Final Fantasy - All Series Fan Fiction ❯ I'm Makin' It Right ❯ Chapter 2

Disclaimer: (tears streaming down face) Mommy!!! Why can't I have it?!

 

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Chapter Two: Did I Make the Right Choice?

 

Cid, Barret, Yuffie, and Vincent watched as Tifa blushed and said that this wasn't such a great idea. When she looked at Cloud she whispered something to him. Suddenly she stopped in mid-sentence as Cloud leaned forward and kissed her. At first she just stood there in shock, then she realized this was her chance to show Cloud she loved him. As Cloud started to pull away, unsure, Tifa wrapped her arms around his waist and deepened the kiss showing Cloud he had nothing to be unsure of.

 

********************

As Cloud watched Tifa's lips move ever so slightly as she whispered to him, he decided it was now or never. Suddenly his movements started coming as if he wasn't in control of his body anymore. Cloud leaned down and softly kissed Tifa knowing she was surprised. He started to pull back not knowing if this was what she wanted, only to be pulled closer in a hug. Suddenly Tifa looked away, embarrassment on her face.

 

“Tifa,” Cloud said. “I'm sorry I don't know what came over me. I'm really sorry-“

 

“Don't be. I guess I sort of wanted that.” Tifa said blushing again.

 

Cloud embraced Tifa in a hug, combing through her silky hair.

 

***************

Everyone watched as Cloud and Tifa separated suddenly as Tifa blushed. Cloud started to stutter as Tifa looked at him. Seeing as they were ok with each other they hugged. Yuffie noticed when they had been hugging longer than a normal hug and watched as Tifa suddenly pulled back in surprise, her hazel eyes wide.

 

**************

While Cloud hugged Tifa he leaned his head closer to Tifa's whispering only so she could barely hear him.

 

“Tifa, will you marry me?”

 

Tifa pulled back clearly shocked. At first she had to really take it in.

 

`I… I can't believe this is happening!' Tifa's head was swarming with so many emotions and thoughts; she didn't know what to say.

 

“Tifa?” Cloud's voice pulled her from her thoughts.

 

“I… I…” Tifa was still sorting though her feelings. “I can't.”

 

Tifa felt really bad as she watched Cloud turn away from her. He walked back to his original spot, with his elbows on the railing.

 

As the wind blew his hair, all he said was, “I understand.” Really he didn't get it at all, but he didn't know what he could possibly say to her now.

 

Tifa must have seen the look on Cloud's face because she felt like a horrible monster. She could tell that he was hurt and confused, which only brought back horrible childhood memories.

 

“Cloud, I do love you, but how can I be sure that you won't bail on me again?” Cloud felt betrayed.

 

Again. Just that simple word sent his senses flying. `Why can't anyone forget the past?'

 

“I guess you would've had to trust me then, huh?”

 

“No, Cloud, it's not like that.”

 

“Then what is it, Tifa. Help me.” A solitary tear slipped from Cloud's eyes.

 

`I'm such an idiot. I shouldn't be crying.' As if the thought was encouragement Cloud felt a few more tears come to his eyes. Cloud looked up at the moon forcing them away; knowing it would change nothing if he let them come.

 

“Please don't cry. Its just, maybe we could be like girlfriend/boyfriend.” Tifa really just didn't want him to cry.

 

Cloud didn't say anything, just walked off of the balcony. As everyone watched Cloud walk away they all looked at Tifa questioningly. When she shook her head, they knew she wasn't going to tell. Knowing it would be no use to follow Cloud, Tifa just let him go. She turned around and watched over the balcony as he drove away on Fenrir.

 

Later when the party was over Tifa was driving home when Denzel asked, “Where's Cloud?”

 

“I don't know.” Tifa answered honestly.

 

“Is he coming back home?” Marlene asked.

 

This time Tifa didn't answer, afraid to. Something was telling her to expect it to be like last time. But something else was nagging inside that he was going to stay. `I guess I'll have to wait and see.' Tifa thought.

 

**************

Cloud's vision blurred as the wind stung his eyes. He blinked clearing the tears from his eyes. `Keep your attention on the road.' He thought. He knew he was driving way too fast, but he didn't really care. There was no one around here to stop his recklessness. Suddenly he ended at Aerith's church not realizing he was driving there. He stopped Fenrir and walked inside the roofless church.

 

Cloud walked to the center of the flowers, and knelt down on both knees.

 

“Hey, Aerith it's me. I know, I must look pretty stupid out here,” Cloud blinked back his last tear. “I know you'd just tell me to suck it up and get over it. I just thought she trusted me enough. Maybe I was lying to myself all those years, trying to get into SOLDIER to prove I could do something and protect her.”

 

`Who cares, it seems like no one can forgive or forget my past,' Cloud thought as he looked from the sky to the flowers around him. `Is it even worth living for? I'll never be able to change it anyway.' Cloud was so lost and confused, he didn't even know if he was who he thought he was anymore.

 

Suddenly Cloud was so overwhelmed he collapsed in the flowers.

 

*************

As Tifa unlocked the bar to let Marlene and Denzel in from the cold, she looked back out over the roads searching for Cloud. Seeing no sign of him she went inside closed and locked the door.

 

`Cloud knows where the extra key is,' Tifa reminded herself. `If he even comes back tonight.'

 

As Tifa took a shower, she was washing her hair as if trying to rid herself of Cloud's memory while listening to Fort Minor sing “Where'd You Go?” When she finished, she put on her nightgown. On her way to her room, she stopped once more by the window searching for any sign of Cloud.

 

Where'd you go…I miss you so

 

`I really do hope he comes back tonight.' Tifa thought.

 

Seems like it's been forever since you've been gone…Please come back home…

 

***********

Cloud sat up a little confused. Then he remembered he had collapsed and fainted. He pulled out his new phone looking for the time. 11:00. He was out cold for two hours. Cloud wasn't quite ready to go back and face Tifa. He laid his head on his…pillow?

 

`What?! Why is there a pillow here.' Cloud looked up actually taking in his surroundings. Realizing he was back in his room, Cloud sat up really confused this time. Just as he sat up he heard the swish of a cloak. `Since when did Vincent know where the spare key was?' Cloud thought. He jumped up just in time to run to the door to see Vincent's silhouette on a roof, in the moonlight.

 

Tifa woke up to her alarm clock ringing. She dressed and went into the kitchen/bar and was surprised to see Cloud sitting on a stool, eating pancakes.

 

“I made breakfast.” Cloud never looked up from his food.

 

“Uh… thanks.”

 

“I realized that I might have put you on the spot last night.” Cloud looked out of the corner of his eye to look at Tifa without her being able to look back.

 

Tifa didn't know what to say in a moment like this so she just spilled suddenly. “I'msorryIjustdidn'twanttogethurtagainandIdidn'twantyoutomakethewrong choiceafterwh-athappenedtoAerith.” Tifa looked like a little child that was in a lot of trouble with her parents.

 

Cloud didn't really know what to say because he had never dealt with children because he was gone for so long. Cloud stood up and hugged Tifa.

 

“Tell Marlene and Denzel I went shopping. I'll be back in a little bit.”

 

“Okay.” Tifa said skeptically.

 

Cloud left the bar and got on Fenrir. He drove into Edge, where he parked Fenrir. He walked around the stores and restaurants looking for just the right gift for Tifa. Even though Cloud was a little ticked off at Tifa there was still no reason he shouldn't buy her a gift for Christmas. It seemed like everywhere he went there was some sort of Christmas sale even in the restaurants.

 

Once Cloud had found the perfect gift for Tifa, he paid for it and left the store. Instead of going back to the bar, Cloud went to Aerith's church. When he got there he sat in the middle of the flowers doing nothing for the longest time. Finally he decide he never had a chance with Tifa anyway. Maybe they just weren't meant to like that. Just friends, that's all.

 

****************

Tifa sat on a stool looking at the perfectly golden-yellow pancakes. `Cloud was always the best. Never would tell how.' Tifa thought. “Said it was a secret recipe from his mom.” Tifa remembered the last days when she was around. Cloud loved his mom, she was like his treasure and him hers. Tifa remembered the first day when she saw silver tears like her own from the blue-eyed boy. Cloud fought with rage against the world that patronized him. Love had been spoiled forever more on that day.

 

Tifa really wanted to help Cloud, she knew he wanted things that might not be achieved in this lifetime. She knew Cloud was lost and never did find his way again after the second blow.

 

`Three strikes and you're out. Two was the breaking point for Cloud and I was the final out,' Tifa thought. `No not yet this game isn't over yet. Cloud gets one more go at it.'

 

Tifa knew Marlene and Denzel wouldn't be up for a while still so she ran to her bedroom and put on pink and black sweatpants and a light pink shirt. She got into her white mustang and put the petal to the metal going to the only obvious place. Aerith's church.

 

Cloud heard a car door slam harder than normal and harsh quick footsteps coming closer, getting louder. Before he could turn to see who it was Cloud felt a brief coldness on his cheek. Then he felt the full blow from Tifa's slap.

 

“What the hell are you doing here? Why aren't you at home where you belong?”

 

Cloud didn't answer receiving another cold slap from Tifa. Cloud stood and Tifa's hand came around once more this time Cloud caught her holding her back. He looked straight into her eyes, his sort of accusing.

 

“What?” Tifa demanded. “I should be the one giving you that look.”

 

Cloud just shook his head releasing her hand. He turned as he felt his jaw lock in anger. He knew why she was being so brutal and it wasn't his fault. Defeating Sephiroth wasn't exactly painless. Besides he needed time to clear his mind.

 

“Tifa,” Cloud tried to somewhat considerate. “I can't be perfect and it's not my fault that things happened in the past. I may have been able to make things better than they are, but you didn't give me a chance.”

 

“Whoa, whoa, whoa. Don't turn me into the bad guy he-“

 

“I'm not finished, Tifa, surely you were taught not to interrupt,” Cloud caught Tifa's swinging hand once more. “And what about Vincent? When did we share secrets with him?”

 

“What in the world are you talking about?”

 

“No one in this entire freaking universe knows where our spare key is. Why Vincent of all people? If you wanted someone to be able to get in the house in case Marlene or Denzel need anything it should be Barret. Don't you think?” Cloud was angry because no one ever trusted him for anything. Not one person on this planet. He didn't get a chance at anything, everyone was against him. It was either kill or be killed. This time he was killing.

 

Cloud didn't want anything to do with anybody so he left because he couldn't tell Tifa to leave, even though he really wanted to. Cloud was just in front of his motorcycle when he felt a death grip on his arm. Tifa spun him around to face her. She grabbed his chin and pulled his face level with hers so that he couldn't escape her menacing stare.

 

“Listen, I really like you and everything, but I'm not going to wait around forever for you to realize what your problem is. You either take me or leave me.”

 

“I'll take you. I'll take you down to the ground and send you home crying. You want to know why you'll be crying? Because I'm not piddling around anymore.” Cloud turned and started to walk away.

 

Tifa was pushed over the limit and she'd had enough. She kicked Cloud on the back of his knee causing him to fall to the ground from the unexpected blow. She pounced on top of him pinning him to the wood with her hand lightly on his throat. She wasn't going to hurt him, but if he tried anything stupid she was going to use her position against him. He was going to listen to her.

 

“Listen up and listen closely. You have no right to say what you said back there. I waited for you too long and now I can't wait any longer. I swear I will kill myself if I wait for you to finally love me truly. You love me you'll say so now. If you don't then you'll walk away shameless and I'll find someone else. You only have one life to live and if you screw it up now then you'll always regret it. So this is it, you say yes then we'll be together. You say no I leave and find someone else. And if you're too late then there's nothing I can do about it. It's your fault.”

 

Cloud didn't know what to say. He knew she was right, and that's exactly why he was afraid to answer. He really didn't want to screw up. But somehow he knew he already had.

 

Tifa knew what he was thinking, so before he could answer she let him up and started to walk away.

 

“Sorry Cloud,” Tifa gave him a look as if she was going to cry. “I know this has all blown up in my face. That's why I'm not waiting for you. Hopefully you can sort everything out on your own, and maybe you won't be too late.”

 

After Tifa left Cloud never got up. Just stayed exactly were he had been knocked down. Somehow he could feel someone's presence and it wasn't Aerith's. Then it dawned on Cloud that it could only be one person. Vincent…..

 

Vincent sat on top of the roof of Aerith's church listening to Tifa knowing her every move. Then he heard an unexpected thud and two lighter ones next to the first and he knew that Tifa had knocked Cloud down or the other way around. Then he heard Tifa start to walk away, when she said something that he couldn't hear, and then he saw her car driving back towards the bar. Slow and careful not to be seen Vincent looked down to see an astonished Cloud sitting on the floor. Vincent was surprised to hear the anger towards him from Cloud.

 

“Go home, Vincent,” Cloud growled, gritting his teeth. “The show is over.”

 

Vincent dropped from some unknown height, inches from Cloud. He knelt down next to Cloud and gave him the scariest look he'd ever seen from the crimson gaze.

 

“You have to fix this,” Vincent didn't even blink and his voice was colder than ice. “She's right, it will be your fault when you end up broken hearted in this church, with nowhere to go.”

 

“Since when was he Matchmaker?” Cloud barely heard himself, assuming Vincent wouldn't hear him.

 

“I'm not and I never will be,” Vincent's glare upgraded about three hundred icicles. “But I will tell you how it feels to be alone with nowhere to go. If anyone knows I know ten times better. But I'm still alive and you don't see me being bitter and cold do you?”

 

Cloud had made such a huge mess out of something that should have been a simple argument. He stood up, Vincent following. He walked over to Fenrir and put one leg over.

 

“I'll be back later if you still want to patronize me.”

 

Cloud revved the engine and sped away leaving Vincent in the dust, cursing to Cloud's back.

 

Tifa ran into her room and threw herself onto her neatly made bed. When she finally brought her head up gasping for air she caught a glimpse of Cloud's face in an old photograph. Suddenly her hazel eyes didn't feel like crying anymore, they felt anger beyond describing. Tifa grabbed the photo and threw it as hard as she could all the way across the room. When the frame flew the short distance at what Tifa could have sworn was a hundred miles an hour, it shattered into a million pieces after colliding with the wall. Tifa stared at the glass glinting in the light, her heart felt like it was the same way, except Cloud was the one who had thrown her into a brick wall. Tifa sat up and wiped away her tears with her arm and walked over to the frame, picking up the picture from under the broken glass.

 

As she tore the picture she felt more angry tears come to her eyes. After she had finished tearing a perfect square around Cloud's unchanging face she grabbed a tack from her desk and stuck his picture on the inside of her bedroom door. She went into the bar and grabbed a handful of sharp kitchen knifes.

 

*****************

When Cloud arrived at the bar he went strait to his room passing Tifa's closed door. After packing up about all the stuff he could carry, he walked out and put it on Fenrir. He came back in and was going to tell Tifa that he wasn't coming back when he decided against it. He brought his hand down from knocking on the door. He was just about to walk away when he heard a thud. Then another, and yet one more. Cloud turned around and opened Tifa's door, ducking just as a kitchen knife flew over his head.

 

“What the hell are you doing?!” Cloud yelled.

 

“Well I'm practicing my aim. I'm not that bad either.” Tifa shrugged.

 

“Why are you practicing you're freaking aim on the door?” Cloud was still taking in the fact that she almost hit him.

 

“I'm not practicing on the door, I'm practicing on your face.”

 

Cloud stepped in and closed the door to find a picture of him with a knife in his forehead. Just as he was going to turn and ask Tifa why she was doing this, a knife flew under his nose and planted itself dead center between the picture Cloud's eyes.

 

“Darn, I was just a little off.”

 

“Off of the normal brain cycle? Uh, yeah.”

 

“I thought you were leaving?” Tifa gave him a sarcastic look.

 

Cloud opened his mouth to say something, but he didn't want to give her the pleasure of saying something more. Just as he turned to walk away, he saw Tifa raise her eyebrows to go with her question.

 

“Tifa, I hope you don't hurt yourself.” Cloud turned and headed back to Fenrir, ready to return to the church.

 

As soon as Cloud had left the room and closed the door, Tifa threw the third knife as hard as she could, landing it in Cloud's left eye.

 

`Don't hurt yourself,' Tifa rolled her eyes at the thought. `Stupid idiot thinks I'm going to hurt myself. Sure he can protect himself from Sephiroth, but not me when I'm done with him.'

 

Tifa stood and walked out the door turning to find the sharp end of a knife jabbing out at her. Tifa was pissed off and she was so over Cloud, now she just wanted to kick his ass.

 

Cloud arrived at the church to see that it was deserted and lonely looking with no one there. He took his sack and slung it over his shoulder, walking to the roofless building. He set it down where it was once before.

 

`Well, here I am again.' He thought.

 

He sat down where he was just hours ago. He looked up at the sky, dimmer than usual with clouds crowding around the sun. Tonight was going to be cold. He could tell. Cloud took out his rolled up `bed' from his sack. As he laid out the roll under a dry area he could hear the rain start to fall.

 

Later Cloud sat on his cushioned bed and watched the rain fall from night skies. Finally after blankly staring, he lay down and turned to face the gray, emotionless wall.

 

“Look what I've done to myself.” Cloud mumbled quietly. He closed his eyes trying to block out all thoughts of Tifa. `No, I haven't done anything wrong.' Cloud rolled his eyes as the other tiny voice in his head argued, although he was right. Stupid conscience, he's always right.

 

Cloud nearly jumped out of his skin as a cloaked figure shown light on him. Quickly Cloud took action in jumping up, grabbing his sword which he had put there in case something like this should happen.

 

As soon as he had done this Cloud heard a small whimper. “Don't hurt me, Cloud.” As soon as Cloud heard Marlene's voice he felt drained as all the nervousness left him. Quickly he dropped his sword opening his arms as Marlene dripping wet and cold ran to him.

 

“Cloud, why did you leave us again?” Cloud barely heard the small voice, but something cut deep inside him, hearing the hurt in Marlene's innocence. Cloud squeezed the little girl, not really wanting her to know. Not really wanting her to have to know.

 

“Cloud?” Marlene looked up. Cloud just shook his head as if to say I'm not sure.

 

Cloud wrapped Marlene in an extra blanket he brought. After she was a little warmer Cloud and Marlene snuggled up together in the small bedroll. Later, Cloud woke to the sun streaming in his face as Marlene grunted and looked up groggily at him.

 

“C'mon, Marlene, it's time to go home.” Cloud picked up the half asleep girl and carried her to Fenrir. He cradled her in his lap as he drove back to the bar. When he got there he picked up Marlene, who had fallen back asleep from the early awakening.

 

When Cloud was inside he quietly went up the stairs avoiding the 5th step which always creaked when someone stepped on it. Cloud reached Marlene's room waking no one. Silently he laid down Marlene, covered her up and was just about to leave when she whimpered. Cloud turned to see Marlene with a pleading look to stay.

 

Cloud walked back over to Marlene's bedside. “Don't worry, I'm not going anywhere.” Marlene lifted up her sheets like she did when she was little.

 

She would always do this when Cloud would come to check on her and Denzel if she was scared and Cloud would snuggle up with her. This time was no different, Cloud slipped off his shoes and slid under the covers with Marlene. Cloud hugged her as she fell asleep, this time Cloud did, too.

 

Tifa gasped as she opened Marlene's bedroom door. Any other day she might have smiled, but she was irked by the fact that Cloud was here again. She felt like he had no right to come back and comfort Marlene. That made Tifa look like she was the bad guy and she didn't like it one bit. She could understand Marlene's need for comfort, but why from Cloud?

 

Tifa felt the urge to grab Cloud by the arm and drag his sorry butt out of the bar, but instead she just backed out of the room and closed the door once more.

 

Later when Cloud woke up he could smell Tifa's half-burnt bacon. Silently he slid out from under Marlene's homemade quilt. He left his shoes by the bedside knowing they would make too much noise. Quietly he tiptoed into the kitchen, careful not to give away his presence to Tifa.

 

Unfortunately Tifa heard Cloud's socks make a swishing sound on the floor as he walked. Cloud seemed to drag his feet an awful lot. This time it played against him.

 

“Why the hell are you here, again?” Tifa's voice was low, careful not to wake Marlene and Denzel, this made her even more vicious and scary.

 

“Tifa, will you just listen to me?”

 

“No, Cloud you listen to me. If this is about this whole situation then I don't want to hear it. Why would you care if there's some one else. You already made it clear you don't give a damn. You pretty much told me that when you never came back to tell me you loved me!” Tifa was near tears. But suddenly she threw down the fork she was holding afraid she would stab Cloud because she was that mad. If there were any tears shed tonight, they were going to be tears of hatred if Tifa was the crier. If it was Cloud shedding tears, really in all truth Tifa didn't give a damn anymore.

 

Cloud walked around the side of the bar and reached over to touch Tifa on the shoulder. Before he could she closed her eyes briefly and suddenly pushed him away into the cabinets behind him.

 

“Cloud…just,” Tifa walked quickly around him not looking back, eyes on the floor. “Just go.” Tifa ran the short distance to her room and quietly closed the door. This time had taken her beyond anger, now she was just exhausted. She just couldn't keep this flow going, not that she even wanted to.

 

Cloud silently walked back to Marlene's room, slipped his shoes on and drove Fenrir back to Aerith's church. Cloud seemed to be becoming more and more numb to Tifa's feelings. But why? What was he doing wrong? He knew he was the one who was confused, but how could he break the habit? Why was he fighting this fight? What was he fighting for anyway?

 

Tifa was deeply cut by his actions, Cloud knew that much. But how was he supposed to save himself? Better yet, how was he supposed to save Tifa?

 

Cloud sat on the cool sand in the church. He cupped his hands and leaned over to drink from the small pool of water. Just as he leaned over cold iron gripped the back of his neck.

 

Vincent pulled Cloud's head back and laid him on the ground lightly. Vincent's cold stare burned a hole through Cloud.

 

Like cutting through a diamond Cloud suddenly spilled. “Tifa's the one who won't listen to me.”

 

“Who asked? Besides I wouldn't blame her.” Vincent failed to hold back his smirk.

 

“I hate it when you do that.” Cloud muttered.

 

Vincent sat down next to Cloud. “Welcome to the club.”

 

“What club,” Cloud watched as Vincent's mouth curled. “Never mind. I don't want to know, you're smiling.”

 

Cloud cupped his hands once more to continue where he left off. The water was cool in his mouth when suddenly Vincent's voice cut through the silence.

 

“Don't swallow,” Vincent looked up as if looking for something. “I heard someone poisoned the water.”

 

Cloud spat out the water and started gagging trying to rid himself of water he might have swallowed. As Cloud pulled his tongue out and started scratching it like mad, Vincent just looked at him as if he was the most pitiful thing he had ever seen.

 

“What? You're so stressed over Tifa that you can't take a joke.”

 

Cloud suddenly stopped mid-scratch, glared at Vincent and swore one day he was going to strangle him. Cloud stood up and walked back to his `campsite' sitting to rummage through his bag to find anything to eat, since Tifa obviously wasn't going to feed him.

 

Hours later when it was almost time for the sun to go down Vincent was still sitting in the church.

 

“Don't you have somewhere to go?” Cloud asked carelessly, just hoping to get him to go away.

 

“Sometimes I look into the sky, ….all I see is her face.” Vincent suddenly looked into Cloud's mako-infused eyes. “Has that ever happened to you? You know, with Aerith?”

 

“I try not to think about it.” Cloud gritted his teeth. “I don't like my memories. I'm still not quite so sure which ones are mine.”

 

“I shouldn't have asked.” Vincent looked down as he thought. `So he doesn't love Tifa like I thought. But maybe he's not sure….maybe I'm not sure.'

 

*************

“I…I…I can't.” Tifa lightly touch Cloud's arm. “How can I be sure you won't bail on me again?”

 

“Tifa, I'm sorry.” Cloud gave Tifa one last glimpse of his pure blue eyes. Suddenly before Tifa could ask Cloud vaulted over the side of Cid's balcony.

 

Time seemed to stop, and everything looked like it was happening in slow motion. Tifa's tear-streamed face appeared over the edge as she threw a hand down to try and save him.

 

“Cloud!” Tifa screamed. “Cloud, come back!”

 

Cloud felt something grab his arm and pull him faster towards the depths of hell. As the grip tightened the last thing Cloud remembered was Tifa's terrified voice and the tears that fell like rain.

 

“Cloud.” Vincent grabbed his arm and tried to wake him. “Cloud, Cloud wake up.”

 

At the last two words spoken Cloud shot up, his eyes watery and fear covered every ounce of his trembling body.

 

“Where is she?” Panic filled every word and Cloud couldn't stop himself from the words. “Where is she? I have to see her!”

 

“Calm down.” Fire met ice as Vincent peered into Cloud's face. “Who do you need to see?”

 

“I…” Cloud realized what he was saying. “I…never mind.”

 

“Oh,” Vincent wasn't the type to pry much, but this time he had to. “It's Aerith isn't it? I made you dream about her didn't I?”

 

“Yea.” Cloud lied not knowing it was going to blow up in his face. After all his mom told him lying wasn't a good thing.

 

“Bless your soul,” menace dripped off of every word. “The meaning is perfectly clear, your thick head is just filled to the top with Aerith, that's why you don't get it.”

 

“Wh-“ Cloud was a little confused. “What the hell did I do to you.”

 

“You haven't done anything to me, it's Tifa you're hurting.”

 

Cloud's face was down cast as he stood.

 

“Where are you going?” Vincent was ready to just beat the tar out of Cloud.

 

“I think that's none of your business. Go find something to keep your claws sharp.” Cloud walked away without farther due.

 

`Trust me, I have plenty of ways to keep my claws deadly.' Vincent thought. He had suddenly conjured up the perfect plan to really get Cloud's attention. It was time for a reality check.

 

Wind raced through Cloud's hair and the world around him was tinted darker from his new glasses. The 7th Heaven came into view as Cloud slowed Fenrir to a stop in front of the windows.

 

Inside the bar was dark with only a few lights on, and even darker with sunglasses on. Cloud went to his room and put his hand on the doorknob. He hesitated and then he slowly turned the knob and was surprised to have it jerk back. Locked. His own room was locked and Cloud knew who was inside. Tifa.