Torn Apart
Chapter 1:
Tifa returned to the Highwind, all other emotions blinded by rage. How could Cloud do this to her? She confesses her love to him, and he confesses his love for Aeris. And then, he wants her to sacrifice herself to bring Aeris back to life!? It was ludicrous!
Cid was making some checks on the Highwind's engine while they were gone. He looked over his shoulder immediately, upon hearing Tifa's boots stomping into the hard dirt ground.
"Something the matter, Tifa?" he asked, in his rough, kind voice. "Where's Cloud?"
Tifa felt her cheeks flush in frustration. "I'm fine," she snarled, not daring to face Cid directly. "As for Cloud… Can we just leave – right away? He said he's going to stay behind for a while."
"All righty, then."
Cid attempted to wipe off his greasy hands, but even his trousers were smudged with oil and grease. Shrugging to himself, he escorted Tifa up the ramp and into the Highwind. The ramp retracted and then swung in upwards like a door. The aircraft was secured for liftoff.
Cloud rushed to meet the lifting ship, forcing himself past the debris of Mideel and stumbling over even more. Finally, he somersaulted into the open area… But it was too late. The Highwind had taken off and was already a speck in the horizon.
"Tifa, wait!" he cried out, extending out his hand as if he were expecting to grab the speck in the sky and pull it back. "Come back!" Seeing no result, he collapsed to his knees, and then on all fours. "Come… back…"
The weight of his emotional pain was too much for him to bear. And for the first time in years, and maybe his entire life, Cloud pressed his hands to his face… and wept.