Short again… but they seem longer on the computer. ^^; Enjoy as always!
*Did you see her face when you said that? I honestly thought that she was going to slug you one, Valentine!* Chaos snickered.
It's for the best. For her, and me as well. This way, I can't hurt her. One side of Vincent argued as he lay there, staring at the ceiling. The other disagreed.
But maybe you are hurting her by avoiding her? She said that she loved you before, so this would just hurt her more!
This way she will be safe.
She doesn't want to be safe. She wants to be loved.
It is better that she is alive and not loved by a monster then otherwise!
But without love, there is nothing for her to live for. She might as well be dead. She wants your love, monster or not. She already implied that when she told you that she loved you. She wouldn't tell you if she didn't want your love back. Get a brain.
Vincent sighed. This argument wasn't going anywhere. He couldn't deny the feelings any longer.
It had been what he had been both hoping and dreading when he was in the library. He didn't want her hurt. He wanted to care for her, even if he couldn't. He… loved her.
It would at least partially explain why he had been so emotional when he saw Tifa again. He had been acting like a depressed teenager, for crying out loud. Why would Tifa say that she loved me? She had Cloud, didn't she? I thought they were happy together. But she told me that she loved me, she even stopped Cloud from killing me that other night, so I can hardly doubt her sincerity…
*Which leaves one thing to doubt, my dear Vincent,* Chaos intervened. He nodded, not protesting against the somewhat derogatory way the demon had recently been using to address him.
Me.
"I've made a decision," Vincent announced out aloud to the skulls, skeletons and other coffins scattered across the room. "I'm going to tell Tifa the truth and then go,"
*Over Lucrecia?* Chaos asked, almost sounding surprised.
Never 'over' Lucrecia. Perhaps just moving on. I still carry the burden of my sin against her, Chaos. You know that as well as I. But I have eternity to spend atoning. It is better for me to make that less of a misery as much as I am able to myself. Tifa has made me see that.
*Never thought I'd hear you say that,* the demon muttered, before withdrawing. Vincent couldn't sense it anywhere. Although he was still wary, an unknown feeling began to spread through him, little by little, like the effects of spilling red wine on a white cloth. He nimbly jumped out of the coffin before running up the spiral pathway, down the grand staircase and out of the mansion, pushing the gate open.
Now, where would she be? He thought to himself. Didn't she use to live here or something? He shrugged, deciding that it would be easier to ask at the inn. If she lived in Nibelheim, they would know. He knew enough about the town to say that, at least.
The innkeeper gave him a startled look as he entered. He sighed softly. What with his somewhat unruly appearance, he wasn't the most inviting of people, looks and demeanor. He went up to the counter, efficiently hiding the golden claw under his coat.
"Would you know a Miss Tifa Lockheart, sir?"
The innkeeper thought about it, before suddenly clicking his fingers.
"She just came in. Do you want to speak to her?" He nodded. "She's in the room closest to the door up the stairs. Can't miss it,"
"Thank-you, sir," he said softly, before walking up the stairs and pausing, taking a deep breath, before knocking tentatively on the wooden door.
