Disclaimer: Final Fantasy VII with the characters, items, places, etc. are the property of Square Enix, Inc. No infringement is intended.
Author's Note: Well, better late than never! This was my story featured in The Cloti Zine: Because I Have You Volume I back in 2020/2021. I'm finally uploading during the Cloti Fall Festival 2022 for Day 7 prompt: Tifa rescues Cloud at the Shinra Building.
And my sincerest gratitude to lovely Hyoukane for collaborating with me on this story. The beautiful cover art was illustrated by her. Please go support her on Twitter/Tumblr.
The title of the story was inspired by Snow Patrol's song "I Won't Let You Go".
-. I Won't Let You Go .-
The others had ran ahead upon Cloud's request to face Rufus Shinra alone. Even if his intention was to preserve their escape, Tifa found herself hesitating. She could only hear the high winds tussling her hair and the pounding of her heart accelerating with a familiar anxiety. She turned to quickly catch up to her friends and upon reaching the elevator the desperation to go back screamed inside her. What if something went wrong again?
Tifa almost lost him once back at the mako reactor and she had sworn to herself she wouldn't let him go again. There was a promise he made to her under the stars from their childhood, one they both equally cherished. If she was ever trapped or in trouble, he'd come back to save her just so she could see him again. She could do the same saving if need be.
The brunette sprinted back to the helicopter pad hoping to aid him in fending off the new corporate lead. Instead, she found him being shot at with bullets that ricocheted off his steel blade, right as the grate became unstable below his feet. Her carmine eyes widened. She wasn't going to let fear cage her. Like the fighter she was, she used it to empower herself.
Tifa sprang into overdrive, sliding across the rooftop before gripping the metal fragment of the rail to anchor herself along the edge. Her hand managed to clutch his forearm just in time. Cloud's cerulean eyes flickered up and greeted hers with relief for her daring rescue. His mouth slightly parted in pure amazement that she'd come back for him.
"You gotta be better than this…if you're gonna play the hero," she playfully chastised in between pants. Her lips curled up as best as they could while she struggled to keep her tight hold on him.
A smile came to his lips, despite the danger he'd faced a moment ago, and he squeezed her arm back. It wasn't just a sign of trust in her, it was a sign of him having complete faith in her strength. He'd always shown his confidence in her even if he could get overprotective in the heat of battle. He was always going to be there for her if she needed him, just like he'd promised. Now she was here for him.
Tifa miraculously heaved up the ex-SOLDIER onto the sanctuary of the platform, along with the Buster Sword. Safe and sound, back on his feet, he placed the blade into the holster while she dusted herself off. During her motions, she could feel his eyes trace her form, so she pretended not to notice. She always knew when he would steal glimpses of her since she did the same towards her handsome friend.
"Nice catch," the blond said.
She looked up and giggled at his casual choice of words. Ones she'd said to him from an earlier save at the pillar. He gave her another faint smirk she had grown to love and Tifa couldn't help the smile that ignited across her face. Cloud was playing it cool with her again and it made her heart skip a beat. She decided to do a familiar callback as well.
"No biggie. You're pretty light, you know," Tifa playfully winked in return as she stretched her arms above her head.
He turned his face away from her, but she had already spotted the tinge of pink on his cheeks. "What I'm really trying to say is…thank you, Tifa."
Had she really got to him this time? Actually making the stoic man blush? She bit her bottom lip, feeling amused with herself. It was a nice change of pace given all the times he made her own cheeks turn crimson. The gift of the flower, the sly attempt at calling her beautiful, the way their bodies had tangled up after the tumble off the train. Their faces had been mere inches from each other and she had never forgotten the heat in his piercing blue eyes from the other night. She slowly brought her arms down while tilting her head to the side as she silently reminisced on their past moments.
In an instant, he swiftly scooped her in his arms, leaving her own simply dangling in the air. His sudden embrace had caught her off guard, making her heart slow down its beat. Was this really happening? She felt his hands on her upper back; one cupped her shoulder and the other delicately pressed out on her shoulder blade. Her senses tingled when the soft skin of his cheek brushed against her own and his spiky hair tickled her temple. She tried not to tremble when she placed her palms on his shoulders, closing her eyes slowly to take in the familiar scent of earth and leather.
Cloud really was holding her again in his arms, and to hold him back in return—this is what she really wanted. That night in the garden had been to comfort her, but now it was to show his gratitude towards her. What was meant to be platonic simply wasn't for them, not with how far they'd come. They'd had many instances of warm and tender touches between them, along with the sidelong glances and him trying to outright woo her. Something was happening between them lately and she could feel it in his arms. Tifa only knew she wanted more of it. To never let him go, for this is where she belonged.
Gently, he pushed her back to look down at her and his fingers caressed her dark luscious hair by her face. Cloud's arm was still settled around her midback and he gingerly brushed the pad of his thumb across her high cheekbone. His eyes caught hers, sweet cobalt that shined like the stars, their gravity pulling her in. It was so easy for her to get lost in those luminescent orbs, powered by mako, both pretty and intense. She now realized that he hadn't changed so much since he left their hometown. Not when he was alone with her. Was it because she made it easier for him to bring down his barriers?
The wind had picked up around them. Even though they were pressed against time, neither one showed the indication of breaking his embrace. Tifa curled up her fingers into his navy sweater vest. Her breath hitched again from the mere excitement she felt when his eyes began to concentrate on her bottom lip. It was the same look from when they were alone in her room, the one that had made her brave enough to ask him out on a date. Was he…was he thinking about kissing her? Her lips parted in anticipation and hope.
Almost reluctantly, he broke his stare from her mouth and looked up at her again. His eyes were so brilliant and pure, and she couldn't help but be completely captivated by his gaze.
"Let's go," his smile made her melt.
"Right," she shied away with a nod, smiling back. Tifa knew the magic of this moment had come to an end, but the way his eyes lingered let her know it wasn't gone forever.
Author's Note Continued: I hope you enjoyed this one shot by me. I meant to upload it a long time ago but never got around to it. And if you follow me for my main story, I know this may not have been the story update that you wanted. But hey, I am still here and I have been working on that story here and there.
I hope to update that other one by the end of the year and will be dedicated more and more time to it from now on to give more consistent updates. I will finish all of my stories.
Thank you for the support, your patience, and reviews!