The beginnings and endings of life
Mind and soul, heart and body…
All come into conflict.
Genesis
Parting Ways and an Invitation
by Jess Angel
2
The three-day party at the Gold Saucer had come to an end. Though AVALANCHE would go their separate ways, their hearts would forever celebrate the victory they had achieved together.
Well, there was only one person left. Ruby eyes drifted to a familiar tall and dark figure. Everyone else's future plans were safely filed and stored away into her brain's memory bank. All plans, but… his.
Tifa wondered idly if she purposely avoided speaking with him until the last minute. After their late night 'escapade' at the Gold Saucer, she had come to believe that she had attained a somewhat comfortable and an even minutely closer friendship with the former Turk. But instead, Vincent had converted to further aloofness, while still maintaining his polite (though distant) air.
He seemed to flee her very presence - which was a preposterous thought, especially to Tifa, considering Vincent wasn't the type to flee from, well, anything. It was probably because he was preparing to return to that miserable coffin down in the Shinra Mansion. She couldn't understand why anyone would want to do that to themselves. But again, this was Vincent. And she wasn't about to stand by and let him literally sleep himself into an early grave a second time around. As less human as he thought himself to be, he was still that.
Human.
Tifa wasn't about to leave Vincent to himself; she had no doubt that's what he wanted. Tifa had at least Cloud with her, but he had no one. She was determined he would have friends in the both of them. In turn, she would also have another friend at her side.
Now, she just had to think of an approach. What he needed was something to keep him busy. She had just the thing too. But what could she say that would convince him to accompany her and Cloud? It had to be something that made perfect sense. Logic that would leave no room for argument in his mind…
Aha! That was it!
Tifa slowly approached the leaning form of Vincent Valentine. They had all been waiting for the remaining members of AVALANCHE outside the entrance of the Gold Saucer. It seemed Yuffie and Cait Sith had lost track of time. Tifa tugged nervously at the Premium Heart on her knuckles. It was now or never.
"Hey, Vincent."
He acknowledged her with his red eyes.
"I was just wondering, um, what're you going to be up to after this? I've been talking to everyone, finding out their plans and everything. So… how about you?" The brunette tucked a strand of untied hair behind her ear, waiting for his response.
Vincent paused, seeming to decide whether to tell her or not.
He decided he wasn't going to conceal the fact. "I shall rest where I belong."
Well, he had confirmed her fears. Back to the coffin it was. She frowned at him in displeasure. "You can't do that."
He arched a dark eyebrow. "And why not?"
Who was she to stop him?
A blush graced her cheeks. "What I mean is… why don't you come to Neo-Midgar? …You aren't doing anyone any good by wasting away back in Nibelheim." She inwardly cringed at the candid line, but still continued. "People need our help. There are so many things that have to be done. Rebuilding isn't going to be easy, and they're going to need all the help they can get."
He appeared to take her words in, contemplating carefully the truth set out before him.
Tifa could just about see the wheels in his head turning. Oh my, how perfect! Now I can physically drain myself to the point of exhaustion by aiding others, therefore suffering and atoning for my sins at the same time. Yipee! She did a silent impression of his inner thoughts. Leave it to Vince to twist in suffering and atonement into every aspect possible.
"…Cloud does not mind?"
That was a bit unexpected.
She gave him a funny look. "Of course, Cloud doesn't mind! Why would he mind?" Her eyes and voice were hopeful, "So does this mean you'll come?"
There was that recurring silence. But Tifa wasn't about to move an inch until she got her answer. She'd give him all the time in the world. Lucky for her, it didn't take that long.
He sighed. "I will come."
She smiled up at him pleased. "Well, all right then."
The martial artist then skipped off to tell Cloud the good news.
"What?" He wasn't sure he had heard her right.
"Vincent's coming with us to Neo-Midgar. I had a feeling he'd go creeping back to that old stuffy coffin, and when I found out it was true, I couldn't just let him do that to himself! He feels he has no purpose but to suffer, Cloud. Helping the new city, it may give him a new purpose for living too."
Cloud's Mako blue eyes gleamed in admiration. This was the Tifa he knew. Always worrying about others. If this made her happy and helped their comrade, then he was all for it. "I guess you're right, Tif. It'll be good for him," he nodded.
She knew he'd understand.
Tifa spotted the young ninja and stuffed animal emerging from the front entrance of the Gold Saucer. "Looks like they've finally made it. It's about time we get going."
He noticed too and addressed the group. "Let's mosey!"
"Oh $#!, Cloud! Quit with the $#!# 'mosey' already!" Cid yelled, livid.
The spiky-haired blond looked at him sheepishly. "Sorry."
Yuffie snickered.
The pilot turned to Tifa. "'Scuse me, Tif'. It just gets on my last godda- last nerves."
She chuckled. "That's okay, Cid… I know what you mean."
He grinned back in reply.
Yes, she was really going to miss everyone.
Author's Note: Countless thanks to those reading and reviewing. It fuels me to continue writing. If you were lost on what Tifa and Vincent's Gold Saucer 'escapade' was, it means that you haven't read my one-shot/prequel to this story called "Blood Thirst." References may continue in future chapters, so I suggest you read it. Special thanks goes to DarkAngel for her input.
