Chapter 1: Unspoken Words.

The sable haired bartender of 'Seventh Heaven' sighed as she watched a drunken old man stagger around the semi-filled pub. It was only just noon, and already she was in a foul mood. She scanned the large room, trying to anticipate what demands would be made on her in the next half hour, and whether the inhabitants of the pub would stay as taciturn as they seemed now. She certainly hoped so.

Resting one hand on her hip, she busied herself with the task of gently rubbing at a stain on the counter with a ragged cloth.

When will someone interesting come in? She implored silently.

All I seem to get in here are musty smelling old men who enjoy their liquor too much for their own good. Tifa sighed dejectedly.

Well, I suppose it's good for business…

Cloud strode down the private stairs from the apartment in which they lived above the bar. Gazing at her, he cleared his throat.

'How's business?'

'All right, the usual, you know?' Tifa gave a wan smile.

Cloud gave a grunt of laughter.

'Looks like it.'

He scanned the tables, hoping to see a new face. When he did not, he turned back to Tifa.

'Listen, I wanted to go into Midgar to buy some of that new 'Heal' Materia. It's just come into stock.'

Tifa nodded her consent. 'Sure. Nothing life changing is going to happen around here, that's for sure.'

Amusement flickered in Cloud's eyes and he made for the door.

'Bye.'

'See you later.'

Tifa turned to serve an old man who was impatiently slapping his hand on the counter.

Suddenly, the door banged open, and out of the shadows stepped four of her former enemies; the Turks. Tifa stared incredulously, dropping the cloth in amazement.

Reno sauntered casually up to the counter, while Rude and Tseng hung back, surveying the smoky atmosphere. Elena carefully closed the door behind them all.

'Hey, Tifa. Long time no see, eh?' Reno drawled, presumptuously sitting on a handy stool, and resting his elbows on the counter.

'What do you want?' Tifa asked warily, suspicion engraved onto her features.

'Hey.' Reno shrugged. 'We're your friends, right? What's wrong with poppin' in for a chat now and then?'

He paused, frowning, and moistened his lips.

'Now you mention it though, I wouldn't say no to a vodka.'

Pivoting on his stool, he motioned to the others.

'Rude, Tseng, what do you want? I'm not even asking you, Elena. Remember the last pub we visited?'

He hesitated for dramatic effect, smirking lopsidedly at the other inhabitants of the pub, who were avidly eavesdropping into the conversation.

'You ordered a sparkling water.' He announced, gloating at the rude sniggers that came from the listeners.

Elena raised one eyebrow dangerously, and glided towards him, her green eyes piercing the sniggering audience, silencing them.

'What's wrong with that? Maybe I like sparkling water!'

Reno sighed tragically and shook his head.

'Rude? Tseng?'

'I'll have a beer.' Rude growled.

'Nothing for me, thanks.' Tseng's expression became quizzical. 'Ah…But remember, Reno, you're driving.'

Reno winced.

'Okay,' calculated Tifa. 'One beer. Elena, did you want anything?'

'I'll have a sparkling water.' She said firmly, throwing a poisonous glance at Reno.

'Right…So one beer and a sparkling water?'

'You forgot my vodka!' Reno exclaimed.

'You're driving.' Pointed out Tifa and Tseng in unison.

That remark sent Reno into a grumpy sulk until Rude and Elena had paid for their drinks.

'So, why are you here?' Tifa asked no Turk in particular.

'Well,' Reno came out of his huffy reverie. 'We have a message from Rufus Shinra. He wants to apologise for everything his company have put you through. Wants to call us even; a friendly truce, y'know?'

'Seems fair enough' Tifa reasoned, a little suspicious. 'But why can't he come himself? Surely you were just employed to do his dirty work; this 'truce' may be no different.'

'Miss Lockhart!' Gasped Reno in feigned shock. 'The President is a very busy man. And besides, we wanted to be generous: right now, we're helping your pub to stay in business!' He giggled as her features contorted into an expression of indignance, and she tried to hit him across the face with the wet cloth.

'Hmph.' She turned away grumpily to prepare the drinks.

As she pulled a veil of ebony hair behind her ear, Reno noticed how easily it yielded under her touch, its many subtle highlights almost glowing, and just how perfectly it framed her fine featured face, setting off the glow of those liquid burgundy eyes.

'Reno… you're off in that world of your own again.'

Reno was jerked unpleasantly from his thoughts by Elena's hand waving across his vision. His deep blue irises lazily followed the hand for a second or two, then he turned his head to look at the small blonde Turk.

'Sorry.' He conceded moodily.

'Mmm.. you have good beer in this place,' muttered Rude, setting down his glass and wiping his mouth.

'The water is good, too.' Elena confessed, smiling shyly at Tifa.

The door creaked open and all eyes came to rest on Cloud. He surveyed the room, scowling when his eyes fell on the Turks.

'Cloud!!' Reno waved cheerily, raising Rude's empty glass to him. 'How ya been?'

Maybe it was over exaggerated, but it was enough to ensure that Cloud would not throw a punch at them when he got within arms reach.

Cloud's eyes narrowed suspiciously.

'Fine…and yourselves?' He looked past them, not meeting their eyes.

'Ah, so-so. Can't complain.'

'Good.' Said Cloud frostily, before melting into the background.

Tifa gave an apologetic sigh. Elena smiled knowingly.

While Reno endeavoured to make small talk with Cloud, Tifa took to gazing at Reno, taking in the messy red hair which terminated in a slick ponytail going down his back. She took in the lanky physique and swaggering, playful, cynical attitude. Also the shocking midnight blue eyes that always seemed to have a strange glimmer in them when they made contact with her own.

Suddenly, Tseng spoke up.

'We should be going, that next job, remember?'

They gave simultaneous groans of affirmation.

As three stools scraped back, Rude tossed a coin to Tifa.

'Thanks for hearin' us out.' He grunted, adjusting his shades on the bridge of his nose.

'And not throwing us out.' Reno winked at her, grinning slyly.

'See you another time then.' Elena called. 'We have to get on with this..'job'.'

She made a face.

Tseng coughed uncomfortably. Reno cast Tifa a flirtatious smirk and the Turks headed out of Seventh Heaven.

'When did they come in?' Cloud interrogated her, pacing around the counter.

'About five minutes after you left.' Tifa told him cautiously. She knew what this was leading up to. Cloud would ask why she hadn't thrown them out and an argument would ensue. But the conversation took an entirely different tack to what she had expected as they walked into a quiet storeroom.

'Reno seemed awfully cheerful.'

'Only because you don't know the meaning of the word!' Tifa laughed playfully.

Cloud's face hardened. 'You were being very friendly with him. And you were making eye contact. '

'Am I forbidden to look at people that I had only looked at before to aim a punch at? I mean, so what?'

Cloud rolled his eyes. 'No, but you were gazing at him strangely. With admiration, almost.'

It was Tifa's turn to roll her eyes. 'Don't be silly, I wasn't admiring him.' She lied through her teeth. 'Maybe it was a masked look of hatred.' She grinned.

Cloud raised an eyebrow sceptically and brushed past her out the door:

'You had better get back to your customers, they're getting impatient.'

End of chapter 1. Please review!!