Slash.

Stab.

Block.

Sidestep.

Movements that all came easily to Cloud Strife as he cut into the Hell House's side, his Fusion Swords tearing through the wood with every swing. Rotten planks fell to the wayside as he tore into it, earning the monster's ire as it countered with more flaming projectiles that filled the clearing among Midgar's ruins and the aftermath of the Deepground crisis a year ago.

"Not good," grumbled the swordsman as he stepped backwards, weaving from side to side as the ground around him was set ablaze. He caught the last one on his blade, the size of it shielding him from the heat. "Still up."

Suddenly, a lithe form dashed up to it, landing a powerful straight that punched into the beast's oaken hide. The newcomer followed up with a deadly side kick, swiftly planting her foot into the hole she'd just made before deftly dancing back out of its range.

"You all right?" called Tifa, panting lightly as she retook her stance.

"I'm fine," assured Cloud as he leveled his blade at their foe. "You get the kids out?"

"I did," replied the martial artist with a shrug before she and the SOLDIER dashed forward to finish their fight.

"I'll take the limbs! You finish it!" said Cloud, receiving a nod of acknowledgement as they went to work. And as strong as the hulking monstrosity was, it was no match for two of the Planet's heroes as Cloud cleaved through its metal limbs with ease before finally meeting its end at the end of Tifa's elbow, a powerful strike that left it toppled over.

"Done," huffed Cloud with a smirk. "Finally. We can get that gil."

"I know," breathed Tifa, the quirk of her lips matching his. "On your birthday too. Sorry we won't be having much of a celebration. We'll use the gil though. Get you a gift."

Cloud shot her a smirk, reassuring her that their lack of a proper celebration was no cause for trouble. "It's fine. Besides, the money's more useful anyway. We should keep it."

"You're sure?" asked the striker, her form shoulder to shoulder with his as she fought the urge to insist on buying him a gift.

"I am." Cloud nodded with a half-smile. "I'll say this is our date. Good enough?"

Tifa blushed, biting her lip slightly. "Definitely."

And as they made their way out of the lot, the two found themselves passing through a playground with a chain link fence at the other end. It was there that a group of children herded away by Tifa gathered, their faces eager as they smiled up at the duo for having cleared up their one place away from prying grownup eyes.

"It's gone?" asked one of them, a tanned skinned boy of about ten years.

Tifa knelt down then, her features sporting a kind smile. "It is. You guys hang out here a lot?"

The youths nodded then, more than a dozen of them present.

"Well, we should probably leave then." Cloud shrugged, a half-smile on his face. "Wouldn't wanna keep you."

All cheered then, every small form rushing past them into the playground. All except for two, both of whom were familiar to Tifa and Cloud.

"Denzel? Marlene?" said the barkeep, her voice shocked. "What're you doing here? I thought you were by the bar."

"We were! But when you left and the other kids started talking about a playground, well," came Denzel's response matter of factly. "What was I supposed to do?"

"Go home, dummy," hissed Marlene, her girlish features schooled into a pout. "Like, really? You keep trying to impress Moogle Girl! Tifa, he's being stupid."

"Marlene, calm down," soothed the older woman with a laugh, deriving amusement from how their roles had been switched before turning to face the boy before her. "Denzel, you know it's dangerous here. Me and Cloud don't want you hanging around in the ruins. And it's Cloud's birthday, too. We're supposed to find something to do, remember?"

"But the other kids are doing it." Denzel's brows knitted in frustration, displeasure written all over his visage. "It's fine! Right, Cloud? We can have your party here."

Sky blue eyes widened then. "Uh..." trailed the blonde before he quickly motioned the brown haired boy over.

Cloud took a knee then, eye to eye with the younger man. "Denz, Tifa's right. You shouldn't be here. They shouldn't be here too," he whispered, cocking his head in the direction of the other children.

And Denzel, ever the voice of reason, could find no way to counter the SOLDIER. But with his shoulders slumped, even Cloud had to feel pity for him. Especially considering how Denzel's goals reminded him of what he'd hoped to achieve with a certain promise long ago.

Cloud sighed. "Denzel, is this really about a girl?"

Even with his head hanging low, the boy couldn't help the pink hue of his cheeks as he nodded.

Cloud released another breath then, shaking his head gently. Shooting a glance over his shoulder, he met Tifa's gaze with a shrug before rising. "Well.."

Tifa leaned in, sure he was going to agree with her.

"... I guess we can stay. It makes for a memorable birthday at least."

The fighter's face fell then while Denzel brightened as Cloud leaned in to speak to him. "Get over there."

And as Denzel scampered away, Tifa trudged up to him. "Cloud! This isn't safe!" she hissed.

"Then we'll stay too. We can watch them. Sound good?"

The bruiser eyed him for a second, her carmine orbs narrowed before she finally relented. "Fine," stated the dark haired woman before she turned to Marlene, nudging her in the direction of the other children. "Go on. We'll watch you guys, okay?"

"Oh, uh, okay. Bye, Tifa. Bye, Cloud. Happy birthday!" The young girl then sped off to join her friends as her guardians settled onto a nearby seesaw, sitting in a companionable silence as they did so.

And for the next few minutes, all was normal. Until the boys began to scramble upon the half-dome shape they'd claimed as their own, calling the girls over to watch them race up the metal.

Cloud scoffed then, drawing a raised brow from Tifa. "Something funny?"

"No, no," he lied, failing to hide the smirk on his face.

Tifa rolled her eyes in playful admonishment before seeing a number of the girls come over with Marlene among them. Her features softened then, greeting them with a warm smile. "Are you guys okay? You guys seem a bit sick?"

"Yeah! Of the boys! They're loud! And dumb!" insulted Marlene, earning nods from her fellows and a giggle from Tifa. "Nobody wants to see you guys climb that old thing."

"Really? Those girls seem like they want to," countered Cloud, his stoicism having been peeled away for the laid-back smugness and sarcasm of his more playful moments.

And without missing a beat, Marlene countered. "They're dumb too."

More nods followed by a laugh from Tifa as she took Marlene onto her knee while the other girls settled around her. "Come on, they can't be that bad," soothed Tifa.

"They aren't," cut in Cloud. "They've got guts. And who knows…"

Sky blue turned to meet red-brown, his eyes locking with Tifa's.

"...they might make a promise to a pretty girl."

And immediately, Tifa turned away, unprepared for the blonde warrior's flirting as her face reddened. But the striker, as quick with her words as she was on her feet, easily regained her composure to fire back. "You know what, Marlene? Boys are stupid," Tifa paused, turning her gaze to Cloud. "Really stupid."

Her barb earned an eye roll from Cloud then as he shot back. "Guys like them? Stupid? Definitely not."

"Really?" Tifa eyed him again, her red-brown orbs widened in false shock.

"Because only guys like that get to do this."

The girls erupted in a chorus of disgusted sounds, especially considering how Cloud had not opted for a simple "peck on the cheek". The young ladies scampered off then, driven away by the couple's very public display of affection.

And Tifa was too busy to bid them farewell, her face flushed as she shot a pout at her seatmate.

"What?" Cloud smirked, the smugness radiating off him.

The carmine eyed brawler jabbed him in the shoulder then, drawing a chuckle from him before she stood and stalked off towards the rest of the girls.

Cloud joined the rest of his male counterparts and the small cadre of young girls that had joined them. All hanging off the jungle gym, all silently watched him as he crawled into the half-dome. Cloud then stood, rising to his full height as he brushed dirt from his shirt. He then gripped the very top of the jungle gym, using it to swing his form upside down before he swung his legs over the bars. Hanging upside down by the back of his knees, the former Shinra trooper then placed his hands behind his head and proceeded to perform sit ups while dangling in midair.

The feat drew the eyes of the girls, especially one in particular, her gaze a swirl of red and brown that he met with the teasing, twinkling azure of his own gaze. Her eyes rolled then, exasperated with his sudden mischievous streak, his current attitude so removed from his normal seriousness.

Tifa made her way into the jungle gym, her form crouched beside his upended one. "What are you doing?" she grumbled.

"Just working out," stated Cloud with another rise and fall of his torso.

"Hell House not enough of a work out for you?" asked Tifa with a sigh.

The sword wielder laughed at that. "Nope."

"You know, you're normally not this hard to deal with." Tifa shook her head, fighting the small smile that threatened to break through.

"You're normally more patient. And you can say that was my birthday gift."

"Oh, the first time you ever-" Tifa cut herself off then, noting how the children were staring at them before she leaned in. "The first time you ever go further than "on the cheek" in public and its in front of a bunch of-"

A pause before Cloud pulled back, a smirk on his face.

"Second time too."

Cloud immediately unlatched from the bars, landing on his feet before scrambling to escape as Tifa chased him down with her fists and feet swinging. Their little display, however, had drawn the displeased noises from the children as they sprinted out of the playground.

"Cooties!"

That was all Cloud and Tifa heard as they trailed behind the youths. However, instead of revulsion, smug satisfaction was written all over Cloud's face as Tifa chased him. "You know, you still haven't greeted me?"

"Happy birthday, Cloud," grunted Tifa, red in the face from exertion and embarrassment as she launched herself at the birthday celebrant.

A SHORT ONE FOR OUR BIRTHDAY BOY, CLOUD STRIFE! =)