"Hi there," she said, curious young eyes scanning the scene, "Who are you?"
"One of the best," he said, flexing a muscle in conspicuously. She giggled.
"Well, you'd better hurry," she said indicating with a flick of her eyelashes, "Your friends are leaving you."
"Didn't think I'd be seeing you anytime soon," he said, striding into the room. She nodded solemnly.
"Yes, well," she began, something dark shadowing her eyes, "Things change I suppose."
"Well, you're still quite lovely," he said boldly, stepping up to where she had propped herself against, "Makes me wish I could have talked with you more."
"Talk?" she said bitterly, "That's not what men want to do." He looked confusedly at her, as she dissappeared further into the bowels of the place.
"Must you always come in here?" she asked teasingly, her stance relaxed. He laughed.
"I figured if I came in here every day," he began, a slight modesty creeping into his voice, "you would eventually talk to me." She grinned.
"Well, persistence can pay off," she said, moving to stand within conversation distance.
"Then just ask her already!" she shrieked at him, swatting him with a towel. He shrugged.
"Despite popular belief," he said, his voice lowered, "I can be quite shy." He winked.
"Yes, when Hell freezes over," she said knowingly, "Or when Shinra starts selling flowers as their only business."
"Flowers..." he said, putting a hand up to his chin, "That's for the idea..." She raised an eyebrow.
"I sense a diabolical plot," she said, crossing her arms. He laughed.
"No, I'm just modifying your advice," he said, giving her a quick wave goodbye.
"She's alright..." he said, raising the glass to his lips, but not drinking, "I think she and that tall guy have something."
"Something?" she asked, wiping a spot on the table.
"Yes..." he said, shoulders slumped forward, "That 'spark'. You know what I mean."
"I suppose," she said, nervously fiddling with her fingers, "I've never experienced it." He mockingly let his jaw drop.
"What? A babe like you?" he said, his voice warm and friendly. She chuckled.
"Your endless flatteries are sweet," she said, "but I'm taken. I promised."
"Then how could you have not experienced it?" he questioned, eyes probing her face for a minute.
"I believe in persistance too," she said, averting her eyes, "Time won't pass me by. I can feel it."
"Why won't you tell me more about Him?" he asked, having cornered her again. She shifted uncomfortably.
"Please. I have work to do," she said politely. He let out a breath like a hiss.
"Fine. Then I'll set you up with a friend of mine," he said frivilously, "He's got this pansy sounding name, but he's one of my best friends. You'd like him."
"I don't want your friend," she said quietly.
"Him?" he said cautiously.
"I don't know..." she whispered, freeing herself from his blockade.
"You shouldn't do that," she said, wiping her hand across her face. He leaned in.
"It was just a friendly kiss," he said, eying her hungrily. She backed up.
"It's not polite," she said, finding her way away from him.
"Confidence," he began, tapping a fork on the table, "is something that most people cannot see through. It is the perfect shield."
"Really?" she asked, patiently stirring her hot tea.
"How do you think I get by?" he leaned in his voice hushed and conspiratorial. Her eyes grew wide.
"Human," she said quietly, "Aren't we so very human?"
"If that's what you wish to call it," he said, ceasing his tapping, "I call it frailty."
"I have a mission to go on, Tifa," he said carefully, watching her eyes. Her gaze was unrelenting.
"For how long?" she asked innocently. He drew in a deep breath.
"I have no idea," he said, he usual confident pose drooping. She furrowed her eyebrows.
"What's wrong?" she studied his features.
"It's Cloud, isn't it?" he said finally, "He is Him?" She nodded nearly imperceptively.
"That's fabulous," he said with a huff, "I leave the day after tomorrow." He walked off.
"I don't know..." she whispered, feeling a small tear in the corner of her eye.
"Thank you for meeting me," she said, breaking the silence upon their meeting. He nodded.
"I suppose I should tell you," he said grudgingly, "He talks of no one else but you." Her expression remained the same.
"We made a promise," she said slowly, "For him to come and save me. And he did." He scowled slightly.
"I can't change fate, can I?" he said quietly, "Not with Aeris, and now..." He stopped with an exhale.
"Do you think..." she began, words tangling in her throat, "That I love him?" He stared hard at her.
"Yes, as much as he..." he garnered his thoughts, "...I...you." She looked startled.
"Tomorrow," she said, "I will see you tomorrow. Before you go." With that, she walked off.
"Zack!" she shouted, running to catch up with him. He turned around.
"Why? I thought you said tomorrow," he muttered, running a hand through his dark hair. She was panting, catching her 't" she huffed, "I couldn't keep it up." He raised an eyebrow.
"The charade," she continued, shifting her weight, "My shyness." She blushed.
"You're not shy," he said carefully, "Your expression is through your body, never words."
"So then you will understand this?" she said cautiously, getting up on her tiptoes to his eye level.
"What?" he asked breathlessly, forgetting any words he had to say with the arrival of her kiss.
Author's Note: This is for Zelda6. I finally wrote it! Hope it's to your liking. Coincides with the previous chapter...the situation warranted it. All of this is pregame. Hopefully you'll catch my subtle hints about the location. If not...sorry.
10/21/04: Fixed a line that could almost be yaoi-ish...oops.