of Love and Despair
The story takes place kind of after Advent Children. I didn't play Dirge of Cerberus so there could be some inconsistencies, possibly setting this story in an alternate universe.
The Loneliness of Love and Despair
This is me this is who I am. The more I try to disbelieve it, the more real it gets.
Cloud let the water in his cupped hands splash back down to the pool of water. Flowers of all kinds of colors where blooming all around the water's edge. The original flowers that once flourished on the very spot where the pool of water now exists, now resided in the depths of the water just like the one who tended to them daily. Cloud would often come to this church because it was always tranquil and it always remained the same even though the surrounding area had dramatically changed.
The doors bursting open disturbed Cloud from his serenity. Two young children ran into the church and towards him.
"Marlene, Denzel," said Cloud as Marlene ran into him and wrapped her arms around his waste in a big hug. "What are you doing here?"
"Why did you run away?" asked Marlene pulling away from him. "Why Cloud?"
Cloud ignored her. "Go back home."
Marlene shook her head. "We're not leaving without you."
"Marlene."
"No Cloud." Marlene clenched the sides of her dress in her tightly balled fists.
"Tifa is just concerned about you," spoke Denzel which made them look at him who then retreated back a few steps.
"I can't make you come back home," said Marlene who was staring at the flowers on the ground. "But I just... I just want... I just want you to be happy." She then headed for the door while dragging Denzel along.
"Happy?" asked Cloud to himself. "Happy."
7th Heaven was unusually empty for this time of the day. Reno poked his head into the bar and then looked outside at the signs outside of the bar. He recognized the big gold chocobo character and the words "Strife Delivery" on the sign. Just underneath it was a smaller sign, "7th Heaven." This was the correct place. Reno shrugged his shoulders and took a seat at the bar. He looked around at the few others and saw them looking a bit disgruntled as many of them didn't have any cups in front of them. Reno turned back around to face the bar and saw Tifa busily cleaning what few cups she had left.
"What happened here, yo?" he asked.
Tifa stopped washing at the recognition of the voice and speech pattern. She gave him a friendly smile that she didn't give too often. "The usual, yo?" she playfully called back.
"Sure," replied Reno. He watched her pour two dark brown liquids from two different bottles into a cup that was hidden beneath the counter top. Reno began to grow suspicious as she was talking too long for her to make him a drink. He gave a chuckle as Tifa put a plastic no-spill cup on the counter. "So this is how people drink now days?"
"I think it matches your personality," teased Tifa. "There was a little accident yesterday."
"Ah, I thought you were trying to start a new trend," replied Reno as he tried to pry off the lid of the cup. "So hows the kids?"
"They're fine," replie Tifa with a frown. "I hope they come back soon. Not everyone is so eager to drink from no spill tipsy cups."
"I'll bet," replied Reno as he took a sip from the cup and looked at the others. "You know, I don't think that this cup is working for me. Do you have any thing else? Like baby bottles maybe?"
Tifa laughed and a few customers just shook their heads. "Thanks," she managed to say.
"Huh?" asked Reno pulling the cup from his lips. "For what?"
"This is just what I needed right now. A good laugh. It's been..."
"Rough?"
"That's putting it lightly. Cloud and I had a fight and... forget it."
"Go on."
"No, forget it. I don't feel like talking about Cloud. Its been all I've been thinking about."
"Alright," nodded Reno. "That's fair. Since you're not going to talk, I will. So Rude go this rash-."
Many of the others sitting nearby let out a groan, but Reno didn't care as he continued his stories which kept Tifa laughing and her mind off of Cloud for once. For once she wasn't constantly worrying about the others like she always did. She didn't have to worry about Cloud's dangerous job or Marlene and Denzel when they went exploring together or anything else. She was having a good time as Reno continued to tell his stories and did his many antics. Before they knew it, it was nearing closing time.
"Well I better get going, yo," replied Reno looking at his watch.
"Thanks again, yo," said Tifa scooping up Reno's gil.
"Any time, yo," called out Reno with a wave as he walked out of the bar. He poked his head back into the bar to which Tifa held up a pair of glasses. He walked over and thanked her again before making for the door. Just as he about to leave he stopped and turned around.
"Hey Tifa?" asked Reno to which she looked back at him curiously. "They are going to reopen the Gold Saucer. And there's this big grand reopening and I was wondering if you weren't busy tomorrow, maybe you'd want to go?"
Marlene and Denzel quietly snuck up against the wall outside the bar and began to eaves drop on them. Tifa was a little shocked that Reno had just come out of the blue like that and asked her. Its not like Cloud and her were in a relationship or anything and its not like Reno was asking her out on a romantic date or anything.
"Sure," answered Tifa. "I'd love to go."
Marlene and Denzel had already taken off towards Aerith's church.
"Cloud you have to go," pleaded Marlene. "You have to go to Gold Saucer."
"I'm not going," replied Cloud. "I don't have a problem with Tifa going to Gold Saucer with Reno."
"Cloud you have to."
"We are just friends. That's it."
"Cloud, Tifa cares about you."
Cloud walked across the room away from them. He rubbed the back of his neck and looked down at his own feet. He let out a heavy sigh and turned back around to look at the others.
"Alright I'll go," replied Cloud in an almost a whisper. "But I'm not going as myself."
It takes more courage to accept the truth than it does to give it.
Thanks to those of you who reviewed my story and to those of you who are following it.