DYWTTAI - 6

Despite having to outrun an irate ninja, Tifa could not have been happier for her friends. It had only taken a few small bruises to get back into Yuffie's good graces, and really she deserved far worse for meddling in her love life. Still, it was more than sentimentality that made her give Vincent a little push. She honestly believed the two of them deserved any happiness they managed to scrape together.

Things changed, and then again they did not. Vincent had never been an emotional man by any standards, so he did not openly share his affection for Yuffie often. The people who knew him best could see his feelings in the softness in his eyes when he looked at her.

Yuffie, on the other hand, had started off with calling him by obnoxious pet names. Each name was worse and worse. Vincent only smiled at her antics and the sparkle quickly wore off. Still, it was plain to see that Yuffie cared for him, too.

They still spent some of their days in Tifa's bar, but now from time to time she caught them with hands intertwined.

Then one night, a few weeks later, just before she locked the door, Yuffie came into the bar like a storm cloud. She did not bother stopping in the empty room and went straight for the kitchen. Tifa locked the door and followed her into the kitchen. She found the girl raiding the refrigerator for chocolate she knew was kept in the back. These were both very bad signs. Turning around and grabbing a bottle of Yuffie's favorite fruity shot mix and some glasses, Tifa braved the kitchen.

"You know, for someone who is supposed to be so mature, Vincent's an idiot." Yuffie shoved a piece of chocolate into her mouth and slammed the door shut, "Seweoswee."

"Put the kids' chocolate back and come have some of this instead." Tifa said, setting the glasses down and pouring a shot for each of them, "Cloud took Denzel on a delivery since Marlene and Shelke are visiting Barret in Corel. We've got the place to ourselves."

Yuffie put the chocolate on the counter and quickly downed the drink. Tifa lifted her glass into the air teasingly before swallowing her own down as well. Yuffie threw herself onto a stool across from Tifa, scowling darkly. Tifa was almost afraid to ask what had happened.

"I'm telling you, Tifa, men are stupid." Yuffie's head slumped onto her folded arms, "Vincent's an ass, Cloud leaves you here all the time, Reeve's been acting super weird at work... don't even get me started on Cid or Barret! Why do we put up with them!?"

"Because neither of us is overly interested in the alternatives."

"At this point, I think I'm starting to consider Nanaki." Yuffie grumbled, "He's cuddly and a gentleman."

Tifa poured them each another drink, trying not to laugh, "Drink and then tell me what's going on."

Yuffie scooped up the glass and toasted Tifa, "To us! And to heck with them."

A second shot was consumed by both women and Tifa leaned back to enjoy the warmth burning through her veins. She did not often drink, despite owning her own bar, because she had too many responsibilities to risk alcohol impairing her judgment. Still, it was nice to indulge sometimes.

"Obviously, Vincent and I had a fight tonight." Yuffie said, "It's been a few days coming, but it was still awful."

"What happened?"

"He's got these weird hang-ups about me staying at his place." Yuffie toyed with the empty glass, "I mean, yeah, okay, so it's a little soon to want to stay with him, but I'm not suggesting we live together or anything. Sometimes we're having a nice time and I don't feel like taking the walk back to the WRO building. I'm perfectly happy to crash on the couch... except I can't do that! Oh no, tall man will sleep on the itty bitty couch while I stretch out in his comfy bed."

Tifa tried not to smile, "He was just being a gentleman, Yuffie."

"I get that. It's nice, but at some point, he should get over it and be practical. I'd be more comfortable on the couch than he would." Yuffie pouted, "He's got to be a gentleman when it makes no sense. After some of the places I've stayed in, his cushy couch is a palace."

"Still-"

Yuffie continued on as if she had not heard Tifa, "It's the principal of the thing! My opinion matters! If I say I want to sleep on the couch, he should let me do it!"

Tifa held her hands up in surrender, "Alright! Alright! I can see where that would bother you... independent as you are. So what else?"

"He rearranges things, like obsessively."

Shaking her head, Tifa poured them another drink.

"Seriously! He's like a crazy person." Yuffie protested. They both drank back their shots, "I did the dishes as a thank you for dinner one night and he waited until I went to bed and then moved all the dishes around. It was, like, the middle of the night! It seems like any time I touch something he eventually moves it back to the way it was."

"I don't know if I believe that." Tifa giggled, "You're making it up!"

Yuffie looked at her intently, slamming her glass down for emphasis, "I tested it! I purposely moved some books around on a shelf. I picked one up, looked at the title, and then put it back down in a different place in line! I went to the bathroom and when I got back, the books were in the right order again."

"I don't know which of you is crazier," Tifa said, "you for noticing it or him for fixing it when you're not looking. So what else?"

Yuffie lay her head on her arms, staring blankly at the refrigerator, "I dunno. I just thought that when we finally got together that things would be different. Sometimes he looks at me and I get the feeling he sees a grubby little sixteen year old with sticky fingers. I keep expecting him to pat me on the head and tell me to go home to my daddy."

"It can't be that bad, Yuffie." Tifa said, running a hand over the girl's hair.

"It's not bad exactly. I just thought this would all be much easier than it turned out to be." Yuffie whined, "I mean, it seemed simple. Girl meets boy who is asleep in a coffin. Boy helps girl save the world again, and again, and again... and again..."

Yuffie's gaze went a little unfocused as she trailed off mid-thought. Tifa bit back a giggle, trying not to embarrass her friend. The small squeak that escaped her was enough to bring Yuffie back around. She sat up again, "Girl saves boy's life, boy saves girl's life... they fall in love and live happily ever after. Nowhere does any story EVER say that boy and girl fight over stupid things!"

"There could be hot, make-up sex." Tifa suggested helpfully.

Yuffie only snorted, "As if. After that first kiss here at the bar, he's been weird about kissing me. After a couple of minutes, he gets all uncomfortable and, like, sets me aside. I think if I got naked, he'd have a heart attack."

Tifa nearly choked on the shot she had been trying to take. She swallowed quickly and gasped as the alcohol burned unpleasantly in her throat. Yuffie giggled drunkenly, "Sorry Tifa. I didn't mean to make you gag on it."

"No." Tifa leaned her head against her hands and coughed a bit, "That's what I get for being nosey. You guys are usually so comfy... I was just curious."

Yuffie grinned at her, "Speaking of being nosey, what's going on with you and Reeve?"

Tifa sat up quickly, wincing as the room swam a bit in front of her vision, "Nothing!"

"Uh huh." Yuffie said, with obvious disbelief, "I tried to talk him in to coming here after work last Friday and he got all awkward and made up an excuse about working late. Only one thing would be making him awkward in this bar."

"His undying love for Cloud?" Tifa suggested.

Yuffie laughed and clenched her eyes shut, "Ugh! That was not something I needed to imagine in my drunk brain."

"I don't know..." Tifa murmured, grinning wickedly, "They're both pretty attractive and there could be oil of some kind..."

Yuffie paused for a moment, letting herself imagine it. Finally, she shook her head, "Nope. Reeve's too old for that to be hot."

Tifa wrinkled her nose, "He's not that old-"

"Ah ha!" Yuffie crowed, triumphantly, "Something is going on! I knew it! You think Reeve's as attractive as Cloud and that he's not too old. Spill!"

Tifa poured another shot and drank it down, "He might have made a pass at me."

Yuffie squealed in delight, "Lucky! Reeve's a fox."

"What happened to 'too old to be hot'?" Tifa replied tartly.

"Pul-ease. Vincent's the oldest guy in the group and I'm all over that. I was lying to get you to fess up." Yuffie grinned eagerly, "So?"

"So what? I shot him down." Tifa toyed with her shot glass, "I'm with Cloud."

Yuffie peered at her, expression serious, "Are you really?"

Tifa rolled her eyes and sullenly muttered, "Not you too."

"Far be it for me to judge, but what kind of relationship is this? Does he introduce you as his girlfriend? Does he kiss you? I don't think I've ever seen him touch you. Would he be pissed if you went out with Reeve?"

"I don't know." Tifa admitted, "We never said we were... well anything, but I love him."

Yuffie patted her hands clumsily, "I'm sure he loves you too. Maybe he just needs to see it. Go out to dinner with Reeve. If you like it, awesome. If not, no real harm done... and Cloud decides if he's in or not. Either way, you're the winner."

Tifa felt tears well up in her eyes and did her best to blink them away. The alcohol was making it difficult to keep her emotions in check. She saw the guilt taking over Yuffie's expression and waved her hand dismissively, "I'm alright. It's just hard to know that no one has any faith in me or Cloud. I just... I guess I thought things would all just fall into place between us."

"I still think they will." Yuffie assured her, "Cloud just isn't the king of... obvious things... I dunno... brain's fuzzy. Either way, he could use a good kick in the right direction. Ask Cloud to watch the bar and the kids, get all prettied up and wiggle them curves out of here on Reeve's arm. I bet Cloud goes nutty with jealousy!"

"I don't know..." Tifa played with her shot glass, "Reeve's my friend. I don't want to use him to make Cloud jealous."

"So go into it with an open mind! Maybe you'll like Reeve better." Yuffie shook her head, laughing, "It's not like he's asking you to marry him. If you guys go out and you decide you like Cloud better, he won't be mad."

Yuffie's words pierced the alcohol fogging her brain. She seemed awfully familiar with something that only Tifa, Reeve and maybe Shelke should know about. She had not even been surprised when Tifa had revealed that Reeve had come on to her. Tifa's eyes narrowed on her friend's face. Yuffie had already known about the whole thing.

The ninja's eyes widened, "Uh... oops... consider it revenge?"

"You're here working as a double agent for Reeve!" Tifa cried, scowling.

That made Yuffie laugh again, "That's what I do for him. It doesn't make anything I just said less true. I wouldn't have helped him if I didn't think you'd have a good time."

"Alright." Tifa said, sighing in resignation as she flipped open her cell phone, "I'll give it a try."

"What? Seriously?" Yuffie frowned, "Wait... You're calling him now?"

"He's the one making up the rules of this little game..." Tifa selected his name from her address book and pressed the call button, "I'm just playing."

On the third ring Reeve picked up, voice scratchy with sleep, "Hmm... yes... Hello?"

Tifa grinned, "What are you doing Friday night?"

"Tifa?"

"Of course it's me." Tifa had to look away from Yuffie's maniacal grin to keep from laughing, "Who else would call you this late?"

Tifa could hear Reeve's bed creak as he shifted positions, "Well, Yuffie, usually. Still, this is a pleasant surprise. I can't say I'm doing anything on Friday night. Why do you ask?"

"I realize that I might have been too hard on you the other day." Tifa winced as the word realize slurred from her lips, "You... were just being nice. I shouldn't have gotten so offended."

There was a moment of quiet before Reeve asked, "Have you been drinking?"

Tifa shrugged, "Yes. Yuffie came by. We had a chat about things and had some drinks. That doesn't make this less true."

"Well, I certainly appreciate the apology." Tifa heard him stifle a yawn, "However, it's quite late. Would you mind if we continued this conversation tomorrow?"

"But... I-"

"Goodnight, Tifa."

Before she could say another word, Reeve disconnected the call. Tifa pulled the phone away and looked at the screen to be sure. Yuffie let out a wild laugh, clutching at the countertop to keep from falling out of her seat.

"That man is so..." Tifa let out an angry cry and tossed her phone back on the counter, "He sends you here to do his dirty work and then doesn't even have the decency to let me ask him out!"

"That's... Reeve for you." Yuffie said between giggles. She wiped tears from her eyes, "If it's any... consolation... that's usually how he ends my two a.m. calls."

Tifa climbed off the chair and waited until she felt steady on her feet, "Well, I'm going to bed. You're welcome to crash in Cloud's room, since he's not using it tonight."

Yuffie nodded and followed Tifa out of the kitchen. As they climbed the stairs, Tifa asked, "So are you and Vincent really fighting or was that a cover?"

"We're kind of fighting." Yuffie admitted, "A little. It'll be okay though. It's a little nice, actually... very normal couply stuff. I'm just taking a couple of days to blow off steam. That's the great thing about dating Vincent; he already knows what my temper's like so he's not mad that I'm off wandering. I don't want to have a big blow out fight because he won't let me sleep on the couch. That'd be stupid."