Cloud's eyes went wide at those first words. Not planning to come back alive? What about the promise? He was supposed to be there for her if she was in trouble. How could she just tell him that she was going to put herself at risk like this and not want him involved.

And then the other shoe dropped.

He looked away from her, unable to meet her eyes as he ran down all the possibilities in his mind. His shoulders rose and sank with a long sigh before he looked back up. "And what am I supposed to do if you run off and get yourself permanently killed or captured? Tifa...I'm not going to stop you, but I can't just sit back and let you do this alone. I promised I'd be there for you if you got into a pinch."