Hourglass

There was a part of Rufus Shinra that would always enjoy making a grand entrance. Standing out and being noticed. If he had to be the only person entering an almost empty bar at 1:55 in the morning, than so be it.

Another part of him didn't know what was getting into him, but that was overshadowed – albeit slightly, by the part of him that certainly knew he was being in character. He was making a grand entrance, after all. Sure there was only one woman who was part of his so-called captive audience, but it was grand, nonetheless.

"Bar's closing in five, so make it snappy."

Rufus smirked, standing in the doorway and watching her with a keen eye. Tifa was stacking glasses in a cupboard, most likely standing on her tippy-toes, from what he could gather; arms outstretched over her head and white tank-top rising to expose the small of her back. She didn't see him.

Didn't rule out whether she knew who was there, though. He removed his overcoat and hung it by the doorway, straightened his vest and… waited. He had two choices at that point. Either make his presence known, or see if she did know it was him. Tifa was good at judging her environment, but it was late, so maybe she wasn't aware of who her final customer was for the night. As it was, Rufus had expected a little more bite to her words.

"I know it's you."

Oh.

He chuckled, brushed back a few strands of hair and made his way to the bar. Sauntered, really. Anything to make him feel more at ease; less awkward. The last time he had seen her…

Well, that was another story entirely.

"I'm not sure what you're planning…"

"Planning?" Rufus feigned shock.

"Planning. I told you that didn't change anything."

"Oh, that. And here I thought you wanted to talk business with me."

Tifa leaned against mahogany and tapped a nail against the polished wood. "Business? Well, this is a bar. Let's pretend you're here for that, shall we?" Her words were thoughtful. This was almost an improvement.

"Who said I was here for something else? Surprise me." Rufus attempted his most winning smile, knowing full well that she would pay it no mind, then added as an afterthought, "No tequila."

A look passed across the brunette's face – something mischievous with a hint of the playfully sinister. Rufus had to wonder exactly what that was about, but he decided it might not be for the best.

Still, his imagination could kick in at any moment. Tifa was pulling out a suspicious amount of bottles. Something yellow from the fridge. Rum… He pulled out a stool and settled himself. "So, I didn't get a chance to thank you for the lovely evening last week."

"Is that what we're calling it, now?" Tifa smirked, poured her concoction into a blender and then let it go without the slightest bit of warning.

Rufus inwardly winced, then waited for an opening. "What would you call it, then?"

She was silent, pouring blended liquid into two glasses. Rufus was sure she had many different responses to that little question. At least Tifa had a certain degree of humor present in her displeasure with him. Usually. He had to wonder if she was always like that or only when it came to a special few.

Maybe that was why he was a bit surprised when she slid the glass toward him and answered with a single word: "Interesting."

Rufus held the glass in hand, feeling the cold leeching warmth from his hand but barely registering the discomfort. "Pardon?"

"It was interesting."

Rufus wasn't entirely sure what that meant, but decided to let his confusion simmer a while. And this was why he didn't date. Nothing was ever simple… at least not from what he had ever witnessed. Best to change the subject before he think entirely too hard upon the subject. "So dare I wonder why you're staring at me like you poisoned my drink?"

"Oh, Shinra. I'm drinking the same thing as you The last thing I want to do is die in your proximity, I assure you." She took a sip from her own for added effect. "This is just something I used to get in Costa… back when the lot of us were traveling."

"You had time for drinks while you were saving the world?" Rufus made a skeptical face, then took a sip. Pineapple. Rum. Coconut. Ahh.

She shook her head. "Afterwards. Girl's night out. Go shopping. Have a nice dinner. Follow it up with foofy, fruity drinks…"

"The pina colada is a man's drink." He took another sip. "Surely you of all people should know that. Also you happen to make a rather good one. I applaud you." He smirked around his straw.

"I knew I should have made you a cosmopolitan."

"That might have gone to your advantage. I'm rather lukewarm about vodka."

"But not rum?"

"I like rum."

"I'll have to file that away."

Rufus tilted the glass toward himself, watching the slush follow suit. They still lapsed into silences, but there was something less… anxiety building about them.

That didn't mean he was altogether fond of it. "So last week."

Tifa placed her glass down and looked him straight in the eye. "I told you that – that thing… It didn't change anything."

"I know. But I don't believe you."

"Just because you don't believe in something, doesn't mean- "

"So why did you kiss me, anyway?" Rufus leaned back a little, crossing his arms in front of his chest and waiting. This would be good.

"I…" She blew a few strands of dark hair out of her face in frustration. "I don't know."

"You don't know."

"It just sort of happened, but everything is exactly the same."

"I see. Well." He breathed out. Breathed in. Collected his nerves and leaned forward until they were face to face. Near touching. This close she smelled of rum and pineapple and what may have been shampoo. This close her eyes were wide and light brown, flecked with a darker mahogany. "Maybe if we tried it again, it might help you sort things out?"

Tifa pushed back, turned around, and grabbed her glass, setting it in the sink. "I don't like to repeat my mistakes."

Rufus shook his head, laughing under his breath. Tifa truly was an enigma. "So it was a mistake."

"Yes."

"And you mean to tell me that you don't want to make that same mistake again."

Silence.

Rufus laughed again, stood, and pushed in his stool. "Oh, this most certainly has changed everything, Miss Lockheart. But, I'll give you the benefit of the doubt. How about you stop on by my estate when you figure things out." And then he was across the room, putting on his coat. "Goodnight."

It was only when he was on the other side of the door that he realized just how good a night it had been.