Happy Valentines Day Cloud and Tifa
So this is not what I usually post but it’s Valentines Day (or Singles Awareness if you’re like me)! So this is my OTP of all time Cloud and Tifa. Actually came to me a couple of nights ago at like eleven thirty when I was curled up in bed and a rolled around for half an hour trying to sleep before I broke down and just wrote it down. Here it is:
“You folks have a good night.” Tifa waved, locking the doors of seventh heaven behind the last customers.
Cloud stared at the drink she’d brought him while she wiped down the final table and counters. He was seated on a couch at the side of the room, tucked out of the way. He turned the bottle around and around with his fingers.
It was several minutes but Tifa finally came over to him.  “Sorry that took so long. You said you wanted to talk?” She sat next to him brushing her bangs out of her face.
Cloud was silent for a long while but Tifa knew he’d heard her, so she patiently sat. “Do you ever feel like the world is going to end?” He finally spoke.
Tifa laughed. “Yeah, about every few years.” It was simultaneously joking and serious.
Cloud chuckled at her response and his own, now seemingly foolish, question. “I guess it does kinda feel that way.”
“Why? What's this about, Cloud?” Tifa knew he was postponing his real intentions.  He wouldn't look at her and that scared her.
“You would think I'd have gotten used to it by now.”  He gazed at the far wall.  “With all the life and death places we’ve been but...” His head dropped and he scoffed himself.
Tifa waited a lump in her throat.
“Even after all these years, I still get scared.” Cloud’s hand gripping the material on his knees, his teeth clenching.
Tifa comforted him with a hand over his fist.“...Cloud.”
Cloud inhaled a calming breath, gathering himself. “I just… I can't do it anymore. I don't want to regret anything.” He finally looked at Tifa, his blue eyes piercing hers and her warm brown melting his.  He slipped his free hand up her neck and carefully pulled her in.  Their lips met and slowly the unprepared Tifa relaxed.  For an instant the world was perfect and the serenity that washed over her filled her eyes.
As the tears rolled down her cheeks they ran over Cloud’s hand causing him to withdraw. “I'm sorry.  That wasn't fair.” He abashedly looked away.
Tifa tried wiping the tears but they wouldn't stop flowing.
“I haven't been there for you like I should have. Like you’ve always been for me. I'm sorry.” Not sure what to do with his hands he clasped them tightly. “Don't cry, Tifa.” He begged.
She shook her head.  “I'm so happy.”
“What?” Cloud dared a glance.
Tifa continued trying to clear her face.  “All those times... so many times…” She disbelievingly waved her head at the memories, “When you left Nibelhiem, when I found you at the station, when you weren't yourself, when you fell into the lifestream, and then you left again because of the stigma.  I thought it was impossible.” Â
“I'm so sorry.” The blonde man dropped his head in shame at the pain he’d caused.  Tifa gave up on her eyes, staring at the man she loved. “It was all worth it.”
“Huh? You're not upset?” He asked, befuddled.
Tifa laughed again.  “You can be really slow, Cloud, but you're worth the wait.  The promise we made all those years ago wasn't because I wanted to be rescued. it was because I wanted you, Cloud.  You were… You are the only one who could have done it.  The only one who can make me happy.”  She chortled.  “You made me wait a long time, you know.”
Cloud smiled. “I'm really sorry.”
Tifa leaned in, resting her head on his shoulder and laying a hand on his chest. He felt her shake her head. “Don't be sorry, Cloud.  Just be you. The same scared, brave boy I’ve always known.”
Cloud blushed, grasping her hand in his.  “Thank you, Tifa.  I can face the end of the world a thousand times if you're by my side.  You're my strength.”
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