Disclaimer: As wonderful as it would be, nothing involving Final Fantasy VII belongs, not to me, but the wonderful Square-Enix.
Vincent stared at the young woman in front of him, wondering if he heard incorrectly. "I-I'm sorry?" he stuttered, unsure of himself. "What do you mean?"
Tifa blushed again, but didn't break eye contact. "I mean, would you like to leave Midgar with me? I want to start over again in a new place. From the sounds of it, you want a fresh start, too. Why not come with me? We could be roommates. I mean, we all lived together on the Highwind during the fight with Sephiroth, so it's not like we've never shared a living space before. What do you think?" she asked, sounding a little unsure.
"Uh…" Vincent was speechless. Say something, idiot! Don't just sit there and gape like a fish out of water!
"It's okay if you don't want to. It was just a suggestion. Don't feel like you have to," the martial artist said, her eyes slightly downcast.
"Tifa, I…" he started. I what? I want to stay in Midgar? Seriously, think of it as a new chance. Vincent considered this.
What if she ends up hating living with you? Then where will you go? The unsure part of Vincent's mind shot back.
Then we deal with it then. If anything, at least we leave this hellhole. Who knows? Maybe this is the first step in the right direction for you. The logical part of his mind countered the nervous one.
He took a deep breath. "Well, how do you feel about Junon?"
Tifa gawked at Vincent. "Wh-what?" she stammered. "What about Junon?"
"I mean," he answered, his calm voice masking his true nerves. "Would Junon be an acceptable place to live?"
"You mean you'll come with me?" Tifa said, sounding cautiously hopeful.
Vincent wished he had his cloak with him so he could hide his face. Instead, he took a breath to steady himself and said, "As you said, there's nothing holding either of us here in Midgar. A change from this place could be…nice?"
Tifa gave him a small smile and studied his face, trying to read his emotions. "You really mean it?" she said, her chianti eyes beginning to sparkle with excitement.
Vincent shrugged. "I can find work pretty much anywhere. As long as we can find a place, I don't see why not."
"And we can just be roommates, if you're more comfortable with that," she said. Realizing how it may have sounded, she hurriedly added, "Not that I only want to be roommates with you, Vincent. I mean, I'd love to be more. I just meant for the beginning we could…"
Vincent held up a hand to cut her off. Her cheeks turned bright pink. "I know what you mean, Tifa," he said, giving her a small, good-natured smile. She's blushing again. It's actually kind of cute on her. She seems to genuinely want me around so maybe, just maybe, this will work out better than I originally thought.
"Why Junon?" her question brought him back to the conversation.
He shrugged again. "Obviously Nibelheim is out," he said as Tifa nodded in quiet agreement. "And places such as Mideel and Fort Condor are still recovering from all of the damages from Shin-Ra and the Weapons, respectively. Kalm has been anything but calm since Meteor. Being closest to Midgar, many were evacuated there to try to avoid Meteor."
"Cosmo Canyon would be nice, but I don't know about having to climb all of those ladders day in and day out. I have no idea how Red does it, but I think I'll pass!" Tifa added with a small chuckle.
"Understandable. The area is somewhat difficult to traverse, as well. Between the forest and the canyon itself…" he trailed off.
"Not Icicle Inn, either," Tifa added. "Or Costa del Sol. They're beautiful places to visit, but I don't care for the extreme temperatures. Not to mention the tourists!"
Vincent smirked. "While I do a lot of work with Cid and Barret, I don't know if I'd stay in Rocket Town or Corel permanently."
"Aww, no Wutai either, then?" Tifa said with a fake pout on her lips.
"As much as I appreciate Yuffie's help in past endeavors, I don't know if I can tolerate the 'White Rose of Wutai' on a regular basis," he said evenly.
His seriousness, while pretend, still made Tifa giggle. "She has quite the crush on you, Vince. I don't think she'll be very happy to find that I've snagged you instead!" The petite brunette laughed again.
Vincent found that he rather liked seeing Tifa laugh. Not only was it wonderful to see her truly laugh out loud, but her joy seemed to be infectious, with even the gunman giving her a smile. And to see her so happy about having laid her claim to him? He felt his heart move up into his throat and his stomach begin to flutter at her implications.
As Tifa's giggle faded out, Vincent realized that the bar was still empty, even with it being 8:00 already.
"Tifa? Are you not opening the bar tonight?" he asked.
She looked up at the clock and thought for a moment. "Nah," she answered. "It's always dead on Tuesdays, anyways."
"Fair enough," Vincent said and the two continued their banter about where NOT to live. Bone Village? Too isolated. Gongaga? Not nice enough. Near the Gold Saucer? Too expensive.
"I guess Junon is a winner, then," Tifa said eventually.
"Tifa," Vincent said softly. He tentatively took her hand in both of his. "Are- are you sure this is what you want? Will this make you happy?"
Tifa gave him a half-smile. "I need to move on from here, Vincent. I've only ever lived here and in Nibelheim, and neither of them are particularly good at reminding me of happy memories. Besides," she added. "As long as I have you, I won't be alone in a new place. I know you wouldn't let anything happen to me."
He nodded in agreement. "Have you given any thought to what you will do when you get there? Like I said, I can find work almost anywhere, and Junon has a lot of opportunities. Will you open a new bar?"
Tifa thought for a moment. "It's certainly an option. I still have to think on it."
"What else would you do?" Vincent asked, somewhat intrigued.
The young woman blushed and looked away, suddenly shy. "Promise you won't laugh?"
"Tifa, you know I would never make fun of you," he said gently.
"Well, I've always wanted to try something new. I mean, running a bar is fun, but is it really what I want to do forever?" she said. "I'd like to find something that I really love to do."
"What did you have in mind, then?" Vincent said encouragingly.
"Well…it's kind of silly, but I was thinking of setting up a school for martial arts. Like my teacher, Master Zangan, had back in Nibelheim. He had students from all over the world that would come to Nibelheim for the sole purpose of training with him. Master Zangan did so much for me. He rescued me from the reactor after I was wounded by Sephiroth," she said. Vincent noticed her left hand was resting on her chest, near her breastbone. He realized she likely had a large scar left from Sephiroth's wicked blade.
"He saved my life," she continued softly. "He was the one who protected me and many others when the town burned to the ground. He brought me to Midgar to be healed when he realized he couldn't do it himself. Shin-Ra had better medical technology, so he fixed me up as best as he could then, made the journey here."
Vincent didn't know what to say. He knew some of this, other parts he had guessed at. He just held her hand as tears formed in her eyes.
How can one person be so strong after so much has happened to her? To go through the hell that this woman has is bad enough, but to still remain hopeful for humanity? After all that she has seen? I don't know whether to call her optimistic or a fool.
Vincent stole a glance at Tifa. She still had tears in her eyes, but none had fallen. She simply sat in her chair, stiff as a board, but determined not to cry.
"Tifa, you know that it's okay to cry, right? You don't have to put on a show for me," he said gently.
The barmaid's shoulders slumped and she brought a hand to her forehead and massaged her temples.
Vincent scooted his chair over and placed a tentative, yet comforting, hand on her shoulder. "Tifa, you are the strongest woman that I've ever known. Having emotions will never draw away from that. There's no need to pretend to be happy ALL of the time. I know you do it for everyone else, but…"
Tifa took a deep breath to steady herself. "I know, Vincent, but I don't just fake it for everyone else's sakes. I mean, of course I'm supposed to be the optimistic one here; at least in our friends' eyes. It's not just them. I feel like… if I could only keep up the brave, perky façade long enough, perhaps I can even trick myself into believing that I truly am content with life."
Vincent was silent, wanting to ask how that would possibly work, but not wanting to upset her even more. She did it for him, though.
"Gee, Tifa, how's that working out for you?" she said in a mocking, deep, sarcastic tone. She laughed humorlessly. "It isn't, Vincent. It doesn't make sense, I know, but it's just what my coping mechanism is," she answered. "I know that moving sounds like I'm running away, and maybe, in a way, I am."
"You aren't running, Tifa. You're moving forward, like you said earlier. You need a change of pace. Some free time and space to do what's best for you."
His response was a sniffle from the woman next to him. He stood and pulled her up with him.
"Tifa," he said as he pulled her into a strong embrace. "You're doing the right thing. You're thinking for yourself for once. It's what you deserve."
"You're right, Vince," she said, pulling away slightly. "I just need to do something for myself. And I'm glad that you will be there with me when…"
She was cut off by the sound of the back door closing loudly. A head of blond, spiky hair poked through the doorway.
"Hey, Teef, I'm hoooo… oh, hey, Vincent. What are you doing here so late?"
The pair pulled apart with Tifa blushing. "Um, hey Cloud," she said. "I didn't know you'd be back so soon."
"Yeah, not a whole lot of packages today, so deliveries didn't take long," he replied. "Tifa, are you okay? Your eyes are all red." He looked at Vincent with eyes full of mistrust.
Tifa glanced at Vincent. The look on her face told him that she hadn't told Cloud about them yet.
"Tifa had a rough time with a customer earlier. No need to worry, though. He's been… taken care of," Vincent said calmly.
"Thanks, Vincent. Tifa, you're alright then?" the ex-SOLDIER asked.
"Yeah, Cloud, I'm fine now. Vincent was here to look after me," she told him.
"Well, it is getting late. As long as you are feeling better, Tifa, I think I will be heading home," Vincent said quietly.
"Right. Well, thank you for your help, Vincent. I really appreciate it," Tifa told him. He could see in her eyes that she didn't really want him to go, but he felt uncomfortable with Cloud there. The shorter man was still looking at him warily so he felt it best to leave before he got upset. Besides, Tifa would want to talk to him privately.
"Oh, Vincent, what time will you be picking me up to go to Corel?" she asked him as he turned to go.
"I will be here around 7:30. Does that work for you?"
Tifa nodded. "I'll see you then," she said as Cloud studied her with a confused look on his face.
Wanting to avoid the awkward silence and an argument with Cloud, Vincent turned on his heel and headed out the door into the cold night.
A few hours later, Vincent found himself lying in bed and staring at the ceiling, unable to find sleep. While nervous, he had actually been looking forward to Tifa staying over. He didn't want to say anything in front of Cloud in case Tifa was embarrassed or he would get upset. While he didn't care for how Cloud treated Tifa, he also didn't want to get her stuck in an uncomfortable situation with him.
Besides, maybe she doesn't want him to know about you. She might be embarrassed to tell anyone about your relationship.
Vincent shook his head to dispel any negative thoughts.
Tifa outright told me that she was over Cloud, so there is no need to worry there. The problem is how Cloud feels, not Tifa. She truly seems to care about me more than anyone else ever has.
He couldn't help but feel a little bit warmer inside while thinking of her. Was he dreaming or did he really agree to move in with her?
Wonder what that'll be like. Probably awkward, to begin with. We'll be more than roommates, but not quite at the point of being a couple living together. But, imagine what it would be like if we DID reach that point…
Vincent's mind wandered back to the other day when he caught Tifa doing her morning stretches. He certainly wouldn't mind seeing her like that on a fairly regular basis; that was for sure.
I really shouldn't think of her that way. She is so much more than that. She's kind, and loving, and she can see past what I used to be and cares for me anyways. But still…
Thinking back on their original journey together, he realized that he had admired Tifa for quite a long time. Learning what happened to her mother, her father, her hometown… all could have very easily worn her down. Instead, she came out on top, seemingly stronger than ever. He had lost all faith in humanity while she fought to show that there was still good in the world.
And what a fighter she is… he mused to himself. He became lost in memories of watching Tifa relentlessly taking down any dangers their ragtag group came across. No man, nor monster, would even dare to block her path again after facing her. That is, if they could stand afterwards. Vincent smirked at the ceiling. Tifa was the kind of girl who would kick your ass into next week and you'd enjoy it the entire time. Watching her fight was akin to observing a dancer or an acrobat performing. Her balance and grace were without flaw, allowing her to remain standing while rebounding an opponent's strength back to them to take them down. How amazing it was to see the petite woman toss around a man nearly twice her size.
Tifa was strong, without a doubt. He wanted to take away the reasons that she needed to be strong, though. Take away the suffering she had endured so she no longer needed to hide her pain. After all, she was doing the same for him. She fought his doubt and guilt, especially when he mentioned his past. He loved the ferocity in her burgundy eyes as she insisted that he was not a monster, even when she knew of his mistakes, the experiments, and his demons. Her face would flush and her full lips would pucker into a scowl when she was being stubborn. She could put Cid in his place when it was necessary and could throw as many snide remarks back at him as he did to her. She was the only one capable of going toe to toe with Barret and walk away without being riddled with bullet holes. And though he would likely never admit it to her, it was probably one of the times when he found her even more irresistible.
She was in charge, whether she knew it or not. She could command the entire group to stay in line and focus on their target, but also coddle and care for them when they were ill or injured. Her eyes would soften and that pretty mouth of hers would turn into a comforting smile, regardless of how she was feeling. Without her, they probably would never have made it as far as they had.
He sighed. How has someone so good decided to care for me? He remembered back to a day on the Highwind after a particularly nasty battle.
He, Tifa, and Yuffie were on night watch outside of Rocket Town before they met Cid. Vincent had only recently joined the group, but Tifa had always given him a warm welcome and tried to make him feel comfortable around everyone, even when the others were still unsure and afraid of him. He had volunteered to guard the camp for the night while the others rested. Tifa offered to take the first shift and was going to switch with Yuffie for the next shift. The young ninja couldn't sleep, however, and joined them at the fire early. A pack of Nibel wolves had attacked the campsite, however, and Tifa and Vincent were forced to fight them off. Yuffie had panicked and had run back to the airship to alert the crew, so it was just the two of them.
It was the first time he'd seen the martial artist in battle. He'd mostly been paired with Nanaki, the red, lion-like creature up until then. He was mildly surprised at the power and skill that Tifa had shown while she sent a volley of punches at the largest wolf. She did not, however, notice the second wolf descending upon her. In a flash, Vincent had leapt over in front of her, acting as a shield against the wolf's attack. Tifa was unharmed, though Vincent had obtained several deep gashes, one of which crossed one side of his face. Checking the area to see if any other monsters were around, he saw only the bodies of the other four that he and Tifa had defeated.
"Vincent," Tifa had said. "You're bleeding! We need to get back to the ship!" She sounded worried. Before he could explain his fast healing rate, she had all but dragged him back to the Highwind. She pulled him into her tiny room and quickly gathered her first aid kit. Using a damp washcloth, she made to wipe away the blood on his face so that she could survey the damage.
"Tifa, this really isn't necessary," he had told her.
But she was having none of it. "Hush, Vincent. I know you like to hide from us behind your cloak, but you need to let me see your face so that I can fix you up." Without another word, she had quickly unbuckled his high-collared cloak. She pulled it away and began to wash the blood away. As she did, she gasped in surprise, leaving Vincent looking and feeling embarrassed and shameful.
There was no wound. It was as if his face had never been touched.
"It-it's gone!" she whispered, sounding frightened.
Vincent had sighed and dropped his gaze to his hands which were resting in his lap. "Tifa, remember when I told you and the others that Hojo…modified me? About the demons he put inside me?" When she nodded wordlessly, he had continued. "I heal at an incredibly fast rate as a result of these experiments. I will likely completely healed before the sun even rises. So, please, do not worry over me. It isn't worth it for you to waste your time on the likes of me - a monster."
The shock had faded from her eyes and her nose crinkled up slightly. She frowned at him and put her hand on his chin, pulling it up so she could look into his eyes.
"Don't you dare think that, Vincent. I know that we've only known each other a little while, but I know that there is no way that you are a monster. You are a good man who had a horrifying experience with a madman. You are different, sure, but you are NOT a monster," she said firmly. He had looked into her eyes, so similar to his own. Her crimson eyes lost some of their fire when they began to form tears.
Not wanting to see her cry, Vincent tried to change the subject. "Thank you for your help, Tifa. It is refreshing to know that there are still good people in this world," he said as he took her Cure materia. "Now, let us get you patched up and you can get some sleep. Oh, and please forgive my fumbling; it has been a while since I last used materia, and I was never particularly talented with healing spells."
He healed her wounds with the Cure materia. None were deep, so it didn't take much effort on his part. When he turned to go, Tifa placed a hand on his cheek. She quietly wiped the remaining blood from where his head wound had previously been and gave him a nervous smile.
Vincent remembered how his heart had sped up. It had been the first time a woman had touched him since Hojo locked him in that damn box.
Vincent fought the urge to pull her close, though the demons with whom he shared a body with were certainly egging him on to do more. She was so warm, so soft compared to his hard, icy exterior. He longed to touch her back, but he knew he would only scare her away.
At that moment, Barret had burst in to Tifa's room, demanding to know if they were okay. Tifa stood and calmly explained what had happened. Vincent had noticed that she didn't mention their wounds or, more specifically, how his wounds had vanished.
He knew she was protecting him. She had wanted to give him the choice to reveal this part of himself, not ruin his privacy by telling everyone. They all found out eventually, but the fact that she kept his secret made him respect her.
Vincent closed his eyes, partly in an attempt to sleep, but mostly to try to relive that time on the airship again. He tried to see her eyes again, so full of emotion and passion as she refused to believe that he was anything less than human. He attempted to feel her hand on his face as she dabbed at the blood on his forehead. The way she looked at him as she scrubbed, with her features expressing both worry and concentration. Did she feel what he did at the time? He remembered finding it difficult to breathe and how it became quite warm in the small cabin he had been in.
He felt a stirring in his pajama bottoms and groaned softly to himself. Now it would be even harder to fall asleep.
He barely drifted off when he heard a knock on his door. He grumbled to himself as he pulled a shirt on to go answer it, relieved that his "problem" was no longer visible through his pants. Who in the world would be knocking at this hour?
He pulled the door open to an interesting surprise.
Tifa Lockhart was standing on his doorstep.