Final Fantasy VII: Beauty and the Beast
Chapter 9
Vincent hardly spoke on the ride back to the ferry.
But Vincent never talked very much to begin with.
He sat firmly against the seat which he had slid back as far as it would go in order to accommodate his long legs. But the entire car was uncomfortably small for him, forcing him to crane his neck and tuck his feet in—his knees up against the dashboard.
He didn't complain though, instead he sat there silently with his arms crossed in front of him, crimson eyes glaring intensely into the road ahead of them, chin tucked down into his collar- the brim of it grazing his full bottom lip.
Very distracting for Tifa.
Who felt bad for his uncomfortable situation but at the same time couldn't stop her thoughts from dwelling on how close he was to her. Vincent had draped an arm around the back of Tifa's seat to allow her more space to drive. He smelt like the forest, woodsy and airy, and she was thrown back into the memory of him carrying her as he darted through the dark woods.
Again, very distracting for Tifa.
Her discomfort didn't go unnoticed by Vincent, who stole quick glances at her when she wasn't looking. It amused him how she glanced at him out of the corner of her eye, wanting to look but not wanting to. He hid his growing smile behind his collar.
He thought about their moment in the woods too. His arm was practically draped around her, only the small headrest acting as a barrier between them. Her wind swept hair tickled the top of his hand. He casually lifted it to allow the silky strands to flow around it. How could he not be reminded of how it felt to hold her.
He hadn't held a woman in his arms for a very long time.
Vincent let out a sigh which Tifa mistook as a sign of discomfort. "We're almost there," she said.
"I'm fine," he responded.
Which was a lie he confirmed after they had parked on the ferry. His back and neck cracked as he stretched up to his full height. Tifa's eyes lingered on the width of his shoulders which rolled forward and back stretching the muscles between them. He twisted toward her to stretch his lower back and caught her staring at him.
His hard stare relaxed at the sight of her face. Tifa, feeling her cheeks warm swiftly at the way he was looking at her, turned away from him. She quickly walked over to the railing, resting her arms on it as she looked out into the expanse of water ahead of her. She shut her eyes tightly as she mentally scolded herself for getting caught staring at him.
Vincent stood there staring at the back of her curvaceous frame. Though her clothes covered most of her lower body and simultaneously the area he wanted most to see, the cape she wore sat low on her hips—revealing a slender waist with toned muscle underneath soft skin.
He reminded himself that any feelings he allowed himself to recognize would betray Lucrecia, and after what he had forced her to do, did he really deserve to be happy? Not that it would matter anyway. He knew it would only make things uncomfortable between Tifa and himself. It was no secret that Tifa loved Cloud. Everyone knew- well, except Cloud. Who was so involved in his own self-punishment that he was oblivious to it and…
Vincent paused his thoughts for a moment as he realized something.
He and Cloud are exactly the same.
An odd feeling twisted uncomfortably in Vincent's chest as he realized this.
He knew all too well what it was like to love someone and lose them to someone else. How long will Cloud make her wait for him? How long will she wait for him? She loves everyone to her fullest and gives everything she has to help them- she deserves the same in return. How can such a selfless woman love such a selfish man? Vincent felt shame for his and Cloud's similarities, but Cloud was worse. Vincent didn't have someone like Tifa waiting for him.
He had no one to push away.
With that thought in mind, Vincent looked away from her. He didn't deserve her either, he would hurt her the same way Cloud has. So like him, he would ignore her too?
'I don't want to be like him.'
Tifa watched the approaching land mass ahead. The thick ocean mists faded to reveal lush green terrain, jutting mountains and the unmistakable Midgar harbor. The sunrise glistened off the new metal, which was unscathed from its short time there. She sucked in a deep breath at the sight in front of her. The manmade construct reflecting beautiful gold's and reds of the sun, stood out among the natural beauty which surrounded it.
Her home.
A tall figure moved to stand beside her; she turned and looked up into the familiar hard stare which belonged to Vincent.
"I…appreciate you coming with me Tifa," he said gently.
She smiled. "Reeve is my friend too- and after that incident, I think its best I stick around to keep you in check," she finished playfully.
Vincent's brow rose at her joke, and her smile grew wider at his expression.
"Thoughtless beast didn't know what he was up against," Vincent amused.
Tifa straightened and lifted her chin. "Next time he'll think twice about scratching me."
"I'm sure he will."
She turned her attention back to Midgar Harbor. "It's beautiful isn't it?"
Yes, you are.
"It is," he answered. "How is your wound?"
Tifa turned back to face him. "The wrapping is so good I hardly feel it. Well, unless I move a certain way."
"Is there a healer near the port?" he asked.
"Yes. But what about-"
"It won't take long. I need you ready to fight."
"Do you think it's that man again?" she asked.
"It would not surprise me if it was."
"First Aerith, then you, now Reeve…it's like he is out to get us all."
"It may be nothing. We don't know yet."
"I hope so."
The drive to Kalm was physically uncomfortable—on many levels.
Vincent's head lolled forward as he struggled to stay awake. Tifa couldn't stop herself from yawning. Skipping a night's worth of sleep was catching up to them. She hadn't slept well the night prior either. She woke up to what she thought was Cloud's bike pulling up to the house. When it wasn't, she couldn't fall back asleep. Vincent said he had been watching the man in the forest. Who knew the last time he had slept either. Maybe they could catch a break sometime soon.
She wasn't betting on it.
Vincent was the first one out of the car when they arrived, Tifa not far behind. They jogged across the cobbled street. The town was alive in the morning hustle. People setting up their shops and children on their way to school.
They made their way through the crowd swiftly, Vincent leading the way. He stopped in front of a large house which looked similar to all the others there, other than its size. It had a cobalt blue shingled roof, with wood barn beams decorating its cream face. Vincent didn't hesitate before knocking on the large wooden door. He kept his gaze set firmly forward, while Tifa glanced between Vincent and the door. Waiting to see one of them move. She decided to go look through a window but the curtains were drawn shut.
"I can't see inside, the curtains are closed," she informed Vincent.
"Follow me," he said.
He led her to the side of the house which was hidden from view of the main square by a huge spruce tree. Vincent stopped in front of a door and kicked it in with such force that his foot almost went completely through it.
"Be on your guard," he advised before stepping cautiously into the house.
Tifa squared her shoulders and tightened her fists as she stepped across the threshold.
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