Universe: FFVII
Timeline: Post-Dissidia
Status: Established Relationship

The tapping of raindrops hitting the window was so loud, it was enough to distract Cloud from his account book for the time being. He had been trying his best to take advantage of this time away from deliveries to make sure all of his gil was in order, and all of his clients' payments had been correctly recorded. That good intention had been thrown off-course by the downpour, both the sight and sound of the rain slapping against the glass catching Cloud's attention, and making him zone out. He watched the raindrops dribble down the window as they hit, rolling their way downward until they fell out of sight.

"Hah, I knew you wouldn't be working up here," Tidus' voice came from behind, bringing Cloud back to earth. Cloud shook his head, and spun around in his chair, causing it to squeak.

"I was trying," Cloud muttered.

"Just take a day off, for once. Really, the world's not gonna fall apart if you do," Tidus promised him with a smile, as he came to sit on the edge of his and Cloud's bed. They were facing each other now, Tidus with his hands resting patiently on his knees, and Cloud slumped forward in his chair.

"Gotta do something. I hate when it rains like this," the elder of the two grimaced.

"It's good for the flowers," Tidus shrugged, hoping to remind Cloud of Aerith's poor garden which was probably in need of some watering, but for once, Cloud's thoughts didn't go there.

"And bad for business. I can't deliver anything when it's this mucky out."

Tidus hated the disgruntled look that was on Cloud's face, but he understood why days like these bothered his partner so much. Days when Cloud couldn't work were the days that Cloud felt useless. Tidus guessed that that had become the way after regaining his memories during his journey with AVALANCHE.

If he wasn't doing something to help other people, he tended to reflect more negatively on himself. That's where Tidus' very important job came in—reminding Cloud that he had atoned enough, that he was a good person, and that he didn't need to push himself every waking minute. It usually worked, thanks to Tidus' honest, unfaltering smile when he said those things.

With a yawn, Tidus got up from his spot on the bed, and went to stand behind Cloud. Cloud closed his eyes, and tried to let himself relax as he felt Tidus' hands on his shoulders. Tidus' palms and fingers dug in a little, trying to ease out the knots that had tried to make a permanent home in Cloud's tense body.

"I'm sure those people can wait one more day to send out a packet of Gongagan soup. Instant soup, at that! Not even homemade!" Tidus exclaimed, making Cloud chuckle. Tidus felt his shoulders relax a bit more, and he felt better knowing that this reminder had made Cloud a little less concerned about having to cancel his work today.

"Hopefully the weather will be better tomorrow," Cloud nodded, eyes still peacefully closed as his back and shoulders received their gentle massage.

"I kinda like the rain, ya know?" Tidus spoke up again, and Cloud crinkled his nose.

"You? Really?"

He couldn't imagine it, considering how tanned Tidus had been when they'd first met; he must have happily spent most of his time in the sun back home. After a few years in Gaia, however, that gorgeous bronze skin had faded quite a bit, and Cloud had sheepishly admitted how much he missed it. Tidus had just smirked, pleased to discover Cloud wasn't blind to his attractive qualities.

"Of course. There has to be rain sometimes, otherwise we'd always take the sun for granted. And besides, the world would be full of a lot more red, wrinkly, sun-burnt people if there was only sun all the time," he manner-of-factly stated. Cloud let out a full-fledged laugh that time, and Tidus grinned at the sound. Lovingly, he leaned forward and pressed a light kiss to Cloud's cheek.

"Glad I could cheer you up."

"Well, sometimes, even through all that crazy, you do have a point."

"Sometimes?" Tidus tested, hands on his hips and brows raised. Cloud glanced back at him and smirked.

"Sometimes," he teased.