Blah Blah Blah… I do not own Final Fantasy VII, any of its characters, or the Advent Children movie. Though, in my dreams, I do.
Cloud Strife:Why did I try to commit suicide?
Tifa Lockhart: Same here. Why?
FreeCorpKnight: My story, my rules! And by the way Tifa, aren't you in love with…
Tifa Lockhart: (punches FreeCorpKnight and knocks him out) Heh Heh…
Cloud Strife: What was he talking about?
Tifa Lockhart: Oh nothing… Heh Heh…
Cloud Strife: (shrugs and walks away)
FreeCorpKnight: (in dream land) So… Many… Chocobos…
Tifa Lockhart: Don't tell him! (kicks FreeCorpKnight and walks away)
FreeCorpKnight: Owww…
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'Cloud?' Her heart stopped when she looked into his eyes. She was so confused by his action that she didn't even realize she dropped Vincent's gun. 'There's something different about them… Does he care about me? I thought he didn't… The only person he cares about is Aeris… But why did he stop me? Why?'
"Don't Tifa," Cloud's voice broke through her thoughts, stopping them at once. "Please don't do that… You don't deserve to die…"
"What! And you do?" She asked.
"Yes… I've failed her… I've failed you before… I've failed to stop Sephiroth before it came to this… I'm a failure…" He admitted bitterly. "I don't deserve to live…"
"No Cloud! You're not a failure! You stopped him before he could destroy Planet! You were there in the final battle against Sephiroth and Jenova! If it weren't for you, we would never have come this far!" Tifa yelled with her fists clenched in anger, enraged by the sight of her friend in this state of mind. "And what about me? Do you know how much you mean to me? Didn't I tell you that I love…"
Her words were stopped when a finger touched her lips. "No, you can't love me… I… I… I don't deserve it... I don't deserve anyone…"
"What are you talking about! We've stopped Meteor, defeated Jenova, saved the Planet, and you still think that you're worthless! Anyways, who are you to say who I can and cannot love!" Tifa screamed as she started to hit Cloud with her fists, taking out her frustration by hurting the one she loved. Cloud was taken back by her outburst, feeling sorry for her and ashamed that he was thinking such thoughts. He knew that she was right and that he was wrong. Even so, he still can't bring himself to having feelings for another or understand why Tifa would feel this way about him. 'Even if I can't have emotions, I can't stop Tifa from loving me… I know I'll hurt her if I tell her that I can't love anyone… Not anymore… Not after what happened to her… Even if I could, I'll fail her like I did to Aeris…'
"Tifa… I… I can't feel anything… I can't love… I can't return these feelings…" Cloud replied, taking the punches without question and looking down at the floor dejectedly. He was waiting for her to come back with some sort of angry response or having her leaving in frustration. But, she did neither.
Tifa stopped her attacks and leaned close. "I understand Cloud…" She whispered before kissing him once. Then, she kissed him again. "Remember that promise you made? You've promised to be my hero and save me whenever I need help. So far, you kept that promise because you've always been there for me. If you keep doing this to yourself, you won't be letting yourself down but me as well. Don't you understand? You'll be breaking your promise…" She said while tears came down her face.
Cloud knew that she was right, again. 'Curses… She's right… I can't stay like this forever… I'll bring everyone down with me. That can't happen. Tifa… Teef… She'll… She'll be so sad… Why couldn't I think? Why! WHY!' For the second time that day, he shed tears. He could only look at the person in front of him and think about how his actions before were utterly selfish. 'I… I wasn't trying to help anyone… I was doing it just for myself… I can't do that to her knowing how she feels about me… It's the least I can do for her… I need to fix this… I need to help her…'
He slowly brought his hands up to her face, cupping her cheeks. He moved closer and closer till they were only millimeters apart. Tifa was still crying but now, she was holding her breath. Both surprised and frightened at the same time. Then, Cloud started kissing her gently on her face and wiped her tears away.
"It's all right Teef," he said before finally pulling away. " I won't leave you now. I really want to be with you but…"
"I understand," she replied, relieved that he's back to normal or at the very least, not suicidal. "It takes time…"
Cloud looked around and for the first time, noticed the state of his room. And the lack of a door. And a rather large view of the world outside. "Ummm… Teef? What happened to my door and why is there a hole in the wall?"
Tifa could only laugh. After about fifteen minutes of emotional ups and downs, the first thing Cloud noticed was the results of her anger management issue. 'Yup. Typical Cloud.'
"You don't want to know…" She chuckled before leaning close to him.
"I guess so…" Cloud said, scratching the back of his head in the typical Cloud-is-confused expression of his.
"Cloud?" Tifa asked, in a serious yet unsure tone. "You do know how I feel about you right? You know…"
"Yes Teef" He said before drawing her closer. "You love me but ummm… Look… I can't say that I love you but I do care about you… So…"
"Thanks Cloud," she said smiling, a bit disappointed that he still can't get over those emotional barriers but nonetheless happy that he did care for her.
"No, thank you… For being here…" Cloud said before leaning in for a kiss.
The two shared deep and passionate kiss, one fueled by love and friendship. It would have lasted for eternity if it weren't for a certain pilot furiously making his way toward the ship.
The sound of boots stomping on the metal floor caught their attention but it was too late. "Ok, sorry to break your dn makeout scene BUT WHAT THE FK HAPPENED TO MY DOOR!"
'Dn' Both thought at the same time.
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FreeCorpKnight: Yay! Chapter 3 is done!
Barret Wallace: Took ya long enough!
FreeCorpKnight: I know. I know… But I had work and tennis and all that other fun stuff…
Vincent Valentine: …
FreeCorpKnight: Besides, I finally got my first review! (pumps fist in the air)
Cloud Strife: Yes, thank you DemonSurfer for making the author happy…
FreeCorpKnight: (helps himself to some ice cream to celebrate the occasion)
Tifa Lockhart: And making him hyper… (watches FreeCorpKnight bounce off walls…)
Vincent Valentine: … This will be one long story…