Everyone decided to spend the night in Mideel. It's far enough away from anything Midgar or Shin-ra to not feel the influence of corporate propaganda, and it's near enough to Cloud, whose mind is currently lost, but being there physically with him gives the semblance of wholeness to the group that hadn't been felt since the Forgotten City. It's to death that they rally, mused Vincent, but certainly they didn't rally for a future of death.
Either on the mundane earthly Gaia or raining from the heavens, Hell is everywhere for anyone dying.
Everyone could at least pretend that in the quiet village nestled in the green jungle with its animal noises and slumber sounds, that time has slowed and that all the troubles and Meteor remained in Midgar where it should be and not overhanging them like a guillotine.
Vincent stepped out of the inn, the night cool but not chilly, and everywhere faintly illuminated by the moon and the glowing disaster above. He could see the medical facility where Cloud resides from the porch where he was standing, and upon spying a familiar feminine figure, he walked towards her without a second thought.
"Couldn't sleep?" he asked, upon approaching her, her back towards him. She didn't seem surprised, unusual as she would get flustered at his sneakiness and silent shadowing of people.
"Looks like you couldn't, either," she said back softly. He noticed the way her hands clenched into fists on the railing of the porch. He stood next to her on her left, offering his presence in comforting solidarity.
"This place is too quiet," murmured he. "You can feel the tension by the people and by the wildlife around here. Still, better than the city."
"Definitely," sighed Tifa. Her eyes are downcast, avoiding the sky or his gaze. "I...I want to stay here. To be with Cloud."
"To find a cure?" he said, laconic, not really a question. He hoped she didn't hear the criticism.
"Yeah... well, it's not the main reason. Guilt, I guess. Or maybe... if we're all going to die, I want to be with the one really important to me. To make it comfortable for him. And... and because I did him wrong and I won't want Cloud to be alone in case we all die."
Vincent looked down at her, to her face, still downcast but her facade breaking and looking inward to herself, to the deep dark depths within. Eyes soulful and sympathetic, he tried to get her gaze on him, to raise her up.
"Tifa, I won't reproach you for not going with us. I say with certainty that none of us would." Her eyes slowly lifted up to him, as though weighted. He reached out to her and placed an ungloved hand over her fist. Her hand flinched lightly from the contact, but relaxed incrementally.
"Comatose Cloud aside, I hope that being here would be restful for you. It's a wonder you didn't break from the trying ordeals."
"How'd you know I'm not broken already?" a shadow of a smile on her lips.
"Because you have us to hold you up."
A sharp intake of breath, eyes up at him soulful and raw, and he took it as an invitation to move his hand up to cup her cheek. His thumb detected dried tear tracks upon tender skin and gently rubbed it away.
"Break as many times as it happens. Cry as much. Scream. You won't chase us away."
"Big words, coming from someone who stuck himself in a coffin for 30 years."
"Hmm, did I stick myself in it or not...?" he mused to himself.
"More mysterious than ever," a quiet laugh emerged from her. A victory. "How long are you going to keep your hand there?"
"Until I do this." He swiftly bent down his head to kiss her softly. She gasped lightly but didn't push away. It was a light kiss, on the lips, but meaningful and substantial. He raised his head, looking at her expression to gauge her reaction.
"For good luck. Take it as you will."
She closed her eyes and made a small, shy smile. It could be the light from Meteor, but he swore he could see a blush blooming across her cheeks.
"Well, coming from someone like you, I won't take this lightly. So… thank you, Vincent."
"Someone like me?"
"Like someone who hold his cards too close to his heart. I… you don't strike me as the kind of guy who would just do things without a thought or that… you don't say thoughtless things. So you know what? I'll believe in that. About how you and everyone else are supporting me and Cloud."
"Mmm, I think more for your sake than Cloud's, at this point."
Tifa gave him a reproachful look. "Hey now…"
"Not to discredit the lad's suffering," he said quickly. "But we can't well have you put under strain as well. So… Let us take care of things."
Tifa considered him for a moment, and it could be the faint light playing tricks on him but she seemed to stand up straighter, as though a weight has been lifted.
"Okay. I'm counting on you. And that's something that you don't need to seal with a kiss."
Vincent gave a rueful smile, one that Tifa saw so rarely that it nearly made her heart skip a beat.
"Alas," he said simply.
