A New Understanding

By Kimetara

5th Interlude

Disclaimer: Nope, FFVII still isn't owned by me...

          Tifa frowned as she watched Vincent. 

          For a while, she thought he'd been lightening up a bit...well, since they had that conversation.  She was rather surprised Vincent had taken the time to listen to her observations and ideas on life...nobody else seemed to.

          But at any rate...since then, he seemed to be less...distant.  Just a little, but still, it was something.  However, since that battle with Hojo...he seemed to draw away again.  Tifa couldn't understand it.  She would have thought defeating Hojo would have brought Vincent further out, not increase his aloofness.

          He had seemed so resolute on going...

*****

          "Alright, it'll be me, Tifa, and...Cid," Cloud determined.  "We'll go on to battle; the rest of you stay here and keep watch."  *Incase we fail.*  The implied words hung in the air.  If they failed, then...that'd be that, all the materia would be gone, and without a doubt, the rest of AVALANCHE would be wiped out by the monsters.  But they couldn't allow themselves to think of that.

          Tifa felt a little thrill go through her – both at the thought of the upcoming battle, and at Cloud choosing her for this crucial moment.  Of course, it was only logical – she had been fighting the longest of the entire team besides Cloud, since Cloud learned early on choosing Barret would only bring him a large headache.  Still...  She couldn't help but analyze the decision.

          The chosen three turned to ascend the stairs, tension radiating throughout the entire group.  Cloud had barely placed his foot on the first step, however, before a cold voice stopped them.

          "No."

          Tifa turned, surprised.  Lately, it had been a rarer and rarer occurrence of a member of the team challenging Cloud, though at the beginning, there had been no end to Barret's second-guessing.  Nonetheless, never by Vincent...

          And yet...Tifa remembered, vaguely, the first time they had found Vincent.  He had been interested in whether they would fight Hojo...

          "I am going as well," Vincent clarified at Cloud's puzzled expression.

          Cloud blinked.  "But..."

          "I am going."  He didn't speak particularly determinedly, but there was something in his tone that simply didn't allow argument.

          "...okay then," Cloud spoke decisively, realizing the futileness of arguing.  "Cid, Vincent, exchange materia."

          As Cid and Vincent exchanged, not without some lovely adjectives by Cid, Tifa tried to remember whether Vincent had ever mentioned anything about Hojo that would make him so set on fighting the mad scientist.

          Wasn't Hojo the one that had locked Vincent in that basement...?  Tifa winced inwardly.  It some crazy psycho had locked her in a coffin, she'd be pretty determined to teach him a lesson too.

          Still...if her memory served her right, Vincent hadn't seemed very upset about waking up in a coffin...in fact, he'd asked them to leave him there, to "let him sleep"...

          "Ready."  A detached voice, with a surprisingly audible trace of grimness, interrupted her thoughts.

          Cloud nodded.  "Let's go."  The trio turned to climb the stairs, Tifa glancing furtively at Vincent the entire way.

          He was such an enigma...

*****

          Tifa absentmindly tucked a nonexistent strand of hair behind her ear.  He had said something after Hojo's nonsensical rambling...something about it was Hojo who needed to sleep?  What did that mean?

          And yet...when he said it...he seemed so...  Tifa couldn't find the word to describe it.  He had become so terribly intense, so many powerful emotions had churned on his normally emotionless countenance...

          The brunette sighed.  There was no use in asking Vincent about him...especially after what she'd said at Turtle's Paradise.  She sighed, a bit guiltily.  She didn't regret what she'd said – goodness knows, somebody needed to give him a bit of a reality check – but she didn't have to be so harsh.

          Tifa glanced back over at Vincent, brooding in the corner.  She had to do something...he'd kill himself if he went on like that, emotionally if not physically.

          With a resolute straightening of shoulders, Tifa stood and walked toward Vincent.

          "Vincent?" Tifa asked hesitantly.

          He looked at her, waiting.

          "Are you...okay...?"  Stupid question, but she couldn't think of anything else to say.

          "I am as I always am."

          "Oh..."  Tifa frowned, at a loss of words.  She felt like just retreating and letting him wallow in whatever he was wallowing in, but her care for her friend wouldn't allow her to do so.  "Uh...so...do you know what Hojo was talking about back there?  I can't figure any of it out, but maybe something he said could help us find Sephiroth," she added hurriedly to her question.  It was true, just not the real reason she asked.

          "...it is none of your concern, and no help to you."

          "To you?"  Tifa's brows furrowed.  "To us."

          Vincent shrugged.

          "Vincent, you know you're one of us, right?" Tifa pressed.

          "..."

          "You know we'd be willing to help you out with anything.  Even if it was just listening..." Tifa trailed off.  She figured there really wasn't any way she could get much blunter than that without straight out telling him.

          Vincent sighed.  Tifa was surprised by this little bit of emotion Vincent had revealed – he always seemed so calm and reserved.  Just this hint of him being tired was enough to throw Tifa off.

          "Thank you, Tifa.  But it is something I must come to terms with alone."

          "Come to terms with...?"

          "Yes.  I have committed a great sin, and although Hojo's words slightly lessened the burden, it still holds me with unbreakable bonds."  He look away from her.

          "I see..." Tifa murmured.  "What...?"

          "Lucrecia," was his answer, the word softened by a lost emotion.  His eyes were distant, focused on something far behind her.  Tifa quietly took her leave.

AN: Hey all.  It's been a long, long while, huh?  Well, surprisingly enough I've managed to get some time and inspiration to take up writing again.  This series/prequel should be wrapped up in one more interlude, and I think "Red roses mean love" (originally "Waves of Pain") will be done in a few more chapters.  Please review!