[Thread: Closed.]

[loveandstrife.livejournal.com]

Characters: Cloud and Tifa
Progress: Ongoing
Summary: Cloud needs to talk to Tifa
Location: Treno
Date: June, 1803
Warnings: Cloud's awkwardness and wibbles?


Pacing the street outside the inn he was currently staying at, Cloud was trying to work up the nerve to talk to Tifa. It felt like it did the first time he'd done this and it didn't get any easier, it seemed. He needed to ask her about them. About their... friendship? Relationship? Whatever. It needed talking about. He had to ask her out. That's it!! Ask her out! I'll ask Tifa on a date!

Cloud seemed to brighten at that idea then his mood plummeted a moment later as he realised that she might actually say no. This wasn't the Tifa from his time, she was from his past, and she didn't know him as the man he was now, so maybe he wasn't what she wanted just then. Sighing, the blonde pinched the bridge of his nose and headed inside.

With the gil they had as a group, he, Zack and Tifa afforded a better room. Especially with him running errands and hunting monsters for extra pay. Hoping Zack had stepped out for a while and, expecting he had since that man was hard to keep locked in a room, Cloud headed for the room they shared, poking his head in first before slipping inside. Maybe Tifa would be alone and he'd be able to ask her about things. Maybe Zack would be there and he would be able to entirely forget the idea. Glancing around, he saw no sign of his old friend so, it was him and Tifa. Ohh... damn.

Comments

[heartofheaven.livejournal.com]

Tifa had taken a shower a few minutes ago, and while she was fully dressed, she was still waiting for her hair to dry completely. No electricity, no hair dryers. Sighing, she sat down on the bed and combed out the tangles before hearing the door open.

"Oh, Cloud." He looked weirdly nervous. "Something up?"

[loveandstrife.livejournal.com]

"No... well, yeah..." He sighed and removed his swords, leaning them on the wall as he sat down beside her. His eyes found his knees and he frowned for a long, silent moment before he looked at her.

He opened his mouth to speak but just a sigh escaped and he looked away. "Nh... Tifa... what were we like, y'know, together... in your time?"

[heartofheaven.livejournal.com]

Oh. He hadn't been worrying about that, had he?

"You remember, don't you?" Tifa asked softly. "You came back to me. You said everything was all right now. I... didn't want to press you." It was her turn to look down for a moment. "I mean, if I'm honest, I was mad at you before for what happened, but then I was just so glad that you were back."

[loveandstrife.livejournal.com]

"Yeah, I remember that but... were we... oh, forget it." Cloud flopped back on the bed, closing his eyes for a moment to gather himself before he looked at her once more. "Hey..." he sat up, leaning her way a little, "do you... um... I mean..." And another sigh.

What was so hard about asking her out? Really??

[heartofheaven.livejournal.com]

He was trying to spit something out, that was for sure. Curious now, Tifa tucked her hair to one side and leaned towards him, a small smile curving her lips.

"What?"

[loveandstrife.livejournal.com]

Cloud grit his teeth, frowning as a blush rose on his pale skin. Taking a deep breath, he took her hand and squeezed it lightly, though his gaze never quite locked on hers. "Tifa... do you..."

His stomach ached almost as bad as the first time he'd asked this. "Do you... want to go out? I mean... o-on a date. With me?"

[heartofheaven.livejournal.com]

Tifa couldn't help it; she laughed. "Oh, Cloud. Of course I do."

It had been a year longer for him, and he still found it difficult to actually ask her out. She found it quite endearing.

Emboldened by his words, she took the initiative; leaning further towards him, Tifa pressed her lips against his.

[loveandstrife.livejournal.com]

The kiss seemed to almost startle him at first but he relaxed quickly, his leather-clad fingers coming to rest on her cheek as he returned the tender, loving gesture.

It could be said he was in love with her. In fact, it was pretty obvious sometimes.

[heartofheaven.livejournal.com]

She knew it more by his actions than his words; that had always been the case. And when he was kissing her like this, it didn't matter at all that he found it difficult to express his feelings in words.

Finally, she opened her eyes and murmured, "So, about that date..."

[loveandstrife.livejournal.com]

"Um... yeah, about that..." He gave her quite a sheepish smile, gently tucking her dark hair behind her ear. It was possibly to see more of her face, but it was also a gesture of tenderness. Something he tried to show Tifa as best he could.

Cloud almost grinned at her then. "Anywhere you wanna go in particular?"

[heartofheaven.livejournal.com]

She looked at him fondly, and smiled when he brushed her hair back. "I don't mind. Maybe we could check out the rich part of the city? Walk along the waterfront?"

[loveandstrife.livejournal.com]

"That sounds nice," he replied, smiling lightly at her and leaned to kiss her again, feeling a little braver now. "Shall we go now?"

[heartofheaven.livejournal.com]

Tifa kissed him back before draping her arm around his shoulder as she stood up. "Sure."

Her hair was pretty much dry now, and as summer had arrived, the nights were warm - despite the fact that Treno didn't get any sunlight. There had to be some kind of magic going on there, but at that moment, Tifa didn't care.

All she had to do was pull on her boots and she was ready.

[loveandstrife.livejournal.com]

Cloud smiled and grabbed his swords, fitting them in a cross on his back. Sure, they were going on a date but he wouldn't take any chances. Still, without his swords he was a force of strength and power, but he still felt better having his weapons.

"Alright. Get your boots on and we'll head out." Very official. Very stoic. He even slid those sunglasses on.

[heartofheaven.livejournal.com]

Tifa raised her eyebrows. She was tempted to tease him, but she remembered that Genesis might still be in Treno somewhere, and didn't comment. It was almost second nature to both of them to make sure they were armed before going out anywhere. She wasn't wearing her gloves, but she had them with her.

"Okay. I'm ready."

Boots on, she headed out of the inn after him.

[loveandstrife.livejournal.com]

As they headed out, towards the richer part of town, he bravely slipped his gloved hand around her bare one, threading his fingers between hers. To be sure, he loved Tifa, was in love with Tifa, but he'd likely never tell her without hearing the words from her first. Letting himself rely on her like that would endanger her.

He never wanted that.

[heartofheaven.livejournal.com]

Tifa was much the same way; still too unsure to say the words if Cloud didn't say them first. She was okay with unspoken. She'd lived with unspoken for a long time, and she hadn't reached the point yet where her patience would run out. Maybe, in Cloud's time, she'd be more confident.

But here and now, she squeezed his hand and enjoyed the sights of the city before them. She was taking it easy, strolling along - there was no rush. The stars would keep turning, but never setting.

"Twin moons," she murmured. "They're beautiful."

[loveandstrife.livejournal.com]

Cloud nodded slightly, smiling just enough to prove he was actually enjoying himself. "Yeah..." He saw the poetry in those words. Twin moons, always with their other, always partnered and never alone. Just how he felt with Tifa.

He leaned to kiss her cheek, gently. "Tifa, how long have you been here? A while now, right?"

[heartofheaven.livejournal.com]

She looked at him. "Hmm... Since the end of March."

[loveandstrife.livejournal.com]

Cloud still couldn't understand that. "It's so strange... I remember so much you don't and... you were there." He sighed, shaking his head.

[heartofheaven.livejournal.com]

"I don't understand it either. But it's happened to a lot of people. As though people are being taken out of time as well as space."

Whatever could do that, it had to be something powerful.

[loveandstrife.livejournal.com]

"I'm worried... it's not something natural." He shook his head slightly, sighing again. It worried him that whatever took him away from home could do the same to one of their children.

The thought of them being alone or hurt was the worst.

[heartofheaven.livejournal.com]

"I know..." They had reached a bridge crossing the dark water, and Tifa stopped to admire the view. She leaned her head on Cloud's shoulder and sighed. "Let's not worry right now. Right now... I just want to be with you."

She'd spent a great deal of her time worrying. But on a date, at least, she wanted to smile.

[loveandstrife.livejournal.com]

He nodded a little, falling silent. He knew she wouldn't want to keep discussing it. It was a little like old news to her. He could worry about it to Zack later.

Cloud looked out at the water, frowning just a bit. He wasn't annoyed, it was just that he tended to frown more than he smiled.

[heartofheaven.livejournal.com]

Tifa looked up at him and smiled. Whatever happened, at least Cloud was here.