Shadowplay

Chapter 10: Secrets

"I hate that woman." Leon narrowed his eyes across the room. "Every time she laughs I want to shoot her."

Tifa's laugh seemed a little shrill to her own ears. "You should."

Leon grinned. "I think that problem will take care of itself."

Tifa didn't understand what he meant and she was not going to ask. Her fear at the moment was that Scarlet would recognise her. The odds were not in her favour. She was about to excuse herself to the powder room in an attempt to talk to Vincent when her escape was cut off by the chiming of a small dinner bell.

Leon took her elbow, his fingers, too hard on her soft skin, dug into her flesh and bit against the bone beneath it. She winced and either he didn't notice or didn't care. Escorting her to a chair at the head of the rectangular table where she would be sitting next to him. He almost forced her into the seat. Heavy hands laid against her shoulders pushed her down abruptly till she near lost her balance on the spiked heels.

When everyone seated he took his place at the head of the table, still standing and raised his glass.

"To my wonderful dinner guests. Once again I thank you for being here to enjoy the hospitality all our hard work grants us. Enjoy."

He lifted his glass, those at the table followed suit like the drones they were. Tifa sipped her glass in silence.

Dinner was a long affair of 5 courses where everyone chatted quietly to one another. One occasion Tifa could hear Scarlet's laugh break out from the other end of the table, but she was kept from being noticed by speaking with the man next to her. It turned out he was Jonas Something she couldn't remember, the owner of the Step club further down town. He was a cheery old man and sat with his wife who was deaf as a post.

Tifa has no idea why the couple had been invited other than to keep in good graces with the competition. She remembered Vincent telling her they were ignorant to what was going on around them and they certainly seemed so, chatting animatedly about the most inane topics while she nodded and ate without having to say a word. She imagined Vincent would be bored out of his mind listening to all this. The thought made her smile, just to know he was with her eased her tension.

Leon interpreted her smile as pleasure. Leaning over and forcing a wet kiss on her mouth before she could stop him.

"It is good to see you smile." They were just finishing up desert. "You will dance with me later." He gave it as an order and all she could do was smile. She wanted to wipe her mouth on her napkin and stab him with her fork.

…

It was finally almost over. She had avoided coming face to face with Scarlet all night thanks to the Leon's distaste for her company. Having socialised and danced and smiled and let Leon treat her like a pretty play thing, she was very much ready to get the hell out of there.

Desperately needing relief from Leon's wandering hands and lecherous attempts are trying to kiss her she excused herself to the powder room. She took a deep breath and stood at the mirror carefully checking her hair and make-up. Even forcing a smile and measuring up how believable the reflection was.

"I'm so tired of this Vincent. I feel dirty just for being here."

She sighed and pushed away from the basin. Turning to leave she pulled the door open at the same time another person pushed it. The two collided sending Tifa back into the powder room while she grasped trying to not fall. A high-pitched squeal mixed with Tifa's cry of surprise and a ripping noise of fabric was all that could be heard before the thud of both women landing on the tiles.

Tifa hissed and looked about desperately hoping she hadn't just hurt someone important.

"THE FUCK IS WRONG WITH YOU?"

Tifa widened her eyes. "Err… N…nothing. I am so sorry."

"You ripped my dress! You'll pay for this you stupid bitch!"

A hand reached out and slapped her face hard enough to snap Tifa's head to the side. She gasped, scrambling to her feet and smoothing her dress out.

"I said I was sorry. I should go."

Scarlet grabbed her arm and spun her back to face her and giving Tifa the first look at a woman fallen from grace. Scarlet's skin was wan and sickly; she had aged and looked terrible beyond her years. Her hair fell limp and oily to her shoulders and her makeup made her look more whorish than words could explain. But it was her eyes that told the tale. Bloodshot and pupils dilated.

"Are you alright?"

Scarlet blinked and pointed a sharp nail at Tifa's face. "Don't I know you?"

Tifa backed up. "No. We've never met."

Scarlet grabbed her arm and pushed her into the basin. "Yeah you have. I know this. UGH I can't think." She pushed the heel of her palm into her temple. "I've hit you before. I can remember hitting you… where was I?"

Tifa was about to run out while Scarlet was distracted but it was too late. She started trying to claw at her madly while screaming obscenities. Tifa clamped a hand over her mouth to calm her down while simultaneously dodging her wild attacks.

Scarlet lashed out, using every ounce of her Azure hazed strength to catch her opponent just once. She succeeded. Out of nowhere Tifa was hit in the head by a flailing punch. Scarlet's nails cut her cheek. It was instinctual, it was anger and hatred towards this woman who had caused so much pain to Gaia and still lived. She hadn't meant to be so hard. Tifa punched her in the face. It did nothing to deter her fight and just when Scarlet had almost got a hold of the back of Tifa's head she kicked the drug addled woman in the midriff. The impact sent her backwards where she lost her balance. Tifa reached out, as if it in slow motion trying to catch her, but she fell all the same.

Her head impacted with the corner of the vanity bench and echoed a sickening fleshy crunch. Then it was over. Scarlet lay on the floor bleeding out into a large puddle with her eyes open and staring. Tifa slid to the floor gasping for air.

"I killed her… Vincent I killed her…"

It happened in only a matter of moments and the noise had attracted others. Marcus was the first to burst in and look at the scene. With Tifa's distraught features his only gauge for an explanation; he helped her up from the tile and took his suit jacket off. He put it around her shoulders just at the moment Leon burst in to see what the commotion had been about.

"I didn't mean to…"

"Hush." He took her into his arms. His features set cold and uncaring for the dead woman on the floor. "She was going to die one way or another."

"I want to go home. Please Leon?" He looked hesitant, then must have realised he had some cleaning up to do.

"Of course. Marcus, take her back and make sure she has guards."

"Yes Sir."

Marcus wrapped an arm around her and led her out of the club. She kept her head down thankful for the dark that hid the cuts on her face. Marcus said nothing, but he walked her into her building and escorted her directly to her apartment door. For once he actually seemed sympathetic.

"Don't sweat it Princess. The bitch was insane and we all know how jealous she gets. You did good kid."

Tifa nodded, waiting for him to leave before she slipped in and shut the door. The moment it clicked into place Vincent was there.

…

He picked her up into his arms while she trembled from the fright of almost being caught. She was more afraid of that than the fact she had just brutally and accidentally killed Scarlet. He was carrying her, she didn't pay attention to where. He laid her down on her bed and disappeared, but he wasn't gone long.

"I am here. You're safe Tifa."

She exhaled a long breath, sitting still while he cleaned the nail marks on her cheek before he used the materia to heal the skin. By the time he finished there was only a faint red mark indicating where she had been scratched and it would be gone by morning.

She threw herself into his arms. He bundled her up against him and got on the bed at her side. Letting her nestle against his chest, safe in his arms and away from the nightmare she had been in. She had no idea what Leon was going to do about the fact she had killed someone in the middle of his party. She could only imagine how the revolting Myriad manager would feel about it.

"Stay with me?" She whispered, as her fingers curled into his shirt needing him near.

"I promise." She closed her eyes, still fully dressed and fell asleep breathing in his scent and listening to the steady beat of his heart.

…

Tifa woke alone. It was morning and she felt loss for not having Vincent there when she opened her eyes. She noticed her shoes were off but she was still wearing her dress from the night before. Wishing to stay in bed a bit longer she closed her eyes and made to roll back into her covers. That was when she heard them talking. Vincent and Reeve were in her lounge.

"It's confirmation that Shinra are involved!"

"You are casting more assumptions. Scarlet was high on Azure and barely knew who she was. You have no way to know why she was here."

"It's too much of a coincidence. Jack Richards worked for Shinra, Scarlet was here, the tests on the Azure we have confirm use of Shinra grade technology to produce it."

"I agree it is highly possible Reeve. I am just cautioning you to move carefully. Emerald's death was a warning and now Topaz is missing as well. If they find out anything about Tifa they find threatening she will be gone in an instance."

"Don't mistake my eagerness to move forwards as lack of affection for Tifa. We've already spoke about how I feel."

Tifa lay wide-eyed listening to the exchange. Emerald was dead? She thought back to the past week and realised she hadn't seen her once. It had never occurred to ask if something was amiss, she had just assumed Emerald was taking some time off, which accounted for her absence.

"This about how Tifa feels. Not you."

"Is it? Or is it about how you feel about her?"

"You are making assumptions again Reeve."

"Maybe. All I know is that fake kiss she gave you was more convincing than the real kiss I gave her."

Tifa felt the awkward hush. It was thick with emotion and she dared not to breath in case they realised she was awake.

"You gave her a role and she has played it. If you do not like it then change it."

"Vincent. I have to ask if you are involved with her. My feelings aside it is an added risk."

He chose his words carefully. "We have not discussed it."

"That is not an answer."

"We are not involved, Reeve."

There was a long silence where Tifa wondered what was happening. She had to fight the urge to get up and peek into the lounge. As silently as possible she rolled out of bed and started to change out of the evening gown before she decided she wanted a shower and couldn't give a damn whether they thought she heard them or not. Part of her was hurt that Vincent had said they were not involved. But the truth was they weren't, and he had not lied.

What was more upsetting was that Emerald was dead. She could not quite wrap her head around the fact that she was gone and they had known this whole time. From what she heard Vincent was to get Reeve to be honest with her and he had dissuaded Vincent from giving her the truth.

She turned on the shower and stepped into the cool spray. Letting it wash away the dirt and heavy cosmetics from the night before. She scrubbed herself with rose scented soap trying to remove the heavy artificial perfume mixed with sweat. She could still smell the coppery sweetness of Scarlet's blood.

She washed her hair, her face and only got out when a natural rose oil scent permeated every part of her bathroom. Unsure of what to expect outside, she dressed and entered her lounge slowly.

They were all there. She wondered if Cid and Barrett had sat there while Vincent and Reeve had been talking as she woke.

Vincent was the first to notice her standing in the doorway between her bedroom and the lounge. He lifted his head and they shared a moment that transcended words. Tifa smiled, a gentle curve of her lips for him alone. He dropped his head when Barrett spoke.

"Tif!" The big man got to his feet and went straight to her encompassing her in his large arms for a bear hug. She gasped for air and he released her.

"You alright?"

"I am now I can breathe…"

Barrett chuckled and Cid replaced him for another hug.

"Stop scarin' the hell outta us. We had enough of that for one lifetime."

Tifa just smiled. She was still tired and unwilling to walk much. So she passed barefoot into the kitchen unaware of how vulnerable and small she looked in her long-sleeved slip dress, barefoot and fresh-faced. She busied herself making tea. It was at that moment she remembered Emerald and Topaz and had a stab of sadness.

"When did you find out Emerald was dead?"

The silence that followed her seemingly innocent question was telling. She judged from the discomfort Cid was exhibiting that they were there the whole time and had been privy to the conversation she had overheard. Now they knew she had heard all of it as well. Reeve actually blushed.

"Tifa…"

"I liked Emerald. She always made me laugh and she talked to me the entire time we worked. I never even got to ask her real name."

It was Vincent who answered her.

"Her name was Makiko. She was born in Wutaii and she had two sisters."

The others looked at Vincent with surprise. He gave them a cool stare in response.

"If you took the time to talk to her you would have known that yourself."

Tifa kept her smile hidden from the group. She was so impressed by Vincent at that moment. He had come a long way from the hermit she had met in the mansion two years ago.

Finishing pouring her tea she stopped at the counter. Reeve looked like he was about to speak again when she held up a hand.

"I'm going back to bed. I'll talk to you all later." She walked past them and went straight to her room. She could hear them getting up and preparing to leave. She put her cup on her side table and crawled over the covers.

"Vincent?"

It was at a normal pitch. She hoped he could hear her. She waited about ten minutes before he appeared at her side. She shifted over giving him room to lay down with her. He said nothing, only climbed in the bed and let her cuddle up to his side. She drank her tea in silence and went back to sleep in his arms.