get tired eventually, don't you think?" Tifa said with a laugh.
"Don't think so." Cloud responded, looking out towards the children.
"Well, I can't wait for these fireworks to start!" Tifa said and she sat up from Cloud. "When do you think they'll set 'em off?"
"No idea." Cloud sighed.
"Hm," Tifa bit her lip and stood. "well I hope it's soon. I just can't wait for some action!" she giggled shyly at Cloud, who looked away from her.
"Me too." Cloud replied after awhile. No sooner than he'd spoken a sharp crack filled the air, and Cloud yelped in surprise. "Shit!" Tifa rushed to kneel by him. She wrapped him in her arms and laughed.
"Cloud!" she exclaimed, still smiling. "You're afraid of fireworks?"
"No," Cloud said bravely, though his shaking movements told otherwise. "I'm not."
"Cloud, it's no big deal if you are." Tifa told him understandably. "Hell, I'm surprised I'm not." Cloud nodded and braced himself for the next crackle of light. When it came, he only slightly jumped as Tifa embraced him.
"Tifa! Cloud!" he heard Marlene and Denzel shout as they appeared from the grasses. "They're here, they're here!" Tifa laughed as the kids nestled in beside them, gazing profoundly up at the colored sky.
"Is Cloud afraid of fireworks, Tifa?'' Denzel asked, albeit worriedly, seeing as he looked up to Cloud.
"Cloud's fine, Denzel, he's just a bit jumpy." Tifa answered. Cloud blushed with embarrassment.
"Yeah, Denzel. I'm alright." he added. The young boy nodded and returned his attention to the sparkling lights above the group.
"They're so pretty!" Marlene gushed as she danced around in pleasure.
"Yup," Tifa said. "they are."
"Hm." Cloud grunted in agreement. Tifa still held on to his lean frame, scared stiff of the barking snaps and pops of the amusements. She saw a large green firework embrace the sky, it's thundering boom even making her flinch a bit.
"Cloud!" she shook him gently. "Did you see that big one?"
"Yeah." Cloud looked up gingerly. "Neat." The children were mesmerized by the array of color and brightness that the fireworks portrayed above them. They whispered excitedly to one another. Tifa had never seen Denzel so happy. She wished Cloud would be more receptive to the festivities of the holiday.
"We're going higher up, Tifa." Denzel told the young woman as he and Marlene stood, hands clutched together.
"Alright, but remember not to go too far off." Tifa warned instinctively. Though any monsters would probably be running away to hide from noises as immense as the ones made by the fireworks. The kids ran off yet again in search of a more exciting adventure. "Can't stay still for long,it seems." Tifa smiled at Cloud, who had a dazed look on his face as he gazed upwards. Tifa gasped slightly as she saw greens and reds and purples and blues reflected in his crystal eyes. They were bright and inquisitive, lively and nervous all at the same time.
"Tifa?" Cloud asked her as he felt her eyes on him. "Tifa?"
"Oh, Cloud!" Tifa snapped out of her trance as his voice fell on her ears. "Nothing I-"
"Were you looking at my eyes?" Cloud asked suddenly, dipping his head to shade them.
"I-" Tifa began, then deflated. Cloud became closer to her.
"I...I like all the colors." Cloud said, trying to give a genuine smile to his friend. "All the colors in the sky."
"Pretty, huh?" Tifa said with a nervous tone.
"Tifa..." Cloud said, concerned. "are you alright?" his eyes darted towards her, and Tifa resisted another expression of longing for them.
"Yes, Cloud." she replied unconvincingly. Cloud leaned on her heavily, and Tifa closed her eyes as she felt his weight. His affections were new to her, and she felt extremely uncomfortable with them. Cloud's hair brushed her, and Tifa leaned back on his warm chest, which invited her with a nervous embrace. She and Cloud nestled together in each other's arms for awhile, Tifa warming up to his closeness and feeling safer than she ever did before.
A sharp bang made Cloud lunge upwards, and Tifa gripped his arms tightly.
"You're okay, Cloud." she whispered, seeing Cloud lean forward to listen.
"Hm. Tifa." his eyes became sleepy as he looked at her. Tifa put her head on his neck and nuzzled, where Cloud emitted a small grunt of pleasure.
"Cloud...I..." Tifa began. She felt her eyes welling in happiness she had never known before. She felt Cloud's chest rise with a contented sigh.
"You're alright, Tifa." he said to her, holding her more tightly. His arms traveled to her waist, where she gave a sharp intake of breath at his closeness. Cloud immediately left her, and Tifa pulled him back in apology.
"It's fine Cloud." she said, stroking his forearm.
"Sorry." the young man responded sincerely.
"No really, Cloud, I'm alright."
"Hm." Cloud felt warmer than he had his entire life, here with Tifa, holding her, her holding him. He felt lighter; like he had found happiness in something so close as Tifa. Her body was strong, no doubt, but she still had a tinge of femininity that made her seem smaller to him, not weaker, but less strong. It pleased him, seeing as it was a spot for his comforts.
"Oh,gods, Cloud. I can' believe I'm doing this..." Tifa said unsuredly. Cloud nuzzled her.
"I thought friends were supposed to be close."
"Cloud..." Tifa tried to not sob in front of him. Cloud undserstood and became ever closer.
"These goddamn fireworks are making too much noise, Tifa. I can barely hear you sometimes." he said, trying to make her less uncomfortable. Tifa gave a small laugh and looked up with him. The expression of color in his eyes was too much for her, and she impulsively kissed him before he could react.
Cloud jumped, to Tifa's dismay, but he realized it was only the girl he'd held. Tifa buried her head in his shoulder with a stark blush. Cloud did not move.
"Tifa." he said deeply, his throat buzzing with voice. Tifa closed her eyes, hearing her name from his lips calmed her immensly. Cloud's hands touched her, bare ones, ones she'd learned to fear from past experiences with stronger males. She flinched."No," Cloud whispered in between a bang. "It's alright."