Warm
by Ky
Summary: Post-game.
Seventh Heaven gets an unexpected visitor on Christmas Eve.
[RudexTifa [for Wolfy
Genre:
Romance/General
Rating: G
Word Count: 257
Disclaimer: I do
not own Final Fantasy VII. Nope.
Notes: Written for Wolfy, for the Fandom Holiday Drabble Exchange.
Tifa was at the bar washing dishes when the bell above Seventh Heaven's door tinkled. She looked up, the speech all prepared: "It's Christmas Eve. We're closing early for the holiday. Go spend it with your family and friends…"
A tall man was standing on the doormat, stomping snow off of his boots. Although the sun was now setting, he wore sunglasses that were speckled with rapidly-melting snowflakes. He set the parcel he'd been carrying down next to his feet and removed his wool hat and long, grey overcoat, hanging them on the coat rack by the door. He proceeded to clean his sunglasses on the hem of his dark blue suit, then repositioned them on the bridge of his nose.
Tifa recognized Rude instantly. "If you're looking for Cloud, he's not here," she said, barely managing to hide her bleak mood. Then she took another glance around. Where Rude was, Reno often followed. "Where's your other half?"
The bald Turk picked up his parcel again. "I'm not here on business," he replied in his usual blunt way, approaching the counter. "I ran into someone selling these on my way over." He set the parcel in front of her.
It was a poinsettia, growing in a plastic pot decked out in shiny red foil. Tifa smiled, reaching for a towel to dry her soapy hands. "Tis the season?"
She thought she saw a corner of Rude's mouth turn up as well.
"Here, I'll go get you something warm to drink. Do you like marshmallows in your hot chocolate?"