The worn wooden door creaked open, revealing the familiar, comforting dimness of Seventh Heaven.
The scent of stale beer, cleaning supplies, and something vaguely metallic—probably from Barret's gun-arm—filled the air.
It was a smell that meant home, meant safety, meant family. Barret stomped inside, his heavy boots thudding on the floor, a triumphant grin still plastered across his face.
"Lights, people! We ain't hiding from ghosts!"
He boomed, already heading for the counter.
Tifa moved with practiced ease, flipping a switch near the door. The bar's interior was bathed in a warm, amber glow from the overhead lights, revealing the familiar tables and chairs, the well-stocked bar, and the dartboard on the far wall.
It looked exactly as they had left it, a small haven beneath the oppressive plate of Midgar.
Jessie let out a sigh of relief, dropping her heavy bag on a nearby table with a clatter.
"Oh, thank the planet. My feet are killing me."
She kicked off her boots, wiggling her toes.
Biggs and Wedge, looking equally exhausted but exhilarated, found themselves a couple of stools at the bar.
Biggs leaned back, stretching his arms above his head until his joints cracked.
"Best. Mission. Ever."
Wedge nodded vigorously, already reaching for a glass.
"Anyone else starving? I could eat a whole Chocobo!"
Tifa, ever the gracious host, was already behind the bar, wiping it down with a cloth.
"Food's on its way. But first, drinks to celebrate!"
She looked at Arthur, a knowing smile on her face.
"Something non-alcoholic for our hero, perhaps?"
Arthur gave a tired chuckle.
"A can of cold cola and a cheese burger would be great."
He settled into a chair, feeling the tension slowly seep out of his muscles.
The hum of the Lifestream through Aerith's hand was still a gentle comfort, a steady rhythm against the lingering adrenaline.
Aerith, still holding his hand, sat beside him.
"It's good to be home," she whispered, her voice soft but filled with genuine warmth.
"The Planet always feels best when we're safe, together."
Barret, meanwhile, was rummaging under the counter, pulling out a bottle of something dark and potent. "To Avalanche!" he roared, uncorking the bottle with a loud pop.
Jessie, Biggs, and Wedge cheered, raising their own (empty) glasses. Tifa, shaking her head with a fond smile, started pouring drinks.
Cloudia remained by the door for a moment, her gaze sweeping across the bar. Her expression was still unreadable, but the tightness around her eyes seemed to have lessened.
She moved with her usual quiet grace, choosing a seat slightly apart from the others, near the dartboard.
Her Buster Sword, too massive for the confined space, leaned against the wall beside her, a silent testament to their recent battle.
She watched Arthur, her blue eyes still sharp, still assessing.
The initial celebratory energy began to wane as exhaustion truly set in. Barret, after a few hearty gulps from his bottle, leaned back against the counter, his formidable gun-arm resting on the polished wood.
"Alright, Arthur. Spill it. That ain't no 'unusual training.' You pulled some crazy stuff out there. What in the hells was that about?"
His voice was booming, but there was a genuine curiosity in his tone, free from accusation.
Arthur took a long drink of cola, letting the cool fuzzing liquid soothe his throat.
He knew he couldn't tell them everything.
The concept of another reality, of Dragon Gods and Low Tier Godlings, would be too much for their minds, rooted in the familiar struggles of Midgar.
He had to simplify, to find an explanation that was both believable and reassuring.
"It's… complicated, Barret," Arthur began, choosing his words carefully.
"My training involved understanding the flow of energy. Not just Mako, but the energy that permeates everything. The Planet, even people."
He gestured vaguely, trying to convey a sense of vastness without getting too technical.
"When you learn to manipulate that energy, you can do… unusual things."
Barret squinted, trying to wrap his head around it.
"Energy, huh? Like… Materia? But without the Materia?"
"Something like that,"
Arthur agreed, simplifying further.
"Think of it like… directing the flow. Like water. If you know how to channel it, you can make it do what you want."
Wedge, who had been listening intently, piped up, "Oh Yeah! I remember you used that power to stop the captain of Shinra!"
He chuckled, a nervous edge to his laugh.
Jessie leaned forward, intrigued.
"So, you can just… use that power to stop people? That's incredible! We could use that for so many operations!"
Her mind was already racing with strategic possibilities.
Arthur hesitated for a moment, then took another sip of his cola, buying himself a few more seconds to formulate his explanation.
He couldn't outright lie, but he needed to simplify the truth of the Authority of Sloth, known as "Invisible Providence."
"It's not about stopping people directly, Jessie,"
Arthur clarified, choosing his words carefully.
"It's about... affecting the space around them, or even a very specific point within that space. Imagine if you could extend an unseen hand, a part of your will, and interact with things without physically touching them."
He paused, letting the concept sink in. Barret's brow was still furrowed in thought, but Jessie's eyes were wide with understanding.
"So, like a psychic ability?"
Biggs offered, leaning forward.
Arthur nodded.
"In a way, yes. It's an extension of my own energy, my own intent, into the world. It requires a lot of focus, and it's not something I can just spam. It's subtle, precise. That's why I called it 'unusual training' – it's about learning to perfectly channel that inner flow."
Cloudia, who had been silently observing, spoke for the first time, her voice low and even.
"You used it to disarm the Shinra captain without him even knowing you touched him. And to deflect those bullets. It's incredibly fast."
Arthur met her gaze, a flicker of something unreadable in her blue eyes.
"Yes. Speed and precision are key. It's about influencing the moment, just before something happens, or making a small, precise adjustment that has a large impact."
He chose not to mention the "invisible hands" that comprised the Authority, as that might be too difficult to explain without revealing more than he intended. He just called it "an extension of his will."
"Man, that's wild,"
Wedge mumbled, shaking his head in amazement.
"So you could, like, grab a remote from across the room without getting up?"
Arthur chuckled.
"Theoretically, yes. But it's far more taxing than simply walking over and picking it up. It's for when there's no other way."
Barret finally grunted, a sound of grudging acceptance.
"Alright, I'm still not entirely sure what the hell you're talking about, but it damn near saved our lives out there. So, 'unusual energy flow' it is. Just... don't go getting any ideas about becoming a one-man army, kid. We're Avalanche, and we work together."
Arthur smiled.
"Wouldn't have it any other way, Barret."
Aerith squeezed his hand gently, a comforting warmth radiating from her touch.
"It doesn't matter how you did it, Arthur,"
She whispered, her gaze soft.
"What matters is that you protected us. And the Planet."
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