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Barret unlocked the door to Seventh Heaven and stepped inside with a wince. All in all, he had dealt with worst—definitely felt worst—but the wound on his shoulder was still bothering him all the same. A good reminder that he was still human, still fallible to the many small inconveniences of the world. Didn’t mean it wasn’t annoying at all. He closed and locked the door behind him before scowling down at his shoulder. Still hurt like a bitch too.
“Barret?”
He took a half step forward so that he could hide the wound from Tifa as she carefully made her way downstairs. She was dressed casually, wearing a white shirt with an open sky blue and white gingham patterned button down on top. The gingham patterned top was tied just under her chest with a loose knot. Her black pants rose up high over her navel and were form fitting. Her legs looked long and powerful. Barret knew that he was staring as she strutted across the room, and when he looked up, she was smiling at him knowingly. She placed her hands on her hips.
“Eyes up here, mister.”
He chuckled softly and shifted a bit more. He wasn’t sure why he was hiding from her, especially after all they had been through. Funny how old habits just kicked in randomly.
“Yes, ma’am.” His lips ticked up with the beginnings of a smile. Without thinking, he adjusted the bag on his other shoulder, and that small action was enough to redirect his attention. “Ah. I got those things y’all asked me for. Where’s Spiky?”
“With Vincent, I think. They just headed out to Healin Lodge together.”
“Like bats outta hell, the both of them.” Barret shook his head and then tilted his arm down, letting his bag slip down into his curled hand. “Either way, I still got you squared away.”
Tifa watched his movements, lifted her chin a bit, and then sauntered across the room to him. She didn’t speak as she took the bag from him and slung the strap onto her shoulder. She gently reached forward to touch his chest and pressed her fingers down against his muscle. The gesture was a silent request for him to face her, and Barret did slowly. Tifa’s eyes searched his person until she found the small gash on him and several other marks at the curve of his armpit. She shook her head.
“Before you say anything,” Barret began, “it was either me or them.”
She laughed gently. “Is this one of your ‘see, what had happened was’ stories?”
Barret laughed as well. “Maybe. But note how I didn’t say it.”
“I know how to read between the lines.” She pat him on the chest and then stepped back. “C’mon over, then. Let me fix you up.”
Barret followed in her footsteps. Tifa motioned for Barret to take one of the bar stools, and she rounded the counter. She smoothly set the bag down onto the floor before dipping below the counter to grab the first aid kit. Considering their lifestyles, it wasn’t very small. She set the mid-sized kit onto the counter with an audible thunk and sighed softly.
“Now. Tell me what happened.” Tifa rolled up the sleeves of her gingham top and nodded at Barret’s wounded arm.
He turned in his seat and rested his arm on the counter silently, putting himself in the best position to receive treatment. “You wouldn’t believe me if I told you,” he muttered.
Tifa opened the kit, turned it to face him, and then came around to the other side again. She rolled her eyes playfully before plucking ointment out of the kit. “Try me,” she said.
“Alright then. Try this on for size.”
Talking helped pass the time as Tifa carefully treated him. It could have all been said and done with the use of materia, but these days, the group staved off from their use of the concentrated magic unless it was absolutely necessary. Barret tipped his gaze down to watch Tifa’s hands work as she wound the gauze around his arm and carefully pressed a healing patch against his ribs. At the end of his story, she tilted her head down as well and let out a fluttering laugh. She looked up at him, and their eyes met. Tifa’s fingers fanned over his skin.
“Well. If that’s the case,” she began, “then it seems like you deserve a rest for all your hard work.”
Barret let out a long sigh. “That’d be real nice.”
“The plumbing’s been fixed up too, so the pipes shouldn’t scream if you turn on the hot water.”
“Aah, I dunno. I kinda like that high, shrill noise.”
Tifa smiled winsomely at him. “If you keep talking about it, I’m sure it’ll happen.”
Barret hummed, and Tifa took a step back to give him space. They went about to their individual tasks. Barret was surprised to find that the shower was, in fact, acting properly for once. He inspected the shower head once he was under the spray, but as the hot water pelted his skin, he gave up on his task and relented to the relaxation that descended upon him. Afterward, he dried and dressed in sleep clothes. He started to head back downstairs, but Tifa caught him by the wrist.
“In here.”
“Shit, girl. ‘Bout scared the mess outta me.”
Tifa laughed brightly and patted his side. “You’ll be alright.”
Barret stepped into his room after her and saw the spread waiting for him the breakfast tray. Tifa didn’t pull out all the stops, but she sure knew how to make simple things look like a goddamn feast. After Barret made himself comfortable in bed, she brought the tray over his lap and then sat down on the edge of the bed. They talked very gently, very quietly, about nothing in particular. Tifa talked about the things she had gotten to while he was away, and Barret mostly listened as he ate. He had nearly finished his drink when he held it in a loose grip on his tray.
Tifa slid a hand closer across the bed as she leaned towards him. “You look tired,” she said kindly.
“I feel it.”
She nodded her head and then stood up. “Guess I’ll leave you to it then. I’ll be back in a little bit.”
Barret caught her by the arm before she could get started with cleaning up. He slid his hand down to hers and thumbed across her knuckles. “I really appreciate it, Tifa.” He looked up to her with barely opened eyes. “You know I do.”
“Of course. Same could be said to you, y’know. I didn’t think getting those supplies would be so dangerous.”
“Ah, but we’re used to it, right?”
She smiled with a touch of sadness. “One day, we won’t be.”
“One day, but don’t blame me if I start spicing things up and get into trouble every now and again.”
She squeezed his hand. “Don’t you get after Cloud for that?”
“Don’t tell him I said that.”
“Hmmm. We’ll see.” She pulled her hand free to stroke her knuckles along his jaw gently. “Get some rest.”
“Ain’t gotta tell me twice.”
They held each other’s gaze in silence, but Tifa drew her gaze away to set his drink off to the bedside table before cleaning up. She set the breakfast tray against her hip and began to exit. When she reached out for the door and began to close it, she said on her way out,
“I’ll let Marlene know you’re sleepy. She’s out with Betty and her friends right now.”
“Good ol’ Betty.” Barret adjusted the pillow under his head and closed his eyes. “Glad to see my baby girl still has her little friend.”
“Me too.” Tifa was quiet for a second, taking in Barret’s relaxed form. “I’ll see you when I get back, Barret.”
“Be safe.”
”I dunno. Maybe I’ll ‘spice things up.’”
Barret laughed, his eyes still closed, and adjusted the covers over his body. “Alright, smarty pants.”
Tifa giggled quietly and then closed the door behind her. Barret rubbed his fingers together, trying to remember the faintness of her touch over his skin before settling down. It was becoming more and more of a thing for him to fall asleep in a good mood or at least with a smile on his face, and even if all the perilous excitement in his life faded away, he knew he’d be okay with the new peace he had found. After all, it was what they had all fought so hard for.