Disclaimer: Clearly I do not own any of the FFVII characters, locations, spells, weapons, or anything else in Gaia that is clearly not mine. They belong to Square Enix. I have made a few tweaks to the canon, but nothing major. This one-shot is inspired by the Date Scene between Tifa and Cloud in the FFVII game. The quotes, themes, and characters belong to Square Enix. So please do not attempt to report me for plagiarism. I will laugh at you.
Warning: This one-shot is rated a strong T for mild sexual situations, language and angst. Sorry, no lemon in this one. Thoughts are in italics.
Timeline and Location: Takes place at the Gold Saucer during FFVII the game.
Special Thanks: This is a request sent to me by a fellow writer Kisdota-The Freak Gamer in which they asked for a Gold Saucer retake. Thanks and I hope you like it! :)
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~*I Should Tell You*~
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The night was a warm one, the hot breeze fluttering through the open window that the twenty-one year old ex-SOLDIER stood in front of, gazing out at the bright lights of the town of North Corel below. He sighed as he heard the chattering and merriment beneath the inn window, the sounds of laughter, shrieks of glee, and musical ballads from live bands in the festival wafting up to caress his ears, implanting a sense of longing for simpler times in the heart of the warrior. He closed his eyes, taking in the atmosphere, silently wishing he could be a part of it, but knowing that it wouldn't be the same as when he was a child and the fair would come to Nibelheim. Things were just too different now…he wasn't a kid anymore. None of them were…
The room they had purchased for the few days was quite large, housing three beds, a dining area, wardrobe, and a full sized window. It was a clean, quaint, and comfortable setup for the three travelers. Their four other friends were in the room directly to their right.
There was a resonating knock at the door, startling Cloud out of his thoughts, before the brass knob turned, the door opening to reveal a very familiar face. "Cloud…" came the soft voice of the slender girl, clad in the white tank top, black skirt, and red boots, having abandoned her battle gloves and suspenders in favor of a more casual and comfortable ensemble.
Her voice sounded almost afraid, so timid and shy as she made her way slowly to him; her hands clasped behind her back shyly, her teeth favoring her bottom lip as she awaited his reply. He watched with curiosity as she came to stand at the foot of one of the three beds in the room, her fingers playing with the knob on the left bedpost. He walked over to meet her, his heavy boots thumping against the floor in a rhythmic fashion before stopping about a foot in front of the nervously twisting girl, a little less than two years younger than he. He tilted his head slightly, "What's wrong, Tifa?"
The silence was thick as she blinked a few times, chewing on her bottom lip and running her fingers through her now loose hair, the dolphin tail absent for the night. He frowned slightly at the rather uncharacteristic behaviors from the young woman in front of him. She seemed so uptight, so nervous; Tifa was never anything but outgoing, confident, and altogether charismatic.
Finally, she spoke, though her words were slightly jumbled, but clear enough for Cloud to make out the meaning, "I-I thought about what I was going to say, but i-it's kinda embarrassing…"
Cloud quirked a brow at this, his curiosity peaked as she mumbled the line under her breath, fidgeting slightly as his eyes tried to catch hers. Finally, after a few moments of tense silence and uncomfortable shifting from the brunette, she sighed heavily and shook her head at her behavior. She looked up and smiled brightly at him, as if she had never been even slightly perturbed, "Hey, Cloud!?" she chirped, her dark eyes finally meeting his own sapphire ones.
He raised both of his eyebrows at this, but decided that it was best just to leave it alone and move forward, not wanting to make the discomfort return, grunting in reply. She closed the distance between them, slapping a hand none to gently onto his left shoulder, "Why don't the two of us sneak out of here and spend some time together?" she said in a coy fashion that let him know that she was up for some mischief.
He was silently taken aback by her rash proposition, but couldn't say that he completely disagreed with it. It had only been a few moments ago that he was longing for the freedom of youth and the fun of the festival. Still, part of him thought it unwise to be out frolicking about the night before they left. The turmoil must have shown on his face, because Tifa quickly smirked and ran behind him, planting her hands on his back and pushing him towards the doorway, "Come on, let's go!"
"Hey…" he attempted to protest, but knew almost instantly that there wasn't a lot that he was going to be able to do to change the hopeful wishes of the girl now shoving him down the hall, locking the door to the room that the two of them shared with Barret, and treading quietly to not wake any of the other travelers in the room beside them.
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Upon exiting the inn, a rush of warm Corel air embraced the two warriors, sliding gently through their hair and tickling their cool skin. Tifa continued to push Cloud forward as they approached the cable station that would take them to the Gold Saucer amusement park. After pitching the booth owner a few gil, Tifa shoved Cloud into the cable car and shut the door behind them as the gondola lifted onto the thick wire that brought them on their silent journey to the park.
Cloud was his usual quiet self the entire way, though Tifa didn't appear to mind as she spent most of her time looking out the window at the night sky or fiddling with the loose threads on her tank top that tickled at her bare midriff. Cloud couldn't help but watch in silent amusement as she began to act nervous again. What the hell has gotten into her…?
Upon exiting the cable car, he watched as the young woman's mood fluctuated once more. Tifa smile as they entered the Station, the many colors of the rainbow surrounding them in bright light and a harsh, but rejuvenating glow. Jumping through the funhouse-style hatch into the main room, the two were greeted with the sight of several other hatches, each surrounded with a spectrum of colors and a unique sign distinguishing the location that it led to.
They also came the acquaintance of a young man that appeared to be some sort of guide. He wore a red and black striped suit, had short, sandy blonde hair and rosy cheeks kissed with dimples. He smiled brightly at them and announced, as if he was just as excited as the first time he uttered the line, "Welcome to the Station! Tonight's Enchantment Night! All attractions are free."
This made Tifa smile even wider and Cloud watched as she clapped her hands together and turned to him, "What luck! See, aren't you glad I decided to drag you here?"
Cloud quirked his brow yet again, but allowed himself to relax slightly at the prospect of possible distractions from the hectic turmoil of the ridiculous mess that they called life at the moment. Then the man in the red and black began to speak again, "How 'bout it, you two? There's going to be an entertaining show in Evening Square! You shouldn't miss it."
Tifa's eyes lit up at the offer as she turned to Cloud once again and clasped her hands in front of her face, excitedly, "C'mon, Cloud! Let's go."
Sighing softly in resignation and running a gloved hand through his hair, Cloud nodded shortly and watched as Tifa's huge smile returned and she grabbed his arm, pulling him towards the hatch that bore the title 'EVENT SQUARE.' As they entered the short tunnel, Cloud could here her ragged breathing, heavy with excitement and youthful glee. He almost felt like smiling himself, for Tifa was never this happy around him. He hadn't seen this side of her in a very long time, over seven years to be exact and, quite frankly, it was infectious.
His thoughts were interrupted once again as they entered the huge coliseum style theatre. It wasn't very full, only ten or fifteen patrons seated on the ground level benches; seeing that it was around midnight, but the room was definitely breathtaking. As they cleared the archway, they were stopped by the ticket master at the box office, a hand extended to the two, "Congratulations!! You are our 100th couple today!! You will be the leads in tonight's show!!!!"
Cloud raised both of his eyebrows for the second time that night, reaching a hand up to rub the back of his neck nervously, "What…?" he asked incredulously.
The ticket master dressed in blue and violet sensed his apprehension, waving a hand around in protest, "Oh, now, it's not hard. Just play it however you want to and the rest of the cast will cover for you…now if you'll follow me."
Cloud did not appear convinced, but Tifa bounced for a moment, grabbing onto Cloud's shoulder and tugging him forward to follow the jolly man that was to lead them to their positions. "H-Hey!" he started, a vain attempt to voice to Tifa that he didn't really want to be a part of this.
Tifa would hear nothing of it and merely closed the distance between her and Cloud by placing both of her hands in his own slack and surprised ones, "It sounds like fun. Come on, Cloud, let's give it a try."
At those words, she pulled him after the ticket master, bubbling with excitement and the prospect of trying something new. Cloud just grunted his disapproval before following the dark-haired beauty, "Fine…" he muttered as he watched her back in front of him, her long, loose hair flowing behind her elegantly.
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The small space backstage was hot, stuffy, and cramped with actors, props, and set pieces for the imminent play. Cloud could smell the think scent of dust, sweat, and wood polish as the music began to play.
Then, the narrator, a young blonde girl no more than fifteen years of age, began to set the story for the 'hopefully' short performance. "Long, long ago…an evil shadow appeared over the peaceful kingdom of Galdia…Princess Rosa was just kidnapped by the Evil Dragon King, Valvados. What will become of her?"
Cloud felt a tap on his shoulder, turning to glance at the man playing the Evil Dragon King, "Hey, you're next…" he whispered harshly.
The narrator continued her story, "Just then, the legendary hero, Alfred, appears!!"
Cloud frowned deeply as he was pushed onstage. Alfred…of all the names…
From across the room a man dressed in full armor of a knight twirled onto the stage, pointing his finger in Cloud's now annoyed face, "Oh…you must be the legendary hero…Alfred!"
Cloud stood there as the silence sunk in, shaking his head slightly, and sighing as he watched the perturbed look on the armored man's face. The man fidgeted in front of him, "Hey…it's your line!" he whispered harshly.
Cloud raised an eyebrow and lifted his hand, thrusting a thumb into his own chest, "Me…?"
The costumed man rolled his eyes and sighed deeply, "Yeah…you."
Cloud's eyes widened slightly as he cleared his throat, swearing that he heard Tifa's giggling backstage. He made a mental note to punish her for this later as he turned to face the man in silver armor. The man repeated his line and continued it with, "I know in my soul. Please…please save Princess Rosa!" he said, kneeling before Cloud and raising his hands in a begging gesture, "Now…please talk…to the King…!!"
Suddenly, a large middle-aged man twirled onstage, clad in a blue velvet costume robe and a golden crown, "Oh…legendary hero, Alfred. You have come to save my beloved Rosa…"
Cloud nearly rolled his eyes again, wondering why a king that loved his daughter so much wouldn't risk life and limb to go out to find and rescue her himself. Geeze, I would never hire someone to go save my loved ones…
The King continued, "On the peak of a dangerous mountain…dwells the Evil Dragon King, Valvados…who's kidnapped Princess Rosa."
Typical…thought Cloud as he crossed his arms over his chest, not really feeling to into the show and not really caring if he was disappointing the audience either, "But…you can't beat the Evil Dragon King now! Talk to the one who can help you…"
Cloud really did roll his eyes this time, wondering just why he had let Tifa drag him into all of this nonsense. Where the hell was she anyway…
Then a new character found its way onto the stage, one dressed in a green witches outfit with a pointy hat to boot. Cloud trudged over to the new arrival, crossing his arms back over his chest, "I am the greatest wizard, Vorman. What do you wish to know?"
What the hell is with these names…? Thought Cloud as he replied, "How about the Evil Dragon King's weakness?" very tempted to say something smartass like 'what are the Princess' measurements?" or something equally random.
The wizard smiled and spun around, "Ahh, the weakness of the Evil Dragon King. It must be, it must be…"
Cloud watched in irritation as the wizard spun around a few more times before settling in an awkward looking pose, "Yes, it must be…True Love!"
Cloud really rolled his eyes and sighed heavily, almost growling at the clichéd answer as the Wizard continued, "The power of love…is the only weapon that can withstand the fangs of the Evil Dragon King…!"
Cloud resisted the urge to slap a hand to his forehead at the terrible plot that was unfolding as the narrator spoke up once more, "Oh, what is going to happen next…! Oh…legendary hero…look!"
Cloud panned his vision to stage right, just as a huge green dragon flew in on the fly rail, grasping none other than Tifa in his arms, growling in response," I am the Evil Dragon King…Valvados! I have not harmed the Princess…I have been expecting you!"
Cloud watched as it dropped Tifa flat on her butt on the floor, amused as he witnessed her rubbing her now sore tailbone. That's what you get for pulling us into this… He nearly laughed as the now cranky Tifa half-heartedly responded, "Please help me…legendary hero!" before turning to the dragon.
"Like that…?" she whispered loudly.
The Evil Dragon ignored her, "Gaaaah! Here I come, legendary hero, Alfred! I already know your name!"
Then it charged at Cloud, claws at the ready and teeth born in a menacing display. Cloud merely sidestepped and watched as the Evil Dragon King skidded to a halt and the Wizard spoke once more, "And now…legendary hero! Here is what will happen…to your beloved…"
Cloud watched in boredom as the Wizard danced around and opened his arms to the sky, "A kiss! The power of True Love!!!"
Cloud's eyes widened at this, his shoulders tensing slightly. A kiss…why is it always a kiss? Rather perturbed, Cloud approached the brunette that was currently still a heap on the floor where the dragon had dropped her; her own cheeks were a deep shade of pink. He reached his hand down, helping her to her feet as their eyes met, Tifa's now laughing with amusement. She half expected him to chicken out and grab her, running from the stage. But she was shocked as Cloud knelt before her, apparently deciding to embrace his role for a few moments, taking her hand in his and lightly lifting it to brush a soft kiss over her bare knuckles.
She gasped slightly at the affectionate display, "Cloud…I mean, Alfred…" she stuttered, trying to compose herself after the electric shock of his hot lips feather soft against the back of her hand.
Their thoughts were interrupted, the moment shattered, as the sound of the wails from the Evil Dragon King filled the stage, "Arrggaahh!! Curses…the powers of…LOVE!"
And with that, the dragon was flown off of the stage with lingering screams and moans of agony. The voice of the gleeful King filled the air, "Oh…look! Love has…triumphed!! Now let's all return… and celebrate!!!"
Tifa grabbed Cloud's hand and dragged him from the stage, not bothering to wait for the curtain call, anxious to leave the now filling theatre. As she grasped onto the elbow of ex-SOLDIER she drug behind her, she could hear the voice of the narrator fading into the distance, "Oh, how profound the power of love…and so the legendary hero Alfred and our story live on happily ever after!"
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As they reentered the bright Station, the guide now having disappeared, Tifa was suddenly overcome by a new nervousness, "Well…that was funny."
She shuffled around on her feet for a moment as Cloud ran a leather-clad hand through his hair, watching her fall back into her mood, "Hey!" she interrupted his musings, "Let's go on the Gondola back to the inn. I don't feel like using that ugly cable car. C'mon!"
She grabbed his arm once more and pulled him through the appropriate hatch, leading him down to the ticket booth for the Gondola, which really looked like a small house attached to a cable. As they walked to the barricade, the ticket master, clad also in red and black, motioned to Tifa, "Two, please," she replied.
The man handed her two pieces of paper, "Here you are, two tickets," before lifting the bar and helping them into the Gondola, "Enjoy the sights of Gold Saucer!"
As the entered the Gondola, equipped with bench seats and a large window on either side, Tifa took her seat across from Cloud, and held on as the Gondola shifted, lifting into the air with a jolt. Cloud sat with his arms crossed, his back against the wall behind him, gazing out of the window at the bright lights below. Every now and then, he would glance at Tifa, to watch her eyes light up a the sights of the amusement park, the gold lights reflecting in her chocolate colored orbs. "Oh, how pretty…" she whispered to herself.
Cloud couldn't help but smirk secretively to himself at the youthful way in which the twenty-year-old young woman viewed the scenario. It was as if she was eight years old again. He leaned over to take a look out the window himself, wondering if maybe there was some spell cast on the world beneath them. The lights danced off of the Ferris wheel and roller coasters below, spotlights shining in several directions to advertise the 24-hour amusement park to the land around them. As the Gondola gracefully ascended and descended around the many attractions, the wind blew delicately through their hair once more, whipping it gently across their faces, curtaining Tifa's shoulders in a dark blanket. She jumped slightly, blushing pink when she realized that their knees were touching from the effort to look out the window.
The ride ascended to a great height, the moon framed by the wooden outline of the window. Tifa smiled brightly, "Look, Cloud…" she said pointing down at the racetrack below.
Cloud followed her eyes down to the lanes of yellow, green, blue, and red chocobos that galloped along the lighted tracks, feeling his heart swell at the memories. He had always had a soft spot for the fuzzy oversized chickens. Leaning back in his seat, he continued to watch the young woman before him with growing interest.
She smiled delicately, her eyes wide with amusement, her pale, bare hands grasping the windowsill in excitement as she sat, perched on the edge of her bench, nearly hanging her head out of the window, her naked right knee coming to rest between both of his own, rubbing against the rough fabric of his SOLDIER trousers. "Oh, Cloud…" she whispered, her eyes never leaving the scenes below, though her voice reaching out to pull him into the moment with her, desperate to share some happiness with the hardened war hero.
Suddenly, her eyes lit up even more, her mouth dropping in a surprised gasp as her head raised at the sounds of the popping and cracking outside. Cloud darted his eyes to the night as well just as the many rainbows of fireworks filled the navy blue sky with color, decorating the darkness with the art of happiness. Tifa's eyes widened and she stared out into the night, taking in the majesty of the simple treat that crashed around them in a loud symphony to their Gondola ride. Just when one shower of color died, another was born to take its place, a cycle of birth, death, and rebirth that intrigued even the chocobo-haired man in the wooden Gondola.
Tifa leaned back in her seat, sighing as she continued to watch the colors coalesce in the sky around them, "It's really pretty, isn't it?"
She watched Cloud lean back into his seat, his eyes closing as he took in the sounds of the popping and the scent of the smoke from the burning powders. She brought her legs up to sit 'Indian-style' on the bench seat, her eyes burning into the dozing man before her. She lifted a hand to tuck some hair behind her left ear, her other hand trembling against her knee, "Ok…I'm just going to go ahead and say it…"
She watched as Cloud's cerulean eyes peeled open and met her own brandy colored ones in curiosity. She wrapped her arms around herself, grasping her elbows in an attempt to control her trembling.
"What…?" was the sound that drifted her way, the tone of concern evident in the blonde's voice even as he sat there completely unabashed.
Tifa continued, hearing herself babbling about things that were totally irrelevant, "Aerith would be able to just come out and say it…probably."
Cloud was very confused now, his brows furrowing in a perturbed expression, his eyes locking onto her frightened ones. What does the emerald-eyed flower girl have to do with this? Did something happen? The fireworks continued around them as Tifa's breathing became ragged once again with nerves and excitement, "Cloud…?"
His eyes, filled with confusion, reverted to the hard floor beneath them, afraid that he would become nervous if he looked into hers for a moment more. He became even more confused as he listened to her words, almost as if they were a confession, "Sometimes being old friends is hard…I mean, timing is everything."
Cloud lifted his eyes to meet hers once more, searching for an answer in them, an answer that might let him know what she was thinking, feeling. "Yeah…" he agreed softly.
There was a moment of heavy silence, her face unreadable save for the frightened look in her eyes and the way she favored her bottom lip as she had done earlier, "Cloud…?" she whispered very softly, the sound of the fireworks nearly overpowering her voice.
He heard her take a deep breath, steeling herself; for what, he did not know. Her eyes slid shut as she clenched her hands around her knees, her shoulders sinking low, "I…" she began, fading out as her confidence left her.
He waited a few moments to see if she would continue, surprised when all he was met with was silence. Suddenly, the Gondola shifted and dropped as it slid back into the station. He could nearly feel Tifa's growing disappointment as it emanated from her like a strong scent. Cloud exited first, watching as Tifa exited after him, her gleeful mood now gone and replaced by a melancholy that was unfamiliar to him, even from her. As they exited the platform, Tifa's voice returned, "Cloud, I-I really had fun tonight."
He turned to face her; her face was still laced with sadness, though a small smile now lingering on her lips. He met her eyes, nodding in agreement, "By the way…what did you want to say a minute ago…?"
Her face immediately fell, her eyes widening, her lips descending, her hands clasping behind her back shyly, "N-Nothing!" she replied sharply, too sharply for Cloud to believe it, "Nothing…" she faded out, a sadness present in her voice that shook Cloud at his core, sending a shiver through him.
He looked at her questioningly, an eyebrow quirked to let her know he wasn't convinced. She merely ran a hand through her hair, smiling sadly, before quickly changing the subject, "Oh, look at the time. It's nearly 1:30am. We should be getting back…"
Cloud glanced at her once more, hoping that she would say what was on her mind, because he was never very good at prying into other people's private thoughts and she was never any good at lying to him. When she didn't speak, he merely nodded, turning over his shoulder and heading back to the inn. He heard her pause for a moment before her footsteps picked up behind him.
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It was probably close to 4am, and the room was dark, save for the lights that still peaked into the room from the festival below, bouncing off of the walls and dancing across the two sleeping faces in their beds. The third wasn't even under her sheets, but rather sitting at the window, perched on the sill, the warm night air blowing gently across her skin, giving her the gentle contact that she couldn't get anywhere else. She closed her eyes and took in the scent of the night blooming jasmine mixed with the musky, greasy smells of the carnival below, still going full swing despite the early hour.
She shifted slightly, her bare feet resting gently along the bottom frame of the opening, her black spandex shorts and white sports bra clinging to her body, draped only with a light blanket across her legs. She sighed as she felt the breeze again, slightly cooler this time, but not enough to evoke a shiver. No, the shiver was for another reason, entirely unrelated. Her mind kept drifting back and forth between the soft kiss Cloud had planted on her hand on the crowded stage and the confessional blunder she had managed in the Gondola on the way back to the inn.
She growled softly to herself, rather irritated with the fact that she couldn't just say what she needed to say, what she had been feeling for nearly the last seven years. It was true, she had never had a boyfriend, a date, or a kiss…she had never held hands with a boy, or cuddled with one and watched the sunrise. She had never even watched fireworks with one until tonight…
She sighed deeply as she realized for the hundredth time that she had purposely saved all of these things for one person; a very special person in her heart, but also someone that she had no idea if he even slightly returned her feelings. Loving him was a gamble, a risk, and a toss of the die that she had decided was a risk worth taking when she had turned down several offers from very attractive gentlemen on more than one occasion.
That man, that shy angel that she loved with all of her heart, that she wanted to keep with her always, that she wanted to give the world to, and that had promised to protect her no matter what…was sleeping no more than ten feet away from her current position, his light breathing nearly silent in the dark room.
She had watched him grow from the small, scrawny, doe-eyed mountain boy that worked in the stables to the taller, more developed, slate-eyed, teenage infantryman that helped save their hometown…into the strong, toned, mako-sapphire-eyed, stoic ex-SOLDIER that he was today. She knew that he had been through hell; they all had…
She was so caught up in her thoughts, her memories, and her reverie that she didn't notice the object of her internal discussion had risen from his mattress and glided silently over to where she now sat, staring out into the night. He moved lightly over to the shelf seat, coming to sit across from her, clad only in loose fitting black cotton pants, black socks, and a black form fitting, ribbed tank top. She jumped when she noticed him, clutching her chest over her pounding heart, "Gods, Cloud, you scared me."
He grunted an apology and lifted one knee, resting his right arm against it, staring out into the night, "Why are you still awake?"
She tensed slightly, shrugging her shoulders in a deceptive reply, "I don't know…just couldn't sleep, I guess…"
She listened as the silence thickened, her mind drifting back off to previous thoughts, only to be interrupted by the soft, yet commanding voice of the man across from her, his eyes closed against the breeze, "Liar. What's really bothering you?"
She was startled at his accusation, but couldn't very well continue to lie, having already been called out. She sighed deeply, resting her eyes on her bare feet in front of her, her loose hair pooling around her body like a shield, the bottom brushing against her thighs, tickling the pale flesh. She opened her mouth, fighting to not stutter from her uncertainty, "D-Do ever feel like you missed a really great opportunity to do something that you had been waiting forever to do? Like that moment was there, but then it slipped through your fingers…because you were too scared to grab back onto it and hold it there?"
She heard a soft chuckle across from her, her eyes widening at the familiar, though long forgotten sound; "Is this about what you wanted to say on the Gondola earlier?" came the amused reply.
She frowned slightly, curling her knees up to her chin, "Am I really that predictable, Cloud?"
He shook his head, "Nah, I'm just that perceptive," he replied, an almost cocky air to his voice.
She let out a hum in reply, the silence settling back over the two as the lights flickered over their faces, the sounds wafting up to them setting a reminiscent mood. She began to drift off into thoughts of anxiety when she felt an unexpected hand come to rest on her right knee. She jumped slightly from the surprise, her shocked eyes snapping to meet his amused ones. She heard him let out another light chuckle, as he moved his body to sit directly in front of her, his legs dangling out of the large stained glass window, opened to the night.
She sank back into the wall as the warmth of his surprisingly soft hand soaked into her cool skin causing a small shiver to run through her lithe body. She closed her eyes and sighed softly, imagining that more of him was touching her…
"Tifa?" came the soft voice of the man before her.
Her eyes snapped open as she cleared her mind of the ridiculous thoughts that she was allowing to enter her mind. "Yes, Cloud?"
"You remember back when we were kids? That day that we met on the water tower before I left for SOLDIER?"
She smiled softly at the memory, allowing the picture to form in her mind. Allowing a quiet giggle to escape her lips she replied, "Of course, Cloud. How could I forget?"
That was the night I fell in love with you…she thought to herself silently.
She gazed at him, peering at him through those thick, ebony lashes of hers. The silence thickened for a moment, as he appeared to be sorting through his thoughts. When he finally spoke, it threw her for a loop. His words confused her; "You know what…I don't need to say anything else about that. I think you should understand…"
Her eyes widened slightly, not sure how to handle this statement. Does that mean I'm not worth his time? Does that mean he is second-guessing whatever he was going to say? What was he going to say? What should I understand?
She panicked, blinking a few times and frowning at him as he bowed his head and smirked softly. Her eyes blazed at him, a mixture of anger, hurt, and confusion resonating from her stare. Then he said something that made her freeze in complete surprise, "So, Tifa…assuming we all survive this war…" he cleared his throat, "what do you see yourself doing?"
She frowned deeper, messing with the blanket draped over her, "Well, I guess I'll just go back to Seventh Heaven and open it back up. It seemed to be a pretty efficient business."
She watched as he nodded slowly, blinking at the wind that tousled his spiky hair. She closed her eyes once more as she attempted to slow her heart that was now beating out of her chest in a mixture of embarrassment and frustration at his strange attitude. She sighed softly in irritation, bending forward to rest her head on her knees and hug her legs to her.
And the next thing she knew, she was back against the wall, bare shoulders pressed firmly to its cold surface by calloused hands as she felt Cloud towering over her, his knees planted firmly between her own, spreading them to allow himself near to her. His eyes were dark and shining at the same time, filled with a new emotion that she hadn't seen in them for years. "You should tell me what you were going to say earlier. It seemed pretty important…"
She met his eyes with both apprehension and excitement. She couldn't remember him ever being this close to her. She could feel rather than smell the hot scent of cinnamon on his breath and the sweet musk of the honeydew shampoo the inn provided. His long, sunny-colored spikes tickled her cheeks as he hung his head, awaiting her reply. Her mind was flying all over the place, her thoughts jumbled as she scrambled for something coherent to say. Anything but what she knew she needed to…
Just as she opened her mouth to speak, she felt his hand brush the blanket away from her lap, shuddering as it dragged across her skin and tumbled to pool on the grey carpet. She felt his warm, surprisingly soft hand slide onto her bare thigh, rubbing circles on the inside of her left knee, sending shivers up her spine. "So, what's it gonna be?"
Her eyes widened at the unexpected turn of events, her breath catching in her throat and her heart racing in her chest. Brown eyes flickered over to his sapphire orbs at those words and their eyes met, caught in a gaze that neither could seem to break. Pools of cool blues were filled with emotions clashing violently, the most dominant of them all, an uncertainty growing by the second. Tifa's own eyes were uncontrollably snarled with conflicting emotions in their auburn depths, "Cloud, I…"
Tifa closed her eyes, squeezing her lids tightly together, gritting her teeth, summoning up what little courage she could manage, "I…" she could feel her heart slamming against her chest, her body shaking with adrenaline and anticipation.
Within a heartbeat, Tifa found herself in strong arms, an unbearable warmth spreading rapidly through her entire being as though her body was being set on fire. Her breath was caught in her throat as she raised her head up slightly to catch a better look of the yellow-haired ex-SOLDIER. He pulled back slightly to meet her confused stare, that strong emotion so clearly swirling in his eyes; there was not a single doubt of her feelings for him.
She leaned her head forward, pressing her cheek against his own soft one, her arms wrapping around his back, fists balling in his tank top. She pressed her lips to the shell of his ear, her breath hot on his cool face. She could feel him shuddering slightly as she whispered softly, "Do I honestly need to spell it out for you, Cloud…?"
She could feel the grin against her neck growing, his warm breath tickling her shoulder, "Not really…I just wanted to hear you say it."
She pulled back suddenly, a look of shock upon her face as she gawked at his honesty. "Cloud Strife, I can't believe you! All this time you –"
She lost her sentence as she felt his warm hands grab the sides of her face and hot lips brush over her forehead, silencing her protests rather abruptly. She pulled back slightly, a shuddering breath escaping her as she gently brushed her lips over his soft chin, taking the final plunge and gliding them to rest against his searing mouth. It was a gentle, lingering touch of the lips – a hesitation on both parts as they touched, as if both were taking the time to memorize the feeling before they dove in for passion. Her heart leapt in her chest and she felt adrenaline explode through her body as she felt his lips slide harshly against her own. The kiss was rough, clumsy, and inexperienced…but it was beautiful. This was what she had waited so many years for, and she was nowhere near disappointed.
Tonight was definitely going to be a night that she would remember forever, regardless of what happened in their final battles. Whether the war ended in complete annihilation of the human race or peace on Gaia…she couldn't say that she had any regrets left to hold her back in the end.
