A/N: Feh…pretty much given up on the AIWFCIS fic…for now at least. So um, here's another new story…yeah…
NOTICE: (For those who have already read the first chapter, I just want to let you know that I edited this around a bit so that it would flow much better with chapter 2…which will be up soon. I didn't edit the grammar mistakes and such…to lazy for that . Thank you!)
Disclaimer: I do not own Final Fantasy VII or any of the characters. This story and the plot belong to me though.
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Mixing
Chapter one: An Invitation
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It was a beautiful day in Edge: a cloudless sky with it's great, bright orb granting it's warm touch to Gaia, a chorus of birds carrying on an upbeat melody, and to top it all off it was neither too hot or too cold but just right.
The woman sighed, a glum look on her face. Her elbow rested on top of the counter, her hand holding up her head. She was leaning against the counter, looking out the window with her almost raven colored hair lying lightly on her resting form. Her dark brunette hair was now cut to about her mid-lower back. It is so much shorter now, well shorter than what her hair was like three years ago…
Three years ago…
Tifa shook her head, stopping herself from reminiscing about the "good old days" (at least according to her). All the exploring they did as a group, no more like a family, was what she really missed the most. She was always surrounded by someone back then…whether they were annoying her, making her laugh, or were just around her.
Now she was as lonely as ever could be. Barrett took the kids out on vacation, partly as an apology to Marlene for being away from her so long while he was down in Corel. Cloud was never around anymore. He was still "searching" for his beloved Aerith.
Tifa new better though. His "searching" involved sitting around in the Church, Aerith's Church, while he drowned himself in his own self-pity. If he was not in the Church, he would be off in a forest or open field still blaming himself. It made her sick to still think he was out there looking for someone who wasn't alive anymore…someone he still loved deeply.
Tifa grimaced at her thoughts, sauntering over towards the dirty beer mugs. "Maybe this will take my mind of that idiot," she spoke to herself under her breath as the brunette turned the facet on.
It wasn't that Tifa was crossed about Cloud not loving her, she was just more upset that he wasn't around anymore.
For the business, Marlene, Denzel…but mainly her.
Even if the woman didn't want to admit it she still held strong feelings for the supposed "ex-SOLIDER". She really did love him, loved him a lot.
Tifa knew that she had to get over these feelings though…
"…and yet I'm still attached to everything he is," The woman growled quietly. Tears began to form at the brim of her bottom lashes, her ginger-like eyes focused on the mug she was cleaning. Her tears were out of frustration, anger, sadness, and many more feelings were added within the mix.
But only one word could sum it all up.
"Cloud," She spat in dismay as she continued to scrub viciously at the sullied mugs.
"Yo!" A voice called out.
Tifa jumped at the sudden voice, causing her to drop the mug. It hit the floor with quite an impact, sending shards of glass to sprawl over the ground around her feet.
Tifa didn't care about the newly present mess on the floor though. She finally had some company…
Her lips quirked up in a smile, recognizing that oh so familiar voice. She quickly rubbed the tears away from her eyes with the back of her hand.
"You know you can't just sneak up on me like that," Tifa stated with a playful tone, turning on the heel of her foot to see eye to eye with her new visitor.
No make that "visitors".
There sat none other than Reno of the Turks himself, along with his wing man Rude. There was never a day when those two were not seen together.
"Aw c'mon 'Teef, you know that takes the fun outta things," The redhead said with a mock innocent look on his face. Reno was sitting on the barstool, his legs spread apart casually. He was leaning forward, his chin resting upon his hands, with the well known sly smile on his face.
The brunette rolled her eyes. "Yeah, well look what your "fun" has produced," She sighed, pointing down to the ground of shattered glass.
Reno peered over the edge of the bar counter with curious, teal blue eyes. He leaned back into a comfortable slouch and shrugged his shoulders. "Not my problem," he stated flatly.
Tifa huffed a "humph" at this and began walking towards the closet. 'Typical Reno,' She thought crossly.
"Buuuut Lockhart…" Reno drawled out causing Tifa to stop in her tracks. She turned around to face Reno, crossing her arms over her chest.
"Yes?" She inquired with an annoyed tone.
Reno just continued to grin slyly at her, pointing a thumb at his companion Rude who sat there with his hands folded politely together on top of the bar stand.
"…it's his problem now," He finished causing the bigger man to jerk a little.
"What?" The silent man questioned, turning to face Reno. The unkempt Turk looked over at Rude with lazy eyes, grinning at the poor man.
"You should go help her, man. After all, you use to have a cru-" Rude quickly stood up, his eyes glaring fiercely behind his glasses. Reno just continued to stare up at the big guy with a look on his face that read 'I didn't do anything'.
"Oh Rude, you really don't have to…" But before Tifa could finish her sentence, the bald man took the broom and dust pan from her hands.
"I insist," He stated to a somewhat shocked Tifa. He then quickly spun around before heading towards the shattered glass. Reno sat there snickering obviously finding this amusing.
'I wonder what he finds so funny…' The clueless woman wondered. She sighed, and looked over at the redhead.
"So what are you men doing here at this hour? Shouldn't you be out and about working on some reconstruction stuff?" Tifa asked, walking over to the counter. She pulled out two clean mugs and began filling the first with beer. Reno sat there twiddling with his ponytail, giving off the impression he was bored.
"Nah, Reeve handles all that shit," He replied, looking up into Tifa's auburn orbs grinning. "We just handle the dirty work." The brunette giggled and slid Reno his drink. Rude finished sweeping up the glass into the dustpan and threw the shards away into the trashcan.
"Thank you Rude," Tifa cheered handing the tall man his drink when he passed by. The Turk nearly nodded at her and regained his seat at the counter.
The brunette leaned against the bar counter, peering Reno directly into his piercing teal eyes. "So then, what's the reason you men are here?" She asked.
Reno scratched his nose with his finger before taking a swig of the beer. He then set his elbow on the counter, his chin resting upon a closed fist, leaning in towards Tifa. He still held his beer in his free hand "I have an invite fer ya."
Tifa quirked an eyebrow as she asked, "Oh, for whom?" Reno kept that smug grin on his face.
"Rufus ShinRa would appreciate it if you'd show up at his office tomorrow at noon…"
Tifa's laugh cut Reno's sentence short. "The Rufus ShinRa? Oh to what do I own him the pleasure of?" She asked sarcastically finding it amusing that the little blonde brat wanted to see her.
"He…wants'ta discuss to ya about this Ballroom thing his company is hosting. Ya know, it'd be for the reopening of the 'new and improved ShinRa'," Reno replied with boredom quite evident in his voice. The redhead never really enjoyed these fancy dances…they just weren't his thing. He took another swig of the mug, finishing the beer. Reno then continued, "And he wants ya to mix drinks, bartend, whatever for this 'special occasion'."
Tifa stood up and stretched, soon placing her hands on her hips. "And why me?"
Reno shrugged. "I dunno. Gotta ask the boss man 'bout that one."
"Sorry Reno, but you have to tell the boss man he'll need to find a new bartender," Tifa stated, going back to cleaning dirty mugs.
The redhead seemed taken aback by this statement. He was so sure she would take the offer. Rude just sat there silent, sipping on his beer.
"C'mon Lockhart, take the job pleeeeeease?" Reno begged, giving her a puppy-eyed looked. "If I tell Rufus I couldn't persuade you into meeting him tomorrow he'll give me a salary deduction."
Tifa shrugged, giving him a sarcastic smile. "Not my problem."
"Oh, touché," Reno sneered. The redhead stood up, patting off some dust off his already messy uniform. "Well it's your decision. I guess ya can always wait fer Strife to come back crying to you and then leave ya the next day. I can tell you really like to take care of his ass since you just wanna stay here," He stated nonchalantly. The martial artist gave him a bewildered look, completely stopping with her dish washing.
Reno gave her a fake smile. "But if ya suddenly decide to change your mind then make sure to gimme a call later," He offered her before motioning to Rude to leave with him. The big man stood up and followed the redhead out. "Or just tell me later tonight what you've decided…I promise Rude and I here will make another visit when it's opening time. Have fun reminiscing about your lover boy," He stated with a wave of his hand before exiting the building. Rude simply nodded towards the woman before following Reno out the door.
Tifa stood there speechless. She bent her head downwards, thinking, 'So I guess it's that obvious…that they can tell I'm still…' She didn't want to finish her thoughts with the chance that she would break down in tears…again.
The brunette took up her sponge and began giving her next victim a good scrub down. Her head rose, those ginger-tinted eyes peering out the window…her thoughts wondering elsewhere.
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A/N: Eh so what do you think? Yeah I don't know about the title…probably will end up changing that. How did I do with these characters? Are they OOC or pretty good? Tell me…I need to improve. Reviews are welcomed of any kind
