First Try (Final Fantasy VII, Barret/Reno)

The bar was dim, smoky, and quiet. It was just what Barret needed right now. There was too much noise in the world, too much activity, too many things wrong with the place that needed fixing. He wasn’t looking for any of that tonight. No, he figured he’d earned himself a day off. He wanted a few hours of piece and quiet and he’d beat down any man who tried to disturb him.

The few patrons lingering in the bar kept to themselves, hiding away from the world in whatever shaded corner they’d found. Good for them. They could keep to themselves, which meant they’d leave Barret to himself. Bypassing the shadows, he walked straight up to the bar, his broad and bulky figure drawing wary looks from a few of the patrons. Yeah, they knew not to mess with him.

A slight raise of his hand was all it took to bring the bartender over as Barret took a stool next to a familiar-looking, passed-out redhead in a rumpled suit. Seemed like he wasn’t the only one taking a night off.

“Ev’nin’, mate. What’ll it be?”

“Scotch on the rocks. Light on the rocks.”