Prompt: #34 Confide

Summary: A listening ear.

Confide

"Is it terrible to admit that I'm a little scared? I mean, I'm man enough to admit that I'm nervous, but it's kinda stupid to be nervous in the first place, isn't it? She's just…always made me nervous, ever since we were kids. It's not a bad thing to be the first to say that I'm fairly whipped at this point, to be honest. But I suppose I've probably always been at the mercy of Tifa in a way. She'd been the reason for so many of the major decisions in my life and all our friends seem to know that too. All, but not her.

Cid looks at me sometimes and snickers to himself with a shake of his head. Sometimes he's in good enough a mood to offer me some tea with a little something extra in it. It tastes awful and he tells me that it'll put hairs on my chest. Which I hope isn't true. Not that having a furry chest is bad! It's just not what I need right now, or… ever. I know that this isn't something I can tell Cid in any case. Even though that is his objective in getting me drunk off tea and chest hair causing something. His secret added ingredient, that is. I'm not exactly sure what that is, that he adds in there, but it sure has a kick to it. It's not as if Cid can really talk either since he has a tough time of it too. Barret, as big hearted as he is, isn't exactly someone I'd go to, to talk about this either. All I need is for him to spill the beans to Tifa before I got up the nerve to do it. He's always had a soft spot for Tifa than he has ever had for me.

Vincent… I'm not sure I can talk to Vincent either. As much as it looks like he's gotten over the guilt of his past, I don't want to bring back any memories of it for him. It wouldn't help and I'm a classic case of someone who's taken a long time to get over things that have happened in my past. I wouldn't do that to him either. I also wouldn't go to Red or Cait. I don't think I really want to know why, but I'm more comfortable talking to you. Because I've always been able to connect with you and you'd never tell me how much of an idiot I am for taking so long to even do this. I am going to do this. I just need a little confidence booster and it's always been an outlet to come out here.

But I'm sure you think I'm an idiot too, even though you don't say anything. What kind of guy comes out here to have a chat. But we've always had a good rapport, right? We have a lot of fun too while we're at it, which is a bonus. Next time, I'm bringing Tifa and we'll all have fun together. I just hope that once I tell her, she won't laugh. Cause it would be like a kick in the gut. I have it all planned out too. We're going to get away for a day, really get away. Barret will come and watch the kids so we won't have to worry.

It's something that we've never done before. All the other times we were able to be alone, there was someone nearby and we had to sneak around or there was a threat to the planet. There was always something else that preoccupy our minds. Some danger lurking around the corner, which prevented us from actually focusing on just each other. Now, there wasn't any danger and the world wasn't being threatened. So, we could just… be. Which is really terrifying because there's this pressure now. A pressure to make everything perfect and given my track record, things always get messed up where I'm concerned. What if she doesn't have a good time? What if I say something wrong and she's mad at me the entire time? What if I mess up saying what I need to say? Okay, yes, I'm an idiot. You don't need to head butt me," he laughs.

Rapidly blinking, beady eyes stare back into his before a loud squawk comes out of a pointed beak. He offers the Chocobo a small smirk and continues grooming the abundant feathers.

"I can do this right?"