What It Should Have Been

Written by: GQ and Zhak

Warnings: Slight AU and slight OOC. If you are Cloti or somebody else who isn't open to certain possibilities in the story, then this ain't the fic for you, buddy!

Disclaimer: Authors of this story do not own Final Fantasy 7. We own this fic, though.


Chapter 2: The Adolescent Years

oOoOo

Ever-dearest Tifa,

You are the reason for many things in my life. From childhood, you had a particular relationship with me that will be embedded in my mind, heart and spirit forever. And now that we're teens, I can't help but look back on the past and reflect…

As you may have heard, I am leaving Nibelheim soon—to be more exact, I'm leaving in a couple of days for SOLDIER. People say that I'm too young for the military, but I know that I could do it. I bet you I can even make it to First Class. Anyway, I thought of writing this letter to you so that before I leave, you'll know that I thought of you.

But I can't say goodbye without saying what my heart wants to say to you for the longest time now…

So… here goes…

Tifa…

I truly hate you. I hope you die. What did you expect, for all the things that you've done to me? Hah, don't be stupid.

Well, that's over with. I'm leaving this stupid town! I'm going to Midgar! I'm gonna be a bad-ass SOLDIER! And I'm gonna make a lot of money! We may not see each other ever again after I leave, but I don't care! In fact, I'll make sure that we'll never see each other again; obviously, it will do the both of us some good…

And so I say to you, my "CHILDHOOD FRIEND," good bye and good riddance!

Love, Cloud.

PS. Oh yeah, just 'cause you got big boobs doesn't mean you're pretty. So don't think so highly of yourself. I bet that if I dressed up as a girl, I'd be prettier and sexier than YOU.

Cloud chuckled sinisterly to himself as he re-read his so-called 'love letter' to Tifa. "Finally… I get a chance!" he said to himself victoriously.

But really, this letter is the only chance he has of letting out his grudge against Tifa. He certainly has no way with words, and he certainly can't challenge her to a mano a mano fight, since boys just don't beat up girls (even if the girl was trained to kick-box). He breathed in deeply. He pondered for a moment if this was the right way to go about it, or if what he's about to do is right at all, but he shook off all doubt almost immediately. He had to do it before he left for Midgar. He just had to!

He sprinted downstairs and zoomed past his mother, who barely caught a glimpse of him in confusion. "Cloud, where are you going? It's dark out already," she asked.

"Just going to the well. I'll be back in less than an hour," he replied before sprinting out of the house.

oOoOo

"I wonder why Cloud invited me over here at this hour?" Tifa thought silently to herself as she sat still on the well. She was beginning to feel sleepy. Cloud told her to meet him there by 10:30 in the evening. "That boy had some guts after all the nasty things I've done to him all these years. I wonder what he's going to do…" she thought before she got up and removed the lid of the well and stared inside into its darkness. "I'm getting thirsty…" she muttered before searching for the pail, but was interrupted when she heard someone else climbing on the well's platform. She looked up and saw Cloud Strife with a serious look on his face and clutching a folded paper in his right hand. She blinked. "…You're late." She told him sternly.

"I'm sorry… but… I'm happy that you actually came." He told her calmly with a slight smile on his face.

She shuddered. "He's smiling at me… I wonder why." She thought to herself, sensing that there must be something wrong. She just shrugged. "Well… I keep my word. When I say I'm coming, I'm coming." She just said simply, acting casual as he walked over to her side. She just slapped his back. "So, what's happening? How come you asked me to come here?" she asked with a cheerful look on her face. But she slapped him way too hard that he almost fell forward and lost his balance… and he had to hold onto the well so that he wouldn't fall inside… but he accidentally let go of the letter and it fell inside. Cloud gasped and just stared into empty space for a while.

"I asked you a question, Cloud," she told him as she took a seat at the edge of the well.

"I… I just want to say goodbye… I'm going to join SOLDIER…" he stammered.

"Oh… really?" Tifa said, her tone changing. That scrawny twerp, going to SOLDIER? Tifa doubted that Cloud will even make it as a third class SOLDIER's shoeshine boy. She wanted to laugh out loud and make a snide remark at the boy, but she restrained herself and gave a small smile instead. "When are you leaving?" she asked.

"In a couple of days," he replied. He still glanced at the 'crevasse' where his letter had fallen into.

"Cool," said Tifa, a plan formulating in her brain. Hmm… he's going to Midgar… I doubt that he'll make it into SOLDIER, but just in case… "Hey, Cloud…"

"… yes?" he asked warily.

Tifa gave a small frown and patted the space beside her. "Don't just stand there, silly. Come sit next to me."

Cloud stood still and shook his head. "OH, no, I'm fine standing here. What is it you wanted to tell me?" he said awkwardly.

She shrugged and stared at the stars. "Promise me something, Cloud."

"Huh?"

"You won't forget me when you go to SOLDIER, right? You'll come when I'm in trouble, won't you?" she asked in the best dreamy tone that she could manage.

She could see in her peripheral vision that Cloud frowned slightly as she spoke. Her face fell and she gave a look at Cloud. "You will, won't you?"

Cloud's left eye twitched.

What's wrong with this guy? I think he's going insane again. "Promise me, Cloud," said Tifa with a sterner tone.

A moment of silence. Cloud's face relaxed, but he was still frowning as he looked away. Tifa was starting to wonder what was going on with him. Finally, Cloud spoke. "W-ell, Tifa, I can't just promise you that thing, you know?"

He… talked back? "What?" Tifa asked in irritation.

Cloud rolled his eyes as he spoke. "Tifa, Tifa, Tifa… you must be crazy if you think that I'll make a stupid promise like THAT!"

Her mouth dropped open as he continued talking, "Surprise, surprise, Teefa! I'm not very fond of you! In fact, I hate you! Bah-hahahah!" and laughed heartily.

Tifa felt dumbfounded.

"So you think you're the only good one in acting, huh, Teefah? Huh? Bahahahahahahahaha! Well you're not!" Cloud teased happily. Finally he's getting his revenge. And he loves the feeling of it, especially seeing the dumbfounded look on Tifa's face. "You know, Tifa," he calmed down and wrapped an arm around her shoulder. "someday, you'll realize what a big mistake you have done… you know, making my life miserable? I mean, we could've been so perfect for each other. But then again… what is your zodiac sign?" he asked with a serious look on his face.

"…T…Taurus…" she stated with a tone that seemed to falter. She suddenly didn't know what to do.

"Taurus, eh? Well… I'm a Leo. And according to astrology, we are not compatible. You're an earth sign; I'm fire. It's either I burn you or you cover my flame with your dirt!" he told her.

"Cover with dirt…" it echoed in her brain. And she wasn't sure if she acted with instinct, but she instantly pushed him away from her… into the well. And the next thing she heard was Cloud screaming from inside the well, "YOU NASTY! GET ME OUT OF HERE!"

Tifa was huffing and puffing. So much for suppressing anger.

And she smiled sweetly. "No." she said sweetly. "Oh yeah, you can get your love letter from inside while you're there! Heehee! And you can burn it too once you manage to get out of there!" she told him happily.

"I can't burn it, it's already soggy to begin with! Are you stupid!" Cloud cried out from inside with an angry tone.

She twitched. "Stupid eh?" she called out as her nostrils flared. She instantly got the lid of the well and covered it, ignoring Cloud's screams, "NO! DON'T COVER IT! NOOOOOO! TIFA! YOU'LL PAY ONCE I GET OUT OF HERE!"

"Whew." She wiped her sweat off her brow. "That was a heavy lid…" she muttered before skipping merrily away from the well so that she could go home.