Passed by

The days slowly went by, my mind kept on playing tricks on me, making me believe that it was November. But it was only in the middle of July.
Everyday as I would attend to the costumers he would sit in the corner; stare at me silently, his eyes full of need and with a glass of brandy in his clawed hand.

Vincent Valentine.

From the very beginning when Cloud found Vincent in a coffin in Shrinra Manor's basement, I knew straight away that he was different. His left hand hidden underneath that claw, his red cloak always on, he would never speak unless he needed to and the way he would transform into demons.
But what scared me the most was his eyes; they were a bright crimson red. It seemed that Vincent would kill you, and he can, I always thought that there was a gentler side to him. But I haven't met it yet. And I had a feeling that I would never would.

I kept my distance away from Vincent just in case that he would snap or try to make a move on me again just like the last time. But for some time now, he has been very quite. Cloud had run off again like he would always and like always, he would never return my calls.
So I was alone, expect for Marlene and Vincent. It was rarely that Cid, Yuffie and Barret drop in and say hello. Reno would come to have a drink and talk to me. He kept me company but he wouldn't tell me what Rufus was up to. He even admitted that most of the time, Rufus wouldn't tell him what he was doing.
I realized that the most of the time that I am with Reno, I flirt. I don't mind flirting with him now and again, it was fun. But I would always feel Vincent's deadly gaze upon me.

Reno gulped down the rest of his drink and slammed the glass onto the bar counter. There was only me, him and Vincent alone in the bar.
"Cheers for the drink, doll face." Reno grinned widely.
I giggled, "You're welcome."
"You know you should go out more often, expect for staying here and wondering everyday if Cloud will ever came back again." Reno suggested.
I stopped my washing up and I looked at Reno, "I don't do that, Reno."
"Sure ya don't. But I'm just saying that you should go out with me sometime, I can show you a good night out."
I stared at Reno's suggestive smirk and his eyes that gleamed with tease. I tried my best not to smile.
"So what's you're idea of a good time?"
"You, me, alone, no one to bother us. You get the picture, what do you say?"

I knew where he was going with this; he wanted to sleep with me. Well he isn't the first to try the famous pick-up line that he had just said to me. I have never slept with anyone before, and yet a lot of men throw themselves at me.
Even the most serious and the most dangerous ones, "How about I come back to you about it?" I asked smiling.
"Yeah sure thing," Reno slowly looked over his shoulder.
"I have to admit, that Vincent Valentine is a strange one," Reno turned his head back to look at me.
"Does he always sit there?" Reno spoke so I could only hear him.
I nodded my head in reply.

I heard Reno mumble something under his breath but I couldn't make out what he meant.
"But anyways," I watched Reno stand. "I better be off now."
"Okay, take care of yourself." I smiled.
"I should be saying that to you."
I paused as I watched Reno lean over and kiss me gently on my left cheek. I felt that my eyes widened and my face burning up.
Reno shifted a laugh, "Watch your back, Tifa."
I smiled as I watched Reno open the door and make his way back home. I sighed heavily; picking up Reno's used shot glass and placing it into the sink.
I turned to look at Vincent briefly but I noticed that he was watching me.
"I'm sure that you have other better things to do then watch me, Vincent." I pointed out sighing. I was starting to get annoyed that he would constantly watch what ever I do.
"And it seems to be problem, how?" Vincent replied calmly.
In my frustration I nearly broke the glass that I held in my hand, "Would you like it if I stared at you non stop?"
"I wouldn't care. I'm used to be stared at."
"Well I'm not like you, Vincent."
I placed both the drying cloth and the glass down onto the counter, I started to head off towards the star case.

Just as I started to walk up the flight of stars, I heard the sound of a wooden chair move on the titled floor in the bar and a sudden sound of footsteps close behind me. What felt to be an arm was wrapped around my waist tightly and I was pulled up against a warm hard body.
I noticed straight away that it was Vincent and I tried my best to wiggle free from his grip.
"No, you are nothing like me, Lockheart. You don't understand the torment I go through to live the same nightmare everyday." Vincent spoke darkly against my ear.
"I'm sorry if I hurt your feelings. Now let go of me!"
But the grip around me just grew tighter. Vincent was really hurting me and I was finding it difficult to breathe.
I managed to escape Vincent's death grip but he reached forward and held my left hand.
"Vincent! What's wrong with you! Let me go!" I nearly screamed at him, I was growing angry and seeing his face wasn't helping me.
I then grew tired and before I knew it, I threw my hand across his face. The grip that Vincent had on me was lost and I gasped as I watched the gunslinger threw his head to the side by the impact of my slap. All of my anger was suddenly washed away; I stood stunned while looking at Vincent.
I then found the moment to run from him, I knew it wasn't the right thing but I ran towards my bedroom. Once I was there, I slammed the door and I rested my forehead onto the door. My chest heaved and I panted for breath, I couldn't believe what I had done.
I slowly turned around expecting to find my bedroom empty with me in it, I was wrong.
Vincent stood by the window and was glaring at me evilly.

"What? How did he get there?"

"If you think you can run from me, you are completely wrong." Vincent said darkly. I noticed that his eyes were flicking from red to yellow; did my slap cause him to nearly transform?
I quickly turned around and fiddled with the door handle, I was that scared of what Vincent was going to do to me I couldn't stop shaking.
But before I was able to actually have a grip on the door handle, Vincent had grabbed onto my arm pulling me away from the wooden door. Vincent pulled me in front of him and then roughly pushed me against my double bed. I landed on my side, I quickly flung myself onto my back and I sat up. I heard the door lock and Vincent walking towards me.

The next thing I knew it, Vincent was crawling over me, his yellow eyes locked onto mine. He then placed his hands on my legs and spread them apart roughly.
I yelled out in pain but my mouth quickly shut as Vincent fell in-between my legs. I noticed that my breathing was quickening and began to get uneasy.
Vincent then placed his hands on the side of my face and leaned closer to me so that no air was between us. I watched a smirk form on his lips as he spoke evilly, "Your mine…"