Sorry if people have already discussed this, but I feel the need to tell everyone my opinion. :D

The thing about Tifa and Cloud is that they just have plainly bad chemistry. Tifa, bless her, just doesn't know what to do with Coud's emo little self. As a matter of fact, the only thing she manages to do is push Cloud farther into himself in her efforts to help him. The girl means well, but she doesn't have tact.

The thing about them is that they're both a bit awkward and alone, uncertain like little kids. They don't know what to do with each other. Aerith is very optimistic, and when people around her are sad she only becomes more cheerful in her efforts to brighten their mood. Cloud doesn't need confrontations, especially how abrupt Tifa is about it. He needs to feel safe without the pressure to express himself, and if someone can give him the feeling that he can trust them, then he will talk on his own. Aerith was just the kind of woman to do that.

And regarding Tifa's infatuation with Cloud- It is obvious she has a dream that her knight in shining armor will be there to save her and whisk her off her feet. Cloud doesn't nearly have enough confidence to be that kind of man for Tifa, yet she's constantly looking for that in him - her hero. I think Zack would be a much better man for Tifa, simply because his cockiness and confidence would be good for all of her insecurities. He can live up to her fantasy and be the man she desires. They'd be a great couple, I think.

Point? Cloud x Tifa = Bad chemistry. Even if they reciprocated feelings, neither of them would ever be able to get the balls to admit it. Though Tifa, poor girl, has tried so many times.

More or less, agreed. Tifa and Cloud both need a certain type of person to show them love, and for both of them the other isn't that type of person. I'm not sure about Zack, not knowing much about him, but Aerith is exactly the type of happy, loving girl Cloud needs.

Yeah, both of them are seriously needy-ish and can rely on each other as friends. As lovers, though, it just doesn't work out. Cloud takes weeks to tell Tifa something, and by then, it's already too late, and then Tifa yells at him like she's his mother. To tell you the truth, this bit got annoying in CoT and still goes on in AC.

The hero Tifa's looking for is Zack. He's sweet, funny, and his emotions are stable, unlike Cloud. (But I'm a RenoTifa fan.) While Cloud just isn't that famous hero that Tifa wants and needs him to be. He just have that confidence and probably never will. Cloud is most certainly a hero, but not the typ that Tifa needs.

Cloud really needs somebody who will love and support him when he's not being the best he can be. *ahem* Aerith.

I agree, Cloud may have had a crush on Tifa before but that doesnt mean that crush is still alive, since he shows no signs of any of that dim love blooming in the near future, im guessing its safe to say that it has already stopped. In a relationship, it may not always be the case but it is much better if, the partner is the opposite of that person, its so they can both support each other and be whatever the other one lacks.

Aerith is very optimistic, for example in the Gold Saucer thing where Barrett is clearly shown to be having a hard time, Aerith none the less tried to be happy and cheerful and tried to cheer him up, but then he just ran away. To me, i believe this is one of those times where she tries to be the positive one out of the group, because if they are all miserable little buggers, they are never going to get anywhere. She tries to make everyone feel very secure and i believe staying optimistic is her way of doing this.

Tifa on the other hand, needs constant reassurance about most things, she specially seeks this out from Cloud, which frankly is a very stupid thing to do as Cloud is just as insecure as she is. To me, she is trying to force this side of Cloud which will never show as Cloud is Cloud. She wants Cloud to show her more of himself somehow and Cloud is just not ready to do that yet.

Thats why i think the relationship between Aerith and Cloud, will work out more, due to the fact aerith is such a patient woman, we dont need to go into any detail on that since cc has already proven that, and because Cloud, needs god knows how long to sort out his life, they fit perfectly as a couple. She's willing to wait and he can rest easy knowing after everything has happened, there is someone waiting.

Unlike Tifa, she constantly nags him about leaving and doing his stuff, now it maybe okay to tell him off if he deserves it, but come on, give the guy some space. He has it rough!

Gosh i wrote a lot lol

I completely agree that Cloud and Tifa have bad chemistry as a couple. I think they relate well in a brother-sister type of relationship, but not as a romantic couple.

I think that's shown plainly in CoT. As you said, Cloud doesn't need confrontations or ultimatums, but Tifa uses both strategies on Cloud in CoT as well as AC. If anything, it seems to drag Cloud down even further, perhaps because it only serves to add to his guilt. Aerith, on the other hand, is able to sense what's bothering Cloud without having to drag it out of him like Tifa does. Tifa tries to analyze Cloud, or she poses questions to find out what's bothering him, which I think is just annoying to Cloud. It does nothing but add to his guilt and perplexes him even further.

Instead, Aerith senses what's bothering Cloud and manages to help him see the bright side of it. The back to back scene in AC is a perfect example of that. Cloud tells Aerith that he wants to be forgiven, and Aerith asks, "... by who?" Instead of Tifa's analytical questions, Aerith perceives what the problem is and quickly addresses it by letting Cloud know in a cheerful way that she doesn't blame him.

I also agree that Tifa's just looking for a knight in shining armor. I also agree that Zack would be much better suited for Tifa. His confidence and light hearted manner would be perfect for her insecurities. In fact, I think TifaxZack would be a very similar couple to AerithxCloud. :rolleyes: