Chapter 5: Someone Else
"C'mon, ya can tell me." Tifa sighed, trying hard to concentrate on cleaning the worn bar counter as an excuse not to say anything, but then again, Aeris and Elena were still smiling up at her, identical grins of mischief on their pretty faces. What was a lady to do? She sighed, looking back at the two who had been trying to pump information out of her since the highly esteemed 'Sir' had left. Apparently, Elena had seen it all, since Tifa was positive Rude wouldn't tell anything like that.
"I already told you," Tifa said with a sigh as she straightened the many bottles of liquor she had gotten acquainted with during the course of the night, thankfully, not by name. She didn't want to become another alcoholic, and a lady drinker at that! She straightened another bottle, her hands poised delicately, her irises darkening. Rufus Shinra. She never thought that name would take her into a whirl wind of emotions. Before, when she had heard his name, immediately she had thought outlaw, bandit, a man who swore and drank, taking innocent women from the clutches of their men; rugged, and supposedly handsome. She supposed she was somewhat true in that aspect, but. he was gentlemanly, to her surprise, though so cold it sent a shiver down her spine. Or maybe it was something else. Best not go there, Lockheart. She thought to herself grimly, and a slight clearing of a throat caught her attention again, almost making her drop a bottle, which would undoubtedly anger someone. Whoever ran the place, but it was probably the almighty 'Sir'. She sighed. Why did all of her thoughts seem to come back to him?
"You're thinkin' of Sir, ain't ya?" Elena said, somewhat accusing, somewhat smug, and Tifa colored a bit. It would be improper to be attracted to that. that. man, especially since she was already engaged. People would talk, as they always would, and Tifa was tired of that, too. She just wanted to settle down and live a somewhat normal life. She didn't need this to complicate anything.
"No." Tifa said a bit stiffly, drawing more grins from the two ladies across the bar counter.
"Just admit it! It'll be easier for ya. 'Sides, I reckon Sir's taken a fancy to ya." Aeris chirped, Elena nodding her head, her blonde hair bobbing along with her as she grinned widely along with Aeris. Tifa let out a small groan, sighing as she leaned against the counter, biting her lip.
"Do you really think so?" She asked softly, blushing when she heard herself say that, scolding herself mentally. What had possessed her to say such a thing? This, of course, only fueled the two girls on.
"Of course! Are ya crazy?" Elena encouraged, and Tifa bit her lip, not saying anything for a moment. Oh this was crazy. She was engaged, a proper lady, not to mention she had to fulfill her father's wishes, whether she wanted to or not. What was wrong with her? Aeris blinked, noticing her frown, the she tilted her head to the side, her green eyes glistening slightly.
"There's someone else?" Aeris asked, her voice soft, and Tifa tilted her head to the side, her eyes distant as she surveyed the small, cozy room, round wooden tables ringed by chairs lined the room, a piano in front of a small highlighted stage, tired and frail, when last night it had been playing with energy. Tifa was told the man had been named Cid, an outlaw in every right, except he didn't drink or steal women, only one woman's heart, Shera Tifa thought her name was. Was Cloud someone else? She couldn't begin to describe the confusing and complex relationship they had, but it was all affection she felt for him, though she supposed he was someone else.
"Yes, there is. My fiancée." Tifa replied softly, gracing them with a slight color on her cheeks, like a young lady was supposed to do when talking about their husband or loved one. Except she wasn't in love with Cloud. Aeris and Elena gave a slight gasp, letting their gazes and grins drip to the floor.
"Oh," Elena said a bit quietly, "sorry, we didn' know." Tifa gave a light smile, a musical small laugh wafting in their ears.
"Don't worry about it." Tifa said with a slight grin, shaking her head softly, her bangs still falling into her face, the sloppy bun she had crafted hours ago finally falling apart. She didn't mind actually, Yuffie had been her only female companion, and Aeris and Elena were people she would consider friends, and their enthusiasm in 'settin' her up' with Sir was almost catchy. Suddenly the door swung open, and all of the ladies present looked up, startled to see the very center of their subject grinning back at them.
"Ladies, if you'd please excuse me and Ms. Lockheart." Aeris and Elena gaped at them, but, they of course, couldn't disobey 'Sir's' orders, quickly gathered up their skirts and swirled out of the room, chatting softly to themselves, in low, excited voices. Tifa pulled a slight face. Oh great. She turned to him, squaring her jaw, her eyes narrowing.
"What do you want?" She asked, somewhat harshly, and Rufus could only grin dashingly at her, making her knees give a slight wobble, though she covered it quickly by resuming cleaning the counter. How come he made her heart beat quickly, and at the same time make her blood boil with a mere glance?
"Simply to bask in your presence, my fair lady." Rufus said charmingly, while Tifa blushed again, though hid it as she turned around, leaving her back to him. Why did it seem he forgot she was already to wed another? And why did she have to blush whenever he flattered her? She should know most men wanted nothing more than a wild night with a beautiful woman, and a bandit would be a most fit example.
"You forget I'm here against my will, kind sir." Tifa replied coldly, shocking herself with the edge in her tone, though she gave a light gasp as she felt a firm grip take her arm, swirling her to meet intense sapphire, and instantly she was lost. The vast wonderland of ice was there, a thick tundra of howling winds, swirling and leaving all bare and stripped, and yet, through the churning lashes of wind, she saw something. Something was there, a soul, and the wind whipped against her eyes, blinding her momentarily, sending her jolting back to the bar, her skin suddenly feeling very chilled. Rufus's eyes looked down at her, an eyebrow raised.
"I only say this in your best intention. Hold your tongue unless you want harm to befall you. This is my world, and I rule it, whether you like it or not. Be pleasant, and you'll live longer." Rufus whispered seductively in her ear, her eyes widening with disbelief, though the words were cold, warmth instantly seeping into her body, his warm breath trickling down her neck, her skin instantly tingling with pink as if touched. Tifa glared at him, ignoring their closeness though the pink bridge on her cheeks gave her away, trying hard to regulate her breathing.
"Excuse me *Sir*, for my impudence. Now if you'll excuse me." Tifa snapped, wrenching her arm from his grip, her eyes narrowing in anger, as she turned around, her breathing ragged in her anger. The nerve! Once again she was turned around, her gaze once again locked with Rufus, who grinned at her haughtily, her hand once again going to his lush lips.
"Till we meet again." Then he had turned, as if nothing had happened, and walked out the door, swinging shut behind him as Tifa stared at his disappearing form, her breathing still uneven and her cheeks still flushed at the thought of their closeness. She shouldn't feel this way at all, and she should hate him, not feel attracted.
~*Author's Notes*~ *tilts head to side* Yea, I had another Rufus and Tifa conversation, mostly since I like playing around with their reactions. *sighs* Well, anyway, it is OOC to me, I think, but anyway, I put Cid and Shera in, mostly since I noticed I put a cigar in the piano player's mouth, and since he curses better than a soldier, and there's not a lot of that in this, and it seems, and it's supposed to be an outlaw ficcie! *sighs* Well, anyway, read and review please.
"C'mon, ya can tell me." Tifa sighed, trying hard to concentrate on cleaning the worn bar counter as an excuse not to say anything, but then again, Aeris and Elena were still smiling up at her, identical grins of mischief on their pretty faces. What was a lady to do? She sighed, looking back at the two who had been trying to pump information out of her since the highly esteemed 'Sir' had left. Apparently, Elena had seen it all, since Tifa was positive Rude wouldn't tell anything like that.
"I already told you," Tifa said with a sigh as she straightened the many bottles of liquor she had gotten acquainted with during the course of the night, thankfully, not by name. She didn't want to become another alcoholic, and a lady drinker at that! She straightened another bottle, her hands poised delicately, her irises darkening. Rufus Shinra. She never thought that name would take her into a whirl wind of emotions. Before, when she had heard his name, immediately she had thought outlaw, bandit, a man who swore and drank, taking innocent women from the clutches of their men; rugged, and supposedly handsome. She supposed she was somewhat true in that aspect, but. he was gentlemanly, to her surprise, though so cold it sent a shiver down her spine. Or maybe it was something else. Best not go there, Lockheart. She thought to herself grimly, and a slight clearing of a throat caught her attention again, almost making her drop a bottle, which would undoubtedly anger someone. Whoever ran the place, but it was probably the almighty 'Sir'. She sighed. Why did all of her thoughts seem to come back to him?
"You're thinkin' of Sir, ain't ya?" Elena said, somewhat accusing, somewhat smug, and Tifa colored a bit. It would be improper to be attracted to that. that. man, especially since she was already engaged. People would talk, as they always would, and Tifa was tired of that, too. She just wanted to settle down and live a somewhat normal life. She didn't need this to complicate anything.
"No." Tifa said a bit stiffly, drawing more grins from the two ladies across the bar counter.
"Just admit it! It'll be easier for ya. 'Sides, I reckon Sir's taken a fancy to ya." Aeris chirped, Elena nodding her head, her blonde hair bobbing along with her as she grinned widely along with Aeris. Tifa let out a small groan, sighing as she leaned against the counter, biting her lip.
"Do you really think so?" She asked softly, blushing when she heard herself say that, scolding herself mentally. What had possessed her to say such a thing? This, of course, only fueled the two girls on.
"Of course! Are ya crazy?" Elena encouraged, and Tifa bit her lip, not saying anything for a moment. Oh this was crazy. She was engaged, a proper lady, not to mention she had to fulfill her father's wishes, whether she wanted to or not. What was wrong with her? Aeris blinked, noticing her frown, the she tilted her head to the side, her green eyes glistening slightly.
"There's someone else?" Aeris asked, her voice soft, and Tifa tilted her head to the side, her eyes distant as she surveyed the small, cozy room, round wooden tables ringed by chairs lined the room, a piano in front of a small highlighted stage, tired and frail, when last night it had been playing with energy. Tifa was told the man had been named Cid, an outlaw in every right, except he didn't drink or steal women, only one woman's heart, Shera Tifa thought her name was. Was Cloud someone else? She couldn't begin to describe the confusing and complex relationship they had, but it was all affection she felt for him, though she supposed he was someone else.
"Yes, there is. My fiancée." Tifa replied softly, gracing them with a slight color on her cheeks, like a young lady was supposed to do when talking about their husband or loved one. Except she wasn't in love with Cloud. Aeris and Elena gave a slight gasp, letting their gazes and grins drip to the floor.
"Oh," Elena said a bit quietly, "sorry, we didn' know." Tifa gave a light smile, a musical small laugh wafting in their ears.
"Don't worry about it." Tifa said with a slight grin, shaking her head softly, her bangs still falling into her face, the sloppy bun she had crafted hours ago finally falling apart. She didn't mind actually, Yuffie had been her only female companion, and Aeris and Elena were people she would consider friends, and their enthusiasm in 'settin' her up' with Sir was almost catchy. Suddenly the door swung open, and all of the ladies present looked up, startled to see the very center of their subject grinning back at them.
"Ladies, if you'd please excuse me and Ms. Lockheart." Aeris and Elena gaped at them, but, they of course, couldn't disobey 'Sir's' orders, quickly gathered up their skirts and swirled out of the room, chatting softly to themselves, in low, excited voices. Tifa pulled a slight face. Oh great. She turned to him, squaring her jaw, her eyes narrowing.
"What do you want?" She asked, somewhat harshly, and Rufus could only grin dashingly at her, making her knees give a slight wobble, though she covered it quickly by resuming cleaning the counter. How come he made her heart beat quickly, and at the same time make her blood boil with a mere glance?
"Simply to bask in your presence, my fair lady." Rufus said charmingly, while Tifa blushed again, though hid it as she turned around, leaving her back to him. Why did it seem he forgot she was already to wed another? And why did she have to blush whenever he flattered her? She should know most men wanted nothing more than a wild night with a beautiful woman, and a bandit would be a most fit example.
"You forget I'm here against my will, kind sir." Tifa replied coldly, shocking herself with the edge in her tone, though she gave a light gasp as she felt a firm grip take her arm, swirling her to meet intense sapphire, and instantly she was lost. The vast wonderland of ice was there, a thick tundra of howling winds, swirling and leaving all bare and stripped, and yet, through the churning lashes of wind, she saw something. Something was there, a soul, and the wind whipped against her eyes, blinding her momentarily, sending her jolting back to the bar, her skin suddenly feeling very chilled. Rufus's eyes looked down at her, an eyebrow raised.
"I only say this in your best intention. Hold your tongue unless you want harm to befall you. This is my world, and I rule it, whether you like it or not. Be pleasant, and you'll live longer." Rufus whispered seductively in her ear, her eyes widening with disbelief, though the words were cold, warmth instantly seeping into her body, his warm breath trickling down her neck, her skin instantly tingling with pink as if touched. Tifa glared at him, ignoring their closeness though the pink bridge on her cheeks gave her away, trying hard to regulate her breathing.
"Excuse me *Sir*, for my impudence. Now if you'll excuse me." Tifa snapped, wrenching her arm from his grip, her eyes narrowing in anger, as she turned around, her breathing ragged in her anger. The nerve! Once again she was turned around, her gaze once again locked with Rufus, who grinned at her haughtily, her hand once again going to his lush lips.
"Till we meet again." Then he had turned, as if nothing had happened, and walked out the door, swinging shut behind him as Tifa stared at his disappearing form, her breathing still uneven and her cheeks still flushed at the thought of their closeness. She shouldn't feel this way at all, and she should hate him, not feel attracted.
~*Author's Notes*~ *tilts head to side* Yea, I had another Rufus and Tifa conversation, mostly since I like playing around with their reactions. *sighs* Well, anyway, it is OOC to me, I think, but anyway, I put Cid and Shera in, mostly since I noticed I put a cigar in the piano player's mouth, and since he curses better than a soldier, and there's not a lot of that in this, and it seems, and it's supposed to be an outlaw ficcie! *sighs* Well, anyway, read and review please.