Why did she do it? Just to save… a monster…? He still couldn't comprehend it. He had known, however, that Cloud had never liked his transformations, but this was the first time he had actively verbalised it. Or is there some other reason that she said what she did that I don't understand? She is the one that doesn't understand… I did deserve to die. Humans… I thought, no, I swore that I would never take another human life unless necessary, so much for that…
*Ah, dear Vincent. There's no better time to take life then now. Can't you imagine that young woman? So beautiful, yet she would be even more beautiful in death… those claret eyes wide open with fear, blood running down her face, her dishevelled hair matted with crimson blood… that pretty body covered in cuts, lacerations and most importantly… blood… beautiful crimson blood…*
"No. I won't let it happen," he whispered to himself, the words being caught by the wind. Unfortunately, Tifa heard.
"Won't let what happen?" she asked. He remained silent, not trusting his voice to remain steady or his mouth itself to say what it wanted to. After a few moments, she gave a short sniff. He looked up at the brunette. She was crying, tears running down her pale cheeks. "Cloud. And I had just thought that I was beginning to know you again. What happened? Why did we have to end this way?"
This was just another sin to add to the ever-growing list. Those from so long ago. Killing more humans, taking more life. Destroying one woman's happiness with the betrayal, or perhaps just disagreement in morality and unrighteousness about a monster. A monster that didn't deserve to live after the pain he had caused. All his life he had caused everybody around him pain. Cloud was right, no matter how hard it was agreeing, how it surfaced emotions which had been previously buried.
*Nothing like being self-centred, is there?* Chaos cut in. The raven-haired man ducked his head, unwilling or perhaps simply unable to comprehend the extensities of his actions. He could feel that the tranquilizer's effects had begun to wear off. He shifted onto his knees before getting slowly to his feet, and managed to stay upright.
Tifa… even the monster that I am, I don't want to see you hurt, I- the dark man's thoughts broke off as he suddenly realised something. Chaos seemed to realise it as well. *How far would you go to see her not hurt, Vincent?* the beast asked coolly. Vincent knew that if the demon was currently a physical entity that he was holding conversation with, he would be smirking.
Simply to make sure that no harm comes to her, nothing more…
He remembered his harsh words to her. I cannot love you. He remembered her stricken eyes, her rushed apology, her instant mask. He hadn't believed it at the time, simply thinking that she was being foolish.
He also remembered when she looked after him when he fell ill, even after his protests, she still looked after him; let him into her home after he had managed to get imprudently inebriated. He remembered her happy smile as his health improved; he remembered everything, even though he didn't want to.
Lucrecia… Tifa… he could see so many similarities, yet so many differences. Tifa was a fighter. Lucrecia was, to some extent at least. He had already failed Lucrecia. Perhaps Tifa could almost be redemption? No… it was foolish to even consider the thought. He couldn't just use another person for his own atonement. That was wrong. He was wrong. Everything was wrong.
He could never put into words how sorry he was that because of him, her relationship had ended in such a disaster. He knew himself well enough to say that he could never actually summon the courage, or perhaps cowardice to speak those words.
She was a beautiful person, now that he thought about it. He had thought that distantly when he was sick, and still agreed with it. If he wasn't the person he was, he probably would have let himself get closer, maybe even to a romantic level, if what she had said was true. But he wasn't anybody else, and he just couldn't do it.
But… she would always touch him. Same with Lucrecia, really. They would both hold a place in his heart… if they could find it under the death and bloodshed, of course.
*What happened to Lucrecia? Giving her the flick for Tifa? So much for always loving her…* Chaos interrupted, letting his statement trail off suggestively. Vincent flinched, all his control going out the window once more. What about Lucrecia? The one who he had kept on living for all this time… just being flicked away in an instant?
At this moment in time, Vincent Valentine was feeling an emotion he would rather have not experienced, and as opposed to the usual depressed feeling, he was feeling something else. Confusion.
"Vincent, are you alright?" Tifa's voice was soft, gentle. He turned to her, and with a slight incline of his head nodded, the cool exterior making its face shown once again. I must go, now. There's no point in staying here. There's no way that I can. She asked him some more questions, which he simply ignored, before turning to go back to Kalm. Buy a few supplies and I will be on my way, away from this nightmare of a town for good. I can't stay here. There's no turning back now.
Turning on his heel, he left to walk back, leaving a stunned Tifa behind.
Hmm… an interesting turn of events, shall we say?
I know it was a lame pun. I'm sorry.
Really.
