Disclaimer: Do. Not. Own.

Chapter 17: Lose
Summary: "I don't want to lose you."

Pale eyelids flew open to reveal mako-tainted, but otherwise blue orbs streaked with fear. Cloud sat up, breathing heavily and running a hand through his dishevelled blond spikes. Beside him, Tifa stirred before sleepily opening an eye.

“Cloud? Are you okay?” She propped herself up on one elbow.

“I’m fine,” He mumbled, swinging himself out of bed. His footsteps were quiet as he stalked out of the room and into the hallway.

Nightmares were a common experience between the two of them, and Tifa wasn’t surprised he was waking up from terrifying dreams – she had had a fair share of her own. But she’d at least thought they were past the point where they had to keep things from each other. Tifa was always tried to be openly honest and trusting with him, and she silently hoped he was doing the same. But Cloud was ‘running away’ from her, again. He’d rather keep things to himself and ‘suffer in silence’, than tell her what was really going on.

Didn’t he know she was here to help him, no matter what he was dealing with? Tifa exhaled slowly, pushing back the covers and slipping out of bed. The floorboards were cold against her bare feet as she stepped into the corridor.

“Cloud,” Tifa whispered. She eyed him anxiously as he slammed a fist into the wall of the hallway, his hand clenching and unclenching. “You know you can tell me anything, right? If something is bothering you-”

“Tifa,” He sighed exasperatedly, “you wouldn’t understand.” Vibrant blue-green eyes shot a frustrated glance at the brunette.

She met it with a firm gaze of her own, frowning. “You know I would. We’ve been through a whole lot together, and frankly, I’d hoped you’d have realised that I’m with you, Cloud. I’ve always been with you, even when you didn’t know it, and I’m always going to be with you.” She sighed when he didn’t respond. “I’m trying to help you, but it’s not exactly easy if you keep intentionally pushing me away.”

“This isn’t a burden I can share.” He answered coolly, averting his eyes to the ground. “I have to deal with this alone, Tifa.”

“Do you?” She asked sharply. “Do you ‘have’ to, or do you ‘want’ to?”

Cloud remained silent.

“Let me help you, Cloud.” Tifa stepped forward. “Tell me what’s wrong.” With lightning-fast reflexes she was pinned up against the wall, trapped by a larger frame and firm hands bracing her wrists.

“I have this dream, where you die. I can’t stop it – no matter what I do, it always ends the same way.” He admitted, staring into the garnet depths of her eyes. The intensity in his blue-green orbs scared her. “Tonight, I dreamt that you’re standing on that cliff, overlooking the Midgar ruins, where the Buster Sword used to be. I approach you, but you edge backwards, closer to the cliff side. You say two words, ‘trust me’, before you step off the edge. I run to you, but I’m too late.”

He released a frustrated sigh. “I don’t know why I can’t stop it. I’m either not fast enough to reach you, not strong enough to protect you, not close enough to save you, not-”

Tifa silenced him, pressing a finger to his lips. “You can keep talking about what you aren’t,” She said, “but I’d rather talk about what you are. You are Cloud Strife, and you’re far from that scrawny boy I used to know, back in Nibelheim. You are the hero who saved the world – twice.” She added with a smile.

Cloud’s breath escaped as a huffed laugh, and he leant his forehead against hers. “I can’t help this feeling that my dreams are going to come true. But I don’t want to lose you.”

She kissed him reassuringly. “You won’t.”

I was in a rush to get this published, so watch out for spelling/grammatical errors and tell me so I can correct them. :)

I hope this wasn't too weird. Cloud has nightmares all the time, and it's probably something you've read before...
Anybody recognise the dream he was describing, though? If you've watched Dead Fantasy V by Monty Oum, you'll know.
(And if you haven't watched the Dead Fantasy series, youtube it! They are seriously amazing pieces of work.)

Please review and let me know what you think. It really helps me improve my writing. ^___^
~ gingerbreadbear

Thanks to my reviewers: TiffanyLockheart, ObsessiveCompulsiveValkyrie (next chapter will be your prompt!), BrownSugarCandy, Pookyilicous, QueenAlla and mom calling!
Sorry for confusing you guys a lot with the last chapter. :P