Chapter 2: Behavior of Men
Darkness swirled around her, parting after a moment to reveal a room. Tifa blinked, eyes instantly widening as she jolted up, looking around the room in confusion, her eyes surveying her surroundings. The room was barely furnished, a little rough around the edges, but all right she supposed. She like the simplistic look of this room compared to Cloud's overly fancy suite, which she always felt so self-conscious there, like she might break something. But here. it was almost like home. She blinked, eyes narrowing as her brow furrowed as she slipped gracefully out of bed. How did she get here? The last thing she remembered was a gun, gil, and cobalt blue eyes that put even Cloud's to shame. She sighed softly, berating herself for even thinking things like that about an *outlaw* for heaven's sake. She made a slight face as she peeked around outside curiously, seeing the happy bustle of a maid or two, and she blinked again in confusion. What was going on?
"Awake are ya? Well, good! Sir would like to see ya!" Tifa turned around, her fists raised automatically, only to see a smiling figure dressed in a maid's attire. She had her chestnut hair woven into a braid to her waist, her green eyes twinkling, giving her an innocent look, though Tifa just remembered how Yuffie had looked the same, though had been the complete opposite. Looks could be deceiving, her wise old mentor Zagan, had informed her, and Tifa believed that.
"Sir.?" Tifa asked somewhat cautiously, and the girl giggled again, a basket filled with flowers tucked on her arm, gesturing for Tifa to follow her. Tifa sighed softly, following her since she didn't want to be cooped up in that room for who knows how long.
"Yessir. He runs this sleepy little village, and he's the one who brought you back here, along with Rude, y'know." The girl said conversationally, while Tifa blinked, continuing to try and figure out her situation. Rude? Sir? Sleepy village? Where was she, and how far away from the life she had always known was she? It was kinda ironic, how she had ended up here of all places, after wishing she was gone. Be careful what you wish for, her mother had always warned, and Tifa groaned to herself.
"Oh, I'm Tifa Lockheart by the way." Tifa said somewhat awkwardly, not sure how to talk to this bubbly girl, since mostly the girls she talked to was Yuffie, who carried most of the conversation on by herself. The girl looked back at her with her green eyes sparkling.
"Aeris Gainsborough, and it's a pleasure to meet ya. Sir doesn't often bring young ladies back anymore." Aeris said offhandedly, while Tifa rubbed her temples, figuring she'd give this 'Sir' a piece of her mind. She was embarrassed that she had quickly dove into a situation she didn't understand, not to mention the fact that she had tried to fight in the outfit that she had. Corsets and fists just didn't mix, and she should have known that.
"You too." Tifa replied politely, still looking around, occasionally seeing a giggling maid or two pass by, and it seemed the place she was in was an inn, for there were many more rooms in which they passed by on their was to 'Sir's' office. "Where are we?" She asked somewhat in a daze, not finding anything about this place familiar, but then again, she had never known an Aeris in her life. The girl in question just smiled, shrugging her shoulders.
"Way out West. This here's a dusty little town no one's heard of. Pigeon Creek I think is what they called it, but we're thinkin' of renaming it in honor of Sir." Aeris said in a somewhat dreamy voice, eyes fluttering at the thought of 'Sir', while Tifa blinked again. The cobalt blue eyes instantly were in her mind again, making her feel. all. fluttery in side, something Cloud had only accomplished the first time they had met.
"Who is this 'Sir' anyway?" Tifa demanded, though blinked and colored a bit in shame when she noticed how angered her tone sounded. Aeris wasn't the one she should be angry with, not at all. It wasn't *her* fault that Tifa was stuck here in Pigeon Creek or whatever the town was. Aeris blinked a bit, smiling gently as she stopped in front of a spiraling staircase that led into a noisy crowd, where women where doing something similar to the Can-Can while a bartender mixed up a round of drinks for the roaring crowd. Tifa instantly stiffened at the show of such. unfit conduct, while Aeris looked at her knowingly.
"Sir is the one saved this here village. Well, kind of, and," She noted, seeing Tifa's sudden change in behavior, "don' worry. The men is usually well behaved if you know how tell'em you ain't interested." Aeris said in a tone that Tifa assumed was supposed to be comforting, but instead sounded like a warning. Without a second thought, Aeris was swirling through the crowd, like it didn't bother her in the least, flowers still tucked at her arm as she dodged the rowdy men, dancing women, and flying liquor. Tifa blinked, looking around, Aeris having disappeared in the crowd. She blinked, dodging the men who were hooting and hollering at the flirtatious women, making a face as she tried to ignore the roaring noise, but not succeeding.
"Well lookee here! Ain't she a purty little lady!" Tifa blinked, instantly paling and recognizing the tone of voice that man used. In this confusing place of chaos, she could count on the men still being men. She looked over her shoulder, only to find a grinning redhead, who looked like he had a little too much to drink, his aquamarine glazed over.
"Excuse me sir, not interested." Tifa said, turning to leave, only to have him catch her arm. She looked back at him in disgust, to still see him grinning playfully, having the nerve to wink at her suggestively.
"C'mon, it'll be fun." Tifa was about to retort with her fist or tongue, when someone hit him on the side of the head, making him let go of her and grab the lump on his head that was forming, cursing fluently.
"Reno! Stop hittin' on women, you pig!" A blonde snapped angrily, her brown eyes narrowed in anger, fists clenching her skirts, while the redhead identified as Reno laughed, shaking his head.
"Nice get up 'Leny. What are ya'll 'sposed to be?" Reno laughed, while 'Leny' just glared at him, shaking her fist as she scowled at him, kicking his shin, making him yelp, glaring back at her. Tifa blinked, backing up a bit, only to meet solid wall. She looked over her shoulder startled, only to see the same muscled man who had been the one holding a gun to her head and knocking her out. Her eyes narrowed, though he wasn't watching her at all, his rugged cowboy hat pulled over his eyes, so she couldn't tell. He was sitting next to the redhead, and it was a wonder Tifa hadn't seen him before.
"You." she said in an accusing voice, while the man turned his gaze back to her, the hat still pulled over his eyes. The two in back of her stopped their bickering, Reno grinning.
"Ah, Rude, ya'll finally got yourself la-" a nicely timed elbow from the blonde instantly had him cowering over, and she glared down at him again.
"Pig," she spat down at him, "Rude ain't like you." Tifa blinked looking back up at the man, who shrugged, in what she supposed was supposed to be apologetic, and she smiled slightly, nodding her head. The blonde sighed, turning back to Tifa with a roll of her eyes. "Forgive the idiot over here, he likes flirtin' with anything female on two legs. I'm Elena Harris by the way." Elena said with a smile, while Tifa nodded her head, tilting her head to the side.
"Tifa Lockheart, pleased to meet you." She said politely one again, while Elena pointed an accusing finger at Reno.
"That's Reno Taylor, if you wondering so ya can kick the crap out of him later, just ask around. All the girls know him." Elena said with a sigh, rolling her eyes again, turning her gaze to the muscled man behind her. "That's Rude, like ya'll probably know. He don't say much, so don't take it personally if he don't say hi back." Elena gave a slight sigh, turning back to Reno who had already found another target, eye twitching.
"There ya are!" Tifa blinked, looking back, only to see Aeris, who was smiling in relief. "Thought I had done lost you! Thanks Elena, Rude, for watchin' this here lady." Aeris said with a smile, turning and gesturing Tifa to follow, while Rude just nodded, and Elena was already back at scolding Reno.
"Stop flirtin' with girls for once!" Was the last thing she heard out of the amusing trio as Aeris led her to the back.
"They're a nice bunch, a little noisy, but nice." Aeris stated almost thoughtfully, while Tifa nodded, feeling a headache coming on, glad she was out of that noisy, God forsaken place. Tifa nodded her head agreeably, looking around the now carpeted hall, which looked quite grand though somehow, quite empty. As if all the gold and glitter of this place was a mask to hide something sorrowful. Tifa blinked, letting her eyes rest on a beautiful portrait hanging silently one the wall. The woman in it was wearing the best dress money could buy, the blue fabric bringing out the shine in her eyes, her red lips curved slightly as her sun dyed hair spun itself to her shoulders. She was beautiful, though her eyes held something that the artist had managed to capture. She was like a dove, trapped in a place she didn't want to be in, like her mother, and now like Tifa herself.
"Who is she?" Tifa asked, still staring at the woman in a somewhat awed way, and Aeris blinked, peeking over her shoulder. Then she broke out into a wide grin.
"Oh, that's Sir's mother, Isabelle. She was very pretty and kind." Aeris said, nodding with her head as if she agreed with herself, while Tifa looked back at her, an elegant eyebrow raised.
"Was?" She asked, while Aeris sighed slightly.
"She died when Sir was very young." Aeris said, her lips closed after that, while Tifa nodded, turning to follow again, knowing the feeling. Her mother had recently passed as well, and the wound was still fresh. Thinking about mother made her feel stronger, yet a bit mournful. Mother had always wanted the best for her daughter. "Well, here we are!" Aeris chirped cheerfully, standing like she was presenting the site, in front of a plain wooden door. She opened the door, smiles all gone as she stepped in, bowing somewhat. Tifa peeked her head in, eyes instantly widening. He was sinfully handsome, blonde hair falling seductively into his stunning cobalt eyes, his appearance clean shaven for a bandit. He merely raised an elegantly shaped eyebrow when Tifa looked in. A large black cat, probably half the size of a chocobo, purred next to him, yellow cat eyes looking up at Tifa in interest. At his side were two formable looking opponents, both dark haired pale men whose hair fell to their shoulders. The one on the right had his pulled back, with a small mark on his head, a gun slung on his side casually, as if it was natural, his almond eyes peering at her in disinterest. The one on the left had his hair falling sloppily into his face, torn remains of a red bandana holding it back, his red eyes peering at her with a raised eyebrow.
"You are?" The one whom she assumed was 'Sir', and the one whom had captured her asked somewhat arrogantly, flipping his hair out of his sapphire eyes. She blinked, feeling her throat constrict in fear or nervousness, she wasn't sure, though she straightened her back like a lady and eyed him somewhat defiantly.
"Tifa Lockheart and you?" She asked, hating to sound so snotty and stuck up like some of the ladies she knew, though the arrogant attitude he was showing her was getting on her nerves. Didn't he know how to treat ladies with respect? The man gave a slight chuckle, looking at her in amusement now, for what reason she couldn't say.
"Rufus Shinra." Was the crisp reply, and her eyes instantly widened, feeling her heart stop it's beating for a moment. Rufus Shinra, the most wanted, vicious, merciless outlaw in the West. And she just happened to be kidnapped by him. Great.
~*Author's Notes*~ *smiles smugly* Rufus Shinra. *repeats and swoons* Hehe! I love Ruffie! *hugs* Fire Fly thanks for the suggestion! *waves and smiles happily* Give you a cookie later. Right, if anyone knows any southern drawl or anything, please help me! Until that time, they'll be speaking 'normal', but I attempted, so please excuse me if it sounds weird. Thanks Bailamos for the suggestion! Let me say this so I can get it off my chest. I dislike Aeris! So flame me for my opinion, but I'm going to be nice to her. I won't sink so low to turn this fic into an Aeris hating one. Oh right, I had no clue if they had sunglasses for poor Rude, so he'll be all mysterious with that hat, sombrero, thing. Right. Well, please read and review! Makes Dark Nation happy! *pets the panther cutely*
Darkness swirled around her, parting after a moment to reveal a room. Tifa blinked, eyes instantly widening as she jolted up, looking around the room in confusion, her eyes surveying her surroundings. The room was barely furnished, a little rough around the edges, but all right she supposed. She like the simplistic look of this room compared to Cloud's overly fancy suite, which she always felt so self-conscious there, like she might break something. But here. it was almost like home. She blinked, eyes narrowing as her brow furrowed as she slipped gracefully out of bed. How did she get here? The last thing she remembered was a gun, gil, and cobalt blue eyes that put even Cloud's to shame. She sighed softly, berating herself for even thinking things like that about an *outlaw* for heaven's sake. She made a slight face as she peeked around outside curiously, seeing the happy bustle of a maid or two, and she blinked again in confusion. What was going on?
"Awake are ya? Well, good! Sir would like to see ya!" Tifa turned around, her fists raised automatically, only to see a smiling figure dressed in a maid's attire. She had her chestnut hair woven into a braid to her waist, her green eyes twinkling, giving her an innocent look, though Tifa just remembered how Yuffie had looked the same, though had been the complete opposite. Looks could be deceiving, her wise old mentor Zagan, had informed her, and Tifa believed that.
"Sir.?" Tifa asked somewhat cautiously, and the girl giggled again, a basket filled with flowers tucked on her arm, gesturing for Tifa to follow her. Tifa sighed softly, following her since she didn't want to be cooped up in that room for who knows how long.
"Yessir. He runs this sleepy little village, and he's the one who brought you back here, along with Rude, y'know." The girl said conversationally, while Tifa blinked, continuing to try and figure out her situation. Rude? Sir? Sleepy village? Where was she, and how far away from the life she had always known was she? It was kinda ironic, how she had ended up here of all places, after wishing she was gone. Be careful what you wish for, her mother had always warned, and Tifa groaned to herself.
"Oh, I'm Tifa Lockheart by the way." Tifa said somewhat awkwardly, not sure how to talk to this bubbly girl, since mostly the girls she talked to was Yuffie, who carried most of the conversation on by herself. The girl looked back at her with her green eyes sparkling.
"Aeris Gainsborough, and it's a pleasure to meet ya. Sir doesn't often bring young ladies back anymore." Aeris said offhandedly, while Tifa rubbed her temples, figuring she'd give this 'Sir' a piece of her mind. She was embarrassed that she had quickly dove into a situation she didn't understand, not to mention the fact that she had tried to fight in the outfit that she had. Corsets and fists just didn't mix, and she should have known that.
"You too." Tifa replied politely, still looking around, occasionally seeing a giggling maid or two pass by, and it seemed the place she was in was an inn, for there were many more rooms in which they passed by on their was to 'Sir's' office. "Where are we?" She asked somewhat in a daze, not finding anything about this place familiar, but then again, she had never known an Aeris in her life. The girl in question just smiled, shrugging her shoulders.
"Way out West. This here's a dusty little town no one's heard of. Pigeon Creek I think is what they called it, but we're thinkin' of renaming it in honor of Sir." Aeris said in a somewhat dreamy voice, eyes fluttering at the thought of 'Sir', while Tifa blinked again. The cobalt blue eyes instantly were in her mind again, making her feel. all. fluttery in side, something Cloud had only accomplished the first time they had met.
"Who is this 'Sir' anyway?" Tifa demanded, though blinked and colored a bit in shame when she noticed how angered her tone sounded. Aeris wasn't the one she should be angry with, not at all. It wasn't *her* fault that Tifa was stuck here in Pigeon Creek or whatever the town was. Aeris blinked a bit, smiling gently as she stopped in front of a spiraling staircase that led into a noisy crowd, where women where doing something similar to the Can-Can while a bartender mixed up a round of drinks for the roaring crowd. Tifa instantly stiffened at the show of such. unfit conduct, while Aeris looked at her knowingly.
"Sir is the one saved this here village. Well, kind of, and," She noted, seeing Tifa's sudden change in behavior, "don' worry. The men is usually well behaved if you know how tell'em you ain't interested." Aeris said in a tone that Tifa assumed was supposed to be comforting, but instead sounded like a warning. Without a second thought, Aeris was swirling through the crowd, like it didn't bother her in the least, flowers still tucked at her arm as she dodged the rowdy men, dancing women, and flying liquor. Tifa blinked, looking around, Aeris having disappeared in the crowd. She blinked, dodging the men who were hooting and hollering at the flirtatious women, making a face as she tried to ignore the roaring noise, but not succeeding.
"Well lookee here! Ain't she a purty little lady!" Tifa blinked, instantly paling and recognizing the tone of voice that man used. In this confusing place of chaos, she could count on the men still being men. She looked over her shoulder, only to find a grinning redhead, who looked like he had a little too much to drink, his aquamarine glazed over.
"Excuse me sir, not interested." Tifa said, turning to leave, only to have him catch her arm. She looked back at him in disgust, to still see him grinning playfully, having the nerve to wink at her suggestively.
"C'mon, it'll be fun." Tifa was about to retort with her fist or tongue, when someone hit him on the side of the head, making him let go of her and grab the lump on his head that was forming, cursing fluently.
"Reno! Stop hittin' on women, you pig!" A blonde snapped angrily, her brown eyes narrowed in anger, fists clenching her skirts, while the redhead identified as Reno laughed, shaking his head.
"Nice get up 'Leny. What are ya'll 'sposed to be?" Reno laughed, while 'Leny' just glared at him, shaking her fist as she scowled at him, kicking his shin, making him yelp, glaring back at her. Tifa blinked, backing up a bit, only to meet solid wall. She looked over her shoulder startled, only to see the same muscled man who had been the one holding a gun to her head and knocking her out. Her eyes narrowed, though he wasn't watching her at all, his rugged cowboy hat pulled over his eyes, so she couldn't tell. He was sitting next to the redhead, and it was a wonder Tifa hadn't seen him before.
"You." she said in an accusing voice, while the man turned his gaze back to her, the hat still pulled over his eyes. The two in back of her stopped their bickering, Reno grinning.
"Ah, Rude, ya'll finally got yourself la-" a nicely timed elbow from the blonde instantly had him cowering over, and she glared down at him again.
"Pig," she spat down at him, "Rude ain't like you." Tifa blinked looking back up at the man, who shrugged, in what she supposed was supposed to be apologetic, and she smiled slightly, nodding her head. The blonde sighed, turning back to Tifa with a roll of her eyes. "Forgive the idiot over here, he likes flirtin' with anything female on two legs. I'm Elena Harris by the way." Elena said with a smile, while Tifa nodded her head, tilting her head to the side.
"Tifa Lockheart, pleased to meet you." She said politely one again, while Elena pointed an accusing finger at Reno.
"That's Reno Taylor, if you wondering so ya can kick the crap out of him later, just ask around. All the girls know him." Elena said with a sigh, rolling her eyes again, turning her gaze to the muscled man behind her. "That's Rude, like ya'll probably know. He don't say much, so don't take it personally if he don't say hi back." Elena gave a slight sigh, turning back to Reno who had already found another target, eye twitching.
"There ya are!" Tifa blinked, looking back, only to see Aeris, who was smiling in relief. "Thought I had done lost you! Thanks Elena, Rude, for watchin' this here lady." Aeris said with a smile, turning and gesturing Tifa to follow, while Rude just nodded, and Elena was already back at scolding Reno.
"Stop flirtin' with girls for once!" Was the last thing she heard out of the amusing trio as Aeris led her to the back.
"They're a nice bunch, a little noisy, but nice." Aeris stated almost thoughtfully, while Tifa nodded, feeling a headache coming on, glad she was out of that noisy, God forsaken place. Tifa nodded her head agreeably, looking around the now carpeted hall, which looked quite grand though somehow, quite empty. As if all the gold and glitter of this place was a mask to hide something sorrowful. Tifa blinked, letting her eyes rest on a beautiful portrait hanging silently one the wall. The woman in it was wearing the best dress money could buy, the blue fabric bringing out the shine in her eyes, her red lips curved slightly as her sun dyed hair spun itself to her shoulders. She was beautiful, though her eyes held something that the artist had managed to capture. She was like a dove, trapped in a place she didn't want to be in, like her mother, and now like Tifa herself.
"Who is she?" Tifa asked, still staring at the woman in a somewhat awed way, and Aeris blinked, peeking over her shoulder. Then she broke out into a wide grin.
"Oh, that's Sir's mother, Isabelle. She was very pretty and kind." Aeris said, nodding with her head as if she agreed with herself, while Tifa looked back at her, an elegant eyebrow raised.
"Was?" She asked, while Aeris sighed slightly.
"She died when Sir was very young." Aeris said, her lips closed after that, while Tifa nodded, turning to follow again, knowing the feeling. Her mother had recently passed as well, and the wound was still fresh. Thinking about mother made her feel stronger, yet a bit mournful. Mother had always wanted the best for her daughter. "Well, here we are!" Aeris chirped cheerfully, standing like she was presenting the site, in front of a plain wooden door. She opened the door, smiles all gone as she stepped in, bowing somewhat. Tifa peeked her head in, eyes instantly widening. He was sinfully handsome, blonde hair falling seductively into his stunning cobalt eyes, his appearance clean shaven for a bandit. He merely raised an elegantly shaped eyebrow when Tifa looked in. A large black cat, probably half the size of a chocobo, purred next to him, yellow cat eyes looking up at Tifa in interest. At his side were two formable looking opponents, both dark haired pale men whose hair fell to their shoulders. The one on the right had his pulled back, with a small mark on his head, a gun slung on his side casually, as if it was natural, his almond eyes peering at her in disinterest. The one on the left had his hair falling sloppily into his face, torn remains of a red bandana holding it back, his red eyes peering at her with a raised eyebrow.
"You are?" The one whom she assumed was 'Sir', and the one whom had captured her asked somewhat arrogantly, flipping his hair out of his sapphire eyes. She blinked, feeling her throat constrict in fear or nervousness, she wasn't sure, though she straightened her back like a lady and eyed him somewhat defiantly.
"Tifa Lockheart and you?" She asked, hating to sound so snotty and stuck up like some of the ladies she knew, though the arrogant attitude he was showing her was getting on her nerves. Didn't he know how to treat ladies with respect? The man gave a slight chuckle, looking at her in amusement now, for what reason she couldn't say.
"Rufus Shinra." Was the crisp reply, and her eyes instantly widened, feeling her heart stop it's beating for a moment. Rufus Shinra, the most wanted, vicious, merciless outlaw in the West. And she just happened to be kidnapped by him. Great.
~*Author's Notes*~ *smiles smugly* Rufus Shinra. *repeats and swoons* Hehe! I love Ruffie! *hugs* Fire Fly thanks for the suggestion! *waves and smiles happily* Give you a cookie later. Right, if anyone knows any southern drawl or anything, please help me! Until that time, they'll be speaking 'normal', but I attempted, so please excuse me if it sounds weird. Thanks Bailamos for the suggestion! Let me say this so I can get it off my chest. I dislike Aeris! So flame me for my opinion, but I'm going to be nice to her. I won't sink so low to turn this fic into an Aeris hating one. Oh right, I had no clue if they had sunglasses for poor Rude, so he'll be all mysterious with that hat, sombrero, thing. Right. Well, please read and review! Makes Dark Nation happy! *pets the panther cutely*