songerein | closed 🌠 safe and sound, alive under the stars

But I kind of liked being chased.

[A small squeeze of her hand as they more leisurely skate around the ice.]

[She pretends to pout at him, but it fades quickly into an embarrassed, shy smile.]

Well. There are other ways to do it, you know...

Oh? And what ways would that be?

[She brings a finger to her lips, a hint of mischief in her eyes.]

Nothing that I can say out here...

[Not in public!!! Where there is no one and nothing here besides them, but that's just an excuse to not have to say anything.]

[Just a slight arch of the brow before he leans closer to her.]

Not even a hint?

Not even a hint.

[She bumps her shoulder against his and forces them away from each other until they are arm's length apart.]

You'll just have to be patient and wait to see later...

Hmm... I can't force anything out from you, can I?

[And he moves closer, trying to close the gap again...]

[...

Tifa pauses to consider a moment, a finger tapping playfully on her chin.]

Well, if you could convince me, I might reconsider... No promises, though.

[There's only a slight devious gleam in his eye as he suddenly pulls her around to face him, his face so close to hers that it would only take the smallest movement for their lips to meet.

But instead of a kiss, his hands will grab at her sides and start tickling her mercilessly.]

[She really should know better. She spins with ease to meet him, letting herself crash into him when she's pulled just like every other time she has been tonight and before. And with his face so close... so close that she can feel his warm breath, even warmer lips almost brush over hers, she flutters her eyes shut and prepares for a passionate kiss...

Only for her scream to echo through the silent night around them when his hands squeeze her sides. On the ice, of all places, Eustace!? Hopefully he's holding onto her because she's going to violently twist and squirm in his arms that she loses her balance and has no choice but to yield to him, all of her weight slamming into him to keep herself from falling.]

Stop—! Not here! This isn't how you do it!

[Yet, despite trying to sound stern, she completely fails through her loud, boisterous laughter, her hands pushing against his chest to get away.]

[Yes on the ice, and yes he has her... But—]

If you don't want to slip, tell me.

[His voice "sounds" menacing, but there is that smile and he's clearly playing as he continues to wrestle and tickle her.]

[She's trying so hard not to slip but her whole body is losing its strength the longer he goes, and she's regretting taking off her jacket now! At least it would have shielded her from his hands a little more...!]

What do you mean? Of course I don't want to—! Eustace—!

[It's not fair because she has no choice but to grab him!?!? Which leaves her more vulnerable in the end??? At least make this a fair fight!

And when he hits a particularly sensitive spot, she stiffens and screams, the half-cry half-laugh echoing through the trees before she stumbles.]

[And all this does is just make him laugh, even at that scream. But he will make sure she doesn't fall, stopping as he had planned to do anyway and wrapping his arms around her waist to half lift her, their momentum putting them into a spin that he manages to stay in control of.]

Still won't tell me?

[She's breathless and red in the face by the time he stops and lifts her, her giggles still not quite dying down. If anything, they're more giddy as she rests her head against his, her arms going right around his shoulders now so that he doesn't go far or let her go.]

No.

[Just give her a moment to catch her breath.]

... I might not even want to tell you at all anymore, after that!

Hm... How troubling.

[And now he's skating backwards towards the edge of the ice.]

Seems I'll have to find another way...

[She lifts her head just far enough from his to visibly arch a brow at him when he starts skating closer to the edge of the rink.]

... Oh? You think you'll make me crack, do you? I'll have you know, I've bolstered my defenses over the years with you.

[No she hasn't.]

Are you sure?

[And without warning, he scoops her up into his arms before turning around and suddenly turning towards a large snowbank.

She might have a few guesses where this could be going—]

[She can, but she's going to hold onto him tight anyway.]

Eustace, don't you dare.

[With a scolding tone, but that spark in her eyes completely betrays her.]

Hm? Dare what?

[Slooowly skating closer.]

[She buries her face in the crook of his neck, hoping that it will deter him only because—]

You're coming down with me if you drop me.

Who said I was going to drop you?

[There's definitely a mischievous gleam in his eye, and she'll only have a moment before he suddenly kicks up speed for the last few feet—

And falls forward with her still in his arms so that he's on top.]

[She yelps when they fall, and the way down feels a lot further than it actually is before she's slumping back into the snow with his arms still around her to break her fall. It's cold against her back, but it's immediately chased away by the warmth that he presses over her, her own still lingering like a cloud enveloping them, only growing when she falls into a fit of giggles, her cheeks rosy.]

You dropped me.

[Not that she seems to mind because her arms are sliding around his shoulders anyway.]

... I can't get up, so now what?

I'm still holding you, so can't really say that.

[A laugh before he rolls over so he's no longer smothering her and she's on top. Of course, he's aware she's only in her dress, but the warmth shared between them should be enough to chase the worst of the chill away.]

[It's definitely more than enough, and it's even started to melt some of that snow, making way for the starflowers that bloom underneath, their petals trying to poke through when he rolls them over.]

... Mm. Tired already, then?

[She leans in just a little, her hair dropping down to drape around their faces, hiding them from the world as her lips hover just over his.]

What makes you think that?

[Just a quirk of his brow as he looks up at her.]

I feel you underestimate your husband.

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