As The Smoke Clears

Disclaimer: Don't own any of the Final Fantasy characters etc. If I did I'd be too busy with them to be writing anyway

Pairings: Vincent/Tifa, possibly others

Warnings: swearing and other explicit content in later chapters, sex, drunkenness, drunken sex etc.

A/N: I have only played Dirge of Cerberus so my humblest apologies bows low to ground if anything in this is wrong. If you pick up on anything please let me know! This is my first attempt at a Final Fantasy fic so please bear with me. This is a very short chapter apologises and backs away slowly but more will come very soon. (And will hopefully be longer!)

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Chapter 1.

Tifa picked her way through the rubble carefully, avoiding the sharp pieces of metal that covered the dusty ground, when a glint of something shiny caught her eye. Her curiosity got the better of her and she decided to take a closer look at whatever it was. Her slow walk abruptly turned into a run as she recognised what she was looking at.

Tentatively, she reached out and picked it up from where it had gotten caught on a protruding metal beam. Fingers clutched the cold metal chain as her mind raced at the realisation of what she was holding. Cerberus… Running a finger across the three-headed dog charm, she let out a choked sob.

Vincent…

"Tifa?"

A hand suddenly appeared on her shoulder. She blinked and looked up at the one who had spoken.

"Tifa, are you alright?"

It was Cloud.

She looked back down at the gun chain in her hand. Cloud followed her gaze and understood.

Vincent…

"Come on, Tifa." He tried again, "We've done all we can here. It's time to leave."

Tifa nodded absently; wiping away the tears she didn't remember shedding and allowed herself to be led back to Cid's ship.

She didn't speak the entire trip back to Midgar.

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Tifa locked the door and leant back against it with a sigh. She was tired from the trip home in the ship, her thoughts not allowing her to find enough peace to rest, let alone sleep. Once they had arrived back at her bar, 7th Heaven, Cloud had led her up to her room and with a sympathetic smile, told her to get some sleep. She doubted that she would be able to sleep after her discovery.

She reached into her pocket and pulled out the Cerberus Chain. Blinking back her tears, she went outside on the balcony and sat down with her back to the railing, hugging her knees against her chest. The full moon illuminated the quiet streets, giving everything an ethereal glow.

Her mind had come to the conclusion that Vincent was dead, but something else inside her kept telling her that he was alive. Clinging to that hope as though it were the only thing keeping him alive, she decided to go out and look for him.

With renewed hope she sat like that until the sun peaked over the horizon.

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A/N: Well there is the first chapter. Hope whoever reads it enjoyed it. Cookies for those who did will update regularly, until then please read and review!