A random thought while I was thinking about what I like about this pairing and it's highly subjective. To me, it felt like Cloud agreeing to be Aerith's bodyguard, his protection over her and ultimately guilt towards her death actually stems from his promise to Tifa. In a way, protecting Aerith may be Cloud vicariously trying to live out his promise to Tifa. A lot of people make out the Cloud x Aerith connection to be that of a hero and a damsel in distress, and Cloud agrees to take on that role because pehaps there is an innate desire for him to fulfil the role of a protector because of his promise to Tifa and failure to protect her when they were kids. Because Tifa is very independent and capable, Cloud never could fully fulfil that role.
It's kinda like I'm longing for acceptance from my parents, but because I'm not getting it from them, I get acceptance through other means like teachers, friends, colleagues etc.
On that note though, that's why it was also nice to see that in the Remake they gave us so many more scenes where both Cloud and Tifa came to each other's aid.
Cloud's a naturally sensitive person and I'm sure that he feels the need to step up and help others on his own. However, given that his insecurities were what stopped him from getting close to other people, I also think that Cloud's desire and promise to protect Tifa might have been the kickstart he needed to step outside of his self-imposed safe zone to become a protector to others as well. Perhaps his protectiveness of others might also have something to do with him wanting to be the type of person he thinks would be "worthy" of Tifa's attention.
Great observations. I was just replaying chapter 8 and wondering exactly this. Because not just Aerith but Sector 5, in general, plays into Cloud's hero desire. I don't see Aerith as a 'damsel in distress' (at least not Remake Aerith), but she's someone that, in Cloud's eyes, needs protection ( the whole bodyguard deal initiate this), and you can really see it in their battle quotes ( Cloud: "Stay behind!") or how he tries to keep her out of battles and quest if he can.
Sector 5 has also a whole different mood from Sector 7, and while he was admired by the S7 people from his merc skills, in S5 the idea is much more of a hero than a Merc. The kids there worship him and even the missions were somehow more "sweet in nature" (aka saving kids, help an elderly and so on) than those in S7.
And honestly? Tifa really doesn't really "feed" Cloud's hero persona.
She's someone who Cloud sees as equal and trusts to be alongside him in battle, you can see it thought the whole game from their quotes battles to her constant presence alongside him. Even at the Wall Market chapter, when the whole point of the mission was to save her, you never feel like it's because he doesn't trust her abilities, but because he's worried at what could go wrong if she's alone. And I love this! I love how they see each other as equals, always watching each other back. I love that Cloud's desire to 'help' may have started to grow from his promise to protect her, but that in the end, she is the only one who "saves" him when she brings him back from the lifestream. Cloud may be everyone's hero, but Tifa is his.
This is also why my fav Remake scene is why she saves him after Rufus's fight, that was really "Cloti in a nutshell" aka the 'heroine saving the hero so he can save everyone'.
Funnily enough, some anti-Cloti arguments made back then was that
Tifa as a hapless damsel did not deserve Cloud's respect and love, but at the same time she's also too powerful of a martial artist and too capable of protecting herself that she'd only make Cloud feel inadequate.
Back then? Unfortunately, I just saw this same argument being used against her two days ago :/ some things never change...
