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The Gold Saucer would often be described as a place so magical you never sleep. The never sleeping part was accurate though that was more so on account of that blaring catchy tune that reverberated through the grand location, heard clearly even from their otherwise incredible park hotels. Tossing and turning in one of those ever so soft beds was Tifa, cursing herself for having a room right next to where the third parade that night was passing by.
The brawler looks to Yuffie wondering how the ninja was having no issue sleeping through all this noise, though that snoring of hers was contributing to sound that made sleeping feel so impossible. She debates throwing a pillow at the kid when a delicate finger taps at her shoulder. Startled, Tifa looks over her shoulder, Aerith looming over her with a subtle smile on her lips that you could barely see the darkness of the room. “I didn't even notice you get out of bed.”
“But I noticed you get out of yours.” The flower girl replies.
Tifa responds with a confused stare “But I'm on my bed right now?” She's met with a knowing look from Aerith “You knew about that?” She whispers. She wants to scream, but that would probably just wake Yuffie, and the boys on the other side of the wall, and then they'd probably come barging in wondering what's wrong and it'd be a whole mess she'd have to try and explain. So she focused her mind on keeping quiet.
Aerith gives the snoring teen a passing glance, before motioning to the door “Come on let's head to the lobby to chat about it, it's not like either of us are getting any shut eye right now.”
As tired as she was the brawler is drawn in by the flower girls offer. Tip toeing across the room they each grab their footwear, only putting it on after they slinked out of their room. Heading through the red carpet halls they settle in the lobby empty enough to fit the haunted mansion aesthetic. Though at this hour if weren't in bed you were enjoying the Gold Saucers various attractions. It made this actually a bit of private spot, the only eyes other than theirs were those of the stuffed bats hanging from the cieling.
The women were sat beside each other on wooden chairs with a comfortable green cushion. Tifa was staring at her hands for the time being waiting for Aerith to say something first. And say something she did “So you finally managed to ask Cloud out, I'm sorta surprised really.” She didn't sound all that surprised. “How was your night anyway?”
Tifa crosses her arms looking to the side opposite of Aerith “It was... good. We went to a play, got to be the leads, did some casual sightseeing, and finished things off riding the cable car.”
“If it was so good you think you'd sound happier?” Aerith comments, her eyes focusing on the decorations on the ceiling. Something like that skull the chandelier hung out of must've taken a lot of effort for something that went unappreciated by most people who passed through this room.
“So what if it wasn't everything I hoped for. Cloud... well he was being his usual self, strong silent type and all that. And well I tried telling him how I really felt about him, but I just couldn't spit it out.” Her foot taps the ground with a growing irritated pace to it.
“Unfortunate, it was the perfect time and place too. Maybe your heart just wasn't in the right place.” The flower girl muses.
Finally the brawler looks her in her friends direction “What do you mean by that?”
“I don't know what I mean.” She replies. Turning her gaze to her friend their eyes meet “Y'know I was planning on asking Cloud out tonight too, but you beat me to the punch.”
“Well I'm sorry then. Maybe you would've had a better time with him, the two of you always seemed to get along fast right from the start.” Tifa grumbles.
Aerith kicks her feet playfully “Nah don't think. I think my date would be just as dry as yours, but really that's just Cloud for you, hard to get anything out of him, and really it's on us for thinking we can crack him ourselves.” She sighs “But I still want that date though.”
“Well you could just try dragging him out, wouldn't be surprised if he were still awake too.”
She stops kicking her feet, looking to the girl next to her with complete sincerity“Actually Tifa I was wondering if you'd be my date tonight?”
Her mind sputters, thankfully her mouth doesn't open before she says something stupid. She simply looks Aerith up and down looking for some sign of deceit in her body language. There isn't any. “Now why would you want a date with me?”
“Why wouldn't I? In all my time growing up in Midgar I never met a girl as cute as you, and ever since we left I haven't met someone who could compare.” The flower girl watches her crushes cheeks turn a rosy red, she looked like there was some invisible force caught in her throat stopping her from speaking. “So, how about that date?” Aerith asks, the confidence in her voice shaking ever so slightly. She gets a vigorous nod in response. Aerith's nervous smile regains her confidence “Then what are we waiting for!” She cheers taking Tifa by the hand, leading her straight out of the haunted manor.
The Gold Saucer may never sleep, but it was certainly getting tired. Most of the attractions Tifa visited during her first date with Cloud were closed at the moment, doing some maintenance in prep for the larger crowds that would gather in hours from now. The chocobo petting zoo was open though, and that would be their first stop. Both girls were quick to reflect on how nice it was to have a casual experience with such beautiful birds. Instead of chasing them around to cross marshes, or watching Cloud have to race one to earn their freedom from Corel. They could sit on a bench watching the yellow birds stroll about occasionally munching the grass of their enclosures.
They passed by the battle arena, but only gave it a second glance before moving on to something more casual. Next stop was the arcade, honestly between the both of them it wasn't difficult to rack up a high score on each game. Tifa excelling in the boxing game and the speeder bike chase, with Aerith helping that adorable virtual moogle find love.
That killed at least an hour of time, and when they had their fill they found themselves absentmindedly wandering the park. Even at night it seemed bright as day thanks to all the lights illuminating the place. The brawler sighs, this was nice, none of the awkward silence of her first date, Aerith seemed like she was actually happy to be out doing this... with her. “Is there one more spot you wanted to go for the night?” She asks the flower girl.
Aerith taps her chin a few times pondering the question, when a mischievous grin crosses her face “Actually there was one more thing we could do, and now's the perfect time to do it.” She takes her date by the hand again and leads her through the park to a swimming pool. The area was the darkest in the park, the only lights being the ones inside the pool itself, giving the water this magical glow to it. The place was desolate even the omnipresent music of the Gold Saucer was faded in this spot. “Here we are.” She declares.
Looking curiously back and forth from the water to her date, there's only one question on Tifa's mind “It's awfully pretty hear, but we just come here as a quiet place to chat. I mean it's not like we have swim suits.”
“No one's supposed to be down here, we have the place to ourselves for the next few hours, so why would we need those?” She responds, her red jacket slipping off her shoulders and being tossed to the side.
Tifa eyes focus on her intently “Are you really sure this is okay.” Every cautious part of her was strongly against this idea. But that was quickly drowned out by every other part of her conscious that wanted to follow this direction.
“Of course I'm sure. Now are you going to join me or not?” Aerith replies kicking off her leather boots, followed by undoing the buttons of her pink dress one by one.
Tifa fumbles with her white crop top eventually getting a proper grip of the bottom and pulling it up over her head. She freezes in place as the flower girls dress hits the floor leaving her exposed in her white underwear.
Aerith unhooks her bra slipping it off and tossing it to the side, and after pulling down the other piece of her underwear, she struts her way to the pool shooting Tifa a quick glance “I'll be waiting for you in the water.” She giggles.
The brawlers fingers are clumsy as they try to get the rest of her clothes off as fast as possible. Her boots clatter to the ground followed quickly by her throwing off everything else she was wearing. Awkwardly holding her arms up to cover herself until she could get into the water. The pool is cool, but incredibly refreshing in a warm environment such as this. Tifa splashes around a bit to get closer to her date who'd already swam around a little. Aerith rises from beneath the her wet braid hanging from her shoulder, the way her green eyes glimmered in the light was intoxicating. She motions for Tifa to come closer, the black haired woman is happy to oblige as she paddles through the water.
When they meet There's just enough space to stand on the floor, their shoulders just above the water. Aerith wraps her arms around the waist of her date, resting her head gently on Tifa's chest “Thank you for doing this with me, genuinely.” She says with a sincere whisper. “After everything that's happened, I... I just needed a night like this.
“It's... been a lot.” Tifa replies “Shinra... Chasing Sephiroth day and night, now this whole black mateiria mess.”
“Do you think things will ever go back to normal?” Aerith asks.
Tifa doesn't have to ponder the question “I haven't considered life normal ever since Nibelheim was destroyed. My normal was burned up in my fire.” She tries to shake herself out of the train of thought her mind was slipping down “You know if my mom and dad were still around, they would've really like you.”
“You think so?” Aerith muses.
“I know so!” She confidently replies.
Aerith raises her head, placing a soft kiss on the other womans lips. She gazes into her red eyes with her own tired green ones, scared of an unknowable future “Can we stay like this, just a while longer, please?
Responding first with a kiss of her, she whispers a gentle “Yes.” Leaning her own head onto Aerith now. In this pool, they're own little oasis, enjoying what would be they're last peaceful night for many to come. The last night they would be able to embrace one another like this.