Shades of Gray
Part Two: A Sense of Peace
Five days after Barret's invitation
Even with snow piled up to their ankles, the Christmas shoppers still trudged on, pushing through with buying presents for their loved ones. People from all walks of life lined up the streets of famous shops, unconcerned with the crowded roads they'd have to endure just so they would be able to give their loved ones something that was of their heart's desire. Such perseverance could only be deemed as either admirable or foolish.
For the past couple of days that Tifa had worked for Barret, it had been like this. She should be getting sick of the crowd but then she found herself thinking that these people deserved praises for their determination. As the north wind blew more cool drifts of air towards their side of town, Tifa hugged her sweater tighter around her lean body in hopes to keep her body temperature. She wanted to reach the mall as soon as possible, as to get out of the unbearable cold that winter had brought them.
Glancing at the huge clock tower that loomed over all of the other buildings around, she saw that it was just a little past twelve o'clock. Her shift was at one o'clock and she cringed at the thought of being pestered by the young men that hang around the area, flirting with the ladies working there. Spotting a café where she can warm herself for a while and pass the time, she made her way towards it, deciding to have a mug of hot chocolate and a few quiet moments alone to soothe her distraught nerves.
Surprisingly, the place had a few empty tables despite the bustling business outside and as soon as Tifa got her order, she was able to get a seat with a picturesque view of a garden laden with thin mantles of snow. She sat herself down and held the steaming cup in her hands, warming them and also allowing the tepidness to comfort and settle her mind. She viewed the cultivated area, admiring the splendour of the natural magnificence. I was so simple, yet so beautiful that way... She only wished things could be as uncomplicated as that.
Tifa took a whiff of the hot drink in her hands and closed her eyes as she sipped a little of the rich sugary liquid. Her bleak mood had returned and it had clouded the whole vision of satisfaction she had gotten from just observing something as elementary as the sight across her. The only hope she had was that watching Marlene delight from receiving their gifts would be enough to liven up her disposition for the whole season.
"Fancy seeing you here alone." The voice came from behind her, and Tifa looked up to see if she was the one being addressed. There, standing before her table, a cup of steaming coffee in one hand and clad in an expensive designer suit contradicting his dishevelled appearance, was Reno of the Turks. He flashed her a smile, countering the small nod she managed to give him as a greeting. "So, can I share the table with you?"
Glancing around the whole café, one could only wonder how the place got crowded in the short time she got in. Seeing no reason to be hostile with him, she gestured for him to go ahead and take the empty seat across from her even if she really wanted to have some time by herself. With nothing much to say to him, she kept herself preoccupied, staring out the window as she was doing before the minor interruption.
"I never knew you were this quiet." Reno attempted to start a conversation, and having no other form of response to give him, she just shrugged. She had always tried to avoid him since she thought of him as a cold-blooded killer, remembering how he had mercilessly pressed the switch triggering the bomb that brought down Sector Seven's plate which killing thousands in the process. But after having months and months to think it over, she had started to think that everyone deserved a chance to be forgiven and maybe that was why she had become good friends with Elena, his fellow Turk.
"What are you looking at?" He tried yet again. Man, was he ever persistent.
"I like watching the snow fall." She replied, giving him a chance in his effort for a chat. "I don't know, it just gives me an unexplainable feeling of inner peace." She glanced at the redhead, sure enough that he'd burst out laughing upon hearing what she said.
"I know what you mean." Reno agreed, surprising her. He had followed her gaze, the sunglasses slipping down the bridge of his nose. A wistful look appeared on his face and for a second there, Tifa forgot that the man in front of her was a Turk, Reno nonetheless. "The snow seems to cleanse everything, covering them in its pure white coat. I dunno why, but it gives me a sense of, like what you said, peace and wholeness... You get what I mean?"
Tifa was taken aback by his response. "I never expected to hear that from you, Reno."
"Believe me, I'm much deeper than I look." He chuckled softly and a small smile formed at the corner of her lips. "So tell me, what's a beautiful girl like you doing in a place like this at this time of the day looking as if the world is about to crash?" Her smile faltered. He leaned back and spoke even before she could answer. "Damn, who am I fooling? I'm talking to the girl who gets everything she wants."
She shook her head quickly, placing the mug of hot chocolate on the table. Remarkably, she didn't get angry by what he said. "You don't know what you're saying. Things don't always go as smoothly as people expect. No one gets all of what they desire... Or at least I don't." No sooner than a second did she start to regret having to speak like that in front of Reno of all people. Her thoughts went back to Cloud and once again, the abyss had swallowed her back into her melancholic state.
For a while, Reno appeared to be out of words and continued to stare at her with a small glimmer of sympathy. Tifa found it ironic that someone who had tried to kill her and her friends then would commiserate with her pathetic life. "Something went wrong with you and Strife, eh?" he guessed, and she would have laughed had the topic been a more personal one. A hint of amusement appeared on his face as he noted her smirk. "Did I hit the jackpot?"
For the second time around, she shook her head. "What's there to go wrong?" Reno was obviously confused by her reply, slightly choking on his beverage. He composed himself and bent forward, seemingly interested all of a sudden.
"What do you mean 'what's there to go...' " His voice trailed off, realizing what she said for the first time. He reclined back on his seat and tipped his sunglasses higher. "You mean there wasn't any relationship at all?" she nodded and he frowned. "I've heard a lot of bull before and I say this one is."
"Suit yourself-" she stopped herself from telling him anything more. Who was he anyway for her to inform him about her situation? "Why should I explain myself to you? Just forget what I said, alright?" She took her drink and resumed doing nothing, hoping he'd take the hint and leave her alone.
"I bet you're expecting me to get up and walk away, but sorry to disappoint you." Reno spoke up and it took Tifa every ounce of self-control not to lash out at him. "About what I said, I just don't believe you and Cloud aren't an item. I mean, I'm not saying you're lying or something. I just can't believe it."
"Well, I'm not asking you to believe it." She muttered softly.
Reno laughed, and it annoyed her that she didn't know whether he was laughing at her or at their conversation. "Hey, I'm not trying to insult you or start a fight or something-"
"That's pretty hard to believe."
He ignored her semi-rude comment and went on talking. "I just wanna tell you that I've envied that lucky bastard Cloud for having a babe like you."
She raised an eyebrow. "Are you trying to hit on me?" He flashed her his lovely white teeth. That smile would've made any girl swoon but not Tifa. "You're flirting with me yet you know I could kick your ass anytime."
"Yeah, but would you really?" His question made her stop and think. Heck, she had been thinking too much these days... The silliness of their conversation just got to her and a smile eked out of her lips.
"Nah, not here, not now." She said carefully, looking around. "And I wouldn't want to break a nail."
He sniggered at her remark, shaking his head in disbelief. "Really now? Here I thought you're not the type of girl who'd make a big fuss over fingernails."
She didn't figure he'd take that seriously. "Hey, that was a joke!"
"Well, jokes are always half meant." He batted his eyes lashes at her and Tifa had to smile again.
"I'll bear that in mind." Her smile broadened. Seeing that it was now a quarter before one, she placed down her unfinished drink and gathered the few stuff that was with her. "This conversation didn't turn out the way I thought. I actually enjoyed talking to you."
He turned in his seat to look at her, aquamarine eyes twinkling with unabashed mirth. "Yeah? You could've fooled me."
And for the first time in what seemed like ages, Tifa laughed a genuine laugh. She almost forgot how good it felt... Its warmth spread inside her, and it would have made her momentarily forget about the pains and the frustrations had she let it do so...
Author's Notes: Umm, how'd you like it? I hope Reno and Tifa weren't too out of character here... This is probably the chapter with the least number of grammar errors... or maybe I failed to spot them all. ) Again, thank you for reading! Reviews, comments, suggestions and critiques are greatly appreciated.