Disclosed To You

Disclaimer: Don't work for Square. Don't own their characters. I do not make money off of this story. If I ever get paid by someone for this, they are slap-bum crazies. )

Warnings: Does mention of alcohol even count?

AN: Wow, this took longer than expected. I ran into some chinks in the first, and decided to smooth them out. Yes, I feel better now. XD And damn right it was a cliffy! Muhahaha…

I have never done a multi-chap before. So you could call this my first real story. …It has been hell.

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Tifa nearly jumped out of her skin and from underneath the blankets at the almost inaudible knock. Her heart raced, and she mentally kicked herself for acting so high strung. It was more than likely just some confused customer who'd missed the Sorry, we're closed sign, looking for a place to find more indulgence after-hours. They would go away soon.

Even despite that thought, she climbed out of her cocoon of warm comforters and stepped into the hallway, listening. As she reached the stairs, there was another knock.

She heard stirring in Marlene's room a few feet away. The girl was a light sleeper.

"Tifa?" she called as she emerged from her room, rubbing her tired eyes and casting a worried glance at the older woman.

Suddenly Tifa felt silly. Any normal person would have simply answered the door by now, but no, Tifa had to stand there at the top of the stairs, baffled, like an idiot. Perhaps she was worried about who it would be.

Nobody had bothered to visit in so long… well, except for Cloud. Though she could hardly call waltzing in without knocking, taking his ordering receipts from the office, and leaving without a trace a 'visit'.

Just open the stupid door. She couldn't help but smile at how goofy she must seem to Marlene right now, standing there gawking at a door as if it were dancing for her.

Marlene sat on the top step and watched, her curiosity piqued, as Tifa approached the door with utmost caution, on her tiptoes, obviously making fun of herself. Both females let out a quiet giggle.

Needless to say, Tifa was a little surprised when she opened the heavy wooden door to find herself standing nose to chest with a former comrade, Vincent Valentine. She nearly gasped, and brought her eyes to meet his.

He peered down at her over his collar, face impassive as ever. He didn't even seem to notice that she'd kept him waiting. Any other person would have given up and walked away by now.

He cleared his throat, and the sound abruptly cut through the silence. She blinked, realizing she'd drifted off, probably staring right at him.

"…I apologize, have I chosen a bad time?"

That was Vincent. A true gentleman.

"Oh! Ah… no, please come in, Vincent."

Smooth, Tifa.

Suddenly the floor was very interesting, as she gave him a timid smile and stepped back.

He almost seemed shy, stepping in slowly and glancing around as she shut and locked the door behind him. His ruby-red eyes fell on Marlene, who watched him intently from her perch at the top of the stairs. She blinked, and the corners of her mouth turned up in a tiny, fascinated smile.

Tifa piped up from beside him.

"That's right… I owe you a drink, don't I?" She queried to no one in particular, scratching her chin up at him.

"You do not have to…"

"No need to be so humble, Vincent. I promised, right?"

All he could do was nod. She was not going to take no for an answer it seemed.

Before making her way to the backbar, she patted her hand on a stool and looked at him, gesturing for him to sit down. He complied quietly, and she stepped behind the counter, pushing her shoulders back and clearing her throat, though she already had his attention.

"May I help you, sir?" she said in an exaggerated business-like tone, apparently very entertained with herself.

He blinked in curiosity at her jocose behavior, and decided he was in the mood to humor her.

"Why, yes, you may."

She smiled. "And what may I get you today?"

He thought back, a long way back, to the last time he'd consumed any alcoholic beverages, or felt the need to indulge in such a needless poison, trying to recall what had taken place in another time, an almost completely different world when he was younger, but could not remember any previous instances. Apparently, memory was not one of his strong points since he'd awoken. Perhaps in the past he would have swept an impressed gaze over the supply of drinks Tifa had along the shelves of the backbar, but in the present, the idea of alcohol was not so appealing. Yes, water would do just fine, if Tifa insisted.

He opened his mouth to voice his request, but before he had the chance, his attention was claimed by Marlene's tiny footsteps padding over to the barstool next to him. Both he and Tifa watched her climb up and seat herself comfortably on her knees facing him. She seemed to have something on her mind, narrowing her eyes at Vincent intently. They waited patiently as she took a breath and gave voice to her concerns, pointing a tiny finger at his tattered, blood red cape.

"Mister, are you a superhero?"

Tifa attempted to stifle a wayward giggle as Vincent yet again arched a brow in utter confusion.

"I am a former employee of the Shinra Manu-…"

"He is just an old friend, Marlene," Tifa interrupted with a wide grin, obviously completely amused at the exchange.

But despite how intrigued Marlene was with this tall, dark stranger, Tifa knew that she would be tired in the morning if she did not get all the rest she could tonight. "If you go to bed now, I promise to let you meet him in the morning."

Vincent made a side-glance at Tifa, a little uneasy at the notion that he might be here in the morning. In truth, his plans were to arrive, assess how Tifa was holding up all alone running her bar, and leave if things seemed to be going well, which he had not been able to decide on quite yet. The letter from Tifa had worried him slightly, and left him wondering. Why would she be lonely, if Cloud and the others were there to keep her company?

Then it hit him. Of course Cloud was not there. The blonde still had many internal conflicts that he needed to resolve, and presently felt that he could not be there for anyone, and that all he could do was harm those who became dear to him. Vincent, more than anyone, understood that. But he also knew that Tifa put a lot of faith into the young man, and as tough as she seemed superficially, he remembered a time when he was indeed just as fragile as he knew her to truly be. Tifa had a knack for putting up a deceptive front, and the others also had a knack for being easily fooled by said façade. But, when she thought that no one was looking, when she forgot that there was one member of their party who missed nothing and saw all from behind his collar and bandana, his dark lashes, and his shield, the disguise fell and gave way to feelings that anyone could see if they only bothered to look. They would not visit her; they would not attempt to comfort her, because they hardly knew she was in need. There was no doubt about it now. His assessment about Cloud's absence had proven correct thanks to his visit, and Tifa's smile, however beautiful, was feeble.

Marlene frowned in disappointment, but knew that it would be a pointless argument. There was no reason that she couldn't wait until morning to ask the tall man if he ever thought about getting a new cape, as his was very torn.

"You promise?" she asked.

Tifa nodded in affirmation. "It's a pinky-promise."

Vincent watched as the two females hooked each other's little fingers, and a seemingly satisfied Marlene skipped back up the stairs.

When he turned back to Tifa, she was looking at him expectantly. He shifted in his seat.

"And, that drink?"

"…Water is fine."

She smiled. For some reason, she'd predicted he would ask for water, or something equally simple. He did not seem the type to be drawn to inebriants, or other unnecessary means of intoxication. In her imagination, she entertained a notion that to him it wasn't gentlemanlike to drink in front of a lady, or that maybe when he was growing up, it was not socially acceptable to drink unless on a formal occasion.

Sure, he probably just liked water, but it was fun to concoct all sorts of crazy ideas for what made Vincent tick. It'd become a secret little game, back when they were still traveling together.

He always twirled his gun casually on his index finger before aiming and firing at his enemy, and absently, she would make up an imaginary reason why. Perhaps it was a trick his Turk buddies taught him, when he was still working for Shinra. 'The ladies think it's great.' They might've told him.

The man never ceased to be interesting.

She realized with a start that she'd once again drifted off, yet again staring right at him, only this time with a stupefied smile on her face. Oh, wow, it would just fill her with glee to sink into the ground right about now.

"…yes, water! Coming right up." She let out a nervous laugh that was a little too high-pitched. She winced at the sound.

He nodded and gave her a look of concern, but said nothing as she straightened and turned away to hide the inevitable coloring of her cheeks and pretended to be looking for his drink.

She resisted the urge to bring her hand to her forehead. "We don't have water on tap… It's in the cooler upstairs. I'll, uh, be right down."

He watched her go, avoiding his eyes, as he tapped gloved fingers on the counter absentmindedly.

It wouldn't hurt to stay a little longer than planned. Just to… better evaluate the situation.

-

This chapter split itself into two. So. Yea…

Well anyway, reviews are welcome and appreciated, of course! 'Tis fuel for my mojo.