Insomnia

[unbridled_strength]

This seems to be a recurring problem, for her. Everything she knows keeps falling away, leaving her standing in the unknown. Small wonder that she can't relax enough to keep her head on a pillow.

She tries to be quiet, as she sneaks outside. It's darker than she's used to, as she makes her way down to the beach. She's still not used to how little light there is, outside of Midgar. But she can see the stars, and perhaps that's a fair trade. She stands in the shore, letting the thin waves wash over her bare feet.

Comments

[emosey]

Cloud lets go of her hand finally, and any reluctance he might feel in doing so is quickly forgotten, as this now leaves him free to properly embrace her -- strong arms fully encompassing her lithe form, although he's careful not to squeeze too tightly this time. "You'd just be dumping sand out of them for the next 2 days."

[unbridled_strength]

She laughs, as she slips her arms around his waist. It feels so right, being held in his arms. She's gluttonous in this moment, snuggling herself as close as possible, tucking her head into the curve of his neck.

"But my toes wouldn't be so cold." She brushes a cold, damp foot along his ankle. Just so he sees her point. It's completely innocent.

[emosey]

He startles a bit at the unfamiliar sensation, huffing with an exaggerated displeasure but doesn't use it as an excuse to push her away. "Maybe you should have gone to the hot tub instead of the beach."

[unbridled_strength]

"Maybe next time." She grins, glad he took her teasing in stride. She'd have kicked herself, if she accidentally ruined the moment again.

"I'm happy right here."

[emosey]

"Are you going to make me carry you back to bed?" Any suggestiveness in such a question is lost on him, fortunately or unfortunately as the case may be.

/smacks him

[unbridled_strength]

Oh Cloud.

"Hmmm..." She playfully considers the offer. "You might have to. My poor toes are icy."

Does she actually think he will? Maybe. Probably not. But she does take the opportunity to sneak her toes under his pants leg, again.

whoops

[emosey]

"I could build a fire but the tide will probably be coming in soon." It's about that time of night. "We might want to clear off the beach anyway."

As punishment for her putting her clammy feet on him, he makes good on his offer and scoops her up off the ground without any further warning.

I mean it's very ic.

[unbridled_strength]

Is that a punishment? Is he sure?

She makes a surprised little yip -"Cloud!"- as he scoops her up. She wraps her arms around his neck, quickly, even though there's no fear of him dropping her. He wouldn't.

[emosey]

Cloud waits for her to stop squirming before he starts walking. "Maybe we should stay here another day. What do you think?"

If it was just Cloud by himself, he would keep on going without a second thought. But he has the others' needs to consider, too. Everybody seems so worn down lately, the girls especially. None of them would ever actually ask him for a break. Which is probably all the more reason that he should give them one.

[unbridled_strength]

She settles, because she can tell that he's not budging. It gives her the excuse to relax, and just enjoy this.

"You think we can spare the time?" There's a hint of hope in her tone. She'd like to relax, even if it's just a day. But she also feels the weight of their mission, the looming threat of Sephiroth, pressing around them. It's part of why she couldn't sleep.

[emosey]

He can tell it was the right thing to say, from the way her voice changes. That certainly settles things then, as far as he's concerned. "It'll be fine."

Cloud steps back into his shoes, knowing he'll need to shake them out tomorrow, and carefully climbs up the stairs to the main walkway that leads back to the inn. The only problem now is that he's wide awake and not terribly eager to lose her company just yet.

[unbridled_strength]

Tifa's not any more tired either. She feels better, but not sleepy. How could she be? She's alone, in the arms, of the most important person, in her life.

"I'm not tired yet." She lets the confession out quietly.

[emosey]

"Me either," he admits. "Do you want to get your shoes?" That will open up some options for them, probably. Not that he really minds carrying her like this.

[unbridled_strength]

"That's probably a good idea. You can't carry me around all night."

Not that she minds it. Really, she's emotions it a great deal more than she's letting on. But there's only so long he can carry her before something has to give. Knowing the two of them, it would turn awkward. Better to not get to that point.

[emosey]

A comfortable silence falls over them then, in the few minutes that it takes to get back to the inn. Cloud gently deposits her in front of the door to her room and while he waits for her to grab her shoes, he bends down to properly lace up his own boots this time.