Just a Few Reminders – 3
Disclaimer: Final Fantasy 7 and all its characters, events, places, etc; all belong to Square-enix. All other characters and the story belong to me. Don't sue because I'm just writing this for fun, and if you suggest otherwise that just… Well, that sucks.
She watched the trio gathered around the piano: A brunette stood tall from the waist up, her delicate fingers positioned over the keys—more ivory than ebony, because this was a happier song. The large man to her left rested his good hand on her shoulder, while his gun arm hung at his side, the gun an unusual companion to live with when one had no more of a reason to fight. Despite the beautiful notes prompted by the slightest touch of the pianist's fingers, his attention lay on the happy girl standing to the right with one knee resting on the bench. She contently turned the pages of sheet music, cued with a nod from the piano player. However, her services were not needed, as Tifa Lockheart had memorized most of the songs in this book, and had even improvised a suspenseful melody in place of the original abrupt ending. She left her audience breathless as she finished the piece.
Barret, Marlene, and the distant observer clapped appreciatively once the last audible sound of the note finished while Tifa bowed her head and smiled sheepishly, a tint of color rising to her cheeks.
"Thank you," she murmured softly.
As the applause came to an end, Tifa reached over and flipped through the pages of the music book to find the song she desired. Then, as an afterthought, she twisted at the waist to beam at the young woman standing in the doorway.
Her eyes twinkled and she beckoned exuberantly for the disinclined florist to approach the piano, as she knew how to play a few songs by Dionisi herself. She reinforced her offer verbally, "Come on, Dana."
The woman smiled and shook her head. "No, that's okay—you go ahead," she said politely, reluctant only because she had itching questions on the mind.
"Come on!" Marlene exclaimed, suddenly at the flower shop worker's side and tugging on her sleeve insistently.
Dana lowered her eyes to the girl contemplatively, and up to Barret and Tifa, both wearing bright, welcoming smiles. But she didn't really feel that she belonged here. In fact, she felt that she somehow intruded on their lives without so much as a by-your-leave, but Tifa had reached out to her, as if they knew each other already. But then… nearly two years… That was a long time.
One day, Lockheart had come by to pick out flowers for Marlene—pink roses, which had become her favorite flower.
And no wonder. It undoubtedly had something to do with that strange red-eyed customer she had met only days before she met Tifa. A quiet type. And he couldn't be as "evil" as she once thought, since he'd spent more than thirty seconds in making his purchases. His distinctiveness, in fact, made her remember him after so long.
Tifa had told her about Vincent Valentine, and after a discussion that lasted much of the day—only a minor intrusion to Dana's few customers—she and Tifa had become quick friends.
It was nice, for lack of a better word, to have someone sweet to talk to after having suffered from social awkwardness from moving to the town a few years before, when it was still a ghost town…
"Yo, Dana, you gonna make a decision sometime in this lifetime?" Barret's joking voice cut her memories short, and she refocused her eyes just in time to catch the gently chiding glance towards him from Tifa.
The woman's eyes darted back to Dana's, and she gave her a knowing smile.
"Actually, I think that's enough piano for today," Tifa remarked suddenly, and turned to face the piano briefly to lower the lid over the black and white keys. Then she rose from the piano bench and returned her attention to the woman in the doorway.
"Dana, do you want to go with me to get some more flowers?"
"Me too!" Marlene exclaimed. Perhaps the prospect of more pink roses was enough to tear her away from the possibilities of her sketchbook. Or perhaps it was Tifa's company that did the trick. Dana could hardly blame the girl.
Tifa was ever ready to accommodate her. "Oh, why of—"
"Teef," Barret's deep voice cut in petulantly, "all yo' flowers are dyin', and you wanna buy more?"
She put her hands on her hips and lifted her chin in determination before returning proudly, "That's the perfect reason to get more!" And with that, she crossed the room and her burgundy eyes softened before landing on Dana once more.
"So how about it?" she repeated her offer.
She couldn't help but smile at Tifa's steady regard, that knowing quality still glinting in her burgundy gaze.
Dana knew, of course, that Tifa meant for them to leave so they could talk of serious matters. That gave Dana the opportunity to ask more questions about Vincent Valentine, a matter that they had frequently visited but seldom given more than a few moments of attention. Yes, it was time to discuss the matter in great detail.
At last, Dana smiled and nodded in accord. "You know, I almost forgot… I had some ads to put in the window anyway… Might as well do it now."
Barret glanced back and forth between the two women and rubbed the back of his neck. There was some major chick bonding going on—something that even little Marlene was in on; he supposed little ones learned fast—that he probably had scant hope of understanding, or at least was too tired to even give reasonable effort, and so he decided to catch up on some sleep. The great yawn overtaking his mouth a second later hinted that sleeping would indeed be wise, and he covered his gaping mouth with a hand.
"Yeah, bed time for me," he agreed to his body's counsel wholeheartedly, and waved to all except Marlene, who received a kiss on the cheek before her father made his exit.
Dana watched him go curiously, wondering if perhaps she said something she should not, before she saw Tifa at the corner of her eye, coming to her side. She sent her questioning eyes straight at her with a shrug. "Is he okay?"
Tifa nodded. "He sure is. He just had a busy time at work. Once he rests up, he'll be good to go."
Marlene scurried past to get her shoes on, eager now that she had the images of flowers in her head.
Tifa smiled after her and said absently to Dana, "So… shall we?"
"Before Marlene beats us there? Good idea," she replied with an adoring smile.
Tifa was quite a reflective girl, or so Dana noticed. She was smart and kind too. She could be tough as well, but she was also… lonely.
Beautiful, intelligent, sweet, and strong… Her loneliness made her stupid, and Dana tossed away the coyness she displayed earlier to tell her so bluntly.
"Why's that?" Tifa returned.
"Because you can have any man you want and go wherever you please, but you chose to be here in Nibelheim instead." Mr. Valentine, after all, who had known Tifa Lockheart longer than Dana, must have noted similar qualities in her unless he was a fool.
After a time, Tifa replied in an uncharacteristically toneless voice, "I have everything I need here…"
Dana chewed on her lip guiltily as Tifa taped up an ad in the window, a small chore that she didn't have to do but acted obligated anyway. There was no use arguing with her on matters like that. She just hoped that the girl didn't end up cleaning up the store or something ridiculous like that. It would exhaust her before she got to work in only a few hours later that day, and even when one was energetic as Tifa Lockheart, bar tending and waiting tables were difficult tasks to perform even when one was fully rested and ready to go. Dana would know; it had been her first job.
She shook her head at the hopeless girl and eyed the rows of flowers, suddenly distracted by Marlene's slight form leaning over the display of roses, inhaling their scent while admiring the variety of shades.
…A pink rose…
…White chrysanthemums... red carnations…
Ah yes, that was the reminder Dana needed.
Smiling, she leaned her hip against the counter, wondering if the other worker, Sandra, had noticed Marlene's simple, yet cute behavior. But Sandra was rummaging around in one of the cabinets behind the counter searching madly for something, while Dana searched for proper words. Once she realized that it was just as simple to say that Tifa was wrong, she eyed her friend once more and crossed her arms defiantly.
"You know, Tifa, I bet you don't."
The brunette turned to face her friend assertively, her eyes darkening with warning. She knew that they had traveled down this route before many times and probably had no desire to revisit, but Dana wasn't going to back down in this instance. Tifa parted her lips to speak, but Dana cut in.
"He's not coming back, Tifa," she went on. "You need to go after him—"
"He left for a reason, Dana…"
"Well… he gave you those gifts for a reason too," she answered a bit lamely, despite the strength of her point. Dana looked down at the counter, trying to see from Tifa's point of view so she could see why she was acting so stubborn… but… she could be stubborn too, sometimes…
…The man's appearance had been startling—obviously, if she remembered him after so long. It's usually the weird ones that she remembered anyway. But he couldn't have been bad at all, since he took more than two minutes to pick his choices of flowers and looked so pensive in the process. A romantic, albeit a bit too quiet for Dana's tastes.
"I want one," Dana mumbled.
"Huh?"
She looked up to see Tifa regarding her quizzically, her hands on her hips.
"Um… Nothing… Anyway, Tifa," she began patiently, "you said you would look for him. If a guy brought me gifts like that… I'd trace his footsteps, knock him unconscious, and maybe… carry him away with me."
Tifa's questioning expression instantly transformed into amusement, and the claret eyes sparkled. "Would you?"
Dana shrugged and looked out the window to watch a happy couple as they walked on the sidewalk, their clasped hands swinging back and forth as two children might while walking home after a long day of fun and games.
She blamed her next romantic comment on the couple, in fact. Damn them for walking by.
"I wouldn't, since I think he wants you," Dana replied slowly. "From everything you've told me… from all I've experienced… I've had a few boyfriends, Tifa… I've seen how guys function." Alright, so it's been awhile since I've had one, but still…
"Vincent doesn't want me," she protested testily. A little gentler, she added, "And he's… different… from other guys."
"Different… I'll give you that, but… he's still a man. They're all the same, underneath it all. As strange as he may seem… he has desires just like everyone else… I mean… Right?" She looked back at Tifa, who was nowhere to be seen.
"…Tifa?"
She glanced over at Sandra once more, who still dug through the drawers, obviously unaware of the exchange going on behind her. In that case, she wouldn't know about Tifa disappearing randomly…
Frowning, Dana stepped away from the counter to scan down the aisles of flowers, pausing when she found her friend standing in front of the chrysanthemums.
Smiling weakly, Dana approached her friend with careful, slow footsteps, and tilted her head to a side so she could see Tifa's face behind the deep coffee colored veil of her hair.
"Tifa…"
Tifa lifted her face slightly and gave a seemingly genuine smile, a smile meant to deceive Dana into thinking that everything was okay. But she knew better, she could see through the pretense, and she wasn't going to let Tifa off the hook just yet. Besides, Dana just… wanted her to be happy.
"Tifa, what are you afraid of…?"
The fake smile vanished and thoughtful brown eyes slid down to regard the old tile floors, her delicate brow crinkling.
"I need awhile to think about it, Dana."
Dana nodded. "Well… just… don't wait forever… I mean… It would suck if he went after some other girl…"
Once more, Tifa smiled, albeit naturally this time, and shook her head at that. "You know… I promised myself to go after him… months ago."
"So… What are you waiting here for?"
"Well, other than what we talked about… First of all… I don't know where the hell he is… and second… my work."
"Oh, you mean… your manager—"
"Yeah, that guy."
"So… we can create a diversion so you can leave?"
Tifa's smile turned wry and she lifted her eyes to her friend. "The thing is… I'd like to have a job when I come back home…"
You would come back home after this…?
"I guess…"
"Complicates things, I know, having to work so I could… ya know… eat." She shook her head. "Anyway… I guess… It's not a big deal at all. I'm just thinking more than I should… I'll talk to Dave and hopefully he'll give me some days off." She shrugged and gave a careless smile. "If not, he could take it out of my pay."
There's the willful girl I know.
Tifa looked over her shoulder at Marlene, who now carried a mixed bouquet in her hand and slowly waltzed in one aisle, humming to herself. Still smiling, she murmured, "You know, Dana… I think I can do this… I should go visit some old pals along the way… Maybe head to Rockettown first…"
At last, Dana had talked some sense into her. And… now she was sounding a little smarter.
Barret raised an eyebrow. "You think Valentine would hang in Rockettown with Cid for long?" he asked incredulously.
She shook her head, frowning. "I don't expect him to be there, but there's a chance that he passed through… and if so… I'd like to know."
"And if he didn't?"
"Then I'll be visiting friends—a reunion long overdue." She tilted her head to a side questioningly. "You wanna come?"
"Can't." Tifa frowned in disappointment at that, but was somewhat appeased by his following explanation. "I'm not able to take anymore days off at work… an' besides… Marlene will need lookin' after… Your house too…"
She nodded in agreement. "Yes… and Dana…" At his confused expression, she turned pleading. "Oh, you don't mind, do you, Bear? I just don't want her to be lonely while I'm gone…" And I don't know when the heck I'm coming back…
He shook his head, lips turned down. "Not a problem… I'm jus' surprised is all… 'cause she ain't going with you…"
Dana had talked her into going yesterday, and Tifa remembered to ask if she wanted to come too this morning. "She didn't seem willing when I asked her this morning… so…" I would have preferred some company, but… I guess I'll do it alone.
"Well, then… Just take it easy and…" He suddenly narrowed his dark brown eyes at her intently. "You sure you're doin' this? It's been awhile…"
"I've waited long enough, Bear."
"Fine… but still… Be careful around Valentine… That is, if you find him…" His gaze strayed from hers at the thought.
"I'll go around the world if I have to."
His eyes sharpened on her face again at her reply. "That so?"
"Yes, that is so."
"Well then… would you mind if I asked ya… what about Cloud? You gonna jus' forget about him…?"
She shook her head at once, even though she wasn't expecting to hear that name brought up any time soon. "To forget him would be… a challenge… But it's easier for me to move on now that… now that I know he has someone." She's not Aeris… but… she might be enough to make him happy…
"And… you're not angry?"
"No… not angry… just… well…" She sighed at her lack of capacity for words on this topic. "Never mind… Maybe one day he and I will talk this over… to give us some…"
"Closure."
"Yeah…"
"Good idea…"
Awkward silence…And… wow… It had been so long since she'd experienced one of those with Barret Wallace. In fact, it had been awhile since they discussed anything of this importance at length…
But before things could get too uncomfortable, he chuckled a little and brought her hard against his chest, wrapping his arms around her. "You're a tough-ass cookie, Teef," he said quietly. "You know that?"
With a wan smile, she shook her head and answered, "I try…"
A moment later, she withdrew from the comfort of his strong embrace, wished him goodnight, and returned to the quiet of her room.
Shortly after, Tifa threw her weight onto the bed and held a pillow tightly to stifle the sound of her groan. Tomorrow and the days after would be taxing. In fact, she probably would go mad, but she would try to keep her cool. If she couldn't keep Vincent Valentine's friendship as a result of it, then so be it.
Bottom line… if she didn't go, she would feel terrible. Worse, she would worry about him constantly. Maybe she needed even more distractions. She should work for an orphanage maybe…
"Tifa?"
At the familiar sound of Marlene's voice, Tifa sat up, clutching the pillow to her chest as she turned to face the girl standing quietly in the doorway, smiling slightly.
She noted that Marlene had her sketchbook tucked under one arm, and returned the smile with a gentle one of her own. "Do you have pictures to show me, Marlene?"
The girl nodded slowly and hurried across the floor, her eyes downcast as though she was ashamed of coming.
"I always love to see your drawings," Tifa told the girl as she sat down beside her on the mattress. A faint blush came to Marlene's cheeks as she opened the book to the desired page.
As Tifa flipped through the book, often complimenting Marlene's color choice and style, the girl's head fell comfortably against Tifa, her round eyes glued to the pages.
"...Tifa?" the girl asked after a moment.
"Yes?"
"Are you going to see him?" It made him sound like an attraction at the amusement park.
"Step right up; see for yourself and witness the deadly aim of The Red-Caped One! Match his aim and you can win a Moogle doll!" Er… Make that a Vincent doll…
Tifa absently turned another page of the sketchbook, on the verge of a smile at her nonsensical thoughts.
"Who do you mean, Marlene?" she asked, even though she knew the answer.
The girl drew back slightly; Tifa turned her head to look at her. Marlene's little brow rucked in slight irritation; she hadn't spoken his name for a reason, Tifa was certain.
"Vincent..."
Tifa studied Marlene curiously before answering. She must have missed him, after all. He'd always taken good care of her, had always thought of her.
"Yes... I mean... if I can find him."
Marlene's expression turned beseeching, her brown eyes bright with hope. "Then... will you give him a picture for me...?"
"Oh, of course... Which one of these is it?"
Marlene gently pulled the sketchbook out of Tifa's grasp and flipped to the very back, where Tifa discovered a colorful summer scene: Marlene and Barret walking on one side of a cobblestone street, and Vincent and Tifa on the other, holding hands. Above them was a perfectly blue sky, a pair of birds flying, and the yellow-orange sphere of the sun, its bright rays spread across the entire picture.
Tifa blushed and couldn't help but smile. For everything Marlene had lived through, it was a relief that she still kept her spirits up, and her drawings nowhere near morbid. Perhaps Tifa's cooking had done her good…
She turned adoring eyes to Marlene's face, and the girl smiled a little, unsure.
"Do you think he'd like it, Tifa?"
"Of course!" she answered, and wrapped an arm around her waist to pull her against her side. She returned her eyes to the picture, on Vincent's figure. She lifted a finger to the hair that consisted of black scribbles. "And this... looks just like his hair..."
A bit of mischievousness darkened her eyes slightly. "But... this is missing something," she added.
Alarmed, Marlene studied the drawing closely, frowning as she missed Tifa's humorous expression. "What... did I forget something?"
"Not at all." In fact, Marlene had even drawn in Vincent's claw, and Tifa pointed to it dramatically. "That. You need to add something to it... a chocolate bar... maybe..."
She regarded Marlene again, relieved to find her face smiling once again. "And candles!" the girl exclaimed.
Tifa furrowed her brow in bewilderment at that. "...Candles?" she repeated. "Why candles...?"
Marlene stood up and gestured wildly with her hands, her shyness apparently forgotten for the time being. "Because Vincent would always smell like... like your Christmas candles!"
"Oh..." She smiled faintly at the reminder of those cinnamon and spice candles. She never really took the time to smell… Vincent… but…
"Well, I'm sure he doesn't smell like them anymore," she gathered, as he hadn't been around her candles for quite some time. "He probably smells like... like..."
"...Guns?" Marlene suggested helpfully.
Tifa laughed and nodded. "Maybe… Hmm… If I see him... I'll be sure to let you know how he smells... okay?"
The girl nodded and smiled sheepishly. "So... no candles then..."
Tifa nodded firmly and gestured to the drawing again. "Right, just a chocolate bar..."
"Okay," Marlene said slowly. "But... everyone in the picture should have some... and the birds too."
"...The birds? I don't know if they'd like chocolate..."
"Well... we don't know that," Marlene reasoned.
And that made a strange sort of sense to Tifa. "Ya know… you're right. They need chocolate too..."
Marlene beamed at her success and threw her arms around Tifa in a hug that nearly knocked her back, before eagerly gathering up her sketchbook and scampering off--a girl on a mission.
Smilingly, Tifa let out a sigh as she watched the girl run off, and decided that first and foremost, she would bake Marlene and Barret something sweet before she went away.
Author's note: First of all, I apologize for the wait. In fact, I'd meant to have a double—nay—triple update. (Don't laugh.) Second of all, I apologize again… And third, I know it's a pain in the ass sometimes to add OCs and the florist's reappearance might seem unusual, but at least this isn't a story with me disguised as an eff-ing girl named "Flower" from another world with a magic locket and no memory of her past or something like that, right?
This chapter is very "eh." I suppose it will be more interesting once Tifa and Vincent run into each other. The line about Tifa and an orphanage—a tiny reference to Advent Children (duh), but I haven't seen it yet. (Don't ruin it for me or I'll eviscerate you with a tissue. Oh, I have my ways.)
Depeche Mode helped me out with this chapter. Bunches. Many thanks to all for reading… and anyone I forgot in the other thank-you's… er… YO JOE!