Chapter 8: Moving in

Disclaimer: I don't own final fantasy VII

"I can't believe it..." Tifa whispered as she held the sides of her head. She was back to her new home, the house she purchased after she got her pay from the commercial, and had ask Yuffie and Vincent to live with her since there were extra rooms and the two were living alone anyway.

"Where are you going to move?" Yuffie asked.

"I don't know yet, Rufus is going to take me there tomorrow. Arrggghhh!" She ruffled her hair and groaned.

"It'll be only in six months." Vincent said nonchalantly.

"Only?" Tifa hissed. Then she remembered something that made her eyes wide. "Yuffie, I have a problem and I really need your help."

"Okay, what is it?" Yuffie asked. Tifa closed her eyes for a few seconds then started talking.


"You sure you got everything?" Reeve asked Cloud while they gather the last of his belongings from house.

"Why do we have to move? Can't she just come here instead?" Cloud groaned.

"No, because this house is too big for both of you giving you the perfect excuse to not see each other while at home. So you need to move into a smaller space. A condo unit with two bedrooms." Reeve said at he caressed his cat.

"Are you serious?" Cloud glared at his manager.

"Do I look like I'm not? Now stop being a spoiled brat and get this over with."

"Whatever."


Yuffie and Vincent helped Tifa with her belongings and escorted her to the car waiting outside. The driver closed the trunk and went to the driver's seat. Tifa faced her two friends.

"Are you going to be okay?" Yuffie asked.

"Yeah... I'll be fine."

"We'll take care of the house." Yuffie said and Tifa raised her eyebrow.

"No house parties." The brunette said. "But if you plan to have one make sure to invite me."

"Ha ha yeah yeah." Yuffie hugged her friend. "I'll miss you. We'll still bother you everyday at the set though." Tifa laughed.

"Of course." They broke apart then she hugged Vincent who hugged her back. "Take care alright?"

"You too." Vincent responded.

"Oh, and don't worry about the thing. I'll handle it okay? I'll call when we get there." Yuffie assured her friend. Tifa nodded.

"Thank you so much guys. I really appreciate it." Then she slid inside the car, closed the door and rolled down the tinted window. "Call me alright?" Her two friends nodded and waved. "Bye." Then the car slowly went on its way.

When Tifa had reached the private Shinra building, she saw Rufus standing outside to greet her. She went out the car and approached her manager.

"Welcome to your new temporary home, Tifa." He told her while smiling.

"I can't believe you agreed with this Rufus." She said with a sigh.

"It is necessary. Oh, these are for you, a welcome home present." He revealed a boquet of flowers from his back and she blushed.

"Oh my... thank you, they're beautiful." She said as she smelled them. Rufus nodded his head.

"I'm glad you like them." He said and she looked up at him, she blushed at how handsome his smile was.

Get a grip Lockhart! She mentally slapped herself. Then they both heard a car approaching and she rolled her eyes. "Come on." She said then she went inside the building. They both walked towards the elevator then pressed the button. A few minutes of waiting, Cloud entered the building with Reeve trailing behind him. The blond was wearing his sunglasses but Tifa was pretty sure that he was rolling his eyes.

"Ah, Tifa, Rufus." Reeve smiled. "It's good to see you again."

"Likewise." Rufus said with a nod while Tifa smiled.

"Hi Reeve, how are you?" She asked.

"I'm good, thank you." He said smiling then the bell chimed and they all entered the elevator. Tifa and Cloud settled themselves in the back, away from each other while Rufus and Reeve were in front of them. The blond removed his sunglasses and ran his hand through his hair. Tifa could hear him sigh. She rolled her eyes. The bell chimed again and the both of them lazily went out of the elevator.

"Ah, here it is." Rufus rummaged on his pocket and fished out a key, opened the door and gestured for them to enter. Tifa was the first one to be inside but she stopped a few feet from the door to look in awe the small but amazing condo, then Cloud entered hastily bumping his shoulder on the her back while muttering 'out of the way', making her lose her balance a little. Then she sneered at his retreating back which was on his way towards a bedroom then slamming the door behind him. Rufus and Reeve looked at each other and sighed.

Asshole.


"Tifa, Cloud, please do your best to get along, I don't know what your deal is but just talk about it. This is honestly getting ridiculous." Reeve lectured. "I hope that was clear." Cloud faked a smile while Tifa twitched her mouth to left. "Alright, we'll be going now." He and Rufus stood up and went towards the door. "And no house parties." Cloud rolled his eyes.

"What a great life." Tifa said in a sigh. Well, yes her life now was great, except for one thing, the blond being that was currently living with her. She was seated in the couch in front of the TV in their living room. She just stared blankly at the screen when she heard Cloud's bedroom door open. He emerged from the inside and was now walking around the house in just his boxers.

"Whoa hey! Who told you that you can walk around like that?" She stood up and pointed her forefinger to his boxers. Cloud looked at himself.

"What? This?" He gestured to all of him. "Why don't you stop complaining and just enjoy the view Teefie." Tifa's left eye twitched at that. And the nickname. "You know you love my body and you are dying to touch it, if you want, I'll let have a handful of my ass for three seconds tops." He said smirking at her. Her face twisted into disgust.

"Keep on dreaming asshole!" She exclaimed then flopped back down on the couch while he laughed. She blushed at what he said, because it was true.

Holy fucking hell. Dammit Tifa stop it! Then she felt a weight on the other side of the couch so she looked up, and saw the great Cloud Strife seating just a few feet from her, in all his gloriousness and only wearing his boxers, she looked away again and stared at the television when she felt him snatch the remote away from her hand and started flipping the channels.

"Hey!" She grabbed it back but he was faster and held the remote up. She kneeled in the couch so she could reach it but she forgot that she was wearing an almost revealing outfit as well, a black fitted tank top and super short gym shorts. So she hurriedly went back down causing her chin to collide with his head causing them both pain.

"Ow! Fuck." Cloud held the top of his head.

"Shit!" Tifa exclaimed as she held her chin. Then she glared at Cloud who let his guard down so she grabbed the remote, stood up and started her victory dance. "How about that chocobo brain!" Then he looked up at her, his expression changed from angry to serious to piercing. It made her breath hitch. He looked so damn hot when he stared like that. He slowly approached her and grabbed her by the waist and pulled her closer. She blushed more than ever and she couldn't move. He leaned forward to whisper something in her ear.

"I don't think so, baby..." He whispered seductively and her eyes widened. Then he suddenly flopped back down at the couch and started flipping the channels. Tifa's blood boil once more.


The next morning, the door bell rang while Tifa was making breakfast, even if she was irritated by her blond companion, she was still nice enough to make enough breakfast for both of them. She went over to the door to answer it and she when opened it, all she saw were huge amounts of flowers who was being carried by someone she can't see.

"Delivery for miss Lockhart." She recognize the voice, it was the guard from downstairs.

"Oh, thank you." She grabbed the flowers and started signing the form. She nodded her head and said her thanks again and closed the door. Just then, Cloud emerged from the bathroom in just a towel and another towel for drying his hair.

"Who was that?" He asked.

"Just a delivery for me." She answered absentmindedly while she stared at the flowers. "Oh there's a note." She bent down to read it, Cloud approached her to read as well while still drying his hair.

Tifa,

How about that dinner?

Genesis

Tifa's eyes widened while Cloud scoffed. The brunette looked at him with a confused look.

"What's your problem?" She said as she crossed her arms.

"Does your boyfriend even know that? That the great Genesis Rhapsodos is taking interest in you?" He asked while he crossed his arms as well. Tifa's brows furrowed and put down her arms to her sides.

"What the hell are you talking about?" She asked angrily.

"Oh, I heard you at that cafe, you were talking to your dad and asking him to tell your boyfriend that you love him." He said with a blank look.

What! He heard me?!

"It... It's none of your business!"

"You like the attention do you, Miss Lockhart?" He laughed. "You seem to have knack in replacing the men coming in your life." He teased her and it made her furious.

"What the fuck are you talking about?!" She charged at him, her face only inches away from him.

"Stop denying it Tifa, one day you will show a guy that you care about him, the next thing he knows, he was being set aside only to find out years later that she found a replacement." Now it made her even more confused. She searched his face and was about to be teary.

"Where are you getting those things you are saying? Are you even listening to yourself? And besides, it's none of my business who I date or whatnot! I don't bother you with your relationshp with that rude girlfriend of yours!" He didn't respond. "Just leave me alone."

"Yeah, you're right about that. I. Don't. Care." He pointed his finger at her head to emphasize his words. Tifa's lip quivered.

"That's right, you never cared. Right after you went away to become a superstar anyway." Then she started walking away towards her bedroom. Leaving a dumbstruck Cloud still standing in the kitchen. He followed her with his gaze and just stared at the spot where she had just gone.


Tifa cried quietly with her back on the door. I don't think I can take this. But then her phone started ringing, she hurriedly grabbed it from the table beside the door and looked at the screen, it was Yuffie calling. She sniffed then wiped her eyes, took a deep breath then answered the phone.

"Hello Yuffie?"

"Hey Tifa! How are you?"

"I'm fine. How are things?"

"You sure you're okay? You sound kind of stuffy."

"No, I'm fine, but thanks. I'm really okay."

"Okay, someone wants to talk to you." Tifa smiled at that.


Cloud stood outside of Tifa's room, he was really confused about what was going on. And about his feelings. Dammit. He took a deep breath and decided to knock but before he could, he heard Tifa's muffled voice so he just decided to listen instead from the voice coming from the other side of the door and his eyes widened.

"I know honey..." Pause. "I miss you, too..." Pause. "I can't wait to see you..." Pause. Yeah... I'm sorry I couldn't be there..." Pause. "I love you okay? I love you so much baby..." Pause. "Okay bye..." Then he heard the phone flip shut. He stared in shock at the door then decided to just go back to his room. He needed to calm his mind, and he needed to go to work anyway so he has to get ready.

And a jealous rage is not what he needed right now.