AN: Finally an update... damn work takes over my life tut! Anyway enjoy! The plot begins to thicken and sets itself up for a major outburst in Chapt 3. You'll be hearing from me soon xx
Disclaimer: I own nothing in this story, except for most of the plot and the crazy things I get these wonderful characters to say!
Chapter 2: You Come Here Often?
Another night of nightmares. Another night of awakening in a cold sweat and in a foreign place. Another night of hearing a haunting melody echoing through the corridors of the Rocket Town Inn. A feeling of deja-vou passed over Tifa for a second, and then once again as she slipped on her robe and wondered down the same corridor to the same room she first wondered to a week ago, and every night since then. Silently as she could, Tifa opened the door and slid into the warm room.
"Another restless night I see, Miss Lockheart," It was more of a statement rather than a question. His voice was smooth and completely emotionless, even though Tifa could swear that she had heard a small chuckle in his voice as he greeted her.
"Yeah, I guess so," she replied, chuckling herself at her next response." I also guess that the same applies to you too, Mr Valentine!" His name slid easily off her tongue, and she smirked as she walked slowly over to Vincent who was seated at the piano. She had noticed that Vincent no longer wore his cloak, as he had not wore it for the past two nights either. Inside she was beaming as she remembered the first night she saw him without it on. She was astonished at how handsome he was. She remembered telling him that, it's funny, the things that people say because of lack of sleep sometimes mean nothing, but she meant every word of that. A grin stretched across her face at that moment. Could it be that he no longer wore his cloak because of me? Nah!
"Is it alright if I join you, I know this one?" she asked as she carefully perched herself next to him on the bench.
"Of course," his silky voice replied. He watched as she placed her nimble fingers over the keys; her soft strokes echoed the ones that Vincent played.
"You're quite good at this," Vincent observed.
"Only quite!?" asked Tifa, glancing up to see a smirk on his face. "My mother taught me to play, before she died that is. I haven't played since then."
"It's amazing isn't it? They're really are things that you cannot forget," whispered Vincent. At the same time, the couple took their hands away from the piano keys and placed them on their laps. "Why are you here again Miss Lockheart?" he asked, looking deep into her eyes as if trying to read her like a book.
"I couldn't sleep again," she answered, "I keep having the same dream, the one I told you about last time, about Sephiroth, where he succeeds in his plans. Only this time we help him. Cloud, in particular, fights against me… and so do you"
"Me?" enquired Vincent, quickly hiding his surprised expression.
"Yes," replied Tifa, "I know it's stupid and it is just a dream but… ah, never mind."
"But what?" he asked, "You can tell me, Tifa."
Did he just call me Tifa? she thought. With that, she looked up at him and continued. "It sounds silly," she laughed, "I feel as though I'm losing all of you, and I'm scared that I might, I mean if we don't succeed…"
"I told you before, we will succeed. We have to," interrupted Vincent.
"And then what? We'll all split up, get back to our lives, and what? I've become close to all of you, even the cool-headed Mr Valentine," she chuckled. This made Vincent's eyes widen slightly and he looked away to hide the smile that was beginning to appear on his ashen face. "I think what I'm trying to say is that I have nothing to go back to. My bar was destroyed, my hometown is a lie, and then there's…"
"Cloud," said Vincent, finished Tifa's sentence for her.
"Yeah," she sighed. "He will never feel for me what I feel for him will he?" She looked up again at Vincent, her eyes were beginning to water and she was taking in deep breaths.
In answer to her question Vincent replied, "These things take time." He carefully stood up from the piano bench and slowly walked over to the leather chair in the middle of the room, at the same time elaborating his response. "He has a lot on his mind at the moment."
"I know," she sighed. Tifa watched him as he strolled across the room; her burgundy eyes watched his every move. She watched how he gracefully shifted his body weight; so silent, and they way in which his ebony hair flowed behind him.
"You are having doubts?" he enquired even though he already knew the answer. "You are afraid that you will lose him to Sephiroth, or even worse, lose him because of your feelings. That is why he fights against you in your dreams, is it not?" His red eyed stared straight into hers. He had hit it in one.
"I never thought about it like that," she whispered. Everything was now so clear to her.
"Tifa, why do you fight? Is it to be with Cloud? You already said yourself that you have nothing else left," asked Vincent. His eyes remained on her face. Tifa felt slightly embarrassed of being in the spotlight all of a sudden, answering all of these personal questions to a man who she still knew nothing about, but yet, she answered anyway hoping for a chance to get him to open up a little more. It would do him good.
"It was at first, but now I think I fight for the sake of it. To be apart of a group again, like I was when Avalanche first began. I guess that I don't want to be alone in the end you know, it the worst ever does happen." Tifa now felt a bit better. The whole 'being honest with yourself' thing really does work. She sighed with relief and thought, now's my chance… ask him something. With that thought, she took a deep breath and asked, "Why do you fight? I get the reasons why all of the others fight, except you"
"I'm here because I choose to be," he simply said.
"Aww come on Vincent, there's more to it than that. There's got to be," whined Tifa, "I've told you about my life up to yet, about Sephiroth and why I'm here. I think it's only fair you do the same." Whilst she was lecturing Vincent, she leapt up from the piano bench and jumped onto the sofa.
"There is nothing to tell," replied Vincent, keeping his expression as serious as he could. He was unable to do this, however, after the show that Tifa had just performed, so a little smile crept through the mask. She had acted just like a child; curious and innocent. Quite a change after what had been said earlier.
With a grin on her face as well and a slight redness to her cheeks she asked, "Do you have any family around or anybody you knew from… before?" The smile on her face soon faded as she tried to imagine what Vincent's life must have been like before.
The smile quickly vanished from Vincent's face also. It had now been replaced by his expressionless mask, but before that, Tifa could have swore she saw a hint of something… sadness perhaps.
"No," replied Vincent harshly, and after much hesitation. His eyes had wondered the room before he answered.
"Then why? You've got your revenge," asked Tifa. Her tone was also very serious now.
"It was never about revenge," hollered Vincent, "I need to atone for my sins."
"Sins? What sins?" asked Tifa, voice raised to match Vincent's.
"Fortunately, it does not concern you," he snapped. He then began to fidget in his chair, an obvious sign that he was uncomfortable to where this conversation was leading. With that declaration of body language, Tifa knew that it was time to drop the subject. She didn't really want to fall out with Vincent over the past, something she knew could not be changed no matter how much one might want it to.
"It's ok Vincent," she said sympathetically, "I just want you to know that I'm here, if you ever want to talk that is. It's the least you can do since you've listened to all of my problems."
"Thank you, Tifa." It was short and sweet, and accompanied by a small smile. He meant it.
"You're welcome," said Tifa, returning the smile. "If you need me I'll be in my room, ok?"
"Ok," nodded Vincent.
Tifa nodded back and stood up to return to her room. It had been a long night and she was getting very tired. She was just glad that she had finally told Vincent that she will be his shoulder to cry on if need be. As she walked down the corridor she thought, I wonder if he will ever take me up on this offer. I guess only time will tell.