Universe: High School AU
For yuniecorn: I don't normally write high school AU fics, so thanks for making me write outside my comfort zone! Thank you for your support, and I hope this fic will make you smile :)
"Whoo! Great shot, Cloud! I knew you could do it!" Tidus beamed, excitement visible as it bubbled through him. Cloud caught the basketball in his hands as it fell through the hoop and bounced back to him, then smiled at Tidus.
Cloud enjoyed the mere sight of Tidus when he was like this—his mouth pulled up into a natural grin that was so wide, Cloud didn't even think he could achieve one like it himself. He loved the way Tidus bounced on the balls of his feet, like it was the only way to let his energy out without exploding. Most of all, he adored the way Tidus slung an arm around his shoulder; it was a congratulatory gesture, but still an embrace that always made Cloud feel important.
"That was awesome, bro!" Cloud deflated a little, but tried not to let it show. If only he could get Tidus to stop calling him that. That stupid word always sent Cloud crashing back to reality, a reality where Tidus wasn't his. Not in the way he wanted him to be, at least. Still, he would never have the heart to ask Tidus to ditch the nickname because being his best friend still came with a lot of perks. It had for years.
It meant spending time with him, learning his secrets, and gaining a million opportunities to stare. He suddenly realized he'd been doing that last one a little too long, as Tidus' smile faded and was quickly replaced by a look of worry.
"S-sorry. I'm okay. I'm just a little tired," Cloud managed, and it wasn't a lie, either.
"Yeah, well, I don't blame ya. We've been practicing for a while, " Tidus nodded, letting his arm fall from Cloud's shoulders and silently asking for the ball as he backed away, hands outstretched.
Cloud tossed the ball to him with a smile, and Tidus caught it easily. With a confident grin, he took off at a jog around the gym, dribbling the ball effortlessly before jumping up and tossing the ball into the hoop... on his first try. That was why Tidus was the athlete, not Cloud, but Cloud was trying, and also improving, thanks to his friend's guidance.
Cloud didn't really take sports all that seriously. He liked to play sometimes for a bit of fun, or to let off some steam, but lately, it had mostly been a way to be close to Tidus. Graduation was only a few months away, and if Tidus got the athletic scholarship that he was hoping for, then everything would change. Tidus would be leaving to go to school, and Cloud would be staying here to attend a local university, as well as helping his mother out with the family bakery. Cloud had to wonder, were best friends supposed to feel this way? Should he really be hoping Tidus would change his mind and stay here, too?
Cloud blinked, realizing he'd gotten lost in his thoughts, though his eyes were still shamefully focused. His gaze followed Tidus as if there was a magnetic force connecting the two, and it wasn't until the gymnasium door squeaked open that he was able to break that connection.
"Yuna!" Tidus grinned, abandoning the basketball mid-bounce as he trotted over to his girlfriend. Cloud turned to watch them, but regretted it when they decided to smooch right in front of him. His thoughts were quickly directed back to that dismal track. Since he was already dwelling on the things he wished he could change, he'd might as well add Yuna to the list.
To be honest, Cloud adored Yuna, thought she was the kindest, most likeable girl that ever existed. When Cloud's father had passed away a few years back, Tidus and Yuna had acted like Cloud's personal bodyguards when he returned to school. They had escorted him everywhere, and made sure he wasn't bombarded by comments like 'I'm so sorry', and 'I heard about your dad'—comments that Cloud just hadn't been ready for. For that, he could never thank them enough. Cloud respected Yuna. There was just one problem: Tidus did, too, only his admiration for her was multiplied by hundreds.
Cloud hated himself for feeling like this, hated wishing for his best friend to end his relationship, but he couldn't help it. His own happiness had to count for something, too, right?
"Hey, Cloud," Yuna greeted with a smile that was so pleasant, Cloud instinctively smiled back, even as she leaned in closer to Tidus.
"Hi, Yuna." Cloud's eyes didn't stay on her for long. Instead, they travelled from her face down to her shoulder, where Tidus' arm was resting in the same manner as it had been on Cloud's just moments ago. Despite the sweat that still glistened on him from the workout, Cloud felt a shiver shimmy up his spine; he just hoped his baggy, red jersey was enough to conceal it.
"We're going out to dinner tonight. You wanna come?" Tidus asked his friend. Cloud hesitated. One look at Tidus, and his brain screamed ' yes ', but one glance at Yuna, and he was reminded that he would just be a third wheel.
"No thanks. Bartz and I are going to study for our chemistry quiz," Cloud replied.
"Keener," Tidus coughed, before giving Cloud a timid, but playful look.
"Yeah, you'll thank me later when I'm helping you study. That was the deal, wasn't it? You help me with basketball, I help you with chemistry?"
Tidus couldn't fight the smile that was tugging at his lips, not when Cloud was wearing that smirk.
"You got me there." He heaved an exaggerated sigh.
"So, we'll see you tomorrow, then?" Yuna asked. Cloud was already backing towards the locker rooms.
"Yep, bright and early. Biology. Yay," Cloud said with a sarcastic grin before giving them a wave and disappearing through the locker room door. Now, he just had to hope that Bartz really would be up for a study date. Cloud hated lying.
"Sure. Your house at seven?" Bartz asked again, just to confirm.
"Yeah," Cloud smiled, making sure to grab both his chemistry and biology books from his open locker. Tidus thought he was a keener now—wait 'til he read up on tomorrow's bio lesson before they even got to class.
Cloud knelt to put the books in his backpack, but out of the corner of his eye, he saw the familiar yellow and black boots. He looked up to see Tidus and Yuna heading past the row of lockers and towards the exit, still attached at the hip. Their elbows were linked, eyes focused on each other rather than the path ahead. The mere sight made Cloud's stomach turn uncomfortably.
He tried not to grimace as he stood up and watched them leave through the school's giant double-doors. Tidus hadn't even said goodbye. Of course, Cloud had been crouched down, and perhaps he simply hadn't noticed him, but...
Bartz closed his own locker loud enough to startle Cloud out of his trance.
"Now, there's a jealous look, if I ever saw one," Bartz announced, innocently. Somehow, no matter what Bartz said, he had a way of making his delivery light and gentle. There was no way Cloud could be mad at him when he spoke that way—not accusing nor judgmental, just genuinely curious.
" What do you mean?" was the most casual thing Cloud could think of to say.
"Feeling left out?" Now there was concern in Bartz's voice as well. Cloud grabbed his backpack off the floor and tugged the straps over his shoulders so hard it stung a little.
"Better than being a third wheel on date night," Cloud grumbled.
Bartz watched Cloud so carefully, and was particularly drawn to the expression he was wearing. Bartz had never seen him like that before, his brows fixed into what looked like a scowl mixed with pain, his lips trembling downward at the corners, but the rest of his mouth stuck in a menacingly firm line.
Bartz tilted his head slightly, still looking at Cloud side-on.
"Cloud? Do you like him?"
"What?" Cloud had intended to snap, but instead, his voice came out feeble—more like he felt on the inside. He was a little embarrassed that Tidus was the one Bartz suspected him of liking, especially when the circumstances could have just as easily pointed to Yuna, but if anyone was going to find out about this, it might as well be Bartz. Aside from Tidus, Bartz was one of Cloud's closest friends, and he did, at least, play for the same team.
Cloud took a quick glance up and down the hall to make sure no one was around to hear them, then he hung his head low and began to speak.
"He's my best friend," he said, voice barely above a whisper. "I know, one wrong move could mess this up."
"Cloud..."
"So, I won't do anything. He never has to know."
"But—" Bartz started, but Cloud held up a hand to silence him.
"Come on. We're gonna miss our bus." Cloud hurried for the exit, his shoulders hunched like he wanted to make himself as small as he could, maybe even disappear. Bartz simply stood dumbfounded where Cloud had left him, wishing it was his place to interfere, but knowing it wasn't. He couldn't get in the middle of this without embarrassing Cloud, or messing things up for Tidus and Yuna. Unfortunately, his friends would have to figure this out for themselves.
Cloud was thankful Bartz seemed willing to drop the subject of Tidus over the next few days. The curious brunet had tried a couple of times during their study session to convince Cloud to at least talk to Tidus, but Cloud refused, insisting he didn't want to complicate matters for his best friend, and that hopefully his 'stupid crush' would go away after a while. After that, Bartz had seemed content to let him be.
And content, Cloud was, for the most part. He decided to focus on his schoolwork, and make the most of the time he and Tidus had left before graduation. He thought he was doing a pretty good job of it, too, until the night that changed everything.
"Oho! I win again!" Tidus laughed, thrusting a controller up in the air. Cloud eyed him in mock irritation, and elbowed him in the side.
"Just because my side of the screen says 'defeated' doesn't mean you're the overall champion," Cloud muttered, smirking. Tidus looked at him out of the corner of his eye.
"Oh yeah?" he challenged. "I am today."
"Yeah, today," Cloud repeated. "What about the rest of the week?"
Tidus shook his head, arm falling back down to his side and his posture deflating. He let out another chuckle, this one much less victorious.
"Okay, I get it. You are the virtual chocobo-racing champion," he said, playfully nudging Cloud's shoulder with his fist. Cloud pretended to dust himself off where Tidus' hand had been.
"Thanks," he said proudly, nose up in the air.
"You goofball," Tidus smiled, getting up from the floor and turning off the TV. He stretched his arms above his head and let them fall, but remained silent longer than Cloud thought was normal for him. He looked pensive, like he wanted to speak, but wasn't quite ready.
"What's wrong?" Cloud asked, staring up at him.
"Actually, can we talk for a sec?" Tidus motioned toward the bed, and they both took a seat on the edge. Cloud felt his heart begin to thud, though he wasn't quite sure why. Tidus just didn't seem himself. He was too quiet, maybe even nervous.
"What's up?"
"Well, actually... I'm going to ask Yuna to marry me," Tidus announced with a smile. Cloud felt like his stomach had fallen a good few inches inside him, and he could instantly feel the color draining from his face. Eight tiny words, and Tidus had Cloud's world shattering like a rock through a mirror.
"I mean, not right away," Tidus said, trying to help Cloud recover from the shock taking over his face. "After graduation. That gives me a few months to plan it better, and to get the ring, of course."
"Oh, that's... I'm... happy. For you," Cloud stuttered out. He knew he should smile, but right now, his brain couldn't remember what muscles he needed to make that happen.
Tidus nodded, and stood up. It looked like Cloud just needed a minute to let it soak in. Knowing Cloud and how practical he was, he would probably have a few things to warn him about like how young they were, and how he should be saving up for school instead, but Tidus could live with that. He appreciated that Cloud always looked out for him.
Tidus sauntered over to his bedroom window and stared out into the wide open world, as if seeing the future that lay before him.
"Things are just going so great, I feel like we need to take the next step. Lots of people move out of their parents' house once they graduate, and I'm sure my old man will be glad to have me out of his hair," Tidus went on. He was hoping Cloud would respond soon, but he knew his friend was a deep thinker. He probably still needed a minute to mull over the information before making a judgment about it.
Tidus continued to stare out the window as he spoke, taking in the busy sunlit streets beyond his luscious back yard.
"You know, things are so great with Yuna, I think I almost made it to third base the other night," Tidus went on.
"A-almost?" Cloud blinked, and cursed himself for his bad timing. Why did he have to find his voice at that moment? Why did he have to ask that question? Yevon knew he didn't want to know the answer.
"Yeah, we were at her house, and we sorta got to making out, and—" Cloud couldn't hear the rest of Tidus' words, only the deafening thump of his heart against his eardrums. He tried to breathe, slowly, steadily, but each breath seemed to make his head feel like it was floating higher—up, up, so high he didn't feel like it could still be attached to his neck. All he could think about was Bartz's words. Feeling left out? Cloud? Do you like him?
"Tidus, you need to stop," Cloud said, his voice coming out soft and meek, despite how demanding the words themselves were.
"What? I thought you liked hearing the dirty details," Tidus smirked, turning toward Cloud, but his smile fell at the sight of his friend. Cloud was hunched with his head hung low, his hands gripping the bed below him tightly.
"N-no, you need to... stop. I-I don't feel well," Cloud somehow managed. He wasn't sure how he'd gotten the words through his teeth, but they were the most honest thing he could have said in that moment. Tidus was at his side almost instantly, gripping one of his shoulders, and ducking his head to meet Cloud's downward gaze.
"Hey, you okay?"
"Just need to lie down."
"Alright."
Tidus helped Cloud lie back on the bed, and tucked a pillow under his neck. Cloud stared up at the ceiling, and tried to concentrate on his breathing, but it still felt like every breath was pulling his head further from his body. It unfortunately didn't help when Tidus leaned into his line of vision. The concern in his blue eyes was too much to take at the moment, and only made Cloud's stomach lurch uncomfortably.
"Are you dizzy? Or lightheaded?"
"Both," Cloud said, weakly, trying his hardest to focus on the dots on Tidus' ceiling rather than his face.
"That came on suddenly. Do you need a cold cloth or anything?"
"I... don't know." Cloud couldn't even think.
"I'll get you one anyway. Just a sec."
Tidus was back in sixty seconds or less with a cold, damp facecloth, and he tenderly draped it across Cloud's forehead. By this time, Cloud could feel his mouth twitching downward. His hazy brain wanted to let him cry, and at the moment, Cloud wasn't sure he could prevent it from happening.
Tidus sat down on the edge of the bed, watching Cloud carefully, but Cloud's gaze was still skyward. If Tidus had known his ceiling was going to be getting this much of Cloud's attention, he would have put up some posters or something to relax him. His cheery personality would have to do the job instead.
"I thought the news might come as a shock, but I didn't think I'd have you almost passing out on me! Don't worry, next time I have an announcement, I'll get you to lie down first," Tidus chuckled, giving Cloud a grin while his eyes were still slanted slightly with concern. Cloud exhaled shakily, feeling uneasy since Tidus' joke held more truth than the poor boy knew.
"Maybe you should," Cloud agreed, and Tidus frowned slightly when he didn't detect even an ounce of humour in his voice.
"You okay, buddy? You're really pale." Tidus' voice was gentle as he reached out a hand, pulling the cloth aside for a moment to press his hand to Cloud's forehead, and then setting it back in place. As he proceeded to touch each of Cloud's cheeks, Cloud swore he could feel the color returning to his face a little too rapidly.
"I don't think you should marry Yuna," Cloud said quickly. The lack of blood in his brain had most likely impacted that comment. There had been no time at all between him thinking it and saying it, no time to bite his tongue or reconsider. Tidus sighed. Here we go.
"Why not?" he decided to ask, staring at Cloud almost sternly, waiting for an answer—a good one, at that. Cloud dared to meet Tidus' gaze, and hated that serious look on his face. That expression just looked so wrong on him. Tidus' face was supposed to be home to laughter and smiles, not frowns or pain. Cloud swallowed, and focused on his words. He'd started this mess; might as well keep going.
"Because, I—" Cloud paused. He really thought there would be more to that sentence, like the ending would just kind of form itself, but he didn't have an answer for Tidus, except for the painful, dangerous truth.
"Because I don't want you to," Cloud whispered, barely breathing. Tidus turned his head away slightly, but his stern eyes were still fixed on Cloud.
"You don't want me to?" he repeated, emphasizing each word.
"Tidus?"
Cloud pushed himself to sit up, his stomach giving one last uncomfortable turn as the room spun. Luckily, after the 360° , Cloud's world stood still, his brain finally settling. Cautiously, he looked into his best friend's eyes. He wasn't sure what was about to come out of his mouth, but he knew he had to let himself speak, and just hope that whatever words emerged would improve the situation, not make it worse.
"Do you remember when you first fell for Yuna? And you used to tell me how pretty and kind she was, and how she made you smile?"
"Of course," Tidus nodded, listening closely now, as it seemed Cloud might still be on his side.
"You were lucky. You had your best friend to talk to about that sort of thing. But with me, I never could because of what it might do to our relationship," Cloud said slowly. He lowered his head, but maintained eye contact, hoping desperately that Tidus would connect the dots.
"You liked someone? And didn't feel you could tell me?" Tidus asked. His heart clenched at the thought that he'd let Cloud down somehow.
"Buddy, I wouldn't judge you. You know that, right? Even if you liked a guy, or..." Tidus trailed off, eyes widening as he came to his conclusion; the way Cloud had flinched in that moment led him right to it. Cloud unlocked his gaze from Tidus', and it fell shamefully toward the bed.
"Or me," Tidus finished. "You like me."
"Tidus, I'm so sorry. I shouldn't have—"
"Shouldn't have what? Told me? Or hid this from me? Urgh, you know what? I don't even know what's worse!" Tidus shouted, jumping to his feet and shoving his hands through his hair, frazzled and frustrated, to say the least. Cloud courageously swung his legs over the side of the bed and stood up.
"I don't know either. I didn't know how to feel about any of this," he said, wanting Tidus to know that he wasn't alone in the confusion.
"Cloud, don't!" Tidus hollered, but the sheer volume of his voice seemed to make Cloud's shaky legs buckle.
Tidus caught him before he plummeted to the floor, and Cloud's breath stuck in his lungs as he was held close against Tidus' chest. It was exactly where he'd wanted to be for so long, and yet, the whole moment was wrong. Those arms weren't warm and comforting—they were stiff and cold as they lifted him back up and guided him onto the edge of the bed again. Cloud sat there obediently.
"I can't do this right now," Tidus sighed, eyes returning to the window across the room. He stared out into the sunlight, but now, his expression was anything but optimistic. He looked older, more cynical, like he'd just discovered that life wasn't as simple as the fairytale image he'd had in his head.
"I'm sorry," Cloud said again, dumbly. He wasn't sure what else he could possibly do. Tidus stared down at him, full of uncertainty himself. He didn't know how to feel about Cloud's feelings, or about the wedding. All he knew was that he needed to get away, and he did so silently, escaping the small space without a word. Cloud heard the front door slam as Tidus left, and he let himself glance around Tidus' empty room before his vision was blurred by tears.
Cloud: I' m sorry to text you this late, but I need to talk. I ruined everything.
Bartz: How? What are you talking about?
Cloud: I told Tidus. He's pretty furious with me.
Bartz: You were just being honest, right? How can he be mad at you about your feelings?
Cloud: I just told him he shouldn't get married. I don't think that makes me best friend material.
Bartz: Maybe you're not meant to be best friends anymore. I thought you wanted more than that.
Cloud: As if. He's too mad at me right now to even think about that.
Bartz: Give him time. You'll sort it out :)
Cloud: ...Bartz? Is love supposed to feel this awful?
The next two weeks at school were lonely and miserable. Tidus made a point of keeping his mouth shut tight whenever Cloud was around, but that only made Cloud even more determined to make things right with him. One day at lunch, he'd met Tidus at his locker, and had glanced around to make sure Yuna's prying eyes were nowhere near them before tugging a wedding magazine out of his book-bag. Tidus looked unimpressed, still refusing to speak.
"I saw this suit and thought it would look good on you. I know yellow's your favourite color, and I thought a yellow vest might go well underneath your tux. You can think about it anyway," Cloud had smiled, slipping the magazine into Tidus' locker beside his schoolbooks.
A few days later, he appeared outside the gymnasium at three-thirty—their usual practice time—with a disc in hand. Tidus eyed it skeptically as Cloud waved him over. He abandoned his basketball in the middle of the court and reluctantly made his way over to his friend.
"Here's that CD you wanted me to burn. Sorry I forgot to do it sooner. I listened to it again, too. It's really good. I think you'll like it." This time, Tidus at least mumbled a thank you before returning to his practice. Cloud liked to think that was progress, and so he continued his small acts of kindness throughout the next couple of weeks.
Bartz: Are things any better?
Cloud: Not great, but I know Tidus. He's destined to bounce back to his cheery self before long. The longest I've ever seen him upset was that month when his dog was hit by a car. And really, who could blame him?
Bartz: Keep your spirits up. You've been an amazing friend to him this week, despite everything.
Cloud: Yeah. Friend. Do you think I should have just kept things that way? Maybe I shouldn't have told him. I wasn't even going to until this whole wedding thing came up.
Bartz: Yeah, but I can't imagine how hard it would have been to keep it a secret, especially once he asked you to be his best man.
Cloud: ...Not sure how to feel about that. Again I ask, is love supposed to feel this awful?
Cloud jumped as the door to his room swung open, and he snapped his phone shut before he even saw the intruder. It didn't matter who it was. No one was allowed to see those texts. Cloud gulped when Tidus strolled in, his smile still nowhere in sight. His hair and clothes appeared slightly damp. Cloud could only imagine he'd spent his evening walking around in the misty rain. Two weeks, and he still seemed as depressed as ever.
"Tidus?"
"You made me rethink everything, you know?" he muttered, kicking Cloud's door closed behind him. Cloud lowered his head, and scooted a little further back against the headboard of his bed. His hands clenched his closed phone tightly.
"Look, I hate that it's so hard for me to be supportive of this marriage, but Tidus, you know you mean everything to me. So, I'm going to do whatever I can to make it up to you, and I will stand by your decision."
"My decision... is this," Tidus announced loudly, and Cloud closed his eyes as he awaited more yelling. He heard Tidus shuffle towards him, and instead braced himself for impact—a punch to the face, maybe? But Tidus' attack was silent, and Cloud felt a soft pressure against his lips, a gentle hand skimming up his neck and resting at his jaw. Tidus' thumb ghosted over his cheek, and Cloud's eyes flickered open just to confirm that this moment was real. It was.
Tidus' eyes were closed before him, his dark blond lashes looking so long and beautiful in the dim, yellow glow of the lamplight. Cloud's arms reached for Tidus' neck, tenderly tugging him closer to him. Tidus was pulled to the edge of the bed, and he sat there contentedly, soaking up the foreign—but definitely not unpleasant—feeling of his best friend's lips on his own.
Physically, the kiss wasn't much different than those he'd shared in the past with Yuna, but emotionally, it was on a whole different level. He and Cloud seemed to gravitate together, not just their bodies, but their souls. This was his Cloud—the Cloud who kept him safe when his father was in a drunken rage, the Cloud who knew things about him that he'd never told anyone else in the world. This was the Cloud who had come to his house after his father's funeral, claiming that Tidus was the only one he felt comfortable enough with to just let himself cry; he'd stayed all afternoon, letting Tidus comfort him as he talked and sobbed. This was the Cloud who had faithfully stood by his side all this time, keeping his feelings a secret just so they could remain friends. For Tidus, all those things made this kiss feel like magic.
Finally, the two parted in unison, silently knowing it was time to pull away. Eyes met somewhat uncertainly, and Cloud let his arms wander off of Tidus' shoulders, not knowing if the contact was appropriate now that the moment was over. Tidus eased his concerns as he reached for his hand and squeezed it gently.
"What does this mean?" Cloud asked first, voice quiet and unsure, much to Tidus' dismay. He had kind of been hoping that kiss would speak for itself.
"Come on, there's no way I could have gone through with that proposal knowing you feel something for me."
"No, my selfishness shouldn't stop you. You have a history with Yuna, and..."
"But, Cloud, no one knows me better than you do. And I know I'd regret it if you and I never gave this a shot," Tidus smiled, softly.
"So, um... I'm just a crapshoot?" Cloud asked, chuckling timidly.
"What? No, no!" Tidus shook his head wildly, then took both of Cloud's hands in his. He scooted a little closer and locked his eyes with Cloud's. "You are my best friend, Cloud Strife, and I've been so stupid not to realize how important you are to me."
"No, you haven't. I didn't exactly— Well, yeah, maybe a little stupid," Cloud said, giving a tiny smirk.
"Hey!" Tidus swatted playfully at Cloud's head before linking their hands again. Tidus stared down at the bed, looking deep in thought, and despite how well he knew him, Cloud couldn't figure out what Tidus was thinking about.
"Cloud? How long ago did you know you liked me?" Cloud let out a puff of air, trying to pinpoint an exact date or number, but he couldn't. It simply felt like some part of him had always loved Tidus, from the first day they'd met, as preschoolers on the playground.
"Well, I guess when we started high school, my feelings went from like to head over heels," Cloud sheepishly admitted.
"I'm such an idiot. You've been so loyal, even these past couple of weeks when all I wanted to do was shut you out. I was blaming you for ruining things with Yuna, but there you were, just showing me wedding magazines, and giving me brochures for the best engagement jewellery, and proving to me that I have your support... even though it must have been killing you inside," Tidus said, mustering all the honesty and respect into his blue eyes that he could. He needed Cloud to know that he appreciated every little thing he'd done.
"I want to be in your life. How I fit in, I don't care anymore. I just want to be a part of it," Cloud said, eyes desperate now, voice pleading. Tidus' thumbs grazed the backs of his soft hands.
"You'll be a part of it, buddy," he smiled, leaning in to steal another kiss from Cloud's lips.
Cloud kissed back eagerly, tearfully, and hands broke free only to pull each other in closer. Arms wrapped around backs, fingers curling gently into shirts. These comforting arms—that were somehow warm, despite being speckled with rain—were now like Cloud had always pictured them, holding him safe and sound. It was a feeling he could gladly get used to. He couldn't wait to text Bartz later: Forget everything I said. Love feels amazing. The excitement of the thought made him chuckle lightly against Tidus' lips.
"Now, and always," Tidus whispered.
