Disclaimer: Final Fantasy VII with the characters, items, places, etc. are the property of Square Enix, Inc. No infringement is intended.
Author's Note: Prompt for Cloti Fall Festival 2021 for Cloti week on Tumblr/Twitter. Free day!
This update took longer than I planned but it is finally here! In this chapter, we explore how the ruse between Cloti starts to affect the relationships around the couple, but they are committed to playing it out against the ton, i.e. high society! If you recently read the opening chapter, you'll notice that I changed the name of Tifa's mother. It wasn't very long after when this story debuted did we finally get a name for her. So going forward, Lorelai is now going by Thea.
Much thanks to both my beta readers: Our Lady Muffin and mayelisa from AO3 for the support. The beautiful cover art was illustrated by the lovely Hyoukane on Tumblr/Twitter.
The title of the story was inspired by Utada Hikaru's song "Be My Last".
The story is inspired by Bridgerton but how Cloud and Tifa end up together, or how the story unfolds, will not be the same.
-. Be My Last .-
Chapter II: Shock and Delight
Tifa still felt like she was on top of the world after last night's ball. All eyes were on her and the Duke as they waltzed not only once, but twice! She didn't think the ruse would work until she was escorted to the dance floor and saw the bystanders gawking. The couple was even noticed by Lady Materia herself, who raved about them in this morning's scandal sheet that was on the Lockhart's front doorstep.
After such an enchanting evening, Tifa was filled with much hope for the season. Her mother approached them after the second dance and introduced herself to Cloud. Much to her surprise, the Duke asked permission to escort Tifa on a morning walk in Mythril Park. She stood there while the two made the arrangement, and she was quite pleased that he was taking their ruse so seriously.
She picked out a light blue day dress for their walk. Beautifully adorned with intricate shimmering sequins and floral motifs through its design, Tifa knew she would turn heads once again. Like the dress from the night before, this one had flutter sleeves made of lace. Her neckline was also made of lace above her tight bodice. She paired her dress with matching light blue gloves. Leaving her dark hair straight, she quickly clipped on the pearl earrings and met her mother at the carriage.
They quickly arrived outside the park and her mother escorted her into the park—it was customary for courtships to be chaperoned so nothing would damage the potential bride's reputation. Tifa was surprised to see Lady Marle sitting on the park bench with the Duke off to the side of the trail. Her mother sat on the woman's other side as Cloud rose and quickly closed the distance between them.
"Miss Lockhart, you look beautiful this morning," Cloud bowed to her. He looked charming in his light gray blazer and white cravat.
"Thank you, Your Grace," Tifa replied with a curtsy. After rising back up, she took his arm to begin their walk in the park. "You don't need to say such things to me when no one is within earshot of hearing it."
He leaned over to whisper in her ear. "But I wanted to say it."
"Oh." She felt the heat flare on her cheeks.
"Your pretty face blushing in public only helps our ruse, my dear," Cloud stated. "You are indeed beautiful."
"I see…" Tifa pursed her lips, then looked over her shoulder to see her mother and Lady Marle trailing behind from a distance. The two women were watching them with glee while her mother waved to her. "Let's get down to business then," she said, turning her head forward. "Eight balls."
"Hmm. No."
"You do want our plan to succeed, don't you?" Tifa inquired.
"The purpose of this arrangement is to keep the marriage-minded women of Midgar at bay, not throw myself directly to the wolves," he declared, not holding back his contempt towards society mothers pushing their daughters at him.
"The other purpose of this arrangement is to ensure I marry in my first season. Otherwise, I wouldn't have agreed to this pretend attachment," she reminded him gently.
Cloud sighed. "Four balls."
"Six balls."
"Five."
"Six," Tifa pushed again. "And you must send flowers later today."
"Usually a negotiation would have you compromise, not ask for more." Cloud chuckled as they continued to stroll together.
"If you were truly courting me, you'd buy the most expensive flowers from the best florist in town."
"If I were truly courting you, I would not need flowers, I'd just need five minutes—"
"Alone with me on the Dark Walk?" Tifa's cheeks reddened. "Is that what you were going to say?"
Cloud looked at her skeptically.
"I am Zack's sister. I am a little familiar with...such activities. I'm not completely naive."
"I apologize," he repented with his soft eyes. "I should not have spoken to you that way."
"It's alright." Tifa smiled. "Six balls."
"Very well. And I will see to the flowers personally so that Lady Materia may see that herself."
"You must remember, no one can know about our arrangement. Nor about what happened with Lord Berbrooke."
"How is your hand this morning? You defended yourself well against that man."
Tifa stayed silent.
"You must know you did nothing wrong," Cloud attempted to reassure her.
"What I do know is that the rumor of my being alone with a man, let alone giving him a facer, will ruin me." She couldn't help her tone from sounding mournful, but it was true. Any gossip would crush both her and her family's reputation.
"I could always take the credit if such a scandal would arise."
Tifa laughed. "But why?"
"Because you shall not be ruined under my watch," Cloud proclaimed. "Your brother would never forgive me otherwise."
"Has he said something to you?"
"He didn't need to. His icy glares between our dances last night were enough."
"Hold on," Tifa stepped in front of him, holding up her wrist in front of her. "My cuff, could you pretend to button it?"
"I beg your pardon?" Cloud questioned. He glanced behind her and must've seen the group of men not too far off staring at them. "I thought you didn't play such games, Miss Lockhart." Even though he was scolding her, he had already started to 'fasten' the button of her lacey gloves with a delicate touch that sent a chill down her spine.
This shouldn't be exciting to her, but it was. His cerulean eyes were so hypnotic. He couldn't be looking at or touching her this way on purpose. After all, this was just to be a ruse, but his eyes had a thousand hues of blue with a small touch of green radiating in swooping arcs. "I-I don't," Tifa stuttered, trying to stop a blush from forming. She continued on with confidence. "But against the ton and Lady Materia, I will. Are they still looking?"
"…yes."
"About Zack…he is adjusting to the idea that I am courting to marry," she explained. "But he knows to simply stay away now after what Lady Materia wrote about me. He shouldn't be a bother."
"He is the eldest brother of three sisters and you have only been eligible on the market for one day. I am sure he will keep his word to be completely rational with a rake from his Academy days," Cloud jested while he finished. Before he let go of her hand, he circled the tip of his fingers along the inside of her wrist.
Tifa couldn't suppress the flush forming on her face. She could've sworn she saw a spark in his eyes just now when he caressed her like that. "I suppose you are right about that. I hope he isn't too awful to you."
"Don't worry, my dear lady. I can handle whatever he may throw my way," he said with conviction.
They continued their walk along the dirt path, making small talk with one another for the ton to see. Cloud didn't give any other charming remarks or look her way through the rest of the promenade, and somehow, Tifa found herself hoping for more, even if this was only to be a ruse.
Aerith was in the back of her dress shop, working tirelessly on the custom silk piece for a few hours that morning. It was times like these that she was thankful that Zack purchased the newly invented sewing machine for her business the year before. He had been stressed out from the pressures of being a viscount and securing the future for all of his younger sisters lately. The latter matter seemed a little exaggerated from her point of view, given that he was speaking as an older brother rather than the head of the Lockhart family.
"Tifa's second ball went far better than the first. To attract a duke in a dress I made." She placed her hand on her chest, feeling proud.
"I…know of the man. He is not a serious match for her."
"Oh? Is he your friend from the Academy?"
"Yes, and although I haven't seen him for a few years, I know he has vastly traveled the world with no inkling to settle down. Still living his life as a rake."
"I know a thing or two about reformed rakes," she teased.
"Strife and I, we are different," Zack stated. "He wants his title to end with him."
"Are you sure?" Aerith pondered. "It seems he is quite taken with your sister and vice versa."
"He is not," Zack countered. "Besides, I have to meet with a man that has proposed to Tifa in an hour. We are drawing up the contract and soon, so you will be making her wedding dress."
"Who is it?"
"Lord Berbrooke."
She laughed. "Seriously?"
"He is a fine man."
"Only fine, but not a man." Aerith laughed even more. "Don't punish your sister just because she has to be married before we do."
"He is the only serious suitor for Tifa," Zack pointed out.
"According to you, he is." She playfully poked her finger into his chest, but when she saw the worried look on his face, she turned serious. "I think you are being too hasty. Maybe you should wait to see what happens with the Duke."
"Strife will only break her heart," he anxiously stated while running his hands through his thick hair. "I don't want her getting caught up in her feelings and missing a real proposal."
"Just think about it."
She kept her foot steady on the pedal while the fabric moved under the needle until there was a knock on the adjourned door. Her newest hire, Kyrie, was at the entrance to her workspace.
"I apologize for the interruption, Miss Gainsborough."
"Please, call me Aerith" she admonished while finishing up the seam before looking at the black-haired girl. "Is there an important client upfront?"
Kyrie nodded. "The Duke of Nibelheim. He's here for a floral arrangement, but he wanted more expertise."
Her green eyes lit up at the news. The one that danced with Tifa? Aerith read the morning scandal sheets from Lady Materia after Zack left this morning, but he never did mention at all the encounter between his sister and the Duke. She couldn't help but smile that he was here in her shop to purchase flowers for Tifa! "Thank you, Kyrie. I'll see to the Duke myself."
Aerith smoothed the skirt of her white and pink floral wrap-around dress upon standing. She hadn't had a Duke visit her business in a while and she had a feeling this wouldn't be the last trip by him either. She moved past the mother-daughter duo looking at the latest shipment of fabrics on the store racks, leaving them for Kyrie to tend to. She passed under the archway to her adjoining flower shop, spotting a flock of golden hair in the far corner that was observing the bouquets along the wall.
"Good morning, Your Grace," Aerith greeted him with a curtsy.
"Good morning, Miss Gainsborough," Cloud bowed back.
"I hear you are in need of my assistance for some flowers. Did you find any bouquets here to your liking?"
He shook his head. "I'm looking for a more unique arrangement," he said before rubbing his chin. "Actually, I'm in need of two. Would you be able to put them together this morning?"
"I believe I can manage, but it would help me if I knew more about who the flowers were for. Perhaps it was someone you danced with last night?" Aerith hinted.
The Duke smirked at her. "I take it you read Lady Materia's society papers?"
"Sometimes I do, sometimes I don't," she replied playfully, shrugging her shoulders.
"I never expected myself to be in a floral shop for a lady, but here I am," he said quietly with a hint of fondness to his tone. Cloud placed his hands behind his back. "But I suppose there is a first time for everything."
"After being in this business for quite a few seasons, I find people fall in love with the most unexpected person at the most unexpected time."
"The flowers?" he raised a pale eyebrow at her, ignoring her pointed statement.
"Of course, Your Grace," she replied while pointing to the yellow flowers in front of her. "Are you interested in these for your lady?"
"I am, but…"
"Not the right color?" Aerith tilted her head to the side.
"Precisely," Cloud confirmed. "I was thinking….red."
"Like her eyes?" She was practically beaming with the hint while she motioned the Duke to follow her. "Here we are. I don't have red stargazer lilies in stock, but these dark pink ones are stunning when paired up with red roses and burgundy snapdragons. When you have different shades within a bouquet, it makes a wonderful impression. Would you like me to arrange them that way for you, Your Grace?"
"They still look like her dress…," Cloud muttered, perhaps to himself.
"Her dress?" Aerith questioned. Oh, this duke was really into courting Tifa!
But he seemed to ignore her probing inquiry. "Put in extra white and pink roses. I want it to be a grand gesture of my affection."
"Wonderful!" Aerith clapped her hands together. "And what about her mother? I just received a fresh shipment of lavender Peruvian lilies this morning." They were a very popular flower in the early summer and Thea's favorite. Just because Zack was against this match, doesn't mean she should be as well. A man of Cloud's reputation courting Tifa was a sign of good intention and wanting to finally settle down in life!
"Yes, that'll do. Thank you, Miss Gainsborough, for your generous help," he began to pull out his pocketbook from the inside of his jacket. "I can give you full payment today, but I think if we are to do business together, I'd like to set up an account here. I am sure I will be in need of your services again."
"Of course, Your Grace," Aerith nodded with a knowing smile.
This season will certainly be an interesting one for the Lockhart Family.
When Zack came home from his meeting with Johnny Berbrooke, he was met with a spectacle both inside and outside his home. Seven coaches were parked in the street, a few in the midst of taking off after eligible bachelors climbed inside them. He stormed inside to see what the hell was going on, pushing through the crowd that was taking up the foyer. He found four callers were surrounding his younger sister in the drawing-room. His mother was busy directing the butlers and maids where to put the gifts that were brought over.
He was the head of the family, the Viscount. Any marriage proposals were supposed to go through him. And yet, here he was, after meeting up with the only suitor that had made an offer to marry Tifa only to be horribly blindsided by a parade of suitors. Zack tightened both of his hands into fists and directed the butler to escort the men from the premises immediately. He had to find out what was going on and regain control of the situation.
After the last of the suitors were gone, Zack shut the doors to the drawing-room for privacy. Upon turning around, he addressed both his mother and sister. "I should like to know what is going on."
"I would like to know the very same." His mother was not amused with his approach, placing a hand on her hip. "Perhaps we might begin with why you chose to have such an attitude on an exquisite morning."
"Because she is already engaged to be married," he countered. It was true, as the contract was being drawn up between him and the Berbrooke family at this very moment.
Thea's face lit up in utter delight toward his sister. "The Duke has already asked for your hand?"
"No, I am not engaged," Tifa stated, shooting a withering glare in his direction.
"Tifa…" Zack began softly.
"Has anyone truly proposed to me? No. Have I proposed to anyone? I do not believe I have."
"Do not be disrespectful with your jokes, Tifa. This is a serious matter."
"Disrespectful? I cannot imagine a greater joke than promising me to Johnny Berbrooke," Tifa said pointedly. "You disrespected me when you told him I would marry him without my consent."
"Zack, tell me you did not," Thea couldn't hide her disappointment in him.
"He's a reasonable choice," Zack responded. "I looked into him."
"You promised your sister to that man?!" His mother raised her voice, looking rather displeased with him. Thea knew he was the Viscount by title but never treated him that way.
"Not well enough, apparently…" Tifa muttered to herself, turning away from him while she crossed her arms.
"What did you say?" He turned to his sister, whose back was to him while she stood near the fireplace.
Tifa was staring at the pictures along the mantle of their family instead of him and adjusted a decorative ornament. "It does not matter, now that I have many suitors to choose from. I do not need—"
"You have suitors," Zack curtly cut her off. "You do not have proposals, which is what matters here. And you only have one proposal, from Lord Berbrooke."
"Tifa has charmed a duke, Zack," Thea interjected. "You know that changes everything."
He couldn't believe this was weighing on his male friend. An imprudent fellow who would only hold up the true goal for his sister. "So this has to do with Strife?"
Thea nodded. "They are courting."
"They've danced a couple of times together at a ball. It does not signify anything."
"They promenaded this morning and he showed up with flowers today for both of us."
"He was here?" Zack asked dubiously.
"Yes, just briefly," Tifa informed him, finally turning around. "But the Duke's flowers were the most expensive gifts we have received thus far."
"The Duke is not a serious suitor," he exasperated to them both. The man was rich and could afford to show off. "I have known him since we were boys and all through our schooling. He will never marry. It is not bravado, or denial, or even immaturity."
"The duke appears serious to me," his mother knowingly said. "Your father was the same kind of man before he settled down."
"Do not bring father into this." Zack held up a warning finger to his mother. It was two against one in this room and he had had it!
"I will not marry Johnny Berbrooke," Tifa declared, her hands curling into tiny fists at her side.
"I have acted in your best interests, Tifa." He's never seen her so angry with him before, and it was all he was doing lately. But as her brother, he knew better than she did. "One day you will understand and perhaps, even be appreciative I scouted such a man for you. One that would take care of you and not be any less faithful." Zack looked at his mother. "The contract to Berbrooke will be drawn up and Tifa shall marry him."
"I don't think so," Thea responded flippantly. "Once Lord Berbrooke witnesses the seriousness of the Duke's intentions, he will have no choice but to retreat. He may not respect a woman's choice, but he will respect another man's choice."
"The Duke will never propose," Zack frankly stated again. Why weren't they understanding this?
"Well, if the Duke doesn't propose…" Tifa carefully approached them both. "I shall have others. There were six other men here this morning alone."
"Oh, Tifa." His mother gave a reassuring squeeze to Tifa's upper arm. "I saw the way the two of you looked at each other last night and this morning. There are no others. There is only the Duke."
There wasn't a point in trying to convince the two women they were wrong about Strife. And Zack hoped they would see that before Tifa got her heart broken.
Wall Street Market was busy as usual, having the finest dining choices on the south side of Midgar. Cloud wasn't the least bit surprised to have all eyes on him when he entered the cafe for a late lunch. After his promenade with Tifa that morning, he visited the floral shop near his family home to purchase flowers. It was the proper thing for a suitor to do, and luckily for him, the owner was very helpful in picking out an arrangement for him. Even if the newer scandal sheets hadn't hit the streets yet, both Cloud and Tifa were the talk of the town everywhere he went.
He had spent the early afternoon beginning to tie up his late father's affairs. Cloud delivered the death certificate to the central bank, which would notify the others of his passing and merge the accounts under him as the new Duke of Nibelheim. It took a while to finally get the paperwork stamped when his father passed away over the winter season. He hadn't been in any hurry to return home from his travels upon the news of Magnus' death, but hopefully business here would be quick as he wanted to return to Nibelheim as soon as possible. The only reason he would stay in Midgar was for his small promise to Tifa, which he would see through to the end.
Even though he didn't recognize her right away in their brief reunion, he was astonished over her beauty. Tifa had grown into quite the young lady and it was such a shame that no real man was trying to seek her hand in marriage. Even if she was the Diamond of the First Water for the season, an overprotective brother would scare off any suitor from trying to woo her. But after last night's dancing display, that would be a thing of the past. There were seven other suitors at the Lockhart house that morning after the park. Cloud delivered the flowers and proposed another dance with Tifa at tonight's ball. Lady Lockhart was practically beaming when her daughter accepted. Even though he had agreed to six more balls, he had to make it known in front of others what his intentions were with her.
He left the cafe after paying his tab, stepping out into the afternoon sun to return to his homestead when a voice came up from him. "Might I have a word?"
Cloud turned to see Zack standing outside on the street corner. He wasn't the least bit surprised to see him here. In fact, he was expecting his best friend to show up at some point to talk to him. "Have as many as you like, Lockhart."
"Are you courting my sister?"
Cloud took a few steps to close the distance, for a more private conversation of this magnitude. "Should I not be courting your sister?"
"No," Zack responded in a huff. "Tifa is already engaged to be married."
"Oh," Cloud casually said. "She never mentioned that last night."
"I am arranging a contract with Johnny Berbrooke and then the formal preparations will be underway."
Cloud scoffed, knowing the truth about what he had done to Tifa. "The problem is that Berbrooke is an unworthy suitor for Miss Lockhart."
"It is furthest from my intentions to offend you. But between the two of you, Lord Berbrooke is a decent man and has never been seen hanging about brothels."
He paused and gave Zack an assessing stare. Tifa didn't want anyone to know what happened last night in the garden, but that man was not a good match for her. "Johnny Berbrooke is hardly a saint."
"You are and have long been a best friend to me, Strife," Zack began to plead. "But this is my sister. Do not play with her heart."
"Why would you assume that I am not truly interested in courting your sister?" Cloud asked softly.
"Besides the fact you have sworn to never marry or have children?"
"Besides that," he snapped. Zack had a good point, and he hated that the man did after all these years they spent apart. Even if Cloud was courting his sister, he expected his friend to be a little more pleasant after his gaping absence.
"I just don't want you sniffing around her," Zack said quietly.
"Seriously?!" Cloud spluttered. "You make me sound positively canine!"
Zack crossed his arms. "Did we not run in the same pack at the Academy? I know exactly what you have done."
"Lockhart, we were twenty! We all lived rather freely back in the day, and you damn well know that at least half of my reputation is undeserved."
"But I was there for the half that you did deserve, Strife. I don't want you courting her."
Cloud stared at his best friend in disbelief. "Do you think I am the kind of man that would stoop so low as to seduce my best friend's sister?"
"I don't know what to think," Zack shrugged. "I know that you plan to never marry. I know that Tifa does. That's enough for me to stop this courtship."
Cloud let out a long sigh. While Zack's attitude was irritating, he supposed it was understandable and even commendable. His best friend was only acting in the best interests of his younger sister. However, he had promised Tifa to uphold their ruse, and the blond planned to keep his word to her. "But you really can't do that, can you?"
Zack looked him in the eye. "We may have grown up together, Cloud, but I will protect Tifa. Surely you can understand that family must come before all else?"
Cloud studied Zack's face and realized he saw something new, something serious about his best friend. Three years ago when he left the continent, he and Zack had just been young boys who thought they were men. They both established themselves as rakes, womanizing and gambling their way through the Academy, but now they were completely different men. Zack wasn't the twenty-two-year-old boy he left behind years ago when he started his travels. Both were men with different responsibilities: Cloud had a dukedom with no familial pressure while Zack had a family to guide and protect.
This was the grave difference in their positions. And Cloud found himself not being able to blame Zack for his overprotective and mulish behavior. He instead greatly sympathized with his friend and would look out for Tifa as well.
"I give you my word, Zack. I have only the best intentions with Miss Lockhart."
"As do I. Stay away from my sister," the Viscount shot back before promptly walking away.
Men are sheep. Where one goes, the rest will follow. As soon earlier today by This Author, not only was the Duke of Nibelheim at the Lockhart residence with flowers, but so were seven other suitors. The very man who muttered about never going through with matrimony promenaded with Miss Lockhart this morning before the other suitors arrived. It would appear he may be ahead of the game for Miss Lockhart's hand, but it has been whispered to This Author that the Duke might have a rival for love. Another suitor from the morning was seen leaving the jewelry shop with a diamond ring. Could there be a future Lady Berbrooke instead of a Duchess of Nibelheim? Is there anything more exciting in Midgar than two men fighting for one lady? How utterly romantic!
Yours truly,
Lady Materia
Tonight's ball they were attending was at the Fleuret house. Even though her brother told her that he wished she wouldn't continue to court Cloud, she wasn't going to listen to Zack. The plan was working, but what Tifa read earlier in the society paper had her worried that Johnny wasn't planning on backing down yet. She silently prayed on the carriage ride over that the Duke would be the first to see her tonight and to ask her to dance.
Her arm was encircled around Zack's as he escorted her inside with their mother trailing behind them. All eyes were on Tifa once again when she entered the ballroom. All eyes were on Tifa once again when she entered the ballroom - not that she knew why. Was it from the attention that had been outside her home today, with the suitors? Or was it her golden yellow dress? It showcased a square neckline and short sleeves with a fitted bodice covered with metallic beads. The embellishments even cascaded down her flowy skirt, making sure she sparkled with every move. That's what Aerith strived for her anyway. Jessie fixed her hair into a half bun with big curls and her mother brought out the family diamond earrings for her to wear.
Thea was set on her becoming a duchess while her brother wanted Tifa to have nothing to do with Cloud. Both were wrong. This was her life and she was going to take charge of it to find herself a true match. The foyer was quite crowded when she looked around the room to try and find the Duke, but she didn't want to be too obvious with Zack right next to her. When she finally saw the blond man approaching them from the side, she withheld a sigh of relief at the sight of him. Lady Marle was with Cloud as well, giving Tifa a smile of approval.
"A dance, Miss Lockhart?" Cloud asked.
Tifa smiled. "Of course, Your Grace."
Zack tried to say something to intervene despite his earlier promise, but was interrupted.
"I shall need someone else to seek me a glass of ratafia," Lady Marle insinuated to Zack. "Would you do me the honor, Lord Lockhart?"
"Of course, Lady Marle." Her brother took the elder woman's arm and as he departed, he gave Cloud a disparaging look.
"Well, he didn't look too pleased with me," Cloud stated, holding his arm out for her to take it.
Tifa hooked her arm around his. "Did you see what Lady Materia wrote this afternoon?"
"I did," he nodded. "Lord Berbrooke is quite persistent, isn't he?"
"We must make him believe that you are on the very precipice of a proposal…so he will leave me alone. I must have you at eight balls. And a picnic."
"A picnic?" He skeptically asked while raising an eyebrow.
"It would be a good opportunity for this ruse," Tifa explained. "Only serious suitors do picnics."
"Now that we are talking about your brother," Cloud observed. "He came to chat with me this afternoon."
"He wasn't too brutal, was he?"
"I think," he began slowly while at the edge of the dance floor, "that your brother and I are both different people than who we were when we were running wild at the Academy. And I think that might not be such a bad thing." He continued to observe the couples step along as the music finished up.
"Why is that?"
Cloud turned to her. "I don't have familial pressure to fulfill my title. He does, so he is protecting you."
"I see." Tifa blinked a few times while reflecting on her brother's past actions. Cloud would never have to worry about such things, and she won't herself for a long time. The burden of the family name was put on Zack way too soon.
Cloud looked at her with concern. "So, a picnic now? That wasn't part of the original deal, my lady." He remarked.
"I didn't anticipate Lord Berbrooke's stubbornness. I never danced with the man and yet he is so fixated on marrying me."
"With your beauty, who wouldn't be? You had six other fellows at your house falling over you this morning when I dropped off the flowers. Hopefully, they muster up the courage to ask you for a dance after ours. Shall we?" Cloud flashed her a smile.
"It would be my pleasure, Your Grace," Tifa gave a simper in return while they took their spot on the dance floor.
She curtsied and he bowed back and then the music began. It was a fast tempo song, much different from their first. When the strings of the cellos and violins picked up, Cloud and Tifa stepped toward one another, tapping up on their feet in sync before taking a step back. The beat was lighthearted and fun and when he reached out to take her hand, she gladly took it to circle about twice with him. Shoulder to shoulder, they smiled at each other as they tapped up on their feet again.
Raising his hand with hers, he twirled her around before their next move. One hand was anchored on her waist while the other held her hand in front of him. Tifa's outside hand was placed on her hip while they circulated the floor together. Not once during this waltz did his eyes leave hers. They were a deep ocean blue, pulling her into a current with him while they flowed harmoniously together. She was always finding herself quite captivated by his dazzling eyes. Their chance meeting at the debut ball, his rescue in the garden, and their first dance. But it was not until their promenade this morning, and his brief drop in to deliver flowers, did she start to realize how spellbinding those sapphire irises truly were. Just from across the room, Tifa was entranced by them. Being up close like this was a whole new experience for her after becoming more conscious about the power behind them.
Tifa knew she shouldn't be feeling this way and tried to ward off any butterflies from forming in her stomach. She controlled her surprise when the next move in the dance had Cloud position himself with his back to her back, trying not to give away her fascination with his eyes. She turned her head to the side he would approach from, locking eyes with his again as he centered around in front of her before he twisted around, and he beamed at her while he closed in on his position.
Cloud grabbed her hands, bouncing forward just as she did, and she gave the same energetic smile back. To everyone else, they were a couple falling in love, but she was really enjoying this dance and she hoped he felt the same way. He twirled her in an underarm turn while they shifted positions and began the finale of the sequence. Hands joined again, they pulled together to step forward in quick strides, tapping on the pads of their feet to the tempo. She had never seen him smile so brightly before, but she knew it only affected her own as the music ended. Cloud and Tifa bowed and curtsied one another as the quartet wrapped up. Tifa was halfway up when she heard a man approach her.
"Miss Lockhart, may I have the next dance?"
"Lord Caelum?" She had been so swept away by dancing with Cloud that she had forgotten she was here to attract other suitors by this ruse. But for someone to line up for her just as the song was over? She figured he would at least wait for her 'primary' suitor to wander off before he asked her. It felt a little awkward to be asked in front of another potential husband like this, even if no one knew about the ruse but her and Cloud. So far, she hasn't danced with anyone else this season but the Duke, but she was pleased that Noctis was trying with her again after the first night. "Yes, I'd be honored."
"Then I must bid you farewell, my lady," Cloud gave a curt nod to her. He had a knowing smile on his face as he looked between the black-haired fellow and Tifa. "Do save me another dance for later." He didn't even wait for an answer before he dissipated into the crowd.
.
.
.
With his hands behind his back, he watched Tifa waltz around the room with the eligible bachelor that asked her to dance. Lord Caelum was the first to dance with her, outside of himself, so their ruse was working. So he stood there until halfway through the song, watching her spin with a real suitor before he wandered off to fetch himself a drink. He exited the ballroom into a side parlor that was filled with a buffet of hor d'oeuvres and beverages. There were a few groups of people standing around, chatting and laughing. Even though he wasn't alone in here, he would enjoy his solitude until Tifa needed him.
"Perhaps I was unclear this afternoon."
He looked to his side to see Zack had approached him and sighed. He didn't want a confrontation at a ball but he supposed it was inevitable. "Is it your wish for me to insult your sister, Lockhart?"
"No," Zack quickly answered.
"You wish your sister to marry an insufferable jackass, then," Cloud casually remarked on the man's handling of Tifa's affairs. He knew he was being brash but he ignored the guilt as he sipped on his champagne he grabbed off the refreshments table. Berbrooke was a bad choice for Tifa. Zack looked unamused with his comment and leaned in to correct him.
That was until he was interrupted.
"Lord Lockhart, forgive the intrusion," Johnny pushed into the already awkward conversation. He looked between the Viscount and Cloud before he continued. "But I want to make my intentions clear. Your sister is a prize I've long coveted for her beauty—"
"For her powerful right hook?" Cloud muttered loud enough for his friend to hear before he sipped on his drink. Zack only gave him a wide-eyed look from the side while Johnny kept talking.
"I must know that you understand my intentions with your sister are far more sincere than the Duke's. So I may avoid any further embarrassment," Johnny boldly implied towards Cloud's presence.
"Rather late for that, isn't it?" Cloud mocked the man. He knew Berbrooke didn't like him so he wasn't going to hold in his contempt towards the cretin either.
Johnny glared at Cloud. "Is it your friendship with the Duke or are you simply intimidated by his rank—"
"Easy, Berbrooke," Zack held up a hand. "I assure you I will resolve the matter," then Zack turned to Cloud, "a matter which I shall remind the Duke is none of his concern."
"Perhaps you're not the authority on what concerns me, nor on the matter of Lord Berbrooke's character."
"And what do you mean by that, Strife?" Zack irritatedly asked him.
"I shall do my best by your sister, Lockhart," Johnny asserted himself between the two men again. "And perhaps over time, she might learn to return my affections."
"Oh do come off it, Berbrooke," Cloud responded exasperatedly. He wasn't one to put up with a dishonorable man's bullshit. This buffoon was not good enough for Tifa and he had made a promise to her. "Does anyone know how you got that purple eye?"
"I…I was c-careless with a cabinet door," Johnny fidgeted under two sets of blue eyes staring at him.
"He was careless with his honor," Cloud outed him. "He attempted something last night I can't dignify with words when your sister planted a facer. Deservedly so. If she hadn't done it, I would have."
Zack looked shocked at what he just heard. Then he glanced over at his sister who was dancing with Lord Caelum in the ballroom. "Is this true?"
"Strife is a liar," Johnny spat out while sweat dripped from his brow.
Ever since he returned to Midgar and started 'courting' Tifa, Zack has been rather displeased with him. But Cloud was glad to see that despite the rift in their friendship the past day, that Zack believed him. The Viscount glared at the Baron. "You will never speak to my sister again, Berbrooke."
"But we are to be married!" Johnny objected.
"I will bury you if you so much go near her again unless you are itching to be punched from yet another Lockhart," Zack threatened while a few onlookers began to notice the drama. "The contract will not be signed."
"But—"
"Do not test me."
The baron's eyes went frantic with the viscount's daunting tone. Johnny, now too intimidated to press further, scurried off into one direction while Zack glowered at the man's retreating back.
Cloud was about to say something to calm him down when Tifa approached the both of them. He hadn't realized the dance was already over, but here she was. "What has happened?"
"You don't need to worry about Berbrooke. Tifa, it is done," Zack reassured her before he deeply sighed. "I need to go and compose myself."
She widened her claret eyes up to her brother. "You know?"
"Cloud, watch over Tifa for me," Zack directed him before he left in the opposite direction.
The brunette looked back and forth between Cloud and her brother's disappearing form. "Why did you say something?"
"I had to say something," Cloud simply replied.
Tifa shook her head, looking visibly upset. "You shouldn't have said anything."
"I got rid of Berbrooke for you, which was the goal," he whispered to her. Cloud had the best intentions in mind and couldn't understand why she was distressed.
"Let's talk outside." Before she gave him the opportunity to respond, she picked up the yellow skirt of her shimmering dress to head through the opened french doors. He followed her out into the night air and met her over by the bench on the far side near the tall hedge bushes. There were a few other couples on the terrace with them, but it was private enough. "I know you are just trying to protect me, like my brother, but I do not want this to go wrong, Your Grace."
"You mean our ruse?"
"It's more than that. It's my life. So please, be careful of what you say in the presence of others." then she paused to lick her lips after, clasping her hands together in an attempt to stop them from shaking. "This was never about finding the best match or outwitting Lady Materia for me. This is about me finding a husband to have a family with, Your Grace. So I shall not have this go wrong, and if you are not in agreement with me, tell me now."
"I shall agree, only on one condition—"
"Your Grace—"
He placed his hands behind his back. "That you call me Cloud."
Tifa stared at him after his bold request, her mouth agape from shock. His heart stopped momentarily, worried that he may have gone too far again, but then a small, delighted smile flashed over her face. His title, his rank, his authority over her didn't matter if this was to work. After all, he felt a special friendship was quickly forming between them.
"If we are truly to seem to be courting, you should call me by my name."
"Very well…Cloud."
There was a long pause after she said his name. Both of their eyes fixed upon one another. It wasn't the first time she had said it, but now that they were dropping formalities…it sounded so new. So freeing.
"Tifa…" he said gently as he leaned in close. He really liked that he could say her name so easily. "I assure you, if any rumors were to start, I will uphold my promise to take credit for Berbrooke's eye. He's already embarrassed enough that his proposal has been denied, he wouldn't dare claim a woman gave him a facer."
Tifa laughed while a blush bloomed on her cheeks. "No, I suppose not."
"Do you feel better, Tifa?"
She smiled brighter when he said her name again. And what a beautiful smile it was. "Yes. Yes, I do, Cloud. I just have so much at stake here when I finally have suitors approaching me. I don't get choices in my life as you do."
"Then let us find you a husband."
Author's Note Continued: Johnny is finally out of the picture, we got to see Aerith officially and Cloud and Tifa are getting closer. But will Zack be okay with his best friend courting his sister anytime soon? Hmmm, not soon enough. I love overprotective Zack! Don't worry, he will be on Team Cloti. Eventually.
I hope you enjoyed a few similarities and differences from both the novel and Netflix show for Chapter 2, but I do plan to throw in something new for the next update. This story will also showcase Zerith, but probably more so for Chapter 4. There is just too much I wanna do for Cloti's next fake date.
Thank you for the support, your patience, and reviews!
