Cloud Nine
It all started with an inebriated customer at Seventh Heaven. He slammed his drink down, asking, in his own way, for a refill. He was a regular and didn't usually get this drunk, so Tifa poured him another, figuring it was for a good reason. And it was.
"Today was her birthday" was his words. Ah. That gave her all the insight she needed to know. Recalling events, she pieced together the story.
He had lived on another Sector, Eight or Six, perhaps, and his wife had gone into Sector Seven on the day it fell. Tifa lowered her head, feeling guilty.
"Y'know, Tifa, you shouldn'ta named this bar Seventh Heaven again. Sector Seven wasn't heaven, but people in it went to it, or didn't. But it's good, it's good. Heaven – we can drown in our sorrows and call it bliss."
Tifa could only nod her head. "Yeah, that's part of why I picked it. But it's also the name of my old bar – destroyed. Sometimes, you have to face the past and then move on."
The regular sighed, drinking again. "You know what a better name would be? Not that I'm not pleased by Seventh Heaven, you got some things right, but an up-there-but-not-quite-high-enough name, not too big for its britches, would be something like, I dunno, Cloud Nine? Or Sky High… But that might imply this is a smokin' pub."
The barmaid couldn't bring herself to smile, glancing over at Cloud when he had said his name. Cloud had heard, too, and their gazes met. There was an odd sort of look in Cloud's eyes, and Tifa was the first to break contact and look down. "I couldn't name it Cloud Nine, anyway."
"Why not?" came the reply.
She shrugged a shoulder in the direction of the ex-SOLDIER, sitting at the end of the counter nursing a drink by himself – but upon closer inspection, it could be seen that Marlene also sat next to him, talking. He seemed interested enough to pass her standards, but clearly he wanted time alone. Must've been a busy day. Tifa thought. "Well, that's his name. He's one of the founders."
"All the more reason to name it after him, no?" Tifa shook her head again.
"I just – I don't think he'd be very pleased with it. He's the type to avoid attention, you know?"
The man nodded, pulling out his wallet and paying her. "Right. Thanks, Tifa. See you soon." He rose and left.
That night, Tifa closed the bar with a lot on her mind. Cloud had gone to bed, tired after a day of driving everywhere. She knew how tough the job was, though it didn't seem hard.
As she wiped the counter clean, Tifa thought about the customer, and how right he was. Cloud Nine. Being with Cloud most of the time made her feel like she was on a cloud, high up and important. He was the only one who made her feel that way – and it might be love. But what if he didn't maybe love her back?
And Nine. There were nine of them. Herself, Cloud, Cid, Nanaki, Barret, Reeve, Vincent, Yuffie… and Aerith. There was nine of them.
And they were all connected, friends and companions and support. They'd be by each other side – even just in memories, they'd always be together.
So perhaps Cloud Nine wasn't such a bad name after all. She had Cloud, and she had the Nine, though Denzel and Marlene had been added on in this aftereffect. But Seventh Heaven it was – her personal haven.
It gave her a sense of feeling and accomplishment. Tifa only hoped she wouldn't have to save the world seven times before she went to heaven.
So there it is, a nice little oneshot. What'd you think?