Fractured Twilight {KH Fanfic/Boy Of Choice}

Chapter XX

"Emi wait!"
"Where are you going?!"
"It's not safe!"

Ember received all the comfort and pity she needed by sharing her story. She opened her heart to her chosen bachelor, dissected her life and exposed herself and yet... She ran. She was granted permission to cry and feel vulnerable and at the first opportunity she saw she lept from the rooftop and simply started running. She felt guilty for her actions, yet couldn't stop herself from running as she allowed her feet to carry her to wherever she needed to go.

Ember appreciated the solace she received. Being in his arms like she was, his gentle touch and warmth... It was like a dream. Ember always craved that physical comfort yet her instincts told her to run. Her fight or flight kicked in, a defense mechanism she didn't have control over. She learned to fight for everything she wanted, especially when her emotions shut down. But this time around her mind absolutely would not let her lay a finger on him. Ever. Instead it was replaced by her elopement to the market area as she sought out any sort of distraction. Somewhere safer than wandering to the middle of nowhere. As it was in the middle of the night there wasn't a lot of shops open, but she heard rowdy noise coming from the far end of the marketplace that gathered her attention. She darted for the area, whispering to herself that the boys chasing after her didn't see her right away. She just needed time to cool down.

Ember gathered her bravery and burst through the open door leading to a bar being the only shop opened this time of night. No one seemed to pay her any attention as she took a look in awe, her eyes wide with curiosity. She drank before back in her world but she never entered an actual bar before. The place was chaotic, brawny men filling the empty space. Each of them drank from a giant wooden cup, matching the atmosphere of the rest of the building. The bar had a rustic feeling, random ugly paintings littering the walls with peeling paint. The furniture was all carved to perfection yet some were chipped or cracked from the customers that presided there.

Ember made her way to sit at the bar counter, swinging around on the stool so she could face the bartender. She was greeted by a young woman, one with long dark hair and red eyes. She wore a white crop top with overhauls attached to black shorts, a pair of gloves covering her knuckles. The bartender shot Ember a glance and immediately smiled warmly.

"You seem familiar." The bartender walked over to Ember, resting her hands on the bar and leaning against it. "You're with the Restoration committee right?"

Ember sheepishly shrugged. "You could say that."

The woman snickered. "I know now! You're Ember! You saved Aerith when you arrived."

"That's great I did do that, but um who are you?"

"Oh I'm Tifa, a good friend. Heartless annihilatior by day, bartender by night." Tifa reached down behind the bar and grabbed a glass and began to make a drink. "I've been told all about you. Everyone absolutely adores you. First round is on me."

She slid a drink Ember's way in which she caught with ease. It was a bright red drink, one Ember could only assume was fruity. "Thanks, Tifa."

Tifa opened her mouth to reply, but one of the gruely men barked for her attention. "Sweetheart get me another!"

Tifa scoffed and glanced at Ember. "Let me know if you need anything." And with that she walked over and began to scold the older man.

Ember let out a deep sigh, tracing the top of the glass with a finger. She hadn't drank in a while as the last time she did so was with her troop back in her world. The teens had snuck a bunch of alcohol one day and drank until dusk. Ember vividly remembered that being an extraordinary time in her life, a time filled with laughter and mayhem. She was lucky nothing bad happened. But despite the worries lingering in the back of her mind she chuckled to herself at the distant memory and how much she enjoyed it.