"HOW DARE YOU!"

Cloud was still sitting on the bed a stunned look on his face when Tifa turned to Reno, her face apologetic as she helped him get to his feet.

"Reno oh my god, I am so sorry I didn't mean to…for this to happen." She fluttered around him looking for any serious injuries on the Turk "honestly I had no idea he would pull that."

Reno rubbed his throat as he stood and winced out a watered down version of his normally cocky grin.

"Don't sweat it sweetheart." He peered around Tifa to make sure Cloud was stationary. "This isn't the first time someone's man has gotten upset with me-"

"He's not my man" Tifa interjected venomously, her eyes shifting slightly to glare in Cloud's direction.

"You really believe that?" Reno drawled, cocking eyebrow before continuing, "Too bad this didn't work out, you really are a great girl, Tifa. He gave her his signature grin before tacking on "And you're super hot." A grunt came from behind them making him edge towards the door.

"As for you." His eyes narrowed back on Cloud. "I'll give you a break this once but you pull that again and I will shove that sword of yours up your ass, whether your girlfriend wants me to or not." He shut the door behind him and the click seemed to awaken the frozen Cloud. He got to his feet but not before Tifa whirled towards him, her eyes pulsing in a deep shade of scarlet.

Tifa was furious. In fact furious didn't even begin to

describe her anger at this man standing before her. She breathed hard, forcing the anger down into her chest, trying to clear her head so she wouldn't do anything rash. Cool, calm and collected she repeated to herself repeatedly again. I am cool calm and collected.

Cloud took a few steps towards her hesitantly, holding his breath as he tested the waters before him. "Teef…?" he trailed off and paused again waiting for the explosion but when none came he let lose, his words rushing out as he tried to explain himself. "Teef, I'm sorry I just, I'm not sure what came over me, I…" He reached out to touch her arm but Tifa slapped it out of the way her anger rising dangerously again.

"Who do you think you are?" She was shorter then Cloud but in that moment she seemed to grow, cold fury oozing from every pore of her body. Tifa had never been this angry in her life and right now all of that wrath was directed at Cloud. "You think that you can just waltz into my love life and punch the people I am seeing? You have no right to a say in that!

"Tifa!" Cloud had found his voice again and he was determined to use it. "Reno's a creep! He…" he struggled for words. "He just wanted in your pants!"

Red was flashing in Tifa's eyes again. My god she thought. Did he honestly think he could use that as an excuse?

"Ever think I knew what I was doing, Strife?" Cloud recoiled as if he had been punched.

"You mean you knew that he only wanted..?"

"Yes Cloud, I did, I knew exactly what he wanted and I didn't care! You wanna know why?" She was pacing know her hands knotted in her hair from frustration. She whirled abruptly tears now shining in her eyes. "Because I'm LONLEY!"

Silence curled into the pause drawing it out until it was almost unbearable. Cloud's mouth was open and the tears were rolling down Tifa's face, two plump liquid crystals that hovered timidly halfway down her cheeks.

"I'm lonely." She added this in a much softer voice as if admitting some sort of defeat. "I'm tired of waiting around for you to be there for me in ways that you will never be."

Her voice found an edge to it again. "You won't fill that void but you won't let anyone else either? Am I supposed to be alone all my life, is that it? Maybe Aerith would play these games with you Cloud but I'm not her!" He flinched and she felt a twinge of guilt but didn't care, almost all her anger gone now Tifa was too upset to focus, a pain was starting to numb her in the pit of her stomach. She had to get out of here.

Quickly she walked towards the door, grabbing her tank top and scuffling awkwardly into pull on her pants. She fiddled with her wrist for a second before dropping something small and silver on the floor. Swallowing had she continued,

"Well I'm sorry if I can't wait around for you to stop being an emotionless stone." Without looking back she slammed the door behind her leaving a very upset Cloud frozen in place and a tiny silver heart breaking on the cold floor.

.