[ Tifa, somehow, has less experience than he does. She hasn't processed that the time she's spent with Nami or Mitsuru could count as a date. But the social rules have been ingrained in her since childhood. It's why she fussed so badly about what to wear, and why she's being so careful with her words and how much they touch.
She does notice how much more nicely he's dressed, staring a little too long with her chest tightening. She's...attracted to him. She can admit that, in this context. But there's something else too. He didn't know how to do this in Midgar, she's pretty sure, but she doesn't know. That space between them feels wider than ever. Did she misjudge him? Or had he learned this here, where their precariously crossed paths were hurtling away from each other again?
She couldn't think like that. He'd wanted to do this with her. That was all that mattered. Right?
It's easier, once they're seated. She sees that soft look in his eye and it calms her. They're still the same kids they always were. Even if it feels like, somehow, she's going to do the wrong thing and break everything they've managed to piece back together.
She's thankful for his teasing; it pulls her back to the present. ]
That makes two of us.
[ She smiles, but her throat is too tight to find more words. She needs to, though, because she knows its harder for him, and he asked her, so she should help-- ]
O-oh. [ She's staring at him, to the flower, and back to him. For a moment, it feels like this can't possibly be real, that she has to be in the throes of another dream.
But her dreams are never this detailed, and the surprise twists into a grin wide enough she ducks her head, embarrassed by her own enthusiasm as she takes it. Her heart is going wild and she's trying not to hide her face in her hands. Cloud got her a gift. He dressed up. He asked her on a date. Did he-- Had he been thinking about her--? ]
It's beautiful. Thank you. [ No pockets of her own, she tucks it behind her ear. She lifts her hand, like she's going to squeeze his thigh take his hand or something, but it falters mid gesture. She recovers by curling it into a fist, bumping him lightly on the shoulder. ] You look really nice, you know.
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She does notice how much more nicely he's dressed, staring a little too long with her chest tightening. She's...attracted to him. She can admit that, in this context. But there's something else too. He didn't know how to do this in Midgar, she's pretty sure, but she doesn't know. That space between them feels wider than ever. Did she misjudge him? Or had he learned this here, where their precariously crossed paths were hurtling away from each other again?
She couldn't think like that. He'd wanted to do this with her. That was all that mattered. Right?
It's easier, once they're seated. She sees that soft look in his eye and it calms her. They're still the same kids they always were. Even if it feels like, somehow, she's going to do the wrong thing and break everything they've managed to piece back together.
She's thankful for his teasing; it pulls her back to the present. ]
That makes two of us.
[ She smiles, but her throat is too tight to find more words. She needs to, though, because she knows its harder for him, and he asked her, so she should help-- ]
O-oh. [ She's staring at him, to the flower, and back to him. For a moment, it feels like this can't possibly be real, that she has to be in the throes of another dream.
But her dreams are never this detailed, and the surprise twists into a grin wide enough she ducks her head, embarrassed by her own enthusiasm as she takes it. Her heart is going wild and she's trying not to hide her face in her hands. Cloud got her a gift. He dressed up. He asked her on a date. Did he-- Had he been thinking about her--? ]
It's beautiful. Thank you. [ No pockets of her own, she tucks it behind her ear. She lifts her hand, like she's going to squeeze his thigh take his hand or something, but it falters mid gesture. She recovers by curling it into a fist, bumping him lightly on the shoulder. ] You look really nice, you know.