Intoxication Part 2/5 [Cloud/Tifa, AU, R]

[ocvalkyrie.livejournal.com]

Title: Intoxication Part 2/5

Author: Valk

Rating: R

Warnings: Language, sex, deception, politics

Word Count: 15,501

Prompt: Cloud/Tifa, Remedy, “If you are the poison…”

A/N: So, here’s part two… Not much else to say…



Cloud got out of his car and walked around to open the passenger door for Tifa. She stepped out and smiled shyly at him. He raised an eyebrow at her as he helped her to her feet. “Are you okay?”

 

“Um, yeah… I just… Can I be completely honest with you?”

 

“Of course.”

 

“I’m just a little nervous… I’ve never been on a date with a Cabinet member before.”

 

He smiled and started walking for the door, still holding her hand. “There’s nothing to be nervous about. Underneath all the formalities and military experience, I’m just a regular guy.”

 

“But, still… You’re famous.”

 

“Don’t worry. The press doesn’t care as much for Cabinet members as they do for elected officials or recreational celebrities. Especially since I’m still single. No scandal for them to build off of. If anything, we’ll be in a small corner of a magazine or something. Nothing drastic.”

 

“Okay… If you’re sure…”

 

“I am. Come on, those reservations won’t fill themselves.”

 

She let out a giggle and gave him a mock salute. “Yes, Sir!”

 

He laughed as they started into the fancy restaurant for dinner. Cloud walked over to the podium and spoke to the maître d’, “Reservations for Strife.”

 

The maître d’ smiled warmly and picked up two menus. “This way, Sir; Ma’am.”

 

Cloud and Tifa walked after the woman and took their seats at a secluded table in the corner. About an hour later, they had their food ordered and in front of them while they made small-talk. Without much warning, Cloud reached out and set his hand on top of hers. She looked up in surprise and swallowed her food before asking, “Wha-?”

 

He averted his gaze slightly but kept his hand on hers. “Tifa, I’m curious… Do you see us having a second date?”

 

She blinked. “Huh?”

 

“You heard me… Do you see us on a second date?”

 

“Well, uh, I…”

 

He fell back in his seat. “You don’t, do you?”

 

“No, that’s not what I was going to say. It’s just… I thought this kind of was our second date.”

 

He sat up again at the renewal of hope. “You think so? I mean, last night was more of an introduction to me…”

 

She giggled. “Well, we were dancing awfully close for it to not be a date…”

 

“Alright, fine. Do you see us having a third date?”

 

“And fourth, and fifth, and sixth…”

 

He smirked and leaned closer to her. “Exactly what I was hoping to hear.”

 

When their dinner was done and Cloud paid the check, they stood up to leave. They walked out into the humid summer weather and back over to his car before getting in. He drove the route he’d memorized earlier that evening and pulled into the parking lot outside Tifa’s apartment. After pulling into an open space near the door, he shifted to park and let out a laugh as fat raindrops started to splatter against the windows. “You think it’s an omen? Our first real date and it rains?”

 

She giggled. “I happen to believe that rain symbolizes new beginnings.”

 

Cloud was silent for a moment as he thought about it. “Huh. I like your version better.”

 

She laughed again before falling to silence for a moment. “So, I guess I should go in…”

 

He opened the lock on the door and pulled the keys out. “I’ll walk you up.”

 

“You don’t have to… I mean, I don’t want your suit to get ruined in the rain.”

 

“Oh, come now… If this is our ‘new beginning,’ then we should go enjoy it together.”

 

“Aw, aren’t you romantic.”

 

He only smiled in response before climbing out of the car and into the rain. Tifa stepped out to join him and walked around the car to lead him up to the door. She pulled her keys out of her multi-colored knit shoulder bag that served as her purse and started to fiddle with them while walking beside him.

 

Cloud reached out and grabbed hold of her arm to stop her. She turned to face him, hair drenched in the rain by now, and stared at him with wide eyes as he pulled her closer to him. He moved one hand up to push her hair back behind her ear while his eyes flicked back and forth, searching hers.

 

She sucked a breath in between her teeth as he started to lean closer, slowly covering her lips with his. Her arms moved up to wrap around his shoulders and pull him to her as his free hand moved up behind her waist. His palm pressed against her back and held her there while the rain continued to plummet down around them.

 

He pulled back after a minute and slowly opened his eyes to take in the faint blush on her cheeks. His arm slid away from her waist, causing her to stumble a little out of dizziness. On instinct alone, his hands moved to catch her arms and keep her steady as she kept her gaze locked on his. He swallowed and whispered, “I’m sorry… Should I not have done that…?”

 

She continued to stare for a few moments before finally finding her voice, “I… Cloud…”

 

He continued to watch her. “Tifa?”

 

“I…” She shook her head. “No, Cloud… I mean, yes! I mean… I…” Giving her head another shake, she jumped forward and pressed her mouth to his.

 

He went with it, kissing her back hungrily. As if on a queue, they broke it off simultaneously and looked at one another tenderly.

 

“So, ah…” Cloud scratched his head. “I’ll call you?”

 

She looked down at the toes of her heels. “Uh, yeah. That sounds good.”

 

“I should head home…”

 

“I need to get upstairs and feed my fish…”

 

“I have an early day and need to sleep…”

 

“I’ll see you later, right?”

 

“Yeah, I’ll call tomorrow, okay?”

 

“Sure. Sounds good.”

 

They stood there in awkward silence before exchanging one last glance and going their own ways. Cloud slipped back into his car and watched as Tifa opened the door and, after casting another glance, smile, and wave over her shoulder, disappeared inside.

 

~^~^~

 

Tifa leaned back in the swiveling papasan chair in her apartment with a cigarette between her fingers, using her foot on the leg of the coffee table to push herself back and forth. She raised the tobacco to her lips and inhaled, relishing in the feel of it racing down into her lungs.

 

“Aren’t you supposed to be kicking that habit for this job?”

 

She didn’t bother to turn in the direction of the voice and replied, “Shut up, Thief. I’ll smoke if I damn well want to.”

 

“But what if that target sees you? Surely he wouldn’t be pleased to see his girlfriend smoking her lungs to hell.”

 

“Fuck you, Thief. I just need to relax.”

 

“You’re not getting too attached, are you?”

 

“Hell, no. A job’s a job. I’ll finish this one just as cleanly as I’ve done all the others.”

 

“But it’s already been a week… You’ve got nothing to show for it except a few measly dates.”

 

“Cloud Strife is not an easy man to manipulate. He’s got nine years of military training under his belt plus a thick government paycheck to pay for any and all private investigators he might feel like hiring. This job is going to take time and I assured First before we even started. The result will be worth it, though, if we can get our hands on those codes.”

 

~^~^~

 

Cloud walked up the stairs beside Tifa on their way to his apartment. Their fingers stayed loosely linked, hanging between them as he gently pulled her along. “Hey, Tifa… How’s your job going?”

 

She smiled and tucked a piece of hair behind her ear. “I just started, so I’m still in training, but it’s really been great! I’m so excited to be working there!”

 

“Mm. I’m sorry I won’t be able to see you at all. There are regulations against relationships in the office…”

 

“That’s okay. I’m happy spending these nights with you.”

 

“Tifa…” He chuckled softly. “We’ve only been together for three weeks, but I feel so close to you already.”

 

“You know, when I went to that gala, all I was looking for was a job. I didn’t expect to meet you and… um, start dating you.”

 

Cloud stopped and turned to face her, moving to run his free hand through her hair. “And… do you regret it?”

 

“Dating you?”

 

He nodded. “Yeah.”

 

“Not at all.” She slipped her hands up to circle his shoulders and leaned closer, touching her forehead to his. “I’ve never been happier.”

 

Both of his hands came up to settle around her waist as he whispered, “Good.” He angled his chin so he could lean in and kiss her, pushing his tongue past her lips to explore.

 

She pulled back hesitantly, looking up at him with wide eyes. “Cloud, I…”

 

He smiled softly and shifted to link their fingers again. “Come on. Let’s go inside.” He reached into his pocket and pulled a set of keys out. After selecting one, he stuck it into the lock of the door before pausing and saying, “Er, Tifa… I should warn you… My brother might be home. He’s… lacking in the maturity department. Just don’t pay him any mind, okay?”

 

“Um, sure…”

 

“And I’m sorry if he makes any inappropriate comments. He has no idea how to treat a woman.”

 

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

 

“Thanks.” He pushed the door open and let her in first. She walked inside and looked around, stopping when she spotted the raven-haired man sitting on the sofa.

 

He raised a beer bottle in greeting and grinned. “Heya! Aren’t you a beauty!”

 

Cloud followed in right behind Tifa. “Zack, quiet. Tifa is way out of your league.” He shook his head and made introductions. “Tifa, this is my brother, Zack. Zack, this is my girlfriend, Tifa.”

 

Tifa nodded but stayed where she stood. “Hi… Nice to meet you.”

 

Zack grinned wider. “Heh. Cloud’s told me quite a bit about you, you know. The poor kid is smitten.”

 

“Zack, shut up…” Cloud mumbled at the same time Tifa asked, “I take it Zack is older than you?”

 

“Yep! Cloudy’s my lil’ brother…”

 

Cloud sighed and touched a hand to his forehead. “And yet, I’m the successful one.” He nudged Zack on the shoulder as he walked past to hang his jacket. “Get out.”

 

“Aw, come on, Cloud! I gotta stay and make sure you kids don’t go off and do anything inappropriate!”

 

“Zack, I invited Tifa over so she and I could have a private evening. Seeing as to how I’m the one paying for the condo, I think you can leave for the night.” He reached in his back pocket and pulled out some gil before handing it to Zack. “Here’s enough to get you a hotel for the night. Enjoy yourself.”

 

“Oh, fine…” He took the gil and stood, winking at Tifa as he passed by her. “Say… Do I know you? You look a little familiar…”

 

She shook her head. “I don’t think so.”

 

Cloud set two crystal wine glasses on the counter. “Tifa grew up next door to us in Nibelheim. That’s probably where you saw her.”

 

Zack shrugged. “Probably. Ah, well, I’ll see you tomorrow, Cloud. Maybe you, too, Tifa.”

 

A blush crept up on her cheeks. “I…”

 

The blond rolled his eyes. “Zack, now.”

 

“Fine, fine…” He walked out the door and shut it behind him.

 

The sound of his footsteps faded down the corridor and Tifa looked around for a minute, just taking in the room. “So, Cloud… Um…”

 

“I really want to apologize for my brother. He’s always had a few issues.”

 

“It’s okay! Really!”

 

“Good. So,” he held up two bottles, “red or white?”

 

She giggled and stepped out of her shoes to join him by the kitchen counter. “Red.”

 

He smiled and held up a bottle of decade-old Pinot Noir wine and a corkscrew. He nodded towards the stools on the opposite side of the counter and said, “Have a seat, won’t you? The sofa’s a bit messy because of Zack, so the stools are about all there is.”

 

She fought her blush down as she accepted her glass. “Thank you, Cloud.”

 

He came around the counter to sit beside her with his own glass. “Only the best for you.”

 

She wriggled for a moment on the stool before looking up at him with a smile. “I’m sorry. The stool is just kind of uncomfortable.”

 

He nodded his agreement. “I’m sorry… With the couch otherwise occupied, it’s either the stools or my room.”

 

Her cheeks almost colored as she whispered, “Can we go back…?”

 

He raised his gaze to meet hers. “Tifa…” He moved to pick up his glass and the bottle. “Come on… This way.”

 

She slid off the stool and walked after him to the back of the cozy condo. He held the door open for her, watching as she looked over the room and sat down at the foot of the bed. She looked up at him, raising her glass for a refill. “Coming?”

 

He nodded and walked over, sitting down on the opposite side of the king-sized bed. After refilling her glass, he set the bottle on the nightstand and pulled himself up to lean against the headboard. He held his glass up in a toast and waited as she slipped up about halfway up the bed and clinked glasses.

 

They drank in silence for a moment before Cloud spoke, “Tifa, I…”

 

She looked up to meet his eyes and cocked her head. “Hm?”

 

“Tifa, I hope this doesn’t sound too blunt or forward, but it’s been awhile since I’ve dated anyone, so I really have no idea.”

 

“What is it, Cloud?”

 

“How soon… How soon into a relationship is it considered okay to have sex?”

 

She blushed and folded her hands on her lap around the stem of her glass. “It’s been awhile since I’ve dated, too, but as far as I know, three dates means sex.”

 

“We just got back from our fifth…”

 

“Cloud? I… Why…?”

 

“Tifa, I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have-”

 

She drained her glass for the second time and reached out to deposit it on the desk before turning to crawl up the bed. Stopping right next to him, she twisted to lie down beside him with her head on his chest. She craned across him in order to press her ear over his heart to listen to it beat. Her fingers danced in a circle over his stomach as she absent-mindedly twisted them in his shirt. “Cloud…? Do you want it…?”

 

His hand came up to rub circles on her back. “Do you?”

 

“I thought you knew by now… I want what you want.”

 

“Tifa, ever since we started dating, I’ve felt… connected to you. Like I’ve known you all my life and not because we were next-door neighbors, but because of something more… I want to know... Do you feel the same?”

 

“Cloud…” Her fingers moved slightly and started to pull the buttons of his shirt apart. “Can I show you the answer to that…?”

 

His hand slipped up her back to grab hold of the zipper to her dress. “Tifa…” he whispered as he pulled it down and moved his hand inside to wrap beneath the fabric and rest on her stomach.

 

She shifted to sit up on her knees and face him, her hands busily freeing the remainder of his buttons. He straightened himself to an upright position and pressed his lips to hers while slipping her dress and the attached bra down her shoulders. Her nimble fingers made quick work of his shirt and shoved the two sides apart. She broke off their kiss and leaned forward to softly press her mouth to the various scars across his chest.

 

His hands found her shoulders and pulled her back up to eyelevel. He slipped her dress down to her waist and bent down, taking his turn to explore her chest. She elicited a moan of pleasure as his lips paused around the nipple of her right breast. He sucked at it for a moment and lapped his tongue over the already hardened pearl. The sound she made was unlike anything he’d ever heard before and he felt his male ego swell at the fact that he was the one to get her to make it.

 

He took it one step further and gently nipped at her breast. She gave an exasperated, “Oh!” and arched her back to give him a better vantage point. Her hands slipped down his back and around his waist to find the buckle of his belt and pulled to free it. After that went his button and fly. His mouth shifted to fondle her other breast while his hands moved to slip her dress down past her hips. He angled his body to flip around hers, pushing her down to the bed and climbing above her. She reached down and wriggled for a moment, shoving her dress and underwear down to her ankles before kicking them off.

 

He sat perched above her, looking her over in all her glory, and pulled his pants and boxers down. Her hands came up and slipped inside his shirt to push it off his shoulders while her lips tended to the thin scar running up the right side of his neck. She kissed his flesh tenderly, paying a specific amount of attention to each scar.

 

His hand shifted to catch her chin, bringing her lips back up to his. He slipped his other hand down between them to slip inside her and rub at her core. Her head started thrashing back and forth against the pillow, her mind lost in the waves of pleasure consuming her. Unable to wait any longer, he moved his fingers from within her to line himself up to her. He touched his forehead to hers and whispered, “Are you ready…?”

 

She replied with a small nod and an even smaller squeak of affirmation. He shifted his hips to find his way inside her and released a grunt at the sensations. Her hands wrapped up behind his back to hold him close, her fingernails scratching at his flesh.

 

They moved awkwardly at first before finding a rhythm that suited them. Once they did, their hips rolled against each other to cause a perfect friction between the two of them. She felt him stiffen above her as their intercourse reached a peak point and she screamed, letting herself free. He immediately followed suit, spilling his seed into her.

 

She gasped and managed to open her eyes to look up at him. “Cloud, I…”

 

He brought one hand up to touch her lips, silencing her. “Shh… Don’t talk. Please… don’t say anything.”

 

She gave a small nod as he rolled to his right, placing them both on their sides so they were facing each other.

 

He buried his face into her hair and whispered, “Just… stay with me tonight.”