The Way Out
The next morning, Tifa woke to find Vincent gone and the door open. Two large packs were full to the brim with flare wands and food. Before she could so much as call, he was there. He tossed her a set of clothes. "I know you'll probably want to get out of that dress so I brought you a pair of boots and some army clothes that should fit. Can you be ready in an hour?"
Tifa nodded and gathered up the clothes. She walked over to the bathroom and turned on the faucet. Thirty minuets later she came out cold but clean and dressed in a pair of loose army pants, a black tank, and black boots that came up to her knees. Her hair had been brushed and pulled back using Vincent's head wrap. She noticed that Vincent was now wearing a black tank that was similar to her own. It was very tight across his abdomen and chest, showing off the lean muscle she had noticed once before. He had his cape draped over his shoulders, adding a stark contrast to pale skin of his arms.
Vincent was intensely studying the map that showed the way out. He hadn't even noticed Tifa was there until he felt her tap his shoulder. He looked up to find her smiling down at him. "You ready?"
Tifa nodded before adding, "Vincent, is there a pair of scissors somewhere? I can't fight in these pants, they don't allow enough movement." Vincent nodded and got up. He pulled a pair out of a drawer and handed them to her. She stared at them a moment and then looked down at her legs. "Not to be a pain but, do you think you possibly cut them for me?" Vincent's breath caught in his chest at the thought of performing such an intimate task but took the scissors anyway. Holding them at about mid thigh he asked, "Is this the right length?"
Tifa frowned and went up about two inches. She preferred fighting in as little clothing as possible so that the enemy had less of a grab. "Right about there."
Vincent was shocked at the length she had shown but set his scissors to work. In less than five minuets the task was done and Tifa was practicing her kicks and combos. When Vincent returned from putting away the scissors, walked up behind Tifa and tapped her. Tifa swung around with her fist and would have shattered his jaw if he hadn't caught her hand. Eyes wide with shock at what she had almost done Tifa exclaimed, "Oh, I'm sorry! Are you alright? If you hadn't caught my hand...hey, how did you catch my hand?"
Vincent let her hands down and massaged his own gently. Her punch had still stung, even if he was almost completely immune to pain. "Hojo enhanced my reflexes. Remember that he wanted the perfect fighting machine, not a wimp."
At the unwelcome memory of the scientist Vincent's jaw hardened and his eyes burned a crimson red. Tifa was suddenly overcome with grief and before she could stop herself, her hand was touching his jaw, tracing it down to his lips.
Vincent stood absolutely still. Never had he been touched like that by any except Lucretia. He lifted his metal hand and stopped her hands before they could reach the corners of his mouth. Tifa's cheeks became stained light pink from embarrassment and she dropped her gaze to her boot. He squeezed gently before letting her hand drop. "Grab your stuff, we should be going." They got their packs and made their way towards the door, but Vincent stopped and turned around to face her. "When we get out, I won't know where we'll be." Tifa looked up and smiled. "That's alright; I know we'll find the way out somehow. Besides, it's not like we don't have enough food to last us several months." Vincent stared at her cheery and optimistic face for a moment, drinking in all of her sweetness. A question had been nagging at him for some time; why not stay here with Tifa? The two of them could live comfortably in one of the abandoned airships. But somewhere deep inside his psyche he knew Tifa wouldn't want to live in a dark hole, she was a creature of life and sunlight, the opposite of him. At Tifa's self-conscience squirm Vincent realized he'd been staring. Without as much as a shrug he turned on his heel and walked out the door.
They made it through the big room without causing any trouble, stopping occasionally to pick up cure materia that had been scattered from the earthquakes. After about five more minutes of walking, they came to the entrance to the tunnels. Tifa looked at Vincent apprehensively but he was too busy studding the map. "This is the correct one. If we enter here, we should be able to get out relatively close to Junon. The tunnel goes under the river and I didn't see any crevices there to block our way."
Tifa tried to smile but found she was failing. She was a little afraid of leaving this secure little haven she and Vincent had found. Once the two of them were free she didn't know where she would go. Cloud didn't love her, no matter how much she wished he did, and she didn't want to impose on Barret when he would be busy rebuilding Corel. At least here she had Vincent, but she didn't expect him to stick around once they were free either.
Vincent noticed Tifa's sad smile became slightly annoyed but more concerned. She always seemed so sad, even when she did her best to smile. Vincent knew that it probably had something to do with Cloud. That blond haired idiot was always causing Tifa pain and worry. If only Cloud knew how lucky he was to have such a wonderful person like Tifa caring for him. Every time Cloud ignored her gentle fussing Vincent wanted to smash his face into a wall. Softly, so as not to startle her, Vincent said, "Tifa..."
Tifa lifted her chin and smiled, but her smile faltered at the concern she could see on his usually unreadable face. She always got the feeling that when she smiled Vincent could tell if it genuine or just a way of covering her true feelings from the others. "Tifa, why is it that you're always so sad?"
Tifa gave one last attempt at smiling before her face crumbled. She would not cry; tears showed weakness. She would not...cry. A single tear slid down her cheek and fell to the floor. Tifa broke like a dam; tears and emotions flowing from her usually happy facade. "...because I am always so afraid of being left behind. I can smash a man to bits and block every move that the best martial artist could throw at me but I'm scared to death of being left alone. I don't want to be alone again."
Vincent stepped closer to her and wrapped his arms around her shoulders. She began crying even harder. What's wrong with you? You're supposed to be the tough one, remember? Tifa stopped and just gulped down breaths, trying to calm herself. She was strong and if she were left alone again she would find others. At that thought she began kneading her fingers into the softness of his cape; she could and would find others. Vincent continued to hold her, muttering the occasional reassurance that was so unlike him.
After a few moments, she pulled away and patted Vincent on the arm. She had the feeling he knew that meant thank-you. Grabbing the map from him, she studied it quietly before starting off down the tunnel. Vincent followed, pondering the sudden break down that had ended as suddenly as it started. But Vincent had made his previous life off of reading others and he knew that Tifa wouldn't want him fussing over her.
Five hours later they were still wandering when Tifa sat down and laid her head against the wall. A cold fresh breeze was blowing through the tunnel causing Tifa to shiver. After a moment, Vincent sat next to her. Hesitantly he gathered her closer to him and wrapped his cloak around her shoulders. Tifa burrowed into his side and said, "Vincent, we're about three hours away from the exit but all I want is to sleep."
Vincent let out a rare laugh before patting her hand and leaning his head back into the stone wall. They had been trekking around for three hours and a good nap didn't seem like such a bad idea. "We can take a break. Will two hours be enough?"
Tifa mumbled a yes before snuggling closer. Within moments she was asleep. She looked so peaceful and innocent in her sleep, not at all like the woman he had seen break through a solid rock wall with one kick. Vincent checked one more time to make sure she was asleep before nodding off himself.
The sound of fire crackling around her brought Tifa to a painful awakening. She knew she was being carried but had no idea who was doing it or why. Looking around her she found she was in an old mansion, probably the one on the out skirts of town.
Suddenly, she felt something solid underneath her, a bed perhaps? Just before she nodded off to sleep, she heard a deep and soothing voice coxing her to lift her arms, it was the last thing she was able to do before darkness swirled around her.
Light pressed at her eyes as she awoke. She was bound from her ribcage down to her waist in gauze and was wearing a white hospital gown. Zanagan, her trainer, was standing in the corner talking a huge black man with a metal arm. "...Barret, take care of her. She means the world to me."
Tifa's eyes opened slowly. She had forgotten that memory from that night so long ago but now remembered it with clarity. The old question nagged her mind once again; who had cared for her? She had always assumed it had been Cloud but thinking back on the event Cloud was considerably shorter than that. Shoving the memory to the back of her mind, Tifa tried to sit up only to find that she couldn't. Her eyes looked down at her waist and saw Vincent's metallic arm drapped over the gentle curve of her hips. Sighing, she gently shook Vincent, trying to wake him. Instead, he mumbled something incoherent and tightened his grip on her. The grip wasn't hurting her, but it was causing her to press her chest into his. She tried adjusting herself only to find that she was even closer than before. Tifa was in a bind now. Nice job, now he's going to wake up and think you're making a move on him. She briefly wondered how he would react before turning back to the matter at hand. She decided to call his name. "Vincent..." Once again he mumbled but still nothing coherent came out. She tried again, a little louder. "Vincent?" This time he rolled towards her and dragged her onto his lap. Now Tifa was really in trouble. Carefully, she tried to wiggle from his grasp but that only caused Vincent to lift her closer. It was then she heard two words that made her freeze. "...Tifa...love..." She lay stock still and just stared at the bottom of his chin. She reached a finger up to touch his lips, but thought better of it. She just continued to stare until she noticed that he was gathering her to him. His lips were slightly parted as Tifa watched in utter amazement. With the force of a butterfly, he leaned placed his lips upon her own.
Tifa was too shocked to do anything. He began to deepen the kiss and Tifa's defenses melted. She opened her mouth slightly but soon found it being opened more by Vincent's persistent tongue. She felt herself grow warm and an aching began to develop in her stomach. Her arms came up and encircled his neck, pressing him closer to her.
Vincent was now fully awake and fully aroused. His strong arms encircled her and lifted her towards him. With all the ease of lifting a feather he gathered her up and laid her down on the floor, not once breaking their kiss. With agonizing slowness he began to move down her chin to her neck. He lifted her head up and tilted back her head so that he would have better access to her neck. His quick and clever tongue pressed lightly against her pulse and she cried out in pleasure. Her hands were full of his silky black hair; tugging at it to get him back to her mouth.
Tifa was no virgin, but never had one kiss done this to her. Her mind raced and her pulse beat with amazing fervor. Vincent was inching his way back up until at last he claimed her lips. Tifa bucked underneath him as he brought his hand up to cup her breast. In a half moan half sob Tifa cried out, "Vincent!"
Her cry seemed to break his trance for he suddenly stopped. Tifa's labored breathing was the only thing audible as she stared at him with utter fascination. Vincent was looking down at her in shock. Why hadn't she stopped him? Unless she wanted him to... Yeah right, that'll ever happen.
While Vincent was still musing her actions, Tifa reached her hand up and traced his jaw line. Immediately he looked back at her. Lifting herself off the floor she pressed her lips against his chin and then moved down, kissing his neck and eventually his collarbone. Vincent groaned in pleasure and flopped over, bringing her with him. Tifa was bent on the task of driving him insane. Her little hands reached down to the bottom of his shirt and began tugging upwards. Vincent dug his hands into her hair, careful not to scratch her in any way.
When the shirt was up enough to satisfy Tifa, she lowered her head to his flat stomach and began kissing and licking at his naval; making tantalizing slow circles with her mouth. Vincent arched slightly and let out a low growl. Tifa began to unbuckle his pants, one buckle at a time. Vincent rolled over, trapping her hands there. "You got to see my chest, I get to see yours."
Tifa's eyes widened at Vincent's bold statement but soon began to giggle when he pressed his lips against neck. Her giggle quickly turned to a purr as he began lifting her shirt up. His metal arm was so cold against her skin that she gasped when it brushed against her inflamed skin. Her hands ached from want to touch him, to feel him, but still he tortured her and held them there. Unable to touch him with her hands she wrapped a leg around him and arched upwards, rubbing against him like a cat.
Vincent finally had her shirt up all the way. Shifting slightly he released his hold on her hands and lifted her arms above her head, taking the shirt with it. He felt his blood quicken when he looked down at the only barrier left. Reaching around her, he unclasped the bra and slid it off. Tifa was frozen in horror. How could she have forgotten about her scar? Would he find it ugly? Thoughts rolled over in her head until she realized that Vincent was just staring down at her. She looked up with wide eyes for a brief moment before he lowered his head to the thin scar that lay between her breasts. Tifa gasped when his tongue flicked over it, shocked that he could make her feel so with just one touch of his tounge. With tantalizing slowness, he eased down her scar and then back up again, moving to her right breast and then her left. Tifa was now writhing beneath him, moaning and digging her hands into his back. Vincent claimed her mouth again and began unbuckling her shorts. Tifa started undoing his pants as well but was also pressing her hips against his own. Finally, both succeeded in their original task. Vincent gave one tug and her shorts were off, but Tifa had some trouble. Laughing, Vincent stood up, taking her with him and allowed her to pull off his pants. Kicking both articles of clothing aside, Vincent took hold of Tifa's panties and began sliding them down her legs. Tifa's eyes were wide with pleasure and her head was leaned back. Vincent pressed his lips against her chest as he freed her of the lacey cloth. Tifa felt bare, but her self conscience melted as he placed her hands on the edges of his boxers. His eyes bore into hers as he began to move her hands down, dragging his boxers with it. Tifa arched her face upward and planted a kiss on his parted lips. That small kiss almost killed Vincent. Hastily kicking off his boxers, he lowered her again and began massaging her breasts. His lips nearly devoured her own as his passion mounted. Tifa recognized that Vincent was getting faster. Trying to keep up, she moved her hands down his back slowly. Vincent let out a low, throaty growl and moved his hands up to her hair. Her skillful hands worked their way downwards, moving inward as they went. Her hands brushed up against his manhood and her eyes widened. He's huge! Did I really cause that? Vincent was pleased by her shock at his size. In a low, barely audible voice he said, "Gods Tifa, you're so beautiful."
He then grasped her hands and planted a kiss on her palm. Tifa watched with wide eyes as Vincent leaned down and claimed her lips. He then rose back up, no more than a foot from her face. Clasping her hips, he lifted them slightly before entering her.
Tifa gasped and grabbed his shoulders. Vincent lowered himself slowly, giving her time to adjust. Her eyes had turned a liquid burgundy and her swollen lips parted in shock and pleasure. Vincent just held himself there, enthralled at her beauty.
Finally he began thrusting, burying his face in her hair as he did so. Soon their bodies met in rhythm. His thrusts became faster and faster until Tifa thought she would be driven mad. With a groan from him and a desperate "Vincent!" He poured himself inside her.
Tifa let out a shaky sigh before entwining her hands in his hair and falling asleep. Vincent gave one last thrust before collapsing on top of her, to weak or content to move.