The next morning:
Y/N's House:
Y/N's POV:
I'm in my house brushing my teeth after eating breakfast.
Knock, knock, knock.
I hear knocking on my door.
Y/N: Hm?
Knock, knock, knock.
???: (muffled) Y/N. You in there?
Recognizing the voice on the other side, I spit out the toothpaste and turn to the door.
Y/N: (curious) Tifa? What does she want?
I walk to the door. I open it to see...
Tifa: (smiles) Morning, Y/N.
Y/N: Morning, Tifa. What's up?
Tifa: I came to get you. It's almost time to open up.
Y/N: (shocked) Shit. Is it that time already?
Tifa: (nods) Yes. Now, go get your stuff.
I go upstairs and grab my gear. Then, I come back down and approach Tifa.
Tifa: Ready?
Y/N: (nods) More or less.
Tifa: Great. Then let's go.
She grabs my hand and practically drags me outside. She closes my door, and we start walking to Seventh Heaven.
Y/N's Mind: Another day, another shift at Seventh Heaven.
Tifa looks around to make sure no one else is around. She pulls me aside to an out of view place.
Tifa: Hey, Y/N?
Y/N: What's up?
Tifa: (uneasy) I... heard about what happened...
Y/N: (guilty) Yeah. I guess at this point everyone does...
Tifa: (uneasy) You and Jessie worked on that bomb all day yesterday. What could've gone wrong?
Y/N: (conflicted) Honestly. I was hoping to talk to Jessie about it later. Personally, I think it was because of the amount and strength of the blasting agent that was used. Or it could've been the wiring.
Tifa: (uneasy) ...
Y/N: (concerned) Tifa...?
Tifa: (conflicted) Tell me, Y/N... Do you think we're doing the right thing?
Y/N: (curious) What do you mean?
Tifa: (conflicted) I mean... The day our group split from HQ, we stopped doing what the higher ups at HQ said, and we started doing our own thing.
Y/N: (nods) Yeah?
Tifa: We split from them because some of our members, specifically Barret and Jessie, tends to get pretty violent.
Y/N: True... But not all of us are like that. Biggs and I are pretty neutral. While you and Wedge are more like wholesome pacifists.
Tifa: (blushes) I-I wouldn't go 'that' far.
She looks away.
Tifa: (uneasy) I just... don't know how I feel about the bombings...
Y/N: (sympathetic) Tifa...
She turns to me.
Tifa: (uneasy) 'Are' we doing the right thing?
Y/N: I... I don't know...
Tifa: I see...
She turns around.
Tifa: Let's get to Seventh Heaven, okay?
She grabs my hand and pulls me with her.
Y/N: By the way, I meant to ask. We spent most of our gil preparing for that last mission, right?
Tifa: Don't remind me.
Y/N: I was just wondering. How are we paying Cloud?
Tifa: W-Well...
Y/N: From what you said, we owe him 2,000. But you and Wedge spent 1,500 buying our gear.
Tifa: Well... You're right. But I already gave him 500. Later today, I'm taking him to collect money for our water filters.
Y/N: The ones that Jessie and I set up yesterday?
Tifa: (nods) That's right. Which actually reminds me.
We stop and she turns to me.
Tifa: I need you to cover for me at Seventh Heaven while I'm with Cloud collecting the money.
Y/N: (shocked) Me? But I don't know how to make the dri-
She cuts me off.
Tifa: Y/N. It's early in the morning. Nobody's going for cocktails yet. (smiles) Besides. I think you're ready to start handling things on your own for a bit.
Y/N: (nervous) Well, if you say so...
Tifa: (smiles) Excellent! Let's go!
She grabs my hand and keeps dragging me to Seventh Heaven.
Y/N's Mind: Why is she still holding my hand?
Small-Timeskip:
Seventh Heaven:
Y/N's POV:
After a while, we finally make it to Seventh Heaven. Tifa lets go of me and takes out the keys to the bar. She turns to me.
Tifa: Just so you know, Marlene's probably still asleep. (smiles) So, when she wakes up, you might want to make her your "special breakfast".
Y/N: Yeah, she does love it when I make that.
Tifa: (smiles) Hehe. Yeah, we all do.
She turns to the door but turns to me again.
Tifa: Oh. Would you mind making something for Cloud, too?
Y/N: Depends. What does he like?
Tifa: He's an ex-SOLDIER, he'll take just about anything.
I think for a moment.
Y/N: (nods) Okay.
Tifa: (smiles) You're the best!
She turns to the door with the key and unlocks it. She opens the door, and we walk inside.
Y/N's Mind: Another day, another shift.
Tifa and I start turning everything on and setting up the tables. After everything is set, we both go behind the counter. Tifa at the bar, and I walk to my station, the kitchen. I open the fridge and ponder.
Y/N's Mind: (deep in thought) Okay. What does Cloud want...?
I think for a moment.
Y/N's Mind: (shrugs) Fuck it. I'll just wing it.
Reaching into the fridge, I take out some eggs, bacon, and cheese. I then open the pantry and grab some other ingredients. I throw them on the counter.
Y/N: (smiles) Alright. Let's get started!
I grab my cooking materials and I start cooking.
Timeskip:
Cloud's POV:
It's the morning after the mission I went on with Avalanche. Right now, I'm wandering through the Sector 7 Slums on my way to "Seventh Heaven". The bar that Tifa's in charge of. I went there last night after the mission. I keep walking until I finally reach Seventh Heaven. I walk up the stairs and stare at the doors.
Cloud's Mind: Okay. Here we are. I want my money.
I open the doors and...
Tifa: Hm?
Tifa, who's behind the counter of the bar, turns around and sees me.
Tifa: (smiles) Morning.
Cloud: Hey.
Tifa: (quietly) Just so you know, Marlene's still asleep.
I walk up to the bar and sit on the stool. Tifa turns to the kitchen.
Tifa: Y/N. Cloud's here. Is his breakfast ready yet?
Y/N: Yeah. It's right here.
Y/N comes from the kitchen holding a plate of food.
Y/N: (smiles) Here you are, Cloud. Eat up.
He places it in front of me and...
Cloud's Mind: Hmm...
I sniff the food.
Cloud: Smells good.
Tifa: (smiles) Just wait till you try it.
Doing what she suggested, I pick up the utensils and I take a bite. My eyes widen once I tasted it.
Cloud: (shocked) Wow. This is pretty good.
Tifa: (smiles) I knew you'd like it! Y/N is the best chef in Avalanche! (smirks) Well. 'Second' best.
An offended Y/N turns to Tifa.
Y/N: (offended) I'm sorry, "Second"?!
I start eating while Tifa turns to Y/N and laughs at him.
Y/N's POV:
Wow! Did you hear that?! Tifa really just called me the "Second" best chef in all of Avalanche. SECOND! In front of Cloud too, might I add. Right now, she's LAUGHING at me! Like what the fuck?!
Tifa: (laughs) I'm kidding! You know I'm kidding,
She calms down.
Y/N: (skeptical) Are you...?
Tifa: (smirks) Maybe, maybe not.
Cloud: (sighs) Thanks for the meal, Y/N.
Tifa and I both turn to Cloud, and...
Tifa: (shocked) What the?!
We see his plate is empty.
Y/N: (shocked) How did you eat that so fast?!
Cloud: Simple. I'm a SOLDIER.
Y/N's Mind: That didn't really answer my question.
Tifa: Now that you're done with breakfast, let's get down to business.
Cloud: Huh?
Tifa: Y/N and Jessie built the new water filters yesterday. Now, we just need to replace them and collect the payment.
Cloud facepalms and groans. I take the empty plate from him and go back to the kitchen.
Tifa: Most every home in the area has one. Folks love 'em 'cause they practically eliminate the rotten-egg smell. And they make us more money than this place. Easy money too.
Cloud: (groans) ...
Tifa: So, what do you think? Help me?
Cloud: Gimme a break. I'm not a salesman. I'm a SOLDIER.
Tifa: Which is why no one will refuse to pay. Please?
Cloud: ...
He thinks for a moment.
Cloud: (sighs) Let's get this over with.
He gets up.
Tifa: (smiles) Great. And while we're at it, I'll give you the grand tour.
Tifa turns to me.
Tifa: Y/N. You know what to do.
I give her a thumbs up.
Y/N: You got it.
Tifa: (smiles) You're the best.
She runs off and Cloud follow her.
Y/N: (sighs) Well... here goes nothing...
Timeskip:
Seventh Heaven:
Y/N's POV:
It's later in the afternoon, and I'm handling Seventh Heaven okay. Right now, I'm taking someone's order. Specifically...
Johnny: (conflicted) Hmm... Let's see...... Uhhhhh.......
This is Johnny. Nice guy but tends to cause trouble. He's not with Avalanche and he doesn't know what we do, but he does have his suspicions. And he's a talker. A big... BIG talker... Oh, he also has a massive thing for Tifa.
Y/N: (yawns) It's okay. Take your time, Johnny.
Y/N's Mind: (irritated) ORDER SOMETHING!
Johnny: Okay! I'll take the... no that's not right...
Y/N's Mind: (irritated) Come on!
Johnny: I'll take- No, not that either...
Y/N's Mind: (annoyed) Well?!
Johnny: Nah... That won't work either.
Y/N's Mind: (pissed) For fuck's sake JUST PICK ONE!
Y/N: There... any questions I can answer?
Johnny: (conflicted) I need something with a lot of cheese.
Johnny came in 10 minutes ago, and he spent that 10 minutes trying to decide what he wants to order.
Y/N's Mind: (irritated) Johnny, I swear to fuck!
Johnny thinks for a moment and snaps his fingers.
Johnny: I've decided! The thing I want to eat is-
Johnny's sentence is cut off as the door opens. Barret barges in.
Y/N: (confused) Barret?
He comes in and glares at Johnny.
Barret: (shouts) It's closing time! Get the fuck out, Johnny!
Marlene: (excited) Yeah! Get the fuck out, Johnny!
This is Marlene. Barret's daughter. She came here with Barret after their hometown got destroyed. Barret won't talk about it, which is understandable. Johnny turns to Barret.
Johnny: (shocked) D-Did a child just... CUSS?!
Barret gets up in Johnny's face.
Barret: (threateningly) Leave my little girl out of this!
Johnny backs up.
Johnny: (terrified) S-Sorry.....
Barret: (threateningly) You damn well better be.
Barret lifts up his gun arm and points it at Johnny's face.
Barret: (threateningly) Now get the fuck out before I turn your face into a honeycomb.
Johnny backs up more with a scared look on his face.
Johnny: (terrified) Y-Y-YES SIR! AAAAAAGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!
Johnny sprints out the door. I turn to Barret.
Y/N: Barret. You can't just go around threatening people. Especially in our bar. That's bad for business.
Barret: Fuck Johnny. All that matters now is our next mission.
Y/N: A team meeting? Now?
Barret: That's right. Need you downstairs. Let's go.
Y/N: Well. Guess we should get this over with.
I reach down under the counter and place the "Closed" sign on it. I walk in front of the counter.
Y/N's Mind: Time to go to the hideout.
Marlene smiles and runs to me. She excitedly grabs my hand.
Marlene: (excited) Come on, Y/N!
Y/N: (smiles) Don't worry, Marlene. I'm coming.
Marlene, Barret, and I walk to the pinball machine.
Barret: Biggs, Wedge, and Jessie are on their way. Know where Tifa ran off to?
Y/N: She and Cloud ran off to replace the water filters that Jessie and I fixed.
Barret: Hmm.
Barret pulls the lever, and the pinball machine reveals the number 777777. The platform under us takes us downstairs, and we enter the hideout.
We walk to the table and Barret turns to me.
Barret: I have a plan for our next move. Wait here for the others.
Y/N: Sounds good.
Barret and Marlene go back upstairs, and I sit down at the table.
Timeskip:
Avalanche Hideout:
Y/N's POV:
It's been 15 minutes. Wedge and Biggs are here. Marlene went back upstairs with Barret to wait on the others.
Wedge: So, what do you guys think our next move is?
Biggs: It's gotta be another reactor. Since the mission we just went on proves how well we can work.
Y/N: That, or Barret will want us to lay low for a while. Especially since we practically destroyed half of Sector 8.
Biggs: Shit. You got a point.
Wedge: What if this is about HQ? They had to have figured out what happened by now. What if they start coming for us?
Y/N: Ugh! Don't mention those losers. They're the ones who gave US the boot.
Biggs: (smirks) Just like Nayo gave 'you' the boot?
I turn to Biggs.
Y/N: (pouts) Biggs? Shut up!
Biggs and Wedge laugh. We hear the platform come back down. We turn around to see Tifa and Barret coming down. They approach us.
Barret: Biggs. Wedge. Y/N. Tifa... Now, we're just waiting on Jessie.
Tifa: (conflicted) ...
I look at Tifa to see she's deep in thought. I shrug it off and turn back towards Barret.
Biggs: Alright, Boss. What's this about? We going on another mission tomorrow?
Barret: I'll tell you once Jessie's here.
We hear the platform come back down. We turn to see Jessie.
Jessie: (smiles) Sorry I'm late, fellas.
Barret: Good. Now everyone's here. Let's get started.
Jessie approaches us and the meeting starts.
Small-Timeskip:
Y/N's POV:
We're in the meeting. But...
Tifa: (shocked) Are you insane?! You want to launch an attack now? Right after you blew up Reactor 1.
Barret: This is the perfect moment. We've already destroyed Reactor 1, which means Shinra will be too busy trying to either fix it or covering it up. Going to another one tomorrow will be our best bet without too much trouble.
Biggs: Boss. Just because most of the Shinra forces will be in the reactor we destroyed, doesn't mean we're safe.
Jessie: He's right, Barret. Even though most of Shinra will be in Reactor 1 trying to fix it or something, there will still be a couple soldiers there.
Y/N: Besides. If we do blow up another one, we need to keep the city in mind, and make sure innocent people don't get caught in the crossfire.
Tifa nods in agreement with this.
Tifa: Y/N's right. Blowing up Reactor 1 hurt a lot of people and destroyed their livelihoods. And let's not forget about the fact that people died.
Wedge: If Jessie and Y/N builds a weaker bomb, then nobody in the city will get hurt, and the city itself will remain intact.... You know, aside from the Reactor itself.
Barret: All good points. Which is why Y/N and Jessie will start building the bomb tonight.
My eyes widen upon hearing that.
Y/N:(shocked) Tonight?! But we-
Jessie cuts me off.
Jessie: Relax, Y/N. It'll be fine. All we have to do is get the materials from our supplier, and we start building.
Tifa: (uneasy) ...
We all turn to Tifa.
Barret: Sup with you, Tifa?
Tifa: (uneasy) Are we... doing the right thing...?
Wedge: What do you mean?
Tifa: (uneasy) You know what I mean. The bombings. Like I said, blowing up Reactor 1 hurt a lot of people, and people died.
Jessie: (annoyed) Ugh! Not this again, Tifa. For the last time, we all knew what we were signing up for. We blow up the reactors, save the planet, collateral damage be damned.
My eyes, Wedge's, and Tifa's all widen upon hearing that. Especially from Jessie.
Wedge: (shocked) Wow, Jessie.
Tifa: (shocked) Jessie. How can you say that?! What if your parents get caught in the next explosion? What then?
Jessie: (irritated) My mom's a stay-at-home mom. And my dad's on his potential death bed at home. So, they won't get caught.
Tifa: (concerned) Okay, but still! Innocent people could get hurt. Very hurt. Doesn't that sound at least a little bit concerning?
Barret: Don't tell me you're getting cold feet. Thought you wanted to save our planet.
Tifa: And I do! I want to save this planet more than anyone, and Shinra needs to pay. But there has to be a better way.
Biggs: We tried. You remember what happened with Sector 3, right? Riots started everywhere when we tried to do things peacefully, and we were booed out. HQ booted us soon after.
Tifa: ...
Jessie: Look. If you don't feel up for this, then why don't we just bring SOLDIER boy Cloud along with us?
Barret: Fuck that! We don't need him!
He turns to Tifa.
Barret: Tifa. Got the money from the water filters?
Tifa: (nods) Yeah.
She reaches into her pouch and puts the gil on the table.
Barret: How much does he still need?
Tifa: Last night and during our water filter rounds, he got 1,000. He still needs 1,000 more.
Barret: Good enough for me.
He turns to the table and picks up 1,000 gil.
Tifa: ...
Tifa turns to me and Wedge.
Tifa: (pleads) Y/N. Wedge. You both agree with me, right? You guys know deep down that these bombing are going too far.
Wedge and I look at each other and then back at Tifa.
Wedge: (conflicted) Well....
Y/N: (conflicted) Tifa. We-
Barret cuts me off before we can respond.
Barret: We'll talk more later. For now, let's celebrate a job well done.
He turns to Tifa.
Barret: (stern) Tifa... You better make up your mind by tonight.
Tifa: ...
Barret: Let's go!
We all get up and approach the platform, and Barret pulls the lever. We go up to see Cloud sitting at the bar. Tifa walks behind the counter at the bar and drinks a shot, which is understandable given how stressed she is. Biggs, Jessie, and Wedge sit at the table near the dart board. And Barret sits at one of the other tables. Knowing we're about to party, I walk back to the kitchen. After a moment, Tifa approaches me. She leans in and whispers.
Tifa: (whispers) Think about what I said. Okay, Y/N? Deep down, you know this is wrong.
I turn to Tifa with a concerned look on my face.
Y/N: (whispers) Tifa... If this feels wrong, then-
Barret cuts me off.
Barret: (shouts) Tifa! Y/N! Time to celebrate! Break out all the good stuff, both of you!
Tifa and Y/N: (nods) Yes, sir!
Tifa and I look at each other and then she leaves for the bar. I open the fridge and pull out two huge plates of party food I made earlier. Wedge seeing them...
Wedge: (excited) Ohh man! I've been waiting for these all day!
Y/N: (smiles) There's plenty more where that came from, buddy!
I walk over to my friends and place one of the big plates on their table. I approach Barret's table and place the other plate on it. I sit down at Barret's table. Tifa hands out the drinks and then sits next to me. Barret hands Cloud the rest of his money and sits across from me and Tifa. I see Jessie talking to Cloud and then sits with Biggs and Wedge.
Barret: Cloud, get the fuck out.
Cloud gets up and leaves.
Barret: (smiles) Everyone else, raise your drinks!
We do what he says and hold up our drinks.
Everyone: (cheers) Avalanche!
We happily start drinking and eating.
Biggs: Glug, glug, glug, glug... Ahhh! That hit the spot!
Jessie: (laughs) Damn, Biggs. Slow down.
Y/N: (laughs) Tell that to Wedge.
Wedge: (smiles) Om. Nom, nom, nom.
He swallows a bunch of the snacks.
Wedge: (smiles) Can't help it. Y/N's cooking is amazing!
Barret: (smiles) Keep it tight! Ain't no room for error come tomorrow!
Wedge: More reason to live it up now!
Biggs: Yup! Best way to clear your head so you can focus when it counts!
Tifa: It's been too long since we did this.
Wedge: Not since we went on that al-night bender after HQ gave us the boot.
Jessie: They did not "give us the boot"!
Barret: It was an "amicable separation".
Jessie: (annoyed) Ugh! Just thinking about it's making me mad again.
Y/N: Ironically, I don't remember much about that night.
Jessie turns to me.
Jessie: That's because you spent most of that night drinking your problems away.
Biggs: (laughs) That's right! You drank so much that you passed out. Wedge and I had to carry you home. You talked straight nonsense too.
I turn to Biggs.
Y/N: (shocked) Did I really?!
Biggs: You seriously don't remember?
I look up for a moment to try to remember.
Flashback:
The Night HQ and Splinter Cell split:
Y/N's POV:
HQ just kicked us out and Nayo just broke up with me. Right now, I'm in Seventh Heaven with my team drinking.
Y/N: (depressed)This is so not cool!
I take a shot.
Y/N: (dizzy) First, HQ ditches us... no heads up. And then there's Nayo! She slaps me and then dumps me. Again... no heads up.
Biggs: Dude. The people of HQ are assholes. And Nayo always gave off a weird vibe. Did you really think it was gonna work?
I take another shot.
Y/N: I dunno. But we were happy... at least until today.....
I take another shot and turn to Biggs.
Y/N: I dunno what happened...
I start to take another shot, but...
Biggs: That's enough, buddy.
Biggs takes the shot from me.
Y/N: (dizzy) C-C'mon, Biggs. G-Give it to-
Biggs: Absolutely not, I am taking you home. C'mon.
I get up, but...
PLOP!
I collapsed to the ground, knocked out cold. But I can still hear.
Biggs: (laughs) Oh man! HAHAHA! (shouts) Wedge! Can I have some help here?
I remember being picked up, and then... nothing. Everything went black.
Flashback END!
I put my head on the table.
Y/N: (pouts) Ugh... Don't remind me.... That was the night Nayo dumped me, so I had good reason to...
Tifa gently puts her hand on my back to comfort me.
Tifa: (soft) Yeah. HQ did us dirty.
I lift my head up and start eating.
Tifa: Can't believe it's already been a year. I don't know how we managed.
Barret: Well, I do. It was you guys going above and beyond. Thank you.
Biggs: No need for that, boss. We all knew what we were signing up for.
Barret: Yeah. But when shit hits the fan, it's good to know you're in my corner. End of the day... you guys are all I got!
We all look at each other and smile.
Biggs: Happy to look out for you, like I know you'll look out for me.
Wedge: So long as someone looks out for my stomach!
Jessie: Y/N's got you covered there.
Barret: (smiles) As a friend, or as a cook?
Jessie: (laughs) As if you've really gotta ask!
We all laugh.
Y/N: You know. It would be really cool if we could do this again tomorrow night.
Barret: Oh, we will. (shouts) AVALANCHE!
Everyone: (cheers) AVALANCHE!
We drink some more. We all spent the rest of the day partying.
To be continued...