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Yeah.

[He'd still probably be checking in with Zell, just to make sure.]

Until then, we'll just have to make enough noise for everyone.

[That gets a laugh out of her.]

Do you think we can? Zack and Zell are pretty loud.

Yeah. I'll be loud enough for Zack, and you can be loud enough for Zell.

[Which means they still wouldn't come close to matching either of them. But hey, it had gotten her to laugh, and that was the main thing.]

I'll do my best. It might be tricky.

[Zell can be loud, and ridiculous.]

I believe in you.

[If nothing else, seeing her impression would be pretty funny.]

Ever gonna tell me that secret?

[That wipes the smile right off of her face. Good job, Cloud. She knew he would expect her to make good on that bet at some point. There's only one "secret" she wants to tell him, and she's thought about it, but there a billion reasons why she thinks she shouldn't. He's only just gotten back. There's a two year gap between them now, and she's still not fully sure what that means. And, of course, every way of saying it she comes up with sounds so stupid in her head.]

Um... Do you want me to tell you now?

[She's stalling, and it's blatant.]

Kind of why I asked.

[In other words: stop stalling and get to telling.]

[Rude.

Tifa shifts in her chair, suddenly very fascinated by the tabletop.]

What kind of secret do you want?

[STALLING.]

[Stalling is rude.]

One no one else knows.

[Well, technically Angel knows. Still, it's the perfect excuse to tell him, and she shouldn't be a coward, and she should just take the chance and do it! Angel would definitely be screaming at her to.

But she is a coward, and she can't.]

I, um...

[Now she has to make something up.]

I think Vincent's cape is stupid.

[What did you...?

Did you really just...?

Have you learned nothing from all of his dodging? I mean, really Tifa, that's all you can come up with?]

So does everyone else. [Nice try though.] One more chance.

[Tifa feels her cheeks heating up, and she's hoping against hope that he can't see her blush in the light of the tablets.]

Can I just... think about it for a second?

[Too late. He already see's it. And it's enough to get him to back off, just a little bit, to allow her to have that moment to think.]

What if I tell you one first?

[Oh. Unexpected, but it's a break, and she's taking it. She glances up at him again, finally.]

Okay.

[This is why he's your best friend, Tifa. He's got your back, even when he wins.]

I sort of like Cid's tea.

[Really. Really.]

If my secret doesn't count, that shouldn't either.

[Hey. Hey. If you can do it then so can he, okay?]

Then tell me one that does.

[Okay fine, if they're going to be ridiculous about this...

She pauses, pretending to think about it for a moment before leaning in.]

You won't tell anyone, right?

[There was no possible way this was going to turn into anything other than them being utterly ridiculous. Really, she should have realized this by now.

Even so, he leans in, just a little, willing to play along.]

Trust me. No one will know.

Okay.

[She smiles as she fights the urge to laugh, and hopes that it just looks appreciative.]

I...

[Dramatic pause! She lowers her voice, as though she's afraid someone else might hear.]

I think I have a crush on Zack.

Edited 2016-03-03 04:26 (UTC)

[If by appreciative she means like a little kid trying to get over on their parents and not being able to hold in their laughter, then sure, she totally nailed it.

Still, this is the most amusing thing that's happened in a while. Far better than sitting tucked away into a corner and pouring over his tablet, reading the network until he felt as if his eyes might bleed.

So he leans in, just a little bit more, just enough for her to catch the twinkle that's suddenly present within his eyes.]

Funny. So do I. Think we should fight each other over him?

[Okay, plan failed, but he's playing along, so she'll go with it. She grins, leaning her elbows on the table.]

I guess so. I'm going to win, though.

Want to bet?

[He's leaning back now, crossing his arms over his chest as much as the thick coat will allow. Two can most definitely play at this game.]

[Yeah, she sees what he's doing. Cloud, no.]

I don't like betting with you.

Because I always win.

[Cloud yes.]

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KEYWORDS

WOW CLOUD WHATEVER!!!!

THAT'S WHAT SHE GETS FOR STALLING TBH

MAYBE HE SHOULD STOP PUSHING HER???

MAYBE SHE SHOULD BE MORE HONEST???

OKAY BUT THAT'S HARD

THEN DON'T YOU YELL AT HIM FOR HIS FAULTS

THERE ARE SO MANY OF THEM HONESTLY

MAYBE HE SHOULD START TALLYING UP HERS

MAYBE HE SHOULD!!!

FINE. SHE WORRIES TOO MUCH ABOUT EVERYONE INSTEAD OF CHECKING HERSELF

duh. next

HEY HAIR IS TOO LONG

HEY WATCH IT HER HAIR IS AMAZING

EXCUSE YOU, YOU'RE BIASED