Chapter Text
A lot of shit could go down tonight.
Tifa Lockhart was used to that, of course—this wasn’t her first rodeo—but it didn’t make her any less anxious.
She was a striking figure, an alpha, her long, thick black hair streaked with hints of red and tied in a half ponytail, the ends intricately braided to keep it out of her face. Her outfit—a cropped green tank top and loose, matching pants cinched with a brown belt—offered both comfort and the freedom of movement essential for a martial artist.
"Our ship is about to dock at Alexandria. Y’all know your marks!”
That was Barret shouting, the leader of their merry band.
Though Tifa could hardly take him seriously with that silly costume he had on. Then again, everyone around her was dressed equally absurd. The members of Tantalus, the traveling theater troupe.
It was all part of the act, of course.
And the act? A cover for their real business— Avalanche, the most infamous band of thieves in all of Myst.
Tonight, they were planning their most daring heist yet right in the middle of a performance for the Kingdom of Alexandria. The play was a classic: I Want to Be Your Canary , a beloved tale of a princess falling for a peasant despite the odds stacked against them. Barret, himself, would be taking on the role of King Leo, the story’s villain.
"Biggs and Jessie will be taking the lead tonight, so break a leg," Barret continued.
Biggs gave a mock salute. "You got it!"
While Jessie performed a light curtsy in her Princess Cornelia gown.
"And Wedge," Barret boomed, turning his attention to the slightly flustered man who gave the expression like a kid not expecting to be called by the teacher, "you’re on special effects."
Wedge adjusted his bandanna, flashing a confident smile and a thumbs up. “Leave it to me, boss!”
Jessie gave him a playful punch on the shoulder. "Just make sure you don’t set anything on fire this time, Wedge.”
Wedge let out a dramatic sigh. "It was one time…"
"Yeah, and you singed Bigg’s eyebrows!" Jessie shot back while Bigg grimaced at the memory of burnt hair and the month he had to pencil his brows in.
“Keep it tight, guys!” Barret bellowed, thrusting his fist into the air, a fire lighting in his eyes. "Let’s put on a show they’ll be writing 'bout in the papers!”
He turned sharply to the side, his gaze landing on Tifa and the blond man standing beside her, the only two who weren’t dressed as performers. “And you two got your part to play.”
"We’ll get it done, Barret," Tifa said confidently.
Cloud Strife, the man beside her gave a subtle nod.
Tifa had known Cloud since her childhood. Unlike the rest of the crew, Tifa hadn’t always been a thief, she’d once made an honest living as a bodyguard, her martial arts skills in high demand. But fate had a way of linking people. A chance encounter with Cloud had turned her life upside down. What started as helping him out of a tight spot escalated into a couple of stolen goods and her face plastered on wanted posters across Myst.
With her old life in shambles, Tifa made the choice to embrace her new life. She joined Cloud and the crew aboard the airship, carving out a place for herself among the infamous thieves of Avalanche.
And tonight, together, they had the biggest job of all.
The real heist.
Kidnap Alexandria’s crown princess.
Trumpets blared from the Tantalus airship theater, filling Alexandria’s castle square with a lively buzz of anticipation and chatter. Sitting in her own private boot at the heart of the spectacle was Queen Jenova of Alexandria. Her pale, angular face remained uninterested as she elegantly fanned herself with an extravagant, feathered fan, that blew at the wisps of her platinum blond hair.
All around her, noble guests crowded on raised platforms, eagerly awaiting the performance of I Want to Be Your Canary . The ship itself was a spectacle, floating at the center of the square, its grand stage revealed as the side panels of the ship opened up.
It was showy, extravagant, opulent— exactly the kind of distraction Tifa and Cloud needed.
The two stood in the shadows by the castle walls, waiting for the signal.
Barret’s voice.
"Ladies and Gentlemen! Tonight's performance is a story that takes place long, long ago. Our heroine, Princess Cornelia, is torn from her lover, Marcus."
The start of the show. That was their cue.
With a quick glance at Cloud, Tifa nodded. In unison, they pulled their grappling hooks from their belt and quickly hurled themselves toward the castle's towering stone walls. Once hooked with a satisfying clink, they began scaling.
The guards were changing shifts. They had about 3 minutes. That was enough.
It wasn’t their first castle, nor was it the first time they’d slipped past guards armed to the teeth—but it was the first time they were about to steal a princess.
That one was new.
Once inside the castle walls, Tifa and Cloud moved with practiced stealth, keeping to the shadows, and listening for marching guards' heavy steps.
“Biggs said we gotta get to the West Tower. That’s where she’ll be,” Cloud whispered.
They crept along the stone corridors, the flickering torchlight made their shadows dance against the walls. The floor was lined with crimson carpets that softened their steps and gilded statues stood menacingly in every corner. The performance outside echoed throughout the castle halls and more than once, they passed by knights who were too absorbed in watching from the windows to notice them.
Barret must be putting on a great show. Figures. He always had a love for the dramatics and Tifa was sure Jessie was going to gain a couple die-hard fans after tonight— she was one of the sought-after omegas in all of Myst.
It was all going according to plan. Tifa felt confident as they moved closer to their destination. This was going to be easy.
But as they rounded the corner to the grand hallway leading to the West Tower, they froze—the incoming torchlight revealed four guards patrolling the length of the hall, their armor clinking as they moved. Quickly, Tifa and Cloud ducked behind a nearby stone pillar, holding their breath. Cloud's hand drifted toward his sword, while Tifa’s fists clenched.
There was no way they’d make it past unnoticed.
Tifa’s mind raced, then thinking quickly, she turned to Cloud, her red eyes steady. “I’ll take care of them,” she murmured, already moving. “You go on ahead. Find the princess.”
“Tifa—” Cloud began, but she was already in motion, her body was a blur as she darted into the open while knocking down a nearby suit of armor with a swift kick. The metal crashed onto the floor and echoed through the hallway.
“Hey! Who’s over there?!” one of the guards shouted, drawing his sword. Without waiting, they all charged toward her.
Tifa threw a quick glance back at Cloud, flashing him a confident smile before sprinting down the opposite corridor. She didn’t make any more noise, running quickly in order to throw them off their trail.
Cloud would complete the mission—she was sure of it. Her job now was just focusing on not getting caught.
"We lost them! How are they so fast!”
"Are you sure you're not seeing ghosts again?"
"What!? No way!"
Tifa pressed herself flat against the castle wall, hanging just outside the narrow window ledge as the guards shuffled past, bickering amongst themselves. She held her breath, waiting for the footsteps to fade before exhaling in relief.
“Phew…”
Smirking with confidence, she pulled herself back up with ease. Outrunning anybody was her talent. She was the fastest member of Avalanche after all—this was nothing.
Barely broke a sweat.
Scaling the castle wall with her clawed gloves, she reached the top, her muscles tensing as she heaved herself up. Once atop the tower, she took in her surroundings and realized she now had a clear view of the West Tower where Cloud should be. She wondered if he had found the princess yet.
But her thoughts were interrupted as a sudden movement caught her eye.
Squinting, Tifa's eyes went wide as she saw two figures emerge from the highest point of the West Tower. One was clad in a flowing white cloak, darting frantically toward the edge as if running for her life, and the other—hair as unmistakably blonde and spiky as ever—was hot on her heels.
"Cloud!?" Tifa gasped.
What in the hell was he doing?!
Princess Aerith Til Alexandros thought she’d been prepared.
She thought herself clever for using the Tantalus theater troupe performance as a way of distraction for her grand escape.
She’d taken every precaution. She had been saving sleeping powder she’d painstakingly crafted from sleeping weed from her unbearable heats she'd endured in quiet just to use it on the guards tonight. They were knocked out the moment she blew the potent dust outside her door. She had thrown on a white cloak over an orange and white peasant dress and dashed out of her room, heart pounding with excitement.
But she celebrated too soon when she collided head-on with a young man—blonde, spiky hair, and eyes like the color the sky in a blue outfit that didn’t resemble a guard’s uniform in the slightest.
“Ow… what the hell—" she muttered, rubbing her sore bottom as she scrambled to her feet.
The young man blinked, staring at her with an intensity that made her stomach flip. “Eee—“ she yelped.
“Say… you’re…” he started, eyes narrowing as if he was trying to place her.
Panic shot through her veins. Before he could say another word, Aerith shoved him aside and took off down the hall. "Sorry! Gotta go!"
"Hey, wait!" he called after her.
Great. This was definitely not part of the plan.
Who was this guy, and why was he so determined to chase her? She shot a quick glance back as she rounded the corner, only to see him gaining on her. It was clear he wasn’t going to give up anytime soon.
Her feet pounded against the cold stone as she sprinted up the winding staircase of the tower. “What is this, cardio day?!” she muttered breathlessly, clutching the sides of her dress to keep from tripping.
The boy on the otherhand was relentless, calling after her and clearly not as out of breath as she was.
“Stop running!” he yelled.
“Stop chasing me!” she shot back.
She could feel her legs starting to tire, lungs burning with each breath. This wasn't supposed to be how things went! But as she reached the top of the tower, something caught her eye: the fluttering of the flag banners that were tied to the side of the Tantalus ship. The wind whipped at her hair and cloak. Without much more thought, she climbed the railing of the castle and turned to face the man chasing her.
The blonde man halted, eyes wide with shock. “Wait… don’t jump… just come with me and we can…” He hesitated, shifting awkwardly on his brown boots. “…Talk?”
Aerith couldn’t help but smile. He was rather awkward and cute, but cute or not, she was not staying. Her eyes twinkled with mischief. "Thanks, but raincheck on that date.”
Without another word, she leapt from the ledge, arms reaching out as she grabbed onto the string of flags. The wind roared in her ears, her cloak billowing behind her like wings as she swung across the gap, gliding gracefully toward the Tantalus. Her heart hammered in her chest, exhilaration rushing through her. She laughed. She was rather going to fall flat on her face below and die or…
THUD!
She landed on the Tantalus ship on the side, the wind catching her braid and flinging it behind her.
“Yes!” She jumped for joy for a moment, her laughter filling the air briefly.
She’d made it. By some miracle, she’d actually made it. And she did not die!
Then THUD !
The young man landed not long after she did, hitting the side deck of the Tantalus ship.
“Are you crazy!?” Aerith’s heart raced as she tore through the bustling crew, ducking and weaving past costumed musicians who were too preoccupied with their instruments to notice the chaos chasing down the hallways. She spun one musician in a dizzying circle, nearly knocking him over. "Sorry!" she yelled, barely glancing back.
"Stay still!" The blonde man called after her, clambering over a fallen tuba with surprising agility.
“No way! Leave me alone!” she yelled over her shoulder, eyes darting around in search of an escape route.
That insane leap off the castle wall should’ve been enough to shake off anyone with even an ounce of sense, but this guy— this GUY—whoever he was—apparently had none. What an idiot! Who does that?!
She wasn’t looking where she was going when she collided with something soft and warm. “Oh!” Aerith stumbled back, eyes widening as she came face-to-face with a stunning brunette, an omega just like her.
“Whoa, whoa, hold your horses, cutie!” The woman laughed. She looked Aerith up and down with a playful smile, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. “Oh… you must be the understudy. I can’t believe them—finding a cuter girl than me.”
Aerith flushed a deep shade of pink, utterly thrown by the compliment, but then the pounding of footsteps behind her snapped her back to reality. "Um, sorry, I’m kind of in a hurry—" She shot a frantic glance over her shoulder and saw the blonde hot on her trail.
There was no time. She made a quick, apologetic bow. “Pardon!” And she dashed off again.
She barely caught the sound of the brunette stepping in front of her pursuer. “Hey, what the hell are you doing here when you should be in the castle?” the woman’s voice rang out in mock teasing, giving Aerith a few precious seconds to widen the gap between them.
“Jessie! You don’t understand— she’s…” The man’s voice trailed off.
Aerith didn’t slow down, her eyes frantically searching for any place she could hide. Her heart leaped when she spotted a door down a dimly lit hallway. Taking a chance, she swung it open and slipped inside, pressing her back against the wood as she shut it with a soft click. She stood there, chest heaving, the sound of her heartbeat roaring in her ears as footsteps raced past the door.
She waited, listening, and then… silence. Aerith exhaled, her breath coming out in shaky, ragged gasps. That had been too close.
Thank the stars that guy was a beta—he hadn’t picked up on her scent, which meant he wasn’t as attuned as alphas or omegas were. She took a deep breath, trying to calm the adrenaline surging through her veins, relief washing over her in waves.
But then, just as she started to relax, she felt it— a sudden gust of wind, carrying with it the faint, spicy scent of cinnamon. Strong arms wrapped around her waist, pulling her back against a soft chest.
“Gotcha,” came the low whisper in her ear.
Aerith’s heart skipped a beat, her eyes widening in panic. “Hey! Let go of me!” she yelled, her voice high with fear as she tried to fight her attacker.
“Stay still!” The voice puffed against her ear, calm but firm, refusing to let her go.
Aerith couldn’t believe it. All that effort, all her careful planning, and daringly leaping off the side of a castle— all of that, and now, just like that, someone was going to drag her back.
“Please don’t bring me back! I can’t go back there—” she pleaded desperately, her voice breaking.
“What?” The voice faltered, almost confused.
“Let me go—please!” she screamed, thrashing her arms and legs against the iron grip that held her.
She felt herself pushed against the nearby wall, not roughly but firmly, enough to make her feel trapped, caged… and yet… there was a gentleness, a sense of safety that took her by surprise.
“Hey, hey… it’s okay,” the voice soothed with a warmth that made her freeze.
“Please…” Aerith tried again, shaking, hoping to appeal to the other’s empathy. “I can’t go back there—I can’t…”
“Shhh, shhh, it’s okay… calm down,” the voice whispered against her ear, softer this time, as if coaxing her back.
Her voice was like honey wine, each word dripping with a tenderness that seeped into Aerith’s blood. She felt the soft brush of lips against the shell of her ear, and against her will, her heart began to slow, the frantic beats quieting.
"You're okay...."
A soothing scent filled the air—cinnamon, leather, and something sweet and warm like whiskey, familiar—and Aerith realized with a skip in her heart that the person holding her… this woman was an alpha. Her body betrayed her, instinctively responding to the calming pheromones that wrapped around her like a gentle blanket. She hated it, but she couldn’t fight it. Not when it felt this comforting.
“I’m not… I’m not gonna bring you back, okay?” The alpha said gently, her voice sincere.
And Aerith didn't know why, but she believed her.
Aerith nodded slowly, the tension in her muscles easing, her head resting against the cool wall. “Okay…” she whispered in a tiny and exhausted voice.
The arms around her slackened, just a little, but the warmth of the other woman’s body was still there, grounding her, keeping her from falling apart. Aerith could feel the steady rhythm of her heartbeat against her back, a constant, reassuring flutter that helped her own heart find its rhythm again.
“I’m gonna let go,” the woman said, a hint of caution in her voice. “But you have to promise you won’t run away, okay?” It felt like a gentle command, even if it was phrased as a request.
Aerith swallowed hard, blinking rapidly as she tried to steady herself. Against her better judgment, she inhaled deeply, drawn to the calming scent, and she nodded. “Okay,” she agreed in a breathless voice.
The arms finally released her, and she stood there, trembling but free, as the other woman lit a nearby candle. The soft glow illuminated her face for the first time.
“Oh…” Aerith murmured, her breath catching as she took in the woman’s features—beautiful, gorgeous, with deep red-brown eyes, soft yet strong. Her hair was black with hints of flaming red matching her eyes, and her physique… those muscles, those abs… those hard to ignore… Oh wow .
“Hi,” the woman said softly, a tone almost uncharacteristic of the alphas Aerith had known. “I’m Tifa.”
Aerith blinked, momentarily at a loss for words before managing to find her voice. “I’m… Princess Aerith Til Alexandros of Alexandria,” she said, her title slipping out as if by habit. Then she quickly added, softer, “Shit…” Her hand flew up to cover her mouth.
“It’s okay. I know who you are.” Tifa’s eyes softened, and she nodded. “Nice to meet you, Aerith,” she said warmly.
“Hi…” Aerith croaked, her voice suddenly hard to find, and her face feeling flushed under the red-haired woman’s gaze. She took a small breath before speaking again. “I’m sorry for barging in… is this your room?”
“Yeah, it is. But I saw you come in here so… I’m sorry for sneaking up on you like that.” Tifa said with a small, almost bashful smile.
“No, no… it’s your room. I’m the intruder, but… can I ask something?” Aerith paused but pressed on. “Do you work for this theater ship? With the troupe?”
“I do,” Tifa replied.
“Well, I have a favor I want to ask you.” Aerith paused, then took a breath and said, “I wish to be kidnapped... right away."
Tifa blinked, taken aback. “What?”
Aerith sighed, gathering her thoughts. “I just—I can’t stay here, okay? So I know this is asking a lot… but I need safe passage out of Alexandria and…”
Tifa started to laugh, the sound flowing out of her lips, light and melodic, making Aerith's heart flutter and her stomach churn. What a beautiful sound. But why was she laughing?
Pouting, Aerith narrowed her brows. “What’s so funny?”
“Sorry,” Tifa said, still chuckling, her eyes squinting lightly. “Well, I—”
Just then, the door burst open, and the blond man from earlier stood there, eyes darting between Aerith and Tifa. “Tifa? Oh… the princess, you found her.”
Tifa smiled softly before turning to Aerith, who instinctively hid a little behind her. “Don’t worry, Princess, this is Cloud. He works for the troupe too.”
Aerith blinked, turning to Cloud and pointing. “But you were chasing me before… why?”
Cloud scratched his cheek, coughing into his hand, blushing awkwardly. “Well… I…”
Tifa stepped in, clarifying. “Well… we were kind of here to kidnap you.”
“What? Really?” Aerith's voice was tinged with disbelief. “Who—who sent you?” She took a cautious step back from Tifa, watching the way those red eyes softened before a wave of calming pheromones washed over her again.
“Hey… it's okay,” Tifa reassured her, her voice gentle. “We’re headed to Lindblum. King Cid was the one who asked us to escort you there safely.”
“King Cid…” Aerith repeated, her face lighting up with hope.
He was a friend of her mother’s—her real mother. Someone Aerith could turn to if she needed help. Someone she needed to speak to about something very important that could affect the state of every kingdom.
She looked back up at Tifa, her eyes bright. “Then… I can stay.”
“Yeah.” Tifa nodded, her smile soft and reassuring. Then she turned to Cloud. “Cloud, can you give the signal to Barret to end the show soon?”
Cloud nodded with a light hum, then turned to Aerith, his blue eyes wide and earnest. “Sorry for chasing you earlier… Princess.”
“Aerith,” she corrected gently.
“Aerith…” Cloud repeated, a blush creeping onto his cheeks.
He was cute. Super cute. Aerith couldn’t help but smile, adding a playful tease. “It’s okay. I guess I could have saved you the trouble.”
Cloud smiled sheepishly, his blush deepening, before he nodded and made his way out of the room. As the door closed, Aerith turned back to Tifa, her heart still racing, feeling a strange flutter in her stomach as she watched the other woman… watching her.
“So… Tifa, right?” Aerith started, trying to break the tension, though it felt clumsy. Should she say more? Maybe something like, "Where have you been all my life?" No, that would be ridiculous and cheesy.
Tifa’s smile widened, and she took a step forward, closing some of the distance between them. Instantly, Aerith’s cheeks flushed a deep crimson, and she struggled to keep her composure.
Before Aerith could embarrass herself further, the door flung open again—Cloud—who clearly didn’t understand the concept of knocking. “Tifa! Soldiers came aboard!”
“Shit.” Tifa muttered under her breath. “They must've seen me slip back here when I was in the castle.” She glanced around, her mind working fast. “Hold on. We have to hide you.”
She took Aerith by the wrist and tugged her toward the wardrobe. “I have a secret compartment in here.” She turned to Cloud. “Cloud, buy me some time.”
He nodded and hurried out the door.
Wasting no time, Tifa opened her closet door, flicking a hidden switch that revealed a narrow space, barely big enough for one, maybe two people. Aerith slipped inside, her breath catching, but Tifa’s expression still held a trace of worry and that was when it clicked to Aerith too.
“Wait… my scent… what if they find me,” Aerith realized. As an omega, her scent would be unmistakable, one the castle guards knew all too well.
Swallowing, Tifa closed the wardrobe behind them, grabbing a jacket—her own, worn and soft, smelling faintly of old leather and something distinctly Tifa—and draped it over Aerith’s shoulders. “Here,” she said gently, but even with the jacket, Aerith knew it wouldn’t be enough.
She knew her scent was… strong… enticing.
As if sensing her mounting anxiety, Tifa leaned in closer, her breath warm against Aerith’s ear. “I’m… I’m going to scent you, okay?”
Scent her… that meant enveloping Aerith with Tifa’s alpha scent, masking her omega scent with something stronger. Wearing an alpha’s scent was like wearing their mark—it was… intimate.
Her heart thundered in her chest, each beat echoing like a drum. “Okay,” she said, barely able to speak.
“Don’t worry, I won’t bite,” Tifa murmured, her tone meant to be reassuring, but it only made Aerith’s mind wander—filling with images of Tifa’s teeth grazing her neck, right above her scent glands, marking her. She didn’t know Tifa, only met her a few minutes ago yet the idea of it all sent a shiver down her spine, made her breath heavy, panting softly.
Aerith slowly craned her head, her fingers brushing the pendant around her neck to the side as she pulled Tifa’s jacket and her own cloak away. She exposed herself to Tifa, submitting herself, vulnerable, as Tifa leaned impossibly closer.
A light sigh drew from Aerith’s lips as she felt Tifa lowering her face, her nose brushing against the delicate skin of Aerith's neck, right where her scent was strongest. Aerith’s breath hitched, and she could feel Tifa’s warmth, hear the steady rhythm of her breathing as she nuzzled into Aerith’s skin, releasing a gentle wave of her alpha scent.
It was a warm, spicy mix—like drinking apple cinnamon whiskey on a cold day—- and then she felt a soft, wet heat spread across her neck when Tifa’s tongue lapped against her neck, and her entire body reacted.
A soft, involuntary moan slipped from her lips, vibrating through her throat. She felt dizzy, light-headed, her body tingling with a warmth that spread from the point of contact.
Unconsciously, her hands clutched at the fabric of Tifa’s tank top, holding on tight. It was only then that she realized she wasn’t just holding Tifa—Tifa was holding her too, strong hands resting around her waist, pulling her closer.
She moaned again… louder… but Tifa didn’t stop her.
“There…” Tifa whispered, her voice huskier now, rough and ragged. “You should be good now.”
Aerith nodded weakly, her heart hammering in her chest. “Mmhmm,” she managed to breathe out, almost whimpering. She slowly turned her gaze to meet Tifa’s but found herself trapped by her eyes.
Tifa lingered too, searching. The space between them was charged, the air thick with heat and Aerith’s face burned, flushed red as a rose.
The link between an alpha and an omega could be intense, sometimes even bordering on something primal, but still, Aerith had never felt something like this before and she wondered if Tifa could feel it too.
“I’ll go and distract them—” Tifa began, her voice breaking the silence as she turned toward the door of the closet, but before she could take a step, Aerith’s fingers tightened around her arm, holding her back.
“No, please… stay,” Aerith whispered, the words tumbling out before she could think. “I’m worried they’ll still smell my scent if—” It was a lie, a flat-out lie. She could smell it herself—Tifa’s scent.
Tifa swallowed hard, her eyes flickering with uncertainty, but she nodded. “Alright.”
But it was a bad idea, of course, because all Aerith could do was whimper… pant… make soft noises from deep in her throat. Beads of sweat fell from her forehead. She was wearing too many clothes- the dress, cloak, Tifa’s jacket, and Tifa’s arms were tight around her body, burning her deliciously. For a moment, she wanted nothing more than to rip off her own clothes and pull Tifa closer in the cramped, dark space.
But suddenly, the sound of footsteps interrupted their intimate moment, causing Tifa's expression to harden as she shifted into protectiveness. "Stay quiet," she whispered in a commanding yet gentle tone.
Despite her best efforts, Aerith couldn't help but let out another soft moan as her eyes flicked down to Tifa’s lips and she realized there was a good way for Tifa to silence her.
Tifa's eyes widened at the wanton sound out of Aerith’s lips and she immediately panicked, pressing her gloved hand over Aerith's mouth to muffle any further noise. "Shhhh..." she whispered again, releasing pheromones once again to calm… only for it to backfire and have a completely opposite effect on Aerith.
Because Aerith was lost in it— in Tifa’s scent—-she wanted to drown in it, wanted to bury herself in it until it was all she knew. Before she knew it, her hips started to rock against Tifa’s body.
Aerith's head spun as she struggled to breathe. The air was slowly thinning and the strong leathered hand over her mouth only made it worse. She was filled with Tifa's alluring scent, driving her wild with desire. She was getting uncomfortably wet between her legs. Shit… oh shit…
Tifa leaned closer, their foreheads touching. "Please... stop moving."
She couldn’t … that was what Aerith wanted to respond but the gloved hand was still covering her mouth. She couldn’t take it… this scent… Tifa’s scent.
“Shhh… Princess…” Tifa murmured, trying to calm Aerith while pressing their bodies together. With her other hand, she stilled Aerith's hips, but it only caused another rush of arousal from between her legs leaving Aerith to muffle her moan helplessly.
The door swung open, and Aerith felt her heart stop for a moment. But it wasn’t just Cloud who entered this time. Instead, there was the omega Aerith had bumped into earlier—the one who was talking with Cloud—and a group of soldiers who followed closely behind including someone who was an alpha.
“That’s Jessie,” Tifa whispered, her breath warm against Aerith's ear.
“This room belongs to one of our cast members,” Jessie explained in a sing-song voice, as though this were just another casual chat.
“Hmmm, it reeks of pheromones in here,” one of them muttered while another coughed awkwardly.
Jessie laughed—a carefree, easy sound that seemed to diffuse the tension. “Well, you know how alphas can be,” she said, her voice dripping with sweetness. “You’d know a thing or two about that, wouldn’t you?”
There was some sheepish laughter after, but soon the soldiers were too focused on the captivating omega in front of them to press the matter further.
After a couple more exchanges, the soldiers shuffled out following on the trails of Jessie who played them like a well-tuned guitar.
Even though the immediate danger had passed, Tifa and Aerith remained pressed together in the tight, dark space of the closet, neither daring to move or breathe until they were absolutely sure the coast was clear. The silence stretched out, broken only by the faint sound of voices outside the room.
Realizing she still had her hand over Aerith's mouth, Tifa pulled away, her fingers trembling slightly.
“Sorry,” she murmured.
Aerith shook her head, face flushed, her heart still beating rapidly in her chest. “No, it’s alright,” she replied, her voice unsteady, but at least her body was back in her control… sort of.
“You were just trying to protect me. I’m… I’m sorry for…” She trailed off, feeling a surge of embarrassment flood through her. She couldn't believe the way she acted— she was mortified… and even more so as she clenched her thighs together.
Tifa quickly shook her head, her own face tinged with crimson. “No, don’t apologize,” she insisted. “It’s alright…”
Tifa finally eased the closet door open once the soldiers had left. A little while later, the ship started to depart. The mission was over, the danger had passed, and it seemed like they had escaped unnoticed. Aerith’s sleeping powder should keep everyone knocked out for a while longer—she’d mentioned it was the only thing that helped manage her heats.
The thought of Aerith’s heat made Tifa’s face burn.
God, what had she done?
Scenting Aerith had been a mistake… such an intimate, reckless mistake. It might have been necessary for the ruse, but leaning in and taking in Aerith’s omega scent had been… overwhelming.
Tifa had always prided herself on her discipline, one she had honed over the years as a martial artist. She had always maintained control of herself around omegas. Yet the moment Aerith's sweet, muted florals—reminiscent of fresh-cut roses—filled her senses, her restraint faltered. Tifa had barely held herself back from doing more, from pressing her lips to Aerith’s skin, tasting her, wanting to mark her in a way that was anything but innocent.
She feared she had pushed too much of her own scent in her attempt to cover Aerith’s, and seeing the way Aerith acted, moaned, and… rocked against her, Tifa wondered if that was why she reacted so strongly. Had she gone too far?
Shaking away her thoughts, Tifa cleared her throat. "My—um… my scent should fade soon.”
“Mmhmmm,” Aerith murmured, her voice soft.
Tifa needed to get out of this room—away from the heat of the room. "I'll… I'll go find Jessie," Tifa continued, avoiding Aerith's eyes as she turned toward the door. "She’ll show you to a room, okay?"
“Okay,” Aerith said as she settled herself on the edge of Tifa’s bed, looking small and out of place. With a casual shrug, she slid off the jacket and cloak, revealing her white and orange dress underneath. Even in her simple, rustic attire, there was no denying it—Aerith was every bit the princess, from the way she held herself to the quiet grace in her movements.
And Tifa had nearly—
She swallowed hard. “Right… I’ll, um, I’ll check in with the others. You can rest here for now if you’d like,” she added, her words coming out in a nervous rush.
“Thanks,” Aerith replied again, a little despondent still.
“Okay… I’ll see you later,” Tifa repeated, practically stumbling over her words as she slipped out and shut the door behind her.
Once she was outside, she leaned heavily against the door, her heart hammering wildly in her chest.
This was too much. Too close. And one thing was painfully clear:
This was a terrible idea.
A terrible idea, Tifa.