Disclaimer: I refuse to claim ownership of all this FFVII bull-hookey

A/N: I really need to start making these interludes shorter…

Interlude: A Few Peaceful Moments

Vincent's skillful combination of fingers and talons worked their magic (his human parts making sure never to make contact with Yuffie). As he worked, Yuffie couldn't help but be taken aback at how adept he was.

He must've had to whip up a lot of bandages when he was a Turk... Hmmm, Vincent the Turk. He even kinda looks like Reno, a little. Skinny and tall, but Reno's no where near as tall as Vinnie. Plus Vinnie's more built.. Err, I mean, uhh, I wasn't looking at him like THAT!! EWWW! Err, anyway, he acts more like Rude. I wonder if the Turks sucked so bad back then too? Probably not, Vinnie's a hell of a lot more deadly than Reno or Laney. Maybe not Rude. Baldy scares me.

Suddenly, Yuffie paused her inner monolog to wince as the sharp coldness of a metal digit that suddenly struck her leg.

Wow, that was cold. But it was the first time so far it hit me. The first time he's even touched me. Man, he must be damn good with that thing to keep it under control like that. He's probably make a decent ninja. Still couldn't beat me, though... What an odd left hand. I wonder why Hojo took his left hand. Was Vinnie left handed? It must've been a bitch to learn how to use that thing. I wonder if it feels pain...

Yuffie was so lost in her thoughts that she had barely noticed that Vincent had stopped. "The wound will be more painful than it looks. It bruised the bone. That should numb the pain until the potion starts to work"

Though she wasn't sure how long ago he had finished, Yuffie assumed it was at least a few minutes ago. Vincent wouldn't speak unless she had been sitting there blank-faced for an awkward amount of time.

"Hey Vinnie. Did you used to be left handed?"

The out-of-the-blue comment caught Vincent off guard. His usual hesitation due to a reluctance to speak was replaced by one due to lack of preparation. Maybe he had underestimated the perceptiveness of this girl. "Yes."

"Geez, if you're left handed, just imagine if you found a gun that you could use with your claw..." Yuffie was shocked at her own words. Oh my Gawd, did I just call it a claw? Shit! Yuffie's mind raced. She had to say something else. She must've pissed him off, She could feel Vincent's eyes on her - she didn't want to die tonight - she didn't want to die at his hands. "Sorry, Vinnie. It's just I never picked up on it before, that's all."

"No one else has either." In two years, not even their fearless leader, Cloud Strife, could pick up on the fact that Vincent was actually left-handed.

"Really?!" Yuffie didn't bother to keep her voice in check. She was on an excitement high. She never knew anything before the rest of the group. But then, she reasoned her way down from her pedestal. He was probably just saying that to make me feel good. Bastard! He's too damn polite!

When it seemed like Vincent wasn't planning on answer her, Yuffie hopped to her feet. A feeling of peaceful numbness where pain once resided greeted her. She liked it.

"Thanks, Vin." She reached up to pat Vincent thankfully on his arm, but the man quickly jerked away. "You're so silly, Vinnie."

She had always found Vincent's rejection of human contact quite ironic and humorous. A guy who was once so deeply in love now couldn't stand to be touched. She couldn't help but picture a young, Turked-out Vincent, blue suit and all, hiding behind a bush and telling Lucrecia that he loved her, but running away like a little schoolboy when she tried to kiss him.

Yuffie stifled a giggle as she remembered the only time she had managed to touch Vincent Valentine. A year ago, as AVALANCHE reflected on their victory by a campfire just outside of Kalm, Yuffie had snuck in a hug. Vincent stood in the background, away from the light of the fire, trying to spend the night unnoticed. Unfortunately for him, everyone, including Yuffie, managed to get a moment or two with their quiet friend.

He had let Yuffie hug him. Tifa flung an arum around his shoulders, too. All the boys got their hand shakes in with him. And all did so without receiving too much resistance from Vincent. Was he actually happy that night? No. He looked more depressed than I've ever seen him...

As she reached her door, Yuffie turned to gaze at her eternally sad friend, only to be surprised by a completely different sight than she had expected. She assumed she'd see Vincent sulking back into his deathly dark corner. She didn't expect to see him sitting atop a barstool staring at a lovely figure entering the bar. When did Tifa go out?

Vincent's gaze locked on the side door of the bar when he heard a rustling outside. He had watched Tifa go out earlier, but did not desire to confront her. He recognized the voice outside with her to be Reno's. He didn't know what they were arguing about, but he didn't really care. It was their business, not his.

As he saw Tifa quietly step through the door, a bit of fear crept up into Vincent's chest. He was afraid Tifa was about to make it his business. During their travels, Tifa had made it a habit to come to Vincent with her problems. He never really spoke to anyone, so she was sure he wouldn't tell anyone her secrets. He was also a good listener, even Lucrecia would admit to that.

He sat silently upon a barstool as he watched her approach. His eyes fell on her long auburn hair bouncing behind her as he wished she wouldn't notice him. He might've retreated to an unlit corner in which he could hide, but he figured it would be too obvious. She was far too perceptive to think she was just seeing things.

Tifa long legs lifted as she hoisted herself onto a barstool right next to Vincent. It was a little too close for him, but he made no retreating movement. She looked hurt. It wasn't the first time Vincent had seen that hurt in her eyes. The look told him he better not leave her like this, unless he wanted to get a good view of some waterworks.

"Still up, Vince?"

Vincent remained silent. He wasn't in the mood to speak after his confrontation with Yuffie. Then again, he was never in the mood to speak. "Stupid question, huh? I mean, there's no bed down here. Makes it difficult to sleep."

Vincent looked thoughtfully at Tifa. Her eyes were locked on the mirror behind the bar. Her eyes were glued to her own image reflecting back at her, but Vincent didn't believe that that's what she was really looking at.

"But I guess that never really stopped you before. Remember that morning I almost stepped right on top of you outside the Icicle Inn? There was no bed there either, but that didn't stop you from sleeping out there. Wasn't it cold? I bet it was..."

Vincent knew the tone in Tifa's voice. She was just talking for the sake of talking. She did that a lot at nights, not only to him, but to anyone around. He had heard her and Yuffie babble on for hours with no real information getting exchanged.

Sometimes human actions like these confused Vincent. Have I become so much of a monster that I no longer understand humanity? Vincent quickly quieted teh doubting part of his mind. He had more immediate matters to attend to: Tifa.

"Tifa." Vincent's previously silent voice cut through the air straight into Tifa's mind. "Who are you talking to?"

"What?" Tifa's voice was full of confusion. She was talking to him, wasn't she? Vincent's eyes locked on to hers and told her the hidden meaning of his question. "Oh, I guess I was babbling to myself a bit there, wasn't I?"

A question popped into Tifa's head, begging to be asked. She hesitated for a few moments, not wanting to upset Vincent, but she had to ask. She was too nosy not to. Plus, she was sure it would take her mind off of the scene outside she had just lived through. "Vince, why haven't you been sleeping?"

She knew that answer already: he was worried about Lucrecia. The real answer she was looking for was to why he was so worried. In the time they spent together traveling the world, Tifa thought she had Vincent pegged. He was a quiet but powerful man who thought he was a monster.

She always thought he traveled the world looking to atone for his sin, not to find his former love. She was sure he was over Lucrecia. He was so depressed because he had sinned and his life had been taken from him, not because he missed Lucrecia, right?

"When someone is constantly plagued by nightmares, sleep isn't a good idea. Especially not when someone sleeps with fear. Fear brings on more potent images."

Fear? Had Vincent just admitted to being afraid of something? This was quite the proverbial curve-ball. "Vincent, why are you afraid?"

A long silence followed. A person's fears weren't easy to talk about, especially not when that person rarely spoke at all. "Tifa, why are you afraid?"

Tifa's mind searched for the best answer. There were so many things she could tell him. It was very rare in conversations like these that Vincent asked a question that he didn't already know the answer to. So which answer was he looking for now. Suddenly, the realization came.

"I'm afraid that we all will have to relive everything all over again." Vincent did not reply, but Tifa didn't expect him too. Vincent seemed so much more depressed after their defeat of Sephiroth. He also seemed very edgy, as if he was sure either Sephiroth or Hojo, or maybe even Jenova, would be waiting for him around the next corner.

Tifa rose to return to her bed. She knew she was making Vincent uncomfortable. She wouldn't prolong his displeasure any longer. "Good night, Vincent. And don't worry. We'll find Lucrecia."

Reno stumbled his way back from his nice little nook in a near-by alley way. Drunks drank for many reasons, and Reno knew them all. Sometimes he did it to forget, other times to celebrate, and sometimes to drown the pain, but not tonight. Tonight he had a specific task for the tonic in his hand - to make him pass out.

Reno knew his own body well. He knew he never dreamed when he was passed out. What way of avoiding dreams could be more fun? Tripping over objects that weren't there, Reno finally made around to the back of the Tranquility, just below his window.

Yuffie barely avoided being caught. She thought she saw Tifa glancing up at her a few times. She knew Vincent knew she was there, because he always knew that sort of stuff. But, for the sake of her pride, she quickly ducked into her room as if no one knew of her spy-like operations.

Waiting for Yuffie in her room was her most hated and feared enemy, boredom. After her run-in with the floor, Yuffie was roused to full wakefulness. Fully awake and in need of something to do. Yuffie's eyes scanned the room for something to capture her interest.

Yuffie slowly strolled over to the window and opened it. Staring out into the cool breeze of the night - so increbibly cheesy, but it was the best she could come up with. Luckily for her, entertainment was about to waltz into her line of vision.

Reno had begun his laborous ascent. Hand over wobbly hand, he climbed up the back of the building using anything he could get a hold on. Yuffie silently looked on, amused. Reno continued on, oblivious to his observer.

It wasn't until Reno had reached the point between her window and the Turks' that Yuffie made her presence known.

"Just waddaya think you're doing trying to climb into my window?! You Turks really are naughty!" Yuffie's playful accusation was followed by a slap on the hand with the same nature. Fortunately for Reno, he was too drunk to feel it, otherwise he might've lost his grip.

"... I'n trigna ta fin um pliss teepee..." [1] He was obviously more drunk than Yuffie had thought. He might need some help.

Yuffie questioned the drunkard as she reached an arm down to help him in through the window. "What about a teepee?"

After getting to his feet (after falling with his face to the floor - he was heavier than he looked), Reno searched the room with confusion streaked across his face. "Whada mu huts?" [2]

"Ummm, riiight... I just thought it might be easier to walk to your room. You know, through the hallway, instead of climbing up a wall?"

Reno attempted no slurred response, but headed towards the door. He still wasn't sure who this troll was, or why it wanted to help him, but something in him told him to trust this strange, small creature. But, what was more confusing to him was the color of the trolls hair. Weren't trolls supposed to have brightly colored hair? This little one only had plain black, and it was pretty short too. Maybe it's an undercover troll...

As he opened the door, Reno turned back to his helpful troll and gave it a good whack on the backside. Trolls like that kind of thing, right?

Yuffie stifled a screech as her rear was defiled by the drunken Reno's hand. OH MY GAWD!!!!! As Reno stumbled away, Yuffie convinced herself that he was just drunk. Although, it would be nice. He is awfully cute, in a sick twisted I'm-A-Mean-Bastard sort of way...

She couldn't wait to tell Tifa...

[1]"... I'n trigna ta fin um pliss teepee..." = I'm trying to find a place to pee.

[2]"Whada mu huts?" = Where's my house?

A/N: Finally done!! YESSSS!!! I even skipped my Crime in America class today to finish this shizot off. Such a weight has been lifted. I hope I still remember what I had in store for the next chapter. Apologies for the wait and if some of this is kind of awkward, it's taken me so long to write, there's a very slim chance that I'm gonna have the patience to edit it. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE Review. Pretty please? It makes me happy!