Chapter 24: A Date
March 7, 0008
A little after noon the next day, Cloud was checking his phone app outside, near the town square. Jack Balen had lost his lead, and the polls were once again dead even.
He wondered how they could pull ahead. The next debate, scheduled for the ninth, was in Rocket Town, and it was sure to be an unfair fight, just like the first one.
And then, a blindfold suddenly covered his eyes.
He immediately leaped to a defensive mindset.
"Balen or Sumner?!" he demanded.
"It's me!" Tifa replied in a low voice.
"What's with this?" he asked, relaxing a little.
"It's a surprise," she insisted. "Be patient!"
He could then feel her leading him by the arm. He heard her open a car door, and sit him down in the passenger's seat.
"Where are we going?" Cloud inquired.
"What did I just say?" Tifa replied.
"We'll, can't I at least take the blindfold off?" he pleaded.
"You'll take it off when I say you can take it off," she replied firmly as she started the car and began driving.
MEANWHILE….
In Cosmo Canyon, Tobin and I were playing Mousetrap with Red XIII. For those who don't remember, that's a video game for adults only.
You may not think of Red XIII having such a dirty mind, but it's important to point out that, while he was forty-eight at the time, he was actually closer to sixteen in human years; about Yuffie's age.
He's a good player for someone with no hands, by the way.
Afterward, the inevitable third debate was brought up. I don't remember who was the one to first mention it, but I remember who made the point.
"The odds will be against her," Red XIII said.
"Where is the next debate?" I asked.
"Rocket Town," Red XIII answered.
"I know it's in Rocket Town, but where?" I clarified.
"The new library, I think," Red XIII replied. "In the auditorium. Where Jack Balen's tricks and cheats will all be in order."
"Unless someone breaks in," I pointed out. "And removes any bright lights or unfair questions."
Red XIII shook his head.
"Security's tight," he informed us. "They'll see you tampering."
Tobin then widened his eyes.
"Would they?" he grinned.
MEANWHILE….
Tifa led Cloud out of the car by the arm. He was still blindfolded, and had no idea where he was. He felt being led on to some odd contraption, which began to elevate.
We're definitely going somewhere, he realized.
He could also tell there were other people in there with them.
"Are you surprising your boyfriend?" a female voice asked.
"He's my husband," Tifa corrected.
"But you're so young!" the female voice said.
"It's complicated," Tifa replied.
Cloud and Tifa were chronologically twenty-one and twenty, respectively, but they were actually, based on their memories, closer to thirty and twenty-nine.
It was indeed complicated.
Eventually, the contraption came to a stop, and Tifa led him out.
"Okay," she permitted. "You can take the blindfold off.
Cloud did as he was told, and widened his eyes in surprise.
They were at Gold Saucer.
Tifa stood smiling beside him, wearing her skinny jeans and a white crop top. She was also in full makeup.
"What's happening?" he asked.
"I'm taking my husband on a date!" she replied with a smile.
"Huh?" he asked.
He had heard her, but it was more out of surprise.
"A date!" she repeated.
"During the campaign?" Cloud asked.
Tifa smiled an nodded.
"I bought our tickets last night," she said.
He was speechless.
"I don't know what to say," he said in gratitude.
"You don't need to say anything," she assured him. "You've been my rock."
With that, she took both his hands and kissed him.
"I love you," she said.
"I love you, too," he replied. "How long should we stay?"
"All night," she replied. "And until tomorrow. I booked us a hotel. All our stuff is there right now."
"Complete with everything?" he asked.
"I had them bring your pajamas," she replied.
Cloud was speechless.
"And my pink thing," she added with a seductive smile. "Top only."
Cloud smiled at his wife; that pink thing was something he found a huge turn-on, though she had only worn it for him once before.
But for now, that could wait. It was time for a date with his love.
They went to Wonder Square first to check out the arcades, as both Cloud and Tifa were gamers.
"These are new," Tifa pointed out, noticing two new arcade games.
One involved snowboarding. The other involved a submarine.
As Cloud and Tifa played the snowboarding game, they noticed that the snowboarders were none other than their likenesses.
"I don't believe it!" Tifa exclaimed. "This is actually us! Who designed this?"
Cloud simply shrugged, as he was more focused on the game.
Then, Tifa showed an evil grin on her face. She started to intentionally bump into Cloud, knocking him over.
"Hey!" Cloud exclaimed.
"You have to know me by now!" she laughed as she continued to knock him over.
Eventually, the timer ran out, and the game was over.
They then tried the submarine game, which they could also tell was taken from their lives, as Emerald Weapon was seen in the background.
That game was boring.
They spent three hours in Wonder Square, as, again, they were both avid gamers.
Then, they went to Chocobo Square and watched a couple of races.
Day became night as they went to Speed Square and went on the roller coaster; Tifa's hair was covering Cloud's face for the photo.
They then went to Event Square.
"Remember this place?" she asked with a smile as she squeezed his hand.
Event Square was where Cloud and Tifa had gone on their first "unofficial" date. Tifa had invited him out while pursuing Sephiroth, shortly before they went for the Temple of the Ancients. It was a bold move; Cloud was in another relationship at the time. The first place they went to was here; where they were asked to be in the show, as they were the hundredth couple, even though they were just friends.
It seemed forever ago, though it had actually only been a little over two months.
"I was thinking about kissing the dragon," Cloud replied.
"Whatever floats your boat," Tifa laughed.
They weren't the hundredth couple this time, but they felt that being in the show was a one-shot deal anyway.
Instead, they watched another couple take the bait.
During the show, Cloud placed his fingertips on the skin of Tifa's exposed lower back and began to stroke it.
It sent chills up her spine, giving her a preview of what was to come.
Neither of them were sure how many people recognized them. That said, a lot of tee shirts read "Shut the Hell Up!" on them.
Her comments were becoming quite popular.
MEANWHILE…
Tobin and I arrived at the brand-new Rocket Town Library. It was eight forty-five; the library would close at nine.
I was the one driving; I pulled up at the entrance to drop Tobin off.
"You'll get out of there if you're in trouble, right?" I asked.
"Promise," he assured me with a smile.
I kissed him and he got out of the car. He went into the library, and straight to the men's room. He cloaked himself and exited. He turned on his phone camera so I could see. Then, he went straight for the auditorium and pulled on the door.
It was locked.
"Damn," I muttered.
I knew that was exactly what he was thinking; that he, and, by extension, his cousin, were screwed; God only knew what booby traps were hidden there.
And then, the door opened.
"All set up for that bitch to lose tomorrow," the director announced as he opened the door and stepped out of the room with his deputy director.
The door began to close.
The cloaked Tobin dashed into the auditorium, the door briefly hitting him, and causing the two men to stare.
"Shit," I whispered.
I thought they had at least become suspicious.
"Probably just needs a little WD-40," the director said.
"I'll have maintenance get right on it," the deputy director promised.
Once inside the auditorium, the cloaked Tobin inspected the room. He checked the lights, the microphone, the soundboard, and the book full of debate questions.
He then spent the next hour exploring the room, checking for booby traps, both physical and political. He opened all cupboards and checked under every seat.
Then, he returned to me. I knew he was back when he knocked on my window. I got out of the car, opened the passenger's side door, and let him in.
I then drove out of town and made sure nobody could see us before Tobin decloaked so he could talk to me.
"There was nothing there!" he said in amazement. "I left no stone unturned."
"And the debate questions?" I asked.
"They're all fair," Tobin replied.
"That's a relief," I said.
"Right," he added skeptically.
MEANWHILE…
Cloud and Tifa stood at the gondola in Round Square. It was sitting there with its door open, almost as if it was waiting for them.
"Two, please," she requested.
She then led him into the gondola car, and they sat down across from each other. It was reminiscent of their "first date," when, after the show, they went to the gondola. It was there where Tifa first tried to tell Cloud how she felt about him. She failed, of course, leaving her to want to kick herself.
But now, it was different. They were married, and fully aware of how they felt about each other.
The gondola started moving.
"Wow," Tifa began as she looked out the window. "I keep forgetting how pretty this is."
Outside, the roller coaster could be seen speeding by, with the sounds of the screaming passengers audible.
She then turned back to Cloud quickly kissing him on the mouth.
There was nothing to hide anymore.
She looked out again, this time to see the racing chocobos run by.
She then took both of Cloud's hands in hers and looked him in the eyes.
"Do you know what it will be in two days?" Tifa asked. "Other than the third debate?"
"The four month anniversary," Cloud replied. "Of our second chance. Or at least the beginning of it."
"You got it," Tifa confirmed with a smile. "That makes me so happy."
"How could I forget?" Cloud said. "I thought I had lost you forever."
"Me too," she added. "I thought I lost you as well."
"I'll never forget that funny feeling I got just as we arrived at Reactor One," he said. "I knew something had happened, but I couldn't figure out what it was."
"I was bartending that night," she remembered. "I was mixing a Bloody Mary when something suddenly felt different. I felt something click in me. As if I knew the future was suddenly coming." She then paused, and glanced at her wedding ring. "But I couldn't predict I'd be here four months later."
"Neither could I," Cloud said. "Though I could predict how you felt about me. Especially when we snuck out and came here."
"I wanted to tell you that I loved you so badly that night," Tifa began.
"You did get to tell me on the Highwind," he pointed out.
"You kind of pushed me," Tifa recalled.
"Were you happy I did?" Cloud asked.
"Yes," she replied with a smile.
"I didn't make you propose," Cloud reminded her. "You did that on your own."
"I was a little scared," she admitted. "I figured it could go one of two ways. But I'm so happy you said yes!"
The fireworks began to go off, and Tifa stood up, turning a hundred and eighty degrees. As she bent forward to look out the window, she made sure her skinny-jean-clad butt was facing him.
"What a view," she said in a somewhat flirty tone of voice. A double entendre, of course.
She then turned and sat down, facing her love.
"I was afraid to say it the first time," Tifa declared. "But not anymore. Cloud, I love you. Now and forever."
She pressed her lips against his.
She then sat down, and looked as if she was thinking.
"What's on your mind?" Cloud asked.
"I want to get into my pink thing," she replied. "These jeans are starting to kill me."
The gondola soon came to a stop, and the young married couple disembarked.
Tifa turned, wrapped her arms around Cloud's neck, and kissed him again. She didn't care the attendants were watching.
MEANWHILE…
As soon as we got home, I took off my pants and leather jacket, leaving myself in a tee shirt and undies. Tobin did the same. I was wearing pants to bed at this point, but I still wanted to feel just a little free for the night.
I went to the fridge and got two beers for us, then I sat on the couch in the common area, handed one to Tobin, and put my arm around him.
"I don't believe it," I laughed as I took a sip of beer. "There was nothing to cheat with. It's going to be a fair fight."
Tobin smiled and took a sip of beer himself.
I realized that couldn't be good.
"What's wrong?" I asked.
"I'm just hoping there aren't any traps I couldn't find," he said.
"I doubt it," I assured him.
"We'll see," Tobin said. "We'll see."
I kissed him on the cheek to reassure him.
"You can stand by her side, cloaked," I reminded him. "Nobody would know."
"True," he said. "I'm just hoping they don't use anything I can't protect her from."
Looking back, I feel like he jinxed it.
MEANWHILE…
Cloud stood alone in the bathroom. He had changed into his pajamas. He was waiting for Tifa to call him out. It had been a long day, but he needed it. He had almost forgotten that his wife was running for president of the Western Continent. For today, they were simply a young married couple on a date, and nothing more.
"Come on out!" he heard Tifa call.
He duly opened the bathroom door and stepped out.
Tifa lay on her back on the bed in her pink thing.
It was the moment Cloud had been waiting for. He looked below where her pink thing stopped, and noticed.
"You gave yourself another bikini wax, didn't you?" Cloud inferred.
"I bit on a broomstick this time so you wouldn't hear!" she laughed.
She was referencing a funny incident that happened a day or two before her (correction: our) wedding. In preparing for her wedding night, Tifa, notorious for valuing her privacy, took the liberty of waxing her lady parts herself. It had been a new experience for her, and apparently even the neighbors heard her scream. I found that hilarious, since, of all of us women, she was the only one who didn't get rid of her pubic hair (don't ask how I know that).
Still smiling, Tifa signaled for her love to lay down on the bed next to her.
As soon as he did, Tifa passionately kissed him on the mouth.
"My rock," she said lovingly before kissing him again.
Cloud wrapped his arms around his wife's waist, and, to her surprise, rotated both of them ninety degrees, so she was on top of him.
Tifa soon found herself supporting herself with her knees on the soft mattress, with her bare butt in the air. Still, she was facing the man she loved, and that was all that mattered.
They stayed that way for half an hour, with Tifa gently stroking his spikey hair and lovingly kissing him.
"I love this," she whispered before kissing him again, pressing her tongue against his.
The fires of passion lit as their tongues continued to wrestle. Tifa broke the kiss, pinned her husband down, and then stopped herself.
"You're in charge tonight," she informed him. "We'll have it your way."
And I'll stop there so it won't get graphic.
But feel free to speculate.