Chapter Text
Beneath pure white clouds, she rested her head on the back of the boat's well-cushioned chair and allowed that quiet breath out through her mouth. Her fingers dipped into the water's surface, watching as ripples like circles spread out long past her sight. Ocean breeze in her hair let each strand flow freely, sunglasses at an odd angle when she looked up to see figures on the second floor.
The bottom was reserved for women. Top, for men. She could see the guys getting up to some sort of business, and for a second could have sworn one of them almost threw himself off the edge entirely. She covered mouth, trying not to laugh. And eventually found herself taking an afternoon cat nap on that lounger, with water soothing her fingertips as she flicked ring finger to make splashes.
Is this what a vacation is supposed to be?
She'd never had one before. Starting out of the gates running had to be the best way to describe Tifa Lockhart, from the moment she got a scholarship to Midgar University, all the possibilities seemed endless compared to her small village life. Nibelheim would always be her home, and in quiet times she would stare out the window of her apartment and wish she could smell the reminiscent cardamom and wheat grown in the Fall. But there was an excitement that came with all those people in the hallways, in meeting new friends as she setup her dorm. Studied. Figured out what meals were a no go in the food hall, and what was her favorites on the days where a particularly rough class deemed it necessary for a sweet treat. Her family had told her this would be the best years of her life, where she would find herself in ways even she couldn't properly explain, and perhaps they were right. At least, finding herself on a boat to an island was something she couldn't quite put into words when she first relayed the new Summer plans to her father.
'You sure about this sweetheart?' He asked, clearly disappointed by the sentiment of her return being prolonged by proclivities of many single kids running wild and being filmed. She could still recall how much she twirled her hair in her fingers as she tried to explain that it was something her friends pushed.
And man.
Did they push it HARD.
Upon telling them that her mom wasn't feeling too well and that she would be heading home to Nibelheim earlier than the summer vacation, her friend Jessie nearly used her whole body to block the way. "No." She adamantly declared, high ponytail bobbing back in forth as she shook her head.
"But. Jessie…" Tifa tilted her head, confused. "It's my mom."
"It's ALWAYS your mom. Or your dad." Jessie pursed her lips.
Aerith sat on Tifa's bed next to her, bumping her shoulder and chimed in. "Or your cousin. Or the mayor of your town. Or somebody needing help at the general store… Who I think is also your cousin?"
"They say it takes a village!" Tifa replied meekly.
"That's supposed to be about raising a BABY, Teef! Not the BABY raising the REST OF THE VILLAGE!" Jessie yelled, raising her hands up dramatically before turning her back to them. "Aerith, talk to her."
Small ringlets framed the young woman's face, brilliant emerald eyes shining as she scooted closer to Tifa, something she only did when she was trying to get her way. "Tifa, is it something really bad with your mom?"
They all noted how the Nibelheim native turned her cheek so as not to look at them in the eye. "Well. No. Just a flare up from the usual cancer. Bones aching while she's trying to get adjusted to the transplant."
"It just. Feels like you've never actually relaxed during the summer. Or. during the fall.
Or winter or spring—"
"I get it." Tifa sighed. "But—"
"You don't date." Jessie interjected again, apparently running back with Yuffie linking arms. Apparently, she got reinforcements. "You don't go to the parties around here, unless it's as the bartender! What kind of life is it if you don't have fun while you're young!"
"Yeah, be young with us Tifa!" Yuffie sang, clearly without any information on what was going on.
Tifa crossed her arms. "Do you even know what's going on, great and wise freshman Kisaragi? They're planning on kidnapping us to some remote island to play silly dating games with guys and record the whole thing. Plus, you can't drink. So, I don't think you can come?"
Yuffie stuck her tongue out. "Boo, why do you guys want the fun police there?"
Tifa chuckled. "Hm… Maybe they just want to make sure the drinks are good.
Guess I gotta make sure you don't get alcohol poisoning, huh?"
It took more than a single conversation, but multiple attempts at cornering her before she caved. Even warmed up to the idea, once the boat set sail and she could see palm trees on the horizon through her sunglasses. She had waved at the rare sighting of a dolphin leaping up in vast ocean surface. And it made her smile, thinking it must be a good sign. So she waved at the producers as they greeted the girls and boys getting off at the dock. And was the first one to ask for a tour of the area before they got settled in with their luggage.
Her hand tenderly brushed along the bushes, hibiscus petals soft with the touch of dew from morning. A sweet mixture of flowers and sea salt overrode her senses, and she closed eyes to take it all in. An island, far away from campus or Nibelheim home, for the summer. The sash tied in a knot at her hip brushed along her knees from each step, as she kept up with the others during their brief tour of the property. Pure white bikini, sweat about her neck where the halter sat. A star adorning her hair in large clip, tying up dark strands. The man in front waved his arm about, showcasing certain spots within the foliage.
'Over in these spots, background cameras will be tracking where you go around the island, and recording your every move. No worries; nothing in the bathrooms! And bedrooms stop recording past 10 pm, but no trying to play after dark if you know what I mean!' It went quiet when he awkwardly laughed to himself, and Tifa squeezed her hands together tightly, letting them rest just above where her bikini bottoms laid.
Was this really a good idea?
Midgar Love.
A new show being posted on Chocobo Streaming services. All the gameshows were doing a variant of some sort of the original Love Island brand, but this one had a particular flare to it.
They'd only be using people from Midgar to match in love, and at the end viewers got to decide who matched well enough to stay on. Not the players. Or did the other shows do that too? She wasn't sure. Tifa didn't spend much time watching TV when she was younger, and the same applied after leaving home for school. She lagged behind the rest of the group, yet somehow caught the attention of one of her friends.
"Getting nervous, Teef?" Jessie called out, before slowing down to match her pace. A hand reached out and patted her back, the way an old friend aught to after years of being together. Tifa nodded her head sheepishly, turning cheek so as not to seem as unsure as she so obviously was.
"Hey." Jessie lowered her voice to a whisper. "I suggested this because I think it'd be really great for us to spend time together! And maybe even find LOVE." She emphasized the last part before laughing and walking off. The tour showed just how much effort was being put into this project, from how the villa they'd be staying at had pristine bedsheets to the luxurious pools and water fountains at every turn. A large space for the beach on the side had lounging chairs, as well as an exuberant amount of beach towels, umbrellas, and toys. But none of it compared to the open space in the middle of the island, made to be a setup for whatever games they planned on having in the future. Tifa didn't know what to make of it. A volleyball net, some giant beach balls, jump ropes… She couldn't figure out what any of it would be for team games. Maybe that was the point. The gentleman in a blue suit turned around and smiled at the girls before motioning for them to go inside a building, where a large background of the beach was on a green screen she could see through computer screens they passed by. When they got to the studio area itself though, it was all green. And she tilted her head, brow furrowed in confusion. If there was a beach nearby, why would they go through the effort of all this?
Maybe it was an audio thing. She'd have to ask Yuffie at some point, she was the one doing broadcast classes after all. Too bad she couldn't come.
As the girls were going in, it seemed they were playing second fiddle as far as interviews were concerned, because a group of guys were walking past the cameras and chatting amongst themselves. One of them winked at Jessie, while the others were rubbing elbows and mentioning checking out the pool before they got to their villas. Tifa thought about saying hello to them, but the host as well as camera crew was trying their best to rush the guys out. Introductions needed to be on camera, apparently.
But.
There was one that she knew. A tenderness in her smile grew as their eyes met, brow raised in a subtle way as if to say "Hey there." when they passed.
Cloud.
Straggling behind as he tends to do. Hand in his pocket, the other fiddling with his hair. Yet he seemed to stop when he realized who was there. The freckles on his nose almost matched the sunburn across his cheeks, and it made her worry that he forgot his sunscreen before boarding the boat to come here. She parted lips as if to ask.
And he kept walking.
Right. She thought to herself. Their agreement. Her shoulders grew stiff, and she tugged at the knot by her halter bikini once more, trying to come off as normal as possible. But it was hard…
Because, despite it being a good idea?
It still stung.
***
At the end of the semester, people had a few choices going into their break that tended to have some sticking around the dorms or at least the city. There was just so much to be done in Midgar, it was often a wonder to the natives why anyone would leave at all when it was simply a matter of getting a job somewhere and heading to the beach on weekends past borders. So each time when friends would approach him at the library or in class, eager to convince him otherwise, he still shook his head and went on his way. Reading. Studying, or just checking stuff out on his phone. Most of his stuff had already been sent back to Nibelheim and any day now picked up by his mom. All that was left was his clothes and basic toiletries.
Everybody could tell, though. From the way his step had a rhtyhm to it or how he looked at things with wider eyes rather than the narrow discernment of someone not really concerned with whatever the topic of conversation was at that time. He was whistling to himself in his room while packing up shirts and zipping up his luggage. Summer was his favorite season, though not for the same reasons as everyone else. Cloud could watch his hallmates run around and tossing basketballs in every semester, and he would have been fine doing that in every season. But the Summer? That was just for him.
And Tifa.
Yes, he was a college boy, who waited all year despite the fact they went to the same school, to sit and watch her as she rang up customers at the general store or 'bump' into her while exploring the river branching out north of the mansion. Like they were still six years old and throwing rocks in the water, trying to get them to skip. Sure, the gym at university was a great hang out spot for them to get a workout in and talk. And yes, he also tried to get general classes together with the same professors as she did.
But it's just not the same as how intimate their tiny village life was, with no one else around save for like three other boys he could easily get rid of. Yes, the Summer was his favorite season, all because Tifa was there, almost all to himself.
He adjusted his bike helmet in his lap, wiping the visor for clearer vision, before his friend Zack ran past in the hallway…
Only to then back up and knock on his door.
"Uh. Cloud?"
"Busy here, man."
"Bet… Bet you are. But. Have you been checking those posters all over school lately?"
Cloud pursed his lips, unsure where this conversation was going. It was normal for Zack to stop by only for a brief chat, before switching the subject five times until he was ready to drag Cloud wherever he wanted. The blond was wondering if it was one of those 'Let's go grab something to eat!' tactics or more of a 'so our group project is due next week and I noticed you haven't started' type of chats.
Which is weird, because the semester was basically DONE.
"Where's this going, Zack." Cloud placed his helmet on his lap before crossing arms, full attention on the large man by his door.
"Right. That Midgar Love stuff has been posted around, asking for volunteers right? And. Well, I checked the sight because I signed up too as a fun summer get away. It'd. Be REALLY fun with ya there man."
Cloud rolled his eyes. "Not for me."
"Yeah. You mentioned that. It's just.
Well.
It looks like Tifa signed up and got in along with—"
"What." Cloud had piercing blue eyes, and had been complimented many times by his mother for it. The second Zack figured that out, he used to say it the same exact way as his mom that 'Your beautiful baby blues' were 'dazzling' him.
In this case, though? They could've drilled a hole right through Zack's face.
He backed up a bit. "Don't shoot the messenger, man."
"Where? Where does it say that. Tifa would never not go home and see her folks." Pulling out his phone, Cloud immediately got his fingers to work, looking up the name of the show and how the signups worked. "She. She always works at the convenience store. And helps out with the farm… She'd never…"
She did.
And suddenly, without notice.
Cloud hated Summer.
When he swallowed, it was hard. The silence deafening. He could feel how hot the sweat was permeating from forehead, sliding down to his temple and cheek. Like his grip on reality would sever at any given notice if he thought about this any harder.
Zack wasn't given him much chance to, it seemed. "Hey. Hey, look this isn't as bad as you think." They had grown to be best friends ever since freshman year. Junior year meant they had to spend more time apart because they were trying to decide about their futures now more than ever. But they still found time to eat together, to chat, to go on runs late at night when the world was far more quiet than the hustle and bustle of daytime life. A bond in silence helped clear their minds, so in a way it was funny to Zack to feel a tension in this silence now. The bigger hit was coming, after all.
He scratched the back of his head, nervous laugh hitting a little too loud to be considered normal. "Well. See, the thing is…"
"I gotta go talk to her—"
"Cloud."
"Someone had to put her up to this—"
"CLOUD."
"What!"
"I signed you up too. And you got in."
Wait.
What?