Chapter Twelve - Insecurities

An accusing gaze narrowed onto Vincent, and then shifted down to Reno, cocking an inquisitive brow.

"Don't look at me," the red head stated, lifting his arms up in defence. "I just came down here for a beer," he explained and then added "But Vinnie here, has been stalking me."

Tifa focused onto Vincent, the long haired figure ignoring Reno's words as well as the brunette's stare.

"Join us," he offered, but it appeared to be more of a command than an option. "It's been a while," he elaborated, only to receive the shaking of Tifa's head.

"There's nothing to say," she said plainly. "Besides I'm working right now and Yuffie's already got her hands full."

Reno remained silent, only able to observe. He never knew Tifa was the type to work in a bar, nor did he think she was safe in a place like 7th Heaven. As a small group of patrons piled in, he watched as the brown eyed beauty dismissed herself, practically seizing the opportunity to get away from him. It was obvious she was still angry, but the way she avoided any contact with him was beginning to have its affect.

"Stall mad?" He asked, taking a swig of beer. It was refreshing as the liquid oozed down his throat. "She's never been one to hold a grudge." Reno stated.

"It's not about that," Vincent defended.

The relationship between them was an odd one since the two didn't really appear to get along. Their friendship had always been like this; neither of them shared any personal matters, their conversations were always brief, but they had come to terms with each other. They had become buddies simply because of Tifa. She had been the one to bring them together, the one that made the three of them whole.

Taking another gulp of beer, the red head shrugged his shoulders. "What can I do?" He stated, not expecting an answer.

"Apologize," Vincent answered shortly.

Reno had to scorn at the idea. He wasn't going to apologise, simply because he thought he'd done no wrong. Besides, even if he had the courage to repent, he was sure his pride wouldn't let him say it. His eyes studied the interior of the bar.

"You work here Vince?" He inquired, changing the subject.

"Vincent," the dark haired form corrected in a serious tenor.

"Vin?" Reno urged with a smirk.

"Just watching for drunks," the usually quiet figure revealed in defeat. "Don't want danger."

"You mean me?" Reno requested, pale blue eyes gazing into red ones.

The corner of Vincent's mouth slanted upwards, "You're nothing," he informed bluntly. "Just Shinra material."

A look of warning came from Reno. "Ey," he cautioned. "I enjoy what I do."

"You know nothing," Vincent announced, taking his first swallow of beer immediately disliking the taste.

A moment of tranquillity passed before elbows propped atop the table, Reno leaning over in curiosity.

"So what did you mean at the start?" He enquired only to receive a questioning brow from Vincent. "You know… when you said I was 'a step too late'."

A cool shrug answered his question

"Ass…" Reno mumbled under his breath as he signalled for another beer.

Yuffie Kisaragi stared at her best friend in wonder. She didn't understand why her brunette friend was acting as if she wasn't in the least perturbed by the red head situated near the window with the cool and collected Vincent. She sure was suspicious since Vincent was talking more than he usually did. Trouble. She thought as the clock read 11.00 pm. As a hand signalled for another drink, she found herself journeying over to the table, realising it was the red head.

"Another beer?" Yuffie asked, instinctively abhorring the grinning figure. Maybe it was the fact that he got along with Vincent, or maybe because he had wronged Tifa. But whatever it was, she didn't like him at all.

Reno gave a nod of his head at the query, watching as the petite form moved to the counter to retrieve him a new drink. As she came stumbling back, she placed the mug down onto the centre of the table in a not so womanly fashion, summoning a stare that was full of pure annoyance directed at… Vincent. After that episode subsided, she left, disregarding Reno.

"So it's ignore Reno day," the red head commented. "At least that stare wasn't focussed on me." He informed and nodded his head back to Yuffie. "You don't appear to be her most favourite person huh? What'd you do to her anyway?"

"Nothing."

"C'mon Vincey," Reno persisted, but stopped when it had no effect. "Such a party pooper," he sulked, eyes trailing elsewhere.

It was then that he had spotted her… Throughout the entire time he'd been at 7th Heaven, he had purposely avoided going to or looking at the places where she was working or cleaning. But now that her full profile was in his line of vision, he couldn't help but to examine all the ways she had changed.

In the past her hair had been long, reaching her bottom, but now her hair was cut short, just a little longer than her shoulders, framing her face. Her side fringe was foreign to him, but it only emphasized her beauty as it lay near her brown eyes. He had missed those orbs that had the power to make him lose himself in them every time their eyes met. But what he missed the most was when she'd used to stare at him with softness.

Practically tearing his gaze from her preoccupied state, he rubbed a hand over his tired eyes, sighing inaudibly. He wasn't feeling like himself ever since he'd bumped into Tifa at the restaurant three days ago. Damn Elena… He cursed, draining half his mug in the process as his eyes lifted to meet Vincent's all-knowing ones.

"Don't you start," Reno advised as a blonde man walked past the window, entering through the main entrance of the bar.

Pale blue eyes scrutinized the now immobile figure in interest. The man was of medium build with muscular arms and a not smiling expression. Reno found himself smirking at the man as he shifted back to face Vincent.

"He's a looker isn't he? Must spend a fortune to get his hair in that shape," the fiery haired Reno remarked but almost choked on his beer when the familiar form of Tifa strode over to greet the blonde with a generous smile.

It was then that Vincent had finally made a comment. "Meet the new guy," he introduced.

It took a second for the statement to sink in, and when it did, Reno reacted the way he usually would.

"She sure likes the colourful ones doesn't she?" He joked, referring to the blonde's bright coloured hair. Vincent didn't laugh. "Geez you're a bore," Reno announced and decided to add: "My ice princess," to his proclamation and he really grinned at the fitting term to describe Vincent who had dark locks that was longer than some females.

"You're early," Tifa greeted as she approached Cloud with an adoring smile. "Here, let me take that," She offered as she reached for his coat.

Cloud shook his head at her gesture, noticing that it was a busy night. "I'll keep myself occupied." He informed, hinting for her to continue work.

"But-" The shake of Cloud Strife's head stopped her from protesting as she stood motionless. "Well at least let me make you a drink," she said.

Nodding his head, Cloud allowed her to lead him to the counter. Settling into a chair, he observed as Tifa promptly went to work, grasping a bottle of rum, some mint leaves, and other ingredients. When the finished product sat before him, he couldn't help but grin at her creation.

"A mojito for you," Tifa informed and smiled. "Try it."

Grasping the clear glass, Cloud took a mouthful. It was good, with just the right amount of rum.

"Any good?" Tifa queried, doubting her own skills. She was rewarded with the thumbs up from Cloud, topped with a heart warming smile. "I'll get back to work then," she breathed, her cheeks flushing.

Cloud watched as Tifa hesitantly departed, returning to her orders, satisfied that he was no longer disrupting her. He twisted his chair so that it was partially facing the countless customers that had accumulated under the roof of 7th Heaven. Examining the many faces, he attempted to spot any trouble-makers in the process to prepare for any hazards. As his gaze analysed the tables, he paused at the pair of red orbs that was staring at him. Momentarily dumbfounded, it took a second to digest who the red orbs belonged to. Lifting his drink in acknowledgement, Cloud watched as Vincent returned the favour.

Averting his attention elsewhere, his eyes travelled over to Tifa. She was beaming at a dark haired man who struggled to look her in the face as she took his order. Cloud however wasn't smiling as he surveyed the manner in which the small man was gawking at her chest. Just as he was about to stand and make a move, Tifa had already finished writing down the order, making her way back to the counter. Sucking it in, the blonde managed to force himself to settle back in his seat.

Throughout the remainder of the evening, the blue eyed figure had refrained from taking action at the various passes made to Tifa. Rubbing a hand over his face, he realised he couldn't take it anymore as he made a move to exit the bar. As the fresh chilly air plunged into his lungs, his mind started to clear up a little, the vein near his temple was no longer throbbing as he leaned his entire body onto the wall for support. Minutes lapsed before he decided to re-enter the bar again.

Moving over to the door, he commenced entering, stepping past a table as his shoulder collided with another. Pausing and gaping up, a pair of pale blue eyes was staring back at him.

"Sorry," Cloud apologised.

"No problem Blondie," replied the fiery haired figure as he gave a smirk before departing.

Cloud could only observe the retrieving back of Reno, perplexed at the unfamiliarity of the cheery form that appeared to know his identity. Ignoring the incident, he realised the bar was slowly emptying as his eyes searched the half empty room, finally spotting Tifa who was seated beside Vincent. Studying the scene curiously, Cloud watched as a strained smile overtook Tifa's features before she gave a nod to some request the stoic form had made. Seconds later Tifa had stood to leave. With her eyes averting up, a startled expression played across her features at the discovery Cloud's presence.

Approaching Cloud, a radiating smile danced on her soft lips. "Where'd you go?" She asked in an unnaturally casual manner. It was obvious she wasn't planning on sharing the events that occurred with Vincent a few moments ago. "I just have a few more things to do and then we can leave," she stated.

Throughout the one sided conversation, Cloud had noticed that Tifa never really once looked him straight in the eyes. Her orbs had purposely, but skilfully avoided his gaze, her fingers entangled together, fiddling. Various emotions ran through him as he sensed the nervous aura that surrounded Tifa. This new air that encircled her was foreign, and it caused his mind to fill with doubt and insecurity. To his further disdain, he couldn't muster the courage to question the brunette in order to clear up the matter. So that night, for what appeared to be the millionth time, he breathed in and just allowed the issue to slide.

"I'll wait outside," He informed, managing a weak smile before stepping out of 7th Heaven again.

The journey home was an abnormally awkward one. Neither Cloud nor Tifa had spoken a word, the two engrossed in their own problems as Fenrir gradually reached their destination. Coming to a halt, Cloud placed his foot onto the concrete driveway as Tifa hastily got off.

"Thanks for the ride," she whispered, leaning down to kiss the spiky blonde on the cheek.

"I'll see you tomorrow?"

Biting her lower lip, Tifa shook her head. "No," she begain. "Yuffie and I are going out, but I'll see you after tomorrow," she sighed; hating the fact that she had just lied to the man she trusted the most. She didn't lie to avoid the discomfort; she had lied so she wouldn't hurt Cloud.

"Goodnight," Cloud bid.

Bending over to give the blonde one last hug for the day, Tifa breathed something into his ear. "I'll call you if you're going to miss me that much." She teased and released him from her arms, only just catching the tiny grin on Cloud's lips. "Goodnight Cloud," she called, as he reversed from her driveway.

Giving a final wave, she watched as he disappeared down the street, guilt entering every pore on her body.

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A/N: So I've finally completed chapter 12! Thank goodness for the rain over here, it's been so hot for the past two weeks that I was beginning to thing I in lived in the desert. O.O

Well anyways how was the chapter for you? I honestly hope you enjoyed it. For some reason, I feel as if I'm losing it...

'Till next time, take care! And be safe :D