Chapter Text
Tifa pressed sweet kisses to the random freckles dotting Cloud's shoulders, delighting in the shy little huffs of laughter he let out as she drug her lips over his skin. She cinched her arms around his waist when he moved to wiggle away from her. Although, where he thought he was going, she wasn't sure. The two of them barely fit on her tiny bed. He was going to wiggle himself off into the floor if he kept at it.
"And where do you think you're going, hmm?" She coos in his ear, pulling him tighter against her, starting to pepper tickly kisses over his nape and up his neck. Huffing a laugh of her own when Cloud squeaked and buried his face in the mattress.
"Tifa!" Cloud whined, amusement and embarrassment clear in his voice. He squirmed in her hold. His ears turning an absolutely lovely shade of pink.
"Yes?" She asks, voice coy, nuzzling her nose into the side of his neck. Warmth and happiness building in her chest in a way it hadn't in years.
"Quit it!" He pleads, choking on a giggle when her fingers danced over his stomach.
"Mmm… Nope, don't think I will." Tifa says, smacking a quick kiss to the tender spot behind Cloud's ear. Very much liking his shaky little inhale as she did so.
"You're evil."
"I am indeed but, should you really be saying that to me within tickling range?"
Tifa smirked cheekily when Cloud froze against her, realizing his mistake too late. She digs her fingers into his belly - relishing the shriek of laughter that burst out of him. He doesn't laugh or smile enough, it's a crime. She holds him tight as she continues her onslaught. He's pushing feebly at her hands but, he's not trying too terribly hard to get away from her. After all she's seen this man lift a car by himself. Cloud is more than strong enough to wrangle himself out of her arms if he wanted.
"Ok! Ok! I give!" Cloud sputters, ''Mercy Tifa pl-please!"
She hums thoughtfully, fingers skittering over his ribs, causing him to spasm and almost choke on his laughter. While knowing she should stop, Tifa almost doesn't want to. Seeing Cloud free of whatever darkness hung over him, laughing freely and finally looking his age, was such a rare thing she doesn't want it to end. He deserves to be happy, both of them do. Especially after that mess with the reactor.
Pulling her hands away Tifa pecks a kiss to his disheveled spikes, an apology for winding him like she did. Breathless giggles still escaping him when he rolled to face her, cheeks flushed and eyes sparkling. He looks radiantly happy. She melts.
That warmth swells in her chest again. Love and adoration filling her to the brim as she dips to kiss that smiling mouth. Hand coming up to cradle Cloud's head so Tifa could better slot their lips together. Languid, lazy, kisses leaving her warm and fuzzy when they broke apart.
"I love you." Tifa whispers, pressing their foreheads together. Watching with barely contained joy as Cloud's face lit up.
"Love you too, Teef." He says softly. Glowing eyes half lidded and shy.
The smile on her face has stretched so wide Tifa can feel her cheeks ache as she wraps him in a tight hug. Feeling Cloud's arms snake around her stomach she's filled with peace for the first time in a long time. Life wasn't perfect by any stretch of the imagination but, as long as she had Cloud by her side, she was more than ready to face whatever the Planet could throw at her.