#CloudxTifa

[stygiansis]

Cloud and Tifa kiss on the gondola CloTi is Canon. The LTD is over.

[teira-osairis]

I always wanted to see them kiss since forever…glad I finally got to.

[cloti-strifehart]

Who We Are

Title: Who We Are

Author: KristinaMarie

Chapters: 1/?

Fandom: Final Fantasy VII

Rating: M (will be E in later chapters)

Pairing: Cloud Strife/Tifa Lockhart

Summary: Cloud is racked with guilt after nearly killing Tifa under Sephiroth's influence. He carries her limp body back to the village, and as Tifa sleeps, Cloud realizes that he feels most himself when loving and protecting her. The story explores Cloud's anguish over nearly losing Tifa, his steadfast devotion to her, and his commitment to fight Sephiroth's memory to regain himself.

Read on AO3

Notes: This storyline in Rebirth is so beautifully done, I can't help but explore it more deeply. Cloud's psyche has always been so interesting to me, and I'm convinced that without Tifa, he'd become a shell of himself once again. Cloud's self-purpose started with Tifa. I think Sephiroth knows the influence Tifa has on Cloud, and the theory that he's aware of that and wants to corrupt Cloud against her to help himself succeed is so good. So, here's my imagining of how Cloud will figure it all out.

I have one more chapter in mind which will earn the E rating. I'd like to continue this, depending on how that goes and if inspiration hits. Let me know what you think! Unbeta'd.

There may be discrepancies with canon in this story. My apologies!

Tags: How i wanted it to go // The scene was perfection don't get me wrong // But why not? // Cloud Strife Needs a Hug // And to get a grip // That's where Tifa comes in // The gang just wants to help // Trauma // Angst // Guilt // Promises // Cloud tries to figure things out // Thought she was dead again // Promptly shuts down // 404 Error Cloud Not Found // Canon Rewrite // Canon Divergence - Final Fantasy VII Rebirth // rated M for now // Just barely M // Rating May Change // Will be Rated E in future chapters

______________________________________________________________

I was supposed to protect you, no matter what's to come.

Somehow forgot when they told me we hurt the ones we love.

- Friendly Fire, Linkin Park -

Sephiroth didn’t kill her. 

Liar.

I killed her.

Imposter.

I killed Tifa.

Who is she?

She’s my… she’s…

Another streak of white hot pain screams through Cloud’s temples where he sits, elbows resting on his drawn up knees.

No.  Not his temples.  Across his face, his cheekbone against the hammer that is Barrett’s fist.  Cloud takes the punch unfazed, deserving, because he did this.  He’s the reason she…

She’s dead.

Cloud killed Tifa.  He backed her up against the mako pit, swung at her with his blade.  All because he listened to him.  So sure she wasn’t who she said she was.

But it’s Cloud who’s not himself.  If he ever was.

He felt like he was, around her…

Barret roars.  Will he punch him again?  Cloud hopes so, if it’ll help. 

“Hey, get your shit together!  Tifa needs you!” 

Cloud stands with knees daring to buckle.  She said she needed me once.  Made me promise.  Each step toward the pool of mako feels like he’s trudging through cement. 

I’m no hero.  I’m not anything, anymore.

That’s it.  He’s not anything.  That’s why his bones feel like jelly, why his blood feels cold and sluggish in his veins.  Moments ago everything was a blur around him, like looking through heat rising off concrete, pressure behind his temples.  

Something laughs.  Laughs.  Then Cloud’s thoughts clear, his head gloriously empty to match his chest.  If there was a pulse beneath his armor, he’d be surprised.  Ashamed.

Without Tifa, what was the point?

But that clarity… it came and went.  Both strongest and weakest around her. 

Something roars.  The Weapon.  It looms over them and when Cloud looks up, the light is blinding. 

Then … she’s there.  Somehow she’s there.  And the silence in his head is so forgiving.

Cloud falls to his knees for the second time that day, palms on the ground as he hovers over Tifa’s soaked, still body.  Pain flickers in his chest, now; flows out through his limbs, stokes his heart to beat at an infuriating pace. 

She sputters wet coughs and her eyes flutter open and everything inside Cloud hurts so much…

It makes him want to smile. 

Cloud carries her the whole way back to the village.  Like a cross to bear.  Like he should have done back when…

When I killed her.

She sleeps in his arms, head tucked between his chin and shoulder.  Cloud maneuvers her only when he has to in order to cross the terrain, keeping his voice low and his words short each time he needs to wake her. 

“Tifa, listen to me.”

“Tifa, put your arms around me.”

“Tifa, hold on to me.”

She does what he asks each time, arms moving languidly, heavy with exhaustion.  She’s so strong.  She’s a big girl, always has been. 

She’d been right back in Kalm.  He hadn’t been there for her.  He should have, but…

It’s hard to think back to the mako reactor in Nibelheim.  His temples throb when he does, but he does it anyway, because… because…

He can still feel the rage that flowed through him in Nibelheim.  But before that was the emptiness.  That hollow nothingness that echoed throughout every tainted cell of his being as he’d carried Tifa, just like this.  As he’d nearly lost her, just like this.

You know she's dead. 

No.  She’s warm in Cloud's arms.  Her breath whispers against his skin.  The scar peaks at him from under her top.  Tifa.  His Tifa.  She’d waited for him; found him at the train station.  She’s been here all along.  And where was he?

He’s here for her now.  And look at what it’s done - nearly cost her her life.  Nearly lost her again… Without her, there’s nothing.  Nothing left but the other part of him he doesn’t recognize, or maybe recognizes too well.  The part of him that feels so wrong when Tifa isn’t with him, that pushes out all that feels painful and perfectly right. 

The part he wants to remember, but fights against him when he tries… except when she’s with him.

When the party finally arrives, the group buzzes about, busying themselves with ways to help Tifa.  Barret leads the way, clearing it, still grumpy that he didn’t carry Tifa back himself.  Cloud should have let him, he thinks, but the moment he picked up Tifa’s limp body, his head and chest screamed not to put her down; to keep her warmth close to remind him she’s alive.  Not dead, by his hand or by Sephiroth’s.  Aerith announces she’ll grab blankets, water, food, the kitchen sink too, probably.  Yuffie nips at his heels chirping away, how can I help, what can I do, is she okay?  

Cloud almost feels bad when he crosses the threshold of the bedroom and kicks the door shut in Yuffie’s face.  Almost. 

“We’re here, Tifa,” Cloud murmurs against her forehead.  This time, despite the commotion in the next room, she doesn’t stir.  The familiar chaotic bustle of doting friends makes her feel safe, he guesses. 

He wants to be that for her.  He’s tried to be that, so many times.  When they were in the village as kids.  On Mt. Nibel…

Carefully, Cloud lays her atop the bed over the blankets, kneeling one knee on the mattress as he sets to work.  As gentle as he makes sure to be, it all feels mechanical, what he’s doing.  Pulling her red boots off her feet.  Sliding her thigh highs down her legs.  Undoing her gear from around her waist, wrists, and arms.  Even the ponytail holder has to go.  It’s all dirty, tainted.  Like him. 

Cloud knows what has to come next, and he knows the girls just outside the room are better suited for this job.  But he has to do it.  He has to be there for her.  He’d promised.

Pushing off the bed, Cloud moves with quick determination to the door where Yuffie is still yammering and Red still scratching at the wood.  Cloud yanks the door open, effectively quieting them all.  Except Aerith who simply stands there with those sad eyes of hers, always sad, a blanket folded in her arms. 

Cloud can’t bring himself to look into her eyes.  He knows.  He knows he’s the cause of all this. 

He’ll apologize later, he decides, as he yanks the blanket from Aerith’s arms and shuts the door again, this time twisting the lock.  He…. They need privacy.  He needs to do this.  He’s known Tifa his whole life.  No one knows Tifa like him. 

Right?

Cloud returns to her bedside, letting that thought distract him as he works. 

I know Tifa better than anyone. 

First he removes his own heavy gear, leaving only his sweater and fatigues. 

And she knows me better than anyone.

He coaxes Tifa into a sitting position, slumped against him, forehead against his shoulder. 

Better than I know myself.

Her suspenders were easy enough to pop off.  Gripping the back of the fabric, Cloud rolls her white top up and over her head, then the black one next.  It all needs to be washed after being in the belly of the Weapon.  He keeps his eyes trained to the wall and lets his touch guide him.  She feels so warm against him, and he finds himself thanking whoever’s listening for that.  She’s warm.  His one arm wraps around her waist to keep her body pressed against his, ensuring modesty, while his other arm pulls Aerith’s blanket around her.  Leaning forward, he guides Tifa back to the pillow, then straightens the blanket around her before reaching beneath it to undo her bottoms.  He know it’s awful of him, but his fingers yearn to feel more than the smooth, warm glide of her skin as he pulls off her skirt, her underwear…

He only ever feels warm around Tifa, he thinks.  Like his blood suddenly remembers how to move through his veins. 

Her clothes neatly set aside for later washing, Cloud kneels beside the bed, hands on his knees, shoulders straight as he checks over his work.  Tifa is still sleeping, none the wiser, every bit of her covered and her dignity intact. 

A smile hints at the corner of her lips, and Cloud buckles, shoulders slumping forward while his fingers dig into his knees. 

What had he done?

He chokes against the sobs racking through his body, swallowing them down so as not to wake her.

You tried to… you almost…

What is she?

Cloud fists his hands in his chocobo hair and doubles over, his tears falling onto his fatigues and wetting it there.  “Shes Tifa,” he hisses.  “My Tifa.  You… you tried to take her from me.  Take everything from me.”

He knows Sephiroth is kneeling behind him, grinning, whispering into his ear.  But Cloud can’t feel nothing like his former hero wants him to.  Not this time.  Because Tifa needs him.  She needs him, and the anger is raw and lawless within him. 

This is when he feels most like himself, he thinks.  This, and when he’s loving Tifa.

Cloud’s eyes snap open.  His hands slowly leave his hair, moving to the mattress to grip the hem of Tifa’s blanket.

When I’m loving her…

That’s when everything makes sense, he thinks.  That’s when he feels like… like Cloud. 

Years of hiding feel forgotten as he climbs onto the bed, easing himself down alongside Tifa’s still body.  Unsteady fingers brush her stray hair  behind her ear, then trails down to the nape of her neck, holding her there so he can press his forehead to hers.  He knows he doesn’t deserve this; shouldn’t let his nose slide along hers, his blonde eyelashes flutter against her long, dark, whispy ones.  The arm under them curls under her neck so that his forearm can cradle the back of her head, and his free arm moves from her nape to her waist, wanting nothing more than to crush her against his chest like he did in Aerith’s garden.  Instead he insistently shows restraint, but only enough to satiate himself with the rise and fall of her chest against him.  He needs this. 

Needs her.

Cloud tucks the blanket more tightly around Tifa, though his hands tremble where they hover over the hem overlapped across her front.  Years ago, days ago, hours ago, he couldn’t imagine himself doing this, but now… His fingers part the blanket just enough to smooth his hand under to her stomach, following the dip of her navel up until he finds it - the raised edges of the scar.  The very thing he’s denied, burning into his fingertips and scarring there as proof. 

He’ll never doubt her again, he swears.  Another promise.

Cloud lets the tears come until he slips into dreaming, where he finds Tifa on the tower in her blue summer dress, smiling at him and asking for promises he’ll always, always keep. 

[afnanbaty]

Cloud x Tifa gmv Believe lyrics

[ikingpotato]

UchiKasu - Persona 5 Royal

Sasuke Uchiha as Joker, Sakura Kasugano as Noir, Cloud as Skull, Tifa as Queen.

The Phantom Thieves are ready to steal everyone's hearts!!!

UchiKasu and Cloti looking very cool and stylish with grace.

Sasuke Uchiha as Joker looking cool.

Sakura Kasugano look so beautiful and her lip is erotic beautiful as well.

Cloud Strife look so awesome and Queen Tifa Lockhart is absolutely gorgeous. 

Art by and Credit to Misakuh

Please follow her social media account:

twitter.com/Misakuh

www.deviantart.com/misakuh

misakuh.tumblr.com/

www.pixiv.net/en/users/3257265…

www.instagram.com/misakuhh/

[eponastory]

My Zutara peeps...

Nothing. And I mean nothing, will ever be as crazy as the almost 30 year shipping war of Cloti (CloudxTifa) vs Clerith (Cloud x Aerith).

I can guarantee that the war has been started again.

[riewiggles]

Am I the only one who is like "okay people this LTD is getting way out of hand please just agree to disagree and go touch grass or something?"

I don't want a debate here but ffs this is so exhausting when I go through. I see CloudxTifa and CloudxAerith stuff and I don't quite mind it, but when fans are breathing against their keyboards over what is "canon" or not is like, "alright you guys need to go out and be with nature or get therapy or something because it is an unnecessary kind of obsession to prove your ship here." But maybe that's just me. Maybe I'm hypocritical because I draw nothing but Kannao now. I'm overall just okay with people shipping anything as long as it's not like a pedo ship or beastiality or anything else that's just morally wrong and disgusting of that nature.

Like, it just gives bad vibes and I feel detached from wanting to interact with the fan base because it's way out of hand. Like if you want to love a ship, fine. Just don't go actively argue with anyone who doesn't support it.

[trialnumbergamma]

I’m a multi shipper at heart but I love cloudxtifa in a “hello I’m tifa and this is my rescue cloud. He can’t be left alone for more then 3 hours without running off and gets a lil snappy when anxious but don’t worry he’s a sweetheart” like I want them to be a little co dependent as a treat

[novus-ordo-seclorem]

This place was all fake, somehow. Unreal. Shinra had spared no expense to recreate this town... even hired the actors, paid to live here. The memories were real, but sometimes... lately, increasingly, she began to doubt her own mind. She looked over at Cloud. Her eyes welled with tears, then she looked away.

Her head reeled with his words; he couldn't sleep without her? "Yeah. Hard to sleep in a place that I know shouldn't exist... I know I didn't imagine the flames. The screams. I just.. I can't sleep here alone. They have the balls to take everything away from us, and then turn around and pretend it didn't happen. It's so cruel."

Her eyes burned, and she couldn't help but lean closer to her old friend, her head leaning toward his unarmored shoulder. That felt better. The closeness and warmth of his skin under her cheek.

"I just need... some peace... for once."

@hiislegacy

[continued from Here]

".... Hm. Not without you there, too." He watched her, wondering just what was going on to have her stay up this late, and away from everyone else. There were a few guesses, but he did not want to think about any of that, right now. Instead, his focus was entirely on her, and he moved to sit right next to her on the tower, glancing over only after a short few seconds. "... Can't sleep?"

It was strange, this feeling. Felt like home, almost, being with her like this, in the same place as all those years ago. Though, every time he'd look at her, now, it sent a different sort of feeling running through him. Enough of a commotion within that he'd have to glance away every time she looked in his direction, trying to act all cool-headed. He leaned back a bit, folding his arms across his chest as the breeze went on by. "Brings back memories, huh..."

@novus-ordo-seclorem

[maybeimawhale]

Tagged by: @xzombiepop ah, thank you! I almost missed this bc Tumblr has been very spotty with my notifications. It's been a very very long time since I did a tag meme.

Tag nine people to get to know better

Three ships: Honestly, the only real "ships" (and I say this inclusive of platonic and romantic) that come to mind are CloudxTifa, ZackxAerith, and UriangerxMoenbryda. Besides the latter, not even for the romance--I just enjoy their dynamics.

First ever ship: Harry and Mabel Mae, probably... from The Dragon Takes a Wife by Walter Dean Myers.

Last song: "Keeping Your Head Up" by Birdy

Last Movie: I think it was Across the Spiderverse.

Currently reading: I am very, very slowly reading through the Eorzea Encylopaedia 2, I suppose? I finally got it years later from @pearlescent-scales after a few missed opportunities to change hands. xD Perhaps more interestingly, the last two books I finished this year were After the Dragons by Cynthia Zhang (fiction), and Sky Burial by Xinran (non-fiction).

Currently watching: Not watching anything as I don't have any streaming subs or a TV. Most of my YT time is probably just playing music or Arknights PV/EPs... The latest series on my radar is the donghua Link Click!

Currently consuming: Cold teabag water (wherein I have a used teabag and I lazily add any-temperature water instead of bothering to boil hot water)

Currently craving: Deep fried chicken.

Tagging: @pearlescent-scales @grumpy-limsan-customs-cat @brokeu-haku @kazehita @sleepysoren @sasslett @fenrishion @galla-xiv @malaquill

I don't check tumblr as religiously as I used to so I apologise if you've already done this! feel free to leave me a link to it so I can read it!

[stygiansis]

"It'll make your girlfriend's day, I guarantee it!" "Lovers used to give these when they were reunited." - Aerith Gainsborough

[silver-wield]

I am and always will be CloudxTifa guy so at first, so I used to scoff at the notion of a one-sided Rufus/Tifa tease, but the more I think about it, the more it doesn't sound like that bad of an idea. (Tifa already has her fair share of suitors/idiots falling all over themselves for her, what's one more) Hear me out on this one but Rufus's pursuit of Tifa could be used in-story to reaffirm CloTi and while acting as another subtle nod to Traces of Two Pasts too. Rufus being the spoiled rich playboy is drawn to beautiful things and beautiful women and immediately becomes attracted to her. (It could also have elements of him trying to one-up Cloud, the whole "steal your girl" ploy). The key thing here is that he sees her as less a person and more as a "prize to be won" Apart from her already lingering issues with Shinra and her heart firmly set on Cloud, TOTP establishes that Tifa is nobody's trophy/conquest and so wants none of him. From there, you could go in several directions, possibly culminating with Junon where you can give him extra villain points by trying to use Barret's life as a bargaining chip (attempted Scarpia ultimatum), the whole gas chamber thing having an element of, "if I can't have you, no one will, the guard dropping the key to the gas chamber being less Shinra incompetence and more Rufus's secret orders, or the slightly redemptive route of him ultimately giving up the chase, knowing full well that no matter how much he pursues her, he knows full well that her heart will always belong to Cloud and backs off out of respect for her wishes. By the end, out of a grudging respect for Cloud, he echoes Andrea's words to never let go of her again.

FFVII is not an otome game and Cloud don't need some skanky loser making him realise how much he loves Tifa. He literally exists to be with her.

You wanna go write a fanfiction then you do you, but this will never happen in the game.

[cathlipsi]

#finalfantasyviiadventchildren #tifa #cloud #finalfantasyvii #cloudxtifa

[spirits-art]

Working on chibi sticker designs and I fucked up the polycule aerithxcloudxtifa design

Here's hoping I don't fuck up anymore of them

Gotta sketch out cloudxtifa and leonxada for my bestie

These are chibis tho so poses are not easy

So far I have aerith gifting you a flower, cloud as a maid and s1 catra

Let's see what else I can draw for stickers

[ikingpotato]

UchiKasu -Double date with Cloti

Sasuke Uchiha and Sakura Kasugano is on double date with Cloud and Tifa to have a good time together to have fun. All of them look amazing. Sasuke look super cool in his traditional respective colors and similarities with their OG outfits, same to similar color for Sakura as well as she look so beautiful. Love her lipstick on her lip, she can't wait to smooch him later after the double date. Cloud still look cool as ever and Tifa is still the sexy queen for her man. I do ship Cloud and Tifa because Tifa been there for Cloud in his deep darkest time, she will always support and love him. Sasuke, Sakura, Cloud, and Tifa would be the best of team party if adventure await them :D Sasuke and Cloud would be cool edgy bro and Sakura and Tifa would have a big and little sister relationship :3 Art by and Credit to Misakuh Thank you so much for your hard work and I am grateful :3 Please follow her social media account: twitter.com/Misakuh www.deviantart.com/misakuh misakuh.tumblr.com/ www.pixiv.net/en/users/3257265… www.instagram.com/misakuhh/

[the-cinnaminion]

Side by side!🐤🐬 I enjoyed myself immensely painting them! =') 🙈 Guh I'm a sucker when they look at each other like that. ❤️ I hope you like this as much as I do!!