Disclaimer: don't own it but ya'll knew that anyways.
"Ouch, go easy will you!" A grouchy midde-aged man shouted as his doctor removed his stitches.
"I'm Sorry, but it's your own fault, getting into bar fights all the time." The doctor tutted.
"Yeah, spare me the lecture will ya! Anyhows, what's the story with that lil chic over there." The man nodded his head in the direction of a sleeping patient on the bed next to him.
"She's been unconscious for quite a while, bought in by an itchy-footed martial artist." The doctor answered casting a quick glance towards the young girl. "He paid me a lump sum and then just left her."
"Well, she ain't gunna be lonely for long, not with a body like that." Grinned the patient as his eyes leered across her body.
The doctor shot the man a warning glance, "You leave her alone."
"Ha, it ain't me ya gotta worry about. The Don will snap her up in no time."
He jumped down off of the hospital bed and made his way for the door.
"Hey! What about your bill?"
"Just put it on the tab doc."
It wasn't worth starting fights with anyone down in the slums, not if you wanted to keep your business or more importantly, your life.
The doctor swallowed the bitterness that rose in his throat and pulled his prosthetic gloves off; he tossed them into the bin and heaved a heavy sigh.
The Nurse called him through into the small room at the back of their tatty practise.
Miss Tifa Lockhart was left to come round all by herself.
She felt as if she was waking from a terrible dream only to find herself in a reality far worse than that of her nightmares.
The minutes ticked by, she rolled on to her back and eventually let the reality of the situation sink in.
She wanted to believe that all the horrible things that had happened had been in her dreams and that when she looked out of the window she would see Nibelhiem and that her father would walk through the door and come and get her.
The image of her father's murdered body was clear in her mind and she could almost feel the spiral of despair that she was descending down into.
A dumb-struck man was now standing before her; he was dressed in a white coat. His hair was thinning and his glasses looked as though they had been broken a few times.
"You are awake! I was starting to lose hope that you'd ever recover." He gasped.
"Where am I?" she croaked, finding that her mouth was painfully dry.
The doctor was still a little startled, "Oh, Midgar, Sector 3 Slums to be precise."
Tifa nodded her head, "And how did I get here?"
"A man bought you to us; you were in a far worst state then, let me tell you." The doctor finally seemed to have conquered his surprise; he rushed forward and poured her a drink of water.
Her hands shook as she took a hold of the glass and drained it.
"May I ask what happened?" the doctor asked cautiously.
Tifa shook her head, strands of her long ebony hair fell across her face, "I can't, and I don't want to even think..."
"I understand, please feel free to stay her as long as you need." As he spoke the young girl was already climbing down from the bed, her legs wobbled as she tried to stand, "Really there is no rush!"
Tifa tried to smile, she was alone and it wasn't going to be easy so she couldn't afford to be weak now.
"Thank you for taking care of me, I am sorry but I have no money."
"The man that bought you to us took care of that." The doctor took off his glasses and polished them on his sleeve, "I can't stop you from leaving, but please take care, this city isn't a good place to be lonely."
A few days later...
Completely alone at the age of 16 and lost within the bowels of the monstrous Midgar, Tifa cursed the name of Cloud Strife. This was exactly the sort of thing she had had in mind when she had asked him to help her if she was in a bind. He was probably miles away with plenty of beautiful women admiring his SOLDIER uniform.
She kicked a can in front of her, it collided completely accidently into the back of a aggressive looking fellow. His gang turned to face her with greedy grins.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to..." she apologised.
"Don't worry, I'm sure we can find it in our hearts to forgive you." Said a lanky looking blonde, the rest of them circled around her.
"So, how old are you?"
"16"
"Heh, old enough, fancy coming to meet our friend? He'll be really friendly to a gal like you." Piped up another member, he was staring down at her chest.
Tifa wished she was at her full strength, she would have taught them a lesson for their chauvinistic actions.
"I think you should leave her alone." A timid voice came from behind them.
The ring-leader turned to see who had dared to stick their nose in.
"Heheh, don't get your panties in a twist, we are just having a nice chat." With that he swung his arm around Tifa's shoulders and yanked her roughly towards his chest.
"I mean it, let her go you jerk!"
Tifa struggled against him with futile rage.
The second woman swung her metal pole at his head and he fell back in pain. Tifa took this opportunity to free herself, she dashed to the girl's side.
"Oh! Big mistake!" sneered the lanky blonde as he slid a metal knuckle over his fingers.
Tifa's saviour lifted a hand and cast a Fire magic, she grabbed Tifa's hand in the other and pulled her with her as she ran.
Neither of them looked back but they could hear the curses of the gang behind them, they eventually faded away.
The young girl who had helped her stumbled over a piece of scrap metal and dropped the basket she had been carrying.
Tifa struggled to catch her breath; this girl sure was brave for somebody who wore a pink ribbon in her hair.
"Thank you for helping me back there." Tifa knelt down and helped the girl collect the flowers that had fallen from her basket.
"Don't worry about it; I know how hard it can be down here. Have you been in Midgar long?" She asked, flicking her long plait over her shoulder.
Tifa shook her head, "No, not long."
"Do you have anywhere to stay?"
Tifa wasn't quite sure what made her lie and say that she did, she just didn't want to cause more trouble for somebody so kind.
"That's good then, are you sure you will be okay?" She asked as Tifa bid her farewell.
The raven haired beauty nodded and forced a smile.
The flower girl dusted off her dress as she got to her feet, her green eyes met with Tifa's red pair. Something told her that this girl could see right through her.
"Here, I want you to have a flower, it seems like you could do with a little cheering up."
"Oh I couldn't, really." She protested.
"I insist, please." She pressed a yellow flower into Tifa's hand.
"Thank you." With that they went their separate ways.
Weeks passed and Tifa was in exactly the same predicament she had been at the beginning of her time here in Midgar. No friends, no family, no food, no money.
She had been reduced to scrounging for scraps and spare gil just so she could eat. Her nights had been spent beneath large pieces of metal shrapnel. At least the plates kept the rain from falling down on her. It was strange for her to look up and see concrete when she had known nothing but starlight for so long. How she missed Nibelheim, now when she thought of her home all she could see was flames and death.
Tifa wished with all her heart she had taken that kind girl's offer of help, there's no room for pride when you are avoiding pimps and starvation as you would one of the legendary weapons.
In a moment of weakness she had boarded the train and searched in vain for the flower girl.
The guards soon kicked her off when they found she had no ticket or means to pay for one.
She sat upon the sector 7 platform. Her stomach growled and her body ached. The closest thing to a comfortable bed she had had recently was one of the abandoned trains in the train graveyard. She was too afraid to stay there any longer as the monsters would not leave her alone.
She thought of what her parents might say if they saw her in such weak spirits; It was for their memory that she urged herself to carry on. Tifa dragged her weary legs into the slum. She was greeted by the sight of a furious looking man trying to carry some boxes up a small flight of stairs whilst carrying a screaming baby.
The man was large and dark and had a striking weapon grafted to one of his arms. She couldn't help but stare.
"What! What you staring at!" he shouted when he spotted her.
"Uh-um, Do you need some help?" she asked swallowing her fear.
He looked thoughtful for a moment, "hell yes." he softened towards her.
Tifa rushed forward, he gently handed her the baby.
"This here is Marlene and I'm Barret, My arm got shot off so don't ask no questions and I'll return the favour."
Tifa listened and nodded, she rocked the baby in her arms to calm her.
Marlene did stop crying.
"Well look at that." He shifted the box in his hand and carried it the rest of the way. Tifa followed.
There was a small crib in the middle of the room, it appeared to be a small run-down bar, Barret and Marlene must have been moving in. Tifa carefully placed the baby in the crib.
"Excuse me? Barret? You do know the stove is on?" She questioned softly, the smell of food cooking was making her mouth water.
"Yeah, I know it's on! Trying to cook ain't I!" He thumped a fist down on his box. "Got loads of things need doing!"
"How about you get the boxes and I'll cook." She suggested, hiding her mild amusement at the agitated man.
"Bossy one ain't ya? Alright then." He turned to go and fetch the next box. "Hey, what's your name then?"
"Tifa."
With only one job to worry about Barret was a lot calmer. Tifa warmed some formula for the baby and made dinner for herself and Barret.
"This is good stuff!" He complemented as they tucked in, all the boxes now piled up against the wall.
"Thanks, it's actually the first time I've cooked a full meal." She confessed as she devoured it in a way that would have earnt her a slapped wrist back home.
"No SH--, hey you looking for a job?" he asked as he took another mouthful.
"Yes, I suppose I am."
"Consider yourself hired; you can work behind the bar."
Tifa felt like crying, it wasn't much but it was a start. "Thank you"
"Won't your family be getting worked up? it's late." He asked as he noticed the time on an old dusty wall clock.
"I don't have any family, not anymore." She said shyly fiddling with her hair.
"Ha! Ain't life strange? Me and lil 'Lene ain't got no family left now either. Like we were supposed to meet or something." Barret mused as he put down his fork.
"So Marlene isn't your daughter?"
"No, she was my best friends...hey wait I said no questions." He sniffed.
"Oh that's right."
They sat in awkward silence, both thinking about the dark paths that had led them to sector 7.
"They call this place Seventh Heaven, ha, do you think they are taking the pi—?" He chuckled as he wiped a whole load of dust from the table.
For Tifa it was the closest thing to heaven she had seen in a long while, whoever said that angels can't have tattoo's and mouths like a sailor.