TIFA LOCKHART
Punch drunk love
Having grown up with Cloud in Nibelheim, Tifa’s the person who convinces the supersoldier to help AVALANCHE out. The two share quite a bit of history, some of which we see in Cloud’s flashbacks, though they ended up going their separate ways as they grew up. She’s come all the way from that frontier-spirited mountain town to Midgar, where she runs 7th Heaven, the 7th Sector bar that AVALANCHE use as their base of operations in Midgar. When the rest of the team are out on missions, she often keeps the base safe and looks after Marlene.
She’s a caring person, always considerate of her friends’ wellbeing. While she wants Cloud to assist AVALANCHE in taking on Shinra, she’s equally keen for him to feel a part of something, and to make sure he’s okay. Thanks to her, Cloud stays with the team longer than he initially said he would, as she wants to stay close to him to see how he’s changed since their time apart. While Tifa’s always concerned about the feelings of others, this does also mean that she can remain quiet about her own.
She might be slight and a bit quiet, but don’t let that fool you. Tifa’s a fierce fighter for AVALANCHE, and proficient in combat. She has her own reasons for moving to Midgar, and for having put so much effort into getting stronger. Her determination to take care of herself means she can more than hold her own in a fight, and lay the smackdown for her friends. She’s proficient in martial arts and an asset to the team, not least because she can keep Cloud on the straight and narrow. Due to their past connection she wants to show him there’s more to life than just being a Buster Sword for hire. (There is, honestly.)
“SHE CAN MORE THAN HOLD HER OWN IN A FIGHT.”