"One chocobo wing platter and two My Final Heavens, coming right up!" I said cheerfully. It was honestly kind of fun working at Tifa's bar. I spun on one heel and headed back to the kitchen, where Tifa was preparing all the meals. "Table four needs a chocobo wing platter and two My Final Heavens... That's a drink, right?"
Tifa smiled. "Yes it is. My own invention."
"Really? What's in it?" I asked curiously.
"The recipe is a trade secret, but I'll tell you one thing: It's non-alcoholic."
"How? But it's so popular."
"I know. They think it is, but they don't believe me when I tell them otherwise. That's because it packs a real kick."
Denzel came into the room. "Tifa, the Turks are here."
What!? "The Turks?" I asked.
"Oh," Tifa said, oblivious. "Just Reno and Rude. They're regulars. Don't know what happened to the others." She thought for a moment, and turned to me. "Do you want me to kick them out? We consider them harmless, but with you here..."
"No no, it's okay. That was a long time ago," I said. "What's their usual? I'll bring it to them."
"Well, just to be safe, I'll tend the bar to watch you. I need to mix some drinks anyway. Denzel? How about you start on the dishes, okay?"
Denzel nodded obediently. Tifa smiled and tussled his hair before we left the kitchen. She had a waiting lineup of three old men at the bar who watched her intently as she juggled bottles expertly and made their drinks. In her mind she was calling them sleazy and dirty and would kick them out in a heartbeat if they weren't regulars, thinking that if they ever made a pass at her she'd break all their fingers. On the surface, however, she was smiling and almost flirtatious, pretending to enjoy their leers. She was a natural at this.
Before I knew it, she dropped two drinks onto a platter and handed it to me. "For table seven, in the corner," she smiled. "The usual." I didn't need to look at the drinks to know what they were, her thoughts were loud and amused. A My Final Heaven for Reno, who would order them all night expecting to get hammered, and a small glass of straight rum for Rude, who would sip the same glass for the whole night.
I brought the drinks to table seven, a small table in the far corner next to the window and the wall of picture frames. "Hello! I'm Aeris, I'll be serving you tonight. Though I'm sure you knew that already," I smiled playfully. "It's only four-thirty, isn't it a little early to be drinking?"
"Well hello, beautiful. I'd heard the news, but I thought I was dreaming." Reno snatched up his drink from the tray and took a swig before continuing. He licked his lips and looked me up and down lecherously, but in his thoughts he was thinking about how I knocked him to the floor earlier today. It hurt his pride a bit. "Maybe once your shift is over we can..."
"Reno," Tifa called in a gentle warning tone from the bar. "Don't give me a reason to throw you out," she scolded, still in a fake flirting tone.
"Don't worry doll, I'd never cause enough of a fuss to lose this reservation! I wouldn't get to see your sweet face anymore, and that'd just break my heart!" he called back.
Tifa smiled, but there was an edge to it. She was still watching, even though she went back to her other doting fans.
"So..." I took a seat next to Rude. "How are things with you guys? What happened to Tseng?" I already knew he survived, but the last time the real Aeris saw him, she thought he died at the Temple of the Ancients.
"Well..."
Cloud strode in, back from another delivery. He saw me sitting with the Turks and glared, then immediately strode over to Tifa to whisper to her about it. He was concerned that this was a bad idea, a very bad one, and she tried to reassure him that it seemed okay. Before anything more could be said by anyone, there was a chorus of screams outside.
"Cloud!" Someone ran into the bar. "Monster! There's a monster attacking the city!"
Cloud's expression turned to stone. He charged over to the window to take a look for himself. "Not a monster," he breathed.
Tifa was at his side looking out the window with everyone else. "It's a summon. It's Titan! Who would summon inside the city!?"
Wordlessly, Cloud brought his cellphone to his ear. "Tifa, keep Aeris and Denzel safe. I'll call the others," he said, punching in Cid's number.
"What? Why don't I get to fight!?" I said indignantly. I doubt Aeris would've liked being protected like this either. "I can help, this is my home too!"
"No. Stay here where it's safe," he ordered. "Cid, where are you?"
"Cloud, let me help! I can't just sit here!" I insisted.
"I need you. Now. Get everyone," he said into the phone.
"Are you listening to me? I said I can-"
He turned and grabbed me by the arms, almost violently. "I can't lose you again!" he yelled. I was stunned. "You're always saying you'll be fine and going off on your own, but don't you remember what happened last time!? Not again, not while I'm here!" His eyes were wild.
"Okay. I'll stay," I agreed under duress, angry to have to appease his fragile sanity. He let go, and stormed out of the building reaching for the sword on his back.
"Wow." Reno said. "Did that just happen?"
"Reno! Rude! Could I hire you for something?" I said desperately. They looked at me strangely. "Just go out there, and evacuate everyone! Make sure everyone is safe."
"You hardly need to ask," Reno saluted me with his baton before he and Rude were out the door.
"Denzel, take everyone out the back door, try to get away from the town center. Head south," I heard Tifa shout into the kitchen. I turned to her. She was pulling her gloves on.
"What are you doing?" I asked her.
"What?" she said, smiling. She threw me my staff. "You never listened to him before."
I caught it and grinned. "Let's go."
