Chapter 7: A troubling request.

One month after Zack and Tifa became lovers, Cloud called Tifa asking for a favor. Could she join him in Midgar? He wanted help with his Aeris quest.

Zack and Tifa argued. Unable to convince Tifa to stay put, Zack arranged to meet with Cloud, to see if he could get Cloud to withdraw his request.

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Zack kicked a can that rolled across his path as he walked to his meeting with Cloud. He had a lot to say to Cloud.

But he had a lot to say to Tifa too, and that didn't turn out too well.

[flashback]

"He says he needs my help..."

"So you're gonna drop everything and go."

"But... aren't you worried about him? He sounded sort of... troubled on the phone..."

"Did you think for a second that maybe I'm worried about _you_? Maybe I'm worried that after you see him you'll mope around for another two months."

"..."

"Do you remember what you were like back then? You were crying all the time. You cried so much the delivery guy asked me who died! And now that you're finally back on your feet, you're gonna let him mess with your head again."

"But I just..."

"You're such an idiot about him! Why am I even talking to you?" He'd stormed out, slamming the door as he left.

[end flashback]

A wry smile curled his lips.

It was just like Cloud to spring this on her.

And just like her to drop everything for Cloud.

/You could've said no, Tifa. But you're gonna go, aren't you? And once you're with him again...

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Cloud ran his hand through unruly blond spikes. He was standing in front of a vending machine in the Midgar train station, muttering curses. The damn thing kept spitting out his ten gil note.

/When the hell is he gonna get here? Why'd I agree to meet him here anyway...

But he knew why he'd agreed to meet Zack. Because he was fated to have it out with his old buddy the moment he asked Tifa to come help him.

So the rumors were true. Zack was living with her. But...

/Don't tell me he actually got _attached_ to Tifa. Zack? Don't make me laugh.

/He tried to sound all protective on the phone, but I'm not buyin' it. This is about the big man's ego. I'm threatening the big man's ego.

Cloud gave a guttural chuckle.

/Of course I am. He knows he can't compete against me. She's gonna say yes, I know it. She practically already did.


But Zack's hand on his shoulder snapped him out of his reverie.

"Hey." Cloud's greeting was lukewarm at best.

"Thanks for meeting me."

"No problem," Cloud shrugged.

"So what's up?"

Cloud barely concealed a sneer. "You're the one who wanted to meet me."

"I want to talk about Tifa."

/So you've finally cut to the chase.

"What about Tifa?" Cloud spoke wonderingly, feigned innocence.

"You called her last week."

"Yeah."

"What's it about?"

"That's between me and Tifa, isn't it?" Cloud frowned. He meant to sound casual, but his voice came out slightly frayed.

"Mind telling me about it?" Zack's jaw tightened.

"I don't really see how it's your business, man."

"It's my business because she and I are together."

"Why don't you ask her about it, then?"

"I did."

"What'd she say?"

"Don't beat around the bush, Cloud."

"Tifa wouldn't tell you, eh?" Cloud didn't bother to hide his amusement.

"She said you needed her help with something."

"And that's not good enough for you?" One blond eyebrow rose mockingly.

"Why are you doing this, Cloud?"

"Doing what?"

"Dragging her through the mud again." Zack hissed his words behind grit teeth.

Cloud's throat suddenly felt parched, even as his arms gestured emphatically.

"What? I can't ask my best friend for help with something important to me, important to us? She wants Aeris back just as much as I do."

"She just wants to get on with her life, Cloud. She can't spend the rest of her life chasing ghosts with you. She's not going with you. Not if I have anything to say about it."

Cloud smirked.

"But you don't have any say, do you? Because this is about me and her. It's about our friendship. Something you know nothing about."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

Cloud snorted. "Thanks, buddy, for fucking my best friend and treating her like one of your whores."

"Right. I wouldn't know about friendship. I only got shot saving your ass. I shoulda left you with Hojo. And shut your mouth about me and Tifa--you don't know a damn thing about us." Zack's voice was low. A warning.

"What's there to know? You're the same sleaze you've always been. You're just using her--"

"Don't accuse me, when you're the one fucking with her head." Zack growled, his veneer of calm cracking. "You're acting all needy, so she's gonna drop everything and come running to help you. And when you feel better you'll just tell her to go away again. You're gonna get her hopes up that maybe this time you'll actually appreciate her, and you're just gonna break her heart again." He squared his eyes with Cloud, venom swirling in his throat.

"Like you're one to talk! You're the one using her! When you're tired of fucking her tomorrow, are you gonna stick around long enough to say goodbye? That's what you did to Aeris! You took all that purity and goodness and you threw it away." Cloud shouted back, eyes nearly black with rage.

"Don't fuckin' change the subject. I was no saint, but neither was Aeris. And Tifa's an adult. She knows what I am. At least she gets something out of it. You know nothing about Tifa and me." Zack's eyes narrowed dangerously.

"I don't, eh? She can't love you... Tifa loves me. She loves me, and there's nothing you can do about it!" Cloud taunted, then wagged a mocking finger at Zack. "And I'm gonna sit her down and make her see what kind of lowlife you are. She's not gonna stay with you. She's not that kind of girl."

Zack chuckled. "And what kind of girl is that, Cloud? The kind that screams when I fuck her? cause I can tell you right now Tifa is that kind of girl. A real fire cracker in the sack. Did you ever make her scream, Cloud? Or were you so scared that you couldn't last two minutes, heh--"

With a savage growl, Cloud launched his knuckles into Zack's jaw, sharply cutting Zack's words, crashing him into the back wall. Zack fought to regain his footing, then rammed his fist straight into Cloud's gut. When Cloud doubled over, Zack drove his elbow into to Cloud's back, sending him sprawling.

Cloud had just enough time to right himself before Zack let loose another barrage of blows. But then Zack abruptly stopped. Even as Cloud howled ferally, throwing punch after punch in berserk rage, Zack merely braced himself against the wall to fend off Cloud's blows.

"Fight me, damn you!" Cloud snarled, disgusted that Zack could smugly stand there and act so goddamn above it all...

"Cloud, I just remembered..." Zack flashed a wry grin stained with blood. "I can't hit ya. She'd never forgive me. She loves ya, ya dumbass... and... I... "

"You're the dumbass! I saved this goddamn planet! And for what? So you could fuck my ..."

Cloud froze. Just for a second, he thought he saw something laid bare in Zack's eyes, something so raw...

"...I love her."

Cloud stared, incredulous, at Zack for a moment, then ran as quickly as his battered body and blurry eyes could carry him.

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Cloud let the hot water droplets pound his body. The Midgar hotel he stayed at had a massaging showerhead, and thanks to Zack, his body was creaking and cracking like an old man's. But he hated those treacherous words even more. The words that kept playing in his head.

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

He didn't. He didn't say that.

I... I thought he said... he loved her.

Heh.

Heheh.

Just for a second, I almost believed it.

But come on, it's Zack we're talking about here... I can't believe I almost bought it...

Man, I must've been pretty dizzy back there.

He doesn't love her. He's just using her.

When she gets here, I'm gonna set her straight. Sure, she's doing me a favor, but I'm doing her a favor too. I'm gonna show her. She just doesn't know what the guy's like...

I know she's been lonely. She's been alone, with only that slime acting like he's concerned about her.

I shouldn't have left her like that, but... she understands. It's for Aeris. For me and Aeris. She wants that for us too. She's been such a good friend to me.

I'm gonna make it up to her, though. I'm gonna put a stop to this... bullshit game he's playing. I won't let him use her then throw her away. I won't let him do that to Tifa.

I'll make it up to you, Tifa.

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Zack stumbled to his couch, having downed a few too many at the highway tavern. As his body shifted to dull pain, his mind adjusted its hazy focus on the woman who was central to it all... the recent happenings... the collapse of what he held dear.

*********

Tifa, you're not gonna believe what happened...

Yeah. I beat the crap out of your dear Cloud. At least til I remembered I wasn't supposed to.

Then he got me good.

But it's up to you now. You gonna stay with me? Or you gonna go back to the guy who tore your heart up?

Why am I asking? I know what you're gonna do.

I know. I'm an idiot. But I couldn't help it. You're gorgeous, and you're so goddamn crazy.

I was just starting to think we had a shot, too.

Heh. Maybe I still got Lily's phone number somewhere.

What the hell. If I close my eyes, I can almost pretend she's you. Course, she wouldn't smack me upside the head for helping her around the place. Her ex-boyfriend's dead. And she wouldn't throw me down on the floor and screw me til I passed out either. Not every woman's crazy as you. Ain't that a relief.

God, why did it have to be you?

I wasn't always so picky. Hell, even Cloud could tell you that. But I can't go back now, Tifa. I mean, I'll make do, but I'm always gonna want you, now. If I could be with you, I wouldn't ask for anything more.

But that's not good enough for you, right? cause god forbid Cloud should have a headache. Or a hang nail.

Yeah, he was my friend and all. What can I say, I'm just a selfish bastard.

But hey, it's not so bad. Me and Cloud, we can still agree on one thing. We both think you're nuts. And wasting your goddamn love on the wrong guy.

You know what's funny? He tried to kill me today, and he didn't even love you. He just wanted to save you from me.

Why didn't anyone save me from you?

Well, Lily tried-- that's why I got rid of her.

God is a vindictive sonuvabitch.