okay, gentle readers and best beloveds, we're coming down the final stretch now. I think we're past the 'hang on tight' stage and into the 'run with me' part. don't worry, we're all rolling all downhill from here so I don't think we'll be able to stop if we wanted to. This story would have never gone on as long as it did if it wasn't for my best beloveds leaving reviews. And such delicious and detailed reviews. This story is really all because of you guys and I'm so thrilled you've come up along beside me and had just as much fun, if not more, with this than I have. There shall be much sharing of hugs when we reach the end. But that's not just yet ;) So, come on - we've got to keep up with this thing now :D OCV - I adore, and I know I've already told you so, the way you review every single chapter. As you read it. It's like letting me sit nearby and enjoy all your reactions right as they happen. It's so much fun! And, as Sephiroth kind of took over Cloud for a while there in the game (and attempted to in ACC), he had to make his appearance and mess with our boy here as well. Sharing cells must suck. Vincent in a bi-plane?! That's hysterical. I say we buy him a silk scarf to wear over his shoulder like Snoopy. I'm glad you liked the contrast in the night and day, etc. It's just too easy to get descriptive with stuff like that. Cloud's such an easy contrast to play with. And, oh, Tifa's hair... yeah... about that... ladywisdom - I'm so glad Tifa's decision about killing Cloud was understandable. I tried to make the point behind what sounded like a heartless decision relatable. I can't imagine Cloud bearing being someone's puppet after all he's been through. And yep, had to bring the Turks, or Reno, at least, back into the picture. What would the FFVII world be like without Turks? Fairheartstrife - hopefully this will make up, just a little, for the mental and emotional scaring I put you through last week. LOL and I'm so glad you're enjoying Tifa. She's the main character and so I'm always worried about falling into the trap of not making her believable or relatable or sympathetic. It means the world to me when readers back her. And I LOVE that phone call in DoC. Cloud's happy and healthy, Tifa and Barret are bouncing off each other, and they're one big happy family. I've got to admit I saved it to my computer just so I can enjoy it. Who knew Cloud was from the midwest? calenlass - why, thank you :D and I hope you like the way I ended this week too than. caledon - great big hugs for you! And yes, we can can can! wo0t for Moulin Rouge. I admit, I can't do smut but if I'm curling toes with my fluff I'm feeling pretty darn accomplished and smug at the moment. Welcome, welcome, welcome along and I hope you continue to enjoy. I'll do my best! Dis! - there you are! you had me worried for a bit there. and don't worry - as much as 'nice job' is... nice, I so much prefer my detailed reviews. If you wrote something short and bland I'd be more worried than if you just disappear for a week or two. And hey, you know every Tifa/Cloud fic just HAS to have them getting into a fight somewhere in there. I just took it a bit more literally ;) while I won't give away what evil I'm plotting (or have written) I will say I really do like the idea of Cloud shish kabobing Seph for a change. Seriously, what is it about impaling him that's so attractive?! Akuma - ding! points for recognizing Doom. Yep, it's been forever since I watched it but I do remember the horrible dark hallways they were always having to wander through. And, what kind of writer for FFVII would I be if I didn't tear apart Midgar when the op presented itself, right? vx-luna-xv - ding two! for Doom. And, well, okay. Here. Have some more Cloudy action. I know we've all been missing him. mc - good eye picking up on the whole Vincent adjusting to lack of a defined alpha in his group. I love when the little hints I never follow through on still get picked up along the way by my readers. And I absolutely understand about using fictional characters to work through things. How do you think I got started writing and telling stories in the first place? My sister and I used to stand at the kitchen sink washing dishes as kids at night and make up stories for each other with the other sibling as the main character. It was a much safer way to deal with what was going on around us. I still have issues pop up with my characters from time to time that I'm exploring myself. And yes... Cloud's 'mine' will come into play even more here. But then again... so will Tifa's ;) lexi-yeesh - Aerith's comatose at the moment. Probably. And all I can say about 'don't kill her' is Run! Tifa, Run! demonegg - cookies! lol - I knew I forgot something! Cloud may have to wait until he's not a psychotic killer first to get the cookies though. You never know, Tifa's a determined girl. Though if you give a Cloud a cookie... that's so going to be permanently burned into my subconscious, you know. vanilla - seriously awesome review. And - don't worry, lol - you're not the only one that automatically cheers for Cloud even when he's being evil. I'm so flattered you think I've caught the right mix of humor, drama, tension, fluff, and sheer evil. I try to balance it; no one wants too be depressed for too long but too much fluff can rot your teeth (so I've heard). If I'm serving up a round, balanced meal than I'm doing something right and that's what I want. Thank you, cause your review really made my day :D :'D - you know, it didn't even click with me but we did pass the hundred chapter mark, didn't we?! wo0t! go us! We deserve another party - cake and ice cream - or ice cream cake - all around! We need to make rootbeer floats too while we're at it. you liked Cid's proposal, eh? It just popped out of him. I wasn't planning it but when it popped out, after I got done laughing, I thought - oh. we are SO keeping that. Those two needed some resolution, don't they? cherrypudding - 0.0 just - 0.0! I don't think I've ever been so floored by a review as the ones you posted. You practically went through every chapter and pointed out what popped out at you and what you enjoyed. 0.0 My little writer's soul SO sucked it all up like a Hover. I can't tell you how flattered and floored and amazed and grinning like an absolute idiot those reviews made me. I'm having a hard enough time picking my jaw up off the floor. Oh. My. Lord. I would hug you but one - I might never let go and two - I just might squeeze you too hard in my enthusiasm. Wow. You - just wow me. And, it was so much fun to go back through the story through your eyes too. I've been so focused on the end, tripping my way backward through your eyes was such a relief and a joy. I - wow - there's just no way I can thank you enough for that. Plus I think I'm in love with the phrase 'a TamLin written Cloud' - lol. So I'm going to throw another chapter on above my usual three just because of you. Everybody needs to treat cherrypudding to a rootbeer float or something! And of course - always, always thanks to Peeka-chan - who has now finished editing the last of the chapters and given me her stamp of approval. She has been awesome and encouraging all the way through and without her I'd have a lot less commas and a lot more fragmented sentences.
Chapter 102: Cloud
Eyes wide, terror giving her new adrenaline, Tifa rolled even before the man in front of her started to move. It was just as well that she did because when Cloud moved it was such a quick slashing motion that she almost didn't see it. Until he was rising from where he'd buried a sword that was red, twisted metal in the floor where she'd been and the ground itself under where it had impacted was caving in with the force of the blow. Her mouth and throat had never felt so dry.
With another cry of denial, she got her feet under her and scrambled backward. His eyes snapped around at the sound and there was actual pleasure in them. Those cold, dead orbs of jade they'd put in place of his own endlessly blue forever eyes of electric and storm…
He came at her again and she didn't even hesitate as she sent the strongest Bolt she could tap into rolling forward in a ball of electricity that screamed as it surged forward. He absorbed the attack without noise even though she could see it tearing great gouges in him. Turning she traded casting Cure on herself for the chance to leap upward for the edge of the hole in the ceiling instead. Her ribs screamed at her for the choice but she clawed and pulled and grunted and her feet kicked out of the way just as the twisted red of the sword slashed through the air where they had been. Gasping, not even caring what she was stumbling into compared to what she was stumbling away from, she didn't even waste time standing, instead she simply lurched forward on her hands and her knees.
She should say something. Some magic word that would remind him of who he was, who she was, and that would bring him back to her. Except her mind was blank and her voice was frozen in her throat. She loved him… and she hated what they'd done to him.
She should have come in here with some kind of plan. Damn it if she knew what it should be though.
Flares of Fire shot over her head, the burn off from a materia cast at someone else. She found a corner of the wall just as Cloud came up through the hole in the floor after her.
There was no doubt in her mind he was singularly after her.
She'd always known he was terrifying. She'd never been afraid of him before though. Now she suddenly understood completely why the people he went up against tended to collapse so completely in front of him. Except… jade dead eyes would never be as terrifying as ones that snapped electric blue fire…
"Cloud!" she called his name and he turned toward her but there was no recognition of the name, only the sound of her voice in his eyes. Whatever had him now, it wanted her dead. Because he would die if he killed her. She knew enough to know that.
She wasn't brave or trusting enough to let it try to kill her and hope that sparked enough strength in Cloud to try to stop it from doing so though. That kind of thing might work in movies… she didn't think she was going to risk her life to it working in real life.
He came at her and she cast Cure on herself and scrambled upward, turning to run. Leading him away. Because this was between the two of them. It was always just about the two of them.
He chased and she risked a glance over his shoulder. Dug the toes of her boots into the ground and put a burst of speed to her flight.
"He's faster," she challenged back over her shoulder. "He would have caught me by now. You're not him and you're too slow."
It was his body, her Cloud's body. She had even caught a glimpse of leaking black pus down the back of his left glove. But it wasn't his eyes behind the shock of falling silver hair and whatever it was that used his body could never match her Cloud's grace.
Her Cloud…
She'd promised Denzel and Marlene she'd bring him back. All she could think to do was stall him long enough for someone, anyone, to find and kill Jenova. And then, maybe then, whatever was holding him would lose its grip. If not… if not she was going to have to find a way to knock him unconscious. Because she wasn't leaving without him.
And she wasn't about to let him kill her.
She hurtled a pile of rubble and was out the door in a heartbeat. Some kind of magic exploded behind her but again, it wasn't meant for her. Her side still hurt, even with the cast Cure, and she wondered how far she could run. How fast. And, most importantly, where to. She needed a plan and fast.
When the first clone darted out in front of her, she didn't have time to think, just react. She dropped and skid, a move Denzel had practiced on her for months when he'd taken up baseball. It sent her sliding under the outstretched arms and her momentum carried her forward. The second clone was waiting for her though and she flipped to her feet just as he came around the corner of the hallway. Their bodies impacted and both of them went down. Tifa used her years of fighting in the Midgar slums to make sure she landed on top of him and when she did that she drove her elbows into him. He made a satisfyingly pained noise but it had slowed her down and even as she scrambled to her feet, he wrapped a hand around her ankle.
"We'll make Brother watch," his voice was a little lower and rougher than the voice that had come out of Cloud's mouth, slurred as if it wasn't sure about how to properly form words. The words it did form though made her heart ache and freeze in her chest. "It's more fun when he watches."
She twisted and brought her other foot down hard enough to make him let go of her and scream in pain. Hands caught at her from behind.
"We like it when Big Brother watches," the second clone's voice was silken and the words better formed but they were still slurred at their edges. "He hates watching."
She grabbed a wrist and wrenched it and the body, surprisingly light, flew over her shoulder. From instinct more than anything else, she dodged to the side and the red sword whistled past, clipping her shoulder hard enough to spin her. The pain made her cry out and her arm tingled and went numb. When she spun away from him, her blood flicked out and spattered the side of Cloud's face.
And on that side, between deep red and pale skin, that single eye, just for a moment, flickered aqua blue.
His name escaped her in a sob but the sword was swinging again and the blue was glassing over into cold jade. She dropped and rolled – and was on her feet and running again. Teeth bared she waited just a second before spinning and calling down her one trick. As soon as Cloud was past them, she called down Ultima from the single materia hidden in the palm of her glove and watched its rolling green wave disintegrate the two clones that had enjoyed the thought of making Cloud watch what they'd planned to do to her. Then she turned and bolted.
Behind her, she heard her name called and recognized Zack's voice. She recognized the panic in it and it made her heart break. He couldn't be a part of this though. Cloud would kill him.
Or he'd kill Cloud.
She heard Zack cursing as clones waylaid him and she spun to the side and down another branch in the hallway. Behind her, she heard the steady drum of following footsteps.
"My Cloud is faster," she called back over her shoulder. "He'd chase me for a kiss. You're too slow."
The footsteps quickened but he was still too slow. Cloud wasn't that slow. But… she wondered, could Cloud make himself that slow…?
She was almost to the door she thought must be a stairwell when the monster dropped out of the air vent above her. She went down without a sound because she was too surprised to scream. She saw double-jointed spindly legs of slick black and gaping jaws of red and bone white. Her vision was full of nothing but her hair and the white of her arms and shiny black insect shell and ivory mandibles or fangs or both. Ice and then fire tore across her raised arm and she did scream then, the pain wrenching the sound out of her as hot liquid poured down in a river and she realized it was her own blood. Her hand and arm went numb and would have dropped but her wrist was still in the creature's mouth and she could feel bone grinding. Her vision went black at the edges and she forced herself to focus.
Her burst of Fire flared bright over its body and it dropped her arm as it reared back with a squeal. She saw it had sharp tips on the end of each of its multitude of legs and they wove briefly above her before dropping down. Her lower body still pinned under it, she helplessly raised her arm in front of her eyes, protecting them for some reason instead of any of her other vital organs.
The monster screamed again and she felt it fall backward. Her head turned to the side and, right next to her, she saw a familiar boot. Cloud's sword whispered again and monster blood poured down over her. The body, neatly halved, fell backward off of her while its legs continued to twitch. She looked up; face covered in blood, arm throbbing, and saw blue. And gold. And silver. And jade.
The sword swung down and she rolled. Suddenly, her head felt lighter and she realized his boot was still pinning down the length of her overlong hair. The edges of its now shortened length fell against her shoulder blades in a ragged cut.
She responded by lashing out with a foot and kicking his ankles out from under him.
On the slick floor, he went down and, faster than she'd thought she would be able to, Tifa crawled on top of him. Her limp arm, looking like so much meat that she had to be careful not to look directly at it or the shock would wear off and she'd start throwing up, pooled blood and coated his left side.
"Who are you?" she was desperate for him to remember but under her he only shook his head and, in his pale face, too tightly angled, his eyes were jade.
"No one," his voice held anger as much as a hollow, empty note and she caught at that. So glad and relived to hear the anger that she almost sobbed. Because it wasn't an anger at her. Maybe, just maybe...
"Dammit!" she hit his chest with a fist and the blow wasn't light. "Say your name!"
His pupils slit against her but, again, she saw sparks of electric blue at the edges of his jade irises. He reached up and heaved her off and his touch wasn't light either.
But it wasn't as hard as it should have been.
"No One." His voice was a whip crack. Stubborn. So stubborn. She loved that about him. And she never caught him off guard when she came at him head on when he didn't want to deal with something.
She hit the wall and fell onto the ruins of concrete and debris left from the fight with the monster. She let the pained noise slip from between her lips. It hurt. The bits and pieces dug into her back and arms and abused already damaged skin. Her arm was screaming. But, for the first time, it didn't matter. He got a foot under him and started to rise and she still saw the florescent lighting flickering against the ugly red metal of the sword and in his jade eyes.
"Who am I?" she whispered and even over the distant noise of battle, the shouts and the cries and the explosions, he heard her. She'd known he would. Cloud always heard her. Her name slipped out between his tight lips before he could think about it. Even as he was now, voice foreign, it still caressed her name before his tongue released it.
"Tifa…"
She stayed where he had tossed her, as painful as the position was. He was a breath away from killing her. And she had no energy left to run. Only her name held him to her. Her name and perhaps the pain her body gave away with the way it laid.
"Who's…" she turned her head against the stone, her hair a pool of black around her as she looked at him, tears she didn't have to fake coming to her eyes. Because… it broke her heart to remember... "Who's Tifa?"
His foreign cat eyes narrowed to slits. And electric blue flared in them as they did.
"Mine." It snarled out between his teeth, again before he could stop and think. Before… whatever was inside him could trick him into remembering something different or push him to the side. She opened her good hand so that her palm was pointed upward toward him and softly moved her fingers in a beckoning gesture. Intentionally mimicking the way she'd asked for him when Sephiroth had nearly killed her what felt like so very long ago.
"Who's?" she whispered again and he came to her then. Still not her Cloud. Still that… other, because his motions weren't smooth enough, weren't unconsciously graceful enough. But he came all the same and his hands closed over her upper arms. He lifted her torso off the broken rubble but she made herself stay limp and her neck fell back for him. How often had he, as her Cloud, buried his face against her throat? She was using every trick she could think of to lure him back.
"Mine. My Tifa." It came out of his chest when he said it this time and his voice held the memory of a familiar rumble. His gloves on her were painfully tight but she didn't protest or try to struggle away. Instead she found his eyes with hers, feeling her own anger and fire surfacing. Anger at whatever it was that was using his body, preying on the man she loved and taking advantage of his shattered memories.
"Whose are you?" she asked him and all the softness was stripped out of her voice. His head jerked back as if she'd just punched him. Or someone had grabbed him by his hair.
Hair that was shading from silver to gold and gold to silver in washes of color that moved like clouds over the sun.
"Whose?" Tifa demanded and his face tightened as the skin stretched over the lean bones of it. His eyes shut to nothing but slits and he turned his face away. But… it was a Cloud move. Tifa lifted her head and turned it to the side to press a kiss to one of the gloved hands wrapped so tightly around her arm.
"Whose Cloud are you?" she whispered.
"Yours," it tore out of him in a grunt, a gasp, a groan and his body shook at the silent force of it.
"Mine…" she breathed it in an exhale. "My Cloud. You've always been my Cloud."
"Tifa – " his voice was strained and tight. In pain. But it was Cloud's voice even if he hadn't looked at her yet. She pulled out the last dirty trick she had in her book and shifted. Just a little. Just enough so that one of the rocks that had been digging into her back jabbed her sharply and she could let the little sound of pain 'escape' her. He hunched over her at the sound with a low, rough noise in his own throat, pulling her up and into his crouched body. His hands on her kept her from being able to lift her arms to hold him or touch his hair but she let her body seek shelter in the curve of his.
"Cloud…" she whispered his name and let all of her love and her longing and loneliness fill and overflow in her voice on his name as the world around her threatened to go dark. "Cloud, Cloud… my Cloud…my Chocobo Head…"
The sound was painful and yet it was a choked, crying stifled laugh from his throat and he suddenly pressed his face into the curve of her throat and shoulder.
"Blue dresses…" she heard the strain in his voice, his familiar, much loved voice. Heard the way his words hissed out between grit teeth. "Wine dark eyes… stars and ocean waves… whispers in the night… beautiful fingers…"
"Camping under the stars," she offered. Thinking, hoping, he was battling for his own memories against whatever had been planted inside him. "Dancing at the Gold Saucer. Shower kisses. Keeping my nightmares away at night. Pancakes. Marlene. Denzel. Needing a bigger bed to fit us all in. Not needing a bed at all for the two of us." She turned her face to press a kiss against the tip of his ear. "Come back to us, Cloud. We miss you. I miss you."
"Tifa – " the pain in his voice hurt her because it was so much more than just physical pain. She heard the pain of his heart and soul mixed in with it. "Denzel, Marlene. Yuffie. Zack..."
"Is going to try to head noogie you when you come back," she whispered through the tears in her throat. His response was a choke that might have been a dying laugh and then his body bowed forward over hers and he was screaming without making a sound, arms holding her as if the rest of the world had disappeared to him and she was threatening to do the same. She managed to get her good arm around him, feeling the way his muscles strained and shifted under the fabric of his clothes and she found places where his skin showed through rips in the fabric and dug her nails hard and deep into him. Holding him with every ounce of strength inside her and never – never – letting go. She had meant it. He was her Cloud.
And she didn't share.
"I love you," it came out in a whisper and she wasn't even sure he could hear but once it was let loose it refused to stop and she found herself repeating it over and over and over again. "I love you, I love you, I love you."
