A Wing and a Prayer
An original work of FF7 fanfiction by Ry (OzZMaN)
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"Every man dies. Not every man really lives."
William Wallace, Braveheart
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Chapter 2
"Poor Cloud, he's really a wreck," muttered Cid to himself as he entered the inn.
"I thought you were out for a drink," Barret shouted upon hearing Cid's reentry.
"Changed my mind. I kinda lost the will to even drink after seeing Cloud buried in his own world at the bar. How long has he been like this man?"
Barret shook his head at Cid's words. "What planet are you from Cid? He's been like dat since she died. No one even knows if he's ever gonna be normal again. For all we know he might just wither up and fall of the face of the earth."
"You don't think we should try and help him? I mean he did do a lot for us, you know saving the planet and all."
"Listen man. The only person that can help him right now is the very same person who you saw sitting there at that bar. Himself. Ain't nobody gonna be able to do anything for him, because he's not gonna even listen to what they have to say."
"If you say so. I'm turnin' in, goodnight."
Barret made a grunting sound which Cid took as a "goodnight to you" as he continued cleaning his gun-arm. Barret was once again left to his thoughts, which at this point had reverted to Cloud. He wondered what Cloud was trying to accomplish by pining away over something he couldn't have done anything about. Hell, he'd half missed the little spiky headed jerk barking orders around like he used to.
Cloud has to crawl out of that hole he's in someday, right? Barret beat his fist on the ground, angry at Cloud for being both selfish and inconsiderate.
"Damn his spiky butt for doin' this. He knows each 'n' every one of us would take him back in, but he just wants to turn his back on us," he managed to say aloud.
Which Tifa heard.
"Barret?" she managed to squeak.
Startled at her voice and her intrusion, Barret quickly went back to cleaning his gun. "Tifa? Oh, hey, yeah I was just cleanin' the old bits an' pieces, ya know."
Tifa sighed and took a seat next to him on the couch. There was a cold silence for a moment, and Tifa pondered. Something was lingering, in the air, which she no doubt sensed. That lingering was more or less her conscience calling out for her to stop loving Cloud, that he doesn't appreciate nor return anything you do for him, but her heart was telling her to wait. She finally managed to break the quiet.
"I'm really worried about Cloud, Barret. It's been almost two years since Aeris died, and not a single second since then have I seen Cloud so much as smile. He used to always smile, especially when he was with her. I just don't know what to do…."
"Forget about it," interrupted Barret. "Stop worryin' over him like you're his mom or somethin', because he obviously doesn't give a damn about you or anyone else but her, so if I was you I would get over him and find someone else."
His words stung Tifa's heart, but deep down, as much as she wanted not to believe it, she knew he was right. She knew Cloud didn't love her, that he loved Aeris, and will continue to love Aeris over her, even though she's no longer living. It put Tifa in her place as far as she was concerned, right smack at the bottom of hell, or thus she was feeling.
Cloud has chosen me over a dead girl, that means I am nothing to him, but nonetheless I'm going to go check on him because I'm foolish as hell and still thinking there is a prayer of a chance he might actually come back to me. Cloud is going to die someday, never actually knowing how much I loved him, and he is going to deeply regret what he is doing to himself now, and to me, and for some reason I still love him unconditionally, despite the fact that he has almost totally shut me out. I would live my life for him, and he needs someone to live for as well, but he will not live for anyone but her, if you can even call the state he is in living. Not even me, even though I am right here in front of him, willing to give everything I have for him to come back to me. Cloud, you just don't understand, if only I could tell you everything….
Tifa suddenly jumped from the couch and barged out the door, her emotions having gotten the better of her once again. Barret, startled, looked up only to see the door slamming shut and a confused and upset Tifa storming out into the street. He shook his head.
"Poor Tifa, why don't you wake up girl? He's not even worth it anymore. Cloud, you poor bastard. You've done a good job of really hurting someone who loves you. Good job asshole…"
Notes: So, how do you like the fic so far? I'm not overly enthusiastic about this chapter, but I have some pretty good ideas for the chapters to come. I've also switched to writing in first person with Cloud, whenever he's around, and when he's not, I put it in third person like this chapter. I know most of you are thinking this is probably just another hopeless Aeris resurrection fic, but believe me, its gonna be a lot more than just that. Any ideas you have, comments, suggestions, send 'em in. I'd love to hear from you, and I always welcome encouragement and ideas. Email at ozzman547@aol.com. Thanks for reading and next chapters to be out soon!
Signed Ry……