Following the fight with the Airbuster

Following chapters were written by ScottyBoi3

(heavily punched up by PomegranateTeeth)

The fight had been a long, arduous one. President Shinra certainly spared no expense when developing the Airbuster, as it was known within SOLDIER. Even Cloud was quietly impressed with the inner workings of his latest opponent. Unfortunately for Shinra, though, it wasn't enough to defeat the trio of Cloud, Barret, and Tifa. Even though Cloud did have to admit: without the healing materia imbedded in Barret's arm-cannon, the fight could have ended differently, and with much more bloodshed.

Cloud would usually be looking forward to fights with giants mechanisms such as this if only their weaknesses weren't so blatantly obvious: since it was a machine, Tifa got the idea that it could be overcharged, so lightning materia for everyone!

As Tifa delivered the finishing blow to their mechanized adversary, Cloud realized a potential problem: the Airbuster was equipped with a self-destruct system, and, well, the bridge they were all standing on probably wouldn't be able to withstand the blast. A detonation could prove to be trouble for the trio.

Then, almost like clockwork, electricity started surrounding the Airbuster as it sputtered and malfunctioned. Cloud stood, watching, on one side of the bridge, while Barret and Tifa stood on the other, the group's paths to each other blocked by the tons of exploding machine bits in front of them.

After long enough, the air around them turned hot as the Airbuster finally gave in and self-destructed, taking the center of the metal bridge beneath our heroes with it. Barret and Tifa were unaffected, but Cloud felt the bridge collapse from beneath his feet, causing him to go into fight or flight mode and shoot out his hand to grab on to a piece of debris that stuck out from the remains of the bridge.

Barret and Tifa rushedtowards him, and Cloud looked back at the two of them, blushing a bit at the thought of how **** he must look in this position. He sucked in a deep breath and squared his shoulders, trying to look brave despite the little pin pricks of pain singing all over his body.

"We don't have long to get closer!" Barret shouted, eyeing up the wreckage.

Cloud hung to a piece of debris with one arm, his muscles screaming at him as he hung his head, then turned his head toward his cohorts. "Take Tifa, and get outta here!"

It took a moment for Barret's out again. "I... I was wrong aboutchya--"

"-This ain't the end of the line for you or me!" Cloud retorted, his muscles beginning to feel like lead as he struggled to keep hold of the jagged piece of debris.

Gunfire snapped through the air above the trio as a patrol of four Slug-Rays flew in. Two of the gunners locked onto Barret and Tifa, while the others locked onto the SOLDIER.

Barret picked up Tifa by the waist, "C'mon!" he shouted as he ran towards the exit.

Tifa reached her hand out to Cloud, a strangled shout rattling out from her throat. The scream ricocheted over the metallic carnage, only to be drowned out by an explosion that rang out from the exit opposite Barret and Tifa.

Turning in midair, Cloud aimed his grappling hook at the opposite side of the destroyed bridge and fired. Miraculously, it connected, but only for a few moments before detaching and sending him flying towards the ground once again, but not before he heard a scream from Tifa.

"CLOUD!!!"