Title: Show me
Genre: Angst, sharing
Summary: As Chaos gives Vincent long life, Vincent shares love with Chaos…
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: none of the characters mentioned belong to me; all belong to Square-Enix
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A beauty she was.
He envied her for that. For her spirit. For her love for life; for her passion about love and life.
Silver hair, small wrinkles, almost dried out skin; it all gave her a really old appearance. In fact, she was really old.
There she lied, on a bed with satin sheets and soft velvet pillows, surrounded by vases filled with the yellow and white flowers of Aerith's Church.
With his good hand, ungloved, he touched delicate neck, searching for a pulse. There was none. Anxious he placed his hand on her neck, hoping to find a pulse if he did so. Still there was none.
Her eyes closed, her facial features content, as if she was dreaming one of her pleasant dreams.
But Marlene was dreaming that everlasting dream; she was no more.
'Go to sister Aerith…find home and peace in her comfort…' Vincent whispered soft, the only prayer he had ever whispered.
Marlene was no more.
Year after year, month after month, day after day, he had watched from the shadows. He was there when her first was born, when she was all alone and miles away from a decent hospital. He helped them both through that time and she named her first after him, even though the child was a girl: Valentina…
When Denzel died he took care for her, supporting her through that dark time. When all her four children grew up and graduated, he was happy for them.
And still he didn't age a day. He was still the same. No grey hair, no wrinkles, no dried out skin.
Vincent Valentine, godfather of Valentina, was still the same as 80 years ago. And hating it.
It troubles you, doesn't it?
Shut up.
It troubles you that your family, the last of your family who actually cared for you, died. Valentina is living her own life with her children, and you stand further away in the shades, practically forgotten…
Shut up! You're presence is not wanted now!
Oh I do resent that. I do resent that… After all these years we've been together, my dear Vincent, there must be something you want?
Lifestream.
Ah… but Rufus Shinra tried that before. He failed miserably remember, and you helped him fail.
No. Lifestream. To be rid of this tiresome armor and flow back to where life begins, to find my friends and family. To find my beloved.
So secretively you loved the girl? She was out of your reach.
That is supposed to remain. I just want to lay down this armor, my body, and leave. Leave everything. Yet that is something you cannot give me.
I understand. Yet you have to be careful. When you die, I die. That is why I gave you immortality.
I do not want immortality. That is your concern…
So be it.
Valentina smiled when her godfather came to visit her once again. Every so now and then he dropped by for a cup of coffee and conversation about everything and nothing.
To him, it was as if he sat next to an elderly Marlene, when she was still alive. Marlene had lived up to the age of 102 years old. Valentine was over 80 years old and she felt that her life would end soon.
'My my… is it me, or is your hair grey?' with a smile she combed it with her delicate old fingers, 'you have turned grey!'
Grabbing a fist full of hair Vincent stared at it. And not only that: his hand was old, full of wrinkles and liver spots.
You have given into me when I asked it from you, safekeeping your beloved friends and family. You have showed me love and friendship. That was your gift to me. This is my gift to you. Grow old with her and die happy.
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From the shadows another guardian watched, 'Thank you Chaos…'
'Any time Aerith…'
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Owari, ende, fin, fini, einde, the end