Our Destiny, Chapter 3
CLOUDS POV:
Cloud stood in his doorway watching Tifa until she had closed the door to her bedroom. She had made him feel much more at ease about his dream and soon he felt sleep begin to take him just like it had to Tifa. Shutting his door he walked back over to his bed and layed down. He tossed and turned for a few minutes until he found the most comfortable spot for him then finally closed his eyes and fell into a calm sleep. This time Cloud didn't dream, which he was perfectly fine with. The last thing he wanted was for his mind to be restless considering how many deliveries he had to make the next morning. His delivery service seemed to be more busy as of late. Probably because of how much advertising Yuffie was putting out for him. She was always enthusiastic about it.
Morning soon arrived and Clouds alarm sounded with a loud ringing noise. Groaning slighly Cloud opened his eyes slightly and glanced at the clock.
"5:30 AM sharp. Ugh, why did I think early deliveries were a good idea?" Cloud thought to himself.
Fighting his urge to fall back asleep his stood up and stretch hearing his bones making poping noises in response. After waking himself up he grabbed his usual attire and headed toward the shower down the hallway that he and Denzel shared. Tifa had decided on the separate bathroom idea because she said girls always needed there own. Cloud never understood why but he was not one to question Tifas ideas considering they always turned out for the best.
As the warm water his body Cloud began to think of the night before and sighed slightly. Despite what he told Tifa he was still very much hurt over Aeriths death and the dream still consumed his mind this morning. Tifa had helped dramatically but he knew it would probably be a long time before he was able to move on. What would he move on to anyway? Cloud just couldn't see himself being with anyone right now. He and Aerith never technically were together, they had flirted but that was pretty much the end of it. So why did he feel like being in a relationship was a bad idea? It wasn't like he was going to betray her.
"What about Tifa?"
a voice in his head stated.
As soon as this thought hit his head images began rushing into his mind of Tifa. Everything from the times when they were younger in there hometown till last night as her small nightgown wrapped around her slender frame. She was beautiful. In every since of the word she was Clouds best friend...his always loyal companion. He realized he began to loose himself in these thoughts and then shook his head.
"What the hell? Me and Tifa? Now way. She's my friend. I'm not going to act all desperate." Cloud said to himself as he stepped out of the shower.
He got dressed in his black attire and the grabbed the keys to his bike and began to head down the stairs. Immediately the smell of food hit his nose and he knew Tifa was downstairs making breakfast for everyone. Cloud decided it would be best to avoid breakfast today considering all his thoughts toward Tifa latley. Cloud had it in his mind that he was desperate and pathetic and thats why he was having all these thoughts about Tifa. Weakness was not apart of Cloud...it had gotten Aerith killed and if somehow his feelings toward Tifa were genuine then he wasn't going to let her suffer the same fate. He quickly rushed down the stairs and headed straight for the door but Tifa had caught him before he could completely make it.
"Good morning. I made breakfast would you lik-"
"No I have to go." Cloud said cutting her off and heading straight out the door without a second glance.
Even after exiting the bar he could still feel Tifas stunned expression on his back. He felt guitly for being rude but he didn't have a choice. He wasn't going to let his weakness destroy his life again. Cloud jumped on his motorcycle and started the engine. He set his first delivery route in on his GPS and took one last glance toward the bar. Through the window he could see Tifa with a terribly hurt and confused glare as she watched him on his bike. He gave her no expression in return and looked back toward the road as he hit the gas.
"Great, you hurt her feelings. Its what's best for her though...and me." He thought to himself.
TIFAS POV
"Whats his problem?"
Thats was the first thought that ran through Tifas mind when she had tried to speak to Cloud this morning. She couldn't believe his attitude! He had completely shrugged her off and walked away like she was just some random girl he had just met. Her hurt quickly grew into anger and she turned away from the window not wanting to look at him anymore. She faced back toward the breakfast she was preparing and sighed.
"Looks like its just me and the kids again." She said referring to Marlene and Denzel.
Sometimes Tifa felt like a stay at home mom. They were not her kids of course but she had raised them long enough to feel that way. Clouds presence just added to the whole family appearance. He was like the father figure who was always "away on business". Tifa shook her head at the thought. She shouldn't be so hard on Cloud right now just because he had aggravated her this one time. However, that didnt mean that it didnt hurt any less. Tifa cared for Cloud very deeply...more than he would ever realize so sometimes on days like today when he wasn't having his good days she felt a tightness in her chest that wouldn't go away...she worried for him.
"Marlene! Denzel! Food is ready whenever you come down!" She shouted, knowing that it wouldn't be but seconds before they arrived.
Just as she had expected she heard bare feet dashing down the upstairs hallway and down the staircase as if they were racing each other trying to get the first bit of food. Tifa had already gotten her plate and sat down at the table and simply watched the two kids fight over the food as if they were starving to death.
"Denzel! Stop it. Just cause your bigger than me you always think you can go first!" Marlene pouted stopping her foot.
Rolling his eyes Denzel responded "No its because I'm older than you. Besides wouldn't it make more since for me to have more food because I'm bigger than you?"
Marlene seemed surprised by this question. "Well, yea I guess so. Alright you win." she said in a defeated voice.
"Here Marlene. I was just kidding." Denzel said with a smile hading her a large plate of food.
Wide eyed with a grin Marlene said "Oh! Thank you! Your not so bad I guess."
Tifa laughed as she watched this whole scene played out in front of her. She was proud of both of them. They were getting along so well now. When Cloud had first brought Denzel home there was some tension between the two but now they acted like a regular brother and sister. Even if they were not biologically. It was times like these that she wished Cloud were here. He missed all the little things which were usually the best part. She knew that Cloud cared for both of the kids but...he wasn't ever here. Denzel idolized Cloud and it was obvious that he missed him just as much as Tifa.
When the kids sat down they chatted with Tifa about the usual events such as: school, friends, homework, and anything else that related to there lives outside on Seventh Heaven. Marlene was the most talkative this morning. She told Tifa about her new art class and all about the work she and her friends had done in the class. However, Tifa couldn't help but notice that Denzel was exceptionally quiet this morning.
"Denzel? Is everything alright?" she asked in a concerned tone.
Denzel was quiet for the longest time and simply fiddled with his food for a moment. He kept glancing out the window as if he was expecting something to happen. Tifa was about to ask him her question again but before she could he finally responded.
"Why isnt Cloud here?" he asked looking up at Tifa sheepishly.
The question took her off guard but she responded with "Well, he is working...you know that."
"Yea I get that but does he have to work all the time? I don't think he likes us anymore." Denzel said.
"What! That's not true...don't say that. He is just busy. Cloud has gone through so much...he has to have something to keep his mind busy." She said trying to convince herself of what she was saying.
Denzel simply gave her a look of...almost what seemed like pity. He stayed silent for a moment taking a few more bites of his food deciding what he was going to say. Tifa was surprised by him. He was very observant and he knew that something had happened.
"Is that why he just rushed of this morning then?" He stated not looking up at Tifa.
Tifa felt defeated. She knew that there was no explanation for what Cloud had done this morning. It was very unlike him. How much had he and Marlene seen of Cloud recent behavior? She thought that they were too young to understand...or even to really care but obviously she was wrong.
"I don't know...I just don't know." she said in almost a whisper looking back down at her food.
The rest of the meal was silent for everyone as if a cloud of sorrow and showed up above them. Everything seemed to have fallen apart in just one morning. How could have things started out so poorly? Tifas night with Cloud last night gave her so much hope...now it seemed like it hadn't happened at all. When the meal was done she said her goodbyes to the kids as they left for school then was left alone in the bar.
