A/N: Happy birthday to best girl Tifa! She's the greatest and deserves the best :) This is Written for Day 8: Free Day of Tifa Week 2021. (Originally posted on AO3 on May 3rd LOL all the dates of my fics are not in order)

Pierced Together

"I'm scared, Cloud."

Tifa says this, her eyes wide like she needs to hide them under her blankets–except there are none. Just her and Cloud in a waiting room of the Nibelheim Tattoo & Piercing Parlor, reserved for the older, much cooler kids. Not thirteen and fourteen year olds like themselves.

It was only a couple of hours ago since Tifa approached Cloud outside their homes. She came with a request that never in a million years he'd turn down. He couldn't even believe her when she told him this.

"I don't have my ears pierced."

"Are you sure?"

Well duh, Tifa would be sure. It's her own ears! Cloud wasn't living inside her body yet he thought that with all his hours he spent staring–actually admiring her, that would've made him an expert on whether Tifa's ears had been punctured. Yet again, Cloud didn't really look at her ears…more so it was her pretty hair, her cute eyes, her lovely smile–

"See! Look!" Tifa had brushed her hair back, scooping it in a mock ponytail. She leaned close into Cloud, completely unaware of the pinkish hue developing on his nose and cheeks. Tifa turned her face to one side, then the other. Also oblivious to Cloud leaning one inch back from her. (It's not like he wanted to inch back, but boy oh boy, Tifa's face was near enough to plant a kiss–he knew his shyness was the main barrier from him breaking his self-control.)

"I told you so Cloud!"

"What?"

"My ears! No piercings!"

Cloud finally paid attention, albeit shoving his amazement down his throat so he wouldn't comment on the dusting of sunburnt pinkness on her nose. Cute.

Both Tifa's earlobes were a plain cushion of non-punctured skin. They looked soft, but Cloud wouldn't know. Then he wondered, how would they feel if he pinched them between his fingertips? Cloud reached for his unpierced earlobes, pinching them as well. Not painful. Soft.

"Oh…" He frowned, rubbing the shell of his ear. "Aren't girls supposed to have their ears pierced already?"

Tifa's face fell, her lips pressed into a pout.

Cloud berated himself. Stupid! Why'd you say that?!

He made a mental note to beat himself up later (in his mind) for saying something that hurt Tifa's feelings.

"I mean…I guess," was her response.

She flashed him a quirky smile. "That's why I'm asking you to be my moral support today!"

"Huh?!"

"I need you to be there when I get my ears pierced!"

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, Cloud. So come with me?"

Didn't Tifa have Yuria or one of her idiot guy friends who could accompany her? Why was she asking him out of all the kids in Nibelheim? Weird. But maybe it was better not to question it. After all, it was a rare occurrence for him to be alone with Tifa. The last time was when he made that promise to her at the water tower. Oh, he replayed that memory over and over. The internal film reel of it never broke or scratched.

Anyways, on a brighter note, Tifa was asking him to be moral support. Heck to the friggin yeah! He suppressed a smug grin. Instead, he nodded fervently, his jagged bangs bouncing on his forehead.

"Great!" Tifa's expression rose into brightened eyes and a smile that spread so wide that he could see indents in her cheeks. It was then that Cloud vowed that he'd do anything to see that smile, everyday. Even if it meant saying 'yes' to things he didn't exactly know about.

At present, Tifa is sitting on a chair similar to a barstool, waiting for the piercer to finish sanitizing her tools on the silver tray. Her hands are gloved as she picks up the tools, whistling a tune.

When Tifa and Cloud first arrived, the piercer grinned at them and told them they were cute. Her name was Tahlia, based on the tag on her chest.

Cloud sits on a chair a short distance from Tifa, keeping watch.

Tifa has been swinging her legs so furiously, as if she were on a swing preparing for launch off. She keeps her bottom lip between her teeth, forehead wrinkled while she rubs her palms. She glances at Cloud, mouthing I'm scared.

Cloud feels bad, really bad. He wishes he could take her nerves away and store them into his pocket. He mouths back, You'll be okay. Hesitating, he sticks his thumb up at Tifa, evoking a giggle from her.

"I'm strong," she says aloud, lifting her right arm to flex her non-existent muscles.

He smirks in agreement.

Seconds later, Tifa relapses into a nervous wreck, trembling and close to tears.

Cloud gets up suddenly.

Tahlia notices him. "You want a piercing too pretty boy?"

Taken aback, Cloud sputters, "N-no." He doesn't have the money to pay for it. He didn't get allowances like the other kids.

"Hm. I heard all the cool guys have piercings in their left ear." Tahlia holds a two inch piercing needle and a skinny tweezers-like object. "Sweetheart, don't you think that your friend would look cool with a piercing?"

Tifa stops swinging her legs, stilling her tremors. "Uh-yes! Very cool."

The back of Cloud's neck burned. "I'll think about it then."

He doesn't need to think, he's already convinced.

Tahlia asks if she's ready, and she nods, withholding a frown. Cloud walks over, thinking of ways to soothe her. Nothing comes except for words. "You'll be okay, Tifa."

Tifa stares at Cloud, releasing her bitten lip. "You think so?"

"I know–"

Her hand snatches Cloud's hand, fingers slipping between the gaps of his, folding over until he feels her finger tips resting on his knuckles. Her hand is cold against his sweaty palms.

Cloud thinks he could've died right then and there. Be sent straight to heaven because his lifelong dream girl grasped his hand.

Tifa Lockhart, the star of Nibelheim, everyone's love and joy, is holding his hand! He couldn't believe it. What the heck did he do to deserve such a gift?

He wishes his hands weren't so sweaty. Cloud prays his face isn't as red as Tifa's eyes.

"You don't mind right, Cloud?" Tifa's gaze is fixated elsewhere. She gulps, then takes a deep breath.

Cloud gives her hand a gentle squeeze. "No, I don't mind. I'm your moral support, remember?"

"Alright kiddos, it's showtime," Tahlia says grinning at them like they were her little siblings. "Make sure to inhale when the needle goes through then exhale after, okay?"

"Got it."

Tahlia clamps that tweezer-like object on Tifa's earlobe, in the middle the needle makes its descent.

Tifa keeps her eyes shut, pursing her lips. Cloud strokes a thumb over her index finger in an effort to bring more comfort.

In the split second the needle punctures and makes a hole in her lobe, Cloud's knuckles turn white. He loses blood circulation in his hand, transforming the temperature into ice. His sweat is cold too. The bones in his fingers feel as if they were going to shatter, the crevices seem like they're going to rip.

All because of Tifa's tightening grip.

Cloud has to take a deep breath too. As he does, Tifa loosens her hold, lets out a breath before releasing his hand.

"All done!" Tahlia says, putting her piercing tools down. She takes the earring Tifa chose, a glossy stud with a dangling teardrop jewel, placing it in her newly pierced ear.

Tifa thanks the piercer, sighing in relief.

"Did I hurt you, Cloud? Sorry."

"No. I didn't feel anything at all." If Tifa held his hand for any longer, he might've actually lost all feeling in it. But at least he'd still feel his feelings for her.

Tahlia asks Tifa if she's ready for the other ear. Tifa shakes her head viciously.

"But what about your other earring? You paid for both ears."

Cloud speaks up. "I'll do it."

Tifa's jaw drops.

"I'll take Tifa's place, besides I'm going to be a SOLDIER one day." A small, cocky smile develops on his mouth. "A little pain isn't gonna to kill me."

Tifa starts to laugh, a loud girlish laugh that dances across Cloud's whole being, warming up his insides.

"Okay, Cloud. Need my hand?" She winks at him, then blushes at her own boldness.

"Uh…" Cloud straightens his posture, almost puffs out his chest to say no. Instead, his mouth aligns with his thoughts as he says, "Sure."

Tifa smiles at him.

Everything's going to be alright. He'll keep enduring pain for her. Doesn't matter when, doesn't matter where. After all, a little pain for Tifa will always be worth it.

A/N: Thanks for reading! you can find my latest works on tinylittlerobots Ao3 and you can find me on twitter as little_robots!