A/N: Curiosity about breaking canon + FFVII remake hype train = my first AU fic!
This fic was inspired by the relationship between Leonardo Dicaprio and Kate Winslet. I feel like everybody and their mothers are waiting for them to become a thing. My theory's that they value their friendship so much that they don't want a relationship to ruin that. I think that's really cute in its own right, but let's be honest, we'd all rather see them together. Anyway, I imagine that Cloud and Tifa would be very similar; kinda stubborn about their feelings and too afraid to risk ruining their friendship. The question is, how long is too long? Hehehe...
Also, I know next to nothing about the acting industry, so please don't hold me to anything I write about it! I honestly don't know what came over me to write this, I think I'm just Leo and Kate trash tbh.
Disclaimer: Sob...I am not Square Enix therefore I do not own Final Fantasy VII or any of the characters.
3.10.15 - edit
Chapter 1 ~ Launch
"Tifa! I have some good news for you!"
"What is it, Jessie?" Tifa asked. She could practically imagine her agent bouncing with excitement over the phone, just from her tone of voice. Sometimes Jessie's role as her friend overshadowed her professionalism.
"Do you mind if I come over in ten? I'm headed in your direction anyway."
"Sure, but is it that important?"
"Trust me, you're gonna be blown away by what I have to tell you!"
Tifa laughed good-naturedly and soon hung up with the anticipation of Jessie arriving shortly. It seemed that when one takes on a career in acting, one can never take a break. She was still exhausted from her interview on The Cait Sith Show only four days ago. Actress she may be, but socialite she is not, and Tifa had hoped for a little more break time before she was expected to start on her next project.
Well, that was what she signed up for, so she supposed that she shouldn't complain about the consequences. The promotions and award shows and occasional paparazzi might be a pain, but at the end of the day, Tifa liked her career.
She sank back into her couch and flipped on the TV. Fame didn't mean that she had to give up her normal life. Tifa lived in a nice condo in Midgar that was just the right size for a young adult like herself, and she still enjoyed lazy days of Netflix and Wutai takeout when she wasn't working. She relished in the fact that she could still feel normal sometimes.
As Tifa channel surfed, she heard enthusiastic knocking coming from the front door. Well that was fast, she thought in amusement as she unlocked the door.
"Tifa! So you know how your performance in Starry Promises blew everyone away?" Tifa blinked as her ecstatic agent brushed past her and entered the apartment, chattering the entire time.
"A hello would've been nice," she teased. She closed the door and followed Jessie to the living room.
"I'm sorry, I'm just bursting to tell you the news!" Jessie collapsed on the couch, her eyes shining with excitement. "So yeah, well apparently the critical acclaim you got for Starry Promises really spoke for something, because you just got an offer from Genesis Rhapsodos!"
Tifa only stared at her. "Genesis Rhapsodos? Like the director of LOVELESS Genesis Rhapsodos?"
"Yes!" For an apparently renowned acting agent, Jessie sure squealed like a schoolgirl. "Apparently he was so impressed with you that he wants to offer you a leading role in his next movie!"
Again, Tifa could only stare at her agent as she tried to process what she said. Genesis Rhapsodos was famous for countless award-winning films, and most of the non-A-listers he casts end up shooting to super stardom almost instantly. Agreeing to the role would do wonders for her career. At the same time…
"Can you tell him that I'm not interested?" Tifa said, bracing herself as she watched Jessie's jaw drop.
"Not interested?! Do you realize what a huge offer this is? He wants you, Tifa!" Jessie said. "In a lead role! You can't refuse this!"
Tifa smiled hollowly. "I know this is big. But I don't think I'm ready to step into the A-list league just yet," she said coolly. "It's such a big jump. I never expected the attention I got from Starry Promises. That film was a complete dark horse, really…no one really paid much attention to it until after it came out and turned out to be a hit."
"But Tifa, that's the business," Jessie said pointedly. "You're in this for your acting career, right? Working with Genesis Rhapsodos isn't just about the attention, it's about working with an incredible director and incredible actors. I mean, you'd be cast alongside Cloud Strife and – "
"Cloud Strife?" Tifa felt her heart stop for a moment. "He's cast in this movie?"
"Yes! Think about what it'd be like working with him!"
Cloud Strife. A-list celebrity, holder of two Jenova awards and four Golden Gaia awards. Not to mention countless other awards and nominations. Sector 5's most eligible bachelor and sex icon, according to countless magazines and tabloids. Her childhood friend. Tifa chuckled sardonically to herself at the last one. Maybe friend wasn't exactly the appropriate word. They had been neighbors, though they had never really played together as kids. It was strange to think that the shy boy she had known from her childhood in Nibelheim had ended up as a world-famous actor. She had to do a double take the first time she saw a very fierce-looking Cloud on the movie poster for an action film called Crisis Core.
"So, you're going to accept the offer, right?" Jessie's voice broke Tifa out of her thoughts. She looked at her agent, who was watching her expectantly.
Tifa wondered what it would be like to see Cloud again after all these years.
"Could you show me the script?" she asked.
An entire script, a whirlwind of phone calls, a flurry of auditions, and a few weeks later, Tifa found herself seated across from the one and only Genesis Rhapsodos in a particularly high end café.
"I must say, you never disappoint, Tifa," Genesis said with a pleased smile. "I admit that you didn't come up as a potential choice right away, but now I'm certain that no one else can play the part."
Tifa couldn't help fidgeting slightly. "You're speaking too highly of me, Mr. Rhapsodos," she said.
"Please Tifa, like I said before, it's just Genesis," he said airily. "If we're going to be working together, there's no need for formalities."
She laughed shakily. "I guess I just can't get over the fact that I'm actually cast for this movie," she murmured.
"Trust me, you will be fantastic," Genesis said as he sipped his espresso. "Now that we've ironed out all the technicalities, all that's left is to sign. Everything else will be in the hands of your agent."
Tifa stared down at the papers before her, still not quite believing it. "Aren't these negotiations usually done with the casting director?" she asked.
Genesis laughed. "Normally, yes, but I take pride in taking on a much more personal role in my films. Lazard does all of the actual casting work, but I'm the one to seal the deal with my actors."
She nodded, feeling only slightly intimidated by the unfamiliarity of working with such a prestigious director. Then again, Tifa supposed that she'd better get used to it now. She was stepping into a much larger league.
"You're going to make a fine heroine, Tifa." Genesis smiled at her. "Like I said, I can't see anyone else playing her."
"I'm honored to be cast in such a film," she said honestly. It really was going to be a gem of a movie, as far as Tifa saw from the script.
"Almost twenty years in the making," Genesis said, shaking his head.
"Twenty years? Then it's almost as old as I am!"
He laughed. "Then I'm glad it never came through until now. But yes, things are finally falling into place. I only have you and Cloud cast right now, but I have others lined up for the other roles. I really am looking forward to this project."
Tifa nodded, hoping that Genesis didn't notice her perking up at the mention of Cloud. "I'm looking forward to it too," she said honestly.
As intimidating as the prospect was at first, Tifa couldn't deny her excitement over the opportunity to work with Genesis. And, of course, a chance to finally see Cloud…
Tifa wasn't sure which she was more excited or terrified about.