It Wasn't the End

Gabreilla Moushigo

Vincent Valentine ducked behind a cubicle. Not the safest place when there were Deepground soldiers swarming about like locusts. He managed to clear the room though and with a quick scan of the area he realized that he was finally alone. He dropped his head back down and sat on the floor for a moment to rest his legs. He didn't bother holstering Cerberus – just in case.

The floor rattled a bit, no doubt from the war that was taking place above him. If he had given a little thought to it before, he might have realized that the WRO soldiers were actually gaining some ground. They were no longer outside from the sound of it. He would have to move soon, no point in getting caught up in all that.

He pulled out his cell phone hesitantly; he gave it a wistful look. He really shouldn't, those things were distracting, but he was curious. He punched the "2" button and then the bright green "TALK" button to the left. The phone on the receiving end gave a little purring noise, indicating that the phone was still in service, and in fact, ringing. He really shouldn't, he repeated to himself, but he let it ring on some more.

"Hello, Vincent?" A concerned voice on the other end asked. "Are you ok?"

He smiled a little, the deep neckline of his cloak covering his mouth. "Yes." He said simply.

"Thank goodness." The person breathed.

"I should be asking you, if you were alright," He gave an unnatural pause, not sure if he should speak the name, but did anyway. "Tifa."

"I'm fine." He could hear the smile in her voice although he could not see her. "You caught me during a 'break.' I can talk a little if you like." She laughed a little and the corners of his mouth pulled up again. 'Break' was a funny word used in a wartime situation, there were no such things as 'breaks' when your life was on the line.

With that in mind, he lifted himself up a bit and looked around again, still clear. He lowered himself again.

"I know you are sad." She said matter-of-factly. "Reeve told me you went to the mansion the other day."

"I did." He affirmed.

"He said that you had to go through the sewers to get there." She said a little distastefully. "I imagine that you've been scrubbing yourself ever since."

He barked a laugh; he could tell he startled her on the other end. She dropped her phone and must have picked it up again. He added, "I cleaned up a bit, but I suppose that with a little airing out I'll be back to normal in no time."

"Vincent," Her voice became serious.

"Hmm?" He made a little noise with his throat.

"I know that with all that has happened," She didn't say, but he knew. "I could understand if you didn't want to."

"Trying to get rid of me?" He teased a bit, but in his mind he silently worried that maybe she was doing this more for herself than for him.

"No!" She mumbled hastily. "But I know that you must be a little upset I guess."

"Well, of course." He admitted. "But that doesn't mean I'll go back on my promise."

She thought a bit, he imagined that she might be biting her lower lip nervously as was her habit. "I don't want you to do it if you feel like you have to."

"I don't feel like I have to do anything," He wondered if that sounded harsher than he meant it to. He paused for a moment and then went on with a gentler voice. "I'm going to it, because I want to."

"Oh good," The relief in her voice could not be masked, and he felt his heart flutter just a bit. "I'm glad."

"Tifa?" He spoke her name hesitantly.

"Yes Vincent?" She quietly asked.

"Thank you for waiting." He said.

"You're welcome." She tittered on the other line.

Vincent felt a little guilty for asking "And I know that I have no business asking you to wait longer, but could you wait for me… until this is all finished?"

"Of course," She sounded amused still. "It's not like I would ask you to do something like that in the middle of a war zone."

"We're talking on cell phones in the middle of a war zone." He reminded. He really shouldn't have called, he thought, but he wanted to hear her.

"Mmm hmm." Tifa agreed that it did seem a bit silly.

He got back to the subject, "I know you've been waiting a long time," and then added, "On everyone. I'm sorry to make you wait too." Guilt started creeping up on his heart. He already knew what it was like to be kept waiting, he felt bad for doing it to her.

"That's ok," She said softly. "I have plenty of patience."

She was patient, too patient. "Yes." It was about time to go now, and he knew she could hear it in his voice.

"Alright then," She took the lead. "I guess I better run along now before I'm left behind completely." He could hear the tat tat tatting noise of a machine gun in the background. No doubt it was Barret from the faint yelling and swearing. He could hear the machine gun, but it was fading even now. She really did need to get going. "You be safe," It sounded like an order. "If you die…" She paused for a moment; he knew what she would say. "I'll kill you!"

"Of course," He smiled.

"I love you, Vincent." She blurted quickly but sincerely, "I just wanted you to know just in case I…I…" He could tell she lost her nerve and hung up on him right there. He supposed that she didn't want to wait for his reply.

He closed the clam shell phone and shoved it into his pocket and sat for a moment longer. He really shouldn't have made her wait even this long. Chaos nudged him for his cowardice, he grabbed his chest a little. Without the Proto Materia… it was getting harder for him to control those that lurked inside him.

Vincent felt instantly bad for what he had promised Tifa earlier; he knew that he wouldn't be able to return to her in this state. Chaos never had ill will toward Tifa, but he suspected it was because she wasn't much of a threat or challenge, not as much of a thrill to kill. If he were with her all the time, he supposed that a bored Chaos would find her just fine for destroying if nothing else was around.

He picked himself up and dusted himself off. No more time to think, it was time to act again. He reloaded Cerberus and checked his pack and frowned. He would need to buy a few potions before he left the area.

He would probably not see her for some time after this, if ever. He was glad to have spoken with her now before the end

It wasn't the end.

Lame and short – this chapter. It's a bit abrupt, but I am not one to go into a story slowly. I'm not sure why I began here but oh well. I'm only hoping that you liked this beginning chapter and look forward to more. I actually have several more chapters that I have written already but I am going to have to edit them a bit before I post them here (to save on embarrassment later). Please read and review if you'd like me to continue! I always love reading what people think!