A chilling wind encircled the silence that hung in the air, as the two teenagers stared at each other, neither sure of what to say. Cloud tugged uncomfortably at the sleeve of his uniform as he gazed at the rocky ground to avoid further eye contact, while Tifa's jaw remained open in shock. She attempted to force words out, but it was as if the wind stole them before they had even left her mouth.
"I'm sorry…" Cloud's voice was barely a whisper in the wind, but the words echoed clearly in Tifa's mind. "I'm… sorry…"
"Cloud? What… I mean, when…?" Tifa was visibly struggling with her inner storm. Of all the ways she had dreamt of their reunion, this had never been in the script. She slowed and took a deep breath to collect her thoughts, then focused her gaze once more on the blonde. "You want to explain?" Cloud's gaze remained focused on the rocky mountain path. "Cloud, please…"
"I didn't want to come back here…" He finally raised his head to look back at his childhood friend. "I didn't want to face you again, not until I had fulfilled my promise." Pausing, he tugged in disgust at the uniform as Tifa took a cautious step forward.
"Promise? You mean… you remembered?" The spiky haired teen nodded, gazing reflectively into the misty sky.
"I left to join SOLDIER. I promised you… I promised myself I would achieve it. But now…" His gloved hand opened, releasing his gun which clattered noisily to the ground. "Now…" Tifa raised an eyebrow slowly as she noted a change in Cloud's voice as he now turned quickly to face her. His eyes shone with a sudden determination she had not seen in many years, a look that was nearly always associated with a crazy idea. "Now, I have nothing left to lose."
"Cloud?" asked Tifa cautiously, noticing the grin that was growing on her friend's face.
"I never wanted you to find out the truth Tifa. But now that you have…" He paused and placed a hand on her shoulder, "Now I see a new path ahead of me. I want to leave all of this behind me." Tifa offered what she hoped was a supportive but non-committing smile.
"Slow down! What are you talking about?" she asked, flustered by how close Cloud was to her. He seemed different since she had last been with him, no longer the unsure boy she remembered. Cloud sighed in frustration and turned to explain, when a sudden cry erupted from deep within the reactor. Tifa glanced nervously from Cloud to the reactor, then back to Cloud. "What was that?"
"Wait here, I'll be right back," assured Cloud as he turned and began to ascend the stairs. Tifa shook her head and charged up the steps after him, her boots clanging against the metal steps.
"No, I want to go with you!"
"But it could be dangerous. I don't know what's going on in there." Tifa gazed up at him with pleading eyes.
"Please? I'll be okay with you to protect me?" Cloud sighed and gazed down at her. She seemed so eager, and perhaps leaving her alone out here wasn't any better than taking her along.
"Okay…" he finally sighed, "Just make sure you stay close." With that final warning, the two teens continued onward and into the depths of the reactor, Tifa clinging nervously at Cloud's arm.