Raucous cheers erupted across the floor of the Icicle Inn's bar, the sounds of celebration filling the air as the Planet's heroes basked in their victory. With Sephiroth defeated and Jenova sealed, Gaia's protectors had found ample time and reason for rest and relaxation.
Which explained Barret's current status as he poured a terrifying cocktail of drinks down his throat straight from a titanic flagon, a feat matched by Cid as the majority of his drink doused his features instead of sating his thirst. Off to the side and away from her alcohol-addled friends, Yuffie had won herself a pretty sum of gil from the Inn's patrons thanks to their underestimation of her strength. Many of the men had stepped forward, attempting to pin her hand to the table in a battle of brawn only for the petite princess to embarrass them. Such an outcome was to be expected when one's opponents lacked the strength to flit acrobatically across the battlefield while flinging a shuriken the size of one's torso. It was a skill the kunoichi took advantage of, earning herself another hundred gil when her latest opponent's hand met the hard tabletop.
Elsewhere, Red XIII and Cait Sith idled in a corner, merely observing the celebration before them as they conversed. Witty remarks and jibes at the expense of the partygoers left them on occasion, lending their conversation some humor. Vincent, though not at their side, behaved similarly. He was content to keep solely to himself despite occasionally sipping from the drink in his hand. The long haired man turned to his side, observing his companion present only in form but not in mind. After all, Cloud was too busy staring at a certain bartender to even notice the towering gunman.
"Staring at Tifa?" asked Vincent.
Cloud's eyes widened in shock and embarrassment momentarily. "Uh, no," he bit out, recomposing himself.
"You are. Go over there," encouraged the ex-Turk
A sharp sky blue gaze was fixed upon Vincent then. "Why? I'm not staring, Vincent."
Crimson orbs fixed the blonde then before they turned to the bar. "I guess not," paused Vincent, his clawed hand pointing towards the counter where men had begun to gather. "...because you would've noticed that otherwise."
Cloud followed Vincent's finger then and the sight that greeted him was displeasing. The bladesman made a decision then, slinging the Buster Sword across his back as he stomped over. As the sight of an angry SOLDIER parted the crowd, Vincent simply rolled his eyes.
The approaching sword wielder was something that men at the bar missed. Some, who were only there for a drink, found themselves unable to move as they had been pinned to the counter by other male patrons whose intentions were far different. After all, as refreshing as the drinks were, the real attraction had been the bartender. A kind smile, warm carmine eyes and a state of dress that radiated both allure and toughness had left them completely hypnotized by her.
Sadly, it had also left them utterly oblivious to the spiky haired, Mako enhanced maelstrom that had trudged his way up to the bar. Cloud pushed his way to the front of the testosterone and alcohol driven throng before calling out to the barkeep herself. "Hey, give me something hard!"
Tifa immediately turned to greet him with a smile followed by a flourish and a toss of her drink shaker. Such a feat of dexterity would have impressed her captive audience had they not been scared away by the sight of a certain man with a greatsword.
"Crap! It's her boyfriend! Run!"
Several forms scrambled away then, falling over themselves in a bid to escape Cloud. When the sword wielder pulled his gaze away from them and towards his real objective, he found that she stood there patiently with a drink in hand. Warmth crept up his visage then, embarrassed by his recent actions.
"Sorry about that…" he trailed, seating himself at the bar as his eyes shyly traced the ground beneath his feet.
Tifa bit her lip to stifle a giggle, leaning over the counter while she did. "It's fine. They were a bit too rowdy. Besides, this one's for you anyway. I was going to come over to you and Vincent but seems you decided to visit me first."
Tifa's closeness and intentions only left Cloud even more flustered as she continued, her smile demure. "So, uh, how is it?"
The super soldier's hands pulled her concoction to his lips, hoping to hide the redness of his features while also seeking to give her an honest opinion about her latest creation. Cloud downed the drink in one large gulp before giving her a smirk. The fighter's orbs, a warm red-brown, met his gaze expectantly as he offered his review.
"I like it," he stated with a nod. "It's good. Great, really."
Tifa's response, however, seemed to be one of disappointment as her face fell, her gaze leaving his as she sighed sadly. "That's… that's good. I, uh, I'll get back to work," she breathed. "We won't be here for long. Gotta earn as much gil as we can."
Cloud, seeing what he'd done, scrambled for a reply only to flounder as she crossed to the other side of the counter. A defeated breath left him as his shoulders fell.
It was then that a voice called out to him.
"Hey, guy, I gotta thank you for drivin' those pricks away," spat the man, obviously a little drunk. "Still I gotta say, you and your girl are pretty dense! Like the both of you!"
Cloud could only stare back in confusion, leaving the man to bob and wave sluggishly for a moment before continuing. "Like, dude, she was staring at ya the whole night! Kinda weird she didn't head on over to ya earlier…"
He hiccuped, releasing a breath that only left the smell of drink wafting off him even more intense. "...but she was kinda nervous I guess. Still, I been here the whole night! I swear, she didn't give those other guys the time of day, morning, afternoon, night or whatever kinda time! And you're pretty scary too! And you got that sword! And some muscle too! What kinda workout you do? 'Cuz you got muscle, yeah, but you're not big an' burly some of the guys here and it's like…"
Cloud continued to stare back, his gaze now thoughtful instead of bewildered despite the man's rambling. "…and it's kinda weird too! Like, when I think about it, what did she want you to say? Tell her she was pretty or something? I thought she just wanted to hand you a drink!"
And after minutes of listening to this stranger's ramblings, Cloud replied. "Yeah, probably," responded the swordsman with a shrug as he looked to where Tifa stood, her form facing away from him as she twirled with her shaker in hand. "Listen, uh, thanks, whoever you are."
"Huh? Oh, totally! Not a prob! Listen, I have to go home," babbled the drunk only to slump face down on the bar.
Cloud regarded the man with bemusement before walking off. He placed himself strategically, his form right before her as she rose, placing more glasses atop the counter only to meet his eyes.
"Hey." That was all he said as he did his best to muster a smile for her.
"Hi. Listen, about before, I didn't mean to-"
"Just give me something hard. And bitter. Again," interrupted Cloud. "Same drink from a while ago?"
"Oh, uh, sure. Gimme a bit."
One more twirl, flourish and pour. Then his drink was before him. The blue eyed SOLDIER gulped it down slower, making sure to savor the taste while he did. And as he set the glass down, Cloud gestured her over. Tifa did so, leaning in as Cloud angled himself forward as well. He was close enough to whisper into her ear, the midnight curtain of her tresses brushed back ever so slightly as she listened to him.
"Beautiful. And I mean you, Tifa, not the drink."
Tifa shot back, doing her best to stifle the charmed smile that lit up her face. "Listen, I have to get back to…" she trailed, turning to the rest of her customers only to realize all of them had passed out while several barrels of other drinks were passed around the Icicle Inn. As such, the bar was no longer needed.
Cloud chuckled, extending his hand towards her as a jukebox tune played from somewhere in the bar, leading many unbalanced forms to hobble forth in some attempt at dancing. "No work, I guess. So, dance?"
Tucking her chin demurely, Tifa took his hand as a shade of pink dusted her cheeks. "Sure."
Hours later, Cloud cradled Tifa's form in his arms, her tired and alcohol induced murmurings the only sound permeating the silent interior of the Icicle Inn since all of its revelers had already left.
Cloud gently kicked the door to her room open, peering into the darkened space as he spoke to her. "I think you had a little too much to drink."
"Nuh, uh, I'm jus' a little tired," came the martial artist's uneven voice with a giggle.
Cloud smirked in reply as he quietly placed her form on the nearest bed, removing her boots and gauntlets as he did. "Hey," he whispered, stirring her from her drunken stupor. "You're in bed now, okay? Get some sleep."
And as Cloud turned to leave, Tifa's hand shot out, her reflexes still sharp as she tugged him towards her. "No… stay."
"Tifa, you're drunk. I'm not gonna-"
"No," rasped Tifa. "Mm, just stay…"
The visual of a pouting Tifa Lockhart, her face scrunched up petulantly as black tresses fanned out around her, helped Cloud come to a decision very quickly.
"Fine." Cloud sighed then, creeping over to the other side of the bed as he divested himself of his weapons and armor. Swinging his bare feet onto the mattress, he turned to his side to face her. "I'm here. Now what?"
Tifa then wrapped her arms around him. "I've wanted to do this for a while," she admitted, her voice slightly muffled as she buried her face in his shoulder.
"Uh, wow, um," muttered Cloud, surprised. "I guess you wouldn't normally do this."
The brush of her bangs against his shoulder told him she was nodding. "I'm drunk…" drawled Tifa.
"You are," agreed Cloud.
"I'm pretty shy."
"I know."
"Hm, good. Cloud?"
"Yeah?"
A pause then. One that was heavy, bearing the weight of a single question. "You like me, right, Cloud?"
The blue eyed man's face flushed. "I mean, yeah, I do."
"But you like Aerith more?"
"Tifa, wait. Why would you-"
Carmine eyes shining with tears faced him then. A moment later, Tifa sat up abruptly, wiping at her eyes. "Sorry, I shouldn't have… Cloud, it's fine," reassured Tifa with a false laugh. "Don't worry about me. Listen, you can go. I don't wanna-"
"Hey, what is your problem?" asked Cloud with his face inches from hers, the sky blue of his eyes intense. "You got something to say? Say it."
A shaky breath left the brawler then, searching for the right words as she began. "Do you remember when we were kids?" Tifa laced her fingers into the fabric of his shirt, her voice barely a whisper. "You and Miss Claudia came over for dinner. My mom was there too. In the middle of it, my mom said you were really good looking. Better looking than you-know-who…"
Cloud chuckled at the memory. "Yeah, I remember. Then she asked you and you nodded."
"And when we were growing up," paused Tifa, her voice sober and clear now. "I always invited you to hang out with us."
"Yeah, kinda weird though. You were always in a dress. Not exactly the stuff you wear when going outside."
"Even when you invited me out to the water tower."
"Mm." Cloud smirked then. "I remember."
A pause. Then words.
"You still don't get it?"
"What?"
"Cloud, I've been waiting. For you. Since we were kids." Tifa sniffled before speaking once more. "But Aerith came along. My best friend. But she liked you too."
"Wait, I mean…" Cloud paused. "She was that serious?"
The woman at his side nodded, her dark locks shifting all the while. "We both did." Tifa held her breath for but a heartbeat before continuing. "I still am."
Cloud's eyes met hers briefly before shifting away, the intensity in them from moments before replaced by a thoughtfulness she'd never seen before. "Why me? Is it…" A breath, held then released. "Is it because I'm around? And no one else is?"
Shock swept over Tifa's features. "Cloud, no! Never. I… Even if there were someone else," breathed Tifa, the sound of her voice falling to a whisper. "I'd still pick you."
"I'm glad." Genuine relief colored the tone of Cloud's words, a boyish smile accompanying them as he nuzzled her. A curtain of golden strands thinly veiled his gaze from hers as he finished speaking. "Because you never noticed me either."
Tifa shook her head in disbelief, a pout twisting her features while she did. "I always noticed you," she hissed.
"Really?" asked Cloud with a smirk. "Why'd I join SOLDIER?"
"You wanted to leave Nibelheim. Your mom was the only reason you stayed, right?" Tifa's gaze turned wistful as she intertwined her finger with his. "But I wanted you to remember me. That's why I got you to make that old promise at the water tower."
"Hm, guess you need to pay more attention then."
A confused look was all Cloud received in return, prompting him to finally speak. "My mom wasn't the only thing keeping me in town. I mean, I promised you I'd help you out, right? I even told you that I'd be waiting for you at the water tower. Said I'd leave to join SOLDIER. I remember your dad got real mad at me after we fell off Mount Nibel. Told me to stay away from you. So I did. But I didn't want to. Not forever. Told myself I'd join SOLDIER then. If I got strong then maybe you'd notice me and maybe your dad would change his mind about me."
Astonishment colored the carmine hue of Tifa's eyes. "You went that far? For me?"
Cloud nodded. "Yeah. You and my mom were the only ones in town who seemed to really like me. You were pretty too. Still are…"
Warmth flowed across Tifa's features, prompting her to bury her face in a nearby pillow. "Thanks," she whispered, muffled.
Cloud chuckled. "I mean it. Really."
"Uh, so…" Tifa sat up suddenly, leaning close to him as their faces hovered mere inches apart. "What now?"
"Yeah, wait, uh, I tho-thought…" stammered Cloud, finding her question unexpected. It was one he had not considered either. "Take things slow. We could, I guess. I think it'd be good. I mean, I know the order's messed up with."
A single dark brow rose in confusion, the symbol of a bewildered Tifa. "Wait, how?"
"What?"
"The order being messed up?"
Then it was Cloud's turn to blush. "The Highwind?"
And soon after, it was Tifa's turn once more. "Cloud, I promise…" she spat, her words escaping her. "I'm not that, y'know… I'd never want things to move that fast and…"
"Hey, no, I get it," interrupted her bedmate, his voice sheepish. "Listen, we're heading off to Cosmo Canyon when we get up in the morning. We can start taking things slow then. Is that okay?"
"Definitely," replied Tifa eagerly, eager nods of her head leaving the dark waves of her hair to dance as she did.
Silence reigned for a few moments, awkwardness filling the soundless void.
Cloud spoke first. "S-See you tomorrow then," said the blonde as he turned away from her, nestling into the sheets. "Good night."
"Good night." Tifa did the same then.
But not before a final surge of courage pushed her forward, leaving the SOLDIER beside her with a burst of warmth on his cheek courtesy of her.
The pair awoke with the rising sun and their companions, all of AVALANCHE striding into the hangar of the Highwind. The bedmates lagged behind, thinking themselves alone only to find Yuffie between them.
"Hey, you two," cooed the ninja. "So I decided to start rooming with Red and Vince since I saw what you two got up to last night. Cloud and Tifa sittin' in a tree! K-I-S-S-..."
And before she could finish, Tifa lunged for her only to miss as the young trickster ran off. Once more alone with Cloud, the striker greeted him with a shy smile, her fingers gliding towards his. "Hey…"
"Hey," he returned, just as hesitant. "Listen, sorry I didn't thank you for last night."
The remark drew a laugh from Tifa. "Why? You were the one who brought me to my room."
"That's not what I mean. You gave me one. Think it's time I gave you one too."
And before she could react, Tifa received Cloud's gesture upon her cheek, the perfect reciprocation of how she'd wished him a restful sleep mere hours before. She leaned into him then, her head resting upon his shoulder as they made their way into the Highwind.
For now, they'd keep these little gestures between themselves, a secret only they would share for quite some time barring any nosy ninja princesses.
I HAVE RETURNED FROM THE DEPTHS OF WORK! Please feel free to say something. =)
