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She stood there in a radiant glow. Her hair, cascading down her back, blazed like a phoenix. Her eyes—gold and pure—shined brighter than the sun itself.
She looked perfect, and he couldn’t help himself. He kissed the tip of her nose, and her laugh blessed his ears.
He brushed his knuckles along her soft cheek. His hand travelled down her neck, past her chest, and found purchase on her swollen belly, covered by a white sundress.
She smiled, and his heart raced.
Gazing into his eyes, she enclosed her hand over his, brushing her thumb over his knuckles.
“I love you.”
……
Cloud stared at the gold ring in his fingers, attached to the silver chain necklace around his neck.
Fragments of the memory flashed in his mind. It was beautiful.
It stung.
“Fuck”, he sighed, bringing a forearm over his eyes.
He sat up from his bed and looked across the inn room he rented for the night, his expression blank.
Sleep was evading him. Again. Just like yesterday. And the night before that, and the night before that.
Deja-fucking-vu.
Reaching over to the bedside table, he grabbed his PHS and checked the time. The night was still young.
Accepting that he wouldn’t be getting sleep anytime soon, he swung his legs off the bed and slipped on his boots.
……
Cloud glued his eyes to the cobblestoned paving as he trudged along the footpath, his hands shoved in the pockets of his black winter jacket.
It was a peaceful night in Kalm. Spring was still upon them, and Cloud felt it as a warm breeze brushed his face.
The crescent moon hovering in the night sky lit the village a pleasant glow. Aside from the guardsmen passing the streetlights as they made their nightly patrols, the town was mostly barren.
He didn’t even plan to stay for the night. Cloud had it in his mind that as soon as he wrapped up his contract, he’d collect his gil and move on, but the man who hired him was an innkeeper, and he offered Cloud a free meal and board as a bonus for killing the fiend so efficiently.
A merc for hire wasn’t a line of work that appealed to many—a never-ending cycle of job hunting, day in and day out. Most of the jobs were menial at best, and the gil reflected that. The fruitful ones carried a ton of risk. Usually life-threatening.
Cloud didn’t mind, though. He was more than prepared for the risky contracts, and the endless job searching kept him busy.
Kept him from thinking.
Usually, Cloud wouldn’t stay in one place for too long. When the job was done, he’d restock and scour the bulletin board for more work, and he would move to the next region if nothing caught his eye. However, a hot meal and a soft bed were hard to come by. He couldn’t pass up on the offer.
Unfortunately, he couldn’t sleep tonight, and when he couldn’t sleep, he started to think.
When he awoke, Cloud was blessed with the sight of her beautiful smile.
“Good morning, sleepyhead.”
“Goddammit”, he sighed.
He ran a hand through his thick, spiky blond hair. He wasn’t walking for very long, and he already had enough.
On foot, it would take two days to reach Junon. If Cloud waited until morning, he could hire a Chocobo and get there in half that time.
Travelling on foot sounded much better to the merc. He could take the scenic route—filled with monsters. It would be a long trek, but it’d keep him busy, and busy is what he needed.
Finalising his decision, Cloud spun around to head back.
Then suddenly, he heard something.
Music. Soft and mellow.
Cloud followed the melody's sound, and a few minutes later, he stood face-to-face with a large, wooden bar restaurant.
It stood out from the village—its wooden design sharply contrasted with Kalm's brick-and-mortar architecture. Signage was posted above the entrance. White-coloured, capital text was engraved on the dark-brown timber.
SEVENTH HEAVEN – HAVE A GREAT DAY
Staring at the sign, Cloud shrugged his shoulders.
“A drink or two won’t kill me.”
……
Much to the Cloud’s relief, Seventh Heaven wasn’t crazy busy. Groups of patrons chatted amongst themselves over a plate of food. Others claimed a spot at the bar, winding down with a cold beverage.
The dim, orange glow of the ceiling lights lit up the place. An array of tables took up most of the floor. Classic arcade games and a pinned-up dartboard were lined up along the right wall. On the left side, a band was performing the tune Cloud heard from outside.
And right up the back, stood the bar itself.
Cloud made his way over to the bar, claiming the first empty seat he could find. It didn’t take long for the barkeep to serve him.
“Good evening, mister!” She exclaimed, smiling vibrantly.
“Ma’am,” Cloud replied with a respectful nod.
“I haven’t seen you around here before,” the barmaid said. “Is this your first time in Seventh Heaven?”
“It is,” the merc answered.
“Well, you’re in luck!” You won’t find a better place to sit back and relax than our fine establishment!
She propped her hands on the table. “So! What can I get you?”
A little smirk formed on the corner of Cloud’s lips, amused by the woman’s exuberance. “Just a beer will do, thanks.”
“One beer. Comin’ right up!”
Cloud turned away from the barmaid as she left to make his drink, propping his right forearm on the bar table as he eyed the band.
She quickly returned with a cold, fresh bottle. “There you go!”
“Thank you,” Cloud replied as he a handful of gil across the table. The girl thanked him delightfully before heading off to another customer.
Cloud turned his attention back to the stage. The band was made up of middle-aged men. The lead singer had the complete cowboy get-up—the hat, boots, belt buckle, and everything else. His black aviator glasses and dark, short-boxed beard gave him a grizzled aesthetic, complimenting his low, raspy voice.
“And I am the outsider”
“A horse with no rider”
“I am a fighter”
“When the darkest day is done”
When the song ended, the audience showered the band with applause. The singer thanked the crowd before leading his band into the next tune.
Cloud remained in his spot, watching the band play as he went through his first and second bottles of beer.
The Merc turned his head to the barmaid as she walked by. “Another beer when you have the chance, please.”
“You got it!” She replied with a smile.
The girl cracked open another beer and handed it off. “You sure you don’t wanna run a tab?”
“No,” Cloud answered as he exchanged gil for the bottle. “Just takin’ one drink at a time.”
As he took the drink, Cloud noticed a tip jar out of the corner of his eye. It was mostly empty. Without any thought, he fished out a small handful of gil and dropped them into the jar.
“Thank you!” The barmaid said cheerfully. “You’re too kind!”
“Thanks for the beer,” the merc responded plainly.
As the merc turned back, an elderly man stumbled over to the bar, obstructing his view of the band.
“Howdy, little Missy!” The stranger bellowed to the barkeep.
“Hey, Kevin!” She exclaimed, “I’d asked you how your night’s been goin’, but I can tell you’re having a great time!”
The older man bellowed a hearty laugh. “I’m having a—hiccup—a grand ol’ time! But alas, all good things must—hiccup—come to an end. Just wanted to bid ya’ farewell.”
“Oh! Do you need any help finding your way back home? You had a lot to drink tonight.”
“Not to worry! The wife is—hiccup—is waiting outside. Til’ we meet again, lovely!”
The gentleman tipped his hat before turning around. In his drunken state, he unknowingly crossed one foot over the other and tripped over his boots.
Cloud caught the man effortlessly and pulled him back steady. “Watch your step.”
“Thank you, choco-boy!” The old man exclaimed with a toothy grin.
Cloud quirked an eyebrow. “What?”
The old man circled his hand over his head. “Choco-boy! Get it? Because of—hiccup—your hair.”
The merc groaned. “Right.”
“Oh, lighten up, young chap! What’s life without—hiccup—without a bit o' laughter?”
Before Cloud could say anything, the older man clapped him on the shoulder and hobbled out of the bar. The merc watched him go, looking slightly annoyed.
A light giggle caught his attention. Cloud whipped around and noticed that the barmaid was covering her mouth.
“What?” The merc asked.
“Choco-boy,” the server replied. “I like that.”
“You find that funny?”
“Mm-hmm, and to be fair…he’s not that far off.”
Cloud motioned to the tip jar. “I want my money back.”
The barmaid quickly snatched it away. “Nuh-uh-uhh! “No refunds!”
Cloud rolled his eyes with a smirk. “Whatever.”
……
As the night went on, the local band had most of the bar’s attention as they played through their setlist. The merc was still sitting in the same spot, taking down his drinks at a moderate pace.
After the fourth song, the merc realised that each tune told a similar story: a drifter looking back on his life as he wandered the lands aimlessly.
It was a bleak tale, but the band’s musical style added levity to it, as if the drifter wasn’t contemplating from a perspective of misery, but rather one of reflection.
It took Cloud a while to figure out why the songs resonated with him specifically: they echoed his own life.
Swallowing a mouthful of bitter liquid, the merc shoved that thought deep into the depths of his mind.
He did not come here to reflect. He came here to relax.
He finished his drink and looked around for the barmaid. Once he found her, wariness grew on his face.
A few paces down, she stood by the beer and liquor dispenser, filling up a pint. Standing across her was a large, built man—well over six feet tall. He was a decent-looking guy, but he had an arrogant grin.
Cloud pursed his lips. He didn't like the way the man was looking at the girl.
“Heeey, gorgeous", the taller man drawled as leaned into the bar, eyeing the barmaid dangerously. "Have a drink with me.”
The barmaid shook her head politely. “Thank you, but I don’t drink when I’m working.”
“C’mooon,” the stranger insisted. “Have a drink with me now.”
She looked away from the him and focused on her work. “Drinking on the job is a bad idea.”
“Don’t play hard to get, gorgeous.”
A few feet away from them, Cloud shuffled closer. Shoving his hands in his pockets, the merc leaned his back onto the table that stretched across the bar, giving himself a good view of the band whilst staying in earshot.
“I know how this game works,” the drunk said smugly, “I keep naggin’ the pretty girl, and eventually she gives in. Let’s just cut to the chase. Have a drink with me.”
The server handed the pint to another customer, her eyes still avoiding the stranger. “You’re very persistent, huh?”
“Cause’ you’re a good lookin’ woman. And you look daaamn fine in those jeans.”
His eyes leered down the barmaid’s legs, and a dirty grin formed on his face. “And I think you’d look even better without them.”
The girl perched her hands on the bar, releasing an irritated sigh before she shifted her gaze up to the stranger.
“I’m not that kind of girl,” she said sharply, “and I’m not interested.”
She turned to walk away, and suddenly the stranger grabbed her wrist. Cloud straightened up as he turned his full attention to them.
“C’moon,” the man begged. “Don’t leave without giving me your name. I’m Alan.”
The barmaid shot him a stern look. “Alan. Let go of my arm.”
“Easy, girl. I know you want—”
“Hey,” a loud, authoritative voice interrupted.
The drunkard turned, and his eyes clashed with Cloud’s piercing azures.
“Do what the lady said. Let her go.”
A few tense seconds passed, until Alan released his hold on the barmaid, glaring at Cloud venomously.
He nodded to the girl as she walked by. “You okay?”
“I’m fine,” she said, turning to the liquor cabinet behind her as she massaged her wrist. “He’s just drunk.”
“I must be if I thought you were worth my time,” Alan blurted out. “Skank.”
The barmaid sighed, looking above the cabinet as she shook her head.
Cloud shifted his gaze to the floor, gritting his teeth as he felt his blood boil. “Dick.”
“You say somethin’?” Alan perked up.
Cloud looked back up and caught the larger man’s gaze. The smugness on his face made the merc’s skin crawl.
“…yeah.”
Alan laughed arrogantly and trudged forward. Cloud pushed himself off the bar, undeterred by his bigger stature.
Alan scowled once he stood face to face with Cloud. “You just my made my night.”
The bigger man poked two fingers into the merc’s shoulders. Hard.
“Little man.”
Alan repeated the action. A look of rage began to form on Cloud’s face.
His smirk grew wider, and Alan went for another poke.
And in a flash, Cloud caught the drunk's hand and twisted it.
“Arrgghhh!!” the larger man shrieked
“Fuck off,” Cloud growled.
The merc shoved the menace away, sending him crashing into a stool a few feet away.
Alan hunched over in pain as he clutched his wrist. He then glared at Cloud with blood-shot eyes. “You little shit!”
Spotting the empty beer bottle beside him, Alan grabbed it by the neck and smashed it over the table.
A few patrons from the distance gasped in fear. Cloud merely rolled his eyes.
“Really?” he sighed.
Alan marched forward with his weapon. Seeing that the possibility of de-escalating this situation went down the drain, Cloud readied himself for a fight.
Then suddenly, Alan was snatched by the wrist and forcefully pulled away.
The taller man growled as he crashed into the table. He whipped to the side, and his eyes bulged out of his sockets.
The barmaid glared at him, tightening her grip on him. “You need to stop.”
“Get your hands off me, skank!” Alan growled.
When Cloud saw the much bigger man motion to grab the woman by the face, he went to intervene.
But he quickly found out that he didn’t need to.
With frightening speed, the barmaid blocked Alan’s attack with her free hand, then released her grip on his wrist to deck him across the jaw.
CRUNCH!!!
With one single punch, the large drunkard was knocked off his feet.
All the bystanders watching the scene unfold stood there in shock. Cloud blinked his eyes, watching Alan writhe on the floor in pain like a petulant child. He looked back at the barmaid and saw her casually cracking her knuckles.
“Holy shit,” Cloud muttered.
A few seconds later, the Seventh Heaven bouncer—a man twice as large as Alan—came stomping over. “The hell is goin’ on here!”
He looked down at Alan, then back at Cloud accusingly.
“Alright, ya’ troublemaker. We’re gonna step outside.”
As the larger man grabbed the merc’s arm, the barmaid quickly spoke up. “Barret! It’s okay, he was helping me out. Can you get the other guy out of here, please?”
Barret stared at her for a moment. “Ahh. Right.”
Letting go of Cloud, Barret walked over to Alan, pulled him back onto his feet with one hand and escorted him out of the bar.
“Did you see that? That chick knocked that big dude out with one blow!”
“I ain’t never gonna raise a stink in this bar whenever she's around.”
The barmaid smiled as she overheard the patrons gossiping amongst themselves.
Cloud sat on the stool across from her. “Remind me to never get on your bad side.”
She chuckled. “Well, it’s not the first time I’ve dealt with guys like that.”
Cloud frowned as he watched her grab a set of empty glasses and dump them into the sink. “You shouldn’t have to.”
The server turned back to Cloud and shrugged nonchalantly. “Yeah. But what can you do, right?”
The merc’s face scrunched up with a scowl. “It’s bullshit.”
The girl laughed again. “I agree.”
Cloud watched the barmaid as she swiped a rag across the table. “Can I trouble you for another beer?”
“Of course,” she replied with a pleasant smile.
Grabbing another bottle from the cabinet, the woman placed it on the table. “Thank you for stepping in, by the way.”
Cloud shook his head. “Should be thankin’ you. You took him down clean.”
The barmaid smiled at the compliment. “Still, I appreciate it. Aside from Barret, no one’s ever done that before.”
The merc didn’t think he deserved her praise, but he acknowledged it respectfully. “No problem.”
Cloud exchanged a handful of gil for the bottle. “For you.”
The girl pushed the money back, much to his surprise. “This one’s on me.”
“Oh, no it’s okay. I can pay—"
“It’s on me,” she insisted. “For helping out back there.”
Cloud wanted to argue, but he quickly stopped himself. Judging by how she looked at him, the merc could tell the girl wasn’t taking no for an answer. “Thank you.”
The barmaid perched her hands on the table, eyeing him curiously as he drank his beer. “Got a name?”
Cloud paused for a moment, “Uh, Cloud.”
The server's lips curled up into a little smirk. “Cloud.”
She stuck out her hand. “Tifa.”
The merc accepted the gesture with a little nod. “Thanks for the beer, Tifa.”
“Nice to meet you, Cloud.”
Tifa gave him a wink before tending to another customer. Cloud watched her leave, looking completely bewitched.
“Woah.”
……
From the moment Tifa introduced herself, Cloud couldn’t keep his eyes off her.
Tifa was gorgeous. He couldn’t believe it took him so long to notice. Her long, black hair fell down her back like a waterfall. Her smile was absolutely stunning, and her scarlet-shade eyes were so striking.
She wore a slim, white singlet tucked in snug black jeans and black lace-up combat boots. Her outfit looked simple and functional, but Cloud thought it highlighted her natural beauty.
Cloud observed Tifa as she made the rounds with the customers.
“Hey everyone! Did you all enjoy your food?”
“Your hair looks amazing, Rhea! Where’d did you get it done?”
“Emilio, hi! Is your back still troubling you? I know a doctor that can help you out!”
“The Northern Snow Fields? I’ve always wanted to go there! Huh? You’ve actually been? No way! Tell me all about it!”
The sparkle in her voice, the curiosity in her eyes, the sincerity in her smile, and the playfulness in her body language—it all felt so real. It didn’t feel like she was putting on an act strictly for business. She genuinely wanted to ensure that everybody was having a good time.
Tifa was legitimately kind, thoughtful, and compassionate, and that’s where her beauty shined through.
The merc couldn't deny it, even if he wanted to. He was very attracted to the barmaid of Seventh Heaven.
Cloud laughed at himself as he took another swig of his drink—a feeble attempt to cool down the building heat in his cheeks.
He hadn’t felt this way about a girl for a long time. Not since…
Her eyes met his. Magnificent amber eyes.
The first time he gazed upon them, he turned away, his shyness instantly taking hold.
But as time passed, the nerves dissipated, replaced by warmth and love.
He brushed his fingers across her cheek, and he was blessed with a fantastic smile.
Enclosing her hand softly over his, she closed her eyes and covered his palm with sweet, tender kisses.
Cloud was pulled back to reality when a waving hand met his vision.
“You back with us?”
The merc looked up, quickly realising that Tifa was across from him.
“Huh?” he replied confusingly.
Tifa giggled. “You were staring at the table like it was the most fascinating thing you’ve ever seen. Not that it’s a bad thing, though. It’s very nice furniture. Maple wood, in fact.”
Cloud shook his head with a light chuckle. “Nah. Was just thinkin’.”
“Yeah? What were you thinkin’ about?”
“…uhh…”
Picking up on the hesitance in his voice, Tifa waved an apologetic hand. “Sorry. I get too curious for my own good sometimes.”
“It’s okay,” Cloud assured, “it’s just…personal.”
A look of understanding formed on Tifa’s face. “I get it.”
The merc gave her a thankful nod as he took another drink.
“Y’know,” Tifa started, “I feel bad for interrupting you. How about I whip you up the house special!”
“Oh, you don’t have to. It’s fine,” Cloud replied.
“Are you sure? It’s a crowd pleaser!”
“I’m good, thanks.”
“You won’t regret it! I won’t even charge you!”
“…alright, fine.”
With a delightful laugh, Tifa gathered everything she needed and started mixing up the concoction, putting on a show for the merc by adding pizzazz and flair in her every step.
Cloud smirked as she threw the shaker into the air, twirled on her feet, and caught it effortlessly with one hand. “Nice moves.”
“Thanks!” Tifa exclaimed as she rattled the shaker.
Tifa poured the contents into a clean glass and presented her handiwork. “The house special: The Cosmo Canyon.”
Cloud examined the drink. The liquid was opaque, coating the glass with its rich shade of crimson.
It matched the colour of her eyes.
Acting on a sudden burst of courage—fuelled by the handful of beers he consumed—, Cloud gave a toast to the barmaid.
“Beautiful.”
Tifa’s reaction was instant. She turned away, chuckling bashfully as she tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear.
Cloud smirked at the obvious blush growing on her cheeks. He took a sip of the concoction, and let it roll around his tongue.
“Mm. Tastes good.”
Tifa spun back around, and the merc noticed that the look on her face had shifted. Cloud wondered if something was wrong, but his concerns vanished quickly when she leaned closer.
“I’ll bet,” she said, her voice low and breathy.
Cloud tensed up. Her rosy eyes were more intense up close. He looked down and his jaw almost dropped at the sight of Tifa nibbling her bottom lip.
Tifa straightened up, smiling at the dopey look on Cloud’s face. “Enjoy.”
She winked at him a second time before walking away. He sat there, still as a statue, his mouth agape like an idiot.
Cloud downed a large mouthful of liquor. He forgot how strong it was, and the poor merc spluttered helplessly.
……
Ever since their flirtatious exchange, Tifa paid a little more attention to Cloud.
Attention that was…more than friendly.
Whenever she poured drinks, Tifa would look at him with a teasing smirk.
Whenever Tifa passed his line of sight, she winked at him.
Whenever she would leave the bar to serve the customers on the floor, the barmaid would go out of her way to walk right pass him, and he could practically feel her arm brush against him back.
Whenever she checked up on him, Tifa greeted him with a breathtaking smile.
Every little thing she did made Cloud’s heart race, and given that he was a sleepless wreck a few hours ago, Cloud embraced every bit of exhilaration he felt.
As midnight drew closer, Seventh Heaven began to settle down. The band started packing up their instruments once they wrapped up their set, and the staff were making the rounds, cleaning up the now-empty tables.
Tifa strolled over to a group of customers to inform them that they were close up. In the midst of it, the barmaid turned to Cloud—knowing that he had been looking at her the whole time—and gave him a little wink.
The merc whipped back around in his chair. His face heated up as the grip on his umpteenth bottle of beer tightened. He wiped the sweat of his brow with the back of his hand before downing another mouthful of beer.
Eventually, Tifa returned to the bar. “Heya. just letting you know we’re closing up shop.”
Cloud blinked at her. “Oh. right,”
The merc started chugging down his beer. Tifa laughed as she reached for his arm.
“Whoa-ho, slow down, you. We’re not in a rush.”
Cloud covered his mouth as he coughed and forced down the last bits of beer. “Too late.”
Tifa chuckled, shaking her head at the merc as he wiped his mouth with the sleeve of his jacket.
“So,” the barmaid started as she folded her arms across the table, “I have to ask. What’s a guy like you doing in a place like this?”
Cloud looked at her curiously. “A guy like me?”
“Y’know. Quiet. Chivalrous. Cute.”
The merc’s eyes widened at the last bit. He ducked his head, laughing bashfully.
“Emphasis on the cute part.”
He laughed again, feeling his cheeks heat up as he scratched the nape of his hair. “I, uh, rented a room at the inn downtown. Couldn’t sleep, so I went out for a walk. Heard the band playing music from outside. It sounded good, so here I am.”
The barmaid quirked an eyebrow. “Renting a room. You don’t live around here?”
Cloud shook his head. “Just a merc passing through.”
“Ahh, a merc, huh? Where you’re heading off to, then?”
He shrugged his shoulders. “Next place I’ll be passing through.”
“I see. Kind of like the drifter the band was singing about. Wandering from place to place, picking up and taking off whenever you like.”
He shrugged again. “Guess so.”
“You have the whole “mystery man” gimmick down pat,” Tifa joked, earning a quiet chuckle from the merc. “Or maybe it’s the “knight in shining armour” ploy! You come in, save the damsel in distress and sweep her off her feet!”
Cloud smirked amusingly. “Well, that was the plan, but as it turned out, the damsel didn’t need saving.”
Tifa ducked her head, covering her mouth as she giggled. She looked back up and stared right into Cloud’s eyes. “And what about the “sweeping off the feet” part?”
The merc was at a loss for words. “…uhh…”
The barmaid smiled. “You really are cute.”
Another nervous laugh left Cloud's mouth as he rubbed the back of his neck. “Thanks,” he replied with a quiet voice.
Chewing on her bottom lip, Tifa leaned in closer. “Question. You leavin’ tomorrow?”
In his periphery, Cloud noticed the way her chest was pushed up higher. He resisted the urge to let his eyes stray towards the tempting sight. “Uhh, most likely.”
Tifa looked down at the table and began drawing circles on it with her finger. “I was wondering…before you head off to another grand adventure…maybe you’d like another drink?”
Cloud shook his head with a short laugh. “I don’t know. Had enough alcohol for—"
“—With me?”
Tifa looked back up with a coy expression, and Cloud felt a light flutter in the pit of his stomach.
He stared at the barmaid for what felt like a solid minute, looking completely dumbfounded, and Tifa stood there, waiting patiently.
“…yeah,” Cloud finally answered. “I’d like that.”
……
Once they entered her house, Tifa told Cloud to make himself comfortable as she headed for the kitchen.
Cloud looked around the living area and noticed a four-tiered glass shelf against the wall. He took a closer look and noticed that each shelf was decorated with medals, trophies, and photo frames of Tifa posing in victory inside a chain-linked cage. One of the photos showed her hoisting a championship belt over her head, her face covered in bumps and bruises.
The merc whistled. “Nice belt.”
Cloud heard Tifa laugh from the kitchen. “I fought in the cage five years ago, before I landed a job at Seventh Heaven. Secured the top spot in the regional league.”
Tifa joined Cloud in the living room and offered him a glass of gin.
“Thank you,” he said, taking the glass off her.
She raised her own glass. “Cheers.”
“Cheers,” He replied, clinking her drink with his.
Tifa took a generous sip. “And, uh, somewhere along the way, I ended up dating one of the guys I trained with. Turned out to be the worst decision I ever made.”
Cloud’s expression softened. “I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay. I’m over it. You wanna sit down?”
He nodded and followed Tifa to the living room couch.
“Ugh,” Tifa groaned, frowning at the floor. “How many times have I told him to clean up?”
Cloud followed Tifa’s gaze and noticed a pile of action figures lying around the carpet. He sat gently on the couch, his eyebrow quirking with interest as he watched Tifa kneel beside the coffee table to clean up the mess.
“Anyways”, Tifa started as she placed the toys in the nearby basket, “A few months after the breakup, I retired. I love the training, but I hate fighting. The thought of hurting people…it doesn’t feel right.”
Cloud mulled over Tifa’s words. “You regret what you did to that guy in the bar?”
“A little,” she answered, running her fingers over one of the figures. “I knew I had to defend myself. I just wished I didn’t have to.”
“Sometimes you have to do what feels right in the moment,” Cloud said encouragingly.
Tifa dumped the last toy in the basket. She leaned on the coffee table and looked at Cloud in agreement. “Yeah.”
Cloud’s eyes strayed to the basket of toys. “You, uh…you have a kid?”
Tifa’s lips curled up with joy. “Yeah, Denzel. He’s eight. Loves football. Gets on my nerves sometimes, but he’s the best thing that’s ever happened to me. One time he—"
The barmaid stopped herself midway, shaking her head with a scoff. “I’m sorry.”
Cloud raised an eyebrow. “For what?”
Tifa looked up at him. “You’re not bothered?”
“Why would I be?”
“…too much personal life for a travelling man, maybe?”
"...Not to me.”
For a moment, Tifa gazed at him silently. She then smiled before taking a sip of her drink. “Anyway, he spends the night at my mum’s house when I work at the bar.”
“What about his father?” Cloud asked.
“Not in the picture,” Tifa answered firmly, “which…honestly is the best option.”
The merc hummed in thought as he sipped his drink.
Tifa shuffled closer to Cloud. “So what about you?”
“Me?” He replied.
“Yeah, you,” she said with a giggle.
Cloud shrugged his shoulders. “Not much to talk about.”
“C’mon. Give me something, mystery man.”
He scoffed with amusement. “Well, I’m a merc. I go to one place, take a job, and when I’m done, I move on to the next.”
“Hmm. No one waiting for you back home?”
Cloud felt something clench at the back of his throat. He looked away momentarily, answering her question a few seconds later. “Wouldn’t be here if there was.”
A round of silence passed over the room. It didn’t last long, but to Cloud it felt like an eternity.
“Y,know,” Tifa started, “if any other guy said that, I would’ve chalked it up as some cheesy pick-up line. But…I believe you.”
She scooted closer. “There’s something about you...”
Cloud locked eyes with her, immediately entranced by the glint in her ruby eyes.
The sound of her laughter broke his trance. He looked up and saw the barmaid covering her mouth. He cleared his throat and took another drink to soothe it.
“You okay, merc?” Tifa said cheekily.
Cloud laughed shyly. “Not really good at this stuff.”
The barmaid smiled. “Oh, I doubt that.”
He looked at her again, and his skin heated up at the way she was looking at him.
He felt a tension in the air. It was strong. Palpable. Cloud it rising the longer he gazed into the barmaid’s eyes. It was like an insatiable pull, goading him to throw caution to the wind and just go for it.
…fuck it.
Cloud leaned forward, closing his eyes as he moved in for a kiss.
And Tifa happily met him halfway.
It was an innocent kiss—just lips pressing softly—but the feeling was intense. Cloud felt electricity shoot through his entire body.
Their mouths locked and unlocked in an intimate dance, and it was setting his mind on fire. After what felt like minutes, they broke the kiss and locked eyes again. Their lips were barely touching, and Cloud felt a pleasant swirling in the pit of his stomach.
His heavy breathing must have stirred something in Tifa, because she suddenly pounced. She pushed Cloud onto the sofa, mounted him and pressed her lips roughly into his, grabbing his cheeks to pull him close.
Cloud—momentarily shocked by Tifa’s boldness—closed his eyes as he sighed into the kiss. His hands found purchase on the swell of her hips, gripping them tightly as his lips interlocked with hers. Her Tifa’s tongue swiped his lips, begging for entry. Cloud granted her access, angling his face to deepen the kiss.
Tifa moaned as their tongues fought in a heated battle, and Cloud savoured every bit of the noise. He trapped her bottom lip with his teeth and pulled, drawing out a delicious gasp from the barmaid.
She kissed him hard, digging her hands into his hair and dragging her nails across his scalp. A deep moan erupted from Cloud, and he felt Tifa’s lips curled into a smile. He let go of her hips and slid his hands up along her back.
They eventually separated once their breaths gave out, keeping their lips bare centimetres apart as they gasped for air. Tifa reached down and caressed the corners of Cloud’s mouth with her thumb.
“Wanna do this?” she asked breathlessly
Cloud nodded his head instantly. “Yeah.”
……
As soon as Cloud shut the bedroom door, Tifa was already on him.
She grabbed the lapels of his jacket and started pulling it off. Cloud shimmied his arms to let the jacket slide down. Tifa dropped it on the floor and immediately grabbed Cloud’s shoulders.
“God,” Tifa muttered against his lips, “You work out?”
“A little,” Cloud replied casually.
“Shut up,” Tifa sniggered.
Cloud’s hands gripped the barmaid’s jumper and took it off with her help. Cloud threw the piece of clothing to the side and trailed his hands up and down her arms.
“You have bigger muscles than me,” he complimented, earning a giggle from Tifa.
Cloud wrapped his arms around the small of her back and pulled her close. A cross between a gasp and moan left the girl’s mouth when their bodies collided. Tifa dug her hands into Cloud’s hair, massaging through his thick, blond locks.
“So soft.”
She dragged her nails across his scalp again, drawing out a deep moan from the merc.
“You like that?”
Before he could reply, Tifa gripped a handful of Cloud’s hair and tugged on it firmly. He growled into her mouth, the painfully sweet sensation driving him wild.
Cloud ripped away from Tifa’s lips and attacked her neck with his mouth and tongue. Tifa sighed into the air as she clasped the back of his neck. Once Cloud reached the bottom, he trailed back up with a long, languid lick. He buried his face in the crook of the barmaid’s neck, groaning at the way she keened into his ear.
The barmaid pulled the merc back up for another kiss. Cloud responded eagerly, pushing her back until her legs knocked into her bed. Tifa fell back onto the soft mattress, and Cloud followed suit, keeping his lips connected to hers. Tifa caressed his cheek with her thumb, and the merc smoothed his hand down her side.
Once he found her hips, Cloud began fiddling with the hem of Tifa’s shirt. Getting the hint, the barmaid broke the kiss and sat up, raising her arms to help Cloud remove the fabric.
Cloud threw the shirt to the side, and his jaw practically dropped.
A black lace bra hugged tightly against Tifa’s breasts, providing a fantastic view of her cleavage. His eyes trailed further down, taking in her curvaceous waist and toned stomach.
Cloud ran his hands up the barmaid’s abs, revelling in the silky, hard muscles. His fingers traced every bit of her flesh. His hands smoothed over her ribs and back down her curves.
Tifa moaned softly at the merc’s ministrations, biting her bottom lip hard. “Your hands are so warm,”
Cloud smiled as he repeated his actions, taking in every mew and sigh emitting from the girl’s mouth. Driven by pleasure, Tifa pressed her hands onto her breasts and began palming them softly.
The merc almost choked at Tifa’s actions. He buried his face in between Tifa’s breasts and planted a heavy kiss on her cleavage.
Tifa sighed gloriously as she dug her hands back into Cloud’s messy hair. The merc peppered every bit of exposed skin on her chest, drawing out more intoxicating noises.
The barmaid propped herself up on her elbows. “Take it off.”
Cloud obeyed her command, planting light kisses on her collarbone as he unhooked her bra. He threw it to the floor as Tifa fell back onto the bed. The merc turned back around, and practically drooled at the sight of the girl’s voluptuous breasts.
“Like what ya’ see?” Tifa asked suggestively. She laughed when Cloud nodded dumbfoundedly, completely lost for words. She took his Cloud’s wrists and guided them towards her bare chest.
The merc exhaled deeply when his hands made contact. “Oh, wow.”
“Thank you,” Tifa replied with a giggle.
Cloud massaged her breasts, marvelling at how smooth and soft they were. Tifa’s grip tightened on his wrist, her eyes closing shut as she moaned. Cloud tweaked the girl’s buds with his thumb and forefinger, earning a stuttering whimper from Tifa as she arched her back off her bed. Feeling her harden within his fingers, Cloud moved down to her left nipple and sucked hard.
“Ahh!!”
Tifa slammed her hands onto the mattress and pushed her chest further into Cloud’s mouth, crying out in pleasure. The merc kept lavishing her nipple, eventually switching to her right breast to give it the same attention.
After a minute, he released her nipple with a loud pop and sat back up. His hands trailed down Tifa’s stomach and began to fiddle with the buttons and zipper of Tifa’s pants. The girl raised her legs to help Cloud pull her jeans off.
He tossed the pants aside and scanned his eyes over Tifa’s magnificent legs. He smoothed his hands over them, swearing under his breath at the feel of their silky texture. He propped her right leg against his shoulders, peppering her calf with his lips.
Tifa hummed as she relaxed into the bed. An audible squeal left her mouth when Cloud left a wet, open-mouthed kiss on the back of her knee. Cloud grinned and resumed his ministrations, kissing every expanse of her thigh before switching to the other leg.
Cloud was observing Tifa as he worshipped her legs. Her head was turned to the side, biting down her pillow as she whined into it. One hand was caught in her hair, and the other was squeezing her breast.
The merc felt himself grow painfully hard. He had a strong desire to shove his hand down his pants and rut his length against it, but he fought back the urge.
Then suddenly, Tifa wrapped her legs around Cloud’s waist and pulled him towards her. Cloud planted his hands on the mattress to catch himself, and the barmaid swallowed his surprised yelp with a bruising kiss.
Cloud sighed into her mouth, battling her tongue with his. Tifa broke the kiss a minute later and pecked along his left cheek, moving up to run the tip of her tongue over the shell of his ear. He groaned through his teeth, burying his face in the crook of Tifa’s neck. Another grunt left the merc as Tifa bit down and tugged his earlobe.
Then, the girl whispered into Cloud’s ear with a delicate, seductive voice.
“My turn.”
Goosebumps prickled all over Cloud’s skin, and before he knew it, Tifa flipped him over with a swift bump of her hips. Suddenly, Cloud was on his back, gazing up at the gorgeous woman mounting him.
Tifa eyed him dangerously, and the merc felt his heartbeat race with anticipation. She reached down to the hem of his shirt and tugged it twice. Cloud sat up and raised his arms, allowing Tifa to pull it over him.
She threw the shirt aside and pushed Cloud back down onto the bed. Tifa placed her hands on Cloud’s chest, getting ready for her next move, but then she stopped.
Cloud was confused by her sudden pause. He noticed her eyeing a particular spot on his chest. The merc looked down, and his eyes widened with fear.
He realised he had his necklace on, and his gold ring was now on full display. He looked back up and watched Tifa tilt her head, staring at the piece of jewellery with curious eyes.
The merc quickly pulled the necklace around, hiding the ring behind his back, and grabbed Tifa’s cheeks to pull her into his lips.
Tifa, her attention diverting from the ring, sighed into the kiss as she gently pushed Cloud back down. She pulled away from him and dove into his neck, showering it with hungry kisses. Cloud moaned at the feel of Tifa’s wet lips coating his skin, growling into the air as Tifa gently sucked on a patch of skin.
Tifa glided her hands down to Cloud’s chest. Her mouth quickly followed, kissing every bit of his pectorals while her fingers slid down to his stomach and traced every single one of his muscles.
A long, low groan escaped Cloud’s lips. His hands balled into fists as they bunched up handfuls of the blanket underneath him.
Tifa moved down his torso, letting out a breathy laugh when Cloud twitched from a kiss over his navel. She stopped at the trail of hair that disappeared into his jeans and bit down firmly at the taut skin.
“Unghh.”
Tifa grinned at the way he hissed through his teeth. She left a hickey over the bit of skin she marked, earning a throaty moan from the merc.
She began undoing the buttons and zipper of Cloud's jeans. Cloud propped himself on his elbows, entranced by Tifa’s movements. Once she hooked fingers underneath the waistband of his pants and underwear, the barmaid locked eyes with the merc, smirking dangerously as she dragged her hands down, peeling the last bit of garments away from Cloud’s legs. She stood up, threw his clothes to the side and quickly removed her panties.
Cloud swallowed hard. “Fuck.”
Tifa snickered as she let her underwear drop to the floor. She climbed onto the bed and crawled towards Cloud, pecking his lips once she was close.
The girl shimmied back until her hips were hovering over his, and looked deeply into Cloud’s eyes. “You ready?”
Cloud gulped down the lump in his throat. “Yes.”
Laughing at the desperation in his voice, Tifa descended slowly.
Cloud inhaled sharply when they connected. The sensation was incredible. Hot, wet, and tight. It took all of his willpower not to lose control and just thrust.
The barmaid stopped halfway, giving herself time to adjust to Cloud’s length. She then lifted her hips slightly and sank back down hard.
Tifa shouted into the air. Cloud huffed sharply, his hands immediately gripping Tifa’s hips. After a momentary pause, the barmaid repeated the action and quickly found a rhythm that left her and the merc cursing and stuttering in a jumbled mess.
Cloud stared at Tifa in complete awe. Her glorious moans punctuated the air in perfect intervals with his, the view of her rich, crimson eyes piercing through his soul as her breasts bounced up and down crippled his senses with overwhelming pleasure.
Tifa leaned back and planted her arms behind her, gasping at the new angle as she kept rolling her hips. Her screams and cries grew louder, echoing throughout the room, and Cloud felt himself grow excruciatingly harder between her velvet walls. He sat up, wrapped an arm around Tifa’s waist, and used his other arm as a support beam to rock his hips hard against her thrusts.
“Oh, fuck!” Tifa shrieked as she threw her head back. The barmaid pushed herself up and grabbed the back of Cloud’s neck to pull him in for a ravenous kiss. Cloud groaned into her mouth, swallowing her sobbing whimpers as he sucked her on her wet tongue. He then broke the kiss and knocked his forehead onto hers, feeling a building pressure within his lower abdomen.
He didn’t know if he could keep this up any long. The coupling sensations of Tifa’s walls rubbing against him, her hips knocking harshly against his, and her endless cries of pleasure were driving him into a complete frenzy. He was drowning in ecstasy, and he felt like he could explode at any moment.
Cloud sensed that he wasn’t the only one. Tifa’s gyrates were becoming desperate, her walls were tightening up, her breathing grew heavier, and her moans and shouts were rising in volume.
Suddenly, Tifa’s body grew stiff, and she grew alarmingly quiet. Then, her chest heaved, her centre trembled around Cloud’s shaft, and Tifa craned her neck upwards as she screamed into the ceiling with a loud, euphoric moan.
That was enough to send Cloud over. A throaty shout erupted from his mouth as he shuddered inside.
They continued thrusting, riding out their pleasure for a whole minute, slowing to a stop once they were completely spent. The merc fell back onto the bed, and Tifa followed suit, using his chest as a pillow.
As another minute passed, Tifa moved up and aligned her face with Cloud’s. She brought a hand to his face and softly caressed his cheek with her thumb.
With one finger, Cloud tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear and lightly bumped his nose onto hers.
Tifa giggled—a sound so innocent compared to the ones she made moments ago—and closed the distance with a soft kiss.
……
Cloud traced the scar across Tifa’s chest. “Geez. Never noticed it until now.”
“That’s because you were too busy ogling at my tits,” Tifa quipped.
The merc laughed before taking a sip from his glass. “How’d it happen?”
“Cage fight. The girl I was fighting went for a spinning roundhouse kick. Thought I dodged it, but she just managed to clip me. She kept taunting me about it in the next round, claiming she hurt me badly. She stopped running her mouth once I broke her nose, though.”
Cloud whistled. “Screw that girl.”
Tifa chuckled and trailed her eyes down the long scar on the left side of Cloud’s torso, starting right below his armpit and travelling down to his hip.
“Mine’s not as bad as yours, though. That looks gnarly.”
With a feather-like touch, Tifa traced her fingers over the merc’s scar. “One of your merc contracts, I presume?”
Cloud shook his head. “Long before that. Used to be in the military. SOLDIER branch.”
Tifa’s expression sharpened. “You’re a SOLDIER?”
“Ex-SOLDIER,” he clarified, “Left a long time ago.”
The barmaid’s eyes shimmered. “Wow, so what they say is true, then.”
Cloud quirked an eyebrow. “What do you mean?”
“Mako eyes,” Tifa replied, “They said that the eyes of a SOLDIER resemble Mako. There are articles about it all over the web. Never really believed it. Until now.”
Cloud hummed in thought before taking another sip of his drink. “Was in the force for five years. Money was good, but the missions were…dangerous, to say the least.”
“Can only imagine,” Tifa said, watching the former SOLDIER run his nails down his own scar. “So you’re an Ex-SOLDIER, huh? Why did you leave?”
Cloud pursed his lips, feeling his body tense up at the simple question. He moved a hand up towards his necklace – the weight of it heavy all of a sudden – and his fingers started to fiddle with the gold ring attached to it.
“May I?”
Cloud looked up and saw Tifa motioning to his necklace. A little voice in his head pleaded him to say ‘no’.
But he ignored it. He didn’t want to leave her hanging like he did with the question she asked before. The merc took the necklace off and handed it off to Tifa.
“It’s beautiful,” she said, examining the jewellery with intrigue before returning it to Cloud. “Yours?”
Cloud took his ring back and clipped it around his neck. “Yeah. I…”
He paused for a while, contemplating on how to respond.
He never talked about it with anyone. He didn’t want to talk about it. On his travels, he met a few people who tried to pry into his personal life, and he would either leave them with silence, or vague answers.
But…he didn’t want to do that to Tifa.
They only met her a few hours ago, but Cloud felt he could trust her.
He couldn't explain how or why he felt that way. He just knew that within her presence he felt...safe.
“…I had a wife.”
A resounding silence filled the air.
“…Had?”
Cloud felt his throat clog up. His nerves started to kick in, begging him to refrain from speaking, but he fought them back. He swallowed and mustered up all the willpower he had.
“…she’s dead.”
It was the first time he openly acknowledged it. The admission hung in the air, dousing the room with another wave of silence.
Tifa was the first to speak. “…Cloud. I’m so sorry.”
Cloud looked away from her. “It was a long time ago.”
Tifa shuffled closer, the mattress creaking beneath them. “If…if you don’t mind me asking, how did she die?”
Cloud pursed his lips. “…giving birth.”
Tifa’s eyes widened with shock. “God…wait…what about the child?”
He looked away. His fears kicked back into high gear, and he couldn’t fight them back this time. Lacking the strength to speak, Cloud answered with a tentative shake of his head.
The girl released a quiet gasp. It was barely audible, but Cloud’s enhanced hearing picked it up.
Suddenly, a glimpse of that horrific day flashed in his mind.
She looked at him – her expression splayed with pure love and adoration.
He was sure he had the same look. His cheeks were aching from how much he was smiling.
Their baby boy cooed in his arms. He was the happiest man in the world.
Suddenly, she fainted. Her heart rate monitor blared like an ambulance siren. The nurses crowded around her, blocking his vision.
The doctors peeled the baby out of his arms, and they rushed his newborn child to intensive care, along with his wife.
It was the last time he ever saw them.
Tears threatened Cloud’s eyes. He clenched his fists, gritted his teeth and locked his eyes shut, willing himself to keep it together.
Suddenly, he felt a touch. It was soft. Gentle.
Cloud opened his eyes, and Tifa was cradling his fist. He looked up and felt his chest tighten from the way she was looking at him.
“Cloud…are you okay?”
The merc’s heart swelled up. The sincerity behind her voice, the tenderness of her thumb caressing his pale skin, the carefulness of her words, and the purity in her eyes.
It was enough to break down the walls that Cloud held up for so long.
“They…they died two years ago. But sometimes…sometimes it feels like they died yesterday.”
Cloud’s voice nearly cracked. A single tear rolled down his cheek. He wiped it abruptly,--the moisture texture stinging his skin—only for another to take its place, then two, then three.
“Shit,” Cloud said, his voice finally breaking.
Tifa threw her arms around Cloud.. Cloud was shocked for a brief second, but he quickly relaxed into her embrace.
And all at once, everything he repressed—grief, anguish, pain, sadness—broke free.
He wrapped his arms around Tifa and held her tight as he let everything out. His body shook uncontrollably as he cried, endless tears streaking down his face. Tifa sat there, her resolve unwavering as she held Cloud in her arms. She massaged the back of his hair and cooed words of comfort in his ear.
After several minutes, Cloud’s shaking subsided. His breathing—an erratic mess of inhales and exhales—returned to normal, and his tear ducts were completely dried out.
Tifa pulled back slightly, just enough to bring her face to Cloud’s line of sight. She brushed away a stray tear left hanging in the corner of the merc’s eye and gazed at him softly. “Better?”
Cloud sniffed. Physically, he felt like crap. His throat was swollen, his eyes were stinging, and he felt like a complete wreck.
But mentally, he felt different. Lighter.
“A little,” he said earnestly, his voice hoarse from crying.
A comforting smile curled up on Tifa’s lips. “Stay right here. I’ll be back in a second.”
The barmaid left the room, and Cloud remained seated on the bed, wiping the sweat off his upper lip with his forearm. A few minutes later, Tifa returned with a porcelain mug.
“Drink this,” Tifa said as she sat beside Cloud. “It’ll help.”
Cloud took the mug, the warmth of the ceramic spreading to his hand. He took a sip and swallowed, humming in approval as the warm, bitter-sweet liquid soothed his throat.
“It’s good,” he said.
Tifa smiled. “Gooseberries. It’s my favourite blend of tea.”
Cloud drank until the mug was half-full. He placed the cup on the bedside table, and then relaxed into the headrest, letting out a deep breath.
“When the doctors gave me the news, I…I felt sick…and angry. So fucking angry. I ran out of the hospital, and I…I never stopped. I saw a field infested with fiends…and I just charged at them. Had no weapons. Had no materia. Had nothing. And I didn’t care. I…I just wanted it all to end.”
Cloud lowered his gaze to his hands, unsure if he said too much. A gentle squeeze from Tifa’s hand urged him to keep going.
“But…the fiends couldn’t finish the job, so I looked for more monsters, and did the same thing…then again…and again…and again.”
Cloud took another deep breath before resuming. “By the end of the night, I realised I wouldn’t get what I wanted…but I didn’t want to think about them, either. I couldn't. I turned to mercenary work, and never looked back."
Cloud released another heavy exhale, and all of a sudden, his mind was at ease—as if the weight of the world had been lifted off his shoulders.
He couldn’t believe it. He thought that airing out his issues was a waste of time. But as he sat there, feeling more relaxed than he had been in a long time, he wondered if he was wrong.
He caught movement in his peripheries. As he looked up, Tifa shifted closer and made a move he wasn’t expecting: she placed her head on his shoulder and wrapped an arm around his torso.
The little gesture made his stomach flutter. Instinctively, Cloud draped an arm over Tifa’s shoulder and pulled her close.
Tifa snuggled into the merc’s embrace. “All that time. Travelling by yourself. Must’ve felt lonely, huh?”
Cloud brushed his fingers over Tifa’s arm. “Before she died, she’d always say…we’re all lonely, and all life is…is just trying not to be.”
Tifa smiled, letting the words simmer in the air. “Sounds like a smart woman.”
Cloud chuckled. “Yeah, she was.”
For a minute, the duo laid there in comfortable silence.
“…Tifa?”
“Hm?”
“I’m…I’m not feeling lonely right now.”
Tifa raised her head and looked at Cloud with an expression that made his chest swell. She then moved into a different position, lying perpendicular to Cloud with her head resting on his lap. Keeping her eyes on the merc, Tifa grazed his cheek with her knuckles.
“Cloud…you don’t deserve to feel lonely.”
The merc felt his heart race, fuelled by elation over Tifa’s words. With a little smile that formed on the corner of his mouth, Cloud turned his head to plant light kisses all over Tifa’s hand.
He pondered on what else he could do to show his gratitude.
“Tifa. If you ever wanna talk. About anything. I’m listenin’.”
A look of surprise flashed across Tifa’s features. Cloud was worried for a second, but his concerns quickly vanished when she smiled.
“You’re sweet,” Tifa said as she moved to sit on her knees, “but you don’t have to do that. You already have enough on your mind.”
“Doesn’t bother me,” Cloud said assuringly, shaking his head. “Really.”
Tifa tilted her head to her shoulder, her smile growing as she looked at Cloud endearingly.
The barmaid shifted her gaze to the side. “Honestly? I...”
Her shoulders sagging as she sighed. “I don’t know. I’m grateful for what I have now, but sometimes…”
Tifa looked down and watched her fingers as they traced the fabric of her bedsheets. “…when I met my ex, I thought he was the one. And when it didn’t pan out…I lost hope. I felt so alone. But I knew I had to move on. For Denzel. So, eventually, I found the bar and focused on work, and keeping a roof over Denzel’s head. It’s taken my mind off things, but sometimes…sometimes I feel lonely, too.”
Cloud sat there, staring at Tifa with a look of empathy. He reached out to Tifa’s hand and gently squeezed it. “Tifa…you don’t deserve to feel lonely, either.”
Tifa raised her head sharply, gasping lightly as her eyes met Cloud’s. As she stared into his ocean blues, her cheeks turned rosy pink, her scarlet irises shimmered in the dimly lit room, and her lips formed a smile so affectionate that Cloud felt like his heart could burst out of his chest.
The two remained silent as they gazed into each other’s eyes. They were so close—their noses barely touching.
“…Cloud?”
“…yeah?”
“…can you stay the night?”
Cloud answered with a simple nod, and Tifa’s smile grew brighter.
She clicked off the lamp on the bedside table, and snuggled up onto the merc’s side, resting her head on his chest and wrapping an arm around him. Cloud threw his arm over Tifa’s shoulder and gently tugged her close.
Tifa shifted her eyes up to Cloud’s as she slid her hand up to his pec. “Good night, Cloud.”
The merc smiled at the barmaid. “Good night, Tifa.”
Tifa gave Cloud one last smile, before resting her head on his chest. Once she drifted to sleep, Cloud pressed his lips softly on the top of the barmaid’s head without a second thought.
And for the first time in a long time, Cloud fell into a deep sleep.
……
Cloud breathed in the fresh, spring air. He looked to the ocean with a smile as the sunshine warmed his skin.
A lovely voice caught his ear, and he felt a stirring on his shoulder. He turned to his right, and his heart swelled.
Tifa was by his side, smiling at him with glimmering eyes. Her charcoal hair looked immaculate in the sun.
He pressed his lips softly against hers. Tifa giggled as she returned it kindly. She relaxed on his shoulder, sighing happily as she looked out to the glittering sea.
Cloud pulled her close, resting his head atop hers. It was a beautiful day for a picnic at the beach. He didn’t think it could get any better.
Suddenly, he felt a presence draw nearer. He turned to his left, and he tensed up.
It was her, standing across from him. His eyes couldn’t believe it. He thought she was dead.
She stared at him fondly. Her countenance exuded pure happiness.
And Cloud was confused.
Before he could say anything, she waved at him, turned around and started walking away. He called out to her, but she didn’t stop.
The sun began to shine upon her, bathing her in a powerful ray of light. It grew brighter and brighter. Cloud had to shield his eyes.
She kept her pace, her footsteps marking the sand beneath as she moved further away, until she disappeared into the light.
……
Slowly, Cloud opened his eyes. He rubbed the corners of his eyes, wiping the last vestiges of sleep away. He didn’t know how long he was out for, but he didn’t care. He hadn’t slept that well in ages.
Recalling the events of the night before, Cloud turned his head, and his lips curled into a smile.
Tifa was lying beside him. He felt her chest expand and shrink against him, breathing calmly as she slept.
Cloud moved his hand to tuck a loose strand of hair behind her ear. In her sleep, she smiled and snuggled further into him, causing his heart to swell.
His mind pulled him back to the moment when they stared in each other’s eyes, and no words were exchanged. He felt so…warm…comfortable…and safe.
He then remembered his dream—of her standing in the distance, watching him with a beautiful smile as he embraced Tifa.
Cloud sat up, contemplating what all of that meant.
The merc didn’t have much time to think about it. A little yawn pulled him out of his thoughts as Tifa woke up.
Cloud watched her as she blinked her eyes. Warmth pooled within his stomach when Tifa looked up at him with a bright smile.
“Hey,” she said glowingly.
“Hey,” he said warmly.
The barmaid sat up. “Sleep well?”
“I did. You?”
“Yeah.”
Keeping her eyes on the merc, Tifa placed her head on his cheek, stroking his skin softly with her thumb. Cloud shut his eyes slowly, savouring the sweet sensation of her touch, before turning his head and kissing her palm.
Tifa giggled lightly. “You missed a spot.”
“Oh?” Cloud said curiously.
She pulled her hand away slightly and exposed her wrist. “Right here.”
With a low hum, Cloud kissed Tifa right where she wanted him to.
“And here,” Tifa stated, pointing at her forearm. The merc followed and pecked the spot.
“And here,” Tifa repeated, pushing her messy hair away to present her brow. Cloud chuckled and planted another kiss on the soft skin.
“And here,” she said again, gesturing to the tip of her nose. Cloud shook his head with a light scoff and pressed his lips onto it, drawing a delightful giggle from the girl.
“Anywhere else?” Cloud asked playfully.
The barmaid smirked. “Right here.”
Tifa clasped the back of Cloud’s neck and pulled him in for a breathtaking kiss.
Cloud closed his eyes as he sighed into the kiss. He placed a hand on the small of Tifa’s back, angling his face to deepen the kiss.
Suddenly, Tifa mounted Cloud and pushed him back onto the bed, moaning softly as she pressed her body onto his.
Cloud huffed at the wonderful sensation of Tifa’s skin sliding against his. He raked his fingers down her spine, his nails scraping along the skin of her back.
Tifa broke the kiss, knocking her forehead onto Cloud’s and sighing deeply as she arched her back. She gave him another bruising kiss as she ground her centre over his, drawing out guttural noises from the merc.
Cloud slid both of his hands down Tifa’s body until they found purchase on her butt. He relished the smoothness of her ass before palming it firmly, earning a glorious sound from the barmaid.
Her gyrations became more desperate, sending jolts of electricity throughout Cloud’s body. He knew where they were headed next, and he wanted it. Needed it.
Suddenly, Tifa’s bedroom door flew wide open.
“Mom!! I’m hun—”
Cloud seized up at the sound of the young voice.
Tifa pulled her lips away and turned towards the door. Complete, utter terror splayed across her face.
“Denzel?!?!”
Cloud lifted his head up, and his eyes widened like saucers.
A young boy was staring back at him, his own eyes practically bulging out of their sockets.
Thankfully, he and Tifa were covered by the bedsheets, but given their position and the look of dread on the boy’s face, the merc had a hunch the kid knew what they were doing.
Before they could say anything, the boy sprinted out of the room, slamming the door behind him.
Tifa leapt off Cloud, sending her bedsheets flying into the air as she rushed across the room to gather her clothes.
“Shit, shit, shit!” she hissed frantically.
Not having the faintest idea of what to do or say, Cloud sat up slowly and leaned against the bedframe, leaving Tifa to her own devices as she darted across the room.
With her clothes in hand, Tifa made a beeline for her bathroom. As soon as she stepped one foot inside, Tifa froze for a second and then spun back around, shooting Cloud a look that displayed a litany of emotions.
“….One second!” she exclaimed with a raised finger, before disappearing into the bathroom.
Cloud’s eyes shift toward his legs, releasing a breath he didn’t know he was holding for the past few minutes.
“Awkward.”
……
As Cloud trudged into the living room fully clothed, his eyes caught Tifa crouching down, fussing over her son. Her back was facing towards the merc, blocking his vision of the boy.
“I didn’t know you were home, honey.” Tifa said, “How come you didn’t come get me?”
Denzel answered with a low whisper. Cloud’s enhanced hearing picked up every word, and he could feel the unease behind his voice. “Grandma gave me the spare key. She told me not to wake you.”
The young boy leaned over very slightly, catching a quick glimpse of the merc standing across from him. “Mum, who is he? Why is he here?”
Tifa gently brought his hand down. “He is a friend of mine, and he needed a place to stay, so I let him stay the night.”
“But why were you on top of him?”
“Denzel!”
The boy took another quick look at the merc before hiding behind Tifa. Cloud softened at the bashful move, feeling bad for making the boy uncomfortable.
Before he dipped out of sight, Cloud noticed the football jersey that Denzel was wearing, and an idea popped into his head.
“I get it, Denzel,” Cloud spoke up, “it’s your house. I’m just a stranger. For all you know, I could be a Wolves fan, huh?”
Suddenly, Denzel poked his head out, looking at Cloud incredulously. “You are?”
Cloud smirked at the pure disbelief behind the kid’s voice, the nervousness completely gone. He made the iconic Wolves hand sign. “Go Edge Wolves.”
Denzel shut his eyes as he sighed exasperatedly. “They suck, dude.”
“They’re having a bad season,” Cloud defended.
“They always have a bad season,” Denzel quipped.
Cloud laughed at the boy’s timely response, darting his eyes away briefly as he scratched the back of his neck. “Yeah, you’re probably right.”
Denzel ducked his head, hiding the obvious grin on his face. Seeing this, Tifa turned to Cloud, and gave him a thankful smile.
“Denzel,” Tifa started as she spun back to her son, “Grandma was supposed to drop you off at eleven. Did something happen?”
“Marle fell over again,” Denzel answered. “Grandma said she needed to help her out. She didn’t give me breakfast either. Assumed you had some food left.”
An alarmed expression grew on Tifa’s face. “Uhh, right. I’ll just uh…”
Tifa stood up and made her way over to Cloud. “I’m so sorry about this. I wasn’t expecting Denzel to be here so early.”
Cloud shook his head. “No, it’s okay. No need to apologi—”
“Mooom,” Denzel whined. “There’s no Choco-puffs! Or orange juice!”
“I know, honey, “Tifa replied, turning back to the boy, “I was meant to stop by the market this morning. I didn’t know you were gonna drop in so…early…”
The barmaid looked down, nervously fiddling with her hands. As Cloud watched her, another idea sprung into his head.
“Mooom. I’m hung—”
“You know of any good places to eat, Denzel?” Cloud chimed in, “ Somewhere you like, y’know? Maybe the three of us could go. My treat.”
Tifa raise her head sharply, looking at Cloud with surprise. “Oh, no no no. You don’t have to do that.”
“S’not a problem,” Cloud assured, “I kind of hungry too, to be honest.”
“I really appreciate that, Cloud, but you really don’t have to.”
Cloud quirked an eyebrow. “What do you mean? It’s just breakfast.”
“Alexander’s!” Denzel exclaimed, “They have the best pancakes!”
Cloud whistled. “I do like pancakes.”
“Yes!” Denzel shouted gleefully, “Can we go, Mom?”
“I don’t know, I—”
“C’mon, Ma!!”
“Yeah, c’mon Ma,” Cloud repeated teasingly.
Tifa folded her arms as she stared at Cloud, her lips biting back a smile that betrayed the stern expression she was trying to convey. “You sure you don’t want to escape?”
Cloud smirked cheekily “And miss out on pancakes? No way.”
The barmaid moved closer, shaking her head with each step. Tired of keeping up her charade, a big grin formed as she delivered a playful punch to Cloud’s arm.
She swivelled back around and pointed at Denzel. “Go get your jacket.”
The boy punched the air in victory. “Yes!!”
……
Cloud watched Denzel—who wasseated across from him to his left—practically empty the syrup container over his stack of pancakes.
“Oookay now.”
Tifa—who was sitting directly opposite to Cloud—stopped her son from using up all of the sugary condiment. “Some of us want syrup too, y’know.”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah,” Denzel replied as he started cutting up his food.
“You want some pancakes with that syrup?” Cloud joked, earning a laugh from Tifa.
Denzel exhaled a hearty sigh as he wolfed down a comically large mouthful of the sweet pastry. “Sooo good.”
Tifa shook her head, her earnest grin overshadowing the withering look on her face. Cloud chuckled at the boy’s antics as he chewed on a more sensible bite.
“You guys come here often?” he asked Tifa.
“Every now and then,” she answered, “It’s pretty hard to find time for it, with Denzel’s football practice and my weekend shifts.”
“You work at the bar all week?”
“Just the weekends and the occasional Friday. I teach kickboxing every Monday and Wednesday, and piano on Tuesdays and Thursdays.”
Cloud raised an eyebrow. “You play the piano?”
“A little bit,” Tifa answered. “I used to play all the time growing up, but I fell out of it in my teens. I got the itch to play again a few months ago, so I’m slowly picking it back up."
Cloud let out an impressed whistle. “A world champion fighter AND a musician? Never mentioned you were multi-talented.”
Tifa giggled bashfully as she took a sip of her latte. Cloud smirked when he noticed her blushing.
Denzel was watching them both them an inquisitive eye. “How do you two know each other?”
The pair stared at the boy for a few seconds, trying to figure out how to answer such a simple yet layered question.
“Well,” Cloud started, “I met Tifa at the bar, and we…uhh…”
“We became friends,” Tifa chimed in, “good friends.”
Cloud shifted his gaze to the barmaid, noticing her playful expression.
“Yeah,” Cloud said with a little smirk, “Friends.”
Tifa darted her eyes out the window, chewing her bottom lip as she smiled at the way Cloud uttered “friends”. The merc held back a chuckle as he brought his mug of coffee up to his lips.
Denzel snorted. “More like friends with benefits.”
Cloud spluttered as he drank the bitter liquid. He erupted into a series of coughs as he tried to clear his throat.
“Denzel!” Tifa admonished, glaring at her son with a mortified look.
“I’m not a baby, Mom,” Denzel groaned, “I know what sex is.”
“Excuse me?” The barmaid exclaimed, her eyes bulging.
“It’s all over the web,” the boy answered nonchalantly.
“You looked it up?!”
“No! Tyler showed it to me at school one day.”
Tifa leaned over to Denzel and lowered her voice to a whisper. “We’re gonna talk about this later, young man.”
“I didn’t watch the whole thing!” Denzel clarified, “It was actually kinda gross. Went and played football instead.”
Tifa sighed as she leaned back into the booth, looking back at Cloud apologetically. “He’s not always like this, I swear.”
The merc chuckled after gulping down some water to clear his throat. “It’s fine. So you play football, Denzel?”
“Yep,” the boy affirmed through another bite of his pancakes, “quarterback.”
“Don’t talk with your mouth full, honey,” Tifa said with a frown.
“Yeah, yeah, yeah,” Denzel repeated as he chomped his food, earning another withering look from his mother, “Anyway, I’m the best player in the school. I’ve led the team to five straight wins!”
Denzel’s plucky attitude brought a laugh out of Tifa. “Whatever happened to being humble?”
“But it’s the truth!” Denzel exclaimed.
Tifa shook her head lightly, ignoring her son’s annoyance as she fixed a messy spot on his hair.
“He’s not wrong, though,” Tifa said as she looked back at Cloud. “The team has done much better since Denzel took the lead.”
“Wow,” Cloud said, shifting his eyes to Denzel, “Impressive.”
The boy shrugged effortlessly. “It’s no biggie.”
The merc laughed, admiring Denzel’s bravado. “Well, when you get older, do me a favour and lead the Edge Wolves to victory.?”
“Hmm, I don’t know,” Denzel started as he stretched his back. “Might get a sore back from carrying the team.”
The boy’s natural wit brought out another laugh from the merc. Tifa watched her son with a proud smile as she shook her head.
Denzel took down some orange juice before looking back at Cloud. “So, do you have kids?”
Cloud’s eyes widened, alarmed by the unexpected question.
“Denzel!” Tifa reprimanded.
“What?” Denzel asked, genuinely confused. “I’m just asking.”
“It’s a touchy subject for—”
“No, it’s okay,” Cloud assured. “I…yeah. I have a son.”
“Huh,” Denzel said, “where is he?”
In his periphery, Cloud noticed the hint of concern on Tifa’s face. “I…I don’t get to see him as much as I’d like.”
“How come?”
Cloud paused for a moment. “It’s…complicated.”
Denzel said nothing for a while, staring at Cloud for what felt like an uncomfortable amount of time. He felt his nerves building, fearing that the boy might pry further. Thankfully, Denzel shrugged his shoulders and went back to his food.
“That sucks,” Denzel stated, “you seem pretty cool.”
Cloud’s eyes lit up, surprised by the boy’s compliment. “I appreciate that.”
Denzel gave him a thumbs-up, keeping his eyes glued on his pancakes.
As Cloud watched him, his mind briefly wandered.
What if things were different? What if they never died, and I was sitting in this diner with them? Talking with them. Laughing with them. Enjoying life with them…
Tears threatened his eyes again. He balled his hand into a fist, fighting them back as he felt his heart wrench.
Suddenly, a soft, tender touch pulled him back from his thoughts. Cloud looked up and saw Tifa looking back at him with a warm smile, smoothing the pad of her thumb over his shaking fist.
In an instant, all of his impending grief vanished. Cloud returned the smile as he uncurled his hand, gently wrapping it around Tifa’s.
……
Tifa handed Denzel a key. “You go on ahead. I’m gonna talk with Cloud for a bit.”
With an affirmative nod, Denzel swiped the key from his mother’s hand and made a beeline to his house.
He stopped mid-way, and swivelled back around. “Are you guys gonna make out again?”
Cloud ran a hand over his face as his cheeks flushed with embarrassment. Tifa shot her son a dangerous look.
“Denzel…”
“Okay, I’m going!”
Once he rushed inside, Tifa turned back around and ambled over to Cloud, stopping when she was just a foot away from him.
Her house was not too far from Kalm, a ten-minute trip if you hitch a Chocobo ride. The barmaid’s home—small and modest—was built on a cliffside, overlooking a shoreline that gave a fantastic view of the ocean.
It was a beautiful spring day—a bright, radiant sun blessed the wondrous blue sky and enveloped Gaia in a nurturing warmth accompanied by a pleasant breeze—but even that couldn’t calm Cloud's nervous jitters as he stood across from Tifa.
“…so—”
The duo paused mid-sentence. They laughed shortly after when they realised they spoke at the same time.
“You first,” Cloud said.
Tifa smiled as she tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear. “Guess that’s one way to meet my son, huh?”
The merc smirked bashfully as he rubbed the back of his neck. “No kidding. He handled it pretty well, though.”
“Too well,” Tifa mused, “he knows a bit too much for his age.”
The merc chuckled. “He’d rather play football. I think you’re safe.”
“For now, maybe,” Tifa replied jokingly.
He laughed again. “Maybe…”
Tifa looked down to the grass beneath them, twiddling her thumbs. “So…you got another job lined up?”
The barmaid turned away slightly, clasping her hands behind her back as she kept her eyes trained on the ground.
As Cloud watched her, he thought about the time he spent with her: their meeting at Seventh Heaven, the night they shared together, and breakfast with her and Denzel.
The moment he woke up in bed with her, something sparked in his mind—a peculiar thought that has been nagging his brain ever since.
…do I really want to leave?
Suddenly, the necklace around his neck grew unbearably heavy. Memories of the past began to fester, and fear swirled in his mind, ripping that thought to shreds.
“…there’s a big contract in Junon,” Cloud replied. “Up for a limited time, though. If I don’t leave now, I’ll miss it."
Tifa shifted her gaze, and for a brief moment, she looked at him with an expression that Cloud couldn’t interpret. “Hm. Better not keep you waiting then, huh?”
Cloud was almost certain that he heard disappointment in her tone. He didn’t make any mention of it, unsure if his mind was playing tricks on him.
“Tifa…if I’m ever back this way…”
The barmaid smiled. “You know where to find me.”
The merc smiled back. “Yeah. I do.”
They kept their eyes glued to one another as a wave of silence passed over them.
Tifa shrugged. “Okay.”
Cloud nodded. “Yeah.”
The twosome went in for a hug. It felt odd for a moment, but the awkwardness faded away. Cloud pulled her closer, wrapping his arms tenderly around the small of her back. Tifa rested her head on his shoulder, sliding a hand up to the back of his neck and drawing light circles on his nape.
After a minute, they eventually pulled apart. Cloud savoured every bit of Tifa’s warmth and touch until she was out of reach.
“Okay,” Cloud said as he took a few of steps back. “Cya.”
Tifa waved her hand. “Bye.”
Cloud waved back and turned to walk away.
“The band’s playing tonight.”
The merc spun back around, and his eyes caught the suggestive look on Tifa’s face.
“Just sayin’,” she said with a light shrug. “You take care out there, okay?”
“You too,” Cloud replied with a nod.
The barmaid waved another goodbye before turning back to her house. Cloud remained still, watching her every step. As she stepped inside, Tifa spun back around, and a warm smile grew on her lips when she caught the merc staring back. She waved at him again before closing the door behind her.
Cloud stared at the door, committing the visual of Tifa waving goodbye to memory.
“The Edge Wolves suck!”
The loud, boisterous voice shook Cloud out of his thoughts. He looked out and saw Denzel poking his head out of the front window.
The merc shook his head with laughter. “We’re gonna win this season. Just you wait.”
“In your dreams!” Denzel yelled back.
To Cloud’s surprise, Tifa suddenly appeared at the window. “Denzel! Go and clean your room. It’s a mess!”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah,” the young boy sighed.
Once Denzel was out of sight, Tifa shifted her gaze to Cloud, giving him one last smile and wave before shutting the window.
Cloud spun back around and set a course for Junon. The bickering between Tifa and Denzel played on a loop in his mind—another fond memory he could look back on.
…should I have stayed?
……
“Hey.”
Cloud blinked his eyes. He couldn’t believe it. It was her.
“…hey.”
She flashed him a smile that sent his heart soaring. “You know where we are?”
Cloud looked around, taking in the tropical scenery. “Yeah. I proposed to you here.”
She stuck out her hand. “Follow me.”
Cloud took her hand, and she guided him through the rainforest.
“Where are we going?” he asked, his eyes catching the enormous evergreen tree they passed by.
“You’ll see,” she replied glowingly.
They reached the forest's edge, and Cloud’s eyes widened in awe as he looked out to the vast, open sea. The rich, blueness was bathed in a heavenly glow from the radiant sun.
“It’s beautiful, isn’t it?” she mused.
“…yeah.”
She turned to him, and laughed at his childlike expression.
“Gimme your necklace.”
Cloud looked at her, and she was pointing at the chain around his neck. He covered it with his hand, protecting it like a shield. “Why?”
She cocked her head with a pout. “You don’t trust me?”
Cloud frowned. “What? Yeah. Course’ I do.”
Giggling at his reaction, she thanked Cloud once he gave her the necklace. She observed the ring, marvelling at its golden shine.
Then, without warning, she turned and threw it out to the ocean.
“What?!”
Cloud rushed to the edge of the surface. He kneeled down and scanned the water, hoping to find the jewellery. After a while, he gave up on his efforts, frustrated that the ring was long gone.
Rising to his feet, he stared at her in disbelief. “Why did you do that?”
“Cloud…”
She took a step closer, and placed the palm of her hand on Cloud’s cheek. He froze for a moment, his breath hitching at her light touch.
She wrapped her arms around Cloud, pulling him in for a tender hug. She rose up on her tiptoes, and whispered into his ear.
“You don’t deserve to feel lonely.”
……
Shifting on the bench, Cloud examined the gold ring on his palm.
He cast his gaze out to the horizon before him. The orange hue of the sun stretched far and wide over the Grassland region, coating it with an auburn glow. On his right stood the swampland marshes. A few kilometres away from where he was sitting. Cloud figured he’d still have time to accept the contract if he started trekking through the swamps now.
But the merc didn’t move. The vision he had. It weighed him down like an anchor. It compelled him to stop. It compelled him to think.
About her. And Tifa.
Tifa…
The thought of her brought a smile to his face. She gave him warmth. Comfort. Joy. For the first time in years, he didn’t feel lonely.
“You don’t deserve to feel lonely.”
The words from his vision. Echoed by her. She said it with so much conviction. So much love.
But she didn’t say it first. Tifa did.
He contemplated his vision and the dream from last night. Certain moments stuck out to him—her looking at him with a smile as he embraced Tifa, and her taking his ring and throwing it away.
These dreams…they’re not random. They mean something.
Cloud brought the ring to his eyes, the golden circle dangling on the ends of the necklace. It represented so much to him.
Love. Grief. Purpose. Pain.
A reason to live. A reason to run away.
Run away…
…
…
Clutching his ring, Cloud stood up and marched forward until he reached the edge of the mainland. A gentle breeze wafted through his thick, blond locks as he stared at the open sea.
All this time, I thought running away was the answer…
Opening up his hand, Cloud gazed upon his ring. As he studied it, he realised what he had to do.
He will always cherish her. Her smile. Her laugh. Her love.
But…she’s gone now, and Cloud had to accept it. He will never forget her, but we will not let her death imprison him.
I will not run away from it. Not anymore.
“I love you. Always.”
Extending his arm out over the water, Cloud parted his fingers and watched the ring as it slipped out of his hands.
His eyes trained on the ring as it sunk deeper into the ocean. When it disappeared from sight, he released a long, heavy breath.
And as the sun warmed his skin, Cloud suddenly felt…free.
……
As he ran back to Kalm, Cloud noticed two oncoming figures a few metres ahead: a young woman guiding a bright yellow Chocobo by the lead of its saddle as it dragged along a wooden carriage. The merc jumped sideways onto the grassy terrain, keeping his pace as he gave them room to pass.
“Thank you!” the woman said brightly with a wave.
“KWEH!” the Chocobo bellowed at the merc, using its wing to mimic the woman’s gesture.
Cloud waved back curtly as they strode by. A few seconds later, he stopped when his eyes caught something. He turned around and noticed that the carriage was housing a large arrangement of flowers.
He hurried towards the girl leading the Chocobo. “Excuse me, miss?”
She spun around, greeting Cloud with a toothy smile. “Hi!”
Cloud motioned to the carriage. “Those flowers. Are they for sale?”
“Course’ they are!” she responded jovially.
The girl lightly pulled on the Chocobo’s lead to make it stop. She skipped over to the back of the carriage, and Cloud trailed behind.
“So!” The girl exclaimed with her fists on her hips. “Which one of my lovely flowers do you fancy?”
Cloud darted his eyes over the arrangement. “Uhh, I don’t really know. It’s for a girl.”
The young lady frowned at Cloud. She leaned forward slightly, glaring at Cloud with a withering face. The merc was startled for a second, taken aback by her piercing, emerald eyes.
“I’m gonna need more info than that, mister,” she said.
Cloud looked away, blushing slightly as he rubbed the back of his neck. “I…I care about her. She…she means a lot to me.”
The merc flinched at the loud squeal the lady made. Her face lit up exuberantly as she clasped her hands joyfully. “I know exactly what you mean! I can see it in your very eyes.”
She looked out onto the grassy terrain and exhaled a deep, wondrous sigh. “Ahhh, I love love.”
The woman kept staring out into the distance with a lovestruck expression. After what felt like an awkward minute, Cloud cleared his throat audibly. “Ma’am?”
The cheerful girl blinked her eyes profusely. “Oh! Sorry! Got lost in thought. I do that sometimes! Anyways, have no fear, mister! I know exactly what kind of flower you need!”
……
“Hold it right there!” Barret commanded, thrusting his hand out to the blonde-haired figure rushing towards him. “Seventh Heaven’s closed! Come back tomorrow!”
Cloud’s eyes widened as he skidded to a halt. “What? It’s not even midnight. The bar should still be open.”
“Yeah, well, not tonight, pal!” The bouncer exclaimed. “Boss closed up shop early as a favour for Tifa. Wanted to spend some time with Denzel without any drunken fools prowlin’ around.”
“Wasn’t the band meant to play again tonight,” Cloud questioned.
“They already wrapped up, kid!” Barret explained.
The merc exhaled a tired sigh. “Look, I’m a friend of Tifa’s, okay? You can let me in.”
Cloud made a move for the door. Barrett sprung to action, placing his bulky hand on the merc’s shoulder.
“Ohh no, you don’t!” he bellowed as she shoved Cloud back. “You’re not gettin’ pass me! I know your type! You’re not the first man to bring Tifa flowers!”
Cloud hid the bouquet of flowers behind his back, his cheeks flashing a hint of red. “Look, you saw me last night. I didn’t cause any trouble. I just want to see her.”
“Yeah, I saw ya’, but I’m not lettin’ you in!” My gut’s tellin’ not to trust you, kid.”
“I told you, I’m a friend of Tifa’s,” Cloud explained, his tone now slightly irritated, “she knows who I am. Go ask her yourself.”
“Don’t tell me what to do!” Barret shouted. “You’re staying right here!” I don’t like your attitude!”
“And I don’t like yours,” Cloud bit back.
“Wha…What did you say?!”
“Did I stutter?”
“You’ve got some nerve talkin’ to me like that, punk!”
“I don’t care what you think! Just let me in!”
“You’re not setting one foot inside, you little shi—”
Suddenly, the door leading into Seventh Heaven flew wide open. “Barret! What’s going o—”
Tifa stopped mid-sentence. She gasped when her eyes met the merc’s.
“….Cloud.”
“…hey.”
Cloud revealed the bouquet of flowers— bright, yellow lilies. “For you.”
Tifa’s face lit up with awe. She accepted the arrangement with a dazzling smile. “They’re so beautiful.”
The barmaid shifted her gaze to the merc standing before her. “Thank you.”
Cloud looked away, laughing bashfully as he rubbed the back of his neck. “You’re welcome.”
On the sidelines, Barret darted his back and forth from Tifa to Cloud, his expression growing comically stunned. “You’re kiddin’ me, Tifa! This guy?!”
“Yeah,” Tifa replied quickly, keeping her eyes on the merc. “This guy.”
Cloud felt his heart expand three sizes as his cheeks turned beet red.
Barret threw his hands into the air. “Oh, for the love of….”
The large bouncer pointed a stern finger at the merc. “If you hurt her, I’m gonna make you pay!”
Cloud challenged him with a piercing glare. Before he could reply with a snide remark, Tifa slid in between them.
“Okay, okay. That’s enough. Barrett, Cloud’s with me. You can let him in. Okay?”
Barrett sighed exasperatedly. “Fine.”
The bouncer stepped away from the twosome, mumbling under his breath.
Tifa took Cloud’s hand with a bright smile. “Come on in.”
Giving her a little smile, Cloud followed Tifa, shooting Barrett a quick glare before stepping inside Seventh Heaven.
“Barrett can be a bit…much,” Tifa explained as she closed the door, “But once you get to know him, he’s a really nice guy!”
“If you say so,” Cloud grunted with a slight grimace.
Tifa giggled and playfully tapped his shoulder. “Come on.”
The barmaid led Cloud through the large, empty space of the bar. “Denzel’s favourite team is playing tonight. Our home TV is not that great. Seventh Heaven’s, though? It’s fantastic!”
Tifa turned around once they reached the bar. “I sweet-talked the boss into letting me use the place privately for the night. You don’t mind if we watch the game?”
Cloud shook his head. “Not at all.”
“Amazing!” Tifa exclaimed, “I’ll be back in a sec’. Gotta find a place for these flowers.”
The barmaid smiled at him before heading out behind the bar.
“Mom, the game’s about to star—”
Cloud spun around, the young voice grabbing his attention, and his eyes met Denzel’s. The eight-year-old wore the same baggy jersey from this morning, his arms clutching a large bowl of popcorn.
“Oh. Sup’,” Denzel greeted.
The young boy walked over to the merc and offered him a fist-bump. Cloud accepted the gesture with a relaxed smirk. “Hey, Denzel.”
“Didn’t know you were comin’. You stayin’ for the game?”
“Sure am.”
“Nice!” The Kalm Dragons are playin’ tonight. A team that actually wins, y’know?”
“Pfft. We’ll see about that.”
Denzel smirked boisterously as he rushed back to the TV. Cloud turned back to the bar, and saw Tifa approaching him.
She stopped once she was an inch away from him, clasping her hands behind her back. “Sooo. What made you change your mind?”
Cloud smirked at the girl’s teasing expression. “Wanted to see the band play again.”
“Oh did you, now?” Tifa said amusingly. “So the flowers were for them, huh?”
The merc shrugged. “What can I say? The singer took my breath away.”
Tifa laughed out loud, giving the merc’s arm a playful punch. She took one step closer and stared deeply into his eyes, taking his hands into hers.
“I’m glad you’re here.”
Cloud smiled. “Me too.”
Tifa bit her bottom lip. She moved in for a kiss, and Cloud was happy to oblige.
“Mooom!! “The game’s about to start!”
They stopped right before their lips touched, laughing quietly at Denzel’s inconvenient timing. Taking one of his hands, Tifa led Cloud to the lounging section of Seventh Heaven.
It was a quaint little area. Three leather couches took up most of the space, each positioned to form a ‘U’ shape. A small coffee table was situated between the sofas. The twosome sat on the topmost couch, giving them a perfect view of the large, flat-screen TV mounted on the wall. Denzel stood on the opposite side, craning his neck upwards as he watched the game unfold.
“Come sit on the sofa, honey,” Tifa called out to Denzel.
“Nah, I’m good,” Denzel blurted out as he stuffed his mouth with popcorn, causing Tifa to roll her eyes at him.
As the merc got nice and cozy on the sofa, he felt the girl’s foot nudge against his and playfully nudged her right back.
Smiling at him, Tifa grazed her fingers over his. Taking the hint, Cloud interlocked his hand with hers, smoothing the pad of his thumb over her soft skin.
Gazing into her beautiful, crimson eyes, Cloud moved in and pecked the tip of her nose, earning a giggle from the barmaid.
“My lips are down here, ya’ know.”
Cloud snorted, and then softly pressed his lips onto hers. Tifa sighed into the kiss as she clasped her hand on the back of his neck. Cloud tilted his head to deepen the kiss, wrapping his hand around the swell of Tifa’s hip. With a delightful moan, Tifa swiped her tongue across his lips, and buried her hand in the thick locks of his hair.
“Really?!”
The duo separated and blushed profusely when they noticed Denzel catching them in the act. Tifa giggled bashfully as she hid her face in the crook of Cloud’s neck. The merc just shrugged at the young boy. “Sorry.”
Denzel sighed annoyingly, shaking his head as he turned back to the TV.
As the night went on, Cloud and Tifa made sure they were on their best behaviour. She rested her cheek atop Cloud’s shoulder, and he gently leaned his cheek over her head, draping an arm around her shoulders.
As Cloud sat there, he knew he made the right choice.
He didn’t know what the future held for him, and he didn’t care.
All he knew was that he was ready to move on.
All he knew was that he wasn’t going to run away.
And he for damn sure knew that being with Tifa was exactly where he wanted to be.