A/N: Our Special thanks goes to kitsune13, AnimeRoxMySox, cherrypudding, Kaarina Helveteand vx-Luna-xv. For all being kind enough to review and Red also says thanks for being so kind about the last chapter!! Also Thanks to everyone who's reading this, it is a slow start but we promise the next chapter will get better!!
E S C A P E
Chapter Three:
A New Acquaintance
A soft hand suddenly reached for Tifa's arm. Tifa spun round her fists raised, ready to send any man toss him down to the ground. Her long dark hair thrashed across her face and whoever had reached for the brunette had quickly let go. "I didn't mean anything!" Tifa finally faced the person before her.
She stared at the woman before her in half surprise. The woman's own fists were clench and held up before her. Tifa slowly lowered her hands and watched as the woman mirrored her movements. "I didn't mean anything." The young woman repeated. She had long light brown hair that had been twisted up into a pony tail on the back of her head. A few strands had fallen loose that framed her face perfectly. She had kind dark eyes that matched the colour of her hair. She smiled a sweet smile that lit up her face and made her look even more beautiful than before. Tifa could make out the faint signs of make up across her face but it had been done perfectly. She was wearing what Tifa could only guess was the uniform of the bar, or she had some serious clothing issues. She wore a short yellow and black crop top that left nothing to the imagination along with a match mini skirt. It made Tifa cringe as she remembered the short black mini skirt and white crop top that was back in her suitcase and hoped she didn't give off the same impression. Along with that were a pair of black high heeled shoes that Tifa knew if she wore them she'd simply stumble everywhere.
"I saw you come in." The young woman spoke, still smiling brightly at Tifa. "You looked a little lost; I thought you might want some help." She spoke again, with a kindness that echoed her features.
Tifa scratched the side of her neck nervously and glanced into the bar over the other woman's shoulder. She was new to this city and any new friends would be a great help. "I am a little lost." Tifa mumbled, returning her gaze back to the other brunette who had fixed her eyes upon Tifa's pale face. "I've just come to Midgar and I was looking for a job, but..." Tifa shrugged in return and turned to the door behind her that was calling for her to run out.
The other woman laughed a hearty laugh and smiled back at Tifa. "I understand you completely!" She cried.
Tifa frowned, unsure what impression she had given off to her. "You do?" Tifa muttered, completely off guard.
The other woman nodded slightly and looked over her shoulder before leaning in closer to Tifa. "It's not what you think, trust me." She smiled once more, signalling with a nod of her head to the bar behind them. Tifa found herself instantly liking her newest acquaintance, like she had been a long lost friend who she had known since she was born. "Why don't you come in and have a drink? I'm on my break."
Tifa found herself nodding and smiling in return, wanting nothing more than a companion. "Right this way." The other replied, leading Tifa straight into the bar.
The walls were painted a soothing cream and the floors were wooden. It was a surprising sight, comparing it to the last bar she had been in, in Midgar. There were booths surrounding the large room and in the middle there were countless tables. Tifa looked at all the customers, mostly being men and nearly all of them dressed in uniform. An army uniform she guessed. Maybe Cloud was here?! The thought ran through her head instantly, she searched quickly for a head of spiky golden hair but saw none.
She felt her heart drop, before hitting herself mentally for hoping that he might be round every corner.
Tifa almost walked straight into the brunette woman who had led her to a booth in the corner of the room away from everyone else. Tifa wanted to thank her for being so considerate but she had quickly disappeared again. She slowly sunk down into the leather seats of the booth and glanced round the room once more.
What if Cloud had seen her walk into here? Would he think less of her?
But then again, what would she think if she saw him in here? From what she could remember Cloud had always been a quiet boy and somewhere like here would quite possibly scare him. But, in the last five years he might have gone from the local outcast of Nibelheim, to a player if she remembered one of her friends correctly.
She was brought falling back into reality when two glasses where dropped down in front of her, along with a bottle of deep red wine, she was sure could be blood. Tifa looked up and stared at the woman from earlier. "I'm Tifa by the way." She said quickly, becoming fed up of not knowing the kindest person she's met in Midgar so far name.
"I'm Jessie." She smiled once again, before placing the bottle down after filling the glasses and sliding into the opposite seat.
Her name suited her. Tifa decided. She had an innocent but playful look across her face that made her think the name suited. "What brings you here Tifa?" Jessie asked, looking at the darker brunette from over her glass of red wine.
Tifa picked up the glass and swirled the liquid, vaguely remembering her father mentioning something about how to taste wine when she was younger. "I've come from Nibelheim." Tifa muttered. She heard a hum of a reply and looked up to Jessie.
"You're accent let it off a little." Jessie replied, setting the glass back down on the wooden table top. Tifa subconsciously touched her throat, never realising she had an accent or anything. "Don't worry, it's not that obvious." Jessie smiled once more and Tifa accepted her word.
"I just wanted to get out and leave, know what I mean?" Tifa muttered, not expecting an answer. "Also, a friend of mine left for Midgar five years ago, I was hoping to see him again. He's a Soldier." Tifa answered, a smile of pride tugging the corners of her lips. She turned to look up at Jessie and saw the look of disappointment flash across her features. "Something wrong?" Tifa asked quickly.
"Oh, nothing." Jessie smiled once more. Liar. Tifa wanted to cry, but knew at the moment of time she would have to leave things as it is, she couldn't possibly demand to know what Jessie thought of Soldiers. "Anyways, you're looking for a job right?!" Jessie asked, dropping her hands down on the table and smiling broadly. Tifa nodded in agreement before taking a sip of the blood red wine. She winced as the strong liquid flooded her mouth and ran down her throat. "Don't worry you'll get used to it, everything's a little..." Jessie paused obviously looking for the right word. "Stronger, here in Midgar."
Tifa nodded once more, placing the glass back down deciding she'd leave it for the rest of the evening. "This place isn't what it seems." Jessie began. "This is the Honey Bee Inn." She stated quickly, looking round the bar, Tifa following her gaze. Guessing that's why the uniforms were so, unique. "It's just a bar, as long as you don't stray into the other rooms back there." Jessie added pointing her thumb back to where Tifa had entered, remembering the pentagon shaped room and the other three doors, obviously not including the one to the bar and the one she entered through.
"Everything else..." Jessie murmured, flicking her head in the direction of one of the waitress's who was sat in a customer's lap. "Is for extra Gil, nothing more. It's your choice if you want to do it, or not."
After everything Jessie had said, the Honey Bee Inn didn't seem all that bad.
"Most of the Soldiers and Cadets come here, because they know it's the best place for a drink and obviously other things." Jessie added rolling her eyes at the end. Tifa laughed slightly understanding what she meant.
Maybe Cloud does come here, following what Jessie had said. And if she did get a job here, she's twice maybe even ten times more likely to see Cloud. But then again, did she want Cloud to see her working here?
"Think your friend is here?" Jessie said, obviously trying to make conversation now. Tifa shook her head in disappointment.
"If he was, you'd notice." Tifa said with a smirk.
"Has he got violet eyes and black spiky hair?!" Jessie said almost urgently, waving her hands behind her head, trying to help describe the man's hair. Tifa shook her head again, wondering what had conjured that idea in Jessie's head. Jessie sighed in defeat and sipped at her glass again. "Well, he's pretty noticeable, I'm sure you'll see him at one point even if you don't decide to work here." Tifa held back a smirk as she watched Jessie's eyes glaze over.
Whoever this black haired Soldier was had clearly charmed Jessie.
Tifa stared round the bar once more and decided she can't be picky, this might be the best place or even only place to get a job. "I think, I'd like to work here." She voiced aloud to Jessie. Not bothering to tell her new friend of her plan of owning her own bar eventually.
"Great!" Jessie clapped her hands together and glanced round the bar. "Where are you staying?" Jessie asked quietly. Tifa was reminded far too much of a child excited over Christmas when she watched Jessie's expressions.
"At another bar, further down the street." Tifa muttered. She watched Jessie roll her eyes and lean over the table.
"You obviously know nothing about Midgar." Tifa frowned in response. "Sector six, is not the place to live in Midgar, it's almost the worst place." Jessie whispered, obviously being careful not to offend anyone nearby who lived in said sector. "I'll tell you what." Jessie began, leaning backwards into the leather seat. "You wait here and fill out all the forms and things and once I'm finished we'll go and pick up your stuff and you can come and stay with me." Jessie said, a triumphant smile spread across her face.
"No, I couldn't possibly!" Tifa cried. She couldn't believe how someone would welcome her straight into their home without knowing barely anything about them.
"Come on Tifa, tell me you like the place you're staying in, in honesty!" Jessie smirked, raising an eyebrow and leaning onto the table again.
"It's, liveable." Tifa answered, thinking that was the best word to describe the bar she was staying at.
"Liveable?" Jessie laughed. "And you won't come to my place?"
"I didn't mean it like that!" Tifa cried quickly, desperately not wanting to offend the kind hearted Jessie. She watched the brown haired woman snort with laughter and slightly pushing Tifa's arm.
"I know, but I don't think I'd be able to sleep knowing you're staying somewhere like that." Jessie nodded and picked herself up. "So you wait here and I'll come find you when I finish."
It had been nearly one in the morning before Jessie had finally finished her shift and Tifa had been sure she had entered the Honey Bee Inn at around seven thirty. The bar hadn't been all that bad just as Jessie had said. Tifa had only had one encounter with a young cadet who had obviously just turned of age and wanted to try his luck out, but two waitresses had been kind enough to lead him away from her, before Tifa had to send him packing herself.
Tifa was now walking out of Sector Six and following Jessie to one of the many train stations that were placed throughout Midgar.
After much arguing with the Barmaid back at the bar where Tifa had been staying and with occasionally words from Jessie, Tifa had managed to reclaim her gil seeing she hadn't actually spent the night there.
The train rolled up and Jessie turned to Tifa to check she was following. The two sat besides one another, in the almost empty cart and it suddenly lurched forwards as it began rolling once more.
Tifa was sure Jessie was speaking to her, but had become far too tired to pay attention. But she did her best to nod and hum in the right places, just to try and remain polite. She watched the world pass her by through the dingy window and found the sight didn't improve much.
Eventually the train lurched forwards and into a sudden stop. Tifa watched Jessie jump to her feet and pull her jacket closer to her as the metal doors slid open and the cold stale air swarmed it's way inside of the train's cart.
Tifa grabbed her case and followed Jessie out, looking over her shoulder as the metal doors of the train slammed shut behind her and it headed onwards. "Right this way." Jessie called, checking the other brunette was still following. Tifa nodded to show she was listening and followed the young woman.
Jessie had brought her to a block of flats and then up countless amount of stairs, before eventually finding a deep maroon painted door. Jessie turned to Tifa and gave her a weak smile as she watched the newcomer look up and down the corridor and at the peeling walls. "It's not much, but it's home." Jessie smiled, Tifa noted the faltering sound in her voice and hoped Jessie didn't think she would be judgemental.
The door swung open and Jessie strode inside holding the door open for the other to walk in. There was a kitchen to her right that shone far to brightly, showing Jessie's cleaning skills. There was a couch in the corner of the room that looked bruised and battered and in front of it a small television set that sat on top of a wooden chair. There was a small round table to her left that had four seats round it and a vase on top with two yellow flowers. Tifa smiled at the sight and stepped forwards to stare at the lilies. She heard Jessie close the door and turned to her.
"You can't get flowers or trees or anything like that here in Midgar." Jessie began, stepping forwards and touching the yellow petals with her forefinger and thumb. "Shinra is sucking the planet dry of it's mako, so all the way around Midgar is as dry as a desert." Tifa nodded in agreement, remembering the desolate area outside of the city. She also noted the sudden resentment in the so far peaceful woman's tone and wondered if the company had done something terrible to the young woman. "Except, these flowers." Jessie smiled in admiration. "There's a girl out in Sector five I think, who sells them for a gil a piece, not exactly much."
Jessie turned to Tifa and tugged her case out of her hands and signalled for Tifa to follow. There was a small corridor which had three maroon coloured doors. "Bathroom, my room and..." Jessie signalled before pushing open another door. "Your room." Tifa smiled as she watched Jessie walk in. It was far better than the room back at the inn. There was a comfy looking bed pushed against a wall with clean white sheets, a large wooden cupboard was pushed against the opposite wall and there was a slightly bare threaded rug on the floor. "Is it alright?"
"It's perfect." Tifa yawned, hoping to sound grateful. She heard Jessie laugh and turned to her.
"I'll leave you to settle in then." Jessie began to walk out before spinning in her black high heels to face the other woman. "I don't have another shift till tomorrow night, so if you wake before me, feel free to make yourself something." Tifa smiled thanks, before Jessie closed the door and wished her good night.
Tifa slumped onto the bed and stared at the clean ceiling. She slowly retraced her steps in her mind trying to work out how she ended up here. She rolled onto her stomach and stared out of the window and at the huge metal plate above the city. Maybe she could take a stroll up to the plate tomorrow? She could have a look around and see if she could start her bar up there? Maybe eventually she could buy a place up there; she could invite Jessie up there with her. If she could repay Jessie in anyway whatsoever she would.
She pushed herself back up and stared at the suitcase on her bed and then to the clock on a small bedside table. It flashed 02:34 at her and she frowned to herself. She didn't feel tired whatsoever and knew if she tried to sleep she'd just be lying in the bed staring at the ceiling again. She flicked open the latches to her case and stared at the contents.
Tifa set the photo frame on the bedside table which held a picture of herself, her father and mother, when she was about five. She felt her heartstrings pull at the sight, but turned back to her case, if Jessie happened to walk in and saw Tifa's eyes brimming with tears she might get the wrong idea. She pulled out the pair of black leather gloves her old martial arts teacher, Master Zangan had given her when she turned sixteen. She wondered briefly what had happened to him and fell back into the bed, allowing her mind to drift.
And just to tease you all, everyone's favourite Soldier WILL be in the next chapter, not saying which one of course!!