Lean On Me (FF7)

10

~Barret's POV~

"Barret!" I hear Cloud yell, just ad I expected him to. "What the heck!?"

"Cloud, we can't have one of yo little control issue things happen in the middle of the fight." I look into his angry, now thundercloud gray, irises.

"You won't have to!" he yells.

"Listen, Cloud..." I start to explain.

"I'm the best chance you've got!" he yells in my face, ignoring all the looks he's getting. I don't even know why he's so upset, all he does is cause problems when Sephiroth controls him, it was never this bad.

"No, you're not! In case you haven't noticed, you've been away for three years, and we've been protecting the city. You're probably already rusty at your fighting skills," I shoot back.

"What do you think I was doing all those years!" he shouts, picking my up by my vest collar and slamming my head against the metal wall. I fight the urge to cringe and shove him off. His eyes aren't black. Cloud's I'm control.

"Moping about your dead girlfriend," I lose it, glaring at him. "Which you couldn't save because you were too busy moping about your life."

"Cloud don't!" Tifa screams but he's already balled up a fist and smashed it into my jaw, releasing my shirt so I fall to the floor.

"For your information, Barret," he growls, picking me back up from off the floor like I'm a doll. "I was living out in the real world, where there is no happy ending or peace."

He kicks me in the stomach and I wince, not bothering to fight back. Who knows what he'll do then. Probably bust out his sword.

"I fought for my life out there everyday! Don't you think I realize how weak I can be or how much my life sucks?! I struggle through it everyday! Don't rub it my face!" He pushes me down to the floor and huffs, breathing heavily. I want to shoot this guys guts right now, honestly.

"This is why we're not taking you," I spit before shoving him over and leaving the room. There see? I could've whipped his butt if I wanted to. But I wouldn't do it in front of Tifa. Who knows what crap I'd have to deal with from her if I punched him back, kicked him in the stomach, or slammed him against a wall. I'm already gonna get a mouthful for putting him down. I kinds did set him off, but I doubt he would've avoided hitting me if he could. Actually, that's the first time he's legit hit me.

I hear Tifa's heavy boots stomping after me and know what's coming.

"I know I set him off, I don't need to be reminded." I growl, still walking.

"I wasn't going to remind you," I hear a steady voice say. I look behind me.

"Sorry Yuffie, thought you were..."

"Tifa? I'd rather be a fish," she snorts.

"Hey," I warn playfully. "She's not that bad. After ten or so years that is," I add.

"Psh, I've been with her for four and I can't stand her," she shudders.

"Cmon, is there anyway you two could become friends?"

"No," she shakes her head. "We literally have nothing in common."

"Not even one thing?" I raise my eyebrow.

"Uh, well," she blushes madly and shakes her head furiously. "N-No."

"Hmm... Well I'd say you two do happen to like the same thing," I hint to Tifa's mad crush, the devil himself, Cloud Strife. The man that's been a blessing and a curse in my life since day one. Right now, he's the dirtiest curse word that could ever slip past my lips.