The clinking of glasses and the murmur of conversation filled the air. Arthur stepped inside Seventh Heaven, Aerith close behind him.
The place was exactly as he remembered it from the game – a cozy, lived-in bar. His gaze immediately landed on the woman behind the counter.
Tifa Lockheart.
She was even more striking in person than he'd imagined. Her dark hair was pulled back, showing off her strong features, and her movements were quick and precise as she wiped down the counter.
He felt a jolt of recognition, a familiar pull from his past, even though this was their first real-world meeting. It was strange, knowing so much about someone who had no idea who he was.
Aerith, seemingly oblivious to Arthur's internal monologue, tugged lightly on his sleeve.
"Come on!"
She whispered, her eyes bright with curiosity as she took in the bar.
Arthur followed her, his eyes still on Tifa. He needed to be careful. He knew Tifa was fiercely protective of her friends and the bar, especially when it came to strangers. He also knew she was a key member of Avalanche. This was a critical step.
As they approached the bar, Tifa looked up, her gaze direct and assessing. Her eyes, dark and sharp, met Arthur's for a moment, then flickered to Aerith. Arthur could almost feel her evaluating them, trying to figure out their intentions.
"Can I help you two?"
Tifa asked, her voice clear and steady, with a hint of an edge. She didn't smile, her expression neutral.
Aerith, however, seemed undeterred by Tifa's serious demeanor. She stepped forward, her usual bright smile in place.
"Hi! We're looking for Avalanche!"
So direct!
Arthur braced himself.
He knew mentioning Avalanche directly to Tifa, especially as a stranger, was a bold move. It could either open the door or slam it shut in their faces.
Tifa's eyebrows rose slightly. Her eyes narrowed, and she leaned forward, resting her forearms on the bar.
"Avalanche, huh?"
Her voice was low, almost a murmur, but it carried a distinct warning.
"You got to the wrong place. This is just a bar."
Arthur decided it was his turn. He stepped slightly in front of Aerith, offering Tifa a calm, reassuring look.
"We were told this was a safe haven,"
He said, keeping his voice even.
"We're not here to cause trouble. We need help. Shinra is after us, and we heard Avalanche fight against them."
He hoped the directness, coupled with a hint of vulnerability, would resonate with her. He kept his hands visible, showing he was no threat.
Tifa studied him, her gaze lingering on his eyes. Arthur knew he didn't look like a typical slum resident.
His clothes were clean and his posture was confident, and there was an intensity about him that probably stood out. He also knew his powers, while currently hidden, would give him an aura that was difficult to place.
"Shinra, you say?"
Tifa repeated, her tone still guarded, but he detected a flicker of something in her eyes – perhaps a touch of empathy, or at least interest.
"A lot of people in Midgar have problems with Shinra."
"More than problems,"
Arthur countered, letting a hint of his frustration show.
"They're hunting Aerith. And I'm trying to protect her."
He gestured subtly to Aerith.
Aerith nodded earnestly.
"They tried to take me. Elmyra told us to come here."
Tifa's gaze softened slightly as she looked at Aerith. She seemed to be weighing their words, trying to discern the truth.
The mention of Shinra actively hunting Aerith, and Elmyra's name, seemed to carry some weight. Elmyra was a respected figure in the slums, known for her kindness.
Finally, Tifa pushed herself upright.
"Look, I don't know anything about Avalanche,"
She said, her voice a little louder now, for the benefit of any listening patrons.
"But if you're in trouble with Shinra, you can sit down for a bit. Don't cause any trouble, though."
She gestured towards a small, empty table in a corner.
It wasn't an outright acceptance, but it wasn't a rejection either. It was Tifa's way of extending a cautious invitation.
Arthur understood the unspoken message: prove yourselves, and maybe we can talk.
"Thank you,"
Arthur said, a genuine sense of relief washing over him. He guided Aerith towards the table.
As they settled into their seats, Arthur kept an eye on Tifa. She returned to wiping the bar, but he could feel her occasional glances in their direction. She was observing them, making sure they weren't a threat.
"She's nice,"
Aerith whispered, completely oblivious to the tension that had just unfolded.
"And strong! Did you see her arms? A—And her boobs!"
Arthur almost coughed but still managed a small smile.
"S—She is,"
He agreed. He knew Tifa was incredibly strong, not just physically, but in spirit too. And those boobs were things that made him fall for her when he was a naughty kid.
A few moments later, Tifa approached their table, carrying two glasses of water.
She placed them down with a soft thud.
"So, you said Shinra's after you?"
She asked, her voice low. She didn't sit, but stood by the table, her arms crossed.
Arthur nodded.
"They want Aerith. For her unique abilities."
He didn't elaborate further, knowing Tifa would understand the implication of "unique abilities" in the context of Shinra's experiments.
Tifa's expression tightened.
"They're always after something."
She paused, then asked,
"And you? Why are you helping her?"
This was the tricky part. Arthur couldn't exactly say, 'Because I know you all from a video game and I'm trying to change destiny.'
He had to phrase it carefully.
"I have my own reasons for fighting Shinra,"
He began, choosing his words carefully.
"And I believe Aerith deserves to live free, just like everyone else. I saw what Shinra was doing, and I couldn't just stand by."
He tried to project sincerity, a conviction that aligned with Avalanche's ideals.
Tifa's gaze was still intense, but there was a flicker of understanding in her eyes.
"You seem… different,"
She observed, her voice quiet.
"Not like the usual drifters who wander in here."
"I've seen things,"
Arthur admitted, allowing a hint of weariness to enter his voice. It wasn't a lie, just not the whole truth.
"And I know what Shinra is capable of. They won't stop until they get what they want. Aerith needs protection. And Avalanche need all the help they can get, too, right?"
He subtly tried to shift the focus to their shared enemy, appealing to her sense of purpose.
Tifa considered his words for a long moment. She glanced at Aerith, who was quietly sipping her water, then back at Arthur.
"You sound like you know a lot about us,"
She said, a new layer of suspicion in her voice.
"Only what people in the slums whisper,"
Arthur quickly interjected.
"Stories of brave fighters standing up to Shinra. That's why we came here. We have nowhere else to go."
The bar door creaked open, and a burly man with a distinctive, spiky haircut and a gun for an arm walked in. He scanned the room, his eyes quickly falling on Arthur and Aerith. This was Barret Wallace, the leader of Avalanche.
Arthur felt a surge of adrenaline. The true test was about to begin. He maintained a calm demeanor, meeting Barret's gaze directly.
"Tifa, who are these folks?"
Barret's voice boomed, his eyes narrowed suspiciously as he approached their table. He was even more imposing in person than Arthur had imagined.
Tifa turned to Barret.
"They say Shinra's after them, Barret. And they're looking for Avalanche."
Barret scoffed.
"Everyone's lookin' for Avalanche these days. What makes them so special?"
He looked at Arthur, then Aerith.
"You got a death wish, kid? Talkin' 'bout Avalanche in my bar?"
"We're just trying to survive,"
Arthur said, standing slowly. He didn't want to seem aggressive, but he also wouldn't back down.
"And we heard Avalanche might offer us that chance. We want to fight for the Planet, just like you."
Barret's single-armed gun twitched slightly.
"Fight for the Planet, huh? Lotta talkers out there. Not many doers."
He looked at Aerith again, his expression softening slightly.
"And what about her? She looks like she'd snap if a stiff breeze hit her."
Aerith, surprisingly, didn't seem intimidated. She put her empty glass down and looked up at Barret.
"I can help,"
She said, her voice clear and firm.
"I have a special power. I can hear the planet. And Shinra wants to use it."
A hush fell over the bar. Even Tifa looked surprised by Aerith's blunt admission.
Barret's eyes widened, his usual bluster replaced by a look of shock. He glanced at Tifa, then back at Aerith.
Arthur knew this was a gamble, but Aerith's honesty often cut through pretense. He just hoped it didn't backfire.
Barret stared at Aerith for a long moment, then slowly, he looked at Arthur. A new kind of assessment was in his eyes now, not just suspicion, but a weighty consideration.
"Hear the Planet, huh?"
Barret repeated, his voice much quieter now.
"That's a powerful claim, kid."
"It's the truth,"
Aerith affirmed.
Barret grunted, running his metal hand over his chin. He glanced at Tifa, who seemed to be waiting for his lead.
"Tifa, get these two somethin' to eat,"
Barret finally said, his voice still gruff, but the hostility had drained from it.
"And then... we'll talk. In the back."
He nodded towards a door behind the bar.
Arthur felt a wave of relief. They were in. It wasn't a full acceptance, but it was a step inside the inner circle. He exchanged a quick, grateful look with Tifa, who gave him a subtle, almost imperceptible nod.
As Tifa walked away to prepare food, Arthur turned to Aerith.
"That was... quite a revelation,"
He murmured, a small smile playing on his lips.
Aerith just giggled.
"Well, it's true! Why hide it?"
Arthur knew she had a point. Her innocence and directness were her strengths. And in this world, sometimes the most straightforward path was the most effective.
He had come here to help her, and it seemed, at least for now, that fate was on their side.
After a surprisingly delicious meal of Tifa's homemade stew, which tasted even better after their long walk, Barret led them through the door behind the bar. It opened into a narrow hallway, leading to a flight of stairs that descended into the earth.
The air grew cooler, and the faint hum of machinery became more pronounced. This was the true Avalanche hideout. Arthur followed Barret and Aerith down the stairs, his senses on high alert. He could feel the vibrations of the Mako reactors above, but also the pulse of activity below.
The stairs opened into a larger, cavernous space, carved out of the rock beneath Sector 7. It was a bustling hub of activity. Various members of Avalanche were scattered around: some were cleaning weapons, others were poring over maps, and a few were tinkering with what looked like homemade explosives. The place smelled of oil, metal, and a faint hint of gunpowder.
"This is it,"
Barret announced, his voice regaining some of its usual booming quality as he addressed his team.
"Our base of operations."
He then turned to Arthur and Aerith.
"And this is where we plan to take down Shinra, one Mako reactor at a time."
He led them to a large table in the center of the room, covered with detailed maps of Midgar.
"Now,"
Barret said, leaning over the table, his metal arm resting on a map of the city.
"Let's talk about what Shinra wants with you, kid. And what you two are willing to do to stop 'em."
He looked directly at Aerith, then at Arthur, his gaze unwavering.
"Because if you're with Avalanche, you're all in."
Arthur felt a surge of determination. This was it. This was where he could truly begin to change things. He looked at Aerith, who met his gaze with a look of resolute courage. He knew they were in for a dangerous journey, but they weren't alone anymore.
"We're all in,"
Arthur confirmed, his voice firm and clear.
"Whatever it takes."
As the days turned into a week, Arthur found himself settling into the rhythm of the Avalanche hideout. He quickly learned the layout of the base, the routines of the members, and the unspoken rules of their operation.
His heightened senses, which he still kept largely hidden, proved invaluable. He could detect subtle shifts in the air, hear distant conversations, and even sense the emotional states of those around him.
This allowed him to anticipate problems, avoid unnecessary conflicts, and generally navigate the complex social dynamics of the group.
He spent most of his time observing, learning, and offering help where he could.
He helped fix malfunctioning equipment, offered tactical suggestions during planning sessions, and even sparred with some of the Avalanche members, carefully gauging his strength to avoid revealing the full extent of his abilities.
He learned their fighting styles, their weaknesses, and their strengths.
He noticed that while Tifa was the calm strategist, Barret was the fiery leader.
Their contrasting personalities somehow worked, creating a balanced dynamic that kept Avalanche moving forward. He also began to learn the names and personalities of the other members:
Biggs, Wedge, and Jessie. They were a diverse group, but united by their shared hatred of Shinra and their dedication to the Planet.
Aerith, meanwhile, quickly became a beloved figure in the hideout. Her gentle nature and endless optimism were a stark contrast to the grim realities of their fight, and her presence brought a much-needed warmth to the often-tense atmosphere.
She spent her time talking to everyone, offering words of encouragement, and even tending to the small, potted plants that Jessie had managed to cultivate in a corner of the base.
She spoke often about the Planet, about its suffering, and about its calls for help. Her words resonated deeply with the Avalanche members, reaffirming their purpose.
Arthur also continued to work on his own powers. He practiced his energy manipulation in secret, honing his ability to create and control energy blasts, and to enhance his physical capabilities.
He knew he would need every ounce of his strength for the battles to come.
He also began to try and understand the unique "spiritual" power that Aerith mentioned, the one that allowed her to hear the Planet.
He felt a faint echo of it within himself, a connection to the Lifestream, but it was nowhere near as strong as hers.
He theorized that his own abilities, combined with Aerith's unique connection, could be truly formidable.
One evening, as Arthur was cleaning his gear, Tifa approached him. She sat down on a nearby crate, her expression thoughtful.
"You're good with a wrench," she commented, a small smile playing on her lips. "And you handle yourself well. You've been a big help around here."
"Just doing what I can,"
Arthur replied, meeting her gaze. He knew this was her way of acknowledging his contributions, of finally beginning to trust him.
"You're not from around here, are you?"
Tifa asked, her voice quiet.
"I mean, not just Midgar. You seem… like you've seen a lot more of the world than most people in the slums."
Arthur paused, considering his answer. He decided to offer her a small piece of the truth, something she might be able to understand.
"Let's just say I've been to places where the fight against Shinra is even more desperate," he said, keeping it vague. "And I've seen the consequences of their actions firsthand."
Tifa's eyes darkened.
"I understand," she said, her voice filled with a quiet intensity. "We all have our reasons for fighting."
She then looked at him directly. "Barret trusts you. And Aerith… she seems to really like you."
Arthur felt a warmth spread through him. Gaining Tifa's trust, and Barret's, was a major victory. And Aerith's genuine affection was a comfort.
"She's a good person,"
Arthur said, referring to Aerith.
"She deserves to be protected."
"Everyone here does,"
Tifa replied, her gaze sweeping over the bustling hideout.
"And we're going to make sure they are. With or without Shinra's permission."
She stood up.
"Barret's putting together a team for the next mission. He wants you on it. We're hitting the Sector 5 Mako Reactor."
Arthur felt a thrill of anticipation. This was it. The real fight was about to begin.
...
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