AN: Thank you so much for the reviews, follows, and favorites! Makes me happy writing again. Sorry about the slow updates, life's been busy. Hope you enjoy this second chapter.

Burning Close

Chapter 2

"Hey, hey, hey, aren't you that busty barmaid from Edge?"

Tifa glanced up from the bar counter and saw two men grinning from ear to ear. One with brown curly hair, and the other with black spiky hair that was particularly reminiscent of someone. The familiar blue glow in their eyes immediately caught her attention. Ex-SOLDIERS. She smirked, hating the thought.

"What would you like?" she asked, averting her gaze.

"What are you doing here?" the one with the curly hair said, settling down onto his seat. "Weren't you the owner of Seventh Heaven out at Edge?"

"Yeah." The black-haired man rested his chin on one hand, blue-indigo eyes piercing through the ruby ones as if reading her mind. "What's a pretty lady like you doing in such a rundown place?"

Tifa gave a cold sweet smile and replied quietly, "it's really none of your business, boys." Her eyes glared daggers at the spiky-head. "So, what would you like to order?"

The brown-haired man whistled, while the other man laughed heartily. "Looks like we got a little spicy one here."

Sudden fire-flaming anger boiled through the barmaid's veins. She had just arrived at Johnny's Heaven here at the Sector 6 Wall Market a few hours ago, just checked-in and unpacked her things at the inn across from Johnny's home on the outskirts of Sector 6, was extremely agitated that a certain blonde totally did not acknowledge her leaving (not even a damn call!), and was forced to endure a long, heart-digging interrogation from Mona, Johnny's wife ("What happened with you and Cloud? Did you two break up?" she asked for the umpteenth time). Her patience was running low. Extremely low. How was she to explain that the two of them didn't "break up" because they were never ever "officially together"? ("What? After sooo many years of living together? No way!") Tifa groaned inwardly.

"Look, just order, drink, and get the—" she started, but caught Johnny's raised eyebrows near the back of the bar. His hands hovered above a box of empty bottles, a questioning look on his face. Taking a deep breath, she turned back to wiping glasses.

Relax, Tifa. Relax.

"I'm Zack," the spiky-head grinned. "Zack Fair. And he's Kunsel."

"He's the infamous womanizer of Midgar," the man named Kunsel teased.

"Hey, c'mon, that's not true," Zack frowned, then quickly grinned. "I'm the womanizer of the world!"

The two men guffawed stupidly, all the while the barmaid ignored their idiocy, impatience fuming.

"So…what's your name?" Zack asked.

"Tifa."

"Tee-fa…" The name rolled on his tongue as if savoring the taste. "Nice name."

Rolling her eyes, Tifa crossed her arms and gave him a look. "Are you gonna order or not?"

"Sure," Zack beamed, "gimme somethin' hard!"

For some strange reason, the remark brought a smile to the barmaid's face. But she quickly frowned, realizing her own smile and hid her face behind black silky hair.

The spiky-head grinned cockily. "Glad I made you smile."

Being a Wednesday night, Johnny quickly left the bar to Tifa, thanking her furiously all the while. ("Gahh Mona's gonna kill me for being late…") The patrons left soon after several drinks. All except the ex-SOLDIER with the black spikes. Bidding farewell to his friend, Zack turned toward the well endowed barmaid in front of him, who was busily (and purposely) avoiding his blue gaze.

"Could I have 'nother one of this please, Tee-fa?" He raised an empty glass.

The barmaid pursed her lips tightly, but went ahead and poured the man another glass of Corel wine.

Propping his chin on his hands, Zack glanced up and down at the woman. "Why such a sad face, babe?"

Tifa rolled her eyes so hard she thought they might fall out of her skull. Still, she replied sweetly. "'Cause it's nearly midnight and a customer is still here drinking on a weekday night, but I can't close the bar yet 'cause said customer won't leave the poor babe alone. And," she tried hard not to glare, "she's just really damn tired after a really long, ass day."

The lone customer chuckled into his glass of alcohol. "Dear, dear, so you're sayin' I'm in the way?"

"I can't really say that to a customer, can I, dear customer?" Tifa smirked.

"Well," Zack crossed his arms across his broad chest, thinking. "How about this? I'll let you close off the bar early tonight, but…" His eyes flashed. "You gotta go on a date with me."

What in the world…? Tifa clenched her fists. "I'm sorry, I'd rather not."

She stepped away toward the other side of the counter, wiping the wooden bar irritably until the surface was squeaking clean. Famous for her beauty, the barmaid was all too familiar with patrons hitting on her with terrible pick-up lines. Her normal response was to joke back, but decline nicely. But there was something about this ex-SOLDIER that intrigued her, yet disgusted her all at once…The black spikes, the blue glowing eyes, the well-built figure, the x-shaped scar on his cheek… She must admit, he was rather handsome. Tifa wanted to punch herself.

"Well, why not?" Zack asked, cheeks red from the alcohol. "It'll be fun."

"I don't date strangers."

"So if I get to know you better, you'll go out with me?"

Tifa smirked, knowing fairly well that players like him would never have the commitment to "get to know" a girl better. All they wanted was a quick shag and dump her like trash.

"You can try," she rolled her eyes again.

"All righty," Zack grinned. "I'll see you tomorrow night! This I promise."

With that, he left the bar, leaving an extra 1000 gils.

Doubting the man would keep his promise, Tifa locked the doors. At least he gives good tips.

To Tifa's surprise, Zack Fair came back the next night. And the night after that. And the many nights after that very first Wednesday night. Every night, he would ask the barmaid a personal question and he'd share a fact about himself in return.

"What's your last name?" he asked on the second night.

"So, what's your favorite color?"

"I love good ol' burgers…what's your most favorite food?"

"Since you make so many drinks, which one's your favorite?"

"When's your birthday?"

"So…are you single?"

"What was your dream when you were a kid?" he asked on the tenth night.

Tifa stopped wiping the glass in her hands. "My…dream?"

"Yeah, you know, a childhood dream," he smiled. "Mine was to become a Shinra First Class SOLDIER." He flexed his muscles, grinning wide. "Mine came true obviously. But with Shinra gone now—well, I've quitted way before all that but I've…anyway," he shook his head, frowning slightly. "That's for next time…What 'bout you?"

"I…" Tifa paused.

Shinra First Class SOLDIER. The same dream as him. Why did all the boys wanted to be in SOLDIER? Of course, with the fall of Shinra and knowing now that it was a corrupted corporation trying to destroy the planet, many young boys' dreams were broken. Broken…just like him. Him, a man whom she had spent the last 4 years desperately clinging onto, yet always falling back. What was all that for? Not once had this man contacted her since her leaving. Zero phone calls, zero text, nothing, nada. The others had called her everyday updating themselves, but none of them dared talk to her about him.

"Tifa?"

When did her life started revolving around him? What about herself? What was her dream? Her dream…as a young girl, was to be like her Mother, become a housewife and have a happy family. But after her mother's passing, she wanted nothing of that dream, realizing girls didn't need the protection of others. Yet, when a certain blonde promised to be her hero, she left her dream fall into his hands…

"Gaia to Tifa?" Zack waved a hand in front of her.

Tifa blinked. "To become a martial artist."

Zack grinned. "Wow, really? So, you can kick butt?"

"Of course," the barmaid crossed her arms. "So you better watch out!"

"I'd let you kick my butt any time," Zack winked. "Or do anything with my butt."

"Bar's closing!" Tifa pushed the man out and locked the doors.

On the fourteenth night, a quiet Wednesday night, the ex-SOLDIER returned yet again.

"Same ol' please," Zack smiled.

Tifa had a huge urge of asking why the man was so free. Doesn't he need to work? She pursed her lips as she poured Corel wine into a glass.

"You look like you wanna ask me something?" the man asked, indigo eyes glowing mischievously.

"Nope, not at all."

Zack grinned. Taking a sip, his smile slowly faded. "Well, I'll tell you somethin'," his eyes glazed. "I don't remember anything from my past."

Immediately, Tifa glanced up from her cleaning, curiosity growing in her. But she bit her tongue, unwilling to give in to the man.

"Aren't you gonna ask me why?" the ex-SOLDIER teased.

"You're gonna tell me anyway," Tifa turned away. "Your mouth's too big."

The man laughed.

Finally, on the seventeenth night, the confidant man asked her out again.

"So, I've known you for 17 nights," Zack smiled, counting his fingers. "Miss Tee-fa Lockhart, whose birthday is on May 3rd, blood type is B, favorite color is black, favorite food is carbonara, became a successful martial artist and has an ultimate weapon named Premium Heart, has super duper long legs, prefers to keep her hair long—" (Tifa was getting incredibly dizzy with all the commotion going on in the bar…), "—and most importantly, single, will you go out with me?"

It was Saturday. Happy patrons filled up Johnny's Heaven in every inch, clanking glasses of beer and spilling some more. Chatter and laughter rang in Tifa's ears. She was busy as hell.

"Seriously, Mr. Fair," she huffed, "I'm rather busy here!"

"I'll wait," the man winked in that cocky manner, raising his glass of Corel wine.

Seriously, why's he still bothering me? Tifa poured some whiskey into a glass irritably, accidentally spilling some. Normal men would just go away when I've ignored their advances. She glanced at the indigo eyes, which never left her. What's wrong with him?

Or rather, what's wrong with me? While it was true men frequently asked her out, no men had ever chased her like this by coming to the bar every single night. It was unsettling and intriguing. Don't be stupid, Tifa. Just because he's kept his promise on coming every night doesn't necessarily mean he's serious. That's right. All players are the same. Just like all ex-SOLDIERS aren't trustworthy.

Busy filling patron's beer glasses around the bar, Tifa successfully ignored the raven-haired man for the entire night, yet couldn't help but feel his piercing gaze watching her every move. It was uncomfortable to say the least. Yet she wanted to punch herself when slight disappointment fell upon her when she noticed the empty bar chair at half past twelve. She blinked several times and unconsciously, started scanning the crowded bar for a certain man with black spikes.

"Yo," hot breath trickled down her neck giving her shivers, "lookin' for me?"

Swiftly, her gut reaction threw out a right punch toward the source.

"Whoa!" Zack skillfully dodged the punch, a smile tugging at the corner of his lips.

Tifa's eyes went wide, surprised at the quick response. "You..."

The man grinned. "I'm ex-SOLDIER," he said matter-of-factly.

Something tugged in her heart. Shaking her head in defeat, the martial artist smiled softly. "All right, Mr. Fair. I'll go on a date with you."

What am I thinking?!