Wow...it's like a flashback of English lessons all over again. And here I thought that was my strongest subject...
I want to say thanks for the literacy lesson...that wasn't humiliating at all...but I appreciate the constructive criticism nonetheless, and thank you for the positive feedback given. I realise you are only trying to help me...I hope. I'll keep what you have said in mind, should I choose to continue now. Somehow, I don't feel quite so enthusiastic anymore.
To explain the typos: I do what I can, and I'm usually focussing on other things as well when writing chapters...additionally, I don't usually make mistakes. It happens when you speed type...besides, I really don't like re-reading the chapters. I find it embarrassing, as I have great doubt in my ability as it is, and I pretty much cringe when reading my own work. That is probably why there are mistakes lurking in there. (P.S. I know it was 'took his place'. I don't know why it came out 'taken.') In any case, I hope you have enjoyed it.
"Perhaps...that was the wrong answer to give...?" he pondered idly as he gazed down at the empty street below from where he was sitting on the tilted roof of a two-storey house. "Perhaps..." he repeated softly, giving a gentle sigh as his crimson eyes slid closed for only a few moments. 'But...I did wish to see her...' he couldn't help but think to himself, a small, sorrowful smile gracing his pale, thin lips as he thought about her. 'One might say that I miss her...somewhat.' Vincent hadn't quite adjusted to that idea. Somehow, it didn't seem right. Elena had been a former enemy, once upon a time...but once upon a time had been years ago. Perhaps he was over-thinking things? Maybe this was delusion of some sort, resulting from a lack of sleep. 'Besides...it is..only natural to be worried about someone you have rescued...right?' The light tinkling of the brass bell over the bar door soon woke him from his thoughts, and he sighed, getting to his feet slowly, a gentle breeze blowing his dark crimson cape and long dark hair around as he turned, and began jumping from rooftop to rooftop, on his way to nowhere. What good would come from staying in this place any longer? The only reason that he had entered the place to begin with was to check on Elena... and also, perhaps...to rid himself of any lingering memories of her. Lucrecia. But in the end, he knew all too well that such a thing was futile. Perhaps that was for the best. He was slowly getting over her, but it seemed wrong to try to erase her from his memory altogether...even after all she had done...no...what he had done... "I'm not getting into this again..." he growled softly under his breath, determined not to be dragged down by haunting memories and nightmares once more. She was gone now...there was nothing he could do about it. He knew that he had to accept it, but it was difficult, and painful.
Some time later, the sound of someone walking below him caught his attention. In truth, that sound had been following his route for quite some time now, but he had tried to pay no mind to it. His curiosity got the better of him, and his garnet eyes were drawn to the individual walking below. He was rather surprised when the person was identified. So surprised in fact, that he had to stop moving in order to get a better look, just to make sure he had not made a mistake.
The young blonde walking down below was dressed in full Turk uniform, her figure almost completely swallowed by the night, but still recognisable. She had been the one following him, and he had failed to notice? So had she, it seemed, as her attention appeared to be on the ground, and not the rooftops. How would she possibly know that she was so close to him? Just like he had failed to realise just how close he was to her. His mind debated whether or not it would be a good idea for Vincent to reveal his hiding place, and show himself. But then...she had appeared reluctant to speak with him in the bar...
Turning, the blonde Turk came to a stop, rooting in her pocket for something. The male watched, crouching over the roof of the building, and gazing down at her in curiosity. When she took out her keys and put them in the lock of the door, it seemed that she sensed something, as she froze, her free hand moving to take the gun from her holster, her gaze wandering around, before suddenly darting to the rooftops. He knew that she had sensed him, but had reacted too late. The moment that he had jumped back to hide in the shadows, he heard the sound of a gun being fired, wincing as he felt the bullet graze his shoulder. Vincent could only hope that Elena didn't realise that it was him that she had fired that warning shot at.
"Show yourself! As a Turk, I order you!" her voice commanded, cutting the silence of the peaceful night like a knife. It seemed that the male had no choice. It stung to move his injured arm, but he managed to push himself up, and get to his feet, before crouching down and leaping from the rooftop. With a flicker of crimson material, he was behind her, glancing at her as calmly as was possible.
"You called...?" he murmured, his voice as quiet and rough as ever. Even with a voice such as his, he had managed to shock Elena. Maybe she was already quite shaken from their previous encounter at the bar, though.
"Valentine! What-...what were you...doing there?!" she demanded, trying her best to keep her voice level and disguise the fact that it was shaking somewhat. Eventually, she remembered the gun that she held in her hands, and hastily returned it to the holster at her hip in order to show that she didn't want to appear a threat to him. "Why the hell were you on my roof...? Were you following me?!" she then questioned, giving the male no opportunity to respond to her previous questions...or her most recent ones, as she then asked: "Are you bleeding...?" If he hadn't thought this overly-talkative quality of hers to be somewhat adorable, he could have gotten annoyed by it rather quickly. But not with Elena. It seemed impossible to get irritated with her. Well...for Vincent, anyway.
"Calm down..." Vincent ordered softly, before Elena was given the chance to ask any more questions. When he was sure that she had calmed at least a little, he went on to explain: "I wasn't stalking you...we just...happened to be on the same route without being aware of the other's presence." He paused for a moment, before an almost unnoticable smirk came to his lips, and he added: "Then again,I may have been walking you home...in my own subtle way..."
"O-...oh...haha..." Elena stammered nervously. It was obvious that his presence made her uneasy, by the fact that she was trying to gain some distance from him. As a result, she was standing with her back pressed up against the door, an uncomfortable look on her face. It wasn't that she didn't want him there, it was just that something about him creeped her out a bit. It had always been that way, even after he had rescued she and Tseng from the torture that they were suffering within the Northern Crater. "Um...if...if you were walking me home, don't...do it like that again. It was, um...cr-..."
"Creepy?" Vincent interrupted her, finishing her sentence for her as he took a step towards her, and leant in closer to Elena so that one hand was resting against the door, right next to her head. His hand was so close to the side of her head, that a couple of blonde strands of her hair were trapped beneath his leather glove. Leaning fowards a little more, he moved his face close to hers, pressing his forehead against hers in order to get a better look into her eyes as he asked: "You...aren't very fond of me, are you...?" purring in a voice which was only just above a whisper. Their lips were so close --mere centimeters apart-- that Elena could feel Vincent's warm breath tickling her lips, causing her to let out a soft whimper, as she was unsure of how to react. That question...how was she supposed to answer that? Apparently she didn't have to think about that one for too long, as the male soon spoke again, moving even closer to her, which caused her to tremble, her heartbeat quickening as she felt his nose against her cheek as he now whispered to her ear: "It hurts me, Elena..." Her honey-coloured eyes were wide now, but all she could see was his long, sleek, dark hair which blocked her view of much else, save for the crimson cape which covered his shoulder. She couldn't help but notice that the material across his right shoulder was ripped, and revealed some blood flowing down his shoulder towards his chest. This worried her, but right now, she was having difficulty forming words due to the shock resulting from being so close to him.
He paused only to move his free hand in order to place it against her hip as he continued, tightening his grip by a fraction when he felt her tremble more than before: "A shame, really...because...I am rather fond of you..." He couldn't explain his behaviour right now...what had come over him? Since when had he been so confident when speakin to a woman in this way? He didn't care much in that moment, regardless of how much he was frightening Elena. Moving his face to see hers, his smirk grew somewhat when he realised just how wide her eyes were. "Have I shocked you...?" Vincent questioned, soon moving away from her completely, never taking his eyes off of her. However, when he realised just how frightened she seemed by his actions, he sighed, shaking his head and turning away. as though he were unable to look at her. "I...apologise. That-..."
His apology was soon cut short by Elena, who had now managed to piece together a sentence: "Um...would you, uh...like to come in?" It seemed that neither of them had been expecting that question to be brought up, as Elena's eyes became wide in surprise once more, and her hands moved to cover her mouth as soon as she had spoken, almost as though she couldn't quite believe what she had said.
"...Yes..."