Disclaimer: I do not own Final Fantasy VII or advent children; they are the property of squarenix. No money has or will exchange hands as this story was written purely for entertainment value. All original characters and storylines belong to me. Thank you.
A big Thank you to Sally for betaing this for me! This is something I haven't really attempted before with a story before so her help means a lot. Any way, on with the story.
Letting go.
By Arami Heartilly.
Tifa had watched him go, as he had many times before and sighed with the regret that she knew only too well. Another job meant that he was away again and she was left with her own silent heartbreak. She had thought that maybe, just maybe, this time his heart would open up to hers.
Almost two months later she found herself in near enough the same position as she had been before Kadaj and his gang had tried, and in part, succeeded in bringing forth their 'reunion'. Watching him fight with his nemesis Tifa was sure that he would finally become the man she'd always thought him capable of, he just seemed to be taking his time getting there.
"I don't know why I bother anymore." Tifa muttered to herself as she finished up the accounts from the day before. Seventh heaven had brought in more business than she had dreamed of and it kept her busy, something she needed in order so survive.
"Tifa!" Marlene called as she ran towards her, her ponytail swinging behind her. "Someone is here to see you." When she looked up she saw his unmistakable red cloak waft through her doorway and his crimson eyes fix on hers in that probing way they always seemed to.
"Vincent! I didn't expect to see you until Yuffie's party, is everything ok?" she asked, stroking Marlene's hair as the girl sat down besides her on one of the bar stools.
"I came to see Cloud, I managed to get hold of some information he's been looking for." Tifa shook her head and let out a controlled breath.
"Cloud's not here, he left about an hour ago. He's got a long distance delivery and won't be back for a week." She told him, trying not to meet his eyes; she didn't want him to know how hurt she was.
He nodded and turned, almost as if to leave. Then, as if remembering why he was there in the first place, he walked towards them and handed Tifa a large brown envelope.
"Please make sure Cloud gets this as soon as he returns."
She nodded before asking,
"Do you want to stay for a drink?" She feared he would leave, that she would be left alone yet again without another one of her friends.
He seemed to think about it for a few seconds before looking at her again and nodding, being a man of few words he simply decided to take the stool next to Marlene, who smiled up at him.
Vincent looked at the girl before him. With her hair the way it was she looked oddly like Aeris but it seemed she'd also picked up a lot from Tifa, especially the way she smiled.
"Vincent, do you live in the ancient capital?" she asked as Tifa went behind the bar.
He nodded, "Yes." His answer was, in true style, short, yet the little girl didn't seem at all bothered by this at all and continued with her questions.
"Don't you ever get lonely?" The question was innocent but for some reason Vincent could not find the words to reply.
Tifa caught his eye and for a second and saw something she had never seen in them, something the little girl had missed.
"Ah… Coffee?" She asked, turning the conversation away from him. He nodded turning to face the floor. The little girl looked confused but before she had time to dwell on it, Tifa spoke,
"Marlene, you and Denzel need to get going, school starts in an hour!" she said, sounding somewhat motherly. Vincent smiled inwardly; she seemed happy with the children.
Marlene sighed, dropping down from her stool, "Goodbye Vincent…. Denzel!!!!" she called, running up the stairs to her room and waving to their visitor before she was out of sight.
Placing the steaming coffee down in front of him, Tifa couldn't help wondering why he had looked so heart broken before. She'd always thought he liked being alone… he'd fought with them but never seemed to enjoy conversation or group activities. She wanted to ask what had changed but she didn't; it wasn't her place.
"Thank you." He commented, drinking the hot coffee before seemingly choosing to stare at his own reflection in the marbled bar surface.
"It's good to see you, it's been quiet around here lately." She told him. "I mean, there has been plenty of business… but Cloud's away a lot and the children spend most of the day at school." Part of her knew that she was rambling but Tifa knew that he wouldn't mind. He seemed to be a listener rather than an active speaker, which suited her just fine. At least someone was there for her to talk to.
"I think that's probably why Yuffie is having her party." He sighed, "She seemed to think it would help me to 'get out more'." Tifa giggled, covering her mouth and leaning back against the counter.
"I wouldn't take it too personally – she's like that with everyone." She told him, realizing that this was probably the first time she and Vincent had ever joked about something.
Vincent had stayed for most of the day, not saying too much, but just enough so that Tifa didn't feel so alone as she cleaned the bar and sorted out all the bills and such. He had, however, drank several cups of coffee and seemed to be more preoccupied than usual.
"Vincent…. Do you ever miss the adventure?" she asked, once she had finished everything she was supposed to do.
It took him a while to answer, and she considered that he might not speak on the subject at all, but he did and what he said surprised her.
"At one time in my life it was all I lived for, the thrill of the fight and the adventure…. But it cost me something I could never replace." He sighed, sounding almost as sad as he had looked before. His openness surprised her; he rarely spoke about his past to anyone.
"But you fought with us when we freed you from the mansion." She noted tentatively, she didn't want to overstep the mark.
He nodded "I still had something to fight for… now I fight when I need to, it no longer drives me the way it used to… I lost that along time ago."
Tifa bit her lip and looked at him, wanting to see his eyes again, needing to know if he still hurt… the grief in his voice seemed so familiar, something she could almost feel.
'Cloud' she thought. What Vincent was describing was the grief she felt over Cloud, maybe not under the same circumstances… but she had lost the one person in the world she had ever truly loved to his memories… he might have cared for her… but she didn't know what he really felt, deep down in his heart."I'm sorry Tifa, I didn't mean for anything I said to disturb you..." He told her, finally looking at her. But she hadn't noticed. She was too caught up in her pain to realize that he was in front of her.
She looked up sharply, burying her feelings and emotions before they could show in her eyes. She was too slow, however, and he saw it on her face and in the way her shoulders tensed and brow creased.
"I ... I'm sorry, I missed what you said." Vincent took a step back and regained his seat at the bar. Watching her closely he understood some of the hurt she tried to hide; the way it would work it's way into your heart and your soul until it controlled you… loves darker side had a way of taking over and consuming everything in it's wake.
He thought it best to lighten the mood, bring her back up to normal. The children would be home from school soon and they didn't need to see their mother in her current state.
"It was nothing really, just try and take care of yourself Tifa. Enjoy the peace whilst it's here." He stood, brushing the invisible creases from the cloak that hung around his shoulders.
Attempting a smile, Tifa nodded.
"I'll pass on your information to Cloud." She told him knowing that he would be leaving shortly.
"Ask him to come and see me when he returns… my cell is out of battery." She would have commented on the fact he could have charged it anywhere but she recognized the undertone in his words.
"I will."
"Thanks for the coffee." He told her finally before walking out of the door, turning to her with a knowing look on his face before it closed behind him.
The peace of the road had always felt like a sanctuary to him, no one was judging or watching him and he had time to think. Although the subject of his latest thoughts was going to take more than this journey to get through, he'd spend the last eight weeks doing the same thing.
Tifa.
The woman he shared a house with, cared for two children with…. His best friend. For such a long time he had known her that way, but there had also been a point in his life that he had seen her as something more. But guilt had clouded his feelings; taken over his life for such a long time that he didn't know how he felt anymore.
Which is why he had taken any long distance delivery that had been offered, the only trouble was he knew the distance he was creating between himself and his family may soon become too much. He ran the risk of hurting her again… but surely she could understand? She always had before.
When he finally noticed that darkness had descended upon him he was nearing the chocobo farm. Deciding it was best to stay there for the night he drove towards the stables that he still rented – Tifa had convinced him that it would be good for the children and so far she had been right. Tifa is always right when it comes to them… he reminded himself.
Settling himself down in the empty stable that he'd set up a camp bed and stove in, his thoughts drifted to her once again… the stirring in his heart, which he experienced every time she crossed his mind, was it love?
"You should go home you know, she won't wait forever." A voice whispered in the dark but Cloud was drifting between sleep and wake; he was unsure whether what he saw was real or not.
"I just need time." He breathed his reply.
"Why? Are you afraid?"
But there was no reply and his companion let herself fade back to the life stream once again.
Any comments or suggestions on the story or my writing style ar every much appreciated. Thank you for reading
