Silmeria - Happy reading.

Disclaimer - I claim no rights to Final Fantasy VII

Chapter Ten - Other Side of the Mountain

"Tifa." Cloud closed his arms around himself, looking askance at the suits that ranged from a dark black to an off-white. "This place looks really expensive."

"Of course it does." Tifa regarded Cloud with an amused look, taking one dark blue suit off the hangar and pressing against his chest. "This shop is in Minerva Town, and-would you uncross your arms? There's nothing to be embarrassed about, alright? It's not as if we're prostitutes-"

"Tifa." Cloud hissed, looking around and flushing when he noticed that he gained more than one onlooker. He was quick to settle his face into the glare and was satisfied when the other patrons turned away. He shot his friend an unimpressed look when she pressed a hand to her mouth in an obvious attempt to stifle her laughter. "I don't know what I'm going to do with you, Tifa Lockhart."

"You obviously don't know what to do with yourself seeing as you can't pick out a decent suit for your date." Tifa pressed the suit against his chest again, shaking her head and hanging it back up. "We've already tried so many suits and nothing seems to fit you."

"Maybe I'm not the suit type of guy?" Cloud tried, slumping when Tifa shook her head, shooting him an unimpressed look at the obvious attempt at escape. "Really, Tifa, there's no way that I can pay for anything in this place-"

"Who says that you're paying for anything, Cloud?" Tifa raised her arms up into the air as if asking the Goddess for help and Cloud wanted to do the same, but Tifa's anger was mounting and he didn't want to press his luck. "You don't have to always make this about money, you know? Just let us help you with this, alright?"

"I do have to make it about money, Tifa." Cloud snipped, drawing his eyes down to the floor when Tifa froze at his tone. "You-you don't understand, do you? Being an Omega in this world? I-I have to try and survive and I don't want people just supporting me because-"

"Cloud." Tifa interrupted quietly, her eyes rising to meet his own over the hanger she picked up only seconds before. "Do me a favor?"

"What is it?"

"Shut. Up." Tifa placed the suit into his hands roughly enough to force him to stumble a few steps backward. "I'm not doing this because you're an Omega. I'm doing this because you're my friend." Tifa lowered her head, her hands forming into loose fists. "I'm doing this because you're family. You don't have anyone and I-I want to make sure you don't feel like you have to survive in this world on your own. Omegas, beautiful, sweet, Omegas like yourself don't deserve to be alone, Cloud. They-they deserve to be cherished and coddled and Zack will do that for you. He'll take good care of you, Cloud. I know he will."

"Will he?" Cloud challenged, his lips thinning at the thought. He liked Zack, he really did, but when it came down to it, Alphas always treated Omegas like their possession and although Cloud had high hopes for Zack, he wasn't stupid enough to believe that Zack ignored his instincts.

"Of course." Tifa assessed him from over the suit she had picked-a simple one with no tie- "After all, aren't you supposed to bear a wolf?"

"I-" Cloud's cheeks exploded in flurry of reds and he was quick to lower his eyes at Tifa's inquiry. "How-you remember that old prophecy?"

"Of course I do." Tifa snorted. "Daddy wouldn't stop talking about it. It always riled him up when he mentioned it to Crimson and your Dad would get so mad. He hated Old Woman Alyssa with a passion."

"Dad never believed in destiny or fate." Cloud murmured, a small smile pulling at his lips at the thought of his warm-hearted, mild-mannered father. "He believed that we had the responsibility of forming our path and the duty the Goddess had was merely showing us a single possibility. He thought Old Woman Alyssa had too much faith and used the Goddess instead of taking charge of her life."

"Can't say that he isn't wrong." Tifa stated. "I mean, look at me. I don't know what I'd do if I stayed in Nibelheim for the rest of my life."

"Oh, I don't know, Tifa." Cloud began, a teasing light entering his eyes. "You could have always become Old Woman Alyssa's apprentice, eh?" Cloud voice became high-pitched and elderly. "You there, sonny, want to know your future? I could read the winds and dirt for you, eh?"

"Oh. My. God." Tifa deadpanned, watching with a suppressed smile as Cloud lost it in the middle of the store, drawing more than one stare. "You are out of your freaking mind, Cloud Strife."

Cloud clutched his stomach, his laughter finally dying down to snickers before rising back to his full height and wiping the tears that fallen from his eyes. He gave Tifa a grin. "Sorry, couldn't resist, but Tifa?"

"Yeah?"

"I'm glad that you're here with me." Cloud's bright expression turned sad and the light in his eyes dimmed. "I wouldn't know what I would do without you. You truly are a blessing from Minerva herself, you know?"

Tifa stood there, stunned, at the admission before a light blush dusted her cheeks and she all but shoved the suit in Cloud's direction before turning her back and folding her arms.

"Just go try on that suit, alright? We're already drawing enough attention."

"Okay, okay, not need to get bossy."

Once she heard Cloud' shuffle towards the dressing room, she turned around and wiped her tears away, a shaking smile on her trembling lips. No matter what he did or said, Cloud Strife had the capability to make her feel angry, sad, happy, amused, but what he didn't know that he was her blessing as well. Out of all the people in Nibelheim, Cloud never judged her on her inability to bond with a Guide and for that, she was more than thankful. She saw neither judgement or pity in his eyes. Instead, when Cloud looked at Tifa, he saw nothing but friendship and happiness.

Zack had no idea how lucky of a man he was to have Cloud as a future Guide and mate.

"Well?" Cloud spoke up, causing Tifa to rush to hide the fact that she had been crying. "How do I look?"

Preparing herself for a mini-disaster, Tifa turned, stopping when she caught sight of Cloud standing rather awkwardly in a black suit that was accessorized by a deep black vest and blue tie that matched the Guide's eyes. The look was completed by a pair of simple loafers that looked more comfortable than Tifa's most stylish heels.

"Tifa?" Cloud asked again, his voice tinged with worry that brought her out of her shock. "Do I look okay? Do I need to go back and-"

"No." she cut him off, blinking to clear the haze that came over her at the sight of him looking handsome in the outfit. Let it be known that Cloud Strife cleaned up rather well considering the circumstances. "You look great, Cloud. Looks like we found a winner."

"Really?" the relief on his face was palpable as his shoulders drooped with exhaustion. "Good. We can go now, can't we? I'm hungry."

Tifa sighed, her expression exasperated, but fond. "We can go and get something to eat. We'll come back and get another couple of suits and some decent clothing another time, I suppose."

"But, Tifa-"

"No buts." Tifa interrupted swiftly. "You're going to be seen in public with Zack and I'll be damned if those stupid reporters think that you're riffraff or you're too good for Zack. Don't make go to jail for assault, Cloud Strife. Is that what you want? Me to go to jail?"

"No." Cloud muttered petulantly, the spikes in his hair drooping when he realized that Tifa was definitely guilt tripping, but he knew that she had his best interests at heart. But, really, did she have exaggerate it that much?

Cloud looked up, smothering a smirk when he saw that she was wearing a barely suppressed smug look. Of course, she was Tifa Lockhart, exaggeration was her game.

"Come along." Tifa prompted, taking a quick glance at her wrist watch. "You're date should be arriving in a little while. And remember, Cloud, you don't want me to to jail, right?"

Cloud snorted, the thought tempting, but he was quick to quell it when he saw Tifa lifting her nose into the air, as if she was tasting the lie on his tongue. In the days of his arrival, he had almost forgotten how good a Sentinel Tifa was despite her lack of a bond.

"Of course not. I wouldn't that for you, apple of my eye, heart of my heart."

Now it was Tifa's turn to snort before she jerked her head towards the door. "Come on, mister sly, let's pay for the suit and go."

"Do I look okay?" Cloud twisted and turned in the mirror, his lips turned down into a frown as he reached up to touch his hair, only to have his hand smacked away by Tifa who was wearing a frown of her own.

"It looks fine-you look fine, stopping touching your hair." Tifa appeared in the mirror with him, her reddish-brown eyes rolling when Cloud twisted and turned again. "If I didn't know better then I'd think this was your wedding and not a first date."

"I'm going out with an Alpha Sentinel." Cloud twisted his hands with the hem of his blazer and Tifa's eyes softened with sympathy. "Alpha and Omegas don't mix all that well sometimes, Tifa."

"You're going to mix." Tifa reassured, wrapping her arms around his shoulders and giving him a gentle shake. She glanced at the clock, huffing when a knock came a second later. Right on time, as always.

"You're date is here." Tifa murmured, stepping away and approaching the door, glancing over her shoulder to give Cloud one last reassuring look before opening the door and all but stopping when she Zack on the other side. If she thought Cloud looked good, then Zack was another story.

The Alpha Sentinel took a page from her fashion book and decided that a suit sans that tie was the way to go. But, his variation, however, was vastly different with a deep black trousers and blazer and a deep red shirt that was open, but what caused Tifa to jerk in surprise was the gift in his hands; a gift that was in his family for generations.

"The Book of Minerva?" Tifa murmured, her body tensing when Zack simply nodded. "Really, Zack? On the first date?"

"I mean to keep him, Tifa." Zack stated, his lips pulling into a sly smile. "Besides, he seemed pretty interested in the War of the Goddesses."

"Oh?" Tifa tilted her head to the side in curiosity. "What part did he like? Jenova's Course or the fact that you're the descendant of the Cetra's most powerful Generals?"

"I tell you that story one time and you won't let it go." Zack sighed, his left eye twitching. "Let me be proud of my heritage, woman."

Tifa snorted, but her eyes hadn't lost the respect that she usually held for the man. Despite her teasing, he was still Alpha Sentinel of Midgar and she was grateful towards him. "You're very proud of your heritage and I'm sure Cloud would enjoy reading about it." she turned back into the bar. "Cloud! Zack is here and he looks delicious!"

"Tifa." came Cloud's scandalized voice. "What is the matter with you?" he appeared behind his patron and Zack sucked in a sharp breath at the sight of the Guide looking rather sharp in the black suit with a dark blue tie that matched his eyes perfectly. He knew that from the cut and design that this was all Tifa's work. She always had an eye for fashion.

Bless you, Tifa Lockhart, the Goddess will bless you for eternity.

"Good evening." Zack murmured, reaching out a hand for Cloud's, and pressing a kiss against the back of it and shuddering with pleasure when Cloud let out a soft hum at the action. This was going to be good night. "Are you ready?"

"I'm ready." Cloud returned, his cheeks burning when he turned back to Tifa who was looking on with an interested look. "Good night, Tifa."

"Good night and no snogging." Tifa chided gently. "You both know it's against the rules to go without an escort, but I trust you. The both of you."

"We know." both intoned, a flush of shame coloring both of their cheeks. It wasn't often that a courting Sentinel and Guide went without an escort, but Zack was an Alpha who had a very clean reputation and no one would mind, but Cloud was a different story which forced Zack to realize that some of his plans-which included a nice kiss at the end-promptly went down the drain.

He had forgotten that Tifa was such a buzzkill.

"Oh, before we go, I have a gift for you." Zack handed the heavy tome to Cloud who blinked at the size. "I apologize for not wrapping it, but it's-"

"The Book of Minerva." Cloud finished softly, reverently, as his hands traced the inscriptions. "It's a first edition and it's very old. Where-where did you get this?"

"It's mine." Zack looked sheepish when Cloud blinked down at him in shock. "Well, rather, it's my families-"

"I can't." Cloud tried to press the tome back into Zack's hands. "This is way too precious-"

"You're too precious." Zack pressed the book back into Cloud's hands, his own covering the Guide's. "I insist that you take this, Cloud. It would break my heart if you didn't."

"That's unfair." Cloud whispered, his hands clenching the book and Zack's. "Using those eyes and smile on me."

Zack's soft smile had morphed into a wild grin. "I'm well aware of my talents, Cloud. So, will you keep it?"

"Yes." Cloud breathed, his heart fluttering at the thought. To give such a rare thing to him only caused his pulse to race and force him to realize just how serious Zack was about him and their relationship. "Thank you, Zack. I'll treasure it. Always."

Zack stepped away, if only to control his own breathing at the promise. This one was definitely a keeper. "Good. See that you do. Are you ready? Dinners waiting."

"Yes." Cloud smiled, a motion that promised long nights, conversation and decent company. "I'm ready."