This. It's basically the oldest anime cliche applied to Cloud's personality out of nowhere, mind, because they needed something to make the movie "interesting" I guess.
AC in a nutschell
Cloud: I bring only death to those I love, I am going to hide away even though it will only bring worry to the one I am closest to
Tifa: that's dumb
Cloud: I seek forgiveness for their deaths. It is my fault
Ghost Aerith: that's dumb. not ur fault m8
Cloud:oh............... I am not worth being happy
Marlene: it's time to stop
Cloud: k *fights sephiroth*
Ghost Zack: quit sucking man, you're the MC
Cloud: oh right. I love everyone!
*power of friend ship kills sephiroth and cures the world of Geostigma*
Cloud: I'm good
Tifa: *nods*
Ghosts: *nods and walks away*
*cue credits of Cloud enjoying a bike ride through scenery not present ever in either FF7 or AC*
Sure, and I understand that's why he did that. I've made posts in this tread about that very thing. But people calling out Cloud as a jerk for trying to deal with his shit the best way he knew how while not also calling Tifa out for her mistakes with how she handled some things with Cloud is where I started with this.
They are both at fault at various points over the course of the VII compilation for being weenies and not just talking to each other. Seriously most of their problems would have been solved if either one had just spoken up. I just don't think it's fair to label Cloud as the jerk when Tifa pulled some stuff on him too. They both made mistakes, that's been my point.
I get that she made mistakes. I am just pointing out nothing Cloud did was because he did not trust Tifa. That was never the case on anything. Everything was in his own messed up head. He pushed everyone away for most of FF7, and then he just ran from his psychological issues afraid it would hurt her and the kids he lived with. It's the cliche of, "you're the only ones who can help me but I am gonna run because i am afraid of hurting you or being a burden"