A knock comes on the heavy wooden door. One of the men rolls his eyes at the "Will someone get that! I'm still getting ready!" shout that comes from one of the bedroom as he leaves the couch and opens the door for the stranger. His dark eyebrows raise at the man before him.
Despite the fact that the man before him was dressed in a stylish grey suit, holding flowers in his hands, Zack can't help but think that this man still oozed sleazy. "Hello, I'm Steven. You must be Zack." He says. There is something in his voice that says that he is confident that he knows everything, as if by getting his name right, he knows Zack's entire life story. Zack inwardly scoffs. 'Must be a prick.'
"Zack." He tells the man. His blue eyes look down at the flowers. He then looks at the other occupant of the living room, who despite the fact that his eyes are focused on the TV mounted to the wall, Zack knows that he is not really watching the game. "That's Cloud." Zack gestures to the blonde man.
Cloud turns brutally cold eyes to Steven. His eyes take Steven's features. Tan skin, long angular jaw, dark brown hair, and stunning emerald eyes with a medium muscular build concealed in a well designed suit. He then looks at the flowers held in Steven's left hand.
"You got the wrong flowers." Cloud says in a monotone voice.
Steven blinks. He holds the flowers up questioningly, as if he suddenly seemed confused that he had flowers in his hands at all. "I thought all girls liked roses."
"Tifa isn't your regular girl." Cloud says. Zack can sense that there is a hidden threat in his buddy's voice.
Before anything else is said, Tifa comes out of her room. Three male eyes swing to her direction. She is distracted as she tries to stuff things in her purse. She does give a brief glance to Steve and greets him brightly in a way that makes the other two men clench their fists behind their backs so she wouldn't see.
"I see you've met my roommates! I'm sorry I'm running a little late! I just couldn't figure out what to wear! What do you think?" And as Tifa says this, she does a little twirl, her eyes entirely on Steven. Her knee length blue dress raises tantalizing in her spin and then drops back down.
Cloud's nostrils flares. Zack looks away. Steven swallows, mouth dry.
"I think you look stunning. Here, these are for you." Steven steps past Zack to hand her the flowers.
From his position behind Steven, on the couch, Cloud sees Tifa's ruby eyes drop down to the red blooms. Cloud can tell that she isn't completely happy with what she sees despite the bright smile she gives to Steven.
"Thank you." Tifa says politely. However Steven takes her smile as meaning that she loves the flowers. As the two leave the apartment, after he takes Tfia's hand, he sends Cloud a smug look. Tifa leaves the flowers on the table next to the door, where they normally drop their keys in a strawberry shaped bowl. The couple leaves and Zack sits down next to Cloud.
"She didn't put her flowers in a vase before she left." He said, staring at the flowers in their wrapping.
"That's because she doesn't like red roses." The blonde says.
"Are you sure you're okay with this, buddy? Her on a date?"
Cloud only answers with a stiff nod. He pretends to watch the game for only five minutes before he proclaims that he needs to go out and run errands. Zack looks on as his best friend leaves the apartment the three of them share with a shake of his head. Cloud could be such an idiot sometimes.
Hours later, Tifa comes back to the apartment with a slam of the front door. Cloud is in the living room, reading a book. He looks up at her when she walks in.
"Is Zack here?" She could use his comfort right now.
The blonde shook his head. "He's out with Aerith." Tifa deflates. She shuffles her feet. There is an awkward silence and then she looks into his steely blue eyes with such emotion that Cloud acts on instinct.
He holds out his hand to her, palm up, from his position on the couch. Tifa doesn't hesitate. She rushes towards him and the moment she slides her hand into his, he pulls her against him. They sit together on the couch, thighs touching and arms wrapped around each other.
She hugs him tightly. "Why do you make me do this?" She whispers as the first tears come out.
"Did he hurt you?" He asks, dodging the question. He tenses, waiting for her answer. If it is a yes, he'll go after him right now. He'll slaughter him, piece by piece, for every millisecond of pain Tifa might've suffered in that man's presence.
She shakes her head. "Not as much as I've hurt him. Just another…another man."
He closes his eyes and hugs her tighter. Knowing exactly what she means. Another man who sees just her body, her curves and can't think beyond her flesh and a possible night with that body. They probably nod dumbly to the words she says. They must spend each moment in her presence figuring out discreet ways for their eyes to stare at her chest.
"Why did you let me go, Cloud? Why do you make me date these other guys? Why?" She wails as the tears burst free. "Aren't I good enough, Cloud? Don't you love me?"
"You deserve better." He whispers in her hair.
"I want you! If I deserve better, don't I at least deserve what I want?" She asks desperately, fingers clenching into his dark blue dress shirt.
Cloud pulls back. He doesn't want to answer these questions, doesn't want to think about what those words do to him. For him, he'll never be good enough. She'll always deserve better, some kind of prince that could take care of her and make her happy. Someone who was somebody important. He's just a Second Class SOLDIER. Second class when she deserves someone First Class.
His hands gently brush her tear tracks. "One day…one day you'll find that person who deserves you."
She smiles gently and her eyes are so full of love that his heart clenches painfully. Someday, she'd never look at him like that again. She'll only share those looks with someone else, someone who wouldn't be him. But he can't be selfish. Even though he wants her more than anything, he knows she deserves better. And he isn't it. He won't be selfish by keeping her tied to him when she could have better.
"And one day, you'll realize that the only person I'm willing to love and give myself to is you."
Cloud says nothing. He leans forward and kisses her on the forehead. As he stands up, he reaches behind him. His fingers hold the object gently and he presses them into her hand.
"He got you the wrong flowers." And he leaves for his bedroom and closes the door quietly, leaving her in the darkness of the living room alone.
She smiles as she fingers the long white petals of a single white lily.
Author's Notes: I haven't written in so long! I'm on winter break and my days are long and full of mundane empty things. I figured that writing would give meaning to my days again. I hope you enjoyed it!