A/N: Originally written for Cloti Endless Summer 2021! Enjoy!

Lemonade

Why did Tifa have to look so pretty all the time?

With his hands shoved into his pockets, his head peaked out from behind a building. The sweltering heat led his temples to drip and his pits to sweat too. He sniffed himself quickly. Phew. He did not stink. Why did he even care? It's not like he was going to approach Tifa today.

Wrong.

For once in his cruel existence, he actually had gil in his pocket, and there were no holes in his pockets either. Those pesky little coins wouldn't escape from him now! The only thing escaping Cloud now was, well, courage.

Tifa's way too pretty, he thought. Hoo boy, she was wearing another cute dress today. Why was he surprised? He should be used to it. But boy oh boy, that yellow dress looked adorable on her–bright like the sunflowers that grew in another part of the world that she so wanted to visit. (Cloud was definitely not eavesdropping when she stated this to a friend).

She was smiling, nodding her head as she handed over a lemonade cup to a fellow villager.

Yup, you guessed it. Tifa Lockhart was selling lemonade, her stand decked out with a flowery tablecloth. The pitcher was twice the size of her head.

When Cloud first saw her selling lemonade that afternoon, he was determined to run the other way to avoid humiliating himself in front of her. He'd go straight to his house, and perhaps, peer out his window to watch her from afar.

But his throat dried up, and he was positively parched! Cloud swallowed his spit. He needed to quench his thirst somehow.

Needed to gain some courage too.

Tifa tried her hardest to suppress her frown. She wore a smile that made her cheeks hurt. Her hair was burning her scalp. This was one of the few times she wished she didn't have such dark hair. Mama had taught her to love herself, especially when she looked different from the others. But her confidence kept getting eroded each time a certain someone ignored her.

The droplets on the glass pitcher raced to the bottom. Nerves pricked at her fingertips as she realized that there wasn't that much lemonade left.

Where are you, Cloud?

Frowning, she peered out into the area again hoping to catch a glimpse of unruly hair.

"Hey Tifa!"

Darn it, Zion wanted another drink. Not him again! He wasn't who Tifa was waiting for.

She flashed a bright grin. The tin box beside her sparkled under the sun. "Back for more?"

"Yeah. Maybe you should mix that lemonade with some liquor."

Tifa, disgusted, shook her head. "I'll get into big trouble. So will you!"

Zion laughed, giving her a mocking look. "Whatever, give me a cup of lemonade."

Tifa stared hard at the pitcher. The ice had melted. Lemon slices floated to the top, it's skin shriveled. The lemonade didn't reach the brim, but was way below the halfway point. There was only enough for one cup.

She looked past Zion's shoulder, panic rising in her chest as she saw a peek of blonde approaching. She clasped onto the pitcher.

"Sorry, we're sold out!"

Cloud's heart dropped to the pit of his stomach.

I'm too late.

Yeah, no surprises here. His hands turned into fists, the coins in his pockets shook as he stalked off walking past the lemonade stand.

"What are you talking about Tifa? You got at least a whole cup left. You might as well give it for free!"

"I already said we're sold out!"

"Seriously? You suck." Zion kicked a rock that landed at Cloud's feet.

Cloud glanced up to see Tifa, eyes watery. When their gazes locked, Tifa's defiant expression softened. He quickly looked away.

"What?! You're here to get a drink too, Strife?" Zion said. "Guess what? She ain't got none for you."

Cloud glowered, shoving his fists further down his pockets. "Whatever."

Zion began walking away, laughing to himself about how his trio drank most of Tifa's homemade lemonade. For some reason, Cloud thought maybe he did that on purpose. It did seem like the world was against him.

Behind Tifa, the water tower's wheels spun, light retracted between panels. She stared at Cloud, probably noticing his chapped lips and the sweat on his brow.

Cloud thought it was better to walk away.

"Cloud!"

He should've ignored her and continued stalking off. Yet his tongue screamed for moisture, his head felt light. Dehydration was making him dizzy.

There wasn't lemonade left anyway. Just a couple more strides and he'd be back home, sipping ice water.

"Come back! Cloud! There's one more cup for you!"

When Cloud turned around, Tifa was standing up, her hand clutched a cup. The pitcher beside her was empty. Her voice faltered as she said, "I saved the last bit for you. I thought maybe you'd want to try it?"

Flabbergasted, Cloud's mouth opened to say something. His feet moved without his will, and he stood right in front of Tifa. Her arm outstretched with the drink towards him.

"If you don't want it…" She shifted her eyes to her feet. "That's okay. The ice melted so it might taste–"

Cloud thought his heart was going to make a hole inside his chest. His stomach was no longer empty, giddiness danced around it. His brain short-circuited in disbelief. No way, Tifa couldn't be saving him a glass, no way.

"–probably watery. It's my first–"

His tongue suddenly felt like sandpaper, the sweat at the back of his neck felt hotter than before.

"I'll take it!"

Cloud didn't expect to yell or see Tifa's smile grow so big. Now his cheeks were flaring up. He slapped the gil onto the table, snatched up the cup and drank it in one shot. Oh heavens, gracious. The liquid streamed through his throat, cooling down his body. His thirst was quenched. Rejuvenation knocked his senses awake.

He wiped his mouth. "I liked it."

Tifa wrung her fingers, smiling shyly. "I'm so happy."

This had to be a dream. The ground needed to swallow him up.

Did Cloud just make Tifa happy?

Before he could ask that ridiculous question aloud, he ran away.

Tifa watched his figure disappear. She laughed, her plan worked.

Easy peasy lemon squeezy.