literature

Hearty Heaven: Prologue

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Tifa had always thought it was funny when Wedge glanced down at his portly belly between rounds at Seventh Heaven.  Like maybe he was hoping it would disappear, or fearing he'd see it growing.

He never had turned down an offer of food from her though.  It made her wonder if maybe he wasn't afraid to see it taking over his lap.  Maybe he wanted it to.  He was such a happy, helpful taste tester, cheerfully giving her feedback to refine and tweak her menu, that she didn't think about it too much...

But she wondered, once, if she wanted to see it grow too.

It had been a long time since she'd thought of that; so many things had happened, and sadly, Wedge and his shy, cheerful, chubby smile would never again be seen around Seventh Heaven.  ...All things considered, it was pretty strange who had finally reminded her of Wedge's taste-testing.  They were both shy, but unlike Wedge's good-natured acquiescence in all things--

"Think I've had enough."

"Oh!  You haven't even gotten to the best part.  Just another bite, Cloud?"

Unlike Wedge's good-natured acquiescence, Cloud had been by turns wary, reluctant, and now rebellious against Aerith's food, Tifa quietly watching the scene.  On the flower girl's part, she was starting to pout as the blond's head turned away from her offered forkful.

"I'm done."

"But you didn't even have half a plate!  Are you saying my cooking's bad?"

A sinking feeling grew in Tifa's stomach when Cloud didn't say anything right away, his expression troubled.  His sense of tact wasn't always there and she knew Aerith was a decent cook, but she also knew that from time to time the other girl flubbed a dish or two.  She'd have to cut in before he said something to really make her upset.  "Aerith, you know your cooking's fine.  You tasted it when you were done, right?  Cloud's probably full from eating on the road."

From Aerith's eyebrows rising up and Cloud slanting a subtle look of gratitude, Tifa had... a new sinking feeling.  Aerith must not have taste tested her offering to Cloud after all.  She did so now, dipping a fresh spoon into the risotto and moving with care to not spill any on her pink button-down dress as she brought it up to her pursed lips.  Confusion filled her green eyes as she chewed.  "But I followed the instructions.  How could it turn out so bland?"

"That's why you test it..."

"But you only test your food sometimes, Tifa."  Aerith pouted, apparently realizing the silliness of comparing her cooking skill to that of the friend who ran a bar & restaurant, then heaved a great sigh.  "I'm sorry, Cloud.  I wanted it to be special, and instead it's so ho-hum, it's unbearable."

Cloud, perched on a stool and looking both relieved and confused, shook his head.  "It's fine.  I don't need anything special.  I'll just have something else."

"You don't get it, do you?"

Tifa was secretly glad Cloud didn't get it.  When Aerith had first asked to learn a dish Cloud liked, Tifa had fretted that somehow, even though she had the greater experience, Aerith's charm would win a success she hadn't yet reached: getting to a man's heart through his stomach.

The bartender had been honest with Aerith when she told her that Cloud didn't seem to have any particular preference in dishes.  No matter what she tried on him, she always seemed to reach the same answer when she asked how it was: "It's fine, Tifa."  She'd eventually given up on asking.  It couldn't be helped when dealing with a man who was still learning his vegetables.  She figured Cloud just didn't know enough about food to appreciate it, and really, his lean frame spoke to how he seemed to only eat out of necessity.  But Aerith had been determined on this path and picked out the risotto...making Tifa
wonder if her friend, more experienced in dating affairs than culinary, knew something she didn't.

This time, though, the path to Cloud's stomach (and heart) was being blocked by his palate.  Either he was turning into a bit of a picky eater, or the risotto really was that horribly bland.  Tifa felt safer either way.  It was fine if Aerith won over Cloud (at least, that's what she told herself).  But not with food.

She had to ask why.  And did, when Cloud had become preoccupied with monitoring Seventh Heaven's other patrons, Tifa and
Aerith ducking into the kitchen to scrape out the remains of the risotto.  "So what gave you this idea, Aerith?  I mean--Cloud does live here at the restaurant."  With the woman running the restaurant.  Home-cooked meals weren't something he was lacking, even if his deliveries often caused him to miss out.

She'd tried to get the question to come out as neutral as possible, but she still winced a bit to hear it out loud.  And Aerith seemed to pick up on the undertone immediately, her eyes glinting.  "Oh?  To impress him..."  Despite the failure, she was in good spirits, turning to the side to give Tifa a cheeky wink.  "Is that what you thought?"

"Aerith...it's just..." Tied and flustered now, Tifa crossed her arms under her chest and turned away, jealousy flaring up.  They were always friends first, love rivals second, but that didn't mean it didn't hurt when Aerith did something to push that troubling triangle to the forefront of her mind.

"...I'm sorry.  That wasn't fair," Aerith admitted.  "And it wasn't really that.  I just noticed something at the last 'family' dinner.  Before Barret left."

"Hmm?"  The milder answer wasn't something Tifa had expected, and she turned back to face her friend.  "What was it?"

"Cloud looks really happy after a warm meal.  Usually you're the one cooking, and I know you're better at this than me... but I sort of want to, just once, make him smile from a good dinner."

"But my dinners don't really make him happy at all.  He always says--"

"'It's fine, Tifa.'"  Aerith finished for her, even mimicking Cloud's tone.  "So you leave him alone, right?  Because you think he might find your questions annoying."

"Well, isn't that..."

"You know he's always been bad with his feelings, though," she said thoughtfully, tilting her head at Tifa.  "And this is an area where you really shine, while he barely understands the basics.  He doesn't even know celery from cauliflower.  If he tried to praise it, he'd probably sound pretty dumb."

"But I wouldn't care about that--even if it did sound dumb."  It was added as an afterthought to defend Cloud...though as she remembered some of his questions about food shopping, questions that had made her marvel at an adult not knowing something so simple, it really was hard to imagine him describing what he liked about a dish without sounding awkward.

Aerith's response was a flat look, her hands coming up to rest on her curvy hips.  "But Cloud cares.  You know that.  He doesn't want to sound dumb and he doesn't want to sound insincere so he takes a short, 'safe' answer.  Then you think he's annoyed so you leave him alone.  But Tifa, don't ask.  Just watch.  He really does enjoy your cooking."

They had to break up for Tifa to serve drinks then, but the other girl's words stayed on her mind.  When she thought about it she realized she wanted very much to watch.  To see that moment when Cloud would smile to himself, unconscious of anyone else's attention, and be content.  Aerith wouldn't fib about something like that...

Tifa thought back over the last dinner she'd prepared for their small group and the recipes involved.  It was time to figure out Cloud's favorite meal.

And if the first attempt didn't work?  She'd just have to try again.  And again...  Just as she'd tried to find the right taste with Wedge.
Just a short little set-up. Aerith is alive because she should be!
© 2012 - 2024 heartyheaven
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fangseeker's avatar
I hope you continue! Maybe a weight gain materia for cloud? Tifa cant like him going off all the time. . .