Jade, Wine, and Turk training
By Kimetara
Multi-part
Disclaimer: I don't own FFVII, although I wouldn't mind getting Reno, Vincent, Rufus... ^_^
AN: Midgar Core refers to the city part of Midgar, while just Midgar includes the city and the wasteland around it.
Chapter 1: Old enemy, new friend?
Tifa scrubbed away at a spot on the counter, her brow wrinkling in annoyance. *Darn thing won't come off.*
The owner of the restaurant, an elderly man in his late forties, chuckled at Tifa's stubbornness. "Don't peel the paint, Tifa."
Tifa looked up and blushed.
The man smiled good-naturedly. "Why don't you take the week off? Lord knows, you're the hardest working of the crew."
Tifa blinked. "Oh, no, that's okay-"
Her manager waved her protests off. "Nonsense. I'm sure you must have things to do, friends to keep up on. You've been here for almost two years already. Take the week off."
"Uh...alright, thank you." Tifa gave up. By the tone of his voice, she could tell his mind was set.
She finally got the spot to disappear and finished closing down her area of the restaurant. Gathering her purse and jacket, Tifa left the workplace. She tightened her jacket around her, warding off the November chill.
*Friends to keep up on...what if I'm trying to hide from my friends?* Tifa sighed, staring up at the stars as she walked.
*****
After leaving Cloud in Nibelheim, Tifa found herself with a dilemma – where to go now? She started counting on her fingers...Cid was in Rocket Town, Barret in Corel, Yuffie in Wutai, Red XIII in Cosmo Canyon...not that she wanted to lose touch with her friends, she didn't, but Tifa wasn't ready to deal with their sympathy just yet.
*Or pity...I couldn't stand it if they pitied me.*
Gongaga was a mess, Gold Saucer held just too many memories. Kalm was the most obvious place, and she didn't want anybody to find her just yet. There was that Icicle Town, but...Aeris... Tifa couldn't go there.
As she went down the list of the cities and towns she had visited, Tifa came to a sudden conclusion. Midgar. Sure, Reeve worked there to rebuild it, but there were so many inhabitants of the Midgar Core she was sure she'd be able to slip in just fine. And nobody would expect her to go back to Midgar, not after the plate dropping on Sector 7...
Tifa bit her lip; feeling tears well up in her eyes at the memory. Determinedly, she closed her eyes and tilted her head back until she felt the wetness go away. She'd sworn she wouldn't cry anymore, on the day Sephiroth had reduced Nibelheim ashes.
*****
*...and that's why I'm here today.* Tifa hadn't taken her eyes off the sky. *Amazing. Who would've thought you'd ever be able to see the stars in the Midgar Core?*
The brunette was so preoccupied in her thoughts, she didn't realize until it was too late that there was somebody in front of her.
"Oh! I'm sorry!" Tifa apologized hastily, brushing herself off and looking up to see whom she'd bumped into. As she did, she noticed the rest of the sidewalk was curiously empty, and across the street, people were staring in her direction, then quickly hurrying away. Warning bells sounded in her heard. "I wasn't watching whe- Reno!" She jumped back, quickly forming her usually fighting stance. "What are you doing here?" she spat out, taking note of his appearance.
He was thin, almost gaunt. There were light bags under his eyes, and his whole frame sagged even more than usual. His clothes weren't in the greatest shape either. It was obvious life hadn't been kind once his money supply from Shinra had dried up.
But that didn't keep Reno from giving her a cocky grin. "That was a quick change. I thought you were apologizing for so rudely running into me?"
"You don't deserve apologizes." Tifa's eyes flashed.
"Calm down, babe. It's not as if I'm a Turk anymore." Reno raised an eyebrow. "And you can quit acting as if I'm gonna kill you. There isn't a price on your head, at least not one I'm aware of." Reno observed Tifa as well. She'd gotten rid of the miniskirt for a pair of hip hugging jeans, but white crop top was still there – or at least what he could see of it beneath her maroon jacket.
Tifa looked suspicious, but put her fists down. "Just because you're not getting paid any longer doesn't mean anything. A Turk's a Turk; a name like that doesn't simply disappear."
"Heh," Reno smirked. "I suppose you would know. Oh, great and mighty Tifa of AVALANCHE! May I have your autograph?" he mocked, dramatically falling on one knee.
"Idiot," Tifa muttered. "That was over two years ago. Will you get up? People are beginning to look."
The redhead obliged, adjusting the ever-present sunglasses that had come loose from his display.
"Thank you." Tifa spoke curtly, and then stepped to the side to pass the Turk by. She was surprised then, and faintly annoyed, when he stepped in her way. "Could you let me pass now?"
Reno stuck his hands in his pockets and shrugged. "Maybe...but I was thinking," he voiced carefully, looking up at the stars.
"Yes?" Tifa ground out through clenched teeth. *Will he just go away?*
"How about you and me spend a little time together?" Reno flashed Tifa a smile.
Tifa's jaw nearly dropped. *Wow...that's the first time I've ever seen Reno smile like that...guess that's why he's got a reputation as a player, huh girl?* "Why?" she asked warily.
He grinned. "I've always been curious about how you guys thought. I mean, you kept on fighting without getting paid or anything. It's intriguing. Stupid, but intriguing."
Tifa stared, her expression more suspicious than ever. "Uh-huh. Sure. So why don't you go ask Reeve? That's what he wanted to know."
"Please." Reno rolled his eyes. "I can't stand to get within a 10 feet radius of the besotted couple."
Tifa nodded knowingly. "Reeve and Elena."
"Yeah."
"Who'd have guessed they'd hook up..." Tifa drifted off, when a thought suddenly occurred to her. "By the way, what happened to Rude?"
"Dead," Reno answered simply.
The woman's liquid wine eyes widened. "Oh...I'm sorry, Reno..."
Reno shrugged, feigning an indifference Tifa could see right through. "Don't be. He wasn't. So..." Reno glanced over, "how about that dinner together? There must be at least one good restaurant around here."
"Dinner? Restaurant?" Tifa cocked an eyebrow. "I don't recall anything about a 'restaurant' being mentioned."
"We~ell, unless you'd rather go to my house..." Reno drawled out, giving Tifa a suggestive look.
"Hmph." Tifa bit back a comment about him being able to own a house at all. "...my place. Come on," she said with a sigh, this time successfully stepping past Reno.
Reno stared after her for a second. Then, quickly closing his mouth, he hurriedly moved a step behind the brunette AVALANCHE member.
AN: Just incase of some confusion, Tifa left Cloud two years ago and it's been four years since Meteor. Sorry if the characters seem OOC (I, unfortunately, didn't start liking Reno until I was at the end of the game, and therefore too late to observe to much of his character – so most of it comes from other fanfics, lol) (and it has been four years). R&R greatly appreciated!