Chapter five: Barret's Hammered Truth
They were both seated with a drink in hand, and could hear the clank clankof Tifa washing dishes.
Barret took a gulp of his drink, then spoke. "So Cloud have you thought of working closer to home?"
Cloud let out an annoyed sigh. "Look Barret, this is my work. Tifa gives the info on the clients and I go, that's it, end of story." Cloud took a big gulp of his drink, almost finishing it in one go.
"Yeah man, I fuckin get that, but when you goon a job that's only supposed to be a few days, it ends up being a few months. Not a fuckin call, Not a fuckin thing, man. It just gets me wonderin," Barret's stops to take a drink allowing Cloud's thought to slip in. "Wondering what?" Barret slams his now empty glass. "Wondering what the fuck your doing out there, when your on your own. If maybe...your searching for something you know you won't find." Barret looks him straight in the eyes. Cloud looks away--has to look away, cause he feels at that moment Barret might know all his secrets.
Barret poured himself another drink, took a swig, and stared at Cloud; seeing his words seep through. 'If I can bring him to his goddamn senses, if he even has any, may be things can fuckin change around here.' Barret thought and continued on. "Look Cloud, man, what we got here: our friends, family, our drink," Barret paused, and gulped down the rest of his liquor. "It's all good, baby, but seems for shit when we gone. No what I'm talking 'bout." Cloud nodded. " I thought you did. I mean you can't be that damn thick not to see what's--" Barret waved a hand in front of his eyes. "You know. I have Marlene and you have Tifa and Denzel," Cloud looked up and for the first time and noticed how silent it was. "They're very important...people, and goddamnit we should try our fuckin...damn..hardest to be there. That's why we gotta...fuckin..stick here." Barret said pointing to the bar. Cloud rolled his eyes, deeply annoyed at the now plastered Barret, Cloud sighed as Barret continued. "That's why we need to fuckin quit our...f-fuckin jobs and, and work at this--" Barret looked around. "Place"
"I already work here Barret, with Tifa, being her delivery boy," said Cloud. Barret nodded in agreement. "So you're saying I should quit," Barret nodded, obviously out of state of mind.
"Working here...quit working with Tifa," Barret nodded continuously. His eyes shutting a bit.
"Are you saying I should move out?"
Barret snapped to attention. "Whoa wha wha...no! I didn't say that you thickheaded numbskull!" Barret continued on quietly, to himself. "What the hell was I saying?"
Cloud rubbed at his forming headache, trying to will it away. He noticed Tifa's shadow lingering at the other side of the wall; thinking she's out of view. He wouldn't be surprised if she had a hand in this. A drunk Barret, to Cloud, was an annoying Barret. Unless he, himself, was drunk, but he wasn't. So alas, he found the whole situation unbelievably unbearable, a total waste of his time, and just totally down right...annoying. He stood quickly, letting the highchair scrape against the wooden floor. He saw Tifa's shadow move away slightly.
Barret grabbed his arm. "He-hey where you goin?"
"Look this whole thing is nonsense. Do you even have a point, because if you don't, I have better things to do than watch you get more hammered than you already are." Cloud said, snatching his arm back out of Barret's grip.
"I do have a point goddamn it, just give me a second..." said Barret. He rubbed at his head, then shook it, trying to get rid of the dizziness and sleepiness he felt. The sight was strange to Cloud. Never in his life had he seen Barret fight the inevitable. He always passed out where he stood, when smashed. "My point is...that, you need-to let-the fuck go already," Every word emphasised with a bang of his metal hand on the wooden bar.
Cloud's eyes hardened with anger. "Now look here Barret, I--" Cloud's words were cut off.
"No, my friend...Cloud, you look here, when are you gonna man up and except the fact...that she's gone." Cloud shook his head. He couldn't.
"She is, man. We all mourned her...death, but have moved on; it's what she'd wanted,
Cloud. She did what she had to, to ensure everyone safety." Barret stopped and looked over at Cloud. His face was like stone and his mouth was pinched shut; not letting a sound, a syllable,
be heard. Barret continued. "She...Aerith would want you to be happy." At the mention of her name,
Cloud felt his chest tighten and his throat constrict with sorrow. He looked to the opposite wall; looked away from Barret, lest he see the untamed emotion ready to burst through. "Cloud?"
Barret asked, seeing if he agreed with what he'd said.
Barret shook Cloud's shoulder, trying to get his attention. Cloud turned his head to Barret, his jaw clenched and brows furrowed in determination. Barret looked into his eyes, and saw it all there; all the remorse, sadness, sorrow and self-hate. Cloud's eyes shimmered with tears and mako energy and Barret finally understood. At least he thinks he does. "Cloud, do you blame yourself for what happened?" Cloud looked away. "Cause not a damn thing will change what happened back--"
"I fucking know that!" Cloud cried, cutting Barret off. "I hate it. Hate knowing..." He stopped. He couldn't continue on any more. He looked at Barret. His face was a contortion of pain, and Barret could literally feel his heartache. "I'm...so sorry." Cloud said, his voice a mere whisper. He then walked away, leaving Barret dumbfounded.