AN: Feb 16 Prompt is "Mountain."

This is an idea I've had rumbling around in my head. One day I'll write this~

Summary: Tifa and Cloud have a chat on Mt. Nibel.

Tags: canon-divergent, confessions, romance.


The sun was setting. Tifa sat down on the cliff face, swinging her legs. He sat next to her, and she wondered for a fleeting moment if he was a little closer than he had been yesterday.

She honestly couldn't even believe he was here. She was so disappointed when she didn't see him amongst SOLDIER's retinue when they first arrived that she had given up hope.

Maybe he's on another assignment.

Maybe he's too busy to come back to this small town…

But then blonde spikes leapt from underneath the helmet of the guard who rushed to protect her. When she tried to help him up, she recognized his face and felt her heart skip a beat.

"Hey, Cloud?"

He was bent forward with his elbows on his knees. He craned his neck slightly to look at her out of the corner of his eye.

"Hm?"

"Why didn't you say anything when you first got here?"

He visibly stiffened, turning back to the horizon. For a few minutes, he didn't answer, and she was beginning to think he wouldn't.

"I… I was embarrassed."

She leaned forward with him. "Embarrassed?"

"I… I'd said I was gonna become SOLDIER. But I'm just… just some grunt."

Pain laced his words. She reached over and placed a hand on his forearm in comfort. He stared back at her, and she could see it in his eyes.

His shame.

"Is that why you didn't… write me?"

Once again, he avoided her gaze. "I was afraid you'd think... I was some loser."

"Cloud… I don't care if you're in SOLDIER."

His eyes flickered back up to her, wide. "But I can't keep my promise if… if I'm not in SOLDIER."

Tifa giggled, pushing him lightly. "Seriously?" He nodded again and she sighed. "Cloud, you promised you'd be there when I was in a pinch right? Well, when that monster attacked in front of the reactor, you were there!"

He shifted back onto his hands. "Yeah, some hero. It took me down with one hit."

She squeezed his arm. "But you were still there for me."

He was staring at her with such intensity she had to look away. She could feel her face getting hot, and pulled her hair over her shoulder to hide it as she faced out toward the town again.

"Cloud… I started training to defend myself because I… I figured that promise might have been kinda silly. I mean, I can't depend on someone else to save me every time. But… but you were there for me. And I appreciate that."

His voice was low when he responded, "I'm a nobody, Tifa."

"Not to me."

She realized what she'd said and began running her hands through her hair even faster.

"I just mean… don't be so hard on yourself!" Tifa faced him with a smile. "Did you try to make SOLDIER?"

"Of course I tried!" he answered, leaning toward her. "But I failed…"

She shook her head. "What matters is you tried. You can do it again when you go back, can't you?"

He gulped, nodding.

"Then it's settled!" she laughed. "If you want to be in SOLDIER, you're going to keep trying."

Tifa realized just how close he'd gotten. His breath tickled her face as he stared down at her. If she tilted her head just a little, she could—

His lips pressed against hers. It was a soft, hesitant touch. His eyes were squeezed shut. Her shoulders tightened at the sudden gesture, caught off guard, and her pause made him pull away.

"I'm sorry, Tifa, I'm sor—"

She grabbed his shirt and closed her eyes, drawing him back to her, kissing him hard. It was awkward, their lips not placed right. She'd never kissed anyone before, and maybe he hadn't either.

She gulped, relaxing her grip on him. One of his hands caressed her cheek before curling around her neck. She let her mouth curve to his, and he did the same. For a few moments, she thought she'd get lost in his embrace.

He pulled back gently this time, barely an inch. Her lips ghosted against his when she spoke.

"Never give up, okay?"

He nodded, and she intertwined her fingers in those of his free hand.

"Okay."