Disclaimer: Final Fantasy VII with the characters, items, places, etc. are the property of Square Enix, Inc. No infringement is intended.

Author's Note: Finally an update! I've been working on revamping Don't Think Twice for a few months and had to put off writing for my short stories. I'll be working on updates to them in between my chapters for Don't Think Twice, but this time away has allowed me to expand Play the Game into a longer series. The rating for this story has been changed to M. Thank you to Denebola_Leo for being the beta reader on my entry.

The title of the story was inspired by Queen's song 'Play the Game'.

-. Play the Game .-

Chapter II: The Party

On the way to drop the children off to the sitter's house, the two youngsters had convinced him to seek a costume for himself for the evening party. Tonight was Yuffie's birthday extravaganza, and having a Halloween themed party sounded absurd to him still. He really didn't want to dress up just for that, but when Marlene had revealed what Tifa would be wearing, the gears in his head had started to turn. She was probably expecting him to show up in some sort of cape, pasty makeup and pointy teeth.

But with this ensemble, they would appear to look like a couple. Tifa was his girlfriend from before, but for some reason when he returned home for good they were at a standstill. She had kept her distance from him in the beginning, thus making him relent to sleeping in his office. Cloud knew he had screwed up big time when he took off, and he wanted to give her the space she needed.

The first time she smiled at him again, one that wasn't forced and reminded him that fateful day at the church, he brushed the hair out of her eyes to really look at her. Her claret eyes widened a bit, and when he began to trail his fingertips down her forearm she visibly shuddered at his touch. When he saw how simply he could still have an effect on her, he knew he couldn't stop there.

So began the touching, the lingering and the flirting. He was showing her he wanted to be with her. He was showing her he loved her. Words aren't the only way to show someone how you feel, he had heard once, and that was exactly what he was doing. Each moment like this opened her up just a little more to him. Each moment like this had her smiling at him once again.

Then one night she had asked him to join her for a drink, and he couldn't resist the offer. Before he had pushed her away, and now she was inviting him to stay. Talking late into the night while sharing drinks offered more chances for touching, too. He loved her soft satin white skin. But it never went beyond that in their little game, as he wanted her to make the first move, that it was okay. That she had forgiven him completely for downright deserting his family a couple of months ago.

Playing with her was always fun, but to him she was the real deal. When he pecked her on the cheek after a new concoction she made for him to try, he lingered to see if she would kiss him back. He wanted her to kiss him back. But it may have been too friendly instead of flirty like he wanted it to be, but then she gave him another opportunity. Tifa was mixing it up with a theme, but he wasn't going to give in that easily.

Cloud had called on their game the night before, and since then he enjoyed every moment he had caught her blushing and turning away to hide. Her skin tasted just like he remembered, a mixture of coconut and vanilla, making her the perfect balance of exotic and sweet heaven. That latest kiss was more sensual than the one before, but she still froze up. He thought pointing out what she was doing would bring her walls down, but it did the opposite. Her timidness was endearing, but also unnecessary. He needed her to kiss him.

Adjusting the cut out piece of leather over his eye one last time, he looked into the mirror to give another once-over on his getup. He wore an ivory buccaneers top with the crossover lace up, leaving it loose to expose his upper chest more. The black corsair pants were surprisingly comfortable, as well as the matching cavalier boots. He put on the crushed red velvet coat that had gold threadings along the hem, and finished his costume with the ebony tricorn hat after adjusting his bangs.

Grabbing the door knob to his office, he stepped out into the hallway to join in on the festivities downstairs. Tifa was surely going to take notice of his attire, and he couldn't wait. And just maybe, a new drink for him to try would be on the menu tonight. Either way, the game was still on.

"Oooh, I see the girls are out to play," Yuffie commented as she approached her in the crowded bar. Music blared loudly in her bar as people danced, the atmosphere decorated with all things spooky, but Tifa could still manage to hear her friend. The birthday girl was cladded in a black tight leather suit with high heeled boots and an upper face mask with pointy ears. Leave it to the thief to dress up as a cat burglar. "Is there a certain delivery boy you're trying to reel in, looking like that?"

Tifa looked down at her costume, the blanched ruffled peasant top was a low cut for her pirate wench dress. It was both bold and burgundy, with the underbust satin corset accentuating her curves. The matching skirt was high, trimmed with lace just like her sleeves, and a golden striped sash was tied across her waistline. She wore fishnet stockings and knee high ebony boots. Her outfit was completed with tiny golden hoop earrings and a maroon stocking cap.

She bit her ruby red lips sheepishly before looking back up at Yuffie to answer, shrugging her exposed shoulders a bit. "He hasn't made a move yet. I'm just not sure what to think anymore."

"What do you mean?" the young woman raised a dark eyebrow back at her along with her question.

The barmaid let out a long sigh and explained the little game her and Cloud were playing with each other lately. She wanted her relationship back, but when he labeled their new nightly pastime all the magic disappeared. He'd been taking his sweet time with her, and she was beginning to worry why he was holding back so much.

Yuffie snickered about the 'Vampire's Kiss' the man planted on the brunette's neck. "Maybe he still isn't ready to be with me. Instead he's just teasing me about my feelings and playing hard to get."

"And you can't kiss him first…" Yuffie pointed out while placing her hand to her chin in thought.

Tifa slowly nodded. "I want him to want this too. Not just because I want it."

Before she could reply, her jade eyes widened in shock while looking behind Tifa. "Oh Holy Leviathan."

"What?" the pirate maiden asked.

Yuffie spun her on her heels as she reached out for her shoulders. Her back was now against the leather suited girl, who still had a grip on her while leaning into her ear. "Seriously Tifa, look at Spiky. He does want you."

Holding a hand to her mouth she gasped. There he was, looking as handsome as ever. And his outfit...

"Did he know your costume ahead of time?!" the girl from behind squeaked.

"No! Well, I don't think he did."

"I bet he found out," Yuffie began to giggle, but stopped when the blond spotted Tifa. "He's coming for your doubloons!"

"Yuffie!" Tifa hissed as she was pushed forward a bit. She had hope Cloud didn't hear that inappropriate pirate pun as she stumbled a bit before standing upright.

"Ahoy there," he said as cobalt clashed with carmine eyes as he sauntered up to her.

"I—I have to get back to work," she couldn't help but check out the good-looking pirate captain, her cheeks reddening in return as she sidestepped passed him. Most of their friends were here tonight, and getting back behind the bar might save her.

Tifa tried to push through the current of crowd but not efficiently, making her cascade near the wall by the jukebox. She was nowhere near the counter, and she sighed a bit. Moving into the mob again, she was pulled back out gently. The sheer act surprised her enough to not resist, and she was positioned against the wall by none other than Cloud.

His arms were planted on each side of her, one near her face and the other by her hip. She was trapped by her pirate partner who was smirking at her mischievously. She glanced behind him and could see masked patrons dancing to the music, but no one in her sight she knew that could pry.

Cloud moved her dark brown locks from away her neck, keeping his other hand by her waist sealed against the wall to keep her from running again. Not that she would. "I saw the drink menu tonight."

"Oh?" she lifted a brow, awaiting his answer while completely hypnotized by his glowing eye. Tifa never thought he would look so hot in a pirate getup, eyepatch and all.

"Yeah," he stepped closer, his body pressing up perfectly against hers. She gasped softly when his hand relocated to her midriff, gripping her heedfully as he leaned into her ear. "I didn't see anything new. Were there any...other specials for tonight?"

His voice was so husky against her earlobe. The man was pure evil for doing this, but she still answered him. "No."

"Hmm...that's too bad," his lips tickled against her skin. "Even though I like 'Vampire's Kiss', I was hoping for another drink to taste."

Before she could respond, his mouth covered the curve of her neck. Cloud grazed his teeth before sucking away, his hand sliding from her abdomen to the underside of her butt. He squeezed her cheek, a sensation that both surprised and excited her. All the confusion as to why he was holding back so much was forgotten in the moment. He was there nuzzling her passionately, and all she could feel was his muscled body crushing her own. She closed her eyes to take it all in as he continued to tease with his warm mouth, his tongue darting out again before he nipped.

"Tifa, you taste just like I remember," he hummed against porcelain skin before continuing to suckle.

She wanted more. Tilting her head up she whimpered into his ear as she grabbed at the hem of his velvet coat, pulling him closer. A move that would hopefully coax a response she needed from him. "Cloud…"

He ceased lapping at her neck and hovered his mouth over hers, only a breath away, right where she wanted him. "No drink, no kiss."

Again?! How? She flushed harder and squirmed out of his grasp. It was unbelievable with how close he was to her very lips. Her eyes flashed open to glare back and ask how he would dare trick her a second time about this, leaving her hot and bothered with tingling skin. The man chuckled a bit at her, holding a playful glint in his visible blue eye as he took a step back. He was throwing their little playtime in her face while teasing her. Was he just tagging her along while being indecisive about them? What was he so afraid of?

Giving her one last cocky smile, the pirate captain twisted into the writhing crowd as he stepped away. He was absolutely maddening with how lascivious his actions were! She licked her lips while tightening her fists. He was both irritating and irresistibly attractive to her right now, the sexual tension taking a new peak within her. Cloud was supremely stubborn with his affections, even in this pirate wench outfit she picked.

"Damn him," she muttered to no one in particular, not noticing that Yuffie had just stepped up to her. The birthday girl was holding on to a blood orange sangria.

"I saw that," the teenager mused quickly, using a cocktail stirrer to mix her drink a bit. "Definite chemistry there."

Tifa huffed as she crossed her arms, clearly miffed by the strange man's actions. "He's enjoying teasing me way too much!"

"Tifa, you need to tease him back to the point he can't resist anymore. I thought he was going to take your pirate booty upstairs and 'walk the plank' with you," the leather cat girl explained. "Spiky has always been so complicated. He's probably waiting for you cause he knows he hurt you."

"You think so?" her eyes softened a bit at her friend's revelation. It would make more sense. Cloud was flirting, not swaying around about his feelings. This didn't mean she was going to give into making the first move.

"Yeah, but that doesn't mean you can't have fun in return, y'know? I know the perfect drink to get him back with too," Yuffie said with a wink.

Tifa grabbed her chin for a moment in thought, then a devious smile formed on her lips. Maybe Yuffie was right about why her boyfriend was taking his time. She wanted Cloud, that was for sure, and perhaps a more bold approach would throw him off a little to finally kiss her. "I'm listening."

The raven-haired girl whispered in her ear of her secret plan, sniggering when Tifa went wide eyed. The drink she named was a definite dare for the blond. The drink she named was one she had banned from Seventh Heaven from day one. But most of all, the drink she named was downright brilliant.

"Wow."

Yuffie smacked her lips. "Yup. Desperate times calls for desperate measures. Now, we need to discuss what you are going to wear the night he gets home from his next delivery…"

Tifa giggled in delight at her friend's strategy to finally win the courier over. This was a little game between them, after all, and she wanted to win.

.

.

.

"So you and Tifa back together yet?" Cid got straight to the point with him as Cloud sat at the self serve bar, grabbing another Vampire's Kiss. Outside of his teasing with the barmaid, he really did enjoy the cocktail. The pilot placed down his space helmet on the wooden counter, taking a seat next to him.

"No, not that it's any of your business," he replied before taking a sip.

"Just wondering why you two are dressed up like a couple to this thing. I figured ya finally got your ass in gear," the older blond leaned forward. Cid was dressed as an astronaut for the evening, and so was Shera who was currently off dancing.

"I'm letting her know that I'm…available," he smirked.

"Well no fucking shit you're available," the man crassly remarked. "Look at her looking like dynamite tonight! Are ya waitin' for someone with more fuckin' balls than you to sweep her off her feet?"

"It's not like that, Cid."

"If this is 'bout forgiveness ya got it a long time ago," he downed the remainder of his drink before slapping it on the bar top. "She's crazy 'bout you, so don't waste any more time just dicking around, Strife."

Cloud rolled his visible eye, but resolved to not respond in a way to instigate him further. In a way, the man had a point. He glanced over his shoulder at Tifa, who was listening to Yuffie talking animatedly to her, then leaning in towards her ear to giggle about who-knows-what.

He perked up his eyepatch to get a better look at her sexy form, mostly curves and a way better view of her cleavage in that attire. He gave into temptation fondling her earlier, enjoying the small squeak that emerged from her perfect mouth. This game was just that, a game. His girlfriend was deeply hurt when he left before, and now at a long pause since he returned home. He was flirting to test the waters again. To see if she would finally seal the deal between them with a kiss. Was he afraid she might reject him?

His thoughts were interrupted when the pretty barmaid covered her laughing mouth, and continued the conversation with the ninja. There was more whispering, and nodding between the two, he observed.

Putting the eyepatch back in place, he took the rest of his drink in one swig. Tonight would not be the night for them, given the little privacy with the public party taking place. For now, he would continue to play and wait for his next chance. Tifa meant everything to him and the rules could be damned at this point. She just might make a special drink, one he would look forward to, he mused. The first night alone with her when he got back from his deliveries, he just might kiss her no matter what, drink or no drink.

Author's Note Continued: I had so much fun writing this chapter again. Cloud is too cocky for his own good, and but I think he's pushed Tifa too far now. What's the drink she'll get revenge with? Message me if you have a guess.