My heart's a battleground
The wind whipped at Cloud's body, the pain only numbed by the chilled, wintery air. Fenrir's engine was only able to drown out so much of the warrior's racing thoughts.
Why Nibelhiem, again?
The shortcut,Cloud sighed.
Tifa wasn't mad...but she was upset. He knew it hurt her—hurt the kids, but this is what he did. If someone needed something delivered, why not call Cloud Strife? After all, he hardly ever denied a customer.
That bothered her, too.
He pulled into the quiet town; his hometown. Their hometown.
Turning off his engine, Cloud threw his leg over the Fenrir's side. He made his way through the small, narrow alleys and past various, reconstructed homes until he was standing before the town center's water tower.
I'm gonna get into SOLDIER and become as strong as the Great Sephiroth!
Cloud frowned. What a joke...
He stepped closer.
...Promise me something, Cloud.
He reached for the ladder, his hands resting upon the cool metal.
Promise to come and save me whenever I'm in a pinch.
He placed his boot against the slightly infirm step, making sure as carefully pull himself up.
I promise.
He leaned against the large water tank and let his head fall against the edge of it. His gaze fell upon the black sky, where the stars glittered and the moon provided white light that bathed Nibelhiem's landscape.
You showed me
How to see that nothing is whole
And nothing is broken
Was Tifa looking up at the same sky, too? Could she see what he was looking at? Did she know what he was thinking?
We can fight this together.
Why was Tifa so willing to stand by his side? He still shut her out when things became heated and uncomfortable; and it prevented her from being able to talk about the things she wanted to with him. Even after defeated the Remnants and being cured of the geostigma; the barrier that stood between them remained.
Cloud lifted his head. There was the ghost of a smile, dancing on his lips.
Tifa must have known he was going to think about this.