Disclaimer: Final Fantasy VII with the characters, items, places, etc. are the property of Square Enix, Inc. No infringement is intended.
Author's Note: This is a Cloud and Tifa story, just with a dramatic twist due to his absence. They will be happy later. The title of this story finally came to me when I was listening to Hikaru Utada's latest song for the Kingdom Hearts saga. Give this new ballad a listen if you haven't yet.
Updated Chapter Changes: 4/6/19 & 7/26/20
-. Don't Think Twice .-
Chapter VI
Early December, εγλ 0007
Cloud had kissed her last night!
She was completely frozen as soon as his lips left hers, and her body continued to stand still when he pulled away and bid her farewell before bed. He gave her a small sample of spice from his lips that she wanted to savor again. She was attracted to the SOLDIER, but she wasn't so sure how he felt about her. What had their kiss meant? Or...what did she mean to him?
He had been flirting with her lately, which Jessie pointed had out to her after Cloud brought home flowers. It had been seven years since she saw him last, a long gap of time between contact. Each night after closing she got to know him a little more, and just like the night at the well she was still smitten with the blond. Cloud was a great mystery to her, one she craved to uncover. He could've been teasing her last night in return for last night too. But that kiss wasn't to make a point to her, not the way his lips moved on hers, his tongue mingling with her own...
She shook her head to rid it of her thoughts of the handsome man, trying to concentrate on the overload of customers the bar had that night. She hadn't seen him all day as he was out monster hunting in the slums for extra gil, which both disappointed her and gave her relief from any awkwardness in front of the others. Her body was tired, and her mind was exhausted from the bustling business she had to tend to by herself.
"Babe, can I get another beer?" the older man at the counter called. By the sound of his voice, this was going to be his last one. She was surprised he could still manage to be a little coherent with how much he was slurring.
"Sure thing!" Tifa replied over her shoulder as she mixed another patron's cocktail. She poured the Cosmo Canyon Special in the coupe glass, only needing a maraschino cherry for the red sun. She went to get the jar when she hadn't noticed that Cloud had rounded behind the bar where she was, and had collided into his hard chest. She felt his hand on her bicep to secure her from tumbling over.
"Teef, are you okay?" he asked, his face so close she could feel his breath on her cheeks like the night before.
"Yeah," she murmured as her face flushed a soft red, turning away to hide from the blond. It was easy to get lost in those electric blue eyes of his, and she still had much work to do in her bar. Tifa didn't understand why her skin tingled where his hand was. It was a simple touch yet so exciting.
"I'm waiting on my beer sweet cheeks," her impatient customer called out.
Mako eyes darted in the direction of the old man who interrupted them, glowing with irritation. "Do you need help down here?"
Tifa shook her head before she reassured him with a smile and gave him a small pat to his shoulder. The last thing she wanted was to cause a scene in her bar; it would be bad for business."No, but I do need you to check on Marlene. I haven't had a chance all night and it's almost last call. I can handle it from here."
The customer was now grumbling his agitation. Cloud maneuvered around to her other side with his opposite hand now settled at her waistline, his touch hot to her skin when his fingers grazed her abdomen. He reached for a bottle in the icebox. He could have easily moved around her, but he intentionally pressed himself against her instead.
Taking the bottle, he placed the bottle in front of the old man, creating a heavy thud on the bar top.
"Her name is Tifa — and she isn't yours to call sweet cheeks," Cloud warned before he walked off to the upper loft. She blinked at his retreating form, dumbfounded at what he had just said. What was he implying? That she belonged to him? In a haste, she got back to her work and called out 'last call' to her guests. She needed to talk to Cloud sooner rather than later.
September 16th, εγλ 0009, 2:02 p.m.
Tifa had made her return from meeting up with Jace for lunch. She had to get out of the house, to get away from Cloud after their fight this morning. She was thankful that her escape to Jace showed her his understanding, and both agreed to have him steer clear of Seventh Heaven while Cloud was home from deliveries. The married couple were estranged from each other that ended up being in complete martial disarray with their circumstances. Tifa had moved forward, while Cloud was dealing with the shocking aftermath of what his absence had done.
Climbing the stairs the house was isolated from noise she noticed, making her believe that Cloud was currently out. Relieved she could have some peace and quiet before it was time for the children to return from their school day, her contentment was interrupted from what was present in Cloud's office. Pushing the door open slowly, she stepped into his room to get a closer look at what appeared on his bed: a duffel bag opened with some of Cloud's belongings inside. A pile of shirts was along the side of the bag, with one she had gathered in her hand while smoothing out the cloth with her palm.
He was leaving…again. Cloud knew their marriage was over, and he was going to leave her with the kids.
"Damn it Cloud," Tifa muttered as she fisted the navy cloth tightly, then violently tossing the shirt on his bed. She sighed as the tension released in her shoulders, gritting her teeth a bit.
"Tifa?"
The brunette turned to face him with her hands placed on her hips, disappointment clear on her face. He wasn't going to leave again, not without a fight that was.
"Cloud—" she began, her voice thick with conviction.
"Tifa, I'm—"
"You're leaving again?" she sharply accused as her brows furrowed together, her mouth taut in disgust. This time she could intervene before he skipped town, hoping to convince him to stay. She was being aggressive, but she had to for their children.
"What if I was? You don't have any use for me here," he said bitterly.
"But the kids—"
"I can always see the kids," Cloud cut off. "You want to be left alone with that guy. I'm not needed."
"You're not replaceable Cloud," she muttered. Honestly, she was scared to the core he would take off for good, never to be seen again. He had before, why would it be different this time? Tifa couldn't fully trust him yet. "Not as their father."
"But as your husband, that's a different story."
She pursed her lips, knowing nothing she could say would make it better. Her husband was angry for a reason. Tifa clenched her fists to her side as she turned to exit his room. She had hoped he would stay for the children, but she couldn't expect him to be a third wheel. Their marriage was over, and now the family was breaking up because of her. "I'll...I'll let the kids know."
"Tifa?"
She turned to face him once more.
He let out a heavy breath before speaking again. "I'm not leaving. Reeve called for business and I'm going to meet him in Junon. I promise to be back within a few days," Cloud explained rather meekly, trying to calm his wife down.
"Raising two kids by myself...that's not what I want to do. They can't be punished for this," she explained, motioning between them. A part of her was still wary, a part of her that went to that dark place in her mind that was full of her doubts on him and his habit of running away. He had a big delivery before, and that last one didn't have him returning home either.
"I know," he faltered softly. "This is just business I have to take care of."
Tifa leaned forward and tilted her head to the side, giving him a skeptical look. She was trying to read his face, which was impossible at times as her husband was always well guarded to put up a front. Cloud did always take his promises seriously, and a few were slightly broken by him during his illness. He was better now, and he was standing here before her with mako eyes glowing sincerely back at her.
"I'm not going to run off again."
"You're going to Junon? And then back here?" She reiterated his plan while straightening herself up. Tifa wanted to trust him, but couldn't help having her guard up based on his history.
Cloud slowly nodded.
"Can you wait til after dinner? Denzel and Marlene would want to say goodbye before you go," Tifa pointed out. She didn't want to face them alone tonight and tell them their hero had left again, even for a short while. Cloud still had a job to do, but he also had to take on his share of the responsibility with the children. And that also entailed communication and honesty with the two.
"I was actually going to leave in the morning to have one last night home with them."
"That's even better," she smiled in relief, her heart slowing down a bit from her previous anxiety. "Thank you."
Early December, εγλ 0007
Her eyes fluttered open when someone was calling her name and tapping her shoulder. "Tifa? Tifa, you're in my bed."
She shook her head slightly as she rubbed her eyes awake. Becoming more aware of her surroundings, she found herself leaning back on the corner of the couch in her shared apartment, with Cloud looking down at her with concern while towel drying his spiky hair. He was dressed in a white shirt and navy blue plaid pajama pants. She must have passed out shortly after reaching the couch, where she had planned to talk to him.
She yawned, stretching her arms up. "I'm sorry, Cloud."
He sat down next to her, and unknowingly to her, he had stretched out his arm behind her on the couch. "Rough night?"
She could only manage to nod in return, not really wanting to move, she slumped back on the couch again, and leaned on his shoulder.
"You can stay here if you want," Cloud offered, brushing her hair out of her face.
Her reply was the steady rhythm of her breathing evenly as she had fallen back asleep. Cloud adjusted the blankets on his makeshift bed over the two, and brought his arm around her to tuck her in close to him. Barret had called and left a message to rest up; the whole team would be going out the next day for another bombing mission. They both needed a full night's rest for the day ahead.
September 16th, εγλ 0009, 8:58 p.m.
"And you'll come right back?" Denzel asked sluggishly while being tucked into bed. The kid was on the brink of falling asleep, but wanted one last reassurement.
Cloud nodded as he sat on the edge of the bed. "I don't have any pressing deliveries until a few days from now, but I'll stop back home before I handle them."
The small boy tugged the sheet up over his shoulder. "Okay," he replied softly, mostly into the plush pillow his head rested on.
"Cloud? Can you tuck me in again?" Marlene asked while pushing off her sheets; a move completed on purpose to beckon him back over to her. Checking on Denzel, he saw the boy's eyes were already closed, his breathing already even to show he was sound asleep. The blond stepped over to her bed once more, falling into her childish whims of attention.
"Did I not do it right the first time?" he knowingly teased, bringing the comforter right under her chin.
"It was fine, but I wanted to talk to you," the small girl honestly chimed back. "Did Tifa tell you about her stupid boyfriend?"
Stupid boyfriend? This kid never misses anything. "Yeah, but that isn't why I'm heading out in the morning, okay? I'll be back, I promise," Cloud comforted, already guessing what Marlene was going to try getting out with him. She always kept him on his toes, a fact he missed about being around her.
"Okay. But you could be Tifa's boyfriend. Then she wouldn't have a stupid one," Marlene said as he fluffed her pillow.
"Goodnight Marlene," he replied, more of a command than a kind gesture.
The girl relented after squinting at him, and shifted to the side while placing her clasped hands under her cheek. "Goodnight Cloud."
He moved the hair out of her eyes before giving her a small kiss on the forehead, then flicked off the light. Cloud left the bedroom quietly to not stir Denzel awake. After closing the door he raked his hand through his hair while gazing towards the top of the stairs. His eyes leered at the noise and light spewing from the bustling business below where his wife was working.
Normally he would go down there, as he had done before he abandoned them, with either helping Tifa in the bar or having 'something hard' to drink and talking with her. What Zack was suggesting seemed impossible for him.
"If you ever have the chance to be there for her, don't think twice and just take it."
What right did he exactly have?
Darting to his office, he shut the door to get peace and quiet from his now half-life. He was tired and hoped sleep would overcome him quickly as he laid down. Another night of an overwhelming sense of failure dawning upon him is not what he wanted. No matter why he left before, he had still hurt her. What he read in her flammeous eyes their last few encounters was the opposite of what Zack spoke of. Instead of showing love, they were livid. Those red irises were only placid about the children, but when the topic of their relationship came up, they quickly filled with anger and pain.
He had done this to her. He was the one to walk away first.
Author's Note Continued: Chapter updated on 4/6/19; additional thoughts and feelings from Cloud's POV. Fight scene extended and additional scene with Marlene and Denzel has been added. Chapter updated again on 7/26/20; date/time stamp changes applied.
