CHOCOBOS AND POTATOES

Pure fluff written for Caramel van Gogh

"Why did the hero cross the road?"

"Why are you TALKING so LOUD, Cloud?" moaned one of the other kids.

He knew. Because if he had talked normally, Tifa, even though only a few feet away, might not have heard him! Out of the corner of his eye, he could see that he had got her attention.

She was listening.

"To avenge the chocobo that didn't make it!" he announced triumphantly, even louder than before.

"That's AWFUL!" said the other kid. Snickers from the group behind him. They were laughing at him, Cloud knew, but he didn't care. They were just other kids, not friends. He didn't have friends. He didn't WANT friends, really, except -

He tried to pretend he wasn't looking, but he could see anyway. She was snickering into her hand, shaking slightly, and he panicked - Oh no, she's laughing at me too, she thinks I'm stupid -

- and Tifa pulled her hand away from her mouth, laughing bright, clear, and open, and then she snorted - actually SNORTED -

She did! She liked my joke!

After a minute, her laughter died down, but just for a second, her eyes smiled into his before she walked away.

"- the chocobo that didn't make it!"

Grains from around the table, Cid laughing as he pounded the table with his fist. "You've got to be kidding, Cloud. That was so fucking lame. Don't you know any better jokes?"

Not really, thought Cloud. "Denzel liked it," he said defensively.

"Denzel is TEN. He thinks potty jokes are funny," Barret replied, wiping tears from his eyes with his new prosthetic hand.

"Well, I liked it," objected Yuffie.

"Exactly," said Barret.

Cloud suddenly realized that there was one voice he couldn't hear laughing. Tifa.

She'd gone back for more drinks, but they were only a table away, and as drunk and as loud as they were being, she couldn't have helped but heard. Cloud was suddenly mortified. She must be so embarrassed, she can't even look at me -

He turned around.

He was wrong on both counts.

She was t laughing, but there was a warm, tender smile on her face.

She was looking right at him.

And her eyes were full of love.