Disclaimer: Definitely not mine; always returned to Square Enix after they've been thoroughly embarrassed.

A/N: The final, completely unsubstantiated Dissidia 012 bunny. This ficlet is based on some game-play footage found by Kitsune13/TamLin, showing Tifa and Aerith (in the Assist function) battling Sephiroth and Cloud, as well as another screen shot of a defiant Cloud challenging Sephiroth.

The first Dissidia 012 plot confirmations have been posted on Wikipedia as I type this, and I've pinched a few that happen to tie into this storyline. Thanks so much for reading!

Warnings:WTF,UST and WAFF.

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Dissidia 012: Dissonance

Chapter Three: Oath

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"Why don't you pick a fight that you can win on your own, asshole?" Cloud muttered resentfully, not happy at being yanked into yet another of Sephiroth's battles. "Meteorai... oh, shit!" At the very last moment, his brain registered exactly who Sephiroth's opponent was, and he barely managed to angle his sword so that the multiple black projectiles sped harmlessly wide of the dark-haired woman.

Tifa was too heavily engaged in battle – while incongruously dressed as a cowgirl – to either acknowledge or possibly notice his presence. Sephiroth suddenly sprouted a single black wing and flew at the young woman, his sword aiming straight at her heart. She blocked the blow, but was knocked head over heels by the impact; a moment later, a slim girl dressed in pink dashed forward and cast some kind of healing magic. Tifa somersaulted back onto her feet and squared her shoulders; her fists began to glow with an eerie blue-green light.

With a cruel smile, Sephiroth turned to Cloud and gestured. "Destroy her."

"You bastard! Blade Beam!"

Sephiroth snarled in surprise before going airborne to avoid the strike. "I'll deal with you later." Gritting his teeth, Cloud raced to put himself between the swordsman and the onrushing girl as Sephiroth purred, "Fervent Blow."

Tifa's startled cry barely gave Cloud a split-second to brace himself as she plowed into him from behind, but he managed to raise his sword like a shield before the full power of Sephiroth's attack slammed into the flat of his blade. Slender arms wrapped around his waist and a slim body pressed firmly against his back as Tifa managed to brake their backwards skid. Firmly planting his boots, Cloud managed to repulse Sephiroth as he attempted to drive home the second part of his attack.

Sephiroth tossed his hair out of his eyes and roared, "Why did you protect her?"

"Because I felt like it!" Cloud thundered back.

"You... you're nothing but a puppet – mine to command!"

"Shoulda picked a more docile Assist," Cloud sneered, aware of the way Tifa's fingers trembled as they gripped his belt.

Sephiroth's eyes flicked from Cloud's defiant glare to the girl sheltering behind him. "She is the enemy."

"Not mine - don't push me, Sephiroth. I will protect her."

"Very well. You leave me little choice." Turning his back on Cloud, Sephiroth stalked away, his long hair swishing very much like the tail of an agitated cat.

As Cloud lowered his sword, exhaling, Tifa hugged him from behind. "Thank you… but I think I've just caused you even more problems."

"No problem. I have big shoulders." As she loosened her embrace, he turned within the circle of her arms and smiled down at her with the gentleness he kept just for her. Hooking his fingertip under the cord securing her cowboy hat around her neck, he couldn't help commenting, "Interesting outfit choice."

"The boots are killing me," she confided, smiling, her arms remaining comfortably looped around him.

"Bet they'd hurt if you kicked someone."

"Maybe I'll take another shot at Sephiroth."

He made her gasp with the fierceness of his one-armed hug. "Don't even think about it – you're in greater danger than I am, because he'll use you to hurt me."

"But…."

"Promise me you won't pick a fight with him, Tifa. I mean it."

She suddenly went all soft and pliant in his grip, and her lips brushed against his throat. "I promise."

Despite the manifold attractions of holding a warm, affectionate girl in his arms, Cloud's mind was racing ahead. "Tifa… you have to rejoin your team. Pick one – Pinky, maybe, or that crazy Laguna – and stick with them until this is over."

She blinked up at him, puzzlement and hurt tinting her vivid eyes. "You want me to leave?"

"No," he replied, kissing her forehead. "If I had a choice, I'd keep you with me, but this way I'll know you're protected from Sephiroth while I try to end this."

"'End this'? What are you planning?"

"A strike at the heart of darkness."

"Chaos?" she gulped.

"Look at it this way – the faster this is over, the quicker we can return to our world… and be together."

"But going up against Chaos… alone…."

"I'll be fine," he assured, stroking her cheek. "I'm fighting for someone I cherish, which gives me more power than Chaos can ever imagine."

Tifa held him so tightly that he momentarily feared for his ability to breathe, but a moment later, she had pulled his mouth down to hers and stole his breath in a different way. "Don't die," she whispered against his lips several long, intense moments later. "Please don't die. I couldn't bear it if I never saw you again."

"Not in the plan," he murmured, memorizing her taste, her scent and the way she felt in his arms. Tugging aside the collar of her vest, he examined the spot where he'd originally marked her; this time, so she couldn't mistake his intent, he moved slowly but with determination.

When he placed his mouth on her skin, Tifa arched her neck. "Go ahead."

Instead of biting, he sucked gently until a small red mark resulted. "You're mine," he growled, nibbling lightly along her collarbone. "This will remind both of us when we're back on our world."

"How do I get to mark you?" she asked wryly. "With another black eye?"

"You already have," Cloud said, pressing her hand to his heart. "Right here."

Tifa's kiss was full of need and promise. "Be careful."

"Always." Reluctantly disentangling himself, he held her away from him, but bent to kiss her again when a pout threatened. "I'll see you soon. I promise."

"I'll hold you to that," she whispered, but allowed him to step away even though her fingers knitted anxiously together.

"I'd rather you held yourself against me," he smirked, winking when she scowled. Jauntily twirling his sword, he snapped it onto the holder on his back. "We'll be back together before you know it."

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