Frankly, Tifa couldn't believe that what was taking place was really taking place. Out of all of her friends, the only ones she had, the friends who'd helped her rescue the world but not herself, the last one she'd expected to pay her a visit was the usually distant Vincent. And he was indeed the first visitor in a long while. It was shocking, but pleasant. Her life had become so predictable up until now.

As she made her way up the stairs, she noticed a few creaky boards. A brand new bar, the first one she'd ever run all by herself, and it was falling apart.

Upon reaching the landing, she saw Marlene's bedroom door click shut out of the corner of her eye, and couldn't suppress a knowing smile. Such a curious girl.

-

Vincent's observant, crimson eyes began to make inspectorial glances around the room. He noted the grime on the floors, the dust in the corners, and the dishes stacked on top of one another, high enough to topple over at any moment. Perhaps if he simply breathed on them they might tumble downward or collapse, like a card house. Oddly curious, he stood from his stool. The bar was beginning to look like the mansion he'd just came from. Surely Tifa noticed the bits of chewing gum stuck to the underside of the counter?

Almost compulsively, he crouched down and began to scrape away at a stubborn piece of gum with a golden digit. Not really knowing why it bothered him, it just did. Tifa had never been this messy on their travels together, it felt… wrong, to see things in this shape.

"Sorry for the wait, Vincent. Marlene wanted me to tuck her in one more-…"

He looked up at her, startled. Her expression was blank, she just looked at him and he wasn't sure why, but he felt like he'd just been caught red handed, though doing what, he didn't quite know.

It was quiet for a moment as he stood straight up.

"I noticed a few discarded pieces of gum underneath your bar, and I thought perhaps you hadn't noticed them-…"

"I noticed." She said curtly.

He was rendered silent.

"I haven't had… the time…" But of course, he probably saw right through her lame excuse, and she felt a pang of guilt when he looked at her. Yes, he knew.

He almost smiled. "Perhaps I should lend you a hand."

She shook her head, eyebrows creased. "No. Really, thank you, but it's not necessary."

"But of course it is." If she didn't straighten things out, nobody would. If he needed to push her, then so be it.

Something about his statement left no room for arguments, and she found herself fidgeting.

"If you insist…"

So they got to work. They wiped off the counter, tables, and the shelves on the backbar. Tifa swept the floor and Vincent gathered the dust. Into late, late hours they cleaned.

"Vincent, we have a heater in here. Are you sure that heavy cloak is comfortable?"

"Fairly." He really had no partialities to temperature, anymore.

"Well, I'm not… complaining, or anything… it's just that, it's a bit strange, to have you wear it inside. No, that's not it. It's just…" How was she going to explain this? She let out a small, quiet laugh at how silly she must sound. "It's like you're hiding, or something."

When she looked up at him to confirm her utter stupidity, he wasn't there to give her the disapproving look she was expecting. Then she heard a rustle behind her, and when she turned to look, Vincent was placing the blood-red cape onto a stool.

She froze for a minute as she took in all she could of his face. It was strange, for someone she'd traveled almost the entire world with, to just now be revealing his entire face to her. People usually recognize each other's faces, associate faces with names, and some even judge others by their faces, and now she had a real face to associate with him.

He was gorgeous. His jaw was strong and defined, his cheekbones high, and his lips were as expressive as his eyes. His features held an indefinable quality that seemed out of place in this modern world, in this drab bar of hers, doing her necessary yet unnecessary favors.

"I apologize, do you wish for me to put it back on?" he began, snapping her out of her reverie. She flustered immediately.

"No, don't! I mean… no. I'm sure you're much more comfortable now, right?"

He just nodded. She really made him worry sometimes.

-

Tifa brought down a bucket of water from upstairs, she washed, and he dried. They said nothing; there were only sounds of scrubbing and dishes clanking together.

In a way, Vincent guessed he should be cleaning his own home, but he stopped before that thought could go further. He didn't have a home. The mansion was a place he inhabited; it was a place where he simply… existed. It was not a home of any sort. Perhaps, at one point, it was the best place to be, when he'd still felt heavily convicted for things that were no fault of his own, before he'd been sprung out of that coffin and lead around an unfamiliar world, straight to the very source of his vexations, Hojo. But now… what was he there for?

Beside him, Tifa placed the last of the plates onto the bottom shelf. Because of height differences, he'd felt obliged to take care of the glasses, which were on the top shelf.

"…Tifa."

She looked up at him. After such a long silence, hearing his voice was refreshing.

He seemed to be debating something for a moment, still drying the same glass he'd been working on at least two minutes ago, the last one. The last bit of work to be done.

"What's wrong, Vincent?"

He set the glass on the shelf, and laid his rag on the counter in front of him.

"I believe it is time for me to go."

She twiddled her fingers together and bit her lip, things she seemed to do a lot when thinking, he noticed. It was when he started to notice these subtle things that he realized it would be best for the both of them if he didn't stay any longer.

He went to the other side of the counter to collect his cloak.

Tifa's mind reeled, too fast. Where exactly was he going back to? Did she do something wrong? She didn't want to be left alone with the creaking boards and the perfectly clean bar and its demanding customers and Marlene, who reminded Tifa so much of the girl's adoptive father, who she missed dearly.

"Wait."

He turned, and Tifa was only slightly surprised to see Marlene coming down the stairs.

"Tall Man, where are you going?"

He looked at her, then to Tifa, and back at her again questioningly. Hadn't the child gone to bed earlier?

"Tifa," the girl said indignantly to her guardian. "You promised he would talk to me tomorrow. Is he leaving?"

Tifa looked at him, and there was no need for her to say anything. He was needed, if only for just a little longer.

Then she turned to Marlene. "Marlene, why are you out of bed?"

Marlene looked at her feet. "I couldn't sleep, Tifa. I was coloring in the hallway so that I could hear you and the tall man."

Tifa sighed with resignation, suddenly she felt absolutely drained.

"If I'm welcome to stay, then I will stay." Vincent said to the both of them.

-

A/N: I've kinda lost some faith in my writing. However, it's still fun to write, so I decided to finish this no matter how crappy I think it gets.

Reviews of course are appreciated and loved and cherished for eterniry and whatnot +cookies. :D