Disclaimer: I don't own anything of the Final Fantasy 7 franchise. All I own are my Orginal characters, their powers, origin story, and the magical land they come from.
A/N: This story follows the story of Advent Children the video game. With my own storyline intertwined. Whenever you see text in [...] and Italisided then these are when people are having a telepathic conversation. I'm a little new to Fanfic .net so bear with me. I'm learning how to write and post stories here.
Esmee's P.O.V
"There it is." Denzel said as he pointed to a two-story building. "Is that the place?" I asked as I helped Marlene get off Lazul while Denzel got off easily. When he got off he ran straight to the door and pushed it open while Marlene follows behind him. I smiled as I watch them walk inside their home safely. 'Home sweet home.' I thought as I pulled my hood back on my head and turned to walk through the city night streets. As I'm about to leave I feel a slight tug on my cloak. I turn and look to see Marlene. "Yes?" I asked as I bend down to her eye level. "Come inside. I want you to meet Cloud and Tifa." She said as she grabbed my hand and started pulling me towards the door while she did that Lazul changed to his true form and jumped onto my shoulder. As we got closer to the door I suddenly pulled back causing her to look back at me. "You're not scared are you?" she said smiling at me. Her smile is so cute and innocent that I couldn't help but smile back. "No, I'm not." I said shaking my head. She giggled and guided me inside. When we got in I see many chairs and tables. Toward the back near what I think is the kitchen is bar stools. Inside I see two people talking to Denzel. Sitting on one of the bar stools is a guy about 19 or 20 with spiky blond hair dressed in black. Across from him is a girl around the same age as him with long dark brown hair dressed in black too. As Marlene and I walked closer to the group, the guy turns his head and sees us coming towards them. "Is this her?" the guy said. "Yeah, this is her, and...where's Lazul?" Denzel said. "He's right here." I said pointing to my left shoulder. Both Denzel and Marlene look at me confused along with their parents. I chuckled lightly and looked at Lazul. "Alright Lazul; show them what I mean." I said. He nodded his head and jumped off my shoulder. He then transformed into the tiger he was before. I watch as the guy and girl jump as a vicious beast stands before the kids. I see the girl quickly grab both the kids and pulled them away Lazul; this caused me to smirk a little. "Okay Lazul; change back before you freak their parents out even more." I said as I petted his head. He nodded his head and changed back. "We're not their parents. You see; we adopted them from off the streets." The girl said. 'So their orphans. That's so sad, but I'm glad that they have some who is taking care of them.' I thought slightly embarrassed about my comment but also happy. "I'm sorry about that. I thought you were, I'm sorry." I said bowing to them. "Don't worry. Anyways, my name is Tifa and this is Cloud." She said as she introduced herself and the boy next to her. "Thanks for saving the kids." The guy named Cloud said smirk on his face. "No worries. My name is Esmee and this fuzzball is Lazul." I said as I introduced myself and Lazul. "So what brings you to Midgar Esmee?" Tifa asks as she hands me a glass of water. "Just traveling around. I left my home to see what else is out there and hopefully find a place where I belong." I said as after I take a sip of my water. "So you'll be sticking around Midgar for a while?" Cloud asked. "Yeah. We've heard about this place and thought we might stay a while and check this city out." I said as I petted Lazul. "Speaking of which we need to get going. We need to find a place to stay." I said as I get up from my seat and place the glass on the table. "Thank you for the drink. It was nice meeting you all." I said smiling as I and Lazul walked to the door. As I reached for the door handle I feel another tug on my cloak. I look and see its Marlene again. "Do you have to leave now?" she said looking up at me sadly. "Yeah; I mean I want to pay you back for saving the kids and bringing them back." Tifa said as she walked from behind the bar. "You don't have to pay me back." I said to Tifa. Then I looked down at Marlene. "Don't worry; I'll come over tomorrow so we can play. That is if you guys are okay with me coming?" I said smiling at her while I petted her head and looked at Tifa. "Of course, I'd like that and I'm sure they want you to come over." She said smiling at us. "Awesome. Then I'll be here tomorrow." I said smiling. "Promise?" she asks smiling at me. "I promise." I said sticking my pinky out. She nodded her head and stuck her pinky and we linked our fingers together. After a second we let go and I looked back at Tifa, cloud, and Denzel again. "Again; it was nice meeting you all and thank you for the water. I'll see you all tomorr-" I said as I opened the door and was ready to leave. But stopped when I walked straight into something hard. I didn't know what I hit, but I hit it with so much force that I felt myself falling back. Before I could hit the ground, I felt something cold and metal grab my arm and pull me into something strong and warm and something just as strong and warm wrap around my waist. I'm so scared about what just happened that I shut my eyes. "You alright," said a voice. 'That voice' I thought as I opened my and see nothing but red. I look up and see the same man that I meet at the crystal cavern. "It's you again." I said smiling as I looked up at him. Suddenly I realized the position we are in and I blushed like crazy. He has one arm wrapped around my waist holding my really close to his body. "I'm so sorry I wasn't watching where I was going." I said as I pushed myself out of his arms and bowed my head to him. "It's alright." He said in his deep and dark voice. 'Wow, what a lovely voice.' I thought as I looked at him. "Welcome back Vincent." Cloud said. "Been a while since you stopped by, Vincent. Sit down, and I'll get you something to drink." Tifa said then left to the kitchen. "So you two already meet?" Cloud asks. "Yeah, Lazul and I meet him while we were walking here." I explained as while Lazul jumped on my shoulder.
Vincent's POV
When he just arrived
By the time I got to 7th Heaven, it was already 9 pm. As I got closer I hear the voices of my friends but one voice, in particular, stood out to me. I recognized that voice from somewhere. But I just pushed it in the back of my mind and walked to the door. As I reach for the handle, the door opens and in a flash of blue something bumps into me. I see it begin to fall back. Out of reflexes I grabbed its arm and pulled it to me. As I did, the hood flew off and familiar black hair appeared. 'Could it be?' I thought as I held this person close to me. "You alright," I asked as I realized this person is a girl. Slowly she lifts her head and our eyes meet. My eyes meet the same eyes I meet in Lucrecia's cave. "It's you again." She said smiling at with the familiar smile. 'This is the same girl.' I thought as I look into her eyes. It wasn't until now that I noticed her eye color. They're indigo; I've never seen such eye color. They hold such warmth but there's something else, but I couldn't find out. When she realized the position we are in and I see a blush appear on her face. I have one of arms wrapped around my waist holding her close to me. "I'm so sorry I wasn't watching where I was going." She said as she pushed herself out of my arms and bowed her head to me. "It's alright," I said. She lifts her head up and nods to my reply. I'm about to ask but I'm interrupted by Cloud. "Welcome back Vincent," Cloud said. "It's been a while since you stopped by, Vincent. Sit down, and I'll get you something to drink." Tifa said then left to the kitchen. "So you two already meet?" Cloud asks. "Yeah, Lazul and I meet him while we were walking here," she explained as a small furry creature jumped on her shoulder. 'Is this Lazul?' I thought as I looked at the small creature. This can't be the same creature that nearly attacked me. I guess she noticed me staring and I hear her giggle. "I see you don't recognize him." She said giggling a little bit more. Her giggle is so light and sweet, I couldn't help but stare at her. "Show him Lazul." She said to the creature on her shoulder. He nods his head and jumps off her shoulder. Then it changed into the tiger I meet before. "So how is he able to change Esmee?" Cloud asks the girl next to me. "Esmee," I said looking at her. "Yeah, my name is Esmee. I'm sorry; I guess I forgot to tell you my name before." She said with a small blush on her cheeks as she smiled at me. "What's yours?" she asks. "Vincent Valentine," I said looking at her then at her friend. I'm curious as to how he's able to change. Also, I'm curious about those eyes of hers; there's something there but I don't know what. "I don't even know how he's able to do that. I've had him since I was born." She said looking down at her friend. She patted his head, I guess telling him to change back which he did then jumped on her shoulder again. "We'll Goodnight everyone." She said as she headed to the door.
Esmee's POV"Wait," Tifa said stopping me halfway to the door. "Didn't you say you needed a place to stay?" she said. "Yeah," she said as she nodded her head. "We have a spare bedroom upstairs. You can have that." She said smiling at me. "Wow really?" I said surprised. "Yeah, think of it as a thank you for saving the kids today." She replied. "Ok, but there gotta be something for me to do for you. It doesn't feel right if I don't something for you in return." I said. Tifa thought about something for a moment then she looked back at me. "How about this; you help me out here at the bar and take care of the kids when I can't. In exchange for your room," she said as she pointed her forefinger out to the side. [That sounds like a good deal.] Lazul said into my thoughts. [I agree] I replied. "You got a deal," I said sticking my hand out to her which she accepted and we shook hands. "Yeah," Marlene said happily as she jumped up in place. "Awesome" Denzel said happily. "Okay, you two it is time for bed," Cloud said to them. "Okay." They said at the same time. "Night Esmee," Denzel said. "Goodnight Esmee," Marlene said. "Night you two," I said waving to them as they head upstairs. "Alright, let me show you to your room," she said as she leads me upstairs. We walk past three doors until we made it to my room. "Here we are." She said as she opened it and let me and Lazul go in first. It's a really cute room. Has a twin size bed, two nightstands on each side of the bed. A vanity mirror stands towards one side of the room and a closet next to it. As I take my cloak off I hear Tifa say my name. "Yes," I said looking at her. "I've been meaning to ask you this. Did you get hurt when during your fight with those thugs?" she asks noticing the wraps on my forehead. "Oh no, I'm not hurt," I said as I touched it. "Oh so why do you wear them if you're not hurt?" she asks. 'Great, so much of me hoping they wouldn't ask.' I thought as I became quit. "You don't have to tell me you don't want to." She said but I raised my hand to reassure her. "No, it's alright. It's just, I have an embracing scare on my forehead and I don't want anybody to see it." I said with a small smile on my face. "Oh, okay. The bathroom is down the other hall. The second door on your right." She said. "Okay. Thank you once again, Tifa." I said as she waved good night and closed the door. I sighed and plopped on the bed. "I'm glad that lie still works," I said as I take my rope bag off and let it flopped to the ground. "Hey look there's a balcony," Lazul said as he walks towards the door. I turn and see he is right. I also see that there are window seals on each side of the door. 'Cool, I can sit by the window and look out into the city.' I thought as I walked outside onto the balcony. When I got outside I see that this row of rooms has balconies as well and they're all connected. "Pretty cool, huh Lazul?" I said as I walked towards the railing and leaned my arms on it. "Yeah," he said as he jumped on the railing to and snuggled into my arms. I giggle and cradle him in my arms then look up into the moon. "Things will be better for us here. I know it will." I said determination in my eyes as I look to the moon. I pet Lazul and carry him back into our room closed the balcony doors and went to sleep.
Vincent's POV
After you and Tifa left
As I watch the girls leave I finish my glass and put it on the bar table and walked to the stairs but stopped when Cloud called my name. "Yes," I said looking back at him. "You plan on sticking around here?" he asks. I thought about it for a moment and said "I don't know." then went upstairs to my room. As I got closer, I see that Esmee is staying in the room across from me. As I walked to my door I heard ask Tifa ask Esmee a question that made me stop in my tracks. "Did you get hurt when during your fight with those thugs?" I remember seeing her having bandages wrapped around her forehead. I don't know why but I wanted to hear her answer. "Oh no, I'm not hurt." I hear her say and I sighed in relief. 'Wait, why did just sigh?' I thought. [It's because you're starting to like her] Chaos said into my mind. 'What are you talking about?' I thought annoyed. [You know you like her. Who wouldn't; she has such a cute face.] He said with a dark chuckle in his voice. "Oh so why do you wear them if you're not hurt?" she asks. Suddenly it got quiet. I got curious and leaned against the wall next to her door. "You don't have to tell me you don't want to," Tifa said. She doesn't want to force her to tell, but she raised my hand to reassure her. "No, it's alright. It's just, I have an embracing scare on my forehead and I don't want anybody to see it." She said as she gives her a small smile. Even though she didn't show it but by the sound of her voice I can tell she doesn't want to think about it. 'I wonder what happened.' I thought as I walked into my room and closed the door. [So you do like her.] Chaos said in my head again. 'No, I don't. I just meet her.' I replied. [But you're thinking about her.] He said. 'Whatever.' I thought as walked to my window and climbed out and sit on the roof. As I looked out onto the city I let my thoughts wander. 'Why do I keep thinking about her?' I thought as I looked up at the moon. After a while, I decided to go back inside when I hear a familiar voice. I quietly walk towards the edge of the roof and see Esmee leaning on the rails with Lazul in her arms. "I know things will be better for us here. I know it will," she said with determination in her voice. When she left I thought it would be best if I did the same. When I got inside and lay down on my bed. As I waited for sleep to take over me, one question kept running through my head. 'What did she mean by that?'
thanks for making it to chapter 2
