...I have finally decided to come back to this story. Praise the Heavens, it's true! I suppose what prompted me was a lovely new review I received not too long ago from a certain Razell. Reading the review, it made me think maybe I should come back to this story...I had had fun writing it before, before my interest tapered off. And it was one of my more better written stories I had. So here's to resuscitating this story! I should be coming out with chapters over the while. And thanks for those who follow and review!
Also, do pardon if my writing is rusty. I haven't written on my fanfics in a long, long time and my writing might be slightly more shoddy than before. I will be putting in the effort to keep the chapters as well written as the previous ones were.
The morning was for once, full of sunshine and warmth. The city was given a break from it's normal, dreary days of grey, ashen clouds and filtered sunlight. The unusual but pleasant change in the weather brought out many people to walk the streets, browse the markets and soak up the sun. Children loudly clamoured into the old, beaten buses to their schools, Marlene and Denzel being among them. Tifa waved bye to them with a smile. The two waved back energetically, innocent, wide smiles upon their cherub faces. Once the bus turned the corner, the woman headed in. There was much to do today. The two of them did not bother to clean up the tables last night before heading upstairs to rest...and now the old wooden tables had sticky residues left on their semi-polished tops from beer and sauces. The floors would need a good mopping as well she thought, as she looked at the state of them. The work needed to clean up the bar was not too daunting, and it would keep her from worrying about thoughts that were nagging at her mind.
It was only the fifth day since Loz had ended up in front of her precious bar. And in those five days, he was learning to become a man that Tifa would never have guessed he could be from the first time she met him in that church. He was trying his best to learn everything he could, and adapt to society as it was in Edge. There was one oversight she had though that hadn't readily occurred to her until last night...and that was what Cloud would think when he came back soon. This was a cause for anxiety and concern. Tifa had been working with Loz the past five days, witnessed his extraordinary progress in changing his ways, and becoming a better person. Would Cloud be so quick to accept this? Certainly he would be more than shocked to see that a remnant of Sephiroth that was supposed to be dead was alive and well, and residing at of all places, Tifa's very own bar. For that matter, she couldn't be sure what Loz's reaction would be either...would it be to attack Cloud? Or would it be to attempt at explaining himself and what had happened in the Lifestream? Would Cloud believe the theory Tifa had, that Aerith was behind all of this? There were too many questions, and as the days passed, the time grew nearer when Cloud would eventually return...and she would have to eventually explain herself.
"Tifa?"
The dark haired beauty looked up and saw the tall man standing in leather at the end of the stairs. Those sea-green Mako eyes had been watching her for a minute or so, witnessing as she came back in and appeared to zone out for a moment. Loz didn't understand many things, but he did understand that the way she was acting, she was very worried. It hit him suddenly, and he felt stupid for not realizing it sooner than now. Cloud was friends with Tifa...and to his understanding, the two were living together. 'Brother' would be coming back, and after the last time they had met, it was not under any favorable terms. It posed the curious question of whether or not Cloud would accept him being here...despite what Tifa may say in his defense. A frown was fixed on Loz's features as he slowly approached Tifa, his boots sounding heavy on the wooden floors of the 7th Heaven bar.
"...Thinking about Cloud?" he said softly, stopping a few feet from her. He suddenly felt awkward. As if he was some kind of trouble for being here. A blockage that was coming between Tifa and Cloud. Then panic began to manifest inside of him. Tifa had been the only kind one to him...if Cloud didn't want him here, where could he go? Where would be safe for him? If Shinra had any word of his sudden reappearance, they would want to wrangle him in after all the chaos they caused with the Geostigma and the town itself. "...Tifa. What if he doesn't want me here?"
Tifa looked up into those hues, noticing the panic and worry behind them now. Loz was realizing a few of the things that she was beginning to question herself. But...if anyone knew Tifa, they knew her resolve was strong, and she was very stubborn. A woman had to be if she was running a bar. A small, placid smile masked her own worry from the silver haired remnant standing before her, not wishing to steepen his own anxiety about the situation. " Well...when he comes back, I will tell him the truth. And he will just have to live with it, I guess."
The sweet tone made those words feel like a wave of warm relief that would ease Loz's tense worries. A smile was reflected back at her, his whole body seeming to relax from a tension he hadn't been aware of. Her soft, brown eyes tore away from him as she surveyed the right mess that was all over her floors and tables. Maybe it had not been the best idea to leave the cleaning of the tables and floors to the morning. But after a small breakfast, and a little music put on the radio, she was sure that her day spent with Loz cleaning up her cherished bar would be time well spent and enjoyed.
Tifa had made them a relatively easy but delicious breakfast of oatmeal with sugar and fresh raspberries. Such fruit was very hard to come by these days, but she managed to find a deal when she could, and had saved the seeds in an effort to try and grow them someday for Marlene who loved the juicy, red berries. It was Loz's first time trying such fruit, and once he had a mouthful of the oats and fruit, he quickly realized he wanted seconds...and even thirds. Tifa was relieved he appeared more at ease after dispelling his worries about Cloud's return. She however, had to truly think about it. In no way was Cloud going to be happy to see a remnant survived...and she had given it permission to live with her, and among the children. Admittingly, the children were beginning to soften up to Loz by this point. Maybe they could help convince him better than she could...
"Loz, ready to help me clean up?" she asked sweetly, after he was getting the last spoonfuls of his warm breakfast down. Loz let the spoon fall into the porcelain bowl with a clatter, content with the food in his stomach.
"Yeah, I'm good," he said and got up from the seat. He had donned his clean leather attire, despite all the new clothing Tifa bought for him. It was something he was partial to, something he didn't wish to give up. It creaked as he raised his arms stretching his body out. He was rested, fed, and ready for the day.
He knew how to do the chores by now and instinctively. He went to fetch the large bucket, some soap detergent and made his way to the sink. A generous stream of the viscous liquid soap was squirted into the bottom of the bucket. The hot water caused the soap to bubble and foam as it filled. Tifa had gone to fetch some other cleaning supplies for the tables she would be working on cleaning while he took care of the floor. The two of them carried all their supplies to the front of the bar. Loz set the heavy bucket down, frothing with clean, soapy water, grabbed the mop and began to dip it in. Tifa made her way to the jukebox that often played various styles of music all night long. Slender fingers moved over the worn keys, and pushed in a selection for them to listen to, queuing up a few songs.
Loz paused as the wet mop hit the floor, as music played. The past few nights he was used to hearing the music playing from that machine, mingling with the clinking of beer bottles and jumbled chatter. It was nice to hear the songs clearly. Tifa turned back and offered him a smile as she returned to the small box she had set on a table carrying various supplies. It was a silent moment with the two of them, and peaceful. Something neither of them could have ever predicted since their fight in the church. They worked to the tune of some old pop music filling the cool air of the bar, cleaning up the sticky floors and sloppy tables.
Loz was finishing up when he paused and watched her scrubbing down a table with a brush. Inwardly, he had to admit he was fond of her. She'd shown him kindness he had hadn't known until now. While with his brothers, it may have been something he thought of as a weakness, but now he knew better. It was a feeling he couldn't quite explain fully, but he would want to protect her and the children that lived with her. Maybe it was because they didn't leer at him as the others did, like the ones who came in at night, who silently judged him. Like that ice cream man who wouldn't serve him at first until Tifa paid more than she had to just to get the man to serve him. He didn't care about the others in this city. But he cared about what Tifa thought. Maybe this was why Mother placed him here instead of any other location. Maybe she somehow knew Tifa...knew that Tifa would help him, and protect him.
Tifa was finishing the last table, polishing it with a soft rag and wood polish. She gave it a final wipe and looked at the worn tables, free from the crusted food and sticky sauces and beer that had been spilt on them. The music was still playing a playful tune on the jukebox, which gave the room a kind of welcoming ambience. When she turned to see Loz finishing up mopping, and the floors gleaming, she had to smile. She began to think about the silver haired remnant she had allowed sanctuary in her bar, Seventh Heaven...but her thoughts were interrupted when she heard the knocking on the door. The bar was closed during this time of the day, and most citizens knew this. She set the rag down, while Loz kept the mop in hand...if anything, he could use it as a combat weapon if trouble was lying in wait for Tifa.
"Loz, go down into the cellar...wait for me, ok?" she asked him, watching him. The way he was holding the mop, and the look in those light, Mako eyes, she knew he was going into a defensive mindset. She was more than capable of handling herself in a fight, and he knew it. For a moment, it appeared he may defy her request and stand his ground...but then he relented, leaving the mop resting against the wall. He made his way around the bar, and into the cellar, disappearing from sight. Least this way, if there was any trouble, he could spring out from there and join her. Tifa approached the door and looked through the small peephole, standing on her tiptoes. A shadow of a smile came across her lips as she saw the person waiting at the door. A series of locks were twisted or slid out of place and she opened the door, revealing a blonde man with a wide, playful grin.
"Hey, Tifa! How's it goin'?" he said loudly, folding his arms. Tifa stepped away and let the man into her freshly cleaned bar.
"Not bad, Cid. How are the others?"
"Ahh, everyone's good. Was in town, thought I'd come by for a drink," he said, a cigarette prominent on his lips. Tifa shut the door behind him, and locked it, laughing.
"You know my bar's closed until evening," she said as she walked around and got behind the bar. Cid saddled up onto a stool at the bar, taking a long drag from his cigarette...tapping the ashes into an ashtray that Tifa just pulled out from a drawer. She had a funny feeling why he was here...thinking maybe Barret told on her after all, and Cid was here checking up on her. Least from the phone call last night, Cloud didn't sound like he knew. At least Barret had kept his promise of not telling Cloud about Loz.
"Yeah, but figured you could serve a friend, couldn't ya?" he said with a grin. Tifa knew Cid's favorite drinks by now and was mixing it already. The problem with Cid was his temper...if he knew about Loz, he would have come banging in here like a maniac, and demanding what the hell she was doing housing a dangerous being like Loz. So did he know? Or was it as he said, where he was simply in town, and decided to be friendly and drop by the bar? A tumbler glass was handed to Cid with the mixed cocktail before she leaned on the counter, chocolate eyes watching him.
"What brings you about these parts, Cid? Can't just be for friendly company and free drinks," she teased. Cid had drank down half the amber drink she given him before setting the glass down. The last drag was sucked out of the cigarette before he put it in the ashtray and snuffed out the burning end. Those light eyes gazed at her a moment, and she knew he was holding back saying something, as if censoring himself. The silence between them was thick, and Tifa sensed it before it happened. As he pushed back the stool to the floor with a loud clatter, and slammed his large, leather gloved hands upon the surface of her bar, threatening to upset the glass tumbler holding the rest of his drink.
"THE HELL'S WRONG WITH YA, HARBORING A GODDAMNED, FUCKING FREAK LIKE THAT?! YOU GONE AND LOST YA DAMN MIND!" came the booming shouts of Cid's anger at her. Tifa had stood up the moment he had stood and knocked back the stool, wide eyes watching Cid as he expelled all his anger through his words. She was hoping Loz was not going to be tempted to come springing up from the cellar and attack Cid for his angry screaming. Those chocolate hues flickered to the open cellar door a moment, not seeing a silver hair of the remnant.
" I suppose Barret told you then?" she asked softly, seeing he was not about to yell again, perhaps waiting to hear an explanation. Cid pounded his fist on the bar counter again, eyes fixed angrily on her.
"NO! I fucking heard him cussing a damn storm up over it 'cause Marlene's here! And you fucking acted like it was no goddamn big deal!" he hollered back, the anger still very prominent. It was a wonder whether or not he just wanted to break something, or if he would come over that counter and grab her. Either way she was prepared for any action Cid may take.
"Shall I explain?"
Cid folded his arms, standing rather tall as he looked at her standing there behind the counter, seeming rather calm for someone who had just been suddenly shouted at in such a fashion. There was a grudging glare in his bright eyes as he waited. Tifa took a breath, and began to calmly explain.
"Well...there had been a loud sound outside my bar. I go out and find Loz there...the Lifestream had given him back. For the Lifestream to give someone back...it's rare. It gave us Cloud back too, remember? So there has to be some purpose why it did it. And he's been wonderful, really. He hasn't caused any trouble with anyone for the five days he's been here...so please, Cid, calm down," she calmly implored. Cid continued to glare at her, not wanting to believe a single word that came out of her mouth. Though if he thought about it, if Loz did mean to harm her or anyone...if he had five days to do it, wouldn't he have done so already? Would he not have run away by now to join up with his brothers, if he his brothers were granted the same divine pardon? But given the battle they had, he wasn't so quick to forgive. The Bahamut they summoned, those that got hurt or worse...the damage done to the city. Those were the memories that he remembered and the memories Tifa should remember.
" Tifa...do you remember the hell he and his brothers did?" he said gruffly. Cid wasn't about to back down so quickly. As Tifa opened her mouth to defend Loz again, she paused when she heard heavy boots against the wooden steps that led into the cellar. Both of them looked to the figure rising from the cellar, holding a wooden crate with glass bottles rattling inside. Loz's expression seemed one of pain and anger mixed, the emotions fighting to be more expressed. The crate was set on the counter, and his sea-green eyes looked to Cid. Anger was beginning to win out the battle, his gloved hands clenching into tight fists. Tifa could sense the impending fight about to break out and put herself between them. Chocolate eyes, soft as velvet, met his gaze. The more he focused on her, the more he felt his muscles relax, and his anger ebb away.
Cid witnessed this, and he was about to arm himself and jump into action against the silver haired criminal. But he watched silently as Tifa put her back to him, and focused on the tall remnant. And he watched as the man's gaze softened, and his body language change over the few moments. It amazed him that this was the same man who fought Reno and Rude, the same who Cloud fought in the Forgotten Capital, where Cloud claimed the remnant had smashed the illuminescent trees there with a punch. Maybe people could change, no matter where they came from in life.
"He called me a freak. And said you lost your mind. He's being mean and I want to make sure he doesn't say that again about me or you," he said angrily. Cid's gloved hand wrapped around a spear he had on his side, teeth gritted as he would prepare for the larger, bulkier man to come at him. Cid's shoe slid back a little, his stance rather defensive. Tifa put a slender hand on Loz's chest, barring him from taking a step forward and starting a fight in her bar-again.
"He doesn't mean it, Loz...it's ok. I'll talk to him. Go on upstairs, and later we can finish stocking the shelves. I may have a shipment coming in today too," she said. Loz returned his gaze back to her, appearing to consider her words but sorely wishing to have a go at Cid. In the end, Tifa's steady gaze won out and he let his arms fall limp at his sides. He made his way to the stairs that led up to the rooms above them, one last glare thrown Cid's way. Tifa waited for the sound of the boots to fade away as he reached the second floor, before turning back on Cid. The man's eyes were stuck at the empty landing where the stairs were, his brows drawn close as he scowled.
" Cid...everything will be fine. Give him a chance...he really is trying hard," she said. Cid looked at Tifa, and those soft brown hues, knowing deep down she was right. If this Loz was anything like he was before, he would have shoved Tifa aside and leapt over that bar for him. But the man didn't...he had looked to Tifa for guidance, for permission but listened to her when she denied him the chance to challenge Cid for the insults he had slewn at them. He gave a growling sigh and approached the bar, settling into another stool and pulling his half finished drink to himself.
"Whatever ya think's best. Wouldn't mind another one of these though," he said, then drank down the rest of the burning liquid and put the tumbler on the bar.