AN: May 7 Prompt was "Best Outfit."
When she steps onto the patio in her black kimono, Cloud's mouth dries up. He didn't know she still had it, let alone had packed it for their trip. The black stockings rise up her long, toned legs, and he yearns to feel that fabric on his fingers. Her boots bring her to about his height, and she uses that advantage to plant a sweet kiss on his lips.
"Your chin is on the floor sweetheart." She grins at him in that teasing way that makes his heart thump.
Cloud clears his throat and chuckles. The pink flower headband and makeup bring out her eyes in a dazzling way. He realizes he'd never gotten to compliment them before.
"You look incredible in this."
Her cheeks grow almost as pink as her headband, her confidence receding just a bit in place of her bashfulness.
"And it's cute when you do that."
Her lips are painted a delicate magenta, which matches her sash. She gnaws lightly on the bottom, and her blush gets harsher.
Cloud remembers the first time he saw her in this outfit - on the back of a wagon being whisked away to that street thug's house. He'd been so worried about her that he didn't have enough time to truly appreciate the way she looked in this dress until she had disappeared from sight. Even as Aerith insisted on helping her out, Cloud's mind kept wandering to a dangerous, jealous place -
How dare anyone else look at her?
What would that night have been like if they'd gotten their date…?
Cloud knew it was silly to be thinking those things at the time, but he couldn't help it. He wasn't even so angry that other men were looking at her, but that she wasn't on his arm and they never got to have their night on the town. And she was putting herself at such a risk for the cause, for the cause that left her feeling so twisted and trapped inside.
"You've seen how much ass I can kick."
He knew she would be okay, in the back of his mind he always knew, but that wasn't the point. He'd promised.
Cloud strokes her cheek with the back of his fingers. Her eyes shine as she stares into his own.
"Guess we finally get to have our date."
Tifa kisses him again, and he growls into her mouth while they stumble back inside.
They never make it to the restaurant.