Author's note : All original characters belong to Squaresoft. All created characters belong to me, so far. Barret acts a little odd in the story; sorry if you don't like it. Just the way I seem him as. And, if anything is not right with the story; it's mostly because I haven't played the game in a year or so. Blame it on the lack of a playstation; as well as the scratched CD(s). The names placed in these "( )" are the points of views in the story. Not the whole 'couple' thing.. Anyways, on with the fic'..
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It was dark. Always was in the slums. The air was foggy, and full of things that no one would willingly want to breathe in. But, some had to. Just to live. Those duo chocolate hued orbs looked around the area of the Sector Seven slums. Arms were behind her; supporting her upper body. Palms of those gloved hands were resting firmly against the roof of Seventh Heaven, the bar. Also known as Avalanche's hideout; but..no one was suppose to know that.
She sighed. Part of her wishing that she was back in Niblehiem, before it was destroyed all those years ago. The air around her old hometown was actually breathable back then. There was the mako reactor there, but it was off in the mountains, a bit aways from her home. She still remembered playing out in the center of the town with the other kids of the town. Also remembered sitting up on the well; the real center of the town. Pretending that she was at the top.
The gaze of those eyes went down at the thought. Remembered back then. Missed it, too. She just wished that she could've done more. But, she couldn't. It was in the past. There was nothing..to be done, anymore.
The sound of the door to Seventh Heaven slammed. Startling the young woman just a bit. The girl sat up straight, before leaning over just a bit to see who had walked on out. It had to be one of her comrades. Biggs, Wedge, Jessie, or Barret. Maybe even little Marlene came out. There were no customers when she had left the place a half an hour ago, to gaze up at the clouded 'sky'. The plate above them couldn't even be made out, that's how bad the place really was.
"Tifa!" A deep voice called out the girl's name.
Tifa leaned over a bit more, taking note of seeing Barret down below. He was a large man. Confident. And full of seemingly bad attitude. But, he did have a point in all this. 'All this' being to go after ShinRa.
Barret was the leader of Avalanche. The reasons why he was even here were unknown to Tifa. But, she had met him back when she first came to Midgar. Joined up with them to try and put a stop to ShinRa and make the world a better place. For real. Their group was small, for now, but hopefully it could get even better and bigger. Just..not a lot of people were up to going against the biggest, and most known company in the world.
But they were.
"Yeah?" Tifa asked, positioning herself to sitting on the edge of the roof. Her long, bare, slender legs hanging off the edge of it. Her gaze was focused on the form of Barret, her head slightly tilted to the side as she looked down at him. For once.
"C'mon in 'ere! We gots plannin' to do!" Barret yelled out. Shaking his head just a bit before he walked back into the bar; the door slammed shut again.
Tifa sighed, before her gloved hands went to grip the edge of the roof. And, she started to lower herself down just a bit, hanging there for a fourth of a second before dropping down. The soles of her boots making a loud 'thud' as they came in contact with the wooden 'porch', outside of the bar. She turned around, long brown hair swaying just a bit. The hair being tied at the end, made it convenient not to get strands in her way.
Those steps were taken into the bar. A quick glance around it given, to note who was where. Wedge was sitting at the nearest, wooden round table. Eating the supper that she had cooked just a bit ago. Biggs was sitting next to Wedge, a few bottles of beer resting next to him. She didn't see Jessie anywhere, blinked a few times at that. Although, she knew that the other girl was probably downstairs setting up some information on their next mission.
Tifa took note that Marlene, Barret's three year old daughter, was behind the bar. Making Biggs yet another drink. The child learned well on how to make drinks. Although, it wasn't Tifa's idea to put the child to such a task. Just..happened one day.
Barret was standing next to a pinball machine. Or, so it seemed to be one. It was actually just a little platform that sent them down to the lower floor of the bar. No one knew about it except for them. And that was a good thing, too.
"Hey! Ev'ry one! Down hea', quick!" Barret ordered. Those big boots of his made contact with the steel platform in front of the 'pinball machine'. Pressing a little button, before the little platform started to go down.
Everyone listened to Barret. The other two were standing up. Biggs taking the last gulp of his bitter tasting beer, before he set it down on the surface of the table. The two made their way to the area on where the pinball used to be. Biggs jumping down into the hole of the floor, and Wedge coming down right after him. One of them must've pressed the button the pinball machine, because it was making it's way back up to the first floor.
Tifa sighed, faintly, under her breath. Taking a glance over to Marlene, and giving a small wave to her; in her direction. Marlene sent back a small smile.
"Marlene, why not come down there with me?" Tifa asked, using her normal sweet voice.
Marlene nodded, putting down the glass that she was drying, and making her way around the bar and towards Tifa. Marlene's supposed mother figure.
Tifa smiled just a bit, taking the little girl's hand once she had reached her. She then started off towards the pinball machine. Leaning down just a little bit, she picked Marlene up, and set her down on the pinball machine itself. A glance was taken down at her feet, to make sure she was stepping in the 'correct' spots of the platform, before the right gloved hand went to press down on the button. Sending them slowly down into the basement of the bar.
----
Barret took note of the others entering the basement of Tifa's bar. He was in the far back of it, next to a little punching bag, in which he had just been punching it with his good arm. His other arm, as some would call it a 'gun arm', was self explanatory. It was a gun.
He had often got odd looks on why it was gun, but he just told others that he wanted it that way. That being the half truth. The rest of it being.. he lost his hand back in an accident long ago. In which, he never wanted to dwell on it. Hated thinking about that. That's why no one knew about it, he never wanted to think, talk, or whatever..about it. Personal reasons. Although..there was a part of him thinking about it. The accident. One..where he had lost everything dear to him. His home, his 'life', his love, even his best friend. Part of him lost..
He shook away the thoughts, mentally. He had to focus on what was here. Right now. And, what was that exactly? To get revenge. He was going to avenge all those he lost. All what he lost. Barret, and Avalanche.. They were going to take down ShinRa. Someday.
"The next mission for us," Barret started, "Is for us to blow up the Sector Eight reactor." That's the way every mission briefing started. Start with the location, and then go into details.
"Tifa an' Biggs, you two are gonna come with me. To set the bomb, and fight off any guards that come near us. Jessie, you an' Wedge set the escape bomb, and hook up in'ta their system to make sure me 'n the others get out okay." Barret finished with the so called details. Now, he awaited the questions..and..suggestions.
"I finished the new I.D. Cards. Those will help us on the train ride there, and back." Jessie stated, quietly. Barret nodded in satisfaction.
"Anythin' else?" Barret questioned, looking at the others. Biggs looked half asleep, him sitting down on a chair, leaning in towards the table; where he rested his head along his arms. Wedge was seated next to him, his gaze set on Barret. Tifa and Marlene were near Jessie, Tifa leaning against the wall. Marlene standing next to her. Jessie sitting down at her computer chair, looking over files.
Barret got no reply. Just a few shrugs from his comrades. He nodded just a bit, waving the gun arm towards the others. "Then 'm off. I gots stuff to get." Barret stated, heading towards the 'pinball machine' again. He stepped up on the platform, and pressed the button. Slowly sending himself up to the other level of the place. He stepped off, and pressed the button again. Letting it go back down so the others could get back up if they needed to.
Taking those large strides towards the exit of the bar, now, Barret sighed. Mentally. So much has gone now, since that major event in his life..that had happened oh so long ago. He knew that he should just move on. But, he had a right to avenge his family. His friends. His life. Walking down the wooden steps, that led to the dusty ground of the slums, he walked straight ahead. There was a 'building' in front of Tifa's bar. A shop. It sold weapons, a must if you lived in any 'dangerous' areas around the slums. But, it being the slums, any place was dangerous.
Barret walked around the building, until he found the door. There were three levels of this shop. One was the shop itself, the middle floor was just a hangout, and the top floor was an inn. He rested there occasionally when he didn't feel like being around the others. When he wanted to be alone with his thoughts. But, he had to keep up on hiding that part of himself. Seemed like he always wore a mask. Hiding the true self; and just putting up the attitude, and whatnot..for the others.
No one knew the real him.
Seemingly, not even himself.
Barret opened the door, with the good hand. Taking a few steps inside, before he was greeted with the weapon shop owner. He gave the man a small nod, before walking up to the 'counter'.
"What can I get ya today, Barret?" The shop-owner asked. He was a large man, as well. Not quite as large as Barret, though. He was also fairly pale. From the lack of sun light. He had a shaved head, and tattoos all along his arms. Wearing a plain black shirt, with a dark blue jean jacket on over it. The sleeves were cut off; leaving off the shredded ends of them. He then wore plain black pants. Holes in various areas; the bottoms were worn out.
Barret shrugged a bit. Not really knowing what there was in stock or not. "Wha' do ya got?" He asked, taking a glance around the place. Spotting a teenage boy with shaggy brown hair shooting a gun off at a practice board. The place seemed crowded; but..only four people were there. The fourth person being an old man, behind Barret; working on different formations of weapons. He was seeming inside an area that had a black wire fence around it.
"Gots some grenades. An' a new gun, too. 'though 's tha only model of it that we got." The man replied. Turning his back to Barret and picking up an item. Turning around and showing it off a bit. "Don' got a name for it, yet. But, I thought you might like it." He said, giving a small nod. He set it down on the counter, and tilted his head to the side just a bit.
"How much?" Barret asked. Fairly interested in having a new gun arm. It was rather easy putting different ones on. The one on it right now was a Gatling Gun. Nice.
"500 Gil." The man replied, simply.
Barret sighed, again mentally. Didn't have the kind of money to go off and do that. Mostly because he had a daughter to take care of and school. "Jes' get me five grenades." Barret told the man.
The grenades here weren't as powerful as the ones elsewhere. You threw it at someone, and just as it made contact with that person; it exploded. Wouldn't go and explode too much. But, it did do enough damage to kill a single person and wound others. Right..
The man nodded, and turned around again putting five grenades into a small paper bag. He turned back to Barret, setting the bag down lightly on the counters surface. "200 gil." He stated.
Barret nodded, digging the large good hand into his pocket, and placing 200 gil into the shop owner's out-stretched hand. He took the bag, then, and gave the man a nod.
"See ya, Barret." The man said with a nod.
Barret exited the shop, and made his way back to Tifa's bar. He would have gone to the item shop, but they closed early. Mostly because they didn't get a lot of buisness. Which, had it's disappointments.
He opened the door to the bar, stepping in, and letting it slam shut behind him. He set the bag of grenades down onto the surface of the nearest table, lightly. Not wanting to set them off or anything. He took note that everyone was back on the upper level. But..someone was missing.
"Where's Tifa?"
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It was dark. Always was in the slums. The air was foggy, and full of things that no one would willingly want to breathe in. But, some had to. Just to live. Those duo chocolate hued orbs looked around the area of the Sector Seven slums. Arms were behind her; supporting her upper body. Palms of those gloved hands were resting firmly against the roof of Seventh Heaven, the bar. Also known as Avalanche's hideout; but..no one was suppose to know that.
She sighed. Part of her wishing that she was back in Niblehiem, before it was destroyed all those years ago. The air around her old hometown was actually breathable back then. There was the mako reactor there, but it was off in the mountains, a bit aways from her home. She still remembered playing out in the center of the town with the other kids of the town. Also remembered sitting up on the well; the real center of the town. Pretending that she was at the top.
The gaze of those eyes went down at the thought. Remembered back then. Missed it, too. She just wished that she could've done more. But, she couldn't. It was in the past. There was nothing..to be done, anymore.
The sound of the door to Seventh Heaven slammed. Startling the young woman just a bit. The girl sat up straight, before leaning over just a bit to see who had walked on out. It had to be one of her comrades. Biggs, Wedge, Jessie, or Barret. Maybe even little Marlene came out. There were no customers when she had left the place a half an hour ago, to gaze up at the clouded 'sky'. The plate above them couldn't even be made out, that's how bad the place really was.
"Tifa!" A deep voice called out the girl's name.
Tifa leaned over a bit more, taking note of seeing Barret down below. He was a large man. Confident. And full of seemingly bad attitude. But, he did have a point in all this. 'All this' being to go after ShinRa.
Barret was the leader of Avalanche. The reasons why he was even here were unknown to Tifa. But, she had met him back when she first came to Midgar. Joined up with them to try and put a stop to ShinRa and make the world a better place. For real. Their group was small, for now, but hopefully it could get even better and bigger. Just..not a lot of people were up to going against the biggest, and most known company in the world.
But they were.
"Yeah?" Tifa asked, positioning herself to sitting on the edge of the roof. Her long, bare, slender legs hanging off the edge of it. Her gaze was focused on the form of Barret, her head slightly tilted to the side as she looked down at him. For once.
"C'mon in 'ere! We gots plannin' to do!" Barret yelled out. Shaking his head just a bit before he walked back into the bar; the door slammed shut again.
Tifa sighed, before her gloved hands went to grip the edge of the roof. And, she started to lower herself down just a bit, hanging there for a fourth of a second before dropping down. The soles of her boots making a loud 'thud' as they came in contact with the wooden 'porch', outside of the bar. She turned around, long brown hair swaying just a bit. The hair being tied at the end, made it convenient not to get strands in her way.
Those steps were taken into the bar. A quick glance around it given, to note who was where. Wedge was sitting at the nearest, wooden round table. Eating the supper that she had cooked just a bit ago. Biggs was sitting next to Wedge, a few bottles of beer resting next to him. She didn't see Jessie anywhere, blinked a few times at that. Although, she knew that the other girl was probably downstairs setting up some information on their next mission.
Tifa took note that Marlene, Barret's three year old daughter, was behind the bar. Making Biggs yet another drink. The child learned well on how to make drinks. Although, it wasn't Tifa's idea to put the child to such a task. Just..happened one day.
Barret was standing next to a pinball machine. Or, so it seemed to be one. It was actually just a little platform that sent them down to the lower floor of the bar. No one knew about it except for them. And that was a good thing, too.
"Hey! Ev'ry one! Down hea', quick!" Barret ordered. Those big boots of his made contact with the steel platform in front of the 'pinball machine'. Pressing a little button, before the little platform started to go down.
Everyone listened to Barret. The other two were standing up. Biggs taking the last gulp of his bitter tasting beer, before he set it down on the surface of the table. The two made their way to the area on where the pinball used to be. Biggs jumping down into the hole of the floor, and Wedge coming down right after him. One of them must've pressed the button the pinball machine, because it was making it's way back up to the first floor.
Tifa sighed, faintly, under her breath. Taking a glance over to Marlene, and giving a small wave to her; in her direction. Marlene sent back a small smile.
"Marlene, why not come down there with me?" Tifa asked, using her normal sweet voice.
Marlene nodded, putting down the glass that she was drying, and making her way around the bar and towards Tifa. Marlene's supposed mother figure.
Tifa smiled just a bit, taking the little girl's hand once she had reached her. She then started off towards the pinball machine. Leaning down just a little bit, she picked Marlene up, and set her down on the pinball machine itself. A glance was taken down at her feet, to make sure she was stepping in the 'correct' spots of the platform, before the right gloved hand went to press down on the button. Sending them slowly down into the basement of the bar.
----
Barret took note of the others entering the basement of Tifa's bar. He was in the far back of it, next to a little punching bag, in which he had just been punching it with his good arm. His other arm, as some would call it a 'gun arm', was self explanatory. It was a gun.
He had often got odd looks on why it was gun, but he just told others that he wanted it that way. That being the half truth. The rest of it being.. he lost his hand back in an accident long ago. In which, he never wanted to dwell on it. Hated thinking about that. That's why no one knew about it, he never wanted to think, talk, or whatever..about it. Personal reasons. Although..there was a part of him thinking about it. The accident. One..where he had lost everything dear to him. His home, his 'life', his love, even his best friend. Part of him lost..
He shook away the thoughts, mentally. He had to focus on what was here. Right now. And, what was that exactly? To get revenge. He was going to avenge all those he lost. All what he lost. Barret, and Avalanche.. They were going to take down ShinRa. Someday.
"The next mission for us," Barret started, "Is for us to blow up the Sector Eight reactor." That's the way every mission briefing started. Start with the location, and then go into details.
"Tifa an' Biggs, you two are gonna come with me. To set the bomb, and fight off any guards that come near us. Jessie, you an' Wedge set the escape bomb, and hook up in'ta their system to make sure me 'n the others get out okay." Barret finished with the so called details. Now, he awaited the questions..and..suggestions.
"I finished the new I.D. Cards. Those will help us on the train ride there, and back." Jessie stated, quietly. Barret nodded in satisfaction.
"Anythin' else?" Barret questioned, looking at the others. Biggs looked half asleep, him sitting down on a chair, leaning in towards the table; where he rested his head along his arms. Wedge was seated next to him, his gaze set on Barret. Tifa and Marlene were near Jessie, Tifa leaning against the wall. Marlene standing next to her. Jessie sitting down at her computer chair, looking over files.
Barret got no reply. Just a few shrugs from his comrades. He nodded just a bit, waving the gun arm towards the others. "Then 'm off. I gots stuff to get." Barret stated, heading towards the 'pinball machine' again. He stepped up on the platform, and pressed the button. Slowly sending himself up to the other level of the place. He stepped off, and pressed the button again. Letting it go back down so the others could get back up if they needed to.
Taking those large strides towards the exit of the bar, now, Barret sighed. Mentally. So much has gone now, since that major event in his life..that had happened oh so long ago. He knew that he should just move on. But, he had a right to avenge his family. His friends. His life. Walking down the wooden steps, that led to the dusty ground of the slums, he walked straight ahead. There was a 'building' in front of Tifa's bar. A shop. It sold weapons, a must if you lived in any 'dangerous' areas around the slums. But, it being the slums, any place was dangerous.
Barret walked around the building, until he found the door. There were three levels of this shop. One was the shop itself, the middle floor was just a hangout, and the top floor was an inn. He rested there occasionally when he didn't feel like being around the others. When he wanted to be alone with his thoughts. But, he had to keep up on hiding that part of himself. Seemed like he always wore a mask. Hiding the true self; and just putting up the attitude, and whatnot..for the others.
No one knew the real him.
Seemingly, not even himself.
Barret opened the door, with the good hand. Taking a few steps inside, before he was greeted with the weapon shop owner. He gave the man a small nod, before walking up to the 'counter'.
"What can I get ya today, Barret?" The shop-owner asked. He was a large man, as well. Not quite as large as Barret, though. He was also fairly pale. From the lack of sun light. He had a shaved head, and tattoos all along his arms. Wearing a plain black shirt, with a dark blue jean jacket on over it. The sleeves were cut off; leaving off the shredded ends of them. He then wore plain black pants. Holes in various areas; the bottoms were worn out.
Barret shrugged a bit. Not really knowing what there was in stock or not. "Wha' do ya got?" He asked, taking a glance around the place. Spotting a teenage boy with shaggy brown hair shooting a gun off at a practice board. The place seemed crowded; but..only four people were there. The fourth person being an old man, behind Barret; working on different formations of weapons. He was seeming inside an area that had a black wire fence around it.
"Gots some grenades. An' a new gun, too. 'though 's tha only model of it that we got." The man replied. Turning his back to Barret and picking up an item. Turning around and showing it off a bit. "Don' got a name for it, yet. But, I thought you might like it." He said, giving a small nod. He set it down on the counter, and tilted his head to the side just a bit.
"How much?" Barret asked. Fairly interested in having a new gun arm. It was rather easy putting different ones on. The one on it right now was a Gatling Gun. Nice.
"500 Gil." The man replied, simply.
Barret sighed, again mentally. Didn't have the kind of money to go off and do that. Mostly because he had a daughter to take care of and school. "Jes' get me five grenades." Barret told the man.
The grenades here weren't as powerful as the ones elsewhere. You threw it at someone, and just as it made contact with that person; it exploded. Wouldn't go and explode too much. But, it did do enough damage to kill a single person and wound others. Right..
The man nodded, and turned around again putting five grenades into a small paper bag. He turned back to Barret, setting the bag down lightly on the counters surface. "200 gil." He stated.
Barret nodded, digging the large good hand into his pocket, and placing 200 gil into the shop owner's out-stretched hand. He took the bag, then, and gave the man a nod.
"See ya, Barret." The man said with a nod.
Barret exited the shop, and made his way back to Tifa's bar. He would have gone to the item shop, but they closed early. Mostly because they didn't get a lot of buisness. Which, had it's disappointments.
He opened the door to the bar, stepping in, and letting it slam shut behind him. He set the bag of grenades down onto the surface of the nearest table, lightly. Not wanting to set them off or anything. He took note that everyone was back on the upper level. But..someone was missing.
"Where's Tifa?"