11.
Title: #017. Jaded
Rating: T
Characters: Cloud and Tifa
Word Count: 245
Summary: They're lying together, laughing and Cloud is jaded no more.
They're in the middle of their bed when she first catches a fleeting glimpse of what their new future together may hold. And its thrilling. An indescribable, wonderful feeling, washing over her. Outside the crickets chirp their nightly song and if she strains her ears she can just barely make out an old work chantey being sung by rowdy men. Twisting her head, she glances over at Cloud and bites back a giggle. Their limbs are entangled in one another's, except their positions are all wrong, his knee digging into her calves and her toes, she knows, are tickling his shins.
But, she likes this.
This feeling of spontaneity, where nothing is right but everything is new and unexplored. When in the past they would tip toe around the other, afraid to be the first to cross the boundary, words are now blurted out and secrets are no longer.
She smiles, clutching the white covers close to her body. He notices and pulls her in, whispering in her ear as he does so. Snuggling into his side, she catches his eye and her shoulders shake. They're laughing together now. The joke isn't important, what's important is that he sounds happy.
Startled at the sound, she looks at him then; really looks at him. There's no sadness lurking behind his eyes. The hollows of his cheeks have filled out and the only facial scar he had sustained in his battle with Sephiroth has all but disappeared.
He looks a changed man.
If she thinks about it, he probably is. He drops his head and kisses her shoulder softly then reels her in again, smiling into her mouth as she responds.
Closing her eyes, she rests her forehead against his and realizes; she's happy too.
AN: What we all wish happens after AC :D *sighs* The little glimpse of them we got in Dirge Of Cerberus was SO not enough.
Countless thanks to my reviewers. Thank you for keeping up with me!: Qwi-Xux, mom calling, Oceanee, and VanillaCookiesxD