Final Fantasy - All Series Fan Fiction ❯ Learning Curve Continuum ❯ Shooting Star ( Chapter 8 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

Disclaimer: Definitely not mine; always returned to Square Enix after they’ve been thoroughly wound up.

A/N: Playing hob with bits of Crisis Core and Dirge of Cerberus.  I figured that while Vincent knew about Jenova cells being used on Sephiroth due to his involvement with Lucrecia, he wouldn’t know if SOLDIER candidates were also being treated since he was already tucked up in his coffin by the time Hojo expanded the scope of his research.

I simply can’t believe that OG!Aerith ever really confused short, blond Cloud with tall, dark Zack, despite her assertion that they looked ‘exactly the same’.  Cloud at only 5’ 7” was barely four inches taller than she was, as opposed to the full foot enjoyed by 6’ 3” Zack.  Japanese ghosts traditionally lack feet, so that possibly knocked a few inches off Zack’s height in the scene near the end of ACC where he and Cloud are shown standing back-to-back.   

The number ‘four’ is considered bad luck in Japan, because it is pronounced the same as the word for ‘death’(shi).  Tifa and Cloud have therefore been assigned what amounts to the ‘Mortally Deadly’ Room at a ‘haunted inn’.  In practical terms, this means that you will rarely (if ever) find four items in one package in a Japanese market.  

Shogi is Japanese chess.

Warnings: Excessive amounts of f-bombs, since Cid has joined our happy band, and large dollops of fluff.

Bouquets to my wonderful betas, Kitsune13 and Ranuel.

Learning Curve Continuum
Chapter Eight: Shooting Star
Ô Ô Ô Ô Ô Ô Ô Ô Ô Ô Ô Ô Ô Ô Ô Ô Ô Ô Ô Ô Ô Ô Ô Ô Ô Ô Ô Ô Ô Ô

“Who the fucking hell made this goddamn fucking piss-water?”

“I did, ya fuckin’ asshole.”

“Dammit, Barret – ya gotta let the fucking tea leaves steep, man – don’t just wave ‘em over the fucking pot!”

“Not everyone likes to fuckin’ chew their tea, Cid.”

“Some people have no fucking appreciation for the finer things in life.”  Mightily affronted, the pilot took a drag on his cigarette.  Curling his lip, Cid inspected the sepia-toned contents of his mug, considered dumping it and then drank it anyways.  Shuddering, he lit a new cigarette off the old one before stubbing it out next to his boot, then inhaled deeply. “At least something tastes right.”  Casting a glance in Tifa’s direction, he amended, “Yer stew was mighty fine, Miz Tifa.  Shera could learn a thing’r two from ya.”

“Um, thanks,” Tifa answered, flashing him a quick smile before turning back to her conversation with Aerith.  The two women were sorting through a pile of materia, adjusting their arrays for maximum effectiveness after the last skirmish, while an abashed Yuffie polished her shuriken.  Ever since the debacle on Wutai, the teen had been positively subdued.  She was definitely trying to make amends for her brash thievery which had caused so much trouble  – but the longing looks she cast towards the glowing orbs made it clear she wasn’t entirely reformed.

As Barret and Cid continued profanely bickering, Cloud poked the fire, sending sparks twinkling up into the night air.   “They sound like an old married couple,” he muttered.  Beside him, Vincent and Nanaki made amused noises.

“So, we goin’ back to the Gold Saucer?” Yuffie abruptly asked.

“Reckon so, since Dio has the Keystone,” Cloud answered.

“It is more than likely a trap,” Nanaki growled, with a sideways glare at Cait, who was sensibly staying out of Barret and Cid’s discussion.

Cloud shrugged.  “We’ll assume so, since ShinRa’s still after us.  We’ll just have to watch ourselves.”

“That weapon seller seemed t’ be in control of hisself,” Barret pointed out, breaking off his wrangle with Cid.  “Unlike those poor bastards we found in Nibelheim.”

“Yeah, but his ‘sudden urge’ to dress in black seems a little too coincidental to dismiss.”

“He didn’t talk ‘bout no Reunion, though.”

“What is the Reunion, and how is Sephiroth connected to it?” Cid asked.

“That’s what we’re trying to find out.”

“Sephiroth was the ultimate SOLDIER; I wouldn’t be surprised if ShinRa tried to make more of them using his cells,” Aerith mused.

Heads swivelled.  “Y’mean... SOLDIERs might have a little bit o’ Sephiroth inside ‘em?” Barret demanded, shooting an appalled glance at Cloud.

Nanaki recoiled.  “I appear to be at greater risk of that than Cloud-san.”

She held up her hands.  “It’s only an idea!  But... those people in Nibelheim had been treated with something....”

“Jenova cells.”  Everyone stared at Vincent, who blandly continued, “Sephiroth was created by having Jenova cells injected into his body when he was still inside his mother’s womb.  If he was considered a success, Hojo would definitely suggest expanding the use of the treatment.”

“So I might have more than just mako inside me?”  Cloud stared into the embers.  

Tifa twitched; Aerith gripped her hand.  The research notes we found said that he’d been injected with Jenova cells… that’s probably why his eyes turn green when he gets too close to Sephiroth.  

Cloud was silent for several moments before setting his jaw.  “After I fought Sephiroth in the reactor and was wounded, I thought I was taken to a hospital - but after we ran into Hojo in Costa del Sol, now I think I might have been held in a laboratory.”

While Tifa, Aerith, Yuffie and Nanaki attempted to register the appropriate levels of surprise at this revelation, Barret asked, “Ya got any tattoos, Spiky?”

“No, but that might be because I’m from a different experiment.”

“Cloud could be correct,” Vincent said.  All eyes swung back his way.  “I also was a subject of Hojo’s experiments, and I do not bear any markings.”

Yuffie tilted her head, her polishing forgotten.  “What did he do to you?”

“I’m no longer fully human.”  If Vincent expected rejection, he was surprised at the singular lack of concern demonstrated by his audience – not that he showed it.

“Hell, Spiky definitely ain’t, an’ neither am I.”  Barret waved his gun-arm for emphasis.  “Welcome to the club.”

“More like a band of mutant brothers,” Vincent observed.

In the following lull, Nanaki ventured, “Your scent is an interesting mix, Vincent-san.  I have detected four exceptionally powerful entities inside your body.  What keeps them in check?”

Vincent bowed his head.  “The ProtoMateria, implanted by Lucrecia as I lay dying.  Hojo took over and put monsters inside me, thereby turning me into a monster as well.”

“No.”  Aerith’s voice rang out.  “I knew of another man who felt he was a monster because of ShinRa experiments... but he used the powers inside him to protect people.  That made him a hero, not a monster.”

Vincent examined Aerith with interest.  “Who was this man?”

“General Hewley of SOLDIER.”  Her eyes strayed to the sword casually jammed into the ground next to Cloud.  

He sat up straight.  “Hewley?”  

When Aerith nodded, Tifa stepped in.  “Do you recognize that name?” she asked.  

“One of my aunts down on Mideel married a Hewley,” Cloud said dismissively before turning to Vincent.  “These entities inside you... do they ever talk to you?”

While Tifa held her breath, Vincent examined his gauntlet, the firelight reflecting off the curved surfaces.  “Sometimes,” he allowed.  “Throughout my long sleep, they kept me company.”  He glanced up.  “I must warn you that if they are ever loosed in battle, I may not be able to control them.”

Barret’s eyebrow arched.  “Anythin’ we can do to help ya?”

“No.  Stay out of my way until I exhaust myself and return to normal.”

“Thanks for the warnin’.”

Cid broke off mid-snore to let out a hearty chuckle.  “Whatta buncha numbskulls!”

“Now, don’t give me that look, boy.  I’m being entirely reasonable,” Dio said blandly, twirling his moustache.

Cloud continued glaring.  “If you’re stalling just so ShinRa can get their hands on us....”

“No, no, no, my boy.  I have a full house right now, and a series of challenge matches in Battle Arena will be good for business.”

“You better not be lying.”  The flat tone was loaded with threats of painful reprisal.

“You have my word.”  Dio rubbed his hands.  “Be at Battle Square in an hour – don’t be late!”

Cid curled his lip as the overly-tanned proprietor of the Gold Saucer strode away, his red bikini-clad bottom jiggling with every step.  “You’d think ShinRa would fucking pay him enough to afford proper fucking clothes.”

“Shit.  Looks like we have to play this his way,” Cloud groused, scrubbing his face.

Aerith rolled her eyes.  “Aren’t you forgetting someone?”

“Huh?”

She beckoned to Yuffie.  “Perfect opportunity for you to demonstrate your skills, ninja-girl.  Steal the Keystone and we’re on our way.”

The teen practically bounced.  “You got it!”

“Wait a minute, lassie!  I have a grand idea!”  Cait quailed a little under the combined weight of scepticism, but forged ahead.  “Cloud has the chance to win not only the Keystone but other valuable prizes, which can be sold for gil.  It’d be like ShinRa payin’ for their own defeat!”

“Could we cash you in?” Aerith asked, her voice syrupy-sweet.  

Cait didn’t miss a beat.  “Ye’d miss me charmin’ personality!”

“Fuzzbutt has a point,” Barret rumbled, a gleam in his eye.  “If’n we have to work for the Keystone, might as well get as much as we can for the effort.”

“What’s this ‘we’ crap?” Cloud demanded petulantly.  “I’m the one doin’ all of the work here!”

“That was some fine sword-swingin’, kid!” Cid crowed, clapping Cloud on the shoulder.  “Never seen nothin’ like it!”

“Whatever.  Barret?  Can you carry this thing?”

“Sure, Spiky.”  The big man easily fielded the awkwardly-shaped chunk of stone while Cloud divided the prizes between his and Tifa’s knapsacks.

“Just in case Dio has something up his sleeve, let’s get outta here,” he ordered, shouldering his bag and helping Tifa with hers.

“Don’t you mean ‘down his shorts’?” Yuffie smirked.

“Really don’t wanna think about what Dio might or might not have in his shorts,” Cloud growled, leading the way to the tram, where they discovered a harried attendant trying to calm a crowd.  Pushing his way through the grumbling patrons, he confronted the young staff member.  “Is there a problem?”

“I’m terribly sorry, sir,” he nervously replied.  “The Tram has broken down.”  The swordsman’s expression remained stony, but a fair eyebrow slowly quirked upwards and the youth broke out in a cold sweat.  “A crew is replacing the rope, but the Tram won’t be back in service until tomorrow morning at the earliest.”  

The crowd behind Cloud became restless, and the attendant gulped.  Just then, the phone in his booth rang and he practically dove for the receiver.  A brief conversation ensued, and he emerged all smiles.  “Ladies and gentlemen, the management of the Gold Saucer has generously offered their valued customers free overnight accommodations at the Ghost Inn.” The threatening tone of the crowd instantly shifted and they began excitedly discussing the unexpected bonus.

Cloud turned back to his group with a sardonic expression.  “Looks like we’re stuck.”

Aerith suddenly looked rather sly.  “Might as well make the best of it!”

“I appreciate your understanding, Tifa.”

Yuffie frowned as she looked back and forth between the two women.  “I don’t get it.  Why’re you taking Cloud on a date, and why is Tifa okay with it?”

Aerith patted Tifa’s shoulder as she turned to face the teen.  “When I first met Cloud, I hired him as my bodyguard for the price of one date.  This is the first time I’ve been able to make good on that agreement.”

“Oh, really?”

“I also have to make my mind up about a few things, and spending some time alone with him will help.”

Yuffie’s eyebrow twitched.  “You sure you’re all right with this, Tifa?”

The other woman managed a strained smile.  “It’s fine.  Remember what we talked about at Cosmo Canyon?  This relates to Aerith’s concerns.”

“You said that you found proof that he and Zack were experimented on when we were in Nibelheim, right?  What else do you need to know?”

“I’ll tell you once I’m back.”  Aerith touched the black ribbon tied around her throat and squeezed Tifa’s shoulder again.  “I won’t be long.”

Once the door closed behind the mage, Yuffie gave Tifa a searching look; the other woman avoided it by beginning to remove her armour.  “What if she hurts him?”

“Wh-what do you mean?”

Flopping down on one of the beds, the teen said, “She still thinks Cloud might have killed Zack, and she – we - know stuff about Cloud that he doesn’t.  What if she cracks open his memories and he breaks?”

“She might... but I doubt she will,” Tifa murmured.  “She doesn’t want ShinRa or Sephiroth to harm the Planet, and Cloud is still the best chance to defeat both of them.”

“Point.  What do you think of Vincent?”

“Noble and very tragic at the same time.  I think he’s too hard on himself.”

“He’s too quiet.”

“Cid makes up for him.”

Yuffie rolled over, cackling delightedly, and watched the fake rain trickling down the windows.  ‘Thunder’ shook the room, quickly followed by a ‘lightning flash’, and then a quavering moan drifted through the air.  She sat up just as the candles guttered in a chilling draft, like the touch of a ghostly hand.  “That’s gonna get old real quick,” she muttered, and started the hunt for wiring.

“Ooh, nice job!  How’d you manage to convince Tifa to let you do that?”

“Easy.  We were both bored – but not enough to go hang out with the boys,” Yuffie replied, tying off the elaborate braid with a length of fraying blue ribbon.  “Besides, Cid’s cigarettes make my eyes water.  How was your date?”

“We already know Cloud’s a good actor, but he’s also quite the dancer – he can pirouette with the best of them!”  When Tifa and Yuffie stared at her, Aerith giggled merrily as she sat down on the other side of the bed.  

“Did you get Cloud drunk?” the teen demanded.

“No, not at all!  He willingly agreed to take part – it was quite the show!”

Yuffie and Tifa exchanged looks; the teen grinned toothily.  “This, we gotta hear.”

After the Event Square shenanigans had been described and the laughter subsided, Aerith folded her hands in her lap; alerted by the change in her demeanour, Tifa and Yuffie gave her their full attention.  “It’s almost eerie how much Cloud reminds me of Zack,” she began.  “That little swagger in his step, the way he phrases things – even some of his gestures are exactly the same.  Cloud must have imprinted on him like a Chocobo chick.”

“He has the hair for it,” Yuffie snickered.

Even Tifa tittered, but quickly sobered when Aerith said, “It’s also obvious that Cloud worshipped Zack, if he took on his mannerisms so thoroughly.”  Smoothing her skirt over her knees, she held the other woman’s anxious gaze. “I don’t believe Cloud killed him... but he saw Zack die.”

“Did you ask him about it?” Tifa hesitantly queried.

“No, but I’ve noticed that he has some trigger words.”

“Such as...?”

“When I mentioned the Buster Sword before we visited Nibelheim – Cloud did a lousy job of pretending he wasn’t going to be violently ill.”

Tifa nodded slowly.  “In Nibelheim, he brought up a friend who had a ‘steady girl’; when I asked him if it was the same one who had died a few months ago, he blacked out.”

“He musta been completely freaked by Zack’s death,” Yuffie commented.

Aerith pursed her lips.  “Cloud’s been traumatized so many times, it’s no wonder his brain is scrambled. I wonder how long it will take him to make a full recovery?”  Straightening, she briskly clapped her hands.  “Right.  Out of those pyjamas, Tifa.”

“For what?”

“Your hot date with Cloud.”

“Wh-what?”

Green eyes sparkling with mischief, Aerith swooped on her knapsack and began rummaging through it.  “I’ve been saving something for an opportunity like this… where did I put that... ah-ha!”  She triumphantly displayed a crumpled pale skirt and a dark top.

“They’re, er, really pretty, Aerith,” Tifa said honestly, noting the way the skirt’s fabric shimmered in the candlelight.  “But I, um, don’t think they’re going to fit me.”

“Silly - I bought them because they’re your size.”

“What?”

Aerith gave the startled woman a very direct look.  “Honestly, Tifa – it doesn’t hurt to dress up once in awhile and remind the boys that you’re more than just a great fighter.”

“But… but… Cloud just went on a date – with you!  He’s hardly going to want to go back out again with me!” she protested.

“I suspect he’d be up for it.  Besides, he may want to talk about some of the things I said to him – and you’re the only one he trusts.”  Aerith shook out the long skirt, critically eyeing the wrinkles.  “Yuffie, see if the front desk has an iron.”

“But… wait… I haven’t agreed to go!”

“Why are you kicking up a fuss about going out with Cloud?” Yuffie asked, deeply puzzled.  “You sleep with him every chance you get.”

“We don’t… I mean, we do… but we aren’t doing anything!”

“We know,” Aerith said, sighing theatrically.  After the laughing teen bounded out the door in search of the requested iron, Aerith waited patiently for Tifa to turn a less-fiery shade of red before saying, “You deserve a little fun – why not enjoy yourself tonight?  All the attractions are free, probably because the Tram broke down... although they’re calling it ‘Enchantment Night’.”

“I, er....”

“Oh, come on.  Here... these might pinch a little, but you can’t wear those boots.”

Tifa looked askance at the satin-trimmed flats; Aerith took advantage of her distraction to snag the scruffy ribbon out of her coiffure and replace it with a new one out of her knapsack.  Dropping the narrow strip of blue silk into one of the maligned boots, she held out the dark top with an encouraging smile.  “I just know that you’re going to leave Cloud speechless!”

“I can’t believe that you’ve been lugging clothing for someone else around the Planet ‘just in case’!” Tifa muttered.

Aerith’s expression became serious.  “Never turn down a chance to spend time with someone you care about, Tifa, because we don’t know what tomorrow may bring.”

Tifa stilled as the words sank in, then reached for the top.  “Good advice.  Thank you – for everything.”

“Back off, Barret.  I didn’t do anything with Aerith - except humiliate myself in public,” Cloud growled, throwing his gloves and armour onto the mattress with a little more force than necessary; his gauntlet bounced right off the edge and rolled under Cid’s bed.

“It jus’ ain’t right, steppin’ out with another gal,” the big man muttered crossly.

Stripping off his sweater, the swordsman irritably pointed out, “For the record, she asked me.  It isn’t polite to refuse a lady.”

“Did you enjoy your evening with Aerith-sama?” Nanaki gravely inquired.

“Sure – I guess.  Never a dull moment when she’s around.”  Glancing around the room, he noted how the rest of his team didn’t seem to be worried about the prospect of attack.  “Who’s up first to stand watch?”

Cid negligently waved his cigarette; Cloud did his best to not cough.  The pilot was engaged in a cutthroat game of poker with Vincent and Cait, but didn’t miss a beat as he declared, “ShinRa ain’t gonna rumble payin’ customers – it’s bad for business.”

“I’m not that confident.”

“You worry too much, boss.”

Cloud’s reply was lost in a purposeful rapping on the door.  Barret reached over and opened it then stepped aside as Aerith bustled in; she made a bee-line for Cloud.  “Oh, good - you’re still dressed... well, half-dressed... oh, my....”  He was taken aback when the mage stepped right up and closely inspected his bare chest.  “That’s a rather impressive collection of scars... especially this one.”  Lightly touching the vertical mark below his sternum, she asked, “Is this where Sephiroth...?”

“Yeah.  Did you want something?”

Aerith smiled brightly.  “I have a surprise for you.”

“A... surprise?” he warily asked, then demanded, “Please tell me you didn’t pick up another damn stuffed cat!”

Chortling, she answered, “Something much better than that!  Put your clothes back on, and I’ll show you.”  Grudgingly obeying, Cloud pulled on his sweater and followed Aerith out into the hallway... and stopped dead, his mouth briefly falling open before curving in a smirk.   

Tifa fidgeted under his appreciative gaze, her slender fingers twisting together, unable to hide behind her hair because it had been braided away from her face. The demure neckline of her top perfectly framed the delicate notch at the base of her throat, but he caught a tantalizing glimpse of the plunging back when she turned to say something to a madly-grinning Yuffie.  Her long skirt rustled silkily as she moved, bringing his attention to her slim ankles and feet, the latter looking almost naked in girlish flats instead of her heavy boots.

“Well?  Doesn’t she look terrific?” Aerith prodded.

“Absolutely,” Cloud replied, ignoring their ogling teammates spilling out of the doorway behind him to step forward and offer his hand to the blushing young woman.  Kissing Tifa’s trembling fingers, he smiled just for her before drawling cheekily, “Don’t wait up.”  Serenaded by a cheerful chorus of cat-calls and wolf-whistles, he escorted the young woman towards the staircase.

“I wonder where they sourced this wine from?” Tifa mused, savouring her last mouthful as she relaxed in the dimly-lit lounge’s plush seating.

“Wouldn’t be hard to find out,” Cloud replied, swirling the melting ice cubes in his tumbler.  “What for?”

“Well... once all this is over, I’d like to rebuild the 7th Heaven,” she shyly confessed.

“Really?”

“We’ll need a place to live, and a way to earn a living, right?”

“Huh.  Don’t think I’m cut out to wait on tables.”

“A bouncer?”

“Too short.”  He chuckled lightly.  “Not intimidating enough.”

“I can think of a few of our opponents who would beg to differ.”

He drew circles on her palm with a fingertip, smiling quietly in a way that gave her goose bumps.  “What would you like to do next?”

“Um… how about the Chocobo races?”

“Feeling lucky, are you?”

Sliding her hand into his as they stood up, Tifa murmured, “Very much so.”


“How the hell were you able to pick them so easily?”

Tifa made sure her winnings were securely zipped into the wallet she’d had to buy.  “I just chose the birds with the brightest eyes!” she exclaimed giddily.

“Brightest eyes?”

“The ones who looked like they were really excited about racing – that wanted to be there.”

“What was that black Chocobo’s name?  Teioh?  He was really something.”

Tifa elbowed Cloud in the ribs.  “Thinking about going into speciality Chocobo breeding?”

“Maybe,” he genially agreed, sliding his arm around her shoulders in a gesture equal parts protective and possessive.  “What next?”

Her eye was caught by movement above their heads.  “How about a Gondola ride?”

“What an amazing view!”

“Sure is.”

Tifa shot Cloud a look over her shoulder, ready to swat him for leering, but he appeared to be giving the fireworks display his entire attention.  Since he was distracted, she took a moment to admire his masculine sprawl as he lounged on the opposite bench, his arms draped across the back of the seat and his posture completely relaxed.

I really hate to maybe spoil this moment with an awkward discussion, but I doubt a better one will come along soon.  Climbing down from the seat and seating herself in a more lady-like manner, Tifa found herself copying Aerith’s mannerisms and smoothing the long skirt over her legs.

“Something on your mind?”

She managed to not jump – again – at Cloud’s apparent mind-reading abilities.  Suck it up, Lockhart.  “There’s so much I want to say to you, but I don’t know how or where to start....”  Attempting to gain a few more seconds to gather her thoughts by hiding behind the curtain of her hair, she mentally cursed Yuffie’s handiwork as the braid again foiled her intentions.

Cloud said nothing, but out of the corner of her eye, she saw his boots shift further apart before he slid across the floor of the gondola on his knees.  His warm fingers trailed across her cheeks, lightly traced her ears before gently cupping the back of her head, his blue eyes dark and intense.  “You don’t always have to use words,” he murmured and pulled her into a deep, sensuous kiss.

Winding her arms around his neck, Tifa gave up trying to hold onto her train of thought and instead concentrated on the joys of kissing Cloud.  A small groan escaped him when she teased his tongue with her own, and a moment after that, she was on his lap on the other side of the gondola.  Barely letting each other breathe, they both seemed intent on fitting themselves as closely together as possible while not breaking the contact between their lips.  The heat between them rose, stoked by every kiss, every soft sound of pleasure.  Boldly exploring new territory, Cloud nibbled along her jaw, nuzzling the delicate skin in front of her ear, while slowly stroking up her leg until he reached her knee.  

When she tilted her head back and let out a breathy moan at the feel of his lips on her throat, one hand tangled in her hair to keep her there while the other snaked up under the long skirt to cup the back of her thigh, his fingertips tracing the trim of her panties.  Tifa tensed slightly, but then relaxed when the questing touch withdrew… while becoming acutely aware of the hard length tenting the front of Cloud’s trousers and pressing against her hip.  Oh, my goodness…!  She wasn’t entirely clueless about her effect on him, but every other time they’d reached this point, they’d both pulled back.  I’m not ready – yet – to take this to the next level.  Well... maybe one or two levels beyond this one, but not all the way!

Cloud appeared to sense her mental distancing, because his hands returned to neutral areas and his kisses became less aggressive… for a few moments.  Tifa squeaked in surprise when he crushed her against him, his face buried in the soft crook of her neck.  “Stay with me tonight,” he rasped, his lips brushing her skin with every word.  “We don’t have to… do anything, but I want to be near you.”  He paused, then a pleading note entered his tone.  “I need to be near you.  Please.”

Common sense told her to refuse, but something in the desperate way he was holding her and the tremor in his voice overrode her concerns.  “Of course,” she whispered, hugging him close.

His entire body slumped as he exhaled.  “Thank you.”  The steady pace of the gondola slowed, alerting them to its imminent arrival at the station.  Cloud raised Tifa to her feet, and after they’d straightened their clothing, he helped her to smooth the wrinkles out of her skirt.  A steadying hand pressed against the small of her back, they waited in silence for the gondola to sway to a complete stop.  Tifa briefly leaned her head against his shoulder before they stepped off, then laced her fingers with his as they headed back to the Station.

Cloud kissed her cheek during the short transit to the Ghost Inn; they both ignored the spectres floating above the tombstones in the ‘graveyard’ and the ominous ‘thunder’ as they made their way up the crooked stairs to the building’s massive iron-bound doors.  Once inside the lobby, Tifa faltered a little as Cloud strode up to the reception desk, but he tightened his grip on her fingers and prevented her from hanging back.  When the ‘undead’ clerk stood up to wait on them, she managed a shaky smile when Cloud requested a room for two.

The heavy pancake make-up around his eyes crinkled as the clerk closely inspected them before asking, “Mr. and Mrs. Strife?”

While Tifa turned bright red, Cloud didn’t bat an eyelash as he calmly answered, “That’s us.”

“Your friends reserved a room for you… and left this.”  Heaving a battered knapsack onto the counter, he checked off a square on a floor layout of the building.  “Room 4444.  No charge.”

“Thanks.”  Cloud slung the bag over his shoulder and steered Tifa past the shogi-playing ghosts, then up the spiralling staircase to the third floor.  Tifa had a brief moment to reconsider when they passed the landing of the floor where the rest of their team was staying, but she tamped down on her nervousness.  As he guided her up the less-dizzying flight to the attic floors, ‘lightning’ crackled outside the arched window at the top of the stairs and the end of the corridor, illuminating the artistically placed cobwebs and a clockwork rat scuttling across the ‘stone’ floor.

Cloud squinted at the nearest torch-lit room number, then tugged her after him.  “We’re further down.”

“With a room number like ours, don’t you wish you had your sword?”

“Make-believe shit like this doesn’t scare me.  A Midgar Zolom?  Now that’s scary.”  Half-way down the hall, they stopped in front of a door and he dumped the knapsack into her arms.  “I’ll go in first, because I wouldn’t put it past ‘em to booby-trap the place.”

“The management?  Isn’t that their, er, job?”

A fair eyebrow slowly arched.  “I meant our teammates.”

“Oh – right.”

“Aerith musta cast Sleepel on Barret to stop him from lying in wait for me with a Nail Bat.”  Tifa giggled nervously as Cloud barged through the door.  His movement unleashed a blood-curdling – and obviously pre-recorded – shriek.  After a couple of minutes of banging and cursing, during which she could’ve slipped away but chose not to, Cloud opened the panel and beckoned her inside.  “Might have to use some of the Gold Points you won to pay for the repairs.”

“Yuffie disabled the special effects in our room, too... is that a vampire?” she asked incredulously as she stepped across the threshold, examining a fangy mannequin draped in a tattered black cape dangling from Cloud’s fist.

“It was rigged to drop onto the bed from the underside of the canopy.”  As she inspected the lace-draped four-poster bed, Cloud shoved the prop into the closet.  “I cut all the wires, so aside from the ‘storm’ outside, we should be good.”  His tense stance finally relaxed, and he smiled crookedly as he ran his hand through his hair, suddenly appearing boyish and uncertain.  “Bathroom’s through there, if you wanna get ready for, um, bed.”

Blushing furiously, Tifa nodded and hastened into the bathroom.  Closing the door, she checked out the luxurious fittings, which included a multi-branched candelabrum next to the claw-footed tub, with only half her attention as she opened the knapsack.  I hope the girls packed my hairbrush!  However, the first item her hand encountered was most definitely not a personal grooming implement.  What’s this...?  It was a richly-hued nightgown, more lace than silk, and Tifa’s cheeks flared anew as she imagined Cloud’s reaction to her appearance in the blatantly sensual confection.   An envelope was pinned to the dainty shoulder strap; tilting it towards the light, she read:

The envelope contained several small, square packages and Tifa nearly choked when she realized what they contained.  The included note read:

Mortified, Tifa stuffed the envelope and the nightgown back into the knapsack.  I can’t wear that!  Because we are not going to need those... and... and... I am so going to kill Aerith.  Sitting back on her heels, she mentally flailed for a few more minutes before deciding to see what other ‘goodies’ the mage had provided.  She almost cheered in relief when she discovered her comfortable, not-sexy pyjamas under Cloud’s spare sweater – until she saw the note attached to them.

Tifa sat stock still for a long moment, then glared at the note.  She thinks she knows me so well… darn it, I’m going to prove her wrong!  Determinedly stripping off the borrowed clothing, she retrieved the nightgown; removing the envelope, she shoved it down to the very bottom of the knapsack.  Pulling the gown over her head, she was immediately seduced by the way the fabric whispered against her skin.  Freeing the length of her hair while rising to her feet, Tifa caught sight of herself in the gold-framed oval mirror over the sink and paused.  

Looking back was a beautiful woman, her dark hair artfully swept back from her delicate features, wearing an exquisite lace negligee that tastefully showcased her feminine curves.  Is that… me…?  Swallowing hard, Tifa smoothed the gown over her hips and briefly contemplated her bare toes peeping from beneath the lacy hem.  Straightening, she examined her elegant appearance more closely… and experienced a surge of confidence that carried her back into the bedroom before she could have second thoughts.