Cloud balanced the tray with five drinks on it so daring that Tifa feared he would drop it. In fact, he was a good waiter, but sometimes...Tifa grinned at him while he placed the glasses on the table, and of course he grinned back. "And? How am I doing?" the cop asked while strolling over to the counter. "Very good, Cloud. I'm proud of you." Tifa giggled. Cloud gave her an odd look, shrugged and continued his work.
Tifa closed down the bar and drove home with her protector. Cloud opened the door for her and quickly checked the apartment for hidden dangers. When he was satisfied with the result, he called for Tifa to come in. No answer. Cloud's eyes grew wide when realisation hit him. "Shit!" He spun around fast as lightning and ran outside the apartment, only to see Tifa fighting two muscled guys in the hallway. "Get away from her!" the detective yelled. He jumped at one of the attackers and wrapped his arms around the man's throat. The assassin tried to defend himself, but Cloud threw him against the wall. The attacker hit the stone hard and fell to the floor motionless. In the meantime, Tifa had managed to kick her attacker in the nads and he was cringing on the floor in tremendous pain. Cloud quickly chained the assassins up with his handcuffs and called the police over his cellphone before turning his attention to Tifa. "Are you alright?" he asked, true concern in his voice. "One of them had a knife...he cut me." Tifa told him, her voice shaking. "Come in and sit down." Cloud ordered. "You are in a state of shock." He led her into the apartment and made her sit down in the living room before strolling into the bathroom and getting the first aid kit. Returning to the living room, Cloud took a seat next to Tifa. "Where did he cut you?" he asked as gentle as he could. "It's not bad, just on my leg." Tifa answered. In fact, her jeans was soaked with blood. "Not bad, huh." Cloud scolded her. "Take your jeans off." Tifa stared at him wide-eyed. "What?" "I have to check your wound and bandage it. So could you please take your jeans off?" Tifa slowly opened her belt and slid the trousers down to her ankles. The cut on her thigh was rather deep, and the bleeding hadn't stopped yet. Cloud put a soft piece of clothing over the wound before bandaging it. Tifa was truly surprised about his hands; although they looked rough and strong, his touch on her hurt leg was extremely gentle and caring. The detective finished bandaging the wound and looked up at her. "All done, now..." The words got stuck in his throat when his eyes met Tifa's. It was the first time Tifa realised how blue Cloud's eyes were; almost as blue as the sky on a postcard. Cloud slowly stood up, his eyes never looking away. Tifa also got to her feet and slowly stepped closer to her bodyguard. Without thinking, Cloud wrapped his arms around her and pulled her into a hug. Tifa laid her arms around his neck, and their lips met in a soft, innocent kiss. Tifa felt as if she was flying; when Clouds hands started to stroke her back, she was in paradise. After a few moments that seemed endless to both of them, they parted the kiss. "I love you." Cloud whispered, his voice husky with emotion. "I love you too." Tifa whispered back, before kissing him again, this time more passionate. She pulled him down, and both landed on the couch, Tifa on her back with Cloud on top of her. And then, the two forgot the world around them for a very long and sweet time.
Tifa laid in her big bed, her head resting on Clouds shoulder, and smiled up at him while he stroke her hair. Cloud smiled back at her, then playfully pinched her butt. "Hey!" Tifa complained, and Cloud chuckled before his expression grew all serious. "Tifa, I want you to know one thing. I'll never hurt you, I promise. And...if you don't want me anymore some day...I'll accept it." "Oh Cloud..." Tifa whispered, hot tears stinging in her eyes, "you have no clue how much this words mean to me." Cloud just smiled before kissing her. "Let's go to sleep, darling." he suggested. "Good idea." Tifa answered before she turned the lights off. Soon both of them had fallen asleep.
"Three days, then the trial takes place." Cloud told Tifa the next morning. "Yeah, I know...I'm scared, Cloud." Tifa admitted. Cloud took her hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. "You'll be doing fine. Remember, without you, they won't be able to lock the killer up. You are the only eyewitness." "I know." Tifa sighed. "Although I wish I wouldn't be the one who saw the murder." Cloud gave her another bright smile. "You'll be doing fine. Believe me."