Time to party! Haha. And I'm so glad that you guys like this story. I mean it.

"Here we go…" Zack said nervously as he looked at the Shinra mansion. "I really hope I don't make an idiot of myself after I get in there."

"Count yourself lucky," Cloud deadpanned. "I'm gonna make an idiot of myself just by walking up to the door."

"Hey, it's not that bad."
"Yes it is. I am wearing a mask that makes me look like a human-chocobo hybrid. A human. Chocobo. Hybrid."

"Well, your hair matches it, and mine doesn't. I mean, come on, I couldn't wear that mask. I'd look like a moron."

"I hate you."

The two of them wore simple black suits with white shirts. Zack had a normal black tie, while Cloud's was a black bow tie. Their masks, as Zack had mentioned, matched their hair. Zack's was a basic black mask, while Cloud's did indeed resemble the feathered face of a chocobo. It even had a beak.

"Let's get this over with," Cloud murmured.

"After you, Boko," Zack grinned.

"Screw you."

The ballroom was exquisite. Flowers covered every wall, and the room was filled with men and women dressed extravagantly, with masks covering their faces.

"Cool," was all Zack said.

Two masked men walked over to them, with two giggling women in tow. "Please…" one of them panted, "dance with her. I…am running…out of…breath…"

"Sure thing," Zack agreed. "What about you, Cloud?"

"Uh, I'm not much of a dancer."

"Okay, suit yourself. You know, you'll never get a girl if you act like that all the time." Then he went off to dance with the woman, who was still laughing giddily.

For the first time, Cloud was glad he was wearing his stupid chocobo mask. At least it hid his blush. He went off to sit near the punch bowl, watching Zack dance with the over-excited woman.

"You not into dancing?" a woman's voice asked him.

Cloud turned. The one who had spoken wore a black dress, with sequins adorning it. Her mask was black and feathered, but didn't look as ridiculous as his did. Her eyes were a curiously familiar brown.

"Nah," Cloud replied. "So I guess I'm gonna have a fun night."

The woman laughed at his somewhat lame joke. She grabbed a chair and sat next to him.

"Same with me," she said. "Where I grew up, dancing wasn't a major thing."

"Oh yeah? Where's that?"

"Nibelheim," was the reply.

"No way!" Cloud said, stunned.

"What?"

"I grew up in Nibelheim too."

"Seriously?"

"Yeah."

"Well, didn't see that coming." She rested her hand on his lap. Eager to change the subject, Cloud pointed at the flowers on the wall. "Those are nice," he stammered.

The woman nodded. "Rufus bought them from some street vendors the other day."

"Really?" Cloud asked. "Did you catch their names?"

"Well, I don't remember one of them, but I remember the one who was pulling the cart."

"And that was?" Cloud had a feeling he knew already, but he wanted to make sure.

"I think it was Cloud."

Cloud nodded, feigning a thoughtful look. "That's a weird name."

"Hey!" the woman protested. "I happen to think that's a very nice name."

He shrugged. "Whatever." He looked back to the dance floor, but couldn't see Zack and his bubbly dance partner. While he did that, he noticed in the corner of his eye that the woman he was sitting next to, who he was sure now was Tifa, was staring at him.

"What?" he asked her.

"It's just…" she mused, "I think I've seen that hair somewhere before."

Cloud panicked. His mask had been a source of anonymity to him, and that was all that had given him the confidence to talk to her. If she recognised him, all his confidence would probably vanish.

"You know, you look kinda similar to that Cloud guy I was talking about before."

"Really?" he asked nervously. "And is that a good thing?"

"Yes. I happened to think that Cloud was kinda cute."

Cloud blushed again. "Uh…" he floundered.

"Just give it up, Cloud. I know it's you."

Busted, Cloud thought. But outside, he said, "Well, Tifa, I know it's you."

She froze. Then, in a composed voice, she said, "Okay then, on 'three', we both take our masks off. Okay?"

"Okay."

"One…two…three!"

Sure enough, Cloud and Tifa revealed themselves to each other at the same time. They stared at each other for a while. Then, completely out of nowhere, Tifa grabbed the back of his head and kissed him.

Cloud was sure that he could see Zack yelling "Boo-yah!" and punching the air.

Hehehe, jumping right into the CloTi there.

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