AN: Thank you for all the comments and reviews/favorites. This chapter is a bit slow…but enjoy anyway :)

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Burning Close

Chapter 5

Johnny was tired. Mighty damn tired. Deep inside, he selfishly regretted asking Tifa to take the day off. His back was sore from standing all day. His ears were muffled from the noisy patrons. His head was pounding in pain from being sleep deprived. He loved his wife and baby Teddy, but boy, were they a pain! Hooded, bloodshot-eyes darted to the clock hanging above the bar entrance.

8:59PM.

His lips tugged upwards. Reaching for the bell on the bar counter, he clang it several times, loud and clear.

DING DING DING!

"Bar's closing everyone!" he shouted over the chattering customers. "You know the rules!"

Several men started standing up and proceeded to exit the bar, muttering frantically under their breaths.

"Useless henpecked man—"

"Not even midnight yet—"

"Ain't how you run a business—"

But Johnny didn't care. He continued ringing the bell, ushering and waving grumbling customers away.

"Up, up you go!" the red-head called, glee in his voice. "See y'all next time!"

"Bye Johnny," a man with brown curly hair waved.

"Bye Kunsel," the bartender grinned.

He followed the man toward the swinging bar doors, giving him a pat on the back.

"What's with the happy face all of a sudden?" Kunsel asked suspiciously. "You've been looking like a dead man for the entire night."

"Aww Kunsel, Kunsel, Kunsel," Johnny shook his head, the smile still plastered on his face. "You know what day tomorrow is?"

"Monday—"

"Monday it is!" Johnny's brown eyes were wide with hysteric like a maniac. "We close on Mondays!" He rocked the man by the shoulders, hoping to shake some sense into him as if he did not understand the simple math of one plus one. "I could finally get some sleep!"

Kunsel chuckled, brows slightly furrowed. "Poor man…" He shook his shaggy head and bid goodbye.

Hanging a "CLOSED" sign on the doors, Johnny quickly collected the empty beer bottles and mugs and dumped them into the sink. He wiped the tables, singing gleefully under his breath.

"It's Monday, it's Monday, it's finally Monday—"

CLING CLING.

Frowning, Johnny quickly glanced up toward the entrance. "Sorry man, we're closin'—"

He paused, not believing his eyes.

The all too familiar black leather boots, the black leather outfit, the pale stoic face, and the wild, blonde spikes he would recognize anywhere—

"Cloud?"

The blonde gave a small nod.

Odd pleasantries later, awkward silence filled the atmosphere as the two men settled at the bar counter. At the corner of his eyes, Johnny glanced at the man beside him, who was staring idly at the beer in his hands. A sudden roar of thunder erupted outside, making the barman jump in his seat. Rain like bullets started hammering down the metal roof, disrupting the air.

Swallowing a large lump, the red-head finally spoke up.

"So," he started, "how ya doing?"

Cloud gazed up, Mako-blue eyes unseeing the bartender. "…Fine."

Johnny cleared his throat and gave a weak smile. "So, uh, whacha doing here?"

"I…had a delivery," the man paused, "nearby."

"At such late hours?" Johnny peeked at the clock; it was fifteen past nine. Mona's gonna kill me.

The delivery boy nodded, a hint of pink growing on his pale cheeks. "Yeah, this old lady—er—man—needed some mythril asap," he muttered quickly.

"Oh," the red-head took a sip from his bottle, "I thought you're here for Teef."

The blonde's cheeks grew redder. "Uh," he coughed into his beer, azure eyes staring ahead, "erm…where is she?"

"She had the day off," Johnny replied, a sly smile tugging on his face. "Poor gal, she was so burned out that I told her to take a rest."

Immediately, Cloud's body tensed up. Mako-blue eyes narrowed and glared at the man next to him.

"Why? What happened? Is she okay?"

Johnny raised his hands up in defense, sweat growing on his forehead.

"She's fine! Chill! Don't throw your sword at me just yet…" Looking nervously at the Fusion Sword beside the ex-SOLDIER, he felt the blonde's body loosen up slightly. "But honestly man, if you cared 'nuff about her, you'd know why she's so down," he muttered.

SQUEAKKK.

A terrible squeak of wood rubbing on wood pierced the barman's ears. The wooden chair scraped the floor roughly as the delivery man stood up all of a sudden. He drained the bottle of beer in one shot and gave the bartender a long, hard look. Johnny glanced up anxiously, wondering if this was his last day on gaia. He gulped.

"Thanks for the beer," Cloud mumbled finally.

He picked up his sword and swung it over his back (Johnny flinched as a gust of wind blew past his face) and took the few, short strides toward the doors.

"Please…help me look after her."

"W-what?"

The man turned around, aqua eyes flashing. "And don't tell her I came."

"Wha-why?"

And the blonde spikes were gone, leaving a scent of humid air.

"I hope the chili wasn't too spicy for you," Zack called over from the sink. The clinking of bowls and spoons being washed could be heard. "My lips are still burning from the hot spice!"

"No, it was fine," Tifa replied back, reveling in her satisfied tummy.

My lips are fine.

No, actually her lips were not fine. The soft kisses the man had left earlier in the day were still burning like fire. Tentatively, slender fingers traced the trail of blazing warmth along her lips.

How is it that his touch is still lingering after so long?

Ruby eyes darted gingerly toward the man. The broad shoulders, the strong biceps, the long black spikes, the chiseled jaw, the muscular chest… She almost succumbed to this man. Was she moving too fast? Were they moving too fast? While all they did was share a kiss, she was quite certain that she would succumb to him if she didn't leave any time soon. Not that she would regret it. Right?

Tifa glanced at the clock: 8:50PM. If she run back to the bar now, she would still make it in time to help Johnny close the bar. But did she want to?

The man had been nothing but amiable. His cheerful nature was a juxtapose to her harsh, sad persona. He shared amusing tidbits from his exploration of abandoned sectors. He made boring books about war machines sound like entertaining movies. He guffawed loudly with tears in his eyes at hopeless soap operas on tv. He was, indeed, hard to resist for someone drowned in her own gloom for the past few weeks (months even).

He didn't push her for more, but it was apparent he wanted more.

The way his fingers lingered a little too long on the back of her couch, innocently toying the silky strands on her shoulders. The way his indigo eyes glowed as mysterious shadows danced behind them, as if seeing her whole. The way the heat emitted from his body burned her skin at the slightest touch, making her nerves squirm restlessly.

Not to sound like a prude, but Tifa Lockhart never was the type to sleep around. Good looking and educated patrons frequented Seventh Heaven. But none of them had ever captured her heart. All because she only had eyes for—

Yes, she missed him. In fact, she missed him very much. He was her first. Practically her first everything. And the only first. The first time they shared under the Highwind… They continued their intimate encounters briefly after meteor fall. Tifa, believing everything was fine… Yet, everything they shared dissolved as quickly as it came. The complicated and distant relationship they eventually developed… Were they "together"? Were they "official"?

The brick wall the man built was forever in her way. No matter how hard she punched, how hard she kicked, the brick wall would never fall. He was there, but not really here. Days at home felt lonelier and lonelier. She was constantly yearning for his touch. Yet, he never did fulfill her longing. Like a homeless cat desperately waiting for that one special person…who never came. It was pathetic.

Two years. She was starting to come to terms with the fact that she could never, ever erase him from her heart. And here, standing in front of her, was a man. A man with attractive qualities, a man with a heart big enough for her. But was it possible for her locked heart to have extra room for another man? Was she ready to give herself a chance? Did she want to?

Oh, and the fact that he cooked. In fact, he was quite a good cook. She breathed in the spicy aroma still lingering in the air. There was something about men skilled in the art of culinary that appealed to her.

His words were sweet, actions even sweeter. But what about his heart?

Like moth to fire, she was enticed by him. But would she burn?

Her thoughts scattered as Zack stepped toward her, drying his hands with a towel. A smile flashed on his eager face.

"All done," he beamed. Settling beside Tifa, he stretched out his arms, showcasing the tight muscles of his middle core.

Unconsciously, Tifa stole a swift peek at the view and felt her cheeks flush. Quickly looking away, she glanced at the clock again: 9:05PM. Johnny would have closed the bar by now. He usually did. Tifa swallowed.

"Did you enjoy dinner?" Zack asked, an arm on the back of the couch, mere centimeters away from her.

The woman nodded, deeply aware of their close proximity and the heat burning her cheeks. "Yeah," she replied, "I really like it. Thank you for the meal. You should share me the recipe."

"It's actually something that I came up with," Zack said. "Somehow…it came very naturally. Maybe something from my childhood." A thoughtful expression crossed his face.

"Do you—did you find out where you grew up?" Tifa asked.

"Yeah," he nodded. "Kunsel helped me with that." He paused as if gathering his thoughts. "I grew up in Gongaga."

"Oh?"

She remembered that village. A small village hidden deep within a dark green forest. It was one of the many places she had visited with the gang. And it was one of the most depressing places she had ever visited. Her nose wrinkled as she reminisced the scent of burnt metal and ashes, a scent she had become accustomed to, it appeared.

"He brought me there a short while after I woke up from my sleep." His eyes glazed. "It was crumbled into dust, thanks to the meteor saga."

Ruby eyes widened in shock. "You mean, because of the lifestream—?"

Zack nodded, a rare frown on his handsome face.

"And…and your family?"

"I'm an only child."

"Then…your parents?" Tifa whispered, afraid of the answer.

"Gone." The single word brought heavy silence to the room.

"I…I'm sorry." She wished a hole would swallow her up.

Zack shook his head softly, expression unreadable. A long silence stretched in the air, only to be awakened by a sudden, deafening roll of thunder.

The metal hut shook as the loud roar echoed throughout the city. Immediately, rain splattered down, filling their ears with raucous pellets.

"Oh—" the barmaid glanced at the clock: 9:10PM, "Um…I think…I better get going."

"What? When it's raining cats and dogs?" Zack asked incredulously.

"I'll be fine—"

"Nah-ah," he shook his head, "It's gonna rain for the entire night."

"How do you know?" Tifa perked an eyebrow.

"Don't you know?" He crossed his arms, smug humor returning to his eyes. "Predicting the weather was one of the first skills the military taught us."

"Oh?"

"Yeah, I mean, we're always on the go so it's important to forecast the weather in case of emergencies."

"I see…"

Yes, she remembered that. Cloud was particularly adept with predicting the weather, even better than Cid some times—she shook away her thoughts.

"So," Zack's eyes blazed in the fluorescent light, "whacha wanna do now?"

Tifa swallowed a lump in her throat. "Really…it's getting late. I really think I should get going…"

"No. Stay. Please."

"Why?"

"'Cause I want you to."

His words were full of promises. His eyes were so eager, so patient. So patiently longing.

She couldn't move. Her mind wanted to leave, but her heart wanted to stay. Why?

"D'you wanna watch tv?" he asked.

You should stand up, walk over to the door, and say goodbye—

Stay! You're lonely anyway—

No. Go home. Now. Or else you're gonna regret it—

You know nothing about Tifa's needs—

Of course, I do, I'm her—

"Okay…" Defeated, Tifa nodded softly.

See? I won—

Don't come home crying—

Shut up—

"Other than watching tv, is there anything else you wanna do?" Zack murmured, voice low.

"That calls for multitasking," she muttered.

"Well, I'm mighty skilled in that field," the man boasted.

"Is that so?" Tifa couldn't help but grin.

"I have a tv upstairs too. More comfy. Wanna join me?" It was a question asked as casually as one would when asking what's for dinner.

Tread carefully, Lockhart—

Oh just shut up!

"Okay."

The word fluttered out of her lips without her thinking.

What in the world, Tifa Lockhart?

Something like surprise flashed in the man's eyes, but quickly faded as a smile tugged at the corner of his lips. Voice velvety soft, he held out his hand and whispered, "come."

And she placed her hand in his. From this moment onward, her heart took over. There were a hundred excuses she could have thrown at the man. But she didn't.

Maybe, this was the power of lust.

His kisses were soft and hot and skin-tingling all at the same time.

She squirmed under his firm, confident movements, exposed skin sensitive from the new, foreign touch.

His indigo eyes blazed with desire, like blue burning flames.

She suppressed her moans, lips and eyes squeezed shut, face flustered.

"Hey…" His voice was next to her ear. "Don't do that…" His tongue flickered her earlobe.

Sudden shock sent down her spine. Her eyes flew open, dark rubies dancing in her pupils.

"H-huh…?" Tifa breathed.

She found herself gazing into a deep sea of blue.

"That's better," Zack smiled.

His face was flushed from heat from the closeness, from the skin to skin contact, from the excitement burning deep within him. His chest was glistening with beads of sweat. His muscular arms were on either side of Tifa's head, supporting himself over the woman below. His desire…was more than apparent.

"What…what did you say?" she murmured.

"I said, 'don't do that.'"

"Don't…do what…?"

He leaned forward, lips touching hers, "don't," he kissed her, "hide," he kissed her again, "yourself."

His tongue slipped into her mouth the moment she gasped. She tasted of spices and chili and sweet and delicious. If she was a small prey, he would devour her like a hungry wolf. Her eyes were shut tight, thin eyebrows furrowed. He felt the woman tense under him again, and he stopped.

"Tifa…"

Her eyes opened, confused.

"You're not even breathing." Zack sat up. Crossing his arms over his naked chest, an amused expression appeared on his face. He tilted his head. "Why are you holding your breath?"

"I…I didn't." At that, Tifa clambered up and sat holding her knees up close to her chest.

"Yes you did," the man smirked. "And you're not letting me hear your moans."

"W-what?" Tifa stammered, face fuming. "I-I don't—"

"Don't hide. I mean it. Don't hide yourself. I want to taste, I want to see, I want to feel, I want to hear…all of you."

Her eyes darted downward to her fingers, bangs covering her face. "I…I'm not hiding…"

"Well if you're not, you should take that off."

A long finger pointed toward Tifa's tank top.

She swallowed. "My shirt…?"

"Of course. You said you're not hiding, right?" Zack grinned. "It's not fair you get to see me topless, and I don't."

Tifa bit her lip nervously. Heart pounding like the roaring thunder outside, she pulled the rim of the top upwards, her bent knees still hiding her upper body slightly. Her vision was temporarily blinded by the shirt when she hastily felt strong arms wrap tightly around her. She shivered at the sudden burning heat stinging through her bare skin. Pulling her head free from her tank top, she found herself in the comfort of the man's chest.

She dared herself to look up at his face. His eyes were closed, a blush growing on his cheeks.

"Hey…?"

His eyes opened at the sound of her voice.

"You're so beautiful." And his lips found hers, whole body pushing her down. "I could…" (his lips trailed from her left ear to her lips, along her collar bone, down her slender neck, and on her upper left breast), "hear your heartbeat."

Tifa held her breath as the man rested his head directly over her heart.

"It's…so loud…and so fast."

She felt the man grin.

"By the way…you forgot something."

Quick fingers snaked behind the woman's back and unclasped her bra, sending a chill down her spine. Tugging the lingerie off, Zack greedily took in the view in front of him.

Long, silky hair. White, porcelain skin. Round, ample breasts. All the right curves. All the right softness. All the right exquisiteness. He wanted a better word, but words were not enough to describe her. She was more than beautiful.

"Tifa…" his breath hitched, "you're…really beautiful…"

"Don't." She closed her eyes and covered her chest, suddenly remembering her mark. "Don't look."

"Why?" His fingers closed around her wrists, pulling them aside. "You're too beautiful to not look."

Ruby eyes opened wide, trepidation lurking behind them. "Don't…"

And he saw why. A long, white scar—pale as snow, but still noticeable—stretched diagonally from the left side of her chest down to the right side, about five inches long. It was a mark of a fighter, a mark of a painful past.

Her heart pounded loud in her ears. She was waiting for his questions, his curious interrogation—

Zack smiled. "I see nothin'."

And his lips found hers, erasing her frown, erasing her sorrow, erasing her past.