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[flamekthunder]

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[flamekthunder]

[Again he just looks at her a little confused before he shakes his head.]

No... I'm fine. Just really needed to cool off.

[And the cooler temperature is helping...

...

With something of a sheepish look, he'll sit farther back against the tub.]

Come on.

[starshower]

[Her face flushes as she tips her head at him.]

... You want me to get in with you?

[Her arm curls around herself, what skin hasn't already turned red from the heat now doing so because of embarrassment.]

Thought I'd just make it worse...

[flamekthunder]

And leave you out there?

[Just a little tap of the water with his fingertips, right in the usual space in front of him.]

I can handle you.

[starshower]

[And she was prepared and more than happy to sit outside the tub so that he could get some sufficient cooling off time with the water before she climbed in with him, which is why he gets a tiny, shy laugh back.

Even on his worst days, he still is the sweetest husband...

So, she sheds the rest of her clothes, grateful when the air hits the sweat sheened across her skin, and she climbs into the tub so that she can sit in her usual spot in front of him. Usually, they go with her back to his chest where she can relax easier, but today, she faces him, and a violent shiver shoots through her, raising goosebumps all across her flesh when the cooler water finally sinks in.]

Just tell me if it starts getting too warm, okay...?

[flamekthunder]

If it does, I'll change it.

[He waves his hand where frost tinges his fingertips before it disappears with a flick of his wrist.]

However... [A wry grin.] We should probably play it "safe" so it doesn't warm up too quickly.

[starshower]

[Okay, well that isn't playing it safe, and the way that the air buzzes with just a dash of heat around them is enough to indicate that because yes, Tifa feels incredibly called out by that. Especially with how her eyes keep lingering on him...]

I didn't do anything—!

[She feels the need to remind him of that, especially when she feels that shift in the air, and she sinks a little further into the water as if it will help hide her shame.

And she's just going to pout at him while she searches for a topic to steer to.]

... You haven't seen your hair yet, have you?

[flamekthunder]

[He just arches a knowing brow at her as he watches her sink into the water, the corner of his lips rising higher.

Cute.]

No, but you haven't seen yours, either.

[And he'll reach over to the shelf where they keep the various things they use for the bath, like the towels, soaps, etc—and pulls out the handheld mirror for her to see.]

[starshower]

[No, she was supposed to show him first...!!! She was even going to reach for the mirror before he got to it, and when he lifts it, she catches sight of herself before she can close her eyes in utter refusal and denial. But with her hair still being up in the ponytail, she can see how much the stray hairs stick out, and how the waves in her bangs make it look like she's just come out of a bad perm.

With a crooked smile, she tries to fix the hairs against her forehead, but they only bounce back into their wrongful place.]

...Do I even dare take it down...?

[Or will it actually gain a mind of its own and consume the world?]

[flamekthunder]

[He quietly laughs before setting down the mirror.]

Maybe if we wash it it'll at least go back and be a little less... Wild.

[starshower]

... Maybe.

[With a bashful look, she reaches up for the ponytail and slowly and very carefully starts to pull it out of her hair, but before she gets halfway through tugging it free, she stops and looks at him with a now very dire, very serious expression.]

No laughing, okay...?

[flamekthunder]

Well when you say it like that...

[Already his lips are twitching, but this is Eustace she's talking to. So after a moment that amused expression will disappear and he'll have one of his usual neutral looks.]

[starshower]

[She sees that upward twitch, that stifled laugh... There is no hiding from her, but she... does appreciate him... trying? Or is this him just being his usual sly wolf self?

Either way, it takes a few more good pulls for her to finally pull her hair free, and as soon as she does...]

Oh...

[She can feel it and it strikes fear within her. The sheer weight of it as it flutters out on either side of her face, spreading out like her head has just sprouted a set of black, wavy butterfly wings...

Beware, Reverein, because Tifa Lockhart's humidity hair may be just the thing that consumes this town whole.....]

1/2

[flamekthunder]

[Okay.

Okay he was ready.

Like, surely her hair wouldn't be too crazy, right?

Maybe a little frazzled, wavy, stick out some.

So he was prepared, steeled himself for whatever might come.

But when the end result was finally revealed...]

........................................

[His eyes widen so large and he can only stare at how her hair just...

.............................................................................]

2/ wait

[flamekthunder]

[Hold it in hold it in hold it in]

3/lmao

[flamekthunder]

[HOLD IT IN]

idk man i'lll let you know

[flamekthunder]

[HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOLD]

[flamekthunder]

[flamekthunder]

[flamekthunder]

[Looked again—was a mistake—]

[flamekthunder]

[Fuck—]

done

[flamekthunder]

[JUST TURNING HIS FACE AWAY RN]

>:( !!!

[starshower]

[However long it actually goes for, it feels like much, much longer than that. Tifa's fingers tentatively reach up to touch while Eustace works through his emotions, her own eyes glued to him with subdued outrage because wow???

Before her hands even reach it, she pulls back, almost like she's too scared to even touch it... what if something jumps out and bites her hand off!?

But when Eustace starts to laugh...

...

Tifa frowns deeply at him—though it's more a pout than a frown again—and splashes him with the water.]

I said no laughing!

[flamekthunder]

I'm...sorry...

[He's really trying not to. And usually he can school his emotions.

...

But he's sorry, Tifa, this is truly the most ridiculous thing he's seen yet. So now his shoulders are trembling as he tries not to laugh too much.]

[starshower]

[Well, at least he's making an effort!? But this betrayal...!]

Well...

[After a few more seconds of pouting, she leans in close to reach past him (no, she's not trying to be sexy about it because she knows it won't work) to grab the mirror that he'd set down.

...

And lifts it in front of him so that he can see himself, and the frizzy dog that lives on top of his head.]

Yours isn't that much better!

[flamekthunder]

[It's not because he's still trying to not lose it—

And when he sees himself—]

PFFTTHAHAHAHA!!

[Well. That is when he really loses it, the quiet chuckles now full out laughter as he half leans over the tub.]