Shadowplay

Chapter 4: Escape

Once they were safe inside the more savoury element of Costa del Sol they walked slowly through the less travelled streets talking.

Vincent filled her in on some of the missing girls and the things they had found. Many of the women were injected with Azure at high levels which stopped their hearts instantly. Almost all of them showed signs of rape or sexual abuse. They had also found men who had died in similar ways but not to the same extent as the women.

Vincent took her to a hidden restaurant and they sat down eating Wutaiin cuisine. She watched him, unable to hide the tiny smile.

"What?"

She blushed and shrugged. "Just… thank you. For showing me and coming to get me." She gestured at her food. "For dinner."

"Hm."

They ate mostly in silence. Enjoying the relative peace away from the bright lights and noise along with eachothers company.

Once they had finished and sat nursing cups of coffee Vincent started talking again. She took a moment to soak in the pleasure of his voice. The deep reverberating sound was soothing.

"So you have a few days off. Do you have any ideas on what to do?"

Tifa shook her head. "I'm tempted to lock myself in my apartment and do nothing so long as I can wear whatever I want."

He smiled. That small twitch at the corner of his mouth drew her attention.

"I should see Marlene and Shera though."

"It was not safe for them to be here so we sent them to Rocket Town. They are at home and I am sure they miss you."

"I miss them."

The silence stretched between them. She had to ask.

"Will you come with me?"

She could tell she surprised him by the way he stilled. His eyes had gone to her face and then dropped to his coffee cup in thought.

"That may aid in the illusion of our relationship. It is a good idea."

She blinked. Not having thought of that element of things and hoping that he didn't assume that was why she invited him.

"I want you to come so you can relax Vincent. Marlene loves it when you visit."

She did. The little girl had a way of chatting Vincent's ear off and she adored him. Tifa guessed that Marlene felt the same sense of security in Vincent's presence as she did. He had that effect. Their protector.

"Yes. I will come. I just need to clear it with Reeve."

They finished their coffees and walked back to the apartments. Slipping in through the back way they had exited and in through Tifa's window. She peeked out her curtains to the street below and noticed the man was gone. She hoped they hadn't been seen sneaking around the city.

"Do not worry. They disappear periodically and come back again. If someone was there all the time it would be suspicious."

Tifa slipped off her jacket and toed her shoes off into a corner before turning to face Vincent who was standing in the middle of her sitting area.

"Thank you again."

He nodded. She could hear the soft tintinnabulation of metal when his gauntlet fingers clicked together.

"Vincent…"

"I should go and let you sleep."

He turned away from her before she could finish her sentence. In honesty she was not sure what she wanted to say. She felt something had to be said. They had kissed twice and neither of the times had felt like nothing, even though one of those times had been staged.

"OK." She blinked cluelessly.

"Goodnight Tifa."

"Sleep sweet… Vincent."

He was gone before she finished saying his name.

…

Tifa opened her eyes and groaned. Then she remembered. Slowly her smile grew and she giggled with the happiness of the thought as it hit her. Today was Monday, but more importantly it was her day off and the next and the next. She rolled out of bed and ran to the shower, singing loudly to herself while she washed, got dry and dressed. She had breakfast and was just drinking her first coffee of the day while contemplating packing when there was a knock at her door.

She bounced over smiling. Expecting to see Vincent on the other side and was surprised at the sight of Reeve.

"Oh! I wasn't expecting you. Come in."

She smiled putting her coffee down on the kitchen table while going to make him one. She knew Reeve loved his black coffee in the morning.

"I was just about to pack my bag and then I am out of here."

Reeve smiled. "Vincent filled me in. I think it is a great idea, and very clever. The two of you missing will be definitely noted."

Tifa nodded, not really caring about that element at the moment. She handed him his coffee, not noticing the way his eyes watched her moving around when she grabbed her bag and tossed it on the table.

"I can't wait to see Marlene and Shera. I miss them so much."

"Barrett and Cid have a few things they want you to take with you as well. A few gifts."

Tifa nodded. "Will do." She paused and looked over at him then. "Was there a reason you dropped in?"

He shook his head and smiled at her enthusiasm. "No. I just wished to see you before you left and wish you a good time. If it is alright I would really appreciate you being back by Friday."

She had expected he would. It was the busiest night of the week. "Of course. Thank you for giving me this time off. I am going crazy in this town."

She paused then and looked him in the eyes.

"You need to start telling me the truth Reeve. No more secrets. I am not some silly girl you can pat on the head and send on her way."

He put his cup down and met her at the table. Taking her hands in his and looking down at where they were joined.

"I am deeply sorry for that Tifa. I truly thought I was protecting you and it was not my intent to keep you in the dark forever."

She nodded. "Don't do it again alright. I want to know everything so I can be prepared. Putting me in the dark is more dangerous than the truth."

"I apologise. Forgive me?"

She smiled. "Stop being charming. Of course I forgive you."

He chuckled and pulled her into a hug, which she returned. Her head rested on his shoulder. She was just about to pull away when he stopped her and looked down into her eyes. Her smile faded beneath the intense look he was giving her and then she felt her insides freeze.

He touched her cheek, trailing his fingers down her chin. Oh Gaia… he's not is he? His head lowered down towards hers. No, no, Reeve really? She was still deciding whether to stop him when a bang on her door startled them apart and Tifa into action.

"Oh!" She blinked at Reeve in confusion, taking a step back and quickly going to the door. She opened it to find Barrett and Cid on the other side.

"Ay you getting a holiday and leavin' us behind you better take this with ya." Barrett shoved a plush rabbit into her arms along with a gift bag full of other toys.

Tifa was still dazed, but she managed a laugh. "Well do come in Barrett." She rolled her eyes and stepped back so they could enter thankful for the break in the awkward moment. She avoided Reeve's eyes.

"I got some stuff for Shera too." Cid put smaller gift bag on the table. Tifa noted he was blushing on account of bringing gifts for his wife.

"I promise I will pass them on."

Barrett went and helped himself to coffee in her kitchen. It amused Tifa that the big man was so at home in her company no matter where they were that he could help himself comfortably.

Cid collapsed into her sofa. "Ay bring me some tea while ya in there."

Barrett grumbled. Tifa laughed and went back to her packing. She walked around the apartment and into her bedroom gathering clothes and toiletries to stuff into her bag. She did not really need that much for a couple of days.

"Bit unfair you goin' and us stayin'" Barrett handed Cid his tea and sat down on the sofa at his side. Resulting in a strange kind of punching and shoving until Cid almost spilt his tea. Tifa laughed.

"Yeah well I tell you what Barrett. I'll do door security and you can dress up in skin-tight latex every night, how does that sound?"

"That is not a sight I ever want to envision." Tifa looked up to see Vincent standing inside her door. He locked it behind him and gave her look that said she should have done the same. She had the grace to look sheepish.

"I dunno. Eed look mighty gorgeous." Cid snorted and slid down the soft to avoid a swing of Barrett's metal arm. They broke out into a barrage of insults and scoffing while Tifa finished her packing. Reeve sat down at her kitchen table and finished his coffee while Vincent stood leaning against the kitchen counter. All of them made it seem very crowded.

"I'm sure you will be kept busy." She stopped and took a deep breath. "All done."

Reeve stood at the same time Vincent pushed away from the counter. Coffee cups were disposed into the sink and while Tifa waited for them to finish up she put her shoes on.

"Are we taking the Bronco again?" Vincent nodded and the group shuffled out the door. Vincent took her bag and nodded towards the elevator.

"Meet you downstairs." She nodded and turned to hug Cid and Barrett in turn.

"Take care 'aight? And give Marlene a big hug for me."

"I will I promise."

"Make sure Shera is good too. Tell the woman to call me."

Tifa nodded and laughed. "I will. I will."

She found herself face to face with Reeve. He looked a little amused, but he was not the type to blush. She did that for him.

He chuckled and touched her cheek before he brought her in for a tight hug. He murmured against her ear. "We can finish that conversation another day."

She nodded, unable to find the right words to answer that. There was far too much confusion attached to the idea that Reeve was interested in her. She was still trying to make sense of her feelings for Vincent.

Reeve released her and she went downstairs while the others went back to their apartments. When she got to the bottom she saw Vincent standing out the front on his phone. He saw her; she saw his lips moving and then he snapped it shut.

"Ready?"

She nodded and they both hurried away from the ugly city to enjoy their days off. She did not notice the eyes watching them from across the street, but Vincent had. He chose not to tell her and ruin her good mood.

…

Thankfully it was early but they would not arrive in Rocket until Tuesday after travelling the full day and night. Tifa didn't mind. She was so happy to be getting out of the city that even now she was settled into the Bronco with Vincent flying in the pilot seat she could not find a complaint about the long trip ahead.

She ended up reading one of Vincent's books on a Wutaiin warrior that gained fame in the history of their country for uniting a warring nation. Occasionally a piece of history would confuse her so she would pause and ask him questions. He was a wealth of information. The more she learnt about him the more she admired him.

They stopped in Corel when they hour was late and had something to eat before continuing. Tifa did not remember falling asleep. The next thing she knew she was being gently shaken awake by Vincent and the sun was rising on the horizon.

"Mmm Vincent?"

"We're here."

She smiled, blinking up at him wearily. Her brain was still half sleeping while she gazed into his eyes. He was close. Her fingers reached up and traced his jaw.

"You are so beautiful."

He looked shocked and then dropped his gaze. He took her hand from his face, hesitating before he released it and grabbed their bags.

"We better get moving."

She lay there taking stock of what she had just said. She was slightly embarrassed and yet at the same time, not. She had meant what she said. He was beautiful and it was that moment that Tifa had to admit to herself that she was beginning to look at Vincent as more than just a friend.

It was going to be a long few days.

…

"TIFA!" A pair of small arms collided with her hips and wrapped tightly to her frame like a limpid. Tifa burst out laughing trying to untangle herself so she could hug the little girl back.

She had only just managed a weak hug when Marlene squealed and barreled past her to cling to Vincent under his cloak.

"VINCENT, VINCENT, VINCENT!" Each time she said his name it got louder in pitch. Tifa grinned.

"I was wondering what all the noise was about!" Tifa turned and hugged Shera, wrestling the group inside between a hyperactive Marlene and a hobbling Vincent. They were all smiling and laughing by the time they managed to sit down in the kitchen.

"Breakfast?"

"Oh yes, let me help." Tifa got up again and started chatting animatedly with Shera while they cooked. Vincent had no hope. Left on his own without anything keeping his attention he was accosted by an overly excited Marlene. Thankfully he had gifts to help keep her occupied.

The bag that Barrett had given them was an instant distraction. He took Marlene out of the kitchen into the sitting area and sat down with her. Listening to her prattle, answering her questions and helping her look at her new toys.

Shera smiled glancing towards where they were playing.

"He's so good with her. She adores him."

"He's an amazing person." Tifa had stopped cooking. She was smiling softly and watching him with telling eyes.

"Tifa Lockhart…" Shera had her head tilted sideways and was grinning. "Do I detect a hint of a crush?"

Tifa sighed, she had to tell someone. "Yes. It's killing me."

Shera looked giddy happy about this bit of news. "I want all of it."

Tifa looked over to where Vincent sat with Marlene and sighed. She began at the beginning… seven months ago.

…

"Wow."

"Yeah…"

"So he's just avoiding you?"

"Well not me per say. He's avoiding that topic and anytime we get close to eachother he just… runs. Maybe I read it wrong and he's just trying to be polite."

"Vincent isn't the type to leave someone with the wrong impression. He's a complicated man and he's been through a lot. He might think he's protecting you."

"From what?"

"Him."

Tifa froze thinking back. Vincent had always seen himself as one of Shinra's monsters. Never thinking he was worthy of Lucrecia's affection. Did he think the same thing about her? She sighed.

"Why is this so damn complicated."

Shera laughed. "Love is complicated. Look how long Cid yelled at me before he figured it out."

"Who said anything about love?"

Shera grinned at her with one eyebrow raised. Tifa blushed and went back to plating up the food they had cooked.

"Oh... there is one other thing."

"What's that?"

"Reeve almost kissed me."

"Reeve? He tried to kiss you!?"

"Ahem."

Both women turned to look at Vincent who was standing in the doorway. Tifa turned as red as a berry and prayed for the earth to swallow her whole.

"Do you need any help?"

Shera acted as if nothing were wrong as she got Vincent to help her put all the food on the table. They all took a seat and listened to Marlene tell them about her presents. Tifa was too lost in her own embarrassment to follow the conversation.