[ boundaries. they were defined by boundaries -- by invisible walls he'd never known how to breach. from their childhood to now, there'd been this liminal space they swam within, this bridge they could never traverse.

but her lips on his, the way her palm skates up his thigh, the remnants of warmth that traverse his body: it was a betrayal of all they'd ever known. and cloud finds himself utterly engrossed by every second of it, wanting desperately to claw for more.

she presses her body against him. they seep into each other, in a manner so unlike that hug they'd shared in midgar. not a thing born from consolation or grief, but earnest affection.

a moment rooted in joy, the one thing they were never allowed to have. cloud's arms inch forward and he embraces her, the movement easy and slow; his cheek settles against her head. ]

...Me too.

[ and then under his breath, a quiet, soft sentiment-- ]

I've...

[ a beat. ]

I've wanted this for awhile, Tifa.

[ fingers tuck a strand of hair behind her ear. ]

Maybe-- maybe it's... it's different here. Us. Our lives. What we're allowed to have.