Lean On Me (FF7)

55

~Tifa's POV~

             My eyes open once again, one more morning to wake up to. Though, after the incident with Cloud, I'm not certain how many mornings I have left. Rolling over, my eyes meet a peacefully sleeping face, his pale, almost glowing skin softened with the effects of sleep, the bandana on his forehead pushed up at an odd angle, not tight on his skin anymore because it slid up to his hair. With his collar removed, I can get a very clear view of all his sharp features, from the jaw to the tip of his nose. I slide one arm around his waist and snuggle closer into him when he stirs.

"Happy birthday," I whisper.

"Mm," he hums in response, something in his throat moving slightly. Then he pulls me even closer to him, kissing my forehead tiredly. "So you had to wake me up?"

"Sorry," I smile. "Everyone's already up. Well, except for Cloud anyway. He's probably passed out in the hospital bed," my smile falls.

"Hey," he says, lifting my chin up to look him in the eye. How could anyone think those lovely scarlet irises are monstrous? "You know how jealous it still makes me when you get upset over him?"

"It does not," I smirk with disbelief. Nothing ever daunts Vincent Valentine.

"It does too," he argues with a smile.

"Fine, I'll try not to think about him. He and his lovely hair, beautiful eyes, and amazing kissing skills," I tease.

"I hope you're describing me," he says, pecking the tip of my nose before standing.

"Maybe I was," I grin, following his lead, only I make the bed instead of fasten a bright red mantle on my shoulders.

"Let's just get out of this awful room," he grimaces, taking my hand and linking our fingers, his warm palm pressed to mine.

             We walk out into the cockpit, only to find Cid, Barret, and Denzel there, clustered together and chatting.

"Look, it's the birthday boy," Cid chuckles. "Better look out, Tifa. He'll be thirty before you know it."

"I won't care," I smile up at him.

"Ugh, more googley eyes," Barret groans.

"Well, I never did get to celebrate my twenty eighth birthday," Vincent frowns and I sigh, remembering how his body went back in time.

"Hey, you get to today, okay?" I look up at him and he nods, not really caring. Here in Avalanche, we make birthdays a big deal. Mainly because we're celebrating you survived yet another year on this treacherous world.

"You're frowning," he whispers down to me. I feel my eyes dart away from his and look at the floor.

"Let's go see what Red's doing," I say, interrupting him when he opening his mouth to speak again.

"Tifa..."

"Cmon!"

             He sighs and drops the subject, following me closely and making sure our hands stay linked. We make our way for the kitchen, shoving the door open and stumbling around chairs to get to the fridge. I open up the fridge and look through the food casually.

"Isn't this the part where everyone yells surprise even though the surprisee is expecting it?" he smirks, crossing his arms.

"Actually, no. We just planned a simple thing for you," I shrug, closing the fridge. Yuffie ate everything already... "We know you like it kept simple."

"I do, don't I," he smiles slyly at me, blocking any exit for me against the refrigerator.

"Vincent, um..." I whisper, my eyes flickering to an orange animal who has his big head cocked to the side in confusion.