Disclaimer : I do not own FFVII, Crisis Core, Advent Children, or any of the characters that you recognise. As much as I love these guys, they belong to those other guys.

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The Moss Stomper : See, that's what I figured! I know me working behind a bar helped me learn a few tricks, and Tifa had a bar in the slums with guys like Johnny around, so surely she learned how to charm them but also how to reject any unwanted advances without losing customers. And yeah, she ain't the kind of girl to get freaked out over a little gore xD I agree that Reno leaving the Turks is an angle most people don't take. He lives for the job, and his fellow Turks. I've got an explanation comin later though! And that's a very good point about communications! I'm gonna edit that chapter differently, thank you for the constructive criticism!

ren7720 : Thank you, I'm glad you're enjoying it! I have no idea what makes me write in this style haha it's probably inspired by the many fics I've read myself with a little bit of me flung in there. Check out my favourites to see what I've been reading. Although if you're a fan of the Turks, I can not recommended Taking Care Of Reno by Desha enough. She writes my hands down favourite Reno!

Chapter 7 : Beer Fixes Everything

"YOU!"

Reno clamped his hands to his ears as Tifa started her tirade, causing him to wince slightly at the volume. He was getting too used to quiet living to handle being screamed at.

"It was you all this time?! You let me go on and on and didn't even tell me who you were! AND you invited me into your home? Oh my god, I'm in your home! What were you planning you PERVERT!" Tifa grabbed fistfuls of her own hair as she paced back and forward, unable to process just who was sitting in front of her. Reno raised his hands up in front of himself in defense as he scooted round to face her.

"Whoa, Tifa! I wasnt plannin' anything! I didn't even want you to figure out who I was!"

"Yeah, I'll bet you didn't! Bet you were gonna wait until it was dark and then try something!" She growled, stopping her pacing to glare at him. Reno's eyes darkened.

"Hey, I don't like what you're insinuating here." He snapped, his brows furrowing. Reno was many things - a killer, foul-mouthed, and a bit of a womaniser - but he had never taken advantage anyone in that way, especially not against their will. He firmly drew the line there. Tifa hadn't noticed the change in his face however as she stomped back into the livingroom. Jumping to his feet, Reno went to follow her until he remembered he had been in the process of disrobing when she'd surprised him. As comfortable as Reno was with his own body, following her out in his underwear wouldn't really help the situation. He quickly pulled on a pair of black sweatpants and a baggy white t-shirt before he jogged out after her. Tifa was sitting in the small hallway, attempt to pull her sodden clothing back on, her bobble hat stuffed back on her head. She was grumbling curses under her breath as he walked over to her.

"Where do ya think you're goin'?" Reno quizzed, lifting an eyebrow. She stared up at him from the floor, her cheeks flushed and his lips set in a hard line.

"I'm going back to my hotel. I'm not staying here a minute longer!"

"Tifa..." Reno sighed as he hunched down beside her. She was currently trying to pull on her trousers inside out in her haste. It took more than a bit of willpower to keep a straight face at the sight of her so flustered. "A few minutes ago you were happy to stay here even though you though I was a complete stranger. Now that ya know who I am, you wanna face hypothermia to get away from me? That hurts, yo." He clutched his chest dramatically as she stopped to glare at him.

"A stranger I can handle. But you?"

"Better the devil you know, I always heard."

"Hmph, the devil isn't a bad way to describe you." She grumbled as she made another attempt at getting her leg into the inside out clothing. Reno sighed and stood upright, stuffing his hands in his pockets.

"Look. I ain't gonna try anything. And even YOU aren't gonna make it back to Icicle Inn tonight without either getting lost or worse. I promise I'll leave ya alone if ya wanna stay. It's no skin off my nose either way." Reno waved his hand in the air as he turned and headed over to his couch.

Tifa kicked in annoyance at her trousers. Putting them on inside out had soaked her legs through her jeans and now they were covered in various Bandersnatch bits too. Exasperated, she pulled them off and flung them at the wall. She cast a glance at Reno, who had sat down and started munching on the sandwich she'd made for him, seemingly ignoring her now. Her stomach growled in betrayal as she watched him take a second bite and wash it down with a swig from his beer. She looked down at her her soaked clothing. He had a point. She had been perfectly willing to stay when she didn't even know what he looked like. And she knew Reno well enough, even if they had been on opposite sides for the majority of the time. She remembered back to the time they bumped into each other in Wutai, and again in Midgar towards the end right before Meterofall. He had turned down a fight then, so maybe he really did just want a quiet life? He and the rest ofthe Turks had also helped out when Bahamut SIN and the triplets threatened to destroy Edge. Tifa pulled her hat from her head and got to her feet, brushing herself off. She padded over to the couch in front of Reno, narrowing her eyes at him as he munched away on his sandwich, seemingly ignoring her. He gulped down the mouthful and looked at her as she sat on the hardwood floor.

"I'm assumin' you made this for me. 'ppreciate it a lot." Reno said as he wiped his mouth with the back of his hand before taking another drink of his beer. Tifa shrugged nonchalantly as she reached for her own sandwich.

"Figured it was the least I could do." She mumbled as she took a bite. She had almost forgotten how hungry she was. Reno leant back and stretched his free arm out along the back of the couch as he watched her.

"Why you sittin' on the floor anyhow?"

"I got blood on my jeans and I didn't wanna mess your couch up."

"Oh. Uh, thanks I guess." Reno stared down at his beer bottle before taking a bigger gulp. If the night was gonna be this awkward, he was gonna need something stronger than beer to get through it. He looked at Tifa again as she finished off the last of her sandwich and picked up her bottle. Might as well attempt some sort of conversation...

"So. Didn't take ya for a beer drinker..." He trailed off, watching her to see if she would even reply. She took a long swig of the beer before relaxing the bottle into her lap, picking at the label absent-mindedly.

"Yeah. Used to enjoy one or two whenever I closed up the bar at night. The old bar, that was."

"Oh. Not so much anymore?" Reno looked at his own beer, feeling like he was clutching at straws. He kinda missed the flirty, chatty Tifa she had been before she figured out who he was.

"No. I never really had time with Marlene and Denzel around." She sighed slightly, lifting the bottle to her lips and taking another drink before she returned to picking at the label. She had peeled half of it off. Reno realised this conversation was taking a bad turn.

"Well, yer welcome to help yourself to whatever is in the fridge. I have plenty more in the garage out back. And there's a pretty decent stash of stronger stuff if it takes your fancy." He offered, attempting what he hoped was a warm smile. Since when did you care if Tifa Lockhart was feeling down? You're getting soft in retirement, Red. His inner monologue scoffed. Tifa looked up at him, a small smile ghosting across her lips.

"Eh, thanks. I don't wanna impose though."

"Nonsense! I wouldn't offer if I didn't mean it. I ain't THAT nice." He grinned, feeling like he was making a bit of progress. Tifa couldn't help but let out a small laugh.

"Yeah, I guess you aren't. The Reno I knew probably would have left me out in the snow today."

"Eh. My arms were getting tired at work. Any excuse to procrastinate." He shrugged as he finished his beer and got up to head to the fridge. He pulled out two more bottles and held them up as he looked over at Tifa, waving the bottles gently in suggestion. She gave a slight nod and drained the rest of her bottle. Reno couldn't help but grin slightly as he brought the bottles through and sat back on the couch. Angling the lid against the small table's edge, he knocked down on the top of the bottle with his closed fist, popping the cap off before he handed her the other beer. He noticed her smiling as he opened his own drink in the same way.

"Times so tough that you can't afford a bottle opener?" Tifa questioned as she took a drink. Damn, this beer was good. She didn't even find herself worrying that she hadn't eaten much today and even a few beers would probably leave her a bit tipsy. She had every intention of disappearing into her room for the night before she got to that stage. The corner of Reno's mouth lifted in a lazy one-sided smile as he raised his bottle towards her.

"Who needs bottle openers? I have a perfectly good table here that does the job just fine. One of my many talents." He continued to smile as she cocked her head at him. "Cheers to a bit of company to drink with with, though. It's sometimes a little too quiet for my likin' up here." He said by way of explanation as she stared at his outstretched arm. She clinked her own bottle against his and they both took a long drink from their bottles. Reno couldn't help but notice a slight flush in her cheeks already as she brought her bottle back down from her lips and wiped her mouth with the back of her hand.

I wonder what kind of drunk Tifa Lockhart is?

AN: So, Tifa is staying. And Reno is actually trying to be nice?! Can tigers really change their stripes or is this just a side of him Tifa hasn't seen before?