Cloud nodded back to her. "Cloud," he said. No handshakes, no greetings, just names and faces.
Well, if she was sure then there really was nothing else to do but keep walking forward. Cloud tensed, however, as he persisted with the path and his gloved right had already poised itself to grab Rose and...push her to the wall or drag her away or run with her if it was needed but he didn't know this just yet. Up ahead...there was a fight, he was sure of this now.
One voice was overpowering another, calling...the woman, it must have been a woman, unpleasant things like being a "whore" and the likes. Cloud slowed down his pace and wished Rose would do the same, he didn't want to take liberties with grabbing her just yet. He was confused, there were two voices, no alleyways, but there was only one person standing.
Of course, because the other person was on the concrete, hands held out, playing the part of the defenseless down to the last letter.
And then, Cloud realized as he stopped: this was the woman!