as our evening comes to a close
authors note: I APOLOGIZE IN ADVANCE FOR ANY TYPOS.
::laughs:: this semi-long chapter is written especially for kristen, who said it best: "They kiss yet? :P"
and the answer to the question one and all is YES!
::giggles:: as you were.
disclaimer: see chapters 2 & 3. i dun wanna keep typing and retyping this thing over and over.
Tifa slid into her seat at their table, Barrett slid into his.
For a long moment they were silent, they were both temporarily lost in their own realms of thinking.
Over the din of classical music, he leaned over to mumble; "Are you going to be okay?"
Tifa smiled and patted his hand reassuringly. "I'll be fine, don't worry B."
Then someone tapped her shoulder and she whirred around, only to see Reeve standing there.
"Yes?" She didn't want to, but she tensed up. What now?...
"Tifa... may I have a word?"
She winked at Barrett, gingerly rose from her seat and followed Reeve a few feet away where they could have a bit more privacy.
Reeve looked at her then, eyes darting out at the tables before he met her gaze and held it.
"Tifa I... Cloud went home, at my request."
Hn. Good. Tifa smirked, and motioned for him to continue.
Reeve's face was rueful. "Tifa, I never would have invited Cloud had I known it would cause all this..."
"Drama? Stress? Unnecessary headache?" Tifa supplied, a hand drifting to her hip.
He shook his head from side to side, lines crinkling gently in his forehead. "Exactly. I was under the impression that you and Cloud had ended on more friendly terms. And for that, I apologize for whatever hurt it caused you." His face softened from his usual business facade. "I'm sorry."
Tifa hugged him then. Reeve went stiff as he awkwardly tried to return the hug, he really wasn't used to any type of affection, and when he did recieve it, it was in rare moments like this.
"If anything, Cloud should be the one apologizing. But it was sweet of you to say this, thank you Reeve." She patted his arm and smiled. "You and Barrett threw this bash, so have a blast tonight, okay?"
That's when the sound of a mic being tapped on resounded through the room and the music died down.
Reeve and Tifa shared a look before Tifa began walking back to her seat, Reeve at her side. He pulled out the chair for her and she sat, waving at him. He nodded and headed off towards the stage.
When Tifa got back to the table, she was nearly glomped by Yuffie. "Hiya Teef, you all right? I was worried. I was going to stick my comformer up Cloud as -"
"Yuffs - " Tifa snickered at what Yuffie was going to say; "I'm fine okay? Cid went after me."
Yuffie cocked her head to the side and that's when Tifa realized she said too much. When Yuffie was nosey, it was like a pitbull trying to get at a pork chop. Relentless.
"Oh he did, did he?" Yuffie wondered. Mmmmmm. I wonder what...
And then Reeve cleared his throat up on stage as he took the mic and Tifa heaved a silent breath of relief.
She nudged the ninja. "Later, okay? Reeve's about to speak." Tifa hoped later would never come, she really didn't feel like explaining the dynamics between her and Cid to anyone, since she barely knew what went on between them herself.
Reeve smiled and looked out over the room. "I'll cut this short so we can get on to the dancin', mmm?" A few people whooped in the audience and Reeve chuckled. "On behalf of ShinRa, and on behalf of myself, I want to welcome everyone to the Space Program Charity Dinner."
Applause rang out. "As I'm sure you know, this is the second time this Program will be instituted by ShinRa. This is the first time I'm planning on it succedding. You paying for your seats tonight, that funding goes towards the Program. Any donation you feel that you want to contribute, whether it be one gil or one million, every little bit helps." He turned to the side, gesturing. "Without further ado, I present to you the genius behind the Space Program, Cid Highwind."
Barrett whopped. Yuffie whistled and Tifa laughed and clapped, whopping herself. The room exploded into applause as well.
Cid heaved a sigh and looked out on the sea of people. The people he mainly focused on weren't the suits, but the three in the back... Barrett, Yuffie and .... Tifa. He stepped up to the mic, his mind spinning with all the cheers and applause. It was all so overwhelming to him and the fact hadn't really sunk in yet.
He cleared his throat and made an easy motion with his hands. "All right, all right everyone, settle down, ain't that much damn fuss need to be made over me." Cid sighed and pulled at his collar again, even as he silently relished in being in the spotlight, it also made him nervous. "I ain't good at speeches, so I won't pretend that I am. I'll just say what I'm feelin. It's great to be up here. It's great to have this damn good oppurtunity again. I'm gunna make the people of Rocket Town proud."
Applause splattered across the room, and Cid held up his hand again, wishing for silence so he could get this over with.
"Never in a million years I thought I'd be taken help from ShinRa again. But hell, here I am. Reeve's set me up with a fine team of people. And he's also set it up so people can contribute gil, if they wanna... It's damned good to have backers. So thank you to all those who have donated. Means a hellava lot to me. And I promise every single gil will be used. No donation will be turned away, and we appreciate any gil. That's all I have to say, so thanks again..."
Cid was yanking on his bowtie as he spoke, he grinned and walked off the stage, even as he recieved a standing ovation.
Tifa was afraid if she smiled anymore, her mouth would begin to ache. That's Cid for ya...
Then the music sprung up again and people began heading towards the ballroom.
Yuffie sighed, huffed and stood. "Well, time to get to home to Wutai."
Tifa blinked at her. "So soon? ... The night's still young. Don't you wanna dance?"
Yuffie made a face. "Nah. Dancing ain't my thing."
She opened her arms. "Gimmie a hug, you."
Yuffie snickered and hugged Tifa. "Don't worry, I'll call ya, I ain't done buggin' ya yet, Lockheart."
Tifa rose a brow. "Oh, really?"
She twirled a lock of Tifa's hair around her finger, winking. "Yup. Really. I swear on Levianthan, I'mma make you tell me."
Eyes narrowed, because Yuffie never made idle threats to her God.
"Well, time to blow this joint." Yuffie cried and pumped her fists in the air with that weird statacco thing she does and was off, waving bye to Barrett before being swallowed up by many of the meandering guests.
Tifa's eyes followed her departure. That girl...
Barrett stood and made some wildly silly gesture with his hands. "Tifa, may I have this dance?"
Tifa grinned and took his hand, curtseying. "Why, I would love to, Mr. Wallace."
The two made their way to the ballroom, and he wrapped a hand around her, her small hand engulfed in his large one.
"So, can I stand on your feet for this dance?" Tifa teased, poking him.
Barrett shot her a look like she was insane. "Heeeelllllllll nah, not with them heels, Teef."
The song was a classical one, but it was lively.
For such a bulky man, Barrett was light on his feet as he twirled Tifa around, making her laugh.
"That's the sound I like to hear outta ya, Teef. Don't like to see you sad."
Tifa's smile was genuine, surprised. "I know, B."
"Cid don't like to see you like that either, though he'd never tell ya. Not outright, at least."
Tifa's eyes bulged and she looked away for a moment. "Why... why do you say that, Barrett?"
"Tifa Alicia Lockheart, don't play stupid with me. I know you too damn well." He dipped her then, and she squealed, brow furrowing.
He used my full name... Barrett never used her full name unless he was utterly serious.
"And I say that cause I saw you and Cid earlier. The two of you looked pretty cozy. I mean look, you're wearing the man's coat."
Tifa stiffened slightly. "But that doesn't mean..."
Barrett held up his hand. "Dammit Tifa, don't get all damn defensive when I haven't even said nothan."
She pouted, and he glared. The glare quieted her, if for a bit.
"Look, I know I may have seemed shocked about it at first, but I saw how you got pale when you say the invitation and I saw how he choked on his wine when I mentioned your name. I can't really say yay or nay, but if he makes you happy, I say go with your gut."
Tifa blinked. She'd never seen Barrett so... heartfelt before. She grinned and hugged him, laughing. "You're getting all sentimental in your old age, aren't cha?"
Barrett's face grew stern, but he was still joking. "Tell a soul and I'll..."
A throat cleared behind them. "Can I cut in?"
Tifa tried to peer around Barrett's shoulder but he was too tall. Barrett moved out of the way and there was Cid, bowtie missing, a few buttons of his dress shirt unbuttoned, his arms were crossed and his cerulean eyes carefree.
Barrett and Tifa exchanged a glance. Barrett smiled and winked. Tifa shifted nervously and blushed prettily.
"See ya Tif." He muttered, and Tifa waved to Barrett, knowing she'd see him once she got back to Kalm.
Cid watched the two with amused interest.
"Yo Cid."
He turned. "Yeah, B?"
"Treat the lady with care, awright?"
Cid chuckled, waving his hand. "I will, Wallace."
And then her hand was in Cid's and his arm was around her and the rest of the dance floor faded away.
The music was haunting, slow and churning.
His arm held her secure to him as he lead them around the dance floor in a smooth easy motion.
"Nice speech." Tifa mumbled, letting the tension drain from her body as she leaned against him, laying her head on his shoulder. Where her hand was pressed at his back she could feel the slow throb of his heartbeat. For some reason the reverberations against her hand soothed her.
Cid tightened his arms around her, feeling comfortable enough to do so. With all the couples slow dancing around them, he felt safe from prying eyes. "Thanks Tif, I just said what came to mind." He made a content sound in the back of his throat and nuzzled into the nape of her neck. Damn, she smells good.
The music drifted on the air, thick like a balm.
After a moment he mumbled, his breath warming her; "It's been one hellava night."
Tifa chuckled and Cid smiled. "You can say that again, Cid."
"I'm just glad the worst of it is over, for now. Can't say I liked having Strife here, the bastard. Can't believe how he hurt you."
Her hands clenched at his back and his eyes slanted shut. He knew he said the wrong thing.
"Highwind?"
He took a slow, steady, inhalation. "... Yeah?" His voice was low, unsure and just a bit uncertain.
Tifa sighed deeply, so deep he felt the rise and fall of it. "Can we... can we not talk about him? I'm comfy, and I like this..."
Cid's mouth trailed to her ear, a grin tugging at his lips. "I like it too."
Tingles curled through her at the sound of his voice as they wound around the floor, the slow dance seeming to last for hours.
More then halfway through the ride, Tifa had fallen asleep against Cid in the backseat, her fingers laced through his, head pillowed on his shoulder, her hair finally unbound, slanting strands over the both of them. He rubbed at his eyes, yawning deeply. He remembered her words before their dance ended and how she didn't want to be alone, not tonight. Truth be told, neither did he. So, Rocket Town it was.
The car traveled smoothly over terrain, the driver driving at a quick enough speed to get them there in a timely fashion but slow enough so the ride wasn't uncomfortable and bumply.
And Cid didn't wanna go to sleep just yet, he'd rather just watch her. He observed her smooth, graceful features in the interior lighting. Her lashes fringed over smooth milky white cheeks, eyelids which he knew hid the most soulful deep burgandy eyes he'd ever seen in his life. Slender and defined nose flaring slightly at her deep intakes of breath, her pinked, puckered lips... He sighed and flitted his gaze out of the window, gazing at the scenery which he stared at unseeingly.
The car rocked over plains as it splashed through puddles and crunched over little dirt patches...
Cid couldn't help it, his eyes wandered back to her sleeping face so close to him. Her breath stirring against him, just so. Musingly, he moved to brush the stray strands of hair from around her heart shaped face and he marveled at how soft it was. Closing his eyes as if in pain, he pulled his hand back and rolled down the window, letting the cold air slip into the small space and hoped the breeze would bring him back to himself.
What was he doing? Tonight... had been a mix of emotion... but he had met her again. That was all that mattered. They had crossed paths again. After their first kiss, he was in shock. He hadn't believed he'd gotten the courage to grab her and go through with it in the first place.
In the days after, in the months on working on odds and ends around the house, tinkering with his new version of Tiny Bronco... she slipped into his mind, made him drop tools, made him mess up on blueprint measurements. He'd missed her. Those eight months he'd been at her bar all that time, he had no idea how close they'd gotten. That kiss was the start of everything.
He swore under his breath and wondered what the hell someone like her would see in him. Not that he was complaining, she was beautiful, a good listener, she sang shyly under her breath and cooked the best food he'd ever tasted. She always had a smile, or a kind word... Cid sighed. Where was he going with this? His mind always wandered along like that whenever he thought of her.
Oh. Right. But he knew one thing, he'd do his damndest not to hurt her, whatever transpired between them, it was something he vowed when he seen the raw look on her face tonight when she turned around and saw Cloud. He'd do like he agreed to Barrett. He wasn't perfect - far from it - but he'd try to treat her with care.
"Cid?" Tifa mumbled and her fingers squeezed his before their hands slowly parted and Cid let his hands flop in his lap.
As he watched her stir from slumber, something in his heart tugged sharply and his chest clenched.
Shit. He rolled up the window quickly. The cold air must've woken her...
"I'm here, Tif." She nuzzled into him and he suddenly felt warm all over.
He brushed the bangs from her eyes, simply because it felt nice to do so, and she smiled faintly. "We're almost there."
Tifa frowned slightly, and Cid chuckled as she pouted.
She blinked and muttered sleepily; "Don't care. You're warm. And comfy." Her fragmented sentences came out in a sleep twinged tone.
"So I'm your pillow then?" Cid remarked dryly and Tifa smirked.
Her eyes flashed open then, groggy crimson shot with flecks of amber. "Hey, Cid." She blinked up at him and he couldn't stop staring, it was almost as if her eyes sucked him in. Something elemental, silent, thick and pressing, billowed in the air around them.
"Hey, sleepyhead." He finally whispered back, almost afraid to speak in a higher tone for fear of shattering what was bubbling between him and her.
Everytime he spoke, she watched his full lips move. To be this close... Cid's hand twined gently in her hair, inching her body closer to the nook in his side. Tifa, eyes never having left his face, tipped back. She was sinking down into that blue...
In that instant before Cid inhaled sharply and lowered his head, Tifa angled hers up and their lips met, his free hand gripping her chin. His other arm snaked around her to pull her firmly to his side. The first kiss between the two was all heat and lightning. This one was slower, more of a slow exploration that slowly grew with each passing second.
Tifa mumbled a little nothing into the kiss, her hands curling around his neck as nimble hands plowed through his hair. Tifa sighed and Cid nipped at her bottom lip. With that one nibble, Cid Highwind was lost in the flavour of her. She couldn't think, her heart was pounding as she felt herself pressed tightly against him and even still, she wanted him closer. His hands dug into her hips as he pulled her closer - into his lap - with some primal sound deep in his throat. Tifa went willingly, hands scrabbling at his shoulders and chest for purchase as the taste of him ran wild over her tongue.
Time passed as the Pilot painstakingly deepened the kiss, his hands wandered from her hair and down. She hissed briefly as his searing hands touched bare skin and goosebumps broke out all over her for the second time that night. He was rubbing her back with maddeningly slow strokes...
Tifa wriggled. "Cid..." She managed to get out and they broke off for air, Tifa's lips a messy pink as she burrowed into his neck, Cid humming contentedly as his fingers trailed up and down her arms, a grin on his face that resembled a Cheshire Cat. "Got carried away." His hands lingered at her hips again.
She shook her head, her fingers traced odd useless patterns on his collarbone, her face flushed rose. "S'ok, I did to."
Niether spoke for a long time, they just sat like that, entwined around each other. She still halfway on, halfway off his lap. For once, Cid was content with the quiet since he'd never really gotten accustomed to hearing it, before her.
Tifa sank down into the feeling. It was comfortable, natural to be around him this way. Tifa felt like she could be herself, and not have to put on a strong or a reliable face on in front of him. That what she loved most about him, the fact that she could just be her, and that was okay.
"I don't want this ride to end." Tifa whispered, unaware that she had spoken until she heard Cid's breathy response.
"Me niether, Lockheart."
After driving down the newly paved road that wound through the Nibel Mountains, the car finally came to a gentle stop in front of Rocket Town.
Tifa pulled back and looked at him then. A hand tightened in his flaxen strands as a lone finger swept across his stubble. What she saw on his stark face jarred her. It made her want to wince with all the honest emotion she saw lying there. She bit her bottom lip and moved to speak but then he simply kissed her forehead, the tender gesture sweeping away her words.
"Shit, I know, Tif." He muttered gruffly and she slowly slid from his lap, eyebrow quirked, curious.
They'll be time to talk when we get to the house... He inwardly reasoned.
Cid opened the back door on his side before slipping out, and holding his hand out to her for assistance.
She took it and lifted herself from the vehicle. The cold breeze shifting in from the mountains wrapped around her, constrasting from the earlier heat inside the backseat of the car...
Her lips curled into a sneaky smile when she thought of his lips on hers...
It was late and it was cold out. Tifa still wore his blazer, which she had buttoned up, but it still engulfed her figure.
"Shall we?" Cid held out his arm and Tifa took it smiling.
Together, they sauntered arm in arm into the sleeping city of Rocket Town.