Chapter Text
"Tifa!"
"Already on my way!" She called back, laughter escaping her as she disappeared into the kitchen. The cloth in her hand hit the sink with a wet slap.
Saving the planet never rests.
She moved with purpose, boots scuffing against the floor as she stepped back into the bar. Her gaze swept across the familiar space. Clean tables, bottles lined up neatly, and the smell of polish lingering.
Everything was ready to go for the evening rush.
Without breaking stride, she approached the pinball machine, fingers finding the hidden latch. With a mechanical whir and a soft clunk, the machine descended into the floor, revealing Avalanche's hideout.
Tifa smoothed her skirt and tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear before she stepped off the platform.
The basement was dimly lit, the blueprints on the table illuminated by a low overhead lamp. Barret stood by the table, hand firmly planted on it.
"Let's get to it." He grunted, jabbing a finger toward a spot on the blueprint. "This is the infilration point."
"Is that the quickest route in?" Biggs asked, a brow raised.
"The safest." Barret replied without missing a beat.
"Barret, we have a foolproof plan," Jessie grinned, tossing a fist into the air. "No need to play it safe when you've got me on the job."
"Someone's really confident." Barret looked over his sunglasses at her.
"I'm telling you... this agent is unlike anything I've ever cooked up before." Jessie's eyes gleamed with pride as she leaned on the table. "It'll drop that reactor in seconds."
"It... is about getting into the reactor," Tifa cut in, her voice calm but firm. She looked at each of them with a line of tension in her shoulders. "The infiltration is a concern. Shinra troops. Tight spaces. One wrong move-"
"We've got to be ready for anything," Barret crosses his arms.
"Fine." Jessie huffed, the spark in her eye still twinkling.
"When do we do this?" Wedge asked, his voice tinged with nerves as he looked across at Barret.
"Tonight. Reactor 1." Barret looked at Tifa. "Gonna need you to cover Seventh Heaven. At least until we bring someone new on we can trust."
"Leave it to me," She responded with a soft smile. "Just promise I'll get in on the action next time."
"Mmh, she could use the release." Jessie chimed in with a playful wink.
"No comment," Tifa shot back with a laugh, her eyes gleaming red beneath the amber flow of the basement lights. "Just be safe out there. Marlene is safe with me."
Barret squeezed her shoulder in appreciation before turning his attention toward Jessie. "Last checks on explosives." He flickered his gaze toward Biggs and Wedge. "You two, weapons inventory. Triple check it. We don't get a second shot."
"Only a few hours," Biggs muttered, rubbing the back of his neck. "Make em count."
The trio moved onto the platform, voices already rising in playful argument as they ascended. Mostly the guys teasing Jessie about how her blast radius was going to level Midgar.
Tifa laughed, watching them disappear. As silence crept back in, her eyes returned to the blueprints. She leaned in, fingers tracing the lines as if trying to see the path ahead, see the danger before it arrives.
A heavy hand settled gently on her head. Barret's brows furrowed, his tone low.
"Sorry 'bout tonight."
Tifa shook her head, her smile tinged with quiet resolve. "Don't be. You're the best one to lead this, and..." She hesitated, eyes falling. "This can't go wrong. This is... the beginning of something. You need people who won't hesitate."
Barret's voice softened. "That's not why I kept you out."
She tilted her head up to meet his gaze. "I know. With you there, I wouldn't have hesitated. I'd do anything for Avalanche." Her voice cracked slightly before she steadied it. "You're... my family. Do I want anyone hurt? Never. But this isn't just about us anymore."
"We're putting it to Shinra."
"We're putting it to Shinra." She echoed, nodding.
Their fists met in silent solidarity.
"We better get back up there and open."
"Alcohol never sleeps."
"Strife!"
The minute Cloud stepped out of the elevator, a blur of black slammed into him from the side. He barely had time to register the voice before he was yanked into a rough headlock.
"Zack!" He yelled, more startled than annoyed, as familiar knuckles dug into the spiky mess of his hair, grinding down with playful vengeance. With a scowl, Cloud shoved him off, glaring as he straightened his shoulder guard.
Zack let out a booming laugh, stepping back with arms outstretched as if to say, what, me?
"Maybe save some of that cold shoulder for the rest of us?" He teased, falling into step beside Cloud as they made their way down the metallic corridor of the Shinra building. Fluorescent lights buzzed overhead, casting a sterile glow against the brushed steel walls.
"When do you ever find time to wind down?"
Cloud adjusted his gloves, jaw tight. "I'm a Soldier." His voice was calm and clipped. "We don't have time for that."
"All work and no play," Zack sighed dramatically, throwing his hands behind his head as they walked. "That explains a lot."
They passed a few lower-ranked troopers who nodded quickly at the sight of them, stepping aside as if the corridor weren't wide enough for two Firsts.
"There aren't even any missions on the docket right now," Zack pressed. "What are you so wound up about?"
"I don't have time to be caught off guard." Cloud's tone was low. His eyes scanned the hallway like he was still on patrol.
"Strife's wound up because he doesn't know how to stand down." A voice spoke from behind them.
Zack turned, a grin already forming. "Seph! Back me up here - tell him that being off-duty doesn't mean he stares holes into the wall."
Sephiroth stepped up beside them, hands loosely behind his back, silver hair tied back in a low tail that fell over one shoulder. To the other soldiers, he was a legend; to Zack and Cloud, he was the closest thing they had to an older brother.
"Relaxation is a tactical necessity," Sephiroth commented. "Fatigue narrows your judgement. A rigid mind will break faster than a flexible one."
His gaze shifted to Cloud, steady, but unkind. "You're no use to anyone if you're already spent before the mission begins."
Zack gave Cloud a sidelong glance, something soft flickering behind the humor in his eyes.
Cloud's jaw tightened. "I'm fine."
Sephiroth arched the faintest eyebrow, ushering to the door. "Then it shouldn't hurt to sit down and drink bad coffee with your partner."
"Are you supposed to admit the coffee is bad?" Cloud gave him a perplexed look.
Zack seized the opening and nudged his shoulder. "You heard him, Spikey! That's an order from the General himself."
Sephiroth watched them with mild amusement as they reached the door to the mess hall. Zack pushed it open with his shoulder and stepped inside.
The scent of rationed food, coffee and the faint sting of sterilised agents hit them immediately. A few off-duty troopers sat clustered at tables, boots propped up, laughter echoing off the walls.
Zack turned to look back at him.
"I don't think I've ever seen you take downtime. Even once."
Cloud stepped inside slowly, scanning the room. There was always something beneath his surface - a hum of unease, a tension in the way he stood, like a wire pulled tight.
He didn't answer right away.
"Downtime... doesn't come easy," He finally muttered, crossing his arms as he leaned against the wall. "Not for me."
Zack studied him for a second, then slapped him lightly on the back.
"Well, maybe this time... you let it." His grin widened. "Come on, let's pretend we're normal for five minutes."
Cloud's expression didn't change, but his stance relaxed, just slightly. He let Zack lead him over to the other side of the room.
"Speaking of missions..." Zack wandered over to the coffee machine tucked into the corner of the mess hall, squinting at it like it might explode. "There are rumours floating around. Got Shinra all twitchy."
Cloud followed, leaning beside the machine, arms folded. "Since when do the higher-ups pay attention to rumors?"
Zack tilted his head, watching as Cloud punched in the brew settings. The machine gave a click, followed by the low buzz of overworked gears grinding to life.
"Since it's about our reactors," Zack shrugged, his tone quieter now. He leaned in slightly, his voice dropping to a near-whisper. "Word is... there's a group out there trying to bring Shinra down."
Cloud arched a brow but said nothing until the paper cup was filled. He lifted it, steam rising into the fluorescent lights above, and took a slow sip.
"No one would be that stupid." He muttered, eyes narrowing slightly.
"I'm just telling you what I've heard," Zack replied, raising his hands in mock innocence as he tapped in his own order. "You have to admit though... if someone did manage to pull it off?" He gave a small, amused shake of his head. "Pretty impressive."
Cloud shot him a sideways glance. "I wouldn't let the executives hear you say that."
"Come on," Zack laughed, folding his arms across his chest, cocky grin returning. "You're telling me you wouldn't be just a little impressed if someone actually took down one of the mako reactors?"
Cloud took another sip, eyes distant now, as if weighing something.
"Again," He repeated flatly. "It would be stupid."
Zack didn't reply immediately.
The machine finally whirred to a halt, spitting out his coffee with a puff of steam. He grabbed the cup, letting the silence stretch for a moment between them.
"Yeah," He said eventually, his smile dimming just a little. "Maybe. But stupid or not... someone's got guts."
Cloud's eyes fixed on the swirling dark liquid in his cup.
Somewhere beyond the walls, the hum of reactors pulsed beneath them.
"Tifa."
She turned at the sound of her name, catching Barret's silhouette framed in the doorway at the end of the bar. The low hum of the jukebox filled the silence between them. With a quick smile, she placed a drink in front of a regular and walked along, resting her elbows lightly against the worn wood as she reached him.
"Go time?"
Barret gave a low grunt and tilted his head in confirmation, his deep voice carrying a weight only she could fully hear.
"You got this?"
Tifa tilted her head, a soft laugh escaping as she wiped her hands on a bar towel.
"Barret.. I think you have a lot more to be worried about."
Straightening up, she tapped her knuckles gently against the counter, the gesture more intimate than it seemed.
"Be safe, okay?"
Barret leaned in, the corner of his mouth twitiching into a smile.
"We'll be back before you can call closing. We'll stick it to Shinra - on your behalf."
Tifa smiled, eyes glinting with something between affection and worry.
"Mmh... give them a warm welcome from me." She flicked her hand playfully to shoo him out.
Barret lingered a second longer, than gave a final nod before turning away. "Jessie! Biggs! Wedge! Let's move out."
Tifa watched them go, her smile fading just slightly. As the door closed behind them, she held her breath for one long second... then let it go in a quiet exhale.
It wouldn't be the last time she seen them.
A voice called out from the other end of the bar, snapping her back. She turned, slipping seamlessly into her role again - the friendly bartender, the heart of Seventh Heaven.
It would be fine.
They were ready.
They got this.
Zack stood at the window, arms loosely crossed, eyes scanning the sprawl of Midgar below. From this height, the city almost looked peaceful - like its smog and shadows hadn't touched the people rushing along the streets. So many lives, so many stories all happening at once.
He ran a hand through his thick black spikes, exhaling with a crooked smirk.
"Gotta get Spikey out into the world." He muttered to himself "Or... find him a girl."
That'll be the day.
But to see him mingle with people who did't scowl, grunt, or carry a sword like a chip on their shoulder.
"Has the view changed?"
Zack didn't even flinch.
Speak of the devil.
He glanced over his shoulder, finding Cloud standing beside him with that familiar unreadable expression. Zack chuckled, tilting his head.
"I was just thinking... the world's bigger than this."
Cloud stepped forward, folding his arms as he looked out at the glowing web of mako-lit infrastructure. "We'd know firsthand. We've seen the world."
Zack gave a half-laugh, leaning back against glass with a sigh.
"Not all of it. Besides, that's... First Class Soldier Zack and Cloud. Just... Zack and Cloud? They haven't."
Cloud blinked. "Come again?"
Zack shook his head, almost in disbelief. "Cloud. We've spent years training, fighting, surviving. We're earned where we are. But... it's not living."
He jabbed a thumb at the window. "Look at them. All those people... they've got their own routines, their own little joys. Might seem boring from up here, but I bet it's different every day. Messy. Monotonous. Real."
Cloud narrowed his eyes. "Have you been drinking?"
"I'm serious!" Zack laughed, lifting his hands. " We don't know what it's like to worry about rent, or what's for dinner, or if your date's going to ghost you. We know missions. Orders. Objectives."
"We do something different everyday."
Zack gave him a look.
"That's not what I mean, and you know it." His voice softened a little. "You need to get out - see the world without a sword strapped to your back Just once."
Cloud didn't respond right away. His gaze drifted to the streetlights below, where vehicles moved like slow embers in a forge.
"Maybe."
Zack smirked.
"That's the spirit. Baby steps, Cloud."
Tifa stood alone in the kitchen, finally taking a moment for herself now that the evening rush had began dying down. The hum of the bar beyond the swinging doors had quieted to the low murmur of regulars nursing their drinks.
She brought a glass of cold water to her lips, the chill a small relief against the dryness in her throat. Still, her eyes kept flicking back to the clock on the wall.
They should've been out of the reactor by now.
That thought, not knowing - was what kept her nerves taut, like a string pulled too tight.
He said they'd be back before she could call for closing.
She believed him.
She exhaled slowly, trying to ground herself, when a sudden swell of commotion from the bar made her jolt. Setting the glass down quickly, she stepped out, her stride calm but her heart already quickening.
A familiar face called her over from his usual spot at the counter.
"Tifa, did you hear?"
She tilted her head slightly, one brow lifting with a practiced air of curiosity. "Hear what?"
"One of the mako reactors, it's been blown up."
Her breath caught before she could stop it. She glanced at the clock again.
Too early.
Far... too early.
Her stomach twisted.
No...
"Really?" She asked, her voice carefully measured. She forced a neutral expression, though her hands gripped the edge of the bar just a bit too tightly.
"Yeah, they're saying it's bad. Big explosion, and... there were casualties."
She swallowed, throat suddenly dry again. Clearing it, she gave a soft shake of her head and busied herself wiping down the counter, anything to avoid the image clawing its way into her thoughts.
Were they okay?
Jessie... Biggs... Wedge... Barrett...
What happened?
Had the plan gone wrong? Did Shinra intervene?
No - they're okay. They had to be.
Still, her hands didn't stop moving, cleaning a spot that was already gleaming.
Casualties.
Innocents.
We... did this.
A sharp pain sliced through her chest.
Is this what fighting back looked like?
The blaring alarms cut through the quiet hum of the mess hall, harsh and jarring. Red lights pulsed overhead as Shinra personnel paused mid-bite, looking around in growing confusion.
"What the hell?" Zack was already halfway out of his chair, brow furrowed.
A moment later, the doors burst open. A Shinra trooper sprinted in, his helmet slightly askew, panic etched into every step.
Cloud was on his feet instantly, his eyes sharp and scanning. His hand twitched, instinctively reaching for a sword that wasn't there.
"One of the mako reactors has been bombed," The guard panted, barely catching his breath. "Sector 1!"
Zack froze. The words echoed - rumors of a group taking on Shinra. The pieces snapped together in his mind. Slowly, he turned to look at Cloud, whose unreadable expression had hardened into resolve.
Cloud glanced back at him, the same unspoken conclusion passing between them.
Zack ran a hand through his hair. "Okay... so, maybe not just a rumor?"
"Strife. Fair."
They both turned as Sephiroth appeared in the doorway, already in uniform, coat half-fastened like he'd dressed on the way.
"You're on civillian support." He told them. "Get down there and keep the perimeter secure."
Zack straightened, fist to his chest. "Yes, sir."
Cloud nodded once. "Understood."
Sephiroth's gaze lingered on them a heartbeat longer, then he turned away - aready moving, already pulled toward the heart of the crisis.
Cloud was already striding toward the exit with purpose in his steps. "We need to move. Now."
Zack hesitated just a second longer, the corner of his mouth twitching despite himself.
Serious mode, Fair.
Focus.
Still, as he fell into step behind Cloud, he couldn't quite shake the grin tugging his lips.
Now this was something.
He was officially impressed.
When they arrived, Zack had to stop and stare.
The street was chaos... to put it lightly.
Charred debris littered the ground. Flames licked the edges of twisted metal and shattered storefronts, casting flickering orange light across the faces of the stunned crowd held behind Shinra barriers. The acrid smell of burning mako and scorched concrete filled the air, heavy and suffocating. Screams had quieted, but the silence now felt worse.
Zack's boots crunched over broken glass as he moved in step with Cloud, the smoke curling around them like ghosts. Cloud's posture was rigid, every muscle tense, eyes darting across the scene like he was expecting trouble.
"Think they're still around?" Zack asked, glancing around the wreckage, scanning shadows and rooftops.
"No." Cloud didn't hesitate. His voice was flat, clipped. "They wouldn't be that stupid."
Zack raised a brow, smirking faintly. "Didn't you say that about them blowing up the reactors?"
Cloud shot him a look - sharp and clearly unimpressed.
Really? You want to do this now?
It said without a word.
Zack let out a slow breath, raising his hands in mock surrender before crossing his arms. His eyes swept across the street again.
"They must've used the train to get out." He muttered, more to himself than Cloud.
"Trains were shut down the moment the alarms went off." Cloud frowned, narrowing his eyes at the far end of the platform where emergency units were still swarming.
"Depends how long it took them to escape," Zack replied, tapping his chin thoughtfully. "If it was preplanned... maybe the detonation was delayed until they were clear."
Cloud didn't respond right away. His silence wasn't disagreement - just calculation.
Finally, he nodded. "Then we wait for confirmation. Until then, we assume nothing."
Zack looked over at the destruction again, jaw tightening.
Whoever these people were... they knew what they were doing.
And for the first time, the idea of someone standing up to Shinra didn't feel like a joke.
Tifa waved off a few regulars with a faint smile, the corners of her lips lifting more out of habit than cheer.
As the door swung shut behind them, she grabbed a cloth and began wiping down the bar, scrubbing at faint rings left behind by half-finished drinks. Her mind was scattered - jumping between worry and denial.
They weren't back yet.
Why were't they back?
She'd called closing.
Barrett promised.
Slipping into the kitchen, she took a sip of cold water, letting it settle the dryness in her throat. She closed her eyes for a moment, breathing deep.
Calm. Calm. They're fine.
A sudden swell of chatter from the bar yanked her back to the moment.
She stepped out quickly - heart lurching in her chest, then exhaled the breath she didn't know she was holding.
Barret, Jessie, Biggs and Wedge stood in the doorway, worn and dust-covered, but smiling.
Relief washed over her like a tide.
"You're back." Tifa's voice cracked faintly as she leaned against the bartop, both hands braced.
"We did it, Tifa. We did it!" Barret grinned wide, stepping forward to clasp her shoulder.
Her brows pinched together, the knot in her stomach tightening again. "I heard... it was bad." She looked between them. "What happened?"
Biggs exchanged a quick glance with Jessie, his expression darkening.
"The explosion triggered... early." He said gently, his eyes not quite meeting hers.
Jessie shook her head, a crease forming in her brow. "I triple-checked everything. The agent I made... I've never seen it act like that." She hesitated, the frustation evident in her voice. "Something went wrong. I just... don't know what."
Tifa tucked a stand of hair behind her ear, watching the uncertainty flash across Jessie's face.
She wanted to believe in her.
She did believe in her.
She straightened up, forcing a smile. "How about some drinks, huh? You've earned it."
"You heard her!" Barret called, rallying the others as he walked over to the booth in the corner.
Jessie followed, slower than usual. Wedge gave her a gentle nudge, whispering something that made her huff out a soft laugh.
Tifa turned to Biggs as he lingered near the bar.
"Biggs?"
He paused, hand resting lightly on the counter.
"It was... rough." His voice dropped. "There were a lot of casualties, Tifa. Innocents."
He tapped the bar once, a weary gesture, and walked away to join the others.
Tifa stood still for a beat, the weight of his words settling heavily on her shoulders. Her fingers tightened around a glass she hadn't realised she'd picked up.
She believed in Jessie.
She believed she mixed the agent right.
Was it something inside the reactor?
Shinra?
She shook her head.
Not tonight.
Tonight... they survived.
Tonight, they celebrate their safe return.
She set to making the drinks, forcing the smile back onto her face like armor.
Tifa held her arm around Jessie’s waist as she led her back towards her house, steadying her stumble as they walked down the alley.
“Tifa… do you think I have a soulmate?” Jessie asked, leaning into her, voice slurring slightly from the cocktails Tifa had loaded her with earlier. “I want… that. A special someone.”
Tifa inhaled, smiling softly. “I think… everyone has a soulmate, if… they want one.”
Reaching the door, she kept hold of Jessie’s arm as she dug into her pockets, searching.
“Do you… want one?” Jessie blinked at her as she finally found her key and pushed it into the lock.
“Mmh.” Tifa let out a breath, tilting her head to look up at the plate, red gleaming in the dim streetlight. “Knowing my luck…”
Jessie scoffed, pushing the door open with a smirk. “Knowing your luck… your soulmate would be working for Shinra.”
Tifa crossed her arms, laughing as she tucked her hair behind her ear. “That… would definitely be my luck.” She tilted her head slightly. “Rest… and don’t think about what happened tonight. The questions… and answers… can wait for tomorrow, okay?”
Jessie looked at her, hesitating before giving her a small nod. “Tomorrow.” She stepped inside and glanced over her shoulder. “Thanks, Tifa.”
Tifa stepped back, smiling with a nod. “Goodnight, Jessie.”
As the door closed, Tifa was left with silence, the cool air wrapping around her as she made her way back down the alley and towards Stargazer Heights.
It was too late to go back now.
Avalanche had made their move, and now…
They couldn’t stop.
Avalanche 1 – Shinra 0.