A Very Long Engagement (Cloud Strife Two-Shot)

Part 2

Since Cloud had tracked you down at the school, you had needed to uproot and relocate yet again, and set yourself up with a new identity in Wall Market working in a bar. It was a seedy atmosphere at times, but nobody asked any questions. You figured that many people here aren't who they say they are, but it was accepted with no judgement. The joys of living in an area run by a crime lord...

Dropping some fresh cocktails off at a nearby table, you made your way back to the bar to make the next round.

"Wow. If I knew you could make drinks that quickly, I'd have given you some more shifts at the bar!" A familiar voice said.

"Jesus. It's a wonder I ever made it anywhere in my career as an intelligence agent," you said sarcastically, turning around to see Tifa standing in front of you.

"No, you just have very thorough friends," she replied, grinning at you.

You grinned back, and then brought her into a friendly hug.

"Tifa – it's not that I'm not happy to see you, but..."

"But you wanted to disappear, right?"

You nodded, glancing around the bar nervously, wiping the counter clean to put the next set of drinks on.

"He's not here. He doesn't know I've come," she said, as if she read your mind.

You sighed in relief.

"I do need your help though," she continued, tentatively.

"With what?"

"Cloud."

You stopped wiping the bar and stared at her in disbelief.

"NO." you said angrily, throwing down your towel and going back to your cocktail making.

"But I haven't even told you what –."

"I said no, Tifa. I can't be around him anymore."

"Please, you have to help him. There's nobody else that can,"

"NO, Tifa."

She paused for a moment, hot tears forming in her eyes. She felt utterly helpless, and she was getting frustrated with your callous attitude. You were supposed to marry him for heaven's sake, surely you still cared for him?

"How could you tell him you don't love him?" She asked you out of nowhere. You could tell she was getting wound up – you were too. In all honesty, you felt a little betrayed. She knew why you had run away, so you decided not to answer her.

"Why couldn't you just keep that to yourself, huh?!" She persisted, "Did you want to twist the knife in?!"

"He was scaring the children in the school, Tifa! He wouldn't leave!!" You finally retorted, starting to get tearful.

Tifa's eyes widened in realisation.

"So, I..." you began, unable to finish the sentence and admit the truth.

"You lied?" she said.

You nodded in response.

After a few moments of silence, Tifa tried to convince you once again to go with her.

"Look, Y/N, I'm so sorry to do this to you, but we don't have much time. You need to come with me, otherwise Cloud is going to die."

You had a sudden sinking feeling.

"What?" you said, worry starting to take hold of you.

"He's going to attack Shinra, tonight. And he's planning on making it a one way trip... Y/N, he's taking the bomb in, and he's not coming out," she explained, the panic rising in her voice, despite her conscious efforts to keep it steady.