Disclaimer: Final Fantasy VII with the characters, items, places, etc. are the property of Square Enix, Inc. No infringement is intended.
Author's Note: This is a Cloud and Tifa story, just with a dramatic twist due to his absence. They will be happy later.
Updated Chapter Changes: 4/6/19 & 7/26/20
-. Don't Think Twice .-
Chapter III
September 15th, εγλ 0009, 10:43 p.m.
It had been a long time since he had stayed at Seventh Heaven, and for the second night in a row, he was bunking by himself instead of laying next to Tifa. The first night he had retreated in here was to give his wife space and much-needed rest after the big battle in the town square. The solitary courier was ready to live his life and start his marriage over, but a talk about their future could wait. No longer drowning in his guilt, he took a step forward tonight by asking for another chance from her.
Tifa had meant everything to him, and he had ruined it.
Living together with a makeshift family while secretly married was never simple in the beginning. Knowing glances were exchanged from across the room, while kisses and tender touches were received behind closed doors. Each night he would sneak into her room before returning to the bed in his office by morning. It was just like their journey; friends by day, lovers by night.
The two were happy, but it wasn't a secret that all of AVALANCHE wanted them together. The need to know would come later with a new ceremony with their friends, and enjoying their wedded bliss quietly was more fun anyway.
Until that fucking curse. Geostigma.
Once he realized he had the disease, he kept Tifa at arm's length away, and ceased sneaking back into their bedroom after the kids were asleep. The brooding man even stayed out on deliveries for days at a time, which he could tell began to worry his wife. She didn't press the issue right away, but he could see animosity form between them. Tifa wanted something from him he just wasn't able to give: a future.
When the black mark of death initially appeared on his bicep, he had panicked. Cloud had no choice but to exile himself from his family when the hallucinations began to stir in his mind. He wasn't fit for anyone in his family, and he was going to die alone. The risk of hurting his family physically was too great. Instead of trusting his wife, he threw himself into a self-deprecating attitude instead.
Contracting Geostigma was the final price for failing his dear friends. If karma was death, then so be it. He didn't deserve happiness in his life after all. Whatever little life he had left, he was going to find a cure for Denzel. Be the hero for his family and not show his weakness to falter from that image they held. It was what got him through the unbearable pain that shot through his arm periodically. As the attacks increased he was counting the days; that was, until Aerith healed him.
He was cured, along with the guilt he had over his ghosts. Now he was facing the biggest regret of his life: hurting Tifa to the point that she had moved on from him.
"Everything will be alright."
How, Aerith? What was the point of even coming back?
His mind was racing. Everywhere he turned in his life, he had guilt. Everywhere he turned in his life, he always managed to screw it up. Why did Aerith even bother to bring him back to nothing? Tifa was his reason for living, the pillar of strength that always held him up. Ever since the night of their promise at the well, she shined with resonating faith in him. Now that he had a future, he couldn't imagine what life would be without her by his side.
Maybe this was his new torment to live with. The thought of the love of his life with another man sickened him. Hours ago when she told him it was over, shock and remorse took over his mind. Now he felt a little anger he hadn't known sooner. He always listened to her messages while out on the road, and they went to heartfelt callings to strictly business. None of them mentioned her intentions of moving on from him, just pleas to come back home. Tifa's call a few days ago was the first in a long time asking him how he was doing, and that smile in the church offered him hope he hadn't pushed her too far from his heart with the distance. Had he meant nothing to her after all?
Cloud sighed in frustration, rubbing his hand across his face. He couldn't expect Tifa to put up with him forever, could he? Coming home was supposed to be a fresh start for them, or so he had hoped. He felt really stupid to think she'd readily accept him back...but for her to have someone else was harder to face than Sephiroth himself. The pain thundering in his chest convulsed worse than the plague he had just recovered from. The situation was truly maddening. How could she do this to him? He sat up, thinking a walk could clear his head, but he was startled at the sudden visitor in his room.
"You promised you'd always be there for her, right?"
"Zack, what are you doing here?" Cloud questioned. The raven-haired spirit of his SOLDIER mentor was sitting on his desk, swinging his legs in a lively manner, ironically enough. His friend would visit him from time to time before during his dark days with the stigma, even to offer encouragement to defeat his nemesis. Dropping in just for advice on his love life was different.
"To make sure you live your new life. You can't walk away again just because she's with some other guy."
Cloud just looked at the apparition across the room from his bed. What if she wants space for her boyfriend? Does she even need me around? Zack was right, I shouldn't have left before.
"Cloud, she needs you just as much as you need her," Zack preached to him. "And of course I was right."
Cloud blinked at what he just heard, shaking his head a little. "Are you reading my mind?" he asked while giving his friend a baffling look.
"Yeah, I am. Don't give up on Tifa, deep down inside she still loves you. I know you can win her back."
"Zack—"
"Think about it, how serious could it really be? If I were you, I wouldn't give up for what you had with her," the fallen soldier leaned forward a bit before continuing. "Compared to you, this guy can't make her as happy as you have. Believe me, I've seen it. He's not her hero, you are."
"I'm...I'm always late for her."
"But in the end, you're still there, and what counts is in here," Zack pointed to his chest, his voice pure with optimism. "Cloud, you and Tifa are meant to be. Now prove it to her."
All he had done was push her away, but all he wanted to do now was make her happy for the rest of their days, but together. Tifa was everything in the girl next door, and worth every effort to salvage his marriage.
Early January, εγλ 0008
Together in the palace garden, Tifa sat facing Cloud with her legs neatly tucked to the side. The soldier was casually leaning back against the cherry blossom tree, resting his arm on his raised knee. The couple had been out late at night, talking in a hidden spot like they had done a few times during their childhood. Being alone with him left her heart feeling light, smiling at the chance to spend time together like this.
"I made a promise to tell you something." Now that they were finally alone, she had to seize this moment from what she revealed in the Lifestream.
"You did?" he questioned, giving a small smirk in curiosity.
"Yes, the real you told me to. After you left town, I really thought about you a lot. I wondered if you were able to get into SOLDIER? Or how you were doing? I started collecting the newspapers, thinking that there might be an article about you. You were so far away from me, and I thought if I had found out anything I could be closer to you. Seems rather silly now..." Tifa's cheeks began to tint red, but her big smile covered up the effect. "You left a big impression on me after the promise that night."
"I was surprised you kissed me on the cheek before I hopped onto the bus to Midgar. Not that I'm complaining. I hadn't done anything special yet," he admitted to her.
"I was sold on a hero coming to rescue me. You may not have made it into SOLDIER, but I believe you had what it took in your heart, Cloud. If only none of that happened and you had more time with Zack..." She had squeezed his hand to reassure she thought the world of him.
"I really wanted to be in SOLDIER for you, so I could be good enough to be with you. Your father hated me, and I wanted to prove I could protect you. If I made, he wouldn't be able to say 'no' to me." It was his turn to blush.
She perked up at his last statement. Did he join to be able to 'court' her too? Her ruby eyes glistened when she met his softly glowing mako eyes. Tifa was blushing even more now from her confession, and she couldn't think of what to say as her mouth opened a bit. Her lips met his in a sweet chaste kiss when she leaned forward, smoothing her hand on his vest. Short and sweet, she began to move away when he hooked her in place. She was startled and excited at the same time as his grip drew her in closer. Cloud had a certain possessiveness about him, which Tifa never minded. She sighed when he slid his hand through her dark strands.
"I think we should get married."
"Cloud..." He was pulling her into his lap now, so close she could feel his hot breath on her face. His heart pounded under the feel of her trembling hand on his chest. Was this happening? He cupped her cheek, lightly brushing his thumb on her soft skin.
"Marry me, Tifa." His voice was so confident.
His cobalt eyes radiated with intensity, their faces so close. The garden smelled of sweet flowers as the petals fell from the tree around them, mixing with Cloud's own scent of metal. His hand boldly caressed her back with the other still cradling her face. He was warm to the touch, comforting her. She was holding onto all her senses to make sure this was real. She leaned in touching her forehead to his, a fond smile spreading across her face. Tifa wanted this too, probably even more than him.
"Yes."
Author's Note Continued: Chapter updated on 4/6/19; additional thoughts and feelings from Cloud's POV. Scene with Zack extended. Chapter updated again on 7/26/20; date/time stamp changes applied.
