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"There's another one Cloud." Tifa said as se hung up the phone. Quickly jotting down the last of the directions she ripped the sheet of paper and folded it in half before giving it to Cloud. Having just entered the bar, he barely removed his shades only to push them back on. Silently he took the folded sheet and turned to leave again. "See you when you get back." Waving good-bye, Cloud left without a word. Tifa's bright smile still lingered in his mind as he hoped on Fenrir, taking a quick look at the directions, before setting off. Tifa sighed, shutting the door and hearing back to the bar. No one had come in today. So there wasn't much to do. She began to re-wipe the countertops once gain, just so she'd have something to do. The bar was so quiet it unnerved the girl. Usually she could hear Denzel and Marlene playing upstairs when they weren't hanging around with her. Today though, Barret came to pick Marlene up taking Denzel with him. He was still working on the oil he had found so Marlene still remained with them. It was only on days such as today he's come down to spend time with his adoptive daughter.
A smile crept on her face as she picture Barret happily spending time with the kids. Although he looked a like a harsh man, he was a big softie. Putting away the damp cloth, Tifa sighed. There was no point in continuing. The counter was already as clean as it was going to get, this being her third time wiping it. Sitting down on one of the few stools behind the counter, she looked out the small window. A lot had happened to them over the years. Everyone suffered some sort of loss. Though in the past three years it seemed most of the chaos had revolved around Cloud and Vincent. "But that's all in the past now." She was glad they were able to overcome their past. It had haunted them for so long, but now you could see them smile more freely. That is when Vincent comes out.
She laughed to herself. It made her truly glad though to see Cloud's burden lifted. He had runaway from it all for so long. She felt extremely helpless. No matter how much she tried her best she was barely able to reach him, always a centimeter from him. Before he shouldered all the blame, he would either keep it all inside or foolishly try to fix it on his own. "Now he knows thought." She smiled. He's not alone. He has us.
She perked up as she heard the phone ringing upstairs. Getting up she made her way up the stairs towards the phone in Cloud's room. "Strife Delivery Service. You name it we deliver it." She stopped recognizing the voice. "Vincent! Oh, hi, I wasn't expecting it to be you." She pulled out Cloud's chair and sat down, listening to him. "No, he's not here. He left a while ago." She thought a bit to herself. "No, I'm sure he has it with him." As she spoke, she spotted something at the far end of Cloud's desk. "Oh!" She picked up the cell phone recognizing it as Cloud's. "I guess he forgot it. Yeah I'll be sure to tell him to call you when he gets back." She hung the phone up, looking at the phone in her hand. "Well that's a first." She mused to herself looking around the room.
Tifa looked around the room. It wasn't as if it was the first time she had seen it. She had been in his room numerous times before, to answer the phone when Cloud was out, bring in his laundry he'd forget in the dryer. Yet every time she went in, it seemed different, although nothing about it changed appearance wise. Cloud was never one to spend countless hours decorating and arranging things. Then she figured perhaps that was more of a female thing. Though Cid was always one to make things reflect his personality. But that's probably just on the Shera.
She smiled as she leaned forward. Cloud's room was rather simple. A bed with grey sheets, the walls were mostly bare save for the few shelves here and there as well as the board she had gotten for him so he could keep track of his deliveries. The shelves contained a few books. Cloud didn't read much really, or at least she had never seen him read. Or maybe he doesn't have much time to. She pondered this as her eyes wandered over to his desk. Papers were carefully aligned on one end. She imagined the drawers to were filled as well. A stack of pens, notepads and a calculator were lined up at the top. Currently his phone was there and next to it...
She smiled as her hand reached out and licked up the photo. Before Cloud's room had felt cold, empty almost. As if, no one had ever dwelled there. Unwelcoming and lonely. Over time, though the room began to change. It felt different each time. "It's warm now. Very warm." Putting the photo back, her attention turned to the door. She thought she had heard someone came in. Getting up she made her way down, hoping it wasn't her imagination but a customer. "Oh Cloud, it's you. That was fast."
"It was cancelled at the minute."
"I see." Cloud gave a short nod, removing his shade. Cloud had been thinking the entire time he was out. The smile that would refuse to erase itself from his memory. The same words of encouragement that would at times follow that smile. Even now, he would never swell much on his feelings much, a habit from how he had been before. The major difference being he knew he could always go to someone if he felt the need to. There was no longer a reason to do it all himself, to hold it in so now one would know. He especially could always count on...
"Vincent called you a little while ago." Cloud's hand reached for his pocket, expecting it to come in contact with his cell phone, but felt nothing instead. "You forgot your phone here. It's on your desk, where you left it."
"Oh."
"He said Reeve was wondering if you'd be willing to help him tomorrow." Cloud nodded heading for the stairs.
"Did he say what Reeve wanted?" Tifa shook her head.
"No, he just said to call him back. I suppose he'll tell you then." Cloud turned around, before he had taken his first step upwards.
"Hmm, alright then." Tifa smiled once again. It was that same smile he couldn't get to leave his thoughts. It bothered yet comforted him all in one. It was the type of smile you wanted to reciprocate, just as it flustered his insides. "It's rather quiet."
"Hmmm? Oh yeah. It's been rather dead today. Not a single person has come in." Cloud turned to go back up.
"You should just close for today. Take the day off." Tifa looked at the empty bar.
"I probably should. There's really no point to keep waiting." She could hear Cloud's footsteps as he headed up the stairs. Four steps and then silence. Curious she looked over, to see Cloud standing still in thought.
"Tifa?" He started not looking back at her.
"Yeah."
"You're taking the day off right."
"Might as well." He nodded to what seemed more to himself than her.
"Is Barret coming back today?" He looked back at her, noticing her placing her hand on her hip as she thought a bit.
"I don't think he will. He'll most likely come back tomorrow."
"It's going to be quiet around here." Tifa laughed as she agreed.
"It's almost lonely without these two running around." Cloud smiled as he began upwards toward his room.
"I'm going to call Vincent."
"Ok, I'm going to go close the bar." Tifa switched the sign on the window, the sound of footsteps becoming muffled above her. The day was a slow one but somehow she didn't mind anymore.