Chapter Text
“Here you are.” Tifa said, placing a pale pink drink on the bartop. Aerith smiled at her, and reached for it, rubbing her forefinger around the top of the glass.
“Isn’t this the point where you say something like…” Aerith trailed off for a moment to clear her throat and drop her voice an octave, “hey there beautiful, come here often?” Tifa scoffed a laugh and shook her head.
“Are you taking flirting advice from Cloud or something?” She asked, and could hardly keep her expression together at the indignant look that quickly crossed Aerith’s features. “Maybe just watching too many old VHS tapes?” Tifa offered instead.
“Oh that thing hasn’t worked in years.” Aerith replied.
“I’ll go ahead and blame Cloud then.” Tifa said.
“Careful now, say his name three times and you’ll summon him.” Aerith wagged a finger at her.
“If only it were that easy.” Tifa replied with a sigh. She used an old rag to wipe a damp spot off the bar and tucked it away, and rested her chin on her elbow. “So beautiful, come here often?” She asked. Aerith smiled at her, and took a sip of her drink and tried to look demurely over the rim, which only succeeded in dribbling some of the sticky drink down her chin.
“Shit.” She cursed, and wiped it away.
“Here,” Tifa said, reaching under the bar for a rag, one slightly less dirty than the one she had used a moment ago. Aerith gave her a sheepish thanks and cleaned herself, opting to down the drink in one go. “Woah, slow down! That’s not the weakest drink on the menu.” Tifa suggested.
“Really? It tastes so sweet you can’t tell there’s much alcohol in it. Unless you count all the throat burning.” Aerith replied.
“That would be the cheap vodka. One day I’ll get my paws on the good stuff…” Tifa mumbled.
“Can’t you just send Cloud or Barret out to scare the distillers? Or better yet, just go scare them yourself. You’re a lot more badass than anyone would expect.” She suggested, and shoved her empty class forward so it touched the edge of the wooden bartop. “This is how to order another one, right?”
“You can tell you’ve never been to a bar before.” Tifa teased.
“Sector five isn’t the most known for its nightlife.”
“It’s not like six is Wall Market.” Tifa replied with a shrug. “Maybe I should look into opening a second location of Seventh Heaven.” She replied with enough flair to her voice to make Aerith wonder for a moment if she was serious. But she knew that Tifa loved this bar too much, and opening a second would make it less unique. Less… home.
“Can always hire me as a new barmaid.” Aerith said.
“Fine, I shall conduct your interview.” Tifa said and puffed her chest, and Aerith couldn’t help but admire Tifa’s rather ample bust. She blinked rapidly, and realized the light fog over her mind had loosened her a little. She cleared her throat and tapped at the bar table.
“I’ll show you what I’m made of.” She replied. She only set three bottles down on the bar, as well as a cocktail shaker already filled with ice. She decided to bite her tongue that Tifa made it too easy for her, given the fact she had no idea what she was doing. She spun the bottles so she could see their labels, and alcohol content. She had absolutely no idea how much of each liquid to put into the shaker, so decided to put an equal amount of each. If Tifa had any judgement about this, she showed no sign. She squinted at her skeptically. Tifa wasn’t normally the best at taming her expression, so the fact she couldn’t tell what she was thinking unnerved her. But she went through with her plan, capped the shaker, shook, and poured it into the glass Tifa provided while she was busy shaking.
“Here you are ma’am.” Aerith said, a flourish in her voice and tilted her head at her. Tifa smiled, picking up the glass.
“Why thank you, you know how to spoil a girl.” Tifa replied, and took a rather generous gulp of the drink. She almost instantly winced and started coughing, setting the drink down hard and splashing a few drinks against the bartop.
“I’m sorry!” Aerith shouted, and jolted to her feet so fast she knocked her barstool over. Her hand, as well as the green orb on the staff that rested against the bar began to glow green, but Tifa shook her head and grabbed Aerith’s wrist.
“Honey, I’m okay.” Tifa insisted between coughs. “Was just a strong drink and being cocky backfired on me.” She added, trying to contain the cough into clearing her throat. “I really do need to get better quality liquor.” She nearly wheezed, grabbing the offending bottle and glared at it. Aerith and her materia stopped glowing and she just sighed.
“Sorry again.” She grimaced.
“You did fine.” Tifa laughed, and pat the back of her hand. “It tastes fine, the bad alcohol just burned worse than I expected because I was trying to show off.”
“You’re just trying to butter me up.” Aerith replied, straightening back up.
“Maybe.” Tifa said, and smiled at her. Aerith’s smile was wider, and Tifa felt lost for a moment. Lost in those green eyes, that smile, her normally well-kept hair frizzy from the humidity in the air from the broken air filters around the sector. She couldn’t help but let her mind drift to Barrett saying it was just more proof of the planet dying, and that the broken air filters meant that less Mako was being consumed and it was better for everyone. Still. She wouldn’t have minded if the air didn’t taste like copper.
“Care to provide a girl another drink?” Aerith asked, running her finger again around the rim of her now empty glass.
“Don’t go too fast now.” Tifa suggested, and turned to cluck her tongue at her collection of bottles and decide what drink she wanted to make for Aerith, wanting something fancier than usual that would allow her to show off. Instead, she decided it was better to give Aerith the chance to show off and made her a blue kamikaze shot.
“Says the girl who chugged a drink that’s one third,” Aerith paused to grab the strongest of the three bottles Tifa had provided for her to mix. “One-hundred and twenty proof.”
“I’m a little more used to alcohol than you.” Tifa replied. At least the shot could look fancy while she poured it, glad to see Aerith seemed at least somewhat impressed by her ability to pour two bottles at once and not spill anything. Either that, or she was admiring the nearly fluorescent blue drink.
“Is this a Mako drink or something?” Aerith asked, picking it up and giving it a hesitant sniff. “I don’t need my eyes glowing.” Tifa laughed.
“As pretty as you would look with glowing blue eyes, I do prefer your green ones. So no, I didn’t slip any Mako into your drink. It’s just the curacao.” Tifa explained.
“Down the hatch.” Aerith said, and held the shot glass up. Tifa held up the drink Aerith had made,
“Cheers?” Tifa suggested.
“As long as my monstrosity of a drink doesn’t kill you, cheers!” shot glass clinked against glass, and they downed their drinks. Aerith clicked her tongue as she set the glass down, and this time Tifa was able to contain her reaction to the burn of the alcohol.
“See? Not so bad.” Tifa told her. “Maybe there is a barista inside you after all.”
“Oh you’re just being nice. That drink is terrible.” Aerith insisted.
“Not at all.” Tifa tried, but Aerith’s expressions called her bluff.
“Okay okay it’s terrible. But like hell if I’m going to waste good booze.” Tifa paused. “Waste booze.” She clarified. Aerith reached across and snatched the glass out of Tifa’s hand and at first, intended to try and pound it but thought better and took a large sip instead. She immediately began coughing, and in reply Tifa just casually pulled the glass from her hand.
“I was trying to be nice.” Tifa insisted.
“You’re already plenty nice.” Aerith tried to say, though she wasn’t sure how clear her words were through all the coughing. “Oh gods I made that strong.” She sniffled hard, and let out a woo! before shaking her head. “I’ll stick to your expertise from here on out.”
“I could always teach you.” Tifa offered, smiling at Aerith. Her cheeks were dusted pink, and Tifa just couldn’t contain herself any longer, deciding to blame the booze. She reached across the bartop to snag the front of Aerith’s pink dress and pull her, clashing lips against lips so hard their teeth connected clumsily before their alcohol addled minds caught up to them and they leaned into the kiss, with lips, tongue. Tifa held fast onto Aerith, while Aerith herself gripped the end of the bar. She heard a glass knock over, and then a trickle of liquid. Her first thought was to pull back and fix the mess, but Tifa’s grip on her was too strong. And, if she was honest with herself, her kiss tasted too damn good. Even if it was laced with a licorice-flavored liquor. She sighed into her, her fingers tight against the lip of the counter.
“Damnit.” Tifa cursed.
“What?” Aerith mumbled. She would have drawn back, concerned, but Tifa’s grip was too strong.
“I have an hour until closing.” she complained. Aerith laughed.
“You own the bar and Barrett isn’t around to complain. Just close an hour early. I’m the only customer tonight anyway and it’s not like you’re prying much gil out of me.” Aerith encouraged. Not that Tifa needed much. She released Aerith and vaulted over the counter, crossed through the empty bar, and flipped the Open sign to Closed , and flipped the lightswitch next to the door that would set off the external lights.
“You certainly know how to make a girl feel spoiled.” Aerith said. She turned, still standing next to her overturned barstool. She leaned back with her elbows against the counter.
“You deserve it all, honey.” Tifa said, her flirtatious and energetic side tamed, for the moment, as she came back over to her. She crossed the room and reached out to brush her fingers over Aerith’s cheek.
“Oh don’t you start with that mushy stuff. And you accused me of flirting from Cloud or watching old movies too much.” Aerith teased.
“You can blame old movies. Cloud… not so much. He’s not the mushy type. But let’s stop talking about him.” Tifa insisted, wanting to push him out of her mind so she could focus on the woman in front of her.
By the gods she had fallen for her, hard and fast. They had become fast friends, from the moment Cloud had miraculously reappeared from his third “death” with her tailing him calling him her bodyguard. After weeks had passed, Aerith had jokingly fired Cloud from the positions and ‘hired’ Tifa, to which all three parties seemed all too happy about. And ever since, they had been nearly inseparable. She remembered Aerith, the sneaky not-as-demure-as-she-seems flower girl, had sealed the contract with a kiss. Their first. And oh, how many they’d had since. She was happy to carry the esteemed title of bodyguard so long as it meant she could steal these kisses from her charge. To share these nights, these moments, these stolen hours with her.
“You know, you get this really cute look on your face when you get deep in thought.” Aerith teased her. Tifa wanted to chide her for reading her mind, or more accurately the vague energies about her she supposed, but in truth she didn’t mind. Whatever thoughts and emotions she was pouring into the planet, she was happy to have the planet share it back to Aerith. She knew the planet held half an eternity of memories, and shared them with Aerith oft to the point that the young woman was left thrashing in bed with nightmares that she would deny at morning’s first light. She wanted to give Aerith a taste of good memories to be fed from the ground beneath them, the air in their lungs, the life blood as Barrett would call it. She hoped that it was possible to feed enough love, longing, and happiness into the planet that for once Aerith could wake from a restful night with nothing but love and joy enveloping her.
And if not, at least her own arms were a good second-best. She sometimes wondered; what it was like to hear and feel the planet. To actually hear and feel her, rather than the more metaphorical way Barrett did. If she thought too hard about it, she would suddenly feel as though she was alone and adrift in a dark void reaching out for a hand or voice that wasn't there. And never would be. Was that the fate that awaited them all if they failed?
“Hey.” Aerith’s voice was softer now, losing the flirtatious edge from earlier. She dropped her vail of naïveté and placed her palm against Tifa’s cheek. Her fingers were cool, but Tifa leaned into them, pressing her own palm to the back of Aerith’s hand to hold it there. She felt the vague touch of that black void start to dance away from her. She had tried to ask Aerith about it before, but she dodged the subject expertly and Tifa decided to leave the subject adrift.
“I’m here.” Tifa confirmed, brought back from that emptiness to the bar. To the stagnant humid air, Aerith’s cool touch, her warm voice. The creak of wood beneath their feet as their weight shifted and the scent of old wood, alcohol, leather, and something acrid she couldn’t quite put her finger on. But it helped to ground her again. Brought back to what was important. “I’m… here.” She repeated.
“Good.” Aerith replied, bouncing on her toes. “But it seems like I need to remind you why here is better.” she suggested. Here Tifa thought, rather than lost in the glimpses of maybe and what if and if only . The dark images she had only seen in flashes, but that she knew plagued Aerith, and even Cloud, far more. She glanced at the window, half-expecting to see Whispers flying by. But there was nothing but stray people and cats milling about the streets outside the bar wandering home or elsewhere.
Aerith’s lips captured hers, and she reached out to bury her hands into Tifa’s hair. Tifa wrapped her arms around Aerith to pull her close, leaning into her. With her boots, Aerith nearly matched Tifa’s height, and if it weren’t for the risk of splinters on the aged wooden floor she’d beg Aerith to kick off the damned boots. She simply loved when Aerith stood on her toes and wrapped her arms around her neck in order to kiss her.
“We should get away from the windows.” Tifa suggested in a low breathy voice when their lips parted with a light click.
“Mmm…” Aerith hummed in agreement, pressing a kiss against Tifa’s neck which started to blur any concerns she had in her head. She stepped back, grabbing Tifa’s hand with hers and tugged her back towards the bartop. Tifa resisted the tugging for a moment, just enough to reach for the partially functional cord to drop the curtain over one window, and grunted to fight against Aerith’s stubborn pull to drop the other, ignoring her cheeky comment about people enjoying the show and the very confusing thrill the suggestion brought.
“I’m coming I’m coming.” Tifa said when Aerith pulled on her harder after the two main windows were covered.
“Not yet you’re not.” Aerith smirked, and Tifa rolled her eyes and groaned.
“I should make you sleep alone after that one.” She complained. ”Seriously. Stop taking flirting advice from Cloud.”
“And you’d miss me within a minute.” Aerith replied.
“I would, but I’m pretty sure my willpower is stronger than yours and I could out-stubborn you all night.”
“Shall I put that to the test?” Aerith teased. Tifa paused to stare at her skeptically, wondering what was going on in that head of hers. But she just bit her lip and pulled on Tifa even more. Back at the bartop Tifa released her hand to grab her shoulders instead and spin them, so Tifa’s back was pressed against the bartop with Aerith leaning into her.
“Get your butt on that counter.” Aerith instructed, sliding her arms around Tifa’s body, hands sliding over her ass to give them a squeeze for one teasing moment before finding the latch on Tifa’s suspenders and releasing it.
“Bossy bossy.” Tifa replied, but did as she was told. She placed her palms behind her and leapt up with one smooth motion, and then spread her hands out in a ta da gesture.
“I know you like it better when you’re looking down at me anyway. You have a good view from up there?” Aerith teased her. Tifa’s pale cheeks flashed deep pink, spreading to the tips of her ears and down her neck, and Aerith just giggled. “I know you well enough by now…” She leaned up to press a kiss to Tifa’s neck, where it joined with her shoulder. Tifa sighed, and didn’t offer the protest that Aerith initially expected.
“Umm this might work better if I sit on the other edge.” Tifa suggested and pointed to the end of the counter, so if she laid back she would have something beneath her rather than an accidental backflip to the floor.
“Oh, good point.” Aerith agreed. She drew back and watched as Tifa spun herself ninety degrees and shimmied over to the end and dangled her legs over. And a mental image shot into Aerith’s mind, as she was sure it did to Tifa’s based on her suggestion. Aerith walked around the counter and settled herself between Tifa’s legs again, and felt those strong muscles wrap around her back and pull her in. She gave a delighted little giggle, and wrapped her arms around Tifa. From this stance, her chin rested squarely between Tifa’s rather generous breasts, and wished she had already pried her top off damnit. But she had threatened to tease Tifa, and as an unfortunate side effect, that meant she teased herself. Did not think that one through, did’ya?
“You do look gorgeous from up here.” Tifa said, so long after Aerith’s original tease that she was confused for a moment.
“Why thank you.” Aerith smiled, catching on.
“You’d look even better without that dress on.” Aerith’s eyes looked up at her, not quite ready to lift her face from Tifa’s chest. She held a finger out, and wagged it side to side.
“Patience.” She insisted. Though, honestly, she wished they were both without their clothes. Teasing seemed more and more like a bad idea as the moments ticked by. Tifa bit her lip, seeing that look in her eye, and pushed her chest out more. “Not fair.” Aerith complained.
“Your dragging this out is unfair.” Tifa retorted.
“Oh now you’re gonna wait even more!” Aerith threatened, though if she was honest with herself it was absolutely an empty threat. And Tifa seemed to know it. She sat up to make it easier to lean down, palms on Aerith’s cheeks, and pulled her up into a kiss. Aerith stood on her toes to reach easier, and finally linked her arms behind Tifa’s neck as she had been imagining. Tifa dropped her hands to grip the edge of the bartop instead in order to keep herself steady.
“How about you take my top off?” Tifa asked. “You did the hard part unclipping my suspenders.”
“Delighted to.” Aerith replied, pulling back from the kiss. Tifa’s lips were a darker pink, especially the bottom one where Aerith had left a playful bite, a promise of more. She grabbed the bottom of Tifa’s white tank top, and slid it up her body. Once it was over her head and cast aside the black sports bra was next, also tossed onto the floor. Tifa reached to remove her armbands but Aerith grabbed both her wrists. “Leave those on.” She asked.
“Delighted to.” Tifa smirked. Aerith ignored the jab and released Tifa’s wrists so she could slide her hands up Tifa’s muscled abdomen, feeling the muscles flinch beneath her touch. “Fingers are cold.” Tifa huffed.
“Won’t be for long.” Aerith assured her. Her hands continued up, cupping each breast and squeezed. They were far larger than a palmful, and she enjoyed tracing the edges with her thumbs before sliding her hands along her breasts and resting her thumbs against her pert nipples and rubbing slow circles around them. Tifa drew in a long and slow breath, leaning back against her palms which pushed her chest out further. “Perfect.” Aerith whispered.
“Mmm no… yours are.” Tifa countered. Aerith felt her cheeks start to burn. The reassurance always sent heat throughout their body. Since initially confessing feelings, and the eventual collision into intimacy, Tifa had been constantly chasing away her insecurities. About her scars, her smaller breasts. Tifa insisted that large ones were overrated, though Aerith absolutely disagreed with that once she had a topless Tifa beneath her palms. And seeing Tifa’s scars made Aerith feel better about her own. Stories, scars tell excellent stories. And good stories get you a better tip at the bar she had told her.
“Agree to disagree.” Aerith replied, and replaced her right hand with her mouth and tongue. At first, just a kiss. A dance of breath. But then she pressed her lips a little harder, her tongue danced across her nipple. A hand wound into her hair which encouraged her further. Her left thumb rolling the same circles now as her tongue. Heat roiled in her lower stomach, and she thought about putting her right hand to better use. She clumsily lifted her dress with her right hand, and slid her fingers into her undergarments, sighing against Tifa’s skin as her fingers slid against herself, gathering the wetness that was already present, and began rubbing tight circles.
“Aer…” Tifa huffed. “You’re killing me.”
“You did always say my strongest magic is my tongue.” Aerith replied in a breathy tone. Tifa’s eyes fluttered open and she stared down at Aerith.
“I need it somewhere else.” Tifa insisted, and lifted her hips off the bartop, holding herself up with one arm and using the other to start awkwardly tugging at her shorts to free them. The awkward movements made it harder for Aerith to continue lavishing Tifa’s breasts with attention but she refused to pull back. Tifa managed to wiggle herself out of her shorts and undergarments, kicking them aside.
“Hmm…” Aerith hummed again, leaning back into her once she was done pulling the last of her clothing off. Save for her armbands. She felt the pleasure building as she teased herself with the same familiar circles. Tifa watched her, her pupils grew even wider after a moment.
“Are you… touching yourself, while teasing the hell out of me?” She asked.
“I couldn’t wait.” Aerith replied, and that smirk on her face made Tifa bite down on her bottom lip and sit up suddenly, which caused Aerith to release her breasts and slide her fingers out from her undergarments.
“That’s my job.” Tifa whispered.
“I wanted you to focus on how you’re feeling. We can get to me in a few.” Aerith replied with a light bob on her feet. Tifa licked her chapped lips and reached out to grab her, fingers wound in her hair, and kissed her roughly. She felt her teeth press against her lips and they adjusted quickly, the kiss wet with tongue and desire. “Now… sit back and let me take care of you.” Aerith whispered once they broke apart.
“As long as you use that magical tongue.” Tifa replied, her chest rising and falling with her rapid breaths and Aerith nearly lost herself again in the desire to kiss and touch them.
“Whatevrer you want love.” Aerith replied, gathering herself. She wrapped her arms around Tifa’s back and bent down to press one final kiss to Tifa’s breast, regretting not leaving a mark while she still had the chance. She kissed down her stomach, her tongue swirling a teasing circle around her navel, a kiss just above her hip bone, one to where her thigh joined her center.
“Aer…” Tifa whined at the teasing trail, her lips and tongue dodging where she was all but begging her to turn her attention to.
“Patience.” Aerith replied with a sing-songy lilt.
“Is not a virtue in this situation, so don’t you dare.” Tifa whined right back, threading her fingers back through Aerith’s hair, but following her movements rather than guiding them. Aerith just giggled, her breath so close the stutter of air made Tifa hiss at the hint of pleasure it teased her with. She arched her back, trying to tilt her pelvis towards that wicked tongue. Until, finally, Aerith pressed a careful kiss at the apex of her legs and Tifa moaned, and curled her fingers. Aerith hissed and Tifa immediately released her hold.
“Shit! Sorry, you okay?” Tifa apologized
“I’m fine.” Aerith laughed, “you just pulled a little hard is all. Now… where… was… I…” Aerith’s voice shifted from laughter, back to teasing and peppering Tifa’s upper thighs with kisses between words. Tifa carefully wove her fingers back into Aerith’s hair, wanting to feel the silken strands. And after endless teasing kisses Aerith finally captured Tifa between her lips, under her tongue.
Tifa sighed, lost in the warm glide of Aerith’s tongue, amazement at how damned good she was at this, pressing her tongue hard as she ran it back and forth. And then, oh then , she added her fingers. She inhaled deeply through her nose, letting it out in a long and shuttered exhale. Aeriths fingers curled, pushing and stroking inside her as her tongue worked absolute miracles against her clit, the pleasure built in her core making her limbs feel warm and heavy. She whispered her dearest’s name, rolling her hips in rhythm to Aerith’s ministrations. She opened her eyes and looked down between her legs, where Aerith was bent over and felt herself grow dizzy at the sight. She could see the shudder in her left shoulder, and knew that her left hand was buried between her own thighs as the right drove her mad in tune with her tongue.
“You…” she huffed, “are doing my job.” she complained.
“Oh, my own hand won’t be enough to satisfy me for the night. You’ll have your chance.” Aerith replied with a wink. “Getting sore?” She inquired.
“I’ve fantasized about you taking me on this bartop for weeks.” Tifa replied.
“So you’re saying I should have done this sooner?” Aerith asked, hardly pulling her mouth away far enough to speak clearly, but her fingers never ceased their curling and thrusting.
“Y-yes.” Tifa stammered, then huffed. Then moaned when Aerith’s mouth came back to her, drawing back towards that line, building her up once more. Their dance resumed. Tifa’s breathing quickened, as did Aerith’s as she continued to lick, suck, thrust. And she didn't’ stop until Tifa’s voice crested in a deep moan, and she felt that pleasure surge from her core through her limbs, mind awash with white and static, deaf and blind to everything that wasn’t the bliss of her own body, and the warmth of her lover that brought her there. As it faded, she was able to regain control of her breathing. She eased the grip on Aerith’s hair, changing to a gentle stroking motion.
“Hmm… was it as good as you fantasized about?” Aerith asked, straightening up just enough so she could lean over Tifa, still posed between her legs, and rest her head against her chest. Tifa stared up at the dim buzzing lights in the ceiling, stroking Aerith’s hair with one hand, the other tracing the shell of an ear.
“Certainly was.” Tifa replied. “Better even.” Her voice was soft, dream-like. Aerith tilted her head to press a kiss to the side of a breast.
“I knew you’d say that.” Aerith replied, stood up and cleaned the corner of her mouth with the back of her hand. She leaned back down between Tifa’s legs again, propped herself up over her, leaning for a kiss that Tifa returned lazily.
“Cocky” Tifa replied.
“Not cocky. I just know you, and you’d want to say what you think will make me feel the best. Doesn’t matter what the real answer is.” Aerith responded.
“What if I actually mean it?” Tifa asked, bringing her hand to Aerith’s cheek.
“I do like that option better.” Aerith replied. She grabbed both of Tifa’s hands and tugged until she got her to sit up and leap off the bartop. “I’d also like it better if we relocated to somewhere a little more cozy?” She linked her hands behind her back and Tifa bit her lip, for just a moment, before regaining control over her expression.
“More comfortable than a stained wooden countertop? Your standards have gotten too high. I’ve been spoiling you.” Tifa teased.
“Oh you definitely spoil me. Probably how you get me to keep coming around.”
“I can hardly get rid of you.” Tifa replied, but tossed her a wide smile to ensure no offense was taken. She gathered her discarded clothes after a quick glance at the windows she had covered earlier to ensure that some magic force hadn’t lifted them, and dressed. “And I stand by what I said earlier. You’d look much nicer without that dress on. Or anything on.”
“Well then, all the more reason for us to venture forth.”