Chapter 11 - Bar Trip Repeat
It had been three days. The supply of reheat and eat suppers was out, now, and he still wasn't home. The twins had no idea what was wrong. Cloud was never away this long without someone there to watch over them.
"Len, I'm worried." said Rin as she put the cold cereal bowls away.
"I'm worried, too. We have no way of calling him to see what's up, either."
"What about Tifa?" Rin asked.
"What about her?"
"She has a phone." Rin replied. "And if we told her, she might be able to help. Besides, I don't think either of us wants canned beans again for dinner."
Len nodded. "Alright. As soon as I write a note for Cloud, just in case he gets back while we're out." He scribbled out as best he could that he and Rin were going over to Tifa's because they were worried about him and were going to try calling him from there.
Rin took Len's still-bandaged hand as they walked down the street towards Seventh Heaven. She was grateful that Cloud had taught them how to read and write, since the sign for the bar had been fixed.
Tifa looked up as the bell on the door jingled. "He;lo and wel . . . What happened? Why are you two here?" she asked, coming around from behind the counter.
"Cloud hasn't come home." said Rin.
"But it's mid-afternoon." Tifa said, looking at them both. "Sit down, I'll get you two something to drink."
The twins sat at one of the tables and looked around. Aside from them there was the big dark-skinned man with the gun arm (Barret) sitting at a table with his daughter and another kid that apparently was her boyfriend. Then, there was the other blonde man, Cid, sitting by himself drinking a non-alcoholic beer. The guy with the red cape (Vincent) was sitting at the bar, and there were a few other patrons that the twins didn't recognize.
"Here you go." said Tifa. She sat at the table with them. "What happened to make you two come all the way up here?"
"Cloud hasn't come home in three days." said Len before he took a sip of his banana milk shake.
"Three days? Isn't there usually someone who comes to stay with you if he's gone that long?" Tifa asked.
Rin nodded, drinking some of her orange juice. "We were wondering if you could try calling him, since there's no phone at the house."
"Ok, I'll get my phone for you." Tifsa got up and went around behind the counter again.
The bell on the door jingled again, followed by a thud.
"Hello, and welcome to . . . huh?" Tifa walked over to the side closest to the door. "Oh goodness! Rude, get down here!"
A few of the patrons looked over, but it was the twins that recognized the bloody and unconscious figure. "Cloud!" they both cried.
Rude walked over and picked Cloud up, carrying him to the upper floor.
Tifa looked at the frightened twins, then called Tseng. "Hi, Tseng, it's Tifa. Get your ass over to my bar, now, I have an injured father here who's kids really need him alive." She clicked the phone shut and looked over at Rin and Len. "Sit, the doctor will be here soon to take care of him, alright?"
They nodded and sat at their table again. They watched as Tseng came in and headed upstairs.
Tifa had the two move over to the bar as the place got busier so she could keep an eye on them. She knew what kind of anxiety they were going through; she'd once worried about Cloud the same way, shortly after the fight with Kadaj. Cloud had suffered a serious shoulder wound from Sephiroth, and had been shot through the back and chest by Loz. They were all surprised that he'd managed to stand and help Denzel and the other kids that fateful day, since afterwards he'd been a pain-riddled wreck for the next two weeks.
Hours ticked by, and Tifa closed the bar. It was shortly after that Tseng came downstairs. "He's out of danger, now. The wounds should be healed in about a week."
"How's that possible?" Rin asked.
"Those looked worse than the bites we suffered." Len added.
Vincent looked over, having still been in the bar. "Cloud's special." he said. "He's got Mako in his veins."
"What's Mako?" Len asked.
"It's an energy source from the planet." Vincent replied. "Those that remain with the gift can be identified by their almost glowing blue eyes."
"Can we see Cloud?" Rin asked.
"I don't see why not." said Tseng. "Third room on the right at the top of the stairs."
"There are extra beds in there." said Tifa. "So make yourselves comfortable after you talk to him. I'm not sending you two home in the dark."
"Thank you, Tifa." the twins said before heading upstairs.
Cloud was awake when they reached the room, gasping slightly for his next breath. Looking over, he spotted Rin and Len. "What are you two doing here?" he asked, wincing slightly.
"We got worried when you didn't come home after three days, so we came here to ask Tifa if we could use her phone." said Rin.
"A good idea. Reno and - *hiss* - Elena aren't back yet." Cloud paused. "Sorry I worried you two." There was a tear in the corner of his eye.
"Just rest, ok?" said Rin.
"It's our turn to take care of you." Len added.
"I'm just glad you two are ok." Cloud said, a little softer this time. "I was . . . worried something might have happened." He dropped off back to sleep.
The twins climbed into the two other beds in the room and were soon asleep as well.