Heart's Shelter in the Rain
The soft patter of rain against the tent walls fills the night air, a gentle rhythm that's both calming and comforting. Cloud sits with his back against the tent wall, his legs stretched out, Tifa next to him and bundled in blankets. Outside, the world is a wash of gray and the storm hums like a lullaby, but inside the tent, everything is warm and peaceful. Her closeness and the heat radiating from her body fills him with a sense of calm, and he pulls the blanket over her, leaning in closer to the radiance of her presence.
He glances down at her where she is snug against him, watching as she adjusts herself in their cocoon of blankets, snuggling closer to him, her bangs falling along the soft curve of her face. The glow of the dim lantern light casts a soft, subtle hue over her porcelain skin, so soft, beautiful, and utterly… perfect. He's entranced by her, his eyes passing over her, up and down and committing every soft line and bend to fresh memories until she shifts again and glances up at him, a tiny smile pulling at her lips.
Cloud feels his heart skip a beat, and he blushes, knowing he's been caught staring. He doesn't care. It's not the first time or even the third, and it certainly won't be the last.
He could watch her forever.
There's something about her presence - her just being there - that makes everything else fade away. The rain, the storm, the weights of their pasts—it all fades away into the background when she's beside him. His love for her - this deep, overwhelming feeling that's been growing since their time in the Lifestream - is so strong it leaves him breathless. No matter how he distracts himself with the mundanity of the day-to-day in this post-Meteor world, his mind can never stray to far from thoughts of her and everything she means to him.
And now, sitting here, wrapped in the peaceful rhythm of the rain, she's all he can think about.
Tifa moves, shifting her position slightly so that her body is somehow even closer to his, her soft breasts now pressing against the inside of his ribcage. Cloud can't help but smile at the way she burrows into him so naturally, how their closeness seems to grow and take new shape with each passing day that they live out this new life together. Instinctually, he leans back into her, lifting an arm so that he can wrap it around her and pull her in closer, creating a perfect mold between them.
He's helpless against the pull she has on him.
"You've always liked the rain, huh?" she asks after a moment, breaking the comfortable silence between them, her voice gentle and teasing. "I remember how calm you used to be during storms back when we were kids."
Cloud smiles softly, not taking his eyes off her. "Really? " He asks, somewhat surprised. "You remember that?"
She giggles lightly, a melodic sound that makes him fall leagues deeper in love with her every time that he hears it. "I remember a lot more than you think from those days," she admits, a smile in her voice.
Cloud smirks, a distant crack of thunder resounding in the distance. "I guess you're right," he admits. "Those storms never really bothered me back then. But… I like this kind of weather a lot more now."
Tifa chuckles again, and the sound wraps around him, making his chest feel light. She tilts her head, curiosity shining in her carmine eyes. "Oh? Why's that?"
He shrugs a little, still smiling, his face burning hot. Again, he doesn't care, because he can't hide it from her. "Because I get to spend it with you."
Her cheeks flush at that, and Cloud feels his heart race at the , he should know exactly what she does to me.
The rain continues its gentle rhythm, and Tifa leans back, adjusting the blanket and making sure it covers him up adequately too. It warms his heart to see how much she cares. Cloud's eyes follow her every movement, drinking in how relaxed and comfortable she looks. Every little detail that his eyes map makes him fall harder—her smile, the way her eyes light up when she teases him, the subtle but strong curves of her body and the way her presence alone fills the tent with a warmth that no fire could ever match.
They sit together side by side, the world ceasing to exist as the rain continues to fall. Tifa snuggles up even closer to him and begins a nightly ritual that they've started together without realizing it, telling him stories and the wandering thoughts that she has, filling his heart with her memories and her wishes. Cloud simply listens, her voice lulling him into a state of contentment the way that it does every night, chasing the demons away. Her voice has become his favorite sound, every word and every small laugh making him fall deeper and deeper into this overwhelming feeling of love.
He's long gone when it comes to her. Completely. There's no denying it.
Without thinking, Cloud reaches out and brushes his hand against hers, his fingers lingering longer than they need to. The simple touch sends a spark through him, and when she looks up at him with that soft, curious smile, he feels like his heart might burst. He watches the way her eyes soften, the way her lips curve just a little more, and he knows she feels it too. Gently, he folds his hand around hers, squeezing lightly as their warmth melds at that simple point of connection. She purrs a soft sound and continues telling him a story about her and Jessie when they first met in the slums.
Hours pass, but the rain shows no sign of stopping. It's steady and grows heavier, beating the heavy canvas of their tent. The chills grow as the hour grows late, and Tifa moves to fix them some tea, her movements graceful even in the small space. She stops, though, and Cloud notices the way she glances over to the corner of the tent.
"That's not good," she says softly, tapping her chin and nodding toward a small leak where water is slowly dripping through the fabric. "Let me see if I can patch it up."
Before he can offer to help, she's already on her knees, pulling out a plastic cushion and using it to try and stop the leak. Cloud wants to get up and help, but Tifa has such a strong independent streak at times and he admits that seeing her be so handy warms his blood. Instead, he watches her work, his chest swelling with affection. She's focused and determined, and the sight of her trying to fix something as simple as a tent feels like it means something deeper, pulling at something that sits in the center of his chest.
Cloud realizes that all he can think about is how much she's fixed him. How she's been patching up his heart piece by piece, helping him heal, even when he didn't realize he was falling apart and that he needed her help. He watches the way her brow furrows slightly in concentration, the way she purses her lips together as she works, and he falls deeper, his love for her overwhelming his senses and spilling from his lips.
"Tifa," he murmurs, his voice coming out quieter than he intended. She glances up at him, her expression softening. "I never properly thanked you."
Her eyes widen slightly, and she tilts her head, as if unsure where this is coming from. "Hmm?" she hums lightly.
"You've… held me together. Ever since the Lifestream. Inthe Lifestream. You've helped me in ways I never thanked you for."
Tifa leaves the tent alone and leans back on her knees for a moment, staring at him with her lips slightly agape. They tremble, and he can see her eyes begin to shine as if with unshed tears, She shakes her head, looking down as her face flushes all the way up from her throat.
Cloud's chest tightens with a flood of pleasurable warmth, and he feels himself desperate for her again. He reaches for her, taking her wrist and pulling her in his direction. Shyly, still avoiding his gaze, she lets him pull her into his arms, her back against his chest as he wraps his arms around her. She fits perfectly against him, her body soft and warm as she settles contently into his chest.
"You're welcome," she coos teasingly after he pulls the blankets around them, and the soft cadence of her voice sends butterflies loose in his belly.
For a while, they just sit there, Tifa in the center of his lap as they hold each other, the rain tapping softly against the tent. Cloud lets his hands wander the front of her body, his fingers tracing soft circles on the exposed flesh of her belly as he presses a kiss to the top of her head. She smells like rain and warmth and vanilla, everything he knows he's always needed.
Tifa tilts her head back to gaze at him, her eyes shining with affection. "I'm not going anywhere," she whispers, her fingers brushing against his cheek. "I'll always be here with you."
Cloud's heart swells, and he leans down, pressing his forehead against hers, their noses brushing together, "I'll always be here with you too," he murmurs softly. "I'm yours, Tifa. Always."
Her smile is soft and radiant, and it makes him want to kiss her. So he does. It's slow, tender, and filled with everything he's teaching himself to never hold back again. The rain, the storm, the rest of the world—it all fades away as he pours every ounce of his affection into that kiss. Tifa melts into him, arching her back and latching onto his forearm, a low-simmering passion bubbling between them.
"You know, there are lots of way to thank me," she teases him against his lips.
Cloud continues kissing her tenderly, letting his hands roam over her skin reverently, trying to convey the depth of his devotion through every touch. She turns in his arms to face him fully, reaching up to cup his face between her palms. He blinks, then captures her lips in a searing kiss, one hand tangling in her hair while the other splays across the small of her back, crushing her to him.
Tifa kisses him back just as fiercely, just as desperately. Cloud's hands begin to wander, gliding over the curves of Tifa's body like a man possessed. His touch is electric, setting her skin ablaze with every caress. She arches into him, craving more, needing to feel him everywhere at once.
His fingers slip beneath the hem of her shirt, skimming along the smooth expanse of her stomach. Tifa shivers, goosebumps erupting in the wake of his touch. Cloud marvels at the softness of her skin, the way her muscles quiver and jump beneath his palm.
"Beautiful," he murmurs against her lips, his hand drifting higher, teasing the underside of her breast.
She moans, low and needy, as his thumb brushes over her nipple. It pebbles instantly, straining against the fabric of her bra. Cloud longs to taste her, to draw that sensitive peak into his mouth and lavish it with attention until Tifa is writhing in his arms.
But he resists the urge, wanting to take his time, to worship every inch of her. His lips trail scorching kisses down the column of her throat, pausing to nip and suck at her pulse point. Tifa tips her head back with a gasp, giving him better access. Her fingers tangle in his hair, holding him close.
Cloud's other hand skims down her side, over the flare of her hip, to the supple curve of her thigh. He traces abstract patterns on her skin, inching higher and higher with every pass. Tifa squirms impatiently, silently begging him to touch her where she needs him most.
"Please, Cloud," she whimpers, voice ragged with desire. "I need you."
Cloud's breath catches at the raw need in her voice. He wants nothing more than to give her everything she craves, to make her forget her own name as he brings her to the pinnacle of pleasure again and again.
He may not be good at expressing himself with words, but he's learning her body and how to express himself across its sensitive planes.
Gently, he turns and lowers her to the center of their bedroll, careful to keep the blanket covering them as he settles on his side beside her. Hiking her skirt up, his fingers float between her legs and ghost along the edge of her panties, teasing the sensitive skin of her inner thighs. Tifa's hips twitch, seeking more contact, and Cloud can't hold back a groan at her eagerness. Slowly, reverently, he slips his hand beneath the thin fabric, cupping her sex.
She's already so wet, slick and hot against his palm. Cloud has to take a steadying breath, fighting the urge to simply tear her underwear off and bury himself inside her welcoming warmth. Instead, he traces her folds with a featherlight touch, circling her clit lightly without ever quite touching it directly.
"Cloud," Tifa whines in frustration. Her carmine eyes are wide and bright, pleading with him as she pouts her full lips, her tongue peeking dangerously between them. "Stop teasing!"
He chuckles, low and dark, nuzzling the curve of her jaw. "Be patient, Teef. I wanna take my time."
Pushing her panties aside, two fingers slide languidly inside her, earning a gasp from her pretty mouth. Cloud presses gently against her entrance, gliding easily through the evidence of her arousal. Tifa cries out, back bowing off of the bedroll as he sinks deep, curling his fingers to find that special spot inside her. Her inner walls clench greedily around him, drawing him in.
Cloud sets a maddeningly slow rhythm, pumping listlessly as his thumb circles her clit with barely-there pressure. He peppers kisses over her face - her cheeks, her nose, her fluttering eyelids. Soft praises and words of love spill from his lips, punctuated by the wet sounds of his fingers moving inside her.
"That's it, Tifa. You're doing so well, baby. I love seeing you like this. You're amazing."
Tifa grabs fistfuls of the blanket they share, twisting it in her hands, every inch of her body taut as a bowstring. Her eyes are squeezed shut, lips parted in a moan with each ebb and flow of his fingers. She's so close, so tantalizingly close, but still, he doesn't stop.
"Please, Cloud," she whimpers, rocking her hips against him desperately. "I can't-"
"I know," he breathes, and finally, finally, he increases the pace and pressure of his ministrations, targeting her clit with merciless precision. "Let go for me, Tifa. Come for me, baby. I've got you."
And with those words, Tifa shatters, crying out her release, muscles clenching around his fingers. Cloud doesn't let up, watching her as he strokes her through it, the pressure in his chest unbearable.
As her tremors subside, he pulls his fingers free, gently tugging her ruined panties down her legs and discarding them on the floor. He opens his belts and pushes his pants down to his knees, settling himself between Tifa's legs as he smothers her raspy breaths with more kisses and slides his hard and heavy length inside her.
Tifa's moans grow louder as soon as he falls to her back wall, her cries more desperate as he begins to rock with need. She throws her head back, thrashing it from side to side, her hips undulating in time with his steady thrusts. His cock swells from the tightness and the pressure, stretching her, hitting that sweet spot inside her again and again. Her muscles clench around him, a vice-like grip, and he knows she's close.
Cloud winces, sweat already pooling into his eyes. He's so worked up that he can feel himself teetering on the edge, the need for release imminent. He distracts himself by kissing her again, burying his face in the crook of her neck.
"That's right, baby," he whispers in her ear, finding himself growing delirious. "Come for me, Tifa. Just for me."
At his sultry command, Tifa begins to shatter, crying out his name as her climax ripples through her. Cloud finds that he can't hold back anymore. He picks up the pace, letting himself get lost in her tight heat, driving them both over the edge. They come together, their bodies shaking in unison, their cries of release mingling into one.
Panting, Cloud collapses beside her, stroking her damp hair back from her face. "How was that for a thank you?" he teases, grinning tiredly.
Tifa's response is a sleepy chuckle, her heavy-lidded gaze full of love. "I think it'll do," she mumbles happily before her eyes drift shut.
Cloud can't help but grin as he watches her fall asleep, her half-naked body splayed out on the rumpled blanket. His chest swells with love and pride, his heart full to bursting. He pulls the covers over them both, spooning her from behind. With Tifa in his arms, he drifts off to sleep, a contented smile on his lips.
The storm outside picks up, the rain battering their tent. But the patch that Tifa created keeps it out, keeping them warm and safe.
Cloud closes his eyes, breathing out a heavy but contented sigh. He may not be as easy to repair as their little tent, but he can rest a little easier knowing that he has her by his side to help him heal.