CHAPTER 6:
SEVENTH HEAVEN
It was the next day that Mirielle got them some information on a job that needed doing. Tifa Lockheart, of all people, wanted a delivery from one of the liquor sellers in Sector 5. The delivery driver wanted someone to deter any thieves, as heading to Sector 7 meant going through the ruins of Sector 6 and getting close to Wall Market, both hotspots of criminal activity.
Aerith surprised them all by announcing she would accompany Harry, and Elmyra's protests didn't deter her. Aerith had been to Sector 7 before, and Wall Market, and if she could get some flowers sold into the bargain, she wanted to. Delphi was going to be left with Elmyra for now, though.
Eventually, Elmyra acquiesced. Harry would have protested himself, but Aerith, though she had an air of being a pure and gentle person on first blush, was actually quite capable of defending herself. The way she had killed those monsters before showed this.
It was also the first time Harry had taken a ride on a Chocobo-drawn carriage. While told of these birds by the others, and certainly seeing them from a distance, Harry had to admit, it was still a little jarring to see these large yellow birds pulling carriages like they were horses. They had to share the carriage with barrels and bottles of alcohol, but thankfully, no thieves appeared.
They went through vast metal and concrete gates into Sector 7, and continued on for a time, until they arrived in the Sector 7 Slums. Harry thought that these slums were more open and less cramped than the Sector 5 Slums, which had a lot of rocky outcrops around the area. The feeling was considerably less claustrophobic, though the oppressive metal plate still hung overhead.
The delivery driver had them help unpack the alcohol outside the Seventh Heaven bar, which looked like, well, a sturdy bar, a little more upmarket than one would expect in the slums, though not in a garish way. It was like a saloon from the Wild West, only welcoming and warm. Harry helped unpack the alcohol, while Aerith, basket of flowers on one arm, checked an inventory list with the driver's help.
Out of the bar strode a pair of contrasting figures. The first one whom Harry's eyes were drawn to was a hulking, massive, dark-skinned man, his body pure muscle. He peered at them suspiciously from behind sunglasses, though his expression softened when he saw the flowers in Aerith's basket. Harry noticed that the man's right arm was replaced or else covered by what looked like a Gatling Gun. For some reason, he was reminded of Mr T.
The second was a young woman, a little younger than him or Aerith, with dark hair and mahogany eyes set in beautiful features. Her buxom, athletic figure was clad in a white tank top and a black skirt. She went up to them. "I haven't seen you two here before. You're helping out?"
Harry nodded. "Just making sure no thieves ran off with this stuff while we were coming over." He held out a hand, his left hand. "Harry Potter."
"Tifa Lockheart," the woman said. "And this is Barret Wallace."
"I'm Aerith Gainsborough," Aerith said with a smile.
"Gainsborough? You're Elmyra's girl?" Barret asked, his voice a deep rasping rumble.
"Yes, that's right. You know her?"
"Not personally, but I've got friends who've spoken 'bout her. You know Biggs and Wedge?"
Aerith's eyes widened, and she smiled. "Oh, so you know them? Tell them the kids at Leaf House miss them. And Jessie too. I've known Biggs for longer, though."
"Sure, I'll let 'em know, Aerith," Barret said, a smile touching his lips. "Here, lemme help you."
The hulking man took one of the kegs they had transported, grabbing the handle with one hand, and hefting it up effortlessly. "Thanks," Harry said, even as he began carrying a crate filled with bottles himself.
The interior, while a bit grotty, nonetheless didn't seem remotely squalid or seedy. If anything, it felt like a home. Tifa, who had carried in a couple of crates of drinks herself, directed Barret and Harry where to place some of it, along with the driver. Aerith helped out with a crate of her own, her flower basket perched on top.
Once they were done, they'd worked up a thirst, and Tifa offered them some discounted drinks. Harry and Aerith didn't take anything alcoholic, though the driver did, while Barret left the bar, saying he had to return to his daughter, Marlene. Tifa, meanwhile, noticed the basket of flowers. "Fresh flowers, in the Slums?" she asked.
"They grow near my house," Aerith said. "I know, it's unusual in the Slums. A friend of mine called Zack suggested I sell them."
At this, Tifa stiffened. "Zack?" After a moment, she said, "I met a Zack once, many years ago. Let's just say it didn't end well."
Before anything else could be said, the driver belched softly, and placed his empty glass on the counter. "Thank you kindly, miss. You two can stay here if you want, or you can hitch a ride with me. I don't need the security on the way back if you don't want to come with. My shotgun will deter them."
"No thanks," Aerith said with a smile.
"Well, here's your payment, then," the driver said, handing Harry a wallet filled with Gil notes. "I'll put in a good word with the Watch in Sector 5. Take care, you two, and don't stay too long."
As the driver ambled out, Aerith looked to Tifa. "Umm…I'm sorry to ask you, but…was the Zack you knew Zack Fair? Dark, spiky hair, blue eyes? Acts like an overeager puppy?"
Tifa's eyes widened, before she nodded, a bittersweet smile touching her lips. "Yeah. I remember him. Boyfriend?"
Aerith nodded in her turn. "The last I heard, he was on a mission to Nibelheim. Are…are you from there?"
"Yes. But…I don't know if he survived. Aerith, we've only just met, so…I'm not sure if I want to talk about it. What happened then is a pretty bad memory. I personally think he's dead, in all likelihood, but even if he isn't…"
Aerith held up a hand. "You needn't say anything more, Tifa. I know very well that Shinra gets up to all kinds of nasty stuff, and Zack was a member of SOLDIER. If he's still alive, he could be imprisoned, or worse."
"I can believe that," Tifa said. "Just don't go saying you've got a boyfriend in SOLDIER around Barret. He's not fond of Shinra."
"Is anyone sane fond of Shinra?" Harry snarked. "My daughter and I recently arrived in Midgar, and we've heard a lot of things from Aerith and her mother."
"Fond? No, but many people work for the paycheck, though Barret doesn't like people even working for them, period," Tifa said. "I knew a boy long ago, Cloud, he wanted to join SOLDIER. I don't suppose Zack ever mentioned him? A boy about my age with blonde, spiky hair, spikier than his, and aqua eyes? Called Cloud Strife?"
Aerith frowned. "The name doesn't ring a bell, but I heard Zack mention something about a kid he was working with, a Chocobo-like kid?"
Tifa giggled. "Yeah, his hair did look a bit like a Chocobo's head feathers. When Zack arrived at Nibelheim, I kind of hoped Cloud would be there too, but…he wasn't there. Just Zack, Sephiroth, and a few Shinra troopers. But what happened…all I will say is…I nearly died. Only my martial arts teacher Rashard Zangan got me out of that literal hell alive. And it was Shinra's fault."
"I can believe that," Aerith said solemnly.
"Anyway, to change the subject, how much for the flowers?" Tifa asked, trying to dispel the pall that had settled over them.
"1 Gil each," Aerith said. "I sell them for greater prices at Wall Market or topside, though."
"I'll take some, then," Tifa said, beginning to count out notes. "But why come here from Sector 5?"
"I'm new to Midgar, like I said, and I needed to start looking for work to support me and my daughter," Harry said. "Aerith decided to come with me when I was given that job."
"Hmm," Tifa hummed, nodding her head in thought. "You have an odd accent, though. I've never heard it before."
"I've travelled quite a long way," Harry said vaguely, but truthfully. "You know any place in Sector 7 looking for people to do stuff?"
"Well, the Watch here always could do with a hand, plenty of Fiends make an appearance here and there," Tifa said. "But that's nothing new across all of the slums. My landlady needs some odd jobs done, but Biggs, Wedge and Jessie usually do them."
"And what about Barret? Is he your bouncer or something?"
Tifa chuckled. "Not officially, though a lot of troublemakers stop causing shit the moment he looms over them. Anyone who tries their luck, he tosses out on their ass. But he helps me here at times. He's actually pretty good at drinks mixing. Most of the time, though, he and the others helps the Watch out with the local Fiends. He's a good man, Barret, just a bit rough around the edges…"
After selling the flowers, the conversation turned to more mundane topics. Harry got the feeling that Tifa was hiding something, but then again, they had to hide the fact that, thanks to Sephiroth, they already knew about what befell Nibelheim. Aerith and Tifa did exchange contact details, though, in case one or the other stumbled across Zack or Cloud.
Not long after that, they left, in time to see Barret approaching, a cute young girl, little more than a toddler, perched on his broad shoulder. If this was his daughter, then she was probably adopted too, given her fair skin. Barret was being followed by a trio of figures that Harry didn't recognise, though Aerith seemed to recognise them. The two men were dark-haired, one slender and handsome, the other rotund. The young woman was brown-haired, and had an energetic air. "Biggs! Wedge!" Aerith said, laughing.
"Aerith? What are you doing here?" the slender young man asked.
"She accompanied me here," Harry said. "I'm Harry Potter."
"I'm Biggs," the slender young man said, "and this is Wedge." He indicated the chubby young man, who nodded.
"And I'm Jessie Rasberry," the young woman said.
"Pleased to meet you, Jessie," Aerith said with a smile. "I heard about you from these two. Keeping them in line?"
"Yeah, but it's a full-time job," her fellow brunette said with a cheeky smile of her own, to Biggs and Wedge's groaned protests, and soft chuckles from Barret.
"And who's this little one?" Harry asked. "Is this your daughter, Barret?"
"Yeah. My wingless lil angel Marlene," the burly man said, pride in every rumbled syllable. "Don't you mind if she don't wanna talk, she's a bit shy 'round strangers. But she'll love those flowers."
Aerith smiled and waved at Marlene, who gave a shy smile and a wave back, though she didn't say anything. Barret went inside, followed by Jessie, but Biggs and Wedge (and why did they sound like their names were from Star Wars, Harry wondered) stayed outside. "It's been a while, you two. When's the last time you came to Leaf House?" Aerith asked.
"Too long, Aerith, weeks at least. Things have been busy here in Sector 7, what with all the troubles, especially with the Fiends," Biggs said. "We've got lots of work to do. We were trying to find time to come over, but…"
"I've been trying to find someone who'll look after my cats if I ever come over to Sector 5," Wedge said, his voice a high nasal whine. "A few of my babies get nervous if I'm gone for long."
Harry looked to Aerith, who giggled. "Wedge grew up here, but Biggs grew up in Sector 5, before coming here for work. He does visit from time to time, with Wedge in tow. Wedge likes taking in strays, and he loves cats anyway. He donated a Cait Sith doll he got on a trip to Gold Saucer years ago to the Leaf House," she explained.
"And this guy?" Biggs asked.
"New to Midgar. Aerith helped me and my daughter out. Bit of a long story," Harry said.
"Well, we might see you around Sector 5 if we have time," Biggs said. "Unfortunately, Fiend numbers are creeping up lately, and Tifa also has odd jobs she needs help with."
"I'll hold you to that, Biggs, but for now, Harry and I best be going. We don't want to have to go through Sector 6 at night," Aerith said. "I can handle myself, but I always feel the need to scrub my staff down something fierce."
Biggs and Wedge chuckled, the latter a little nervously, while the former did so warmly. "Just remember, Aerith, aim below the belt," Biggs said.
"They're small targets down there, but I'll manage," Aerith said cheekily.
Once they were out of view from prying eyes, Harry Apparated along with Aerith, arriving at the back of her house. Aerith shook herself, like a dog drying itself after a swim or a bath. "I know you warned me, but that was pretty unpleasant. Handy, though. Warp Materia are pretty rare. I wonder if I can learn the spells of your world?"
"You said the Planet claims that Delphi and I are descended from Cetra who fled to Earth," Harry said. "And you can use magic without Materia or these Limit Breaks or Ninjutsu you mentioned. I wouldn't be surprised if you could. Do you want me to teach you?"
"Yes, actually," Aerith said without hesitation. She looked to Harry, her emerald gaze meeting his own emerald eyes. "I may be resigned to going with the Turks if I need to. But if I don't need to, or I need to deal with monsters or crooks, I want to have a better repertoire. Though I'd like to know if there's a better way to teleport like that. I'm not fond of feeling like I'm toothpaste squeezed from a tube."
"Sorry, so many magical means of travel are uncomfortable. Portkeys, the Knight Bus, the Floo Network…" Harry shrugged. "I mean, Britain banned magic carpets, which were comfortable, so maybe British wizards and witches are masochists?"
Aerith laughed at that, long and loud. Her mirth was musical, like the laughter of an angel. For all that she smiled and was genuinely kind, Harry knew she had a lot of pain and sorrow in her. So to hear that genuine laughter was good. It had been a long time since he himself had laughed like that.
Maybe he would have a decent life in this world. Maybe he could end up being friends with this lonely young woman. Maybe he could find a place to truly belong with Delphi. Set adrift from his own world, from his remaining friends, he could still find somewhere to belong for now.
He didn't know it, but with Harry and Delphi's advent, events had shifted off their original course. Whether for better or for worse remained to be seen. But change was coming…
CHAPTER 6 ANNOTATIONS:
So, Harry and Aerith have met the Sector 7 splinter cell of AVALANCHE, not that they know it yet. And earlier than in canon, too, for Aerith.
I loved how the remake expanded on AVALANCHE, or at least Barret's cell. Biggs, Wedge, and especially Jessie got expanded on. I didn't like the InterMISSION's take on the other cells, though. For all that they claim Barret and his cell are going too far (which, in the remake, is a bit dubious: the first reactor they attacked, they intended to cripple, not completely destroy with collateral damage galore), the other cells are willingly collaborating with Wutai, who, in this version of events if nothing else, would be all too willing to see Midgar burn to the ground if it meant Shinra was taken down too. It's especially galling when Yuffie, after realising the price of violence in the InterMISSION, seems to have completely forgotten that lesson in Rebirth, the stupid little bitch. And of course, even if Barret hadn't been blowing up Mako Reactors, President Shinra was clearly willing to create a false-flag incident in order to spark off the war against Wutai again in the remake. So the rest of AVALANCHE would have played right into their hands.
However, I also wanted Harry to get a good impression of AVALANCHE first before he learned what they are. Aerith already knows Biggs (not too great a leap, as apparently he grew up in Sector 5's Leaf House, according to a tie-in novel) and Wedge, at least in this version of events, so that helps. And like Harry, Barret is a loving adoptive father. Tifa and Aerith have also bonded, given their mutual knowledge of Zack. It's not instant friendship, but they have some commonality.
Review-answering time! Jostanos: The quote I heard comes from the Doctor Who story A Good Man Goes to War. This was what Harry was referring to. Fittingly, that story revolves around the Doctor trying to rescue the daughter of his companions.
ZLC genesmith: Zack and Cloud are currently on the run. I'm not sure of the exact timeline, though this chapter is set a few weeks before Zack's last stand. However, I don't think Aerith can tell when any one person returns to the Planet, just those she has a connection to. Otherwise, it'd drive you mad, considering how often people die worldwide.
As for interlopers from Magical Britain, I have nothing planned for the Remake part of this story. However, should this story or a sequel do the Rebirth game, that might change.
KM Donovan: Maybe, but honestly, anyone who works for Shinra beyond a certain level, especially in the Turks or the executives (unless your name is Reeve, anyway, and he's somewhat impotent), is morally suspect. I have grown to like Cissnei to a degree ever since starting Crisis Core Reunion, but the Turks in general are not very moral people, though at least they gave them better characterisation in the remake games, making them more morally complex.
Reno…I actually detest. He's a hotheaded arsehole, and his main redeeming feature is his genuine reluctance to drop the Sector 7 Plate in Remake. Rude, I have more time for. While he was the one to finish dropping the Sector 7 Plate, it's clear that he's on better terms with Aerith given their interactions, and he regrets his actions. He's a professional, but he's not a soulless man.
Tseng…I'm not that fond of. And as for Elena…I didn't really like her in the original, and I have mixed feelings about her portrayal in Rebirth…though I like a certain scene involving her and an iceblock.
No numbered annotations this time.