AUTHOR'S NOTE: Ok this is my first fic with an actual storyline, and it's also my first story ever that's not COMPLETELY romance, so help me out by telling me what you think . Tifa's thoughts are shown by italic font.
Chapter 1
"Hey put us up with another set of kegs, baby!"
Tifa hastily finished mixing a cosmopolitan and pushed it towards a customer at the counter with a quick smile. She then ran into the room behind the counter area where she topped four kegs with beer.
"Yuffie!" the busty brunette called, and the skinny ninja\ waitress sped up to the counter. "Table four," Tifa prompted, and the girl was off, the capable waitress. The ninja side showed up a little though, when one of the drunk men tried to grab the young girl's ass.
Yuffie, her stormy grey eyes flashing with anger, grabbed the man's had and with one quick movement, flipped him off the chair that he was already wobbling on from before.
She shouted a couple of indecent words at him for the entertainment of everyone else in Seventh Heaven, Tifa's little bar. Tifa shook her lowered head and smiled.
She placed a hand on her forehead, trying to ease the throbbing headache there. Why does bartending have to be so fun and tiring at the same time? She mustered up a smile for the customer she saw approaching. "Welcome to Seventh Heaven, what'll it be?"
She finally raised her eyes to look at the man standing there, and her eyes brightened and her smile became more genuine as her eyes took in the recognizable blond spikes, blue-as-ever eyes and handsome smile of her boyfriend.
"Cloud," she sighed in relief, leaning forward over the counter to press a soft, quick kiss on his lips, but he held her there for a longer one, much to her delight and amusement. "Hey get your freaking mouth off my girl!!"
The boisterous drunkard who had just gotten thrown off his chair got up off the ground and staggered towards Cloud in drunken stupor.
Cloud released his girlfriend and coolly lifted a muscled arm to the hilt of the large sword strapped to his back.
He pulled it partially from its sheath, exposing part of a broad and shiny blade.
The drunkard backed off immediately.
Tifa laughed heartily. "You know I can take care of myself Cloud," she assured him, and he touched a finger affectionately to her lips. "I know. I just did the guy a favor of not having to deal with your fists," he grinned, then became serious. "You should close up Teef, it's a little late, don't you think?"
"You're kidding right? It's only eleven thirty, and it's like prime time on a Friday night," Tifa chided, turning away to serve upcoming customers.
She saw a crowd of them, and took a deep breath.
She worked somersaults to serve each person, mixing drinks and offering suggestions, while warding off drunkards and still managing to throw a loving smile at her boyfriend; Tifa Lockheart was a workaholic.
#
"Ok, that's a night," Tifa sighed heavily as she shut the heavy double doors of Seventh Heaven, two and a half hours later. Rain pounded heavily on the roof, and Tifa shivered a little at the cold draft that came in before she closed the door.
"You work too much Teef," Cloud said, slipping eager arms around her hips from behind.
"Yeah, I know," she chuckled, turning in his arms and slipping her own arms around his neck. "Why don't you ease my tension?"
Cloud grinned and pulled her curvy body against his muscular one with a mischievous chuckle, pressing his lips to hers. He pulled a soft, breathy moan from her almost immediately.
She giggled as he moved his mouth playfully over hers, making the kiss deeper and then lighter, then deeper again by turn. He had just slipped his hand under her blouse and was running eager fingers up her back, when a loud, echoing knock interrupted their play. Cloud groaned, but did not stop kissing her.
Until he felt her solid fist sink into the muscle of his stomach.
"TIFA," he grunted, doubling over at the force of her strong punch and clutching his stomach. "It's what you get for being so stubborn," Tifa chided, placing her hands on the handles of the double doors. Gosh, these drunks don't know an open bar from a closed one…
The thought lingered in her mind as she pulled the doors open, a pleasant but sympathetic smile ready. "Hey, sorry but the bar is…" Tifa's voice wavered and faded as her wine colored eyes took in a most bone-chilling sight.
The broad-chested man standing in the middle of the doorway could not have been shorter than six feet tall, and he towered over a 5'4" Tifa, majestically. Rain poured heavily from overcast skies, soaking through the deep red cowl and black pants he wore.
The collar of the cowl reached straight up over his nose, and thick, wet, black hair screened his eyes. There he stood, tall and menacing, on a background of storm-black clouds and forked lightning. A cold shiver crept down Tifa's spine…
She jumped a mile and a half when an ear-splitting crack of thunder echoed through the empty bar, and she ran backwards into Cloud's embrace, slipping her arms around his middle for comfort. He hugged her close, warily eyeing the man who stood in the doorway.
"Cloud Strife?"
The voice came deep and devoid of expression, barely a question.
"Yes," Cloud replied evenly, "And you are?" "Vincent," the man said. Tifa shivered; se was sure it was not because of the cold. His voice is so freaking deep, it's… scary… "Vincent Valentine?" Cloud questioned, and Tifa looked up at him in question.
At Vincent's nod, Cloud nodded in return. "Please come in," he invited. Tifa clutched at Cloud's black shirt. Who the hell is this? Cloud… knows him…? With one graceful, sweeping step, Vincent entered the bar, dripping wet. Tifa reluctantly left the shelter of her boyfriend's embrace to close in the doors.
"Tifa, you know that Barret's asked me to help him build a new hotel in Midgar right?" Cloud began, then continued at Tifa's shaky nod. "He sent this man, Vincent Valentine, to help us. I heard that you're quite capable in the construction area, Mr. Valentine?" Cloud enquired. Vincent nodded.
"I, uh… I'm gonna get a – a towel," Tifa stammered, finding herself unable to speak, unable to breathe with the forbidding man's eyes upon her. She dashed off, leaving a slightly embarrassed Cloud and a deadpan Vincent behind.
Dear God, keep me safe.
Tifa lifted a hand to the beautiful and intricate silver crucifix hanging around her neck as she headed upstairs to her room where she kept the clean towels away from the kids and Yuffie.
I've never felt this intimidated by someone before…
Towel in hand, she crept back down the stairs and peeked out from behind the lattice screen blocking the staircase from the bar. She saw Cloud and Vincent talking – well, Cloud talking and Vincent looking through the frosted glass of a window at the now torrential storm outside, nodding from time to time.
He's got evil written all over him… Tifa shuddered, then took a deep breath and went towards them, holding out the towel to Vincent. He stretched an arm out to her, and she gasped softly as she saw that Vincent had a golden claw from the elbow down. What happened to his arm…?
He closed the talon-like fingers of it around the fabric and took the towel from her with a slight nod of thanks. Tifa turned quickly away to avoid his eyes and went back to Cloud. "By the way, Vincent, this is Tifa Lockheart, my girlfriend," Cloud introduced her, kissing her cheek lightly.
Tifa smiled timidly and reached for Cloud's hand, but before she could take it, Vincent put out his other arm, a fully human one, towards her, fingers outstretched. Tifa raised her wine colored, red-brown eyes to Vincent's; his eyes were as red as blood, and they glinted mysteriously at her.
Shakily, Tifa put her hand in his, gasping softly at the coldness and pallor of his skin. It's like there's no blood in him… except for those eyes…
She jerked away, then walked as quickly as she could towards the staircase; she did not stop walking until she was behind the closed door of her room. She leaned her back on it, slipping down to her knees, which were shaking with fright.
What the HELL just happened!? Tifa gasped for breath, almost cringing at the biting chills that ran up and down her back. His touch was so cold, so startling and so… eerie… Something's up with him, and I just can't put my finger on it… I hope Cloud knows what he's doing, because that man … is not normal…
#
"Morning Clo-"
Tifa gasped and stumbled backwards in shock and startled fear. The man she thought was Cloud glared at her with cold, blood eyes.
"Uh, sorry, I just… thought…" she trailed off as Vincent seemed to disregard her, turning to the coffee maker and pouring himself a steaming cup. He leaned a hip against the kitchen counter and sipped of his cup, staring out the window over the sink at the steadily falling rain outside.
What the hell is he doing here?? Cloud didn't… did he??
"Morning Teef." Tifa heard the voice of her boyfriend and suddenly felt his arms around her waist. "M – Morning," she said shakily, turning in his arms and pressing her lips softly to his.
"Why is he here?" she murmured silently against his lips. Cloud chuckled and went towards the coffee maker.
"You know that Barret assigned Vincent and I to this new construction job, Teef, and Vincent has nowhere to stay."
Oh God, no… please, no…
"I've invited him to stay here. The site is walking distance, so it'll be convenient for us both. I gave him the room next to yours. You don't mind, right?"
What the !!#!!
"O – Oh, but Cloud," she began, thinking quickly. "That – that room is just so – so uh… small…" The statement that seemed so plausible in her mind sounded feeble in her ears now as she warily eyed Vincent, who seemed to be eyeing her back, though she could not tell… his eyes were mysteriously shielded by his mid-length, jet-black hair.
"Oh come on hon, it's not that small," Cloud reasoned with a smile, though his eyes looked at her in secret question, asking silently, "What's wrong with you?"
I'm scared to death of that demon man you invited to stay in my house, that's what!
Tifa shook her head slightly to ward off his questioning gaze, and as she turned to leave the kitchen, she didn't look to see where she was going, and tripped over Vincent's black booted foot. She fell forward with a squeal and waited for the painful bump of her head on hardwood.
It didn't come. What the…?
Instead of a bump, she felt a warm band around her waist, then a slight pull, and then she was back on her feet, staring at Vincent's broad, red-clad chest. She slowly looked up and dared to meet his eyes, wondering all the while at the strange tingly feeling she now felt where his arms had caught her waist.
He seemed to glare at her again with those blood eyes, and she drew in a deep, shaky breath, afraid at what he might do. Did he get angry…? Her mind gave her terrifying images of an angry Vincent, and she gasped again, unaware that her expressions clearly showed her horror at the man.
"Teef, you need to be more careful honey," Cloud scolded gently, slipping his own arms around her waist. The tingle did not waver. Tifa huddled close to Cloud.
"Do you need anything to make your room more comfortable, Vincent?" Cloud asked, and the fear in Tifa's face quickly changed to annoyance.
I'M the hostess here... What is Cloud thinking anyway? Sure I have a spare room, give it to the frickin' devil, why don't you!?
Tifa ran a tirade in her mind, once again oblivious that her thoughts were reflected on her expression. Vincent shook his head and silently turned away, rather frostily.
As he stalked up the staircase, Tifa knew, with great discomfort, that the mysterious man was quite aware of her displeasure towards him.
#
Ok so there it is. Is Vincent 'scary yet sexy' enough? I hope so. The asterix wasn't showing up, so I separated the sections with #. Hope it's not too ugly . Please R&R
