Friendly Interactions

A cool breeze coursed its way around the pagodas of Wutai, teasing the leaves of the young bonsai growing around Da-Chao Statue. The stream gurgled loudly, soothing tars ars and mind. For late afternoon, hte quaint town was settling down. The children were returning to their homes, and shops were prepared to close. However, the town's only pub and source of recreation: Turtle's Paradise...remained as lively as ever.

Inside, the sounds of laughter, glass touching, and table pounding filled the air. ...She remained oblivious to it all. Deep brown eyes that were hidden behind long bangs looked into the screwdriver before her. A long, slender finger began to trace the rim of the glass...she sighed.

Ever since the battle with Sephiroth in the core of the Planet, things returned to normal within 6 short months. She and Cloud caught up on old times. Barret and Marlene moved to Kalm, until Midgar was restored. It would take several years before the city could be reinhabited, due to all the damage caused by Diamond Weapon. Red XIII returned to Cosmo Canyon, and took over as the village researcher on the Planet. ie cie continued her quest to find Materia...which landed her a job as the owner of the Materia shop in Mideel. Aeris remained in her watery resting place, watching over the Planet. Vincent has not been seen since the battle, but rumor has it that he went out to find Lucrecia. As for Cid, he took over as Midgar's head of Space Research and Development, since Palmer's death in Rocket Town. Cait Sith runs a fortune telling shop in Gold Saucer....he still can't give a good prediction though. Sephiroth....no one has heard anything about him. ...Cloud was elected to be general of Midgar's remaining Shinra soldiers. ...Tifa...was....Tifa.

Her bar Seventh Heaven was buried in the rubble of what used to be Sector 7. And with everyone constantly gone, doing their own thing, living their own lives...she was pretty much alone. And with no where to permanently stay, with reconstruction going on, she moved around constantly. ...Wutai was the only place where she actually settled down for a while. And after settling down, she ditched her normal outfit of boots, suspenders and a white t-shirt...and donned a gray tank top, black flare jeans and sneakers. With her gloves gone, she forgot what it was like to literally do things 'bare-handed'. Eventually, she had grown used to the feeling....just as she had grown used to her newfound lonliness.

Just before Tifa could take a long draining sip of her screwdriver, something told her 'turn around'. She put the glass down lightly, and turned slowly on her stool. Her jaw hit the ground, upon seeing who was sitting at the small table.

His hair never changed...it was the same as when she first laid eyes on him: a red, spikey, disheveled mess. Those cerulean eyes that casted vicious glares in her direction countless times....were now soft and down cast. ....And he still wore that GAWD awful black suit.

'Some things never change, I guess...' she thought lowly. 'But....where's Rude? And Elena?'

Before she could even ponder an answer, those cerulean eyes met her own. ...He smiled. Not a bright smile, but one that was warm...welcoming even. 'Reno...Reno of the Turks smiled!?' He waved to Tifa casually...he was calling her over. 'I don't believe this...WHAT is going on??' Tifa bit her lip. 'This could be a trick...only one way to find out...'

Tifa hopped off her stool, and walked sy...y...but cautiously up to the table, her ridiculously long hair swaying behind her. Within moments, she was standing before Reno, whose smiled turned to a lecherous grin...one of the many he gave her, along with ice cold glares.

"...Lookin' good Tifa." he said, his voice rich and deep. He leaned on the table, and gestured to the chair in front of her. "Been a while. ...Why don't we catch up...?"

"What are you up to Reno?" Tifa asked flatly. Reno just shook his head and laughed...forcing Tifa to glare violently. "Don't mock me! Answer my question."

"...Fiesty as usual, I see." he looked up and grinned. "I'm not up to anything...with the Turks disintergrated, thre's no action for me anymore. I'm just trying to settle down, and hopefully strike up a conversation with my former enemy. ....Have a seat." Tifa didn't move an inch. Reno laughed at her hesitation. "I won't bite you. ...Let's just talk."

'...It doesn't seem like he's up to anything...I...guess it wouldn't hurt...' Tifa reached for the small chair, and pulled it from under the table. She felt Reno's eyes on her as she sat down.

"Do you want a drink?"

"N-no...I-"

"Two screwdrivers." he told the passing waitress, who just nodded and kept moving. He leaned on the table, unable to take his eyes off her. "...You know...you look totally different without those suspenders...I almost didn't recognize you." Reno leaned back in the chair and folded his arms. "So...what have YOU been doing for the past 6 months?"

"...N-nothing...just traveling." Tifa sighed. She immediately took a sip of the fresh screwdriver that was placed before her. "Everyone's busy with their own lives, so I'm pretty much on my own now."

"Really? That sucks." Reno half muttered. He reached out for his own glass. "What about you and Cloud? ...I thought you two would've hooked up or somethin..."

Tifa felt her face flush at the comment...she shook her head.

"N-no...we're not together." she said hoarsely. Seh looked down mildly, preparing to take another sip of her drink. "...He's infatuated with Aeris still. ...He goes to teh City of the Ancients constatnly, carrying loads of flowers. He says 'It's to keep her happy, since she loves flowers.' ..." She took a long sip and sighed quietly. "...I don't know what to make of it. And he's constantly busy, since he's a general now so I hardly see him anymore. ....Him or anyone else for that matter." Tifa put her glass down and leaned on the table. "But what about YOU? What have you been doing? Where's Rude? And Elena? And Tseng?"

"Whoa, slow down." Reno said with a laugh. He took a quick sip of his drink, and refolded his arms. "...You remember Tseng...I'm kinda surprised. Tseng died two weeks after he fought in the Temple of the Ancients with Sephiroth. Elena, well..." he turned away and hung his head. "....She's not doing so well. ...I'm sure you've heard of Don Corneo..."

"Yeah, but....you and Rude took him out when we chased him to Da-Chao." Tifa frowned in confusion. Reno nodded.

"Well...some of his lackies reopened his mansion...this time, it's a sex hotel....Elena is one of the 'workers'."

"Oh..."

"I haven't heard from Rude in a while." Reno said thoughtfully. He tapped the rim of his glass. "...Come to think of it, I haven't seen him since that day you and your crew took on Sephiroth. ...If I know him any better, he's probably hiding out somewhere." He took a long swig of his screwdriver and shook his head. "...I've been living in Wutai for the last 6 months. I'd have to admit....it's pretty peaceful here...no noise, no crime...just peaceful."

"Oh, really?" Tifa said dryly, raising an eyebrow. She rested her head on a raised hand. "Care to elaborate?"

"Sure!" Reno laughed and leaned on teh table. He grinned. "It's really quiet here. You can actually sleep and not worry about waking up in the middle of the night. Nice scenery, the BEST screwdrivers I've ever had, and the MOST gorgeous women I have EVER seen!!" he tilted his head to teh side, still wearing his grin. "...But they'll NEVER compete with YOU Tifa."

'He's gotta be kidding...' "Lies."

"No! I'm serious!" he said quickly, and sat up in the chair. "The girls out here put out too easily. ...They can't even defend themselves. YOU on the other hand, are the complete opposite."

Tifa laughed lightly at his blunt flirting. She was actually enjoying his company. She ran a finger around the rim of her glass. Tifa shook her head.

"No way..." she said with a laugh. "I look like a DYKE with all the fighting and exercising I've done. No one would hit on me."

"Are you sure...?" he asked, the tone of his voice deep and husky. If Tifa didn't know any better....she SWORE she felt a chill rattle her spine when he said that. Upon feeling her cheeks flare, she hung her head. She heard a heavy sigh...and felt him left her face with a strong hand. Tifa wanted to turn away, his admiring gaze too intense for her to stand...but she couldn't. Those crystal cerulean eyes were too alluring...too enticing to break contact with. "Tifa. You're beautiful. I wouldn't sit here and flirt my brains out with you if you weren't. ...I'd be a fool if I didn't." he cut her that same lecherous grin from before. "All the other guys in here hate me to death right now, because you're sitting here with ME...not THEM."

Tifa looked down, a light smile creasing her face. 'No one's ever given me this much attention...not even Cloud.' As a matter of fact....she was flattered. Up to this point, Tifa's looks were only referred to as 'cute' or 'mildly attractive'. No one ever said she was beautiful. .........Not even Cloud.

"You really think so...?"

"Phshhh....I konw so." Reno said, quite sure and proud of himself. He leaned forward ont he table and whispered: "Meet me, at the bridge in front of the pub......wear a dress."

"Just wait....you didn't even ask me if I wanted to go on a date with you." Tifa said, pushing her hair behind her ear. "I hardly even know you. How do I know you're not out for revenge for Tseng? Or Elena? Or Rude or friggin' Rufus Shinra, huh??"

Reno just laughed and shook his head. Tifa glared at him sharply, forcing him to stop. "......There's no reason for me to fight you anymore..." Reno said hoarsely...he sounded...hurt. His eyes showed it. "...Why should I?? .....Just meet me at the bridge tonight..."

'I....I don't know about this...' she mentally hesitated. ....But it didn't stop her from saying "...Sure......I'll be there."