[ She was worried too, that he wouldn't show. Not so much that he'd stand her up, but that he'd get too uncomfortable and take a rain check, and then she'd never get him to agree again.
Which would be okay. He was allowed to do that. He didn't owe her anything.
But he's there, and -- oh wow, he's in a button down and slacks, and she's not sure if it's actually flattering on him or not. Somehow it looks even more like a generic uniform than his SOLDIER clothes, and it's like he recedes a little, almost like it's saying don't look at me.
But she's also so ridiculously happy that he's here and that he tried that her chest hurts with the force of her feelings. She's breathless as she watches him look her over, and her stomach does flips. Is he -- checking her out?
For a moment, the image of him naked and sweating flashes in her mind, and it's all she can do to hold her gaze steady, praying she isn't blushing. That's not fair. They weren't themselves. And whatever he's doing now, it doesn't make her feel like a piece of meat, or even the same as that night. It's gentler and more affectionate.
Friends.
She can set the pang of disappointment aside. It's not his fault she has feelings and he doesn't. That's normal. It happens all the time. This is more than she was promised, and she's going to enjoy it, because she cares about him no matter what they are. ]
Thanks. They're busier than I expected.
[ He's hard to get talking sometimes, when he's aloof like this. That's okay. She can give him his space. What she can't do is stand too close, because then she's going to start thinking about the fact that he looks really cute in a teen-boy-at-a-dance way, but also in a you-have-beautiful-shoulders way, and that's not okay. She's not making this weird.
The waitress leads them in, and Tifa doubts her choice for a moment. It is a little romantic, and that wasn't her intent but...it was still better than the other choices.
The menu gives her something to latch onto, because her hands are suddenly sweaty and she wants to stare at her feet. But when Cloud speaks, her eyes fly up like she was waiting on him this whole time. Maybe she was.
And then she's smiling, bright-eyed and girlish. She's been called beautiful so many times, but he isn't the kind of guy to just say that stuff. ]
You do too. I'm impressed.
[ She bites her lips. Was that condescending? ]
It's been...better than the first day. My room is nice. Nicer than my old apartment. And the people on our floor seem normal. It's better than--
[ She winces. She doesn't really want to talk about that, because she doesn't want him to know how bad it was, those first years, or how stupid she'd been. ]
no subject
Which would be okay. He was allowed to do that. He didn't owe her anything.
But he's there, and -- oh wow, he's in a button down and slacks, and she's not sure if it's actually flattering on him or not. Somehow it looks even more like a generic uniform than his SOLDIER clothes, and it's like he recedes a little, almost like it's saying don't look at me.
But she's also so ridiculously happy that he's here and that he tried that her chest hurts with the force of her feelings. She's breathless as she watches him look her over, and her stomach does flips. Is he -- checking her out?
For a moment, the image of him naked and sweating flashes in her mind, and it's all she can do to hold her gaze steady, praying she isn't blushing. That's not fair. They weren't themselves. And whatever he's doing now, it doesn't make her feel like a piece of meat, or even the same as that night. It's gentler and more affectionate.
Friends.
She can set the pang of disappointment aside. It's not his fault she has feelings and he doesn't. That's normal. It happens all the time. This is more than she was promised, and she's going to enjoy it, because she cares about him no matter what they are. ]
Thanks. They're busier than I expected.
[ He's hard to get talking sometimes, when he's aloof like this. That's okay. She can give him his space. What she can't do is stand too close, because then she's going to start thinking about the fact that he looks really cute in a teen-boy-at-a-dance way, but also in a you-have-beautiful-shoulders way, and that's not okay. She's not making this weird.
The waitress leads them in, and Tifa doubts her choice for a moment. It is a little romantic, and that wasn't her intent but...it was still better than the other choices.
The menu gives her something to latch onto, because her hands are suddenly sweaty and she wants to stare at her feet. But when Cloud speaks, her eyes fly up like she was waiting on him this whole time. Maybe she was.
And then she's smiling, bright-eyed and girlish. She's been called beautiful so many times, but he isn't the kind of guy to just say that stuff. ]
You do too. I'm impressed.
[ She bites her lips. Was that condescending? ]
It's been...better than the first day. My room is nice. Nicer than my old apartment. And the people on our floor seem normal. It's better than--
[ She winces. She doesn't really want to talk about that, because she doesn't want him to know how bad it was, those first years, or how stupid she'd been. ]
Than when I got to Midgar, at least.
[ She bumps his foot under the table. ]
I didn't have any friends there.