Chapter 9: The Support, Part I

February 17, 0008

The next morning, Cloud knocked on a familiar door in Rocket Town.

"Yes?" Cid greeted as he answered the door.

"We have a problem," Cloud announced. "Jack Balen."

It was always interesting to see those two interact. Cloud was a quiet loner, and Cid was a genuine misanthrope.

"Who is this Jack Balen?" Cid inquired.

"Isn't he your mayor?" Cloud asked.

Cloud knew that, of course. He was just surprised Cid didn't.

"Damned if I know," Cid replied. "I don't vote."

"He kills his enemies," Cloud pointed out.

"So what?" Cid asked as he lit a joint. "It's nothing we haven't seen before."

"He's running for president against Tifa," Cloud explained. "He'll kill her. He sabotages people's homes with booby traps. I came here because I need to install some sort of security system to keep his underlings out of our home."

"I don't know dick about security systems," Cid dismissed.

"But I do," Shera announced as she appeared behind her boyfriend.

"Thank God," Cloud said in relief.

He knew Shera would be helpful, especially since she was a NWV.

"Shinra made the best security systems in the world," Shera informed him. "Trust me, I know all about security systems. I'm an NWV."

See, told you.

"Stop calling yourself that," Cid demanded.

"The late Rufus Shinra commissioned a simple but powerful one. You just plug it in, and it secures your whole house. Nobody but you gets in, and anything connected to the internet and electricity in general is bug-proof."

"Like an air freshener?" Cloud asked.

"Like an air freshener," Shera echoed.

"Problem," Cid announced. "It was built by the Shinra. And she destroyed the Shinra."

"There's a warehouse up north, shortly before the beach," Shera replied. "It's all abandoned now, and possibly stripped dry. But it is a shot."

"I'm there," Cloud announced.

"It's your funeral," Cid replied.

MEANWHILE….

Tifa got her support from a lot of prominent Westerners.

One of those was Dio, the owner of Gold Saucer.

"Of course, I'm endorsing Ms. Strife," Dio replied when he was asked. "She's a valued customer. Not to mention, she saved the world."

There was another reason Dio supported her as well. Both Jack Balen and the Downing family were boycotting Gold Saucer. They were encouraging others to do the same.

Why, you ask? Because they were having same-sex couples' nights every June. The Downings, as well as their candidate, didn't take kindly to it.

In fact, the Downing men went to the park to stage a protest. All that ever actually happened was that Dirk and his sons came and held signs saying that all relationships should be between men and women. Gold Saucer carries a policy against signs, so they threw them out. Then they came back the next day and did it all again, this time on the gondola. Mind you, this was a romantic ride for couples, and they filled each car with two men holding the homophobic banners.

In any event, the Downings were banned for life from Gold Saucer, and this, along with their televised intolerant antics, became part of their legend.

While Gold Saucer bans signs, Dio was more than happy to welcome Ms. Strife to the park that morning to greet guests and support her campaign. Almost all of the guests supported Tifa, though that might be largely due to the fact that many of Jack Balen's supporters were committed to the aforementioned boycott.

MEANWHILE…

Later that afternoon, Tifa made a stop in Costa del Sol. This was another city that was generally committed to voting for Tifa for president.

Part of it was because Jack Balen was committed to shutting down Costa del Luna, the adjacent nude beach. Tifa, needless to say, would never go there, but she supported the rights of those who did.

Another part of it was that Balen's largest supporters, the Downings, were pushing for the mandating of modest swimwear in public. That means no bikinis, or even one pieces. That outraged everyone. Just go there. People are always roaming the streets in their swimwear.

The main reason, however, was the mayor. Kate Warrin, aged nineteen, was the youngest elected official in Western Continent history. Even with Tifa running, her record was in no danger of being broken. She was a former cheerleading captain who had run for mayor at eighteen on a dare, and actually won.

Tifa, meanwhile, wasn't a fan of her, as Mayor Warrin was somewhat promiscuous. But, as Jack Balen's view conflicted with her lifestyle, she was necessary support. So Tifa met her, along with plenty of supporters, all with swimwear. Mayor Warrin, as was usual, sported her bikini top and daisy dukes.

On the way out of Costa del Sol, Tifa passed something she did not want to pass.

It was a place she had only visited once, on the way to intercept Sephiroth.

It was President Shinra's summer mansion. But it was a symbol of something that almost was. Something that almost left her with nothing.

What am I referring to, exactly?

The fact that it was the home that her husband had shared with her predecessor.

So, yeah, this was where Cloud and Aerith lived the second time they were together. I suppose I should probably mention the relationships that happened during the quest to stop Meteor. There was the first time Cloud and Aerith were together, which I'll call Clerith Part One. Clerith Part One began when Cloud landed in Aerith's church, and it basically ran away with itself from there. They would get to know each other. They would have their first kiss. They would have sex for the first time in a Gold Saucer hotel. She would admit she loved him, whereupon he would admit the game.

But Clerith One came to an end when Sephiroth apparently killed her at the altar in the Forgotten Capital. Of course, he didn't really kill her, but poor Cloud had no way of knowing that.

After Aerith faked her death, Tifa looked out for Cloud, the focal point being when she put his mind back together in Mideel. That night, after some prodding from Cloud, she admitted she was in love with him. Thus began Cloti Part One.

Although they had been friends all their lives, they still played it by the book. They went on four dates before deciding to plan their lives together. Mind you, in the old timeline, Tifa married another man. They didn't want to regret anything, or miss out on any chances. Cloud even planned to go ring shopping, hoping to propose to his childhood friend.

And then, Cloud began to see mounting evidence that Aerith was still alive. Once he discovered she was, he went back to her. I know this sounds like a dick move, but Cloud did commit to Aerith first. So began Clerith Part II. This was when they bought the summer home. He proposed to her not long after. So there they lived together, with Cloud finding out how to beat Sephiroth, while Aerith acted as a housewife-in-training, often in some level of undress. This went on for a couple of weeks before she was killed (for real) when Sephiroth threw her to the ground and broke her back.

After that, Tifa invited Cloud into her house and proposed to him. They (and we!) got married a week later, thus beginning Cloti Part II.

Cloud, deep down, always felt stronger feelings for Tifa, but went back to Aerith out of principle. Did Clerith suck? Far from it; Cloud and Aerith had a very good relationship. Aerith was deeply in love with Cloud, and vice versa.

It just so happened that both women had radically different personalities. Aerith was outgoing and spunky, Tifa was quiet and sincere. Aerith believed in gender roles, Tifa didn't. Aerith shaved her lady parts, Tifa didn't.

TMI? Just making sure you're still paying attention.

So, back in the present, Tifa was passing the house her husband had shared with his fiancée before she died. The lights were off, signifying it was abandoned.

Tifa felt quite upset inside as she passed it.

But it was not because she was jealous. No, it was because she felt sorry for Cloud.

Tifa, as it happened, valued Cloud's happiness above all else. Aerith, meanwhile, found out about Cloud's relationship with Tifa the day she died, while they were all in the Northern Crater.

And boy, was she pissed.

And this is why I'll always support Cloti over Clerith any day of the week.

MEANWHILE…

In the evening, Tifa made one last stop in Cosmo Canyon. The whole town was practically pledging to vote for her; her environmental friendliness won them over in seconds.

Of course, Red XIII was there to support her. He was concerned for his safety. The Downings, along with Jack Balen, had been insisted that only people went into the Lifestream. They also wanted to strip Red XIII of all his fundamental rights, more so than all of the women.

After promoting her campaign, Tifa, Red XIII, Tobin, and I were seated around Cosmo Candle.

It had been an exhausting day for Tifa.

"Thank you for stopping by," Red XIII began.

"I'll always have your back," Tifa promised.

"We all do," Tobin added. "As long as we're around, Jack Balen will never leave you with nowhere else to go."

"I would have somewhere to go," he corrected. "But, yes, I hope it would not come to that."

What was he referring to?

It was that expedition to the Southern Continent. This was while Tobin and I were letting the fact that we were married sink in, and while Cloud and Tifa were butt naked on that island.

There was one village at the end of the woods that had more of Red XIII's kind. I heard he really felt at home there. That said nobody bothered to ask if he would every go there permanently until that night.

"Never is a long time," he replied. "But, right now, we need a Strife in the Presidential Palace."

MEANWHILE...

The seven-story warehouse came into view as Cloud made his way over the hill just north of Rocket Town. It looked abandoned, but intact. He had no idea what he would find in there, but he knew Tifa would be counting on him.

"Hey, Cloud!" called a female voice.

Cloud turned to see Shera approaching on her bicycle.

"You're not just thinking about doing this by yourself, are you?" he asked as she stopped next to him.

"It's my fight," he replied.

"And you don't even know what those security systems look like!" Shera pointed out.

"I suppose you do?" Cloud asked.

"You suppose right," she insisted. "Come on. Let me join you."

"And Cid doesn't mind you're doing this?"

"It's not like we're going to have coitus, right?" Shera replied bluntly.

Cloud couldn't help but laugh.

"Alright," he permitted. "But it might get dangerous in there."

"Fine by me. I don't like women as friends," Shera continued. "All we would do is talk about coitus or how bad our men were."

"Good point," Cloud admitted. "Why don't you hang out with Tifa? She's a private person."

Cloud led Shera to the warehouse. When they were at the entrance, another familiar voice sounded their ears.

"You, Cloud! You can't go in with just a sword!"

Cloud turned to see Barret approaching on his motorcycle.

"How did you know I was doing this," Cloud asked.

"I texted him," Shera replied.

Cloud sighed; he knew more people would inevitably become involved.

"You don't know dick about what's in there!" Barret insisted. "C'mon. It'll be like old times. And it's for Tifa!"

"Fair enough," Cloud agreed. "Let's go."

The three of them entered the warehouse. The interior was dark and musty, as if nobody had been in the facility for a long time. The room they had entered was small, with cobwebs everywhere. There were no doors, just boxes and a stairwell at the opposite end of the room.

Shera inspected the boxes, only to find rotten, stale food.

"Let's try the upstairs," she suggested.

Barret cocked his gun-arm.

Cloud drew his sword.

"God only knows what's up there," Shera pointed out.

"You have a weapon?" Barrett asked.

"My brain, I guess," Shera replied nervously.