Maybe not. [Cloud looks away, back down at his hands.] But people...they have ideas put into their heads, from the day they're born. It's easy to say that we're right and everyone else is wrong, but...whether or not it's true doesn't matter. Even if we kept it secret just from them, they would find out eventually and be hurt by it.

I care about you and Zack. But I care about Denzel and Tifa, too. I know you and Zack can manage without me...but I don't know that Denzel can. If he's upset by what I'm doing, he'll pull away from me. I can't risk that happening. [And he looks at her again.] I'm not ashamed of you or Zack. ...but I'm not ashamed to call myself his guardian, either. It's unfair to the both of you, but you can handle it. He can't.