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winterune · 4 years

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A Gift from the Heart

A Final Fantasy VII Fanfiction

Part 2 of @finalheaven‘s CloTi Confessions 2020: White Day

Word count: 2207

Rating: T

Summary: There is a common unspoken rule among men: you should return the gift you received on Valentine's Day three times its value on White Day. Now, White Day is tomorrow, and Cloud still has yet to decide what he wants to give Tifa.

A/N: not sure how this turned out. Been fighting against a slump so...yeah ^^; This is probably weird

Also available on AO3.

~*~*~*~*~

White Day was tomorrow, and Cloud had no idea what he should give Tifa. Chocolate was probably the safest thing. White chocolate was advertised everywhere—from TVs to radio shows. That was the only thing he had been seeing these past several weeks. But, wouldn’t that be too ordinary? Too common of a gift? Everyone would probably give a white chocolate to their girlfriends.

Barret had laughed when he heard Cloud had not bought anything for Tifa, said something about how Tifa would be so sad if she didn’t get anything in return. Cloud was having lunch alone in a cafe when Barret had sauntered in and took the seat across from him without his consent. “You’re not helping,” Cloud had muttered, because yes, he knew how sad Tifa would be and he needed to up his game if he wanted to be able to get her something on time.

“Just buy a chocolate somewhere, I’m sure that’ll be enough.” Enough was the keyword, as Cloud wanted it more than enough. If he had settled for enough, he would have already bought one of those fancy chocolates he had eyed in a couple stores that he knew Tifa would like. But it didn’t feel personal enough. “Or, well, I heard fancy guys buy them jewelries.”

That caught his attention. He looked up at the dark, burly man. “Jewelries?”

Barret nodded, through a mouthful of burger. “Jewelries,” Barret repeated. “Rings? Necklaces? Bracelets? All those girly stuffs.”

Jewelries. He hadn’t thought of that before. It would be nice to get her matching rings or something. But he probably couldn’t have custom-made rings ready by the end of the day. Dammit. He should have thought of this sooner.

“Or,” Barret went on. Cloud glanced at him and found him grinning.

“What?”

Barret leaned over the table and motioned for Cloud to do the same. Furrowing his eyebrow, Cloud did as he was told. However , he hadn’t expected Barret to say something so…obscene.

“You could buy her some lingerie,” Barret murmured.

Cloud didn’t know how he looked. Feeling his face heating up, he had pushed away from the table so sudden that his chair scrapped against the floor. Whatever word he had had in mind as a retort or a counter was immediately gone and replaced by a blank page, leaving him speechless. Barret, on the hand, was laughing so hard and hitting his leg that they were drawing other people’s attentions to them. The stares didn’t help Cloud’s embarrassment at all.

“Oh, man, the look on your face!” Barret said between laughter.

Realizing it had only been a joke, Cloud’s mortification slowly transformed into irritation and he scowled. “That’s not funny,” he said.

“But your face is.”

“I meant the joke.”

Barret looked at him, wiping tears away from his eyes, as he, finally, managed to control himself. “What joke?”

“That,”—lingerie—”joke.” How the hell could he buy her that?

Barret tilted his head to the side, genuinely confused, before his eyes lit up with understanding, and he started grinning again. “That’s not a joke.”

“What do you mean that’s not a joke?”

“Oh, God, you really have no clue about this, do you?” Barret said, taking another bite off his burger. “Sure, the meanings aren’t set in stone, but—” he looked at Cloud, who cocked an eyebrow and demanded an explanation, and sighed, though he was still smirking when he said, “I feel sorry for Tifa.”

Cloud gritted his teeth. If Barret wasn’t going to give him any useful advice, then he could just look for it somewhere else. He had finished his lunch and left the table with an irritated huff.

***

He had asked Zack once what his friend was going to give Aerith for White Day. They had been going out for several years now and Cloud had hoped Zack could give him some sort of light on the matter. Sure, this wasn’t the first time he would give Tifa a White Day gift, but it would be their first time as a couple, and Cloud wanted to do it right.

“How do you measure a homemade chocolate?” he had asked his friend once, on their way out of a meat shop after having gone in to finish a delivery job.

“What do you mean?” Zack had asked.

“You know, that rule. The three-times-the-value rule?” It was a common unspoken rule among men that they should give back three times the value of what they had received. Cloud had never really cared much for it before because there hadn’t been much meaning behind the chocolates that he had received. He would just give Tifa some sweets that she liked and that would be that. But it was different now. He had received his first ever honmei chocolate. How the hell should he return the favor? Not to mention it was homemade, delicious, intricately designed, with a cute little message on the side too.

When Cloud told Zack about all of this, Zack only nodded understandingly. “You could always buy her some of those fancy chocolates,” he had said. “Or flowers. I give Aerith flowers sometimes. Or, what about making her something?”

“As in cook her something?”

“Yeah, you’re a decent cook—at least, more decent than me, I think," Zack said. "What better way to return a homemade chocolate than a homemade cooking of yourself?"

Cloud shook his head. He would rather buy those chocolates than have Tifa eat his disastrous cooking on White Day.

“Well, what about—” Zack cast his eyes around him, but before he could spot anything, a figure had jumped into their line of sight: Yuffie, still in her school uniform, her grey scarf billowing around her. Cloud and Zack jumped in surprise.

“Hey, guys!” she greeted them in that flashy fashion of hers.

“God, Yuffie, you’re going to give me a heart attack!” Zack said with a hand to his chest, but Yuffie just grinned it away.

“Where did you come from anyway?” Cloud asked.

“School?” Cloud and Zack frowned. That was not what he’d meant. “Hey, it’s not my fault you two were too engrossed in your own little gossiping to notice—” She caught herself, then whipped her head at the two boys, grinning mischievously. “Were you talking about White Day?”

“No,” Zack immediately said.

“You are!” Yuffie exclaimed. She looked at Cloud. “Do you know what you’re going to get Tifa yet?”

“Yuffie—”

But she took Cloud’s silence as answer enough, and immediately said, “Did you know that marshmallows are so in, right now?”

“Marshmallows?” Cloud asked.

Yuffie nodded enthusiastically, her grin growing wider. “Yes! They have these little chocolates covered in these white marshmallows and they look so cute! I’m sure Tifa would—”

Zack smacked her at the back of her head, cutting her words off. “Don’t give him any weird ideas, all right?” he said, frowning. “And I haven’t paid you back for the wasabi prank you pulled last time.”

“Ah, yes, did you like my present?” Yuffie asked, grinning up at him, as though he hadn’t just reprimanded her. “You’d better give me a White Day present too.”

“Oh, just you wait, I’m going to give you ten-fold for what you gave me.”

Yuffie gave a feral grin. “Bring it on, my friend.”

Cloud looked at one person to the other. Zack had said something about Yuffie messing with Aerith’s chocolates that he had ended up eating some wasabi chocolates on Valentine’s Day. Cloud hadn’t been able to stop himself from laughing when he heard it. But, knowing that they had been making the chocolates together, Cloud could only be grateful that those wasabi ones hadn’t gotten into Tifa’s batch. He didn’t have any score to settle with Yuffie right now, so he decided to leave the two be and went on White-Day-gift hunting by himself.

***

For all his reluctance to buy chocolates, Cloud ended up buying one from one of the stores that he knew Tifa liked—because he was running out of time and he didn’t know what he should do. A heart-shaped box filled with various white chocolates. This should be enough, he told himself, even though part of him felt he should buy something else. Maybe some candies, or cookies—jewelries. That was what Barret had told him. But he had spent a lot of money on this chocolate alone that he wasn’t sure he had much to spare for an additional jewelry.

Cloud desperately looked for ideas when his eyes fell on a game center building across the street. He didn’t know what had gotten over him when his feet decided to take him there. It had been so long since he last entered one of these and Cloud had almost forgotten how crowded they could get. It was filled with mostly children to high schoolers playing shooting games or racing games or dancing games. His eyes searched for the specific machine that he was looking for and finally found it somewhere near the back.

Crane games.

He remembered playing a lot of these back when he was a kid, and he was quite decent at them—though probably not extremely good either. Sometimes, not knowing what to give Tifa for her birthday, Cloud would spend hours here trying to get that one stuffed animal or another for her. He remembered getting her a white stuffed carbuncle from one of these machines in middle school. He wondered if Tifa still remembered that.

The machines now had a ‘WHITE DAY SPECIAL’ banner on them and he could see various stuffed animals or chocolates or even some cute jewelries in there. He even spotted a white chocobo. She had given him a chocobo chocolate, so it would be great if he could get her a chocobo-themed gift too. Would it be okay to get her one of these? It’s not fancy nor expensive but at least he would put some effort to get it, instead of just picking one and paying for it at the cashier.

And maybe, Tifa would appreciate the nostalgic gesture.

Staring at the chocolate in his hand, Cloud fished in his pocket for some change and decided to give the game a try.

***

He waited for her at the park, at a favorite spot of theirs, beneath a tree overlooking a lake. In the spring, the tree would hold a plethora of sakura, and they would often have a picnic here with Zack and Aerith to watch the flowers blooming. Now, however, there were only a foliage of green leaves waiting for spring to arrive.

Cloud held the presents in his hands—the box of white chocolates and the white stuffed chocobo wrapped in white paper and red ribbon. He had won it after several tries, and when he was taking it out of the machine, it had come to him as a surprise to find a silver chain bracelet hanging around its neck with a silver chocobo charm attached to it. And it had looked so authentic—not one of those plastic imitations you could find in cheap stores.

Cloud had tried taking it off and worn it around his own wrist. If he hadn’t known any better, he would have thought the bracelet had been from some jewelry store, not won it in a seventy-gil crane game. When he imagined the bracelet around Tifa’s hand, he couldn’t stop himself from smiling.

“Cloud!”

Cloud looked up to suddenly find Tifa’s face directly in front of him. “Whoa!” he exclaimed, almost jumping in surprise and dropping her presents to the ground. “T—Tifa, how—wh—when did you get here?” he stammered, trying hard to get a firmer grip on the gifts

Tifa giggled. “Just now,” she said. “You seemed to be too focused on something, so I wanted to surprise you.” She smiled up at him. “Are those for me?”

Those… He looked down at his hands and forgot that his presents for her were out in the open. “Ah!” He fumbled to hide them away, but there was no use. She had seen them.

“Uh, yeah—” Gods! He wasn’t ready for this. He looked at her—at her grey overcoat and maroon scarf around her neck; at the way her dark hair was tucked behind her ears, revealing a hint of a blush on her cheeks—and, like always, the sight of her took his breath away. Maybe it would be all right. What mattered was the heart behind it, not the value of the present. He steeled himself and straightened his back. Taking a deep breath, he held out the presents and said, “Happy White Day, Tifa.”

Tifa looked at them and she smiled. As she took them into her hands, she stood on her tiptoes and brushed her lips against his cheek. “Thank you, Cloud.”

And there it was, her bright smile—a smile that made her eyes crinkle in delight and drove away any sort of anxiety, doubt, or hesitation Cloud had felt about his present. She’ll love it, he thought to himself. I’m sure of it. With that in mind, Cloud finally felt the tension leaving his body and his face finally relaxed into a smile.

~ END ~

#cloticonfessions2020 #cloti #final fantasy #final fantasy vii #fanfiction #my fanfiction #my story #ff fanfic #ff7 fanfic

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cloti-fics · 4 years

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After Dinner Treat | Drabble | Author: Denebola Leo

Summary: Cloud thinks too much about Tifa's actions in the bar. A little green monster decides to poke out.

Angst/Romance — Rating: G

Pairings: Cloud Strife & Tifa Lockhart

Fandom: Post Advent Children Complete

Read on AO3 Completed work!

#cloti #cloud x tifa #cloticonfessions2020 #cloud strife #tifa lockhart #angst #romance #drabble #oneshot #completed fic #rating: g #title: after dinner treat #author: denebola leo #advent children complete

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queenkarmi · 4 years

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Feb 14: City

She held a small, heart-shaped red box tightly to her chest protectively, afraid something would happen to it in the busy street.

It wasn’t until she turned down an alley that she began to relax a little. At least she knew it wouldn’t get crushed now against the throng of passersby. She gently unfolded her hands and lifted the lid, peeking inside.

All the little morsels were still safe.

Good.

Her heart started to thump a little louder as she stared at them, remembering what they were for.

Oh gods, am I… am I really going to do this?

She closed her eyes, taking deep breaths. It would be okay. What’s the worst that could happen?

“These are for you.”

“Oh… I don’t… feel that way about you.”

Her heart sank. She felt like she was going to vomit.

“Tifa.”

She yelped, tucking her hands behind her back as she turned around. He was standing there suddenly, a warm smile creasing his beautiful, endless blue eyes. His blonde spikes fell in a halo around his face.

Thump thump thump thump.

Too fast, it was beating too fast. He’d hear it surely.

He took a step toward her, his smile faltering.

“What’s wrong?”

Tifa gulped, shaking her head. She met his gaze, the corners of her lips turning up despite herself. She was so nervous, so afraid, but seeing him made her so happy…

“Nothing! Nothing at all.”

His grin returned to its full brightness. She noticed one pearly white fang sticking out of the corner of his mouth as he took her hand.

“I want you to see something,” he exclaimed, leading her into the abandoned building he lived in.

They climbed the stairs together. He ascended them several at a time, and she felt like she was floating. She knew the space was too tight for him to soar the way he could.

“Cloud! Why are you so excited?”

He glanced back at her. “You’ll see.”

Once on the roof, he walked with her for a few feet toward the edge. The sun had set by now. Lights shimmered throughout the city, mostly pink and white for the holiday.

Her chocolates.

She bit her lip as she remembered them, stealing a peek before he faced her again.

“Do you trust me?” he asked as he got close to her, brushing her bangs out of her face.

His breath stirred against her nose, misting in the cold. She gave him a slight nod.

“Wh—”

Two beautiful, feathered white wings fanned out behind him. She gasped. They stole her breath just like they had the first time she saw them.

“Cloud! What if someone sees you?”

He wrapped his arms around her waist tightly. “They won’t. Now hold onto me. Don’t let go, okay?”

Her eyes widened as she realized what was about to happen. Before she had time to protest, his wings coiled, then flapped heavily against the ground.

When she looked out, she could see the entire city out before her. They soared above even the tallest skyscrapers, and she watched the lights shine off of the bay in the distance.

A scream died in her throat, fear replaced by awe.

“Don’t look down,” he whispered in her ear.

She fought the urge, trying to find something else to focus on. Her eyes found his face.

Tifa knew he wasn’t an angel. No, he was some other creature, something he didn’t even really have a name for. He even thought of himself as an abomination most of the time.

But as she gazed up at him, his eyes sparkling in the light, his lips curved serenely, she wondered how he could ever think that about himself.

He looked down at her, catching her off guard. Something boomed a few hundred yards away. She clutched his shirt and turned her head in time to see the first of the Valentine’s Day fireworks going off.

“Wow…” was all she could say.

“Beautiful, right?”

His voice was little more than a soft murmur. When she turned back to him, he planted a chaste kiss on her forehead.

“Cl-cloud?”

“Thank you, Tifa.”

Her eyes got even wider. “For what?”

“For being my light out of the darkness.” He glanced down and chuckled. "And for those."

She blinked, then looked into her hands.

"Oh! Oh..."

He kissed her forehead again. "We'll share them back on the roof."

Her heart soared as she continued to watch the fireworks in his arms.

#flashficfeb #city #drabble #cloud #tifa #cloti #valentines day #cloticonfessions2020 #writing #fanfiction

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spyder-m · 4 years

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Cloti Confessions II: “Express”

A/N: Late submission for @finalheaven’s Cloti Confessions 2020 Event. I wasn’t able to get anything done in time for Part 1 on Valentine’s, so I’ve combined both parts into one story.

Summary: While making some Valentine’s Day deliveries for Tifa, Cloud couldn't help but notice she'd made chocolate for seemingly all their male friends except him. Unsure of what he’d done to upset her, Cloud decides to break from tradition and give her a White Day gift anyway. Little does he realise, Tifa had her reasons for leaving him out.

Ao3 / FF.net / Twitter

“My teacher says that Valentine’s Day is coming up.”

It was during a lull in the dinner rush that Marlene spoke up, knowing not to bother Tifa when she was busy with customers. Papa had always taught her it was bad manners to interrupt people.

She had glanced up from her homework, watching expectantly as Tifa moved around the bar; wiping down tables and clearing used glasses; hoping to catch her attention.

"That's right," Tifa answered with a smile.

It was a day she had been anticipating, normally a busy time of year for Seventh Heaven. With the recent passing of the Stigma, she expected business would be booming once again. Couples would flock to different venues across the city, hoping to enjoy a romantic evening together, while those spending the night alone sought somewhere to drown their sorrows.

Though Tifa may dread the stress of the spike in customers, the revenue they brought with them always made it worthwhile.

“Well," Marlene continued. "My teacher says that on Valentine's Day girls are supposed to give chocolate to boys...”

Tifa stilled in her practised motion of wiping down the countertop, a frown sullying her expression.

It was a conversation she had suspected might come up soon. Marlene and Denzel were both approaching their pre-teen years, the point where those feelings and hormones began bubbling up. It wouldn't be long before she would need to think about organising them their own, separate rooms.

Still, despite the thought she'd given the topic, it was still something Tifa found difficult to approach as a parental figure. Having lost her mother at a young age, she didn't have much experience to draw upon. Given the rather muddled state of her relationship with Cloud; the difficulty they each faced with expressing their own feelings; Tifa wasn't sure she was in the best position to offer advice.

Though, with Barrett away, Tifa felt the responsibility fell to her. Her father might not be in the clearest state of mind, anyway; learning his little girl was developing an interest in boys.

Tifa set the washcloth down, collecting in her mind, what she hoped was a tactful string of words. Yet, before she could finish piecing together her answer, Marlene spoke up again.

"I want to make chocolates for Papa... Denzel too. Tifa, can you help me?"

Blinking, an exhale of relief broke from Tifa's lips as the realisation settled in.

In her line of work, the focus was typically placed on the romantic aspect of Valentine's, forgetting there was another element to it entirely.

The gifts shared on the holiday could hold different meanings.

Chocolates were also given by women to the men they held platonic, familial relationships with. Marlene's school must have been introducing the concept to their students, suggesting they make chocolate for the boys in their class and who they were friends with.

Satisfied, Tifa nodded to Marlene with a smile.

"Of course, sweetie."

“So, Tifa. Are you going to make chocolates for Cloud?”

Tifa's hand slipped, almost spilling the batter she had been carefully pouring into the mould. Having worked in diligent silence; following the steps outlined in the recipe she'd written out; it startled Tifa when Marlene spoke up suddenly.

Her gaze shifted, catching Marlene's eyes weighing on her in genuine curiosity.

She hadn't made any plans for Valentine's Day herself, not having taken part in the tradition since she was a child; concerned more so with the impending customer rush. Though with the remnants and Geostigma vanquished, she supposed the celebration could be an opportunity to welcome Cloud back home, to thank Barrett for his years of support.

Perhaps she could even send some chocolates out to Cid, Reeve and… Well, she wasn’t sure if Vincent liked sweets, but perhaps he would appreciate the gesture, regardless.

“Yes, I suppose I should. And your papa too.” Tifa tacked on.

“No, not those kinds of chocolate!" Marlene protested, arms folding in exasperation. "The chocolate you give to boys that you like.”

"W- What are you talking about Marlene?" Tifa ducked her head, focus drawn intently back towards the mixture before them.

The lilt of confusion in her voice was noticeably strained, too much so to seem genuine. Marlene smiled, suspecting that she had been on the mark.

The young girl was quite intuitive beyond her years.

Thinking on it, Tifa wouldn't have been surprised if this had all been a ploy of hers to bring them closer together.

It was an idea so inherently Marlene, innocent and idealistic. The thought that her guardians could be brought together through a lone, affectionate gesture. That the years of tension between them would magically dissipate and their lingering, dormant feelings would spring back to the surface once more.

As taken as Tifa was by the romance of the idea; as much as she wished things could be that simple; she was too grounded in reality. That naive sense of hope had been stripped away over the course of her short life, the trials she had survived through.

Their relationship was complicated. No chocolates or cards could encapsulate all that they had been through together, every feeling that she wanted to express to him. They had strayed too far from the children in Nibleheim who might have taken part in such a tradition.

Besides, with Cloud having only recently returned home, their family unit had begun to regain a semblance of normality, its old shape. She didn’t want to risk damaging that by pressuring Cloud too much, too soon.

Shaking her head, Tifa remained firm in her decision. She would make the offering as a token of their friendship, their business partnership, as family, but nothing more.

Though, while the chocolates set; on the surface, practically indistinguishable from one another; Tifa recognised they were not the same. That, somehow, Cloud's chocolates seemed out of place from what she'd made for Barrett or Cid.

Consciously, she may have followed the recipe precisely each time, there were still feelings contained in Cloud's batch much stronger, born of an inherent care and affection she held for him.

To present them out of obligation, or even friendship would be dishonest. Her heart had already acted independently of her mind, a warmth flowing into the batter that she could not contain. While it was a feeling Tifa may have been able to place or convey effectively through words, she sensed it was something much deeper.

- February 14th -

Mornings had become a ritual she enjoyed sharing with him.

Early starts were something they held in common. Her, needing time to prepare the bar for the evening peak and him aiming to have his deliveries finished early, allowing for fewer late-nights home and more time to his family.

With the kids not needing, or wanting, to be coaxed out of bed for at least another hour, Tifa appreciated the company.

The bleak, grey skies that stretched across Edge before drawn had once struck her as oppressive and lonely; a reminder of the fear and affliction that crippled so many throughout the city, that had torn him away from her. With time, she found herself focusing more on the light, the flecks of pink and blue, bursting through.

Though they wouldn't always exchange much in the way of contact, or even words, she could feel herself steadily drawing more of Cloud back out. The subtle, occasional tilt of his lips, the shadow of a smile, an even rarer, gentle touch of his hand at her shoulder, lingering as he made his goodbyes.

Mostly, however, she was content to remain in silence.

There was something calming about being in his presence as they basked in the light of dawn breaking through the kitchen. It seemed routine, domestic.

It reminded her of how much she'd missed him.

Though, on this morning, she sat before him a bundle of nerves, dreading she might give herself away.

It hung in her every action. From her concentrated efforts to not make conversation, to how her eyes would deliberately draw away from his own; fixated upon her breakfast.

It was doubtful that Cloud hadn’t sensed something off with her. While at times, he may have seemed insensitive to others' emotions, he'd always been adept at reading her.

With that in mind, it seemed best to cast her embarrassment aside.

Catching her bottom lip between her teeth, Tifa willed herself to speak up, to break the silence she normally savoured and offer up the package kept secure behind her back.

Instead, they remained caught at opposite ends of the table, a seemingly endless void between them. The fingers on Tifa's free hand pushed absently at the scraps of untouched food lining her plate, wanting to reach out to him, caught internally between acting on her feelings and being crippled by insecurity.

She flinched as Cloud's chair dragged along the kitchen floor, and he rose to his feet. Her eyes still did not lift, but Tifa could follow the pattern of his feet across the tiled floor as he moved through the kitchen.

"I'm off." He announced eventually, setting his coffee mug in the sink.

“Wait, Cloud!" Tifa called abruptly, moving to stand herself. "Before you leave, if you don't mind- I actually have some packages for you.”

"For me?"

"Well," Tifa reiterated, voice subdued once more. "Some things I need you to deliver."

Of all the things Tifa could be keeping secret from him, a small, innocuous bundle of parcels; seemingly all addressed to their friends; had not been what Cloud had expected.

It was odd that she would be bashful over such a simple request. He'd transported packages for her many times before. With all the help she'd given his business in the past; taking calls, relaying messages onto him; it was only fair.

Perhaps she felt guilty asking at such short notice? Cloud wasn't entirely sure.

Still, he was curious as to what Tifa was needed to be delivered. Usually, when she asked a favour of him, it wasn't to send packages out, but rather make a pickup. Most often, of ingredients for 7th Heaven. Hops, spices and exotic fruits or vegetables were value commodities for Tifa, who liked to keep her menu fresh with unique recipes or brews.

It wasn't until Cloud arrived at Corel and handed Barrett over his package; a heart-shaped note attached in Marlene's neat handwriting; that it struck him.

Of course, he recalled. It was Valentine's Day.

Curious and eager to see what his daughter had sent, Barrett immediately tore into the paper, revealing a box of hand-made chocolates.

It brought a smile to Cloud's face watching the burly ex-Avalanche member’s eyes water, as he gushed over the lovingly made treats; promising to call his baby girl as soon as Cloud left.

After all that their small found family had endured, the scene was touching.

Though, Cloud felt his lips crease into a frown as he lingered, staring at the note. The note, he noticed, that was signed from both Marlene and Tifa.

Cloud knew there was no reason for him to feel jealous.

After he had left Tifa without a word all those weeks ago, she had every right to be upset with him. She certainly didn't owe him anything, much less a display of affection as open as Valentine's Chocolates.

Still, he couldn't suppress the resentment that bubbled up in his chest with each carefully planned gift he handed over to another of their friends; seeing the flash of genuine surprise and joy it brought them.

He grew ever conscious that Tifa had apparently made chocolates for all of her male friends but him.

Before mounting Fenrir once again, Cloud would rummage thoroughly through each of the bike's compartments, hoping to find a lone, errant package that he'd somehow missed; hidden in the far-reaching corners.

But, each time, his hand would retreat, empty.

The feeling it brought Cloud wasn't unlike what he'd experienced as a shy, young boy in Nibleheim, watching from afar as Tifa Lockhart played with her friends.

As the day carried on, he became all the more taken by the urge to leave the gifts out in the warm, midday sun. Yet, he couldn't bring himself to so callously ruin Tifa and Marlene's hard work, knowing how much it would hurt them.

When he later stopped by Rocket Town, Cid had been insistent that he come in and enjoy the treats with him over tea. Cloud had refused, claiming he was behind on schedule, but already imagining the bitter taste the chocolates would leave on his tongue.

"Fair enough," Cid chuckled, his grin sly. "I suppose you get to eat stuff like this all the time."

Cloud couldn't help but suspect that the bite to Cid's seemingly innocuous words was intentional, as if he sensed something was amiss.

Either way, Cloud left Rocket Town in a fouler mood than he had entered it.

He knew he was being irritational. He didn't suspect for a moment that any of the chocolates were meant as romantic gestures; particularly as many of them came co-signed by Marlene. But, even if any were, why should it bother him?

Tifa was her own person, and a lot had passed them by over the years. For all he knew, the feelings he suspected she once held for him, could have been among them.

Still, to not even receive chocolates from her, as a sign of their friendship, stung.

Cloud had felt, slowly, more comfortable in opening up to her again, that things were steadily progressing back to how they’d once been. Though, in actuality, it seemed his actions had hurt Tifa far more than he’d initially realised.

Being on the road with nothing but his thoughts and the throttle of Fenrir's engine; tires dragging against the winding bitumen; gave Cloud time to ponder.

It seemed that now, for all the effort and frustration Tifa had exuded trying to bring him happiness; to create a loving, stable home for their family; the onus to mend things fell on him. Cloud, for once, would need to take the initiative.

Perhaps he should break from tradition. Give her something on White Day, despite not having been prompted, and apologise. Properly.

Maybe that could set their relationship back on track.

But for now, he resolved, as he turned Fenrir into the alley behind Seventh Heaven, he would simply offer her a simple reassurance. It wouldn’t be words or even presents, but his actions, that proved things would be different from now on.

"I'm back," Cloud announced, as he stepped through the garage back into the bar. His greeting carried through the empty room, unanswered and Cloud sighed, hand fisting into matted, windswept hair.

Despite spacing his deliveries out over several days and encouraging customers to get their Valentine’s orders prepared early, the day had still been long and draining for Cloud. The mental and emotional taxing he had put himself through, certainly hadn't made things easier.

It pained Cloud to realise that, even with his best efforts, he hadn’t been able to arrive home until well after closing time. That the solace he found in the day’s end; seeing the kids and Tifa, being in their company; had slipped through their fingers. At a time when his spirit needed lifting the most.

Despite the darkness that blanketed most of the room, Cloud was surprised to find light breaking from the kitchen. Ears perking up, he was drawn to the low rumble of pint glasses and crockery as they were submerged beneath dishwater.

Tifa was still up.

Cloud frowned. Even after having finished a likely, long, gruelling shift herself, Tifa couldn't take it easy. At least, once his deliveries were finished, his work was done and he could relax.

Yet, after her last customer had left, remnants of their patronage remained littered throughout the bar. Dishes that stacked up, tables in need of wiping and stocks that needed to be resupplied.

She could use a hand, Cloud thought.

Despite the ache and exhaustion that was beginning to seep into his bones, he moved towards the kitchen.

"Tifa?" He called, dipping his head through the gap in the open door.

"Oh, Cloud!" Her head turned from the small pile of dishes before her. Despite the apparent fatigue clinging to her, her visage remained bright and cheerful as always. It radiated through him in a warm, cleansing energy.

Cloud's eyes bulged, struck again in amazement by how Tifa could remain such an uplifting force, even when weighed down. It was a quality he had grown eternally indebted to, a constant guidance and support in his life.

"Welcome home!"

"What are you still doing up?" He accused, voice stern.

To anyone who knew them, Cloud lecturing Tifa might have come as amusing; as if they were swapping out the roles they took in one another's lives. For Cloud, it made sense. For as often as Tifa expressed concern for him, she deserved the same courtesy.

"Cleaning up," Tifa answered. "We were hit pretty hard tonight, as expected, but just have to wash the dishes and I’ll be done."

"You must be tired." Cloud continued, moving behind her. "You should sit down. Let me take care of this."

"What? No, I couldn’t ask you to do that. You’ve been making deliveries all day-"

"You’ve been standing all day. Come on," Cloud insisted, resting a hand against her shoulder; any inhibition he held, tempered by the need to comfort her. "Let me help you."

Tifa lips pursed as she considered the offer, that moment of hesitance stretching into an uncomfortable silence between them. Cloud swallowed, wondering if he had pressed too far.

He had taken encouragement when Tifa had, not only not pushed him away, but leaned unconsciously closer in his grasp. The tightness coiling in her muscles eased. It was contact that he relished, felt almost starved of.

After stewing in self-resentment, conscious of how much he’d taken her for granted, Cloud was overcome by the urge to hold her, to set things right. That she seemed to reciprocate, brought a flow of relief through Cloud.

It was enough to pull him further forward, hands seeking her own amidst the grime-stained dishwater. To his surprise, Tifa relented, the sponge loosening from her grip.

For as proud and committed as Tifa was to her work, allowing him to take over spoke to how tired she must have been. Cloud could already feel the groves pruning her soapy fingers as they brushed against his own. It pleased him, knowing he could help relieve some of that burden, simply by scrubbing away at a grease-laden plate.

Though he had hoped Tifa would leave for her bedroom, he noticed her idling beside him.

"Thank you, Cloud," She murmured, the words slipping through the haze of sleep gradually pulling her under.

Unfiltered by the guard of self-consciousness Tifa would, at times, lock herself behind, her voice held a raw, almost vulnerable, honesty. They were words spilt directly from the heart; without a thought, a moment to hesitate, or hold back any modicum of the love imbued into them.

They shook through Cloud, carrying up the curvature of his back in soothing tingles.

"I- It's nothing." He answered, ducking his head. His concentration remained steady on the dishes beneath him, knowing if he turned the effect of her words would show in his expression. "Don't worry about it."

He was surprised and flushed by how genuinely touched Tifa had been at his offer; taking on a job she did every night, without thanks. It was the least she deserved and couldn't begin to even approach the lengths she had gone to for him.

Cloud couldn't help but wonder if such a simple action should really feel so fulfilling. If the happiness it gave her was something, he had any right to share in.

Guilt that he was still learning to let go of.

Gritting his teeth, Cloud scrubbed harshly at the pint glass in his hands. The grime broke away easily; an outlet for the tension and frustration those thoughts left him with.

He sighed, setting it aside on the dish rack. Drawn suddenly, to the steady pattern of breathing, he caught Tifa’s sleeping form in his periphery.

"Tifa?" Cloud turned.

With him offering to finish up cleaning, he thought she would have left, retreating to her room for the night.

Yet, she had opted to stay. Instead, finding sleep at the kitchen table, head cushioned by her arms. Perhaps wanting to bask in his presence a little longer; to reassure herself that he was around.

Her position looked uncomfortable, but that did little to sully the contentment easing her expression. Her hair billowed around her, stray wisps of black dragging listlessly with each breath. Cloud swallowed, his hand pulling unconsciously towards her.

He couldn't quite place what made it such a captivating by the sight for him.

It was not unlike what he’d seen underneath the Highwind, as he'd watched her sleeping form bathed in the morning's light. A memory of how, in her embrace, the dread for what awaited them had slipped away so easily.

But perhaps, more poignantly, it was a reminder of his place in their family. The love and sense of belonging they gave him. It was that feeling he had yearned for, that drove him to keep moving.

Still, he didn't want Tifa to lose out on deep, uninterrupted sleep. For all the time she had waited up for him before, Cloud wanted to ensure she was well-rested.

Moving from the sink, he carefully eased her chair back; not wanting it to scrape along the tiled floor. His arms surrounded her, lulled by the warm shape of her body. The weight was not a strain upon him. It was familiar, comforting.

Tifa leant into him without restraint, unconsciously seeking more of the comfort of his grasp. A heaviness bled into Cloud's eyes. His vision blurred as if drawn by the temptation to join her.

Shaking his head, Cloud dragged his gaze towards the ceiling; hoping the garish, neon lights would keep him awake. He flinched beneath the unrelenting glare.

He couldn't fall asleep. Not yet.

Not while he was standing in the middle of the bar, holding onto Tifa. He needed to get her into bed and then finish off the last of the dishes.

Cloud took slow, measured steps as he carefully navigated his way upstairs; knowing the footfalls of his heavy boots would carry. He didn't want to disturb Marlene and Denzel while they were sleeping.

Shifting Tifa's weight in his arms, he managed to blindly grasp the handle of her bedroom door, easing it open with his foot. Cloud could feel his strength waning as he struggled to keep her steady; all the while yanking the sheets from their tightly bound incarceration beneath the mattress.

With an exhale, she was coaxed begrudgingly out his arms.

He slipped Tifa gingerly underneath the covers, opting to avoid any unnecessary awkwardness by removing only her shoes. His hand lingered in caressing her cheek as he set her down; stroking away the fringe that guarded her serene expression.

Catching himself, Cloud was swift to make his leave. Determined to reach his own bed before temptation overtook him and he collapsed in her arms.

Turning, Cloud's eyes lingered on a box sitting at Tifa's nightstand, catching a flash of his own name. His heart jolted, a hopeful flutter rising through his chest. Stumbling, with a soft curse, Cloud's hand rubbed lazily against his eye; suspecting his tired brain may have been playing tricks.

Curiosity piqued, and vision clear, he turned back towards the nightstand, gaze immediately drawn to the package that lay there. As if still plagued by doubt, Cloud's hand sought the box, finding it unmistakeably solid in his grasp; real.

She had made him chocolates after all.

Holding them, in almost silent reverence, Cloud was touched. Though, unsure as to why she had kept them from him.

His hand traced over the box, wondering if it would be alright for him to take. While the gift had been intended for him, Tifa had never actually handed it over, and would certainly notice if it went missing.

Yet, it would be difficult to hide that he had seen it after he'd taken her up to her room. It was sitting in plain sight on her nightstand.

That could make things tense between them.

Flinching, Cloud gingerly placed the box back where he'd found it. Naively entertaining the odds that she might not suspect anything.

There must have been a reason for her to have kept them. There couldn't have been anything wrong with the chocolates otherwise Tifa wouldn't have wrapped them.

Besides, considering Tifa's cooking and what he had seen of the other gifts that he'd handed out over the day, he couldn't imagine it would be anything less than the highest quality.

Perhaps she had had a change of heart? Hesitating, for one reason or another, at the last moment.

He suspected that if the chocolates had been made out of obligation, Tifa surely wouldn’t have had any reason to feel shy about sharing them.

It seemed clear to Cloud that Tifa's affection for him was still there. A fact that he had, not that long ago, held in doubt. If the chocolates she'd made were merely out of obligation, she wouldn't have felt any embarrassment in sharing them.

All of a sudden it seemed so very apparent, permeating through the way she acted around him. The gratitude she expressed to him over the seemingly most menial things, her willingness and desire to stay beside him even in her worst state.

He wondered what then, was making her hesitate. Was she unsure about his feelings? Had it been his own indecisiveness that had paralysed her, had kept them from both reaching happiness?

Shutting the door behind him quietly, Cloud resolved to erase that doubt once and for all.

Tifa would no longer be uncertain about his feelings.

For Cloud, the month that followed was strenuous.

The revelation that Tifa, on some level, loved him; or at least, cared enough to make him something for Valentine's; spurred within him a maelstrom of emotion.

Having the mystery of Tifa's resolved for him, directly from the source, both elated and relieved Cloud. There still a chance he could fix things, that he could make their family happy.

But, at the same time, he was frustrated that he couldn't yet answer her. It ate away at him each time he saw her. In how the words, the gestures between them were suddenly painted in a different light.

Still, he was determined to hold out and bide his time until White Day. That way it could be something special. He couldn't reveal that he knew about the chocolates she'd made in secret, not until it was a fitting occasion to reciprocate.

He wanted to surprise Tifa, in a grand, romantic gesture that she deserved.

Being around Tifa was something Cloud relished. Even if they weren't doing or speaking about anything in particular, her presence always brought him comfort. It was the lone constant he hadn't managed to hold onto throughout his life.

Now it was as if he, and their relationship, had regressed. Back to how they'd been just a few months ago. He struggled even to maintain eye-contact, as though worried he might unconsciously give something away.

His shift in demeanour hadn't gone unnoticed by Tifa. Cloud sensed an awkward tension between them, as though Tifa was watching him with more scrutiny. From the pained, crestfallen expression that her eyes, the lines her face set unconsciously into and the worries she was carrying within herself.

It tempted Cloud all the more to speak up.

When he'd had the Stigma, Cloud's work had become his crutch. The time on the road helping to distract him and keep away from Tifa.

Taking on extra deliveries was not an option for Cloud. He had promised Tifa that he would be around more. He offered to help around the bar, hoping it would keep his mind off of things. Though, in doing so, he neglected one crucial detail. Tifa worked at the bar. To help out in any way around 7th Heaven; be it busing tables, taking orders; he would have to go through her.

The only distraction afforded to Cloud was perfecting his White Day plans.

Though, they carried their own problem.

He still had no idea what he was going to do.

"Why are you and Tifa acting weird again, Cloud?"

Marlene stood, back straight and fists clenched at her sides, trying to appear as imposing as impossible. It was an endearing sight, the amusement it brought him perhaps lingering too long in his eyes.

With a huff, anger coiled Marlene's face tighter.

"Didn't she give you her chocolates?"

Cloud's eyes widened, fleetingly, surprised to hear she knew of Tifa's secret Valentine's Gift for him.

Though, they had made several batches together. Perhaps, his was among them.

Still, Cloud needed to choose his words carefully. As far as Tifa knew, he had never seen the chocolates. He would need to lie if he wanted to keep his story straight.

"What are you talking about?" Cloud asked, feigning innocence. Marlene, luckily, did not press the issue.

"You and Tifa hardly talk anymore. It's just like when you were sick. She won't say anything, but it's making her sad."

Cloud ducked his head, conscious this wasn't the first time he had been reprimanded by Marlene.

It was a stark contrast from the young girl who had once shied away from him.

"It's not that, Marlene." Cloud hesitated, wanting urgently to argue what she was saying.

His eyes held Marlene's earnestly, as his voice softened.

"I want to do something for Tifa on White Day. I'm just having trouble deciding what it should be."

"Really?" Marlene's looked hopeful.

Cloud flinched, scanning quickly over each corner of the bar before nodding.

An exuberant Marlene grabbed at his hand unexpectedly, pulling with all of her weight. Startled, Cloud lost his balance, stumbling onto his feet.

Confused, Cloud let Marlene guide him across the bar in the direction of the kitchen.

"You're supposed to give Chocolates to the girls you like." She eventually filled in.

"Oh, okay," Cloud said, glancing towards the front door. "Well, I guess I could buy some."

"Uh-uh," Marlene shook her head. "Home-made ones are better. They show you care."

Cloud paused, mulling the idea over. It hadn't been one he'd considered, owing to utter lack of culinary skill, but it was true.

There was more care given to something made from scratch. Not only in the effort put into specially making it, but in how it made the present unique.

It reminded him fondly of the home-cooked meals his mother used to make, the distinct flavours of her food he never quite since found replicated.

It was a treasured memory he longed to gift, to share with Tifa. Well, if not for one small detail.

"But I don't know how to make chocolate-"

"I can help you make them!" Marlene interjected; her heart seemingly set on the idea. "Tifa showed me how! She even wrote out a recipe for me to follow."

"I appreciate that Marlene, but I'm still not sure it's a good idea. Where would we make them? We can't do it at the bar, Tifa would find out."

"Hm, you're right." Marlene stopped, touching her free hand to her chin in thought.

"I appreciate you letting us do this, Reeve."

"Not at all. Happy to help out an old friend."

It hadn't been a request Reeve expected to receive from Cloud; a kitchen he could use, where he wouldn't be found by Tifa. Still, it was one he was willing to accommodate. If, for nothing other than sheer curiosity. So, he allowed him use of one of the kitchens in the WRO, normally used by staff or for functions.

Cloud had taken the day off from deliveries, leaving with Marlene on the guise of taking her to see Barret. The excuse was flimsy. Judging the way her arms folded and eyes narrowed, Cloud sensed that Tifa felt so too.

Still, she could take comfort in knowing that he wasn't planning on taking off somewhere. Not while Marlene was with him.

"I see you're making more chocolates, Marlene. I have to thank you for the ones you sent me. They were delicious."

"Thanks!" Marlene beamed. "Tifa helped me make those, and now I'm helping Cloud."

"I see. Although I have to say, they do look slightly... different from how I remember mine."

Cloud lifted a glare over his shoulder at Reeve, whose hands rose defensively.

Though, as he looked back down at the chocolates, Cloud found it hard to argue.

He couldn't help but compare them to what Tifa had made and feel a flash of insecurity. Despite his effort and Marlene's guidance, the misshapen pieces had been the best he could achieve.

It was surprising. Even with his time training under Shinra, the countless drills and katas. Even his experience working on and fixing delicate machinery, like Fenrir. In the kitchen, a steady hand did not come easily to Cloud.

"It's okay, Cloud," Marlene reassured him. "They still taste yummy."

"Besides, Tifa will like them because they're from you."

Though he wasn't sure he shared the sentiment, Cloud smiled softly at the girl, nuzzling her hair with his hand.

How he wished he had her optimism.

It amazed Cloud that Aerith's flowers were still blooming in the Church, the lone sign of life amongst the Midgar wreckage.

Perhaps it shouldn't have come as a surprise, knowing the adversity they had already endured through. When the land had been stripped almost completely bare; after Aerith had passed and could no longer tend to them; after the destruction of the city; they continued to grow.

It was a testament to their longevity.

While a part of Cloud worried that Tifa might misread an offering of Aerith's flowers; that she might think he still held feelings for their late friend; it felt like an integral piece of the present.

With the Buster Sword now resting amongst the flower beds, two of Cloud's closest companions were together, once again. Their love; much like the flowers; enduring, continuing to thrive, even amidst the harshest conditions.

For Cloud, it was a vow, a hope that he and Tifa's relationship may be similarly blessed.

Not to mention, Cloud knew his shoddy package needed some brightening up, and there were no flowers more vibrant than the ones in the church. Perhaps Aerith’s green thumb and knowledge of the flowers’ language would help him chose the perfect blossom to articulate his feelings for Tifa, with no ambiguity.

He had also hoped the presence of his friends would calm his nerves. That the older, more confident pair, never inept expressing their feelings, could offer him advice.

Though, as he knelt by the before the beds; hands brushing delicately over the petals; the fond, familiar voice that met his ears seemed to have other ideas.

It's about time, it teased. Always thought you two kids would wind up together.

- March 14th -

That morning, Cloud waited in his bedroom, longer than necessary.

Normally up at around the same time as Tifa, it wasn’t until he’d followed the pad of her footsteps downstairs that he rose from his mattress. The motion of dressing and getting his things ready, was followed through at a deliberate, slowed pace.

As he fixed his pauldron to his shoulder, Cloud eyed the wrapped box tucked in away his dresser drawer. He hadn't wanted to make the same mistake as Tifa and leave it in plain sight.

Swallowing, he retrieved the chocolates from their hiding place amongst the folds of dark sweaters and linen, before he began his slow descent down to the bar.

Her eyes were closed when he first saw her, steam curling from a mug warming against her hands. The tendrils rose through her nostrils as she inhaled, sighing contentedly as the heat engulfed her.

Cloud remained at a distance, shuffling on his feet, indecisive as to how to approach her.

His plan had relied on her noticing him, being the one to start the conversation as usual. It was a familiar routine, a way for Cloud to ease in comfortably. Yet, with the room bathed in silence, he felt hesitant to disturb the peace she was enjoying.

Awkwardly, Cloud settled on cleared his throat.

"Tifa."

"Oh, Cloud. I was beginning to think you’d already left."

“No, I just- something to take care of.”

Tifa's eyes narrowed as she set her mug down on the counter, approaching him. Her hand brushed against his arm, a look of concern radiating through her gaze.

"Cloud? Is something the matter?"

Drinking in the care brimming from those captivating, ruby eyes, Cloud's head swam. He was taken, momentarily, by a nervous itch to run to his hand through his hair. Gaze lowering, he focused instead on her touch; the point at which their bodies met; revelling in the comfort that emanated from it.

It was strange. Somehow, when looking into her eyes, his thoughts would become muddled. Yet, concentrating on something as intimate as her touch and the strength she offered so selflessly, made finding the right words seem easier.

"Yeah, I’m fine. It’s just- I found something… A while ago.”

“Okay..." Tifa pressed. "What are you talking about?”

Cloud bit his lip, Tifa's gaze boring into him, expectantly. Still, as awkward and clumsy as the words may feel, with each one Cloud edged steadily closer towards an answer. That alone willed him to continue.

The sooner he could learn what her feelings were, for certain. No matter her answer, it would at least alleviate the doubt that was plaguing him.

“You stayed up late on Valentine's and ended up falling asleep. So, I took you up to your room, and...”

He trailed off, unsure of how to continue and conscious of the burning steadily building in his ears. Fortunately, the pieces seemed to click together for Tifa; eyes widening as her lips parted

"Oh. Oh!"

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to." Cloud's hands rose. "It's just... It was right there. I couldn't help-"

"No, I understand. I'm sorry, Cloud. I didn't mean to make you feel uncomfortable."

"It- It's fine. You didn't, really. It was very thoughtful of you. I just wish you had given them to me."

Tifa shoulders sagged as she felt the same way.

She had been too nervous that morning and hesitated at the last moment, hoping that when Cloud returned later from his deliveries, she would be better prepared.

Yet, even the time and the distraction of work were not enough.

With Cloud’s discovery, the memory she had hoped to create and treasure could now only evoke regret. The effort she had lovingly devoted to those chocolates, the expression of her feelings now wasted. The ideal moment she had hoped to share with Cloud, gifting him those chocolates. Deprived of relishing in the surprise and happiness it would bring to his features.

If only she had been bold enough.

If only she hadn't dawdled too long.

Perhaps then the chance wouldn't have slipped through her fingers.

"Well, I know this isn't exactly conventional," Cloud continued. "But I suppose that's fitting... For us."

As Cloud’s hands shifted towards her, Tifa looked up with a blink to find him holding out a crudely decorated box.

The lightest of gasps escaped from her lips, stomach fluttering at the endearing sight. She was bathed in the familiar clear blue of Cloud’s eyes, penetrating through to her heart, her memories.

The sorrow that had been coursing through her gradually began to fade. Was this what she thought it was?

"Happy White Day, Tifa."

Cloud exhaled. At last, it was out in the open. Almost immediately, Cloud sensed the tension hovering over him steadily dissipate; an incredibly freeing, liberating feeling.

Tifa silently held his gaze. Her cheeks flushed and hands outstretched towards him.

Cloud's stomach lurched as she shifted abruptly past him, a curtain of her dark hair brushing against his face. His eyes tracked her frantic movement, bearing the rush of hurt and bewilderment overtaking him, reading her departure as silent rejection.

"Hang on a second."

“Tifa?! Where are you going?”

Her voice grew muffled as she ascended the stairs calling down to him.

"We should do this properly, at least!"

Her words, awoke within him, the tiniest spark of hope.

Despite the urge to satiate his curiosity and go after her, Cloud remained rooted in place, trusting in Tifa's reassuring words. Believing they had always led him down the right path.

To Cloud's relief, he wasn't kept waiting long.

Tifa's face was flushed as she moved back down the stairs, steady breaths carrying from her throat. She ducked her head, tendrils of hair falling over her eyes as she hesitantly held the box out towards him.

For the trepidation crippling her, Tifa found the mettle to lift her gaze, needing every modicum of her heart, her feelings, to shine through the gesture.

Cloud's breath hitched at the love shining through her eyes.

"Happy Valentine's Day, Cloud... I- I'm sorry it's so late."

It was startling, how wrong they had been in their cynicism.

How convinced they had been that something as pedestrian as exchanging gifts, or a few, heartfelt words wasn’t enough to repair the strength, the hardships they had endured.

They were afraid too much changed for things to possibly work. That they could never again be those unscarred children sitting atop the Water tower; the only ones unblemished enough to be deserving of a tradition like Valentine’s.

Yet, the gesture served as a simple reminder of the ones they had fallen for, of time they had thought had been forever lost and feelings still rested in the recesses of their hearts.

That for all the scars and trauma they feared had irreversibly changed them, there remained a presence they recognised in one another, constantly fighting back to the surface. Something they caught, fleetingly, in the depths of each other’s eyes.

He felt truly happy.

Moved by a sudden burst of courage, Cloud crossed the last trace of distance between them, engulfing Tifa in his arms; wanting never to sever the contact between them again.

His gratitude was patterned against her forehead by his lips.

"Tifa, thank you."

#cloti #cloti confessions 2020 #cloticonfessions2020 #tifa lockhart #cloud strife #final fantasy vii #ffvii #fanfiction #cloud x tifa

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theclosetpoet7 · 4 years

Text

“Bravely Forward”

A Cloti fic by theClosetPoet7

Rating: T, for Final Heaven Discord Server’s Valentine’s Day Event

Summary: She promised herself that this year, she wouldn’t run away anymore. She’ll open up her heart and confess her feelings to her beloved senpai. [Cloti AU for Cloti Confessions 2020]

There was a time when she used to agree when people said that Tifa Lockhart was no coward. As a ten year old, she once ventured deep into the forest of Aokigahara on one of their school field trips. Her friends were initially enthusiastic about going on an adventure with her, even boasted to one of the older kids that they were going to protect her.

So, they had left without telling the adults.

Maybe it was their confidence that gave her the boost to go for it even when the sun had started setting. Or maybe it was her desire to see for herself if there were other worldly beings there. They trekked for about forty minutes, singing an old folk song, yelling out to the skies that the monsters should stay away.

It was fun at first. There was nothing like the sound of boisterous laughter and the pure wonder among innocent children as they saw cute woodland creatures like bunnies and ugly toads.

However, as soon as it began to get dark, Tifa didn’t even notice that her friends had suddenly disappeared from her side.

And that was when she started to feel a little bit scared.

More scared than she cared to admit at that age.

She had spent hours on that mountain, hungry and fearful of carnivores possibly passing by. That is until, Cloud Strife, her next door neighbor, came to her rescue, his wild spiky hair messed up by leaves and twigs, small hand gripping a long stick to ward off predators.

The sight of another human being had given her so much relief that she couldn’t help but launch herself into his arms. To her surprise, he didn’t even pull away. Instead, he had allowed her to cling onto his arm as they made their way back to the teachers.

They both got into a lot of trouble that night. She still remembers how her arms had ached when they were told to stand with buckets filled with water as punishment.

Still though, it was one of her fondest memories. Cloud was such a kind person, never once complaining that he was taking the blame with her, even when she started to protest to their sensei, only for her to be shut down with a stern look.

After that, the sight of his shy smile as well as the soft glow of his blue orbs were all she could think about for days on end until she decided that she would like to get to know him a little better.

What started as innocent curiosity turned into a deep bond that no one else could ever understand.

And, as soon as she began to feel the stirrings of her beating heart, her feelings had blossomed into one of young love. An emotion that followed her all throughout her teenage years.

So, here she stands, at the tender age of seventeen, feeling even more afraid than she had been that night. Because, Cloud is standing in front of her, that expectant look on his face managing to make her forget the words she had been practicing with Aerith and Yuffie for weeks. For she had called him out to the school’s backyard, the exact spot where she knew the cherry blossoms would be falling gracefully.

“Tifa?”

Damn, she always liked it when he said her name. There was a certain familiarity there, a tone of concern that she is grateful for.

“Is everything okay?”

“Cloud-senpai...”

He chuckles.

“We talked about this... Just Cloud is fine Teef...”

He was right. It was a bad habit of hers to address him formally. Who could blame her though? Earlier this morning, they had walked to school together only to sweat-drop at the sight of the crowd of girls waiting to greet them near his locker so they could give him their Valentine’s Day gifts.

“Right, Cloud. I...”

She can’t find the words.

Kami, she can’t remember what she was supposed to say.

How was she supposed to start her confession again?

Ah.

She presents her gift to him, blushing furiously, refusing to meet his eyes. The young brunette almost giggles when her childhood friend involuntarily takes a step back, as if the gesture has caught him by surprise.

To add more ammo to her determination, she gathers her courage and grins up at him.

“Happy Valentine’s Day, Cloud.”

He smiles gently back, shyly taking the package of homemade chocolates she had made the night before.

“Ah, thank you, Tifa. I guess these are ‘Giri’ chocolate?”

His quick conclusion almost dampens her mood, however, knowing Cloud Strife for a good number of years, Tifa had already assumed that he’d say that.

“They’re ‘Honmei’.”

There it is.

The pause.

And just like that, she loses her resolve, the barely visible hairs on her arms standing on end as she waits for the information to sink into his mind, hoping that he’d get the message.

She’s been wanting to say it for a while now.

‘Kurado-senpai...I like you.’

Whenever she sees him standing by the gate to her house, waiting for her so they can walk to school together.

‘I like you...’

Whenever he brings out an extra bento his mother had made for her because Claudia-san had promised her late mother that she would never go hungry.

‘Cloud... I really like you.’

When he’d act like kendo practice took longer than expected as she came out of the student council meeting, because he doesn’t like it when she’s alone in the dark again.

‘I like you.’

She’s been wanting to say it.

“Cloud...”

“Tifa...”

But, maybe not today.

“I have to go.”

Because she doesn’t know if she could take it if he rejects her.

“Wait.”

“Gomen Cloud, I forgot that I have Judo practice today.”

She likes him too much to risk making things awkward between them.

“Tifa.”

“Enjoy the chocolate!”

So, she runs away again.

Later on that day, she finds him standing near the lockers again, patiently waiting for her. And, after telling her that the chocolates were delicious, Cloud falls into step with her.

There’s a certain look on his face that she can’t quite understand.

But, she supposes that maybe today, he’s decided to run away as well.

tbc

Author’s Note: Hmmmm.... White Day is coming up too. So... we shall see what happens then. ;) Happy Valentines Day! And thank you to Final Heaven Discord for hosting such a fun event. :)

#cloticonfessions2020

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winterune · 4 years

Text

Here with Me

A CloTi Valentine’s Day special fanfiction for the Final Heaven Discord Server’s CloTi Confessions 2020 event

Rating: T

Summary: It is Tifa's first Valentine's Day with Cloud as a couple and she wonders just how she is going to celebrate it with him.

Word count: 2860

A/N: not sure where it is set. A mixture of modern AU but still set in the FF7 world lol

Also available on AO3.

~*~*~*~*~

February 14 was just around the corner and all Tifa could see were boxed chocolates, wrapped heart-shaped cookies, or a variety of cakes on display in pastry shops and bakeries. Even now, a week before Valentine’s, there were already long lines of women and girls wanting to buy whatever chocolate they could get their hands on. She remembered how, when she was back in school, her classmates would prepare heartfelt chocolates for the boys they liked. She remembered how those boys would compare with each other how many chocolates they had gotten.

It wasn’t Tifa’s first time buying a chocolate for a boy; not when she had been giving him friendship chocolates for as long as she could remember. Every year, she would stand there in line with a couple chocolates on hand: one for her father, one for Cloud. Yet now, as she stood before the heart-shaped chocolates on display, she couldn’t bring herself to choose which one she would buy.

In her hands was a red box tied with red ribbon. Inside it was a variety of high-quality heart-shaped chocolates. She checked the price tag.

“Three thousand gil?” she murmured to herself.

Beside it was a stack of boxes containing truffles coated in a special mirror-like glaze: 3,800 gil.

There were other boxes on display too—fancier ones, simpler ones. One was a two-tier black box with gold sakura patterns that no doubt contained one of the best confectioneries in the city. Another one was heart-shaped filled with all kinds of chocolates and the message Be My Valentine at the center.

Five thousand… Six… Eight thousand gil?!

That was ridiculous. Who would in their right mind buy such an expensive chocolate just for Valentine’s Day?

Tifa returned the box to its stack and quietly sighed. Of course; she had gone into one of the top-branded stores. What had she expected?

“Find anything yet?” a voice said from behind her.

Aerith was standing there, her long brown hair in its usual braid. She had offered to accompany her on her hunt for the perfect chocolate, but from Tifa’s frown, she knew the hunt had been in vain.

“Should we look at another store then?” she offered.

They had scoured every inch of the shopping district, visiting all the pastry shops, bakeries, and confectionery stores they could find. They had even went inside some department stores in the hopes they would sell some kind of chocolate for Valentine’s, but alas, not one of the stores had the chocolate Tifa had in mind. Not that she had any particular chocolate in mind. She did find some of the cookies and cupcakes in previous stores cute, with their kiss me or I love you messages, but they lacked…delicacy. They were not something she wanted to give him.

“Let’s just go home for the day,” Tifa said, leading her friend away from the display and exiting the store.

Outside was cold. Even in the last throes of winter people still crowded the street, especially school girls, giggling with their friends as they left one store or another, each with a bag in hand. Tifa stared at them for a few moments, her finger twitching and her lips pursing, before she covered her nose with her scarf and stuffed her gloved hands into her coat pockets.

“I never knew picking out a honmei chocolate would be this hard,” Tifa mumbled through her scarf.

“That’s why I said you should just make him one,” Aerith replied, “instead of wasting all that money on some branded chocolate.”

“Yeah, but—” Tifa began, but found herself speechless now that she was going home empty-handed.

This was something they had debated before. It wasn’t that Tifa was against the idea. But…homemade? And on Valentine’s Day? She knew people said a homemade honmei chocolate carried more meaning than store-bought one, but—

“What if I mess it up?”

“You won’t mess it up,” Aerith said. “He’ll be happy with whatever you give him.”

“That’s the problem! He’ll accept whatever I give him that sometimes I wonder if they’re any good.”

Aerith sighed through her nose. “Tifa, listen,” her friend said firmly. “Everyone loves your cooking, including him. Has he ever said anything about not liking them?”

“Well, no, but—”

“And you often make cookies or cupcakes as freebies in your bar and everyone’s always loved them.”

“I guess, but—”

“Then there you have it. You won’t mess it up. I’m sure of it!”

Aerith was beaming but Tifa bit her lower lip.

“But those weren’t Valentine’s chocolates.”

“And why are Valentine’s chocolates any different?”

Tifa met Aerith’s gaze from the corner of her eyes. She found genuine curiosity in there and it made it all the more difficult to voice her reason, because it was lame and stupid and she was already twenty yet she still didn’t know the first thing she should do when it came to the boy she liked.

Aerith was still looking at her and those piercing eyes really put her in the spot.

“Because they’re supposed to be special?” Tifa mumbled. “I don’t know. Kind of like heartfelt? Romantic? Personal?”

“Wouldn’t it be more personal to give him your homemade chocolate rather than a store-bought one?” Aerith asked the question that had been bugging Tifa the most. Because yes, she knew that it would make the chocolate more personal and heartfelt and romantic and he would know the effort it took for her to give him one, but to put her feelings out there for the world to see… Tifa couldn’t help but feel nervous every time she thought about it. With a store-bought chocolate, she wouldn’t really need to make herself be so vulnerable, but with a homemade one, it would be her effort and her feelings mixed inside the chocolate, and if they weren’t enough—

“There’s that insecurity rearing its ugly head again,” Aerith said, interrupting Tifa’s train of thoughts.

Tifa glanced at her friend, who was staring ahead. They were already at the intersection. They would need to separate here, but Aerith was already grabbing her hand and said, “Come on. We’re going to my house.”

***

“First thing first,” Aerith said when they had arrived in her house—a cute little house in a small neighborhood. Her mother was there, already preparing dinner in the kitchen. Tifa was invited, and after happily accepting it, Aerith immediately led her up to her room in the second floor. She grabbed a Valentine’s-Day-special food magazine they had just bought in the bookstore along the way from her bag and sat on her bed, flipping through the pages until she reached the section on snacks and deserts. “We’re going to look for inspiration.”

Hesitantly, Tifa sat down beside Aerith and looked through the magazine with her. But there weren’t anything new, only more cookies and cupcakes and shortcakes and cheesecakes and even more chocolate cakes and chocolate hearts and chocolate truffles. Cloud didn’t have a sweet tooth, but he wouldn’t say no to chocolate. Tifa didn’t think there were any flavor he was particularly fond of or any he particularly hated. She had seen him eat chocolate, strawberry, vanilla, caramel, hazelnut over the years.

“Oh, this looks nice!” Aerith said, pointing to a certain box of chocolates at the bottom of the page. They looked like truffles coated in mirror glaze, much like the one Tifa had seen in the confectionery store before, but these ones looked uncannily familiar. There were 5 truffles in a box: green, red, blue, yellow, and purple. Where the truffles from before looked like tiny planets, these one looked to be so glossy and shining like materias.

“Materia chocolates,” Aerith read the caption out loud.

“They really made materia-inspired chocolates,” Tifa mused.

“These look really cool!” Aerith said. “I bet Zack would be ecstatic if he got these. Let me check how they’re made.”

Aerith grabbed her phone and started browsing for some recipe, while Tifa stared at the picture of the materia chocolates. They looked so real they were practically jumping out of the pages. Maybe Cloud would love to get one of these, too. However, even as she thought that, it was also not something that perfectly conveyed her feelings for him.

“Do you always give Zack homemade chocolates?” Tifa asked.

“Yep.”

“Don’t you ever feel nervous?”

Aerith looked up from her phone and met Tifa’s gaze. “Sure I did,” she said. “When I gave him my first homemade honmei chocolate, I broke into cold sweats wondering how he’d react. It was also my first time making chocolates, mind you. I didn’t know how it’d taste. I was sure he wouldn’t like it. But you know what? When I gave him those tiny chocolates all wrapped up in cheap plastic I bought in a convenience store just outside the neighborhood, he smiled. He had this bright smile—the brightest smile he had ever given me—and it was one of the most precious things I had ever seen. All my worries were completely erased.”

Aerith had a small nostalgic smile on her face and Tifa found herself smiling back. “Sounds nice.”

“It is,” Aerith said. “So, even though this is your first Valentine together as a couple, don’t be scared. You’ve been together with Cloud for years, and if you ask me, all I’ve ever seen is the face of a boy in love, even before you two started dating.” Then she smirked. “And I’d say the same thing about you too.”

Tifa felt her face heating up as she bit her lip. That was…old news. Tifa didn’t remember when she stopped seeing him as a mere friend and started seeing him as a boy—when she stopped giving him homemade cookies and instead bought him chocolates from convenience stores on Valentine’s Day every year; when she started looking at the girls at school confessing their feelings on this particular day and wondering if she would ever have the courage to do that.

“Aww, now you’re all embarrassed,” Aerith said with a teasing smile, dipping her head to peer into Tifa’s face, because Tifa, not knowing what to do with herself, had hid it behind her dark hair.

“Shut up,” Tifa said but she was smiling and she couldn’t stop it.

Aerith grinned. “Come on. Let’s make the best chocolate that will make Cloud speechless.”

***

Valentine’s Day rolled in before she knew it and finally, the chocolates were done and ready and placed inside a cute yellow box she had found in the convenience store outside Aerith’s neighborhood. When she had not been tending to her bar, Tifa had been spending her days with Aerith in her home or in the florist Aerith owned just down the street from the 7th Heaven, trying to come up with an idea on what kind of chocolates Tifa would want to give to Cloud. It hadn’t been until Yuffie strolled down the street and said that she had just seen Cloud and Zack riding their chocobos out of town that an idea struck her.

“Chocobos?” Aerith had asked her.

Tifa had nodded. “Cloud has been saying how he missed riding out on a chocobo, so maybe I can make a chocobo-themed chocolate?”

“Oh! That’s a nice idea! But, how will that work, exactly?”

Tifa had the image in her mind. A chocobo standing on a field of grass, with a simple message on the side, with one character on one square block of chocolate. She later spent most of the remaining days until Valentine’s Day in Aerith’s house, finalizing her chocolate idea and finally making it.

And now it was morning and they had promised to meet in the bar. Tifa was killing time by wiping the counter even though it was spotless clean, because her heart was hammering and her hands were sweating and she needed to keep herself busy lest she’d puke.

It was weird. They had known each other since they were children, been together since anyone could remember, and this wasn’t the first time she had given him Valentine’s chocolates. And though they had been going out for almost a year now—a fact she was still amazed of until this day—it didn’t stop the butterflies from wreaking havoc in her stomach.

It was going to be all right. He would come in. She would give him his chocolates. And they would live happily ever and after—

Dammit! This is not the time for that!

Tifa braced herself against the counter, letting out a loud sigh through her lips. Had Aerith given her chocolate to Zack yet? Tifa wondered how it had gone. She and Yuffie had pitched in to help make them—those materia chocolates. Tifa chuckled. She couldn’t believe Aerith actually managed to make them. Though in the end it didn’t end up looking like the pictures, because the mirror glaze was quite hard to make. They had just coated it in cocoa, strawberry, or matcha powder, nuts, and other sprinkles. Tifa could just imagine Zack’s astonished look when Aerith handed it to him.

How would Cloud look when she gave him his chocolate?

She checked the clock on the wall and was surprised to find it had already been half an hour past the time they were supposed to meet.

Tifa sat up straight and grabbed her phone. Did Cloud say anything about being late?

Just as she was about to check her mails, however, the door to the bar burst open, and there stood Cloud, in his dark coat, his blond hair disheveled. His appearance was so sudden that all nervousness and anxiety were driven away from Tifa’s mind.

“Cloud?” she exclaimed.

“Sorry, I—” He was breathless. His shoulders were slightly slumped, his chest heaving, as though he had run a mile. When he finally looked at her, she saw that his face was flushed, his jaws set, and with eyes that looked straight toward her, Cloud took several long strides until he reached the counter. But before she could do or say anything, he had procured from the pocket of his coat a single red rose, which he offered to her. “Happy Valentine’s Day!”

Tifa blinked once, or twice, absently taking the rose from Cloud’s fingers with a quiet thank you. It happened too fast. Her brain was still trying to catch up with the sudden change of events.

This wasn’t how it was supposed to happen, was it?

Her eyes were drawn toward the rose. A red rose, still fresh. Cloud had probably just bought it then. Or he could have plucked it somewhere in his rush to see her.

Tifa looked at him, really looked at him, and she realized the flush in his cheeks was more than due to exertion or the cold. The redness that had spread to his neck and ears, the pursed lips, the stiff back—Cloud had been nervous. Had he been too nervous that he ended up buying the rose on a whim? Had he bought it to alleviate his nervousness?

Whatever the reason was, Cloud’s unexpected gift made her giggle.

Her laugh seemed to unwind some tension off of him and Cloud looked at her in confusion. “Tifa?”

“Sorry, it’s just—” Tifa smiled. “Shouldn’t I be the one to give you something on Valentine’s Day?”

“Ah—” Cloud said, as though he had completely forgotten about that and the realization made him blush even more.

Tifa couldn’t stop herself. Her smile turned to a grin, which turned to a chuckle and a laugh. It seemed as though Cloud’s purpose in life was to make her laugh or smile to death because her heart was already filled to the brim with love for this awkward boy she had known all her life, and if he didn’t stop blushing, Tifa feared her love for him would spill and they wouldn’t know what to do with her.

Tifa placed the rose on the counter and gave him the yellow box of chocolate she had kept in the fridge. A simple yellow rectangular box with printed chocobo silhouettes, tied in a simple yellow ribbon. On its front was a handwritten card that said: Happy Valentine’s Day. Thank you for always being here with me.

Cloud looked at her, then at the box, before taking it in his hands and carefully undoing the ribbon. Inside were rows and rows of square blocks of chocolates of various colors: whites, blues, greens, yellows, reds, and dark chocolates, all forming a pixelated form of a chocobo standing on a grassy field under a vast blue sky, with the characters I, heart, and U on the side.

“Did you make this?”

“Is it weird?”

Cloud shook his head and when he looked at her, she saw him smile the brightest smile he had ever given her that made time seem to stop. Aerith was right. It was the most precious thing Tifa had ever seen.

“This is the best thing ever,” he said, and he pulled her into a quiet kiss, before whispering, “Thank you.”

~ END ~

#cloticonfessions2020 #cloti #final fantasy #final fantasy vii #fanfiction #my fanfiction #my story #ff fanfic #ff7 fanfic

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