Heroes
Chapter One - Promises

"When I'm in trouble, my hero will come rescue me. I want to experience that at least once."

"I'm sorry, Tifa. I'm not a hero and I'm not famous. I can't keep the promise."

Tifa stood across from Cloud Strife in her Seventh Heaven Bar in Sector Seven, staring at each other. He looked away ashamedly. She continued to look at him sadly.

"Yo, Cloud! A promise is a promise. Here."

The barmaid turned to see Barret throw a money bag to the ex-SOLDIER. Cloud caught it and turned away. She stood back as Barret and Cloud stood for another heated five minutes, discussing the next mission and Cloud's pay. Inside, she pleaded with whatever forces that were at work in Cloud's heart that he would stay.

As Barret finally walked away, Cloud looked down that the money in his hand. "A promise is a promise..." he whispered. Tifa stepped closer, and the floorboard creaked. He looked up.

"I thought you had gone." he said.

"No."

"Tifa, I-"

"Cloud, if you won't do this for me, then do it for the planet. We need you...for the good of the planet."

"I can't be the hero you had hoped for seven years ago, Teef." He stepped closer, face inches away from her. She could feel her cheeks heating up as his swirling blue eyes bore into hers. "Don't try to save me."

As he walked away, her eyes shut as she hugged herself.

"I'm not trying to save you. I want YOU to save ME. A promise is a promise, Cloud. If you can't keep our promise, then who the hell can?" She whispered.

"Don't make promises you don't intend to keep, boy."

"Father, I have no intention of breaking my promise. When I make a vow, I calculate every pro and con, every benefit and danger. My intention is to succeed you one day, and I have no shame in telling you I will find any way possible to bring you down."

President ShinRa laughed as he chomped on his cigar and tipped back a scotch. The younger blond arched an eyebrow at his old man's dangerous habits and smirked. Perhaps a murder would not be necessary.

"You show no emotion in the face of your opponent, Rufus. You have the perfect poker face."

"I have no intention of changing my profession. Keeping me in Junon all those years after I tried to assassinate you have not been in vain. You might be my father, but I am still an illegitimate son who managed to worm his way into your life."

"If only I could say so about your mother."

Rufus bared his teeth, fist clenching in his jacket pocket. "You needed an heir to this company because you know you can't live forever. And I'll make this company great, but not for your last will and testament. If I have to cut you down and destroy your name to be the greatest, then thats what I'll do. Make no mistake; Rufus ShinRa always keeps his promises."

The white-suited youth flipped his hair and turned on his heel, exiting his father's office. The older man sat down in his chair in exhaustion. He stroked his beard thoughtfully, and glanced at the door his son had just walked through. He smirked.

A buzz on his intercom interrupted his thoughts. "Sir? We have captured the terrorist group AVALANCHE. Would you like an audience with them?"

The president sat forward in his chair and pushed the button on his intercom. "Send them up. I've been looking forward to this."

Rufus ShinRa had reached the helipad of the ShinRa HQ when a familiar voice called out to him.

"Vice-President Rufus! Where do you think you're going?"

Rufus turned to see Tseng, his most trusted friend, jog over to him.

"Waiting for my ride, Tseng. How is this your concern?"

Tseng placed a hand on his shoulder. "Angering your father gets you nothing. All you get is just a wealthy, pissed off old man."

Rufus chuckled. "He wants to know if I'm playing his game. Well, I'm playing my own. Tseng, don't worry about me. I can take care of myself."

Tseng shook his head as he followed Rufus' gaze into the night sky. He looked back at Rufus.

"You look pensive, sir."

Rufus ignored his friend's comment as he looked up at the sky. There was something about tonight that was particularly...beautiful.

He shook his head as he shifted his gaze to the helicopter that was swiftly approaching. When he climbed aboard, a shooting star streaked across the sky.

About the same time, a young brunette AVALANCHE member took the opportunity to glance out of President ShinRa's window at the sky to see the diminishing light of that same star. Sighing, she turned back to the smirking president as she tried one more time to free herself from the handcuffs behind her back.

As the terrorist group stood in President ShinRa's office, Cloud's face was one of disgust. Barret was angry, and Tifa...she was angry all right, but also...confused. The president knew that he was killing the planet, yet he continued his life of pleasure seeking and profiteering. He was a selfish dictator. He cared for no one but himself.

How could anyone live so selfishly...?

Tifa found it impossible to think of herself before others; this was not something that she had concluded about herself, but a quality others had found in her. She was worried about AVALANCHE's safety, so she decided to go to Don Corneo herself. She was afraid for Aeris, so she went with Cloud to rescue her, no matter how much of a hero he was being to the flower girl.

And Cloud...of course she was always worried for Cloud. He had always been her hero, and yet he guarded the life of a beautiful stranger who had been chased by ShinRa all her life.

And now ShinRa wanted more than the planet. They wanted the promised land.

Tifa moved her head slightly to look out of the window. A shooting star flew past, rapidly fading into the silky sky.

If you won't save me, Cloud, then I'll save myself, she promised.

Tifa's thoughts were interrupted by Red XIII letting out a low growl. The president turned away.

"That will be all for our meeting."

"Aeris, you safe?"

"I knew that Cloud would come for me."

"Hey, I'm your bodyguard, right?"

"The deal was for one date, right?"

Tifa's heart clenched as she opened her eyes to see Cloud standing over at the other wall, a smile on his face. He tilted his head slightly as his smile broadened. She sat up.

"...oh, I get it." She couldn't help but laugh at herself. How stupid could she get?

A muffled voice came from the other side of the wall as Cloud's cheeks flushed slightly.

"Tifa? You're there too!"

She shook her head as she got off the bed. She stood behind Cloud, who was still, avoiding eye contact. The brunette was a little amused.

"EXCUSE me." She said. She knew that Cloud was a little embarrassed, but she wanted to know something. The president had mentioned something that Tifa had been thinking about since they were put into their cells. And she just had to ask.

"You know, Aeris, I have a question."

"What?"

"Does the promised land really exist?"

"...I don't know."

Tifa continued to listen, fascinated by the Ancient's knowledge But as she stood there, she watched Cloud. His eyes were focused and searching, as if finding a better way to be close to Aeris. He wanted to be near the flower girl, not the bar maid.

After the conversation was finished, she went back to the bed. Cloud began a conversation with Barret on the other side, and Tifa drifted into sleep. If she was going to save herself, then she needed to keep up her strength.

I HATE THIS. I haven't finished other fanfics, then I get the bright idea to start another one. I have stupid plot bunnies. They're like vermin. Shoot them, shoot those fluffy killers! Anyway, YET ANOTHER RuTi fic. Based on FFVII, because it was the first original part of the compilation, before Squeenix decided to make a whole bunch of money and turn the whole thing into an expensive fad.

Pweh. Anyway, this is just an appetizer for what is ahead. I WILL finish this. It may take a while, but stick with it! I will prevail! =D