As The Smoke Clears

Disclaimer: Don't own it…Duh!

Pairings: Vincent/Tifa, and ?/?

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Chapter 9.

Sunlight filtered through the gap in the curtains, falling across the mass of jumbled sheets and limbs, where a crimson-eyed man lay sleeping fitfully.

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Vincent stood in a black room, devoid of windows and doors. It reminded him of his years in stasis. He felt trapped and quite helpless. A disembodied chuckle helped to verify that.

'Welcome, Mr. Valentine.'

The voice was eerily familiar, yet he couldn't place it. His mind felt quite frayed.

Another chuckle.

'Don't remember me, Valentine? I'm quite surprised. Thirty years together, and you still cannot place my voice?'

Well that narrowed it down, a lot.

"Chaos?"

'Well done, Valentine. You should be a detective.'

Vincent gave a mental sigh. Definitely Chaos.

'I heard that.'

Another sigh.

"Where am I, Chaos?"

'Now we're getting somewhere.'

"Chaos…"

'Fine. We're inside the part of your mind that I…occupy…until you chose to unleash me. Satisfied?'

"Hardly. Why am I here?"

Chaos gave another impatient sigh.

'We're here, Valentine, because I want to show you something. I wouldn't have bothered, but even I am not quite that cruel.'

Vincent quirked an eyebrow.

"While I could argue to the contrary, you have captured my interest. What is it that you wish to show me, Chaos?"

Vincent could all but see the daemon's smirk.

'Look through the window and you will see.'

Vincent turned and saw the window. A large frame, gilt with gold and adorned with crimson velvet drapes.

Before Vincent could ask…

'Can I not have nice things? Just look through the window, Valentine.'

Biting back a scathing remark, Vincent obliged…

…And immediately regretted it.

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The bike slowed and rumbled to a stop.

Cloud left Fenrir outside the house, and made his way to the front door.

Damn, he hated being the 'visitor'.

Taking a deep breath, he knocked on the heavy wooden door and stood back, a part of him wishing the occupant of the house wasn't home. The airship on the outskirts of town however mockingly crushed that hope. As did the cursing pilot beneath the tiny plane in the backyard.

With a sigh, Cloud turned to go over to the pilot, but was stopped when the door behind him opened, revealing a meek young woman. Shera.

"Oh…hello there. If you're looking for the Captain he's not here…" Cloud turned around and recognition flashed across her features.

"Oh, Cloud isn't it? Please, please, come in! Cid's out the back, but he's in one of his 'moods'. Why don't you sit down and have a cup of tea? Give him time and he'll be back to his normal self."

For someone who didn't talk so much, she was sure doing a lot of the thing.

"Um…Thanks, Shera. Tea sounds nice, thank you."

He watched her bustle about the kitchen, immediately making him feel like a nuisance. He smiled as she set a steaming cup in front of him.

He drank his tea in silence, wanting to be polite, but feeling too awkward to do so.

A stream of loud profanities alerted them to Cid's presence. Shera stood to greet him.

"Cid, look who dropped by…"

Cid gave him a grin.

"Well if Ifrit 'aint bangin' Shiva– It's Spikey!"

Cloud almost grimaced at the choice of words, forcing it into a smile instead.

"Cid."

"What brings to this part of the world, huh?"

It was time he thanked Vincent for helping Tifa.

"Cid…I need a favour."

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Tightening her apron, Tifa flipped the sign in the window to 'open' and unlocked the front door.

"Time to serve the drunks drinks…" she muttered to no one in particular.

"Well now, is that any way for a barmaid to refer to her customers?"

Tifa spun toward the intruder, eyes falling upon a familiar face. She was unsure whether to apologise or beat them up. She opted for neither. For now.

He nodded in greeting, or perhaps understanding?

"What can I do for you? It too early for drinking, even for you, so you must want something. What is it?"

"Now, now, darlin'. What makes you think I want anything other than your breathtaking company?"

Tifa chafed at the infamous cocky smirk he gave her.

"Years of dealing with drunken idiots. What do you want?"

"Ouch love! That hurts! Comparing me to a drunk now? Where's your customer courtesy?"

"Still in bed upstairs. Spill it, Reno. What do you want?"

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Swirling colours, quickly gave way to blurry shapes, finally materialising into identifiable objects.

He watched as the events of the past few weeks flashed past as though on fast forward.

The whole ordeal left Vincent feeling quite disorientated.

Upon seeing the scene before him, he felt sick. Quickly followed by, anger.

It was the memory he despised above all others, and he was furious that Chaos had decided to bring this up. Especially now that he had just begun to forget about it. He'd live through it once, albeit somewhat disfigured. He didn't think he could do it again.

He opened his mouth to give Chaos his dues, but was silenced when the beast began to speak.

'Don't talk, Valentine. Just watch'

Reluctantly, Vincent complied, turning back to the image that still haunted his worst nightmares…

Hojo and Lucrecia. Together.

Thankfully it didn't last long. The image began to change, the figures morphing into others. What he saw made him prefer the other couple.

"Tifa…?"

'Yes…It's her.'

He could see the others face. It was shrouded in darkness.

"Why can't I see their face?"

'Because, Valentine. If I show you who it is, then as soon as you wake up, you will hunt them down and maul them. Also, its something you should figure out for yourself. Its not too late to change what may happen.'

"…"

'Valentine…'

"I'm fine, Chaos. Let me out of here, now."

'Don't do anything stupid. You won't remember this at first anyway.'

"Chaos, Now!"

Sigh.

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Consciousness returned slowly for Vincent. Sleep still clouded his senses and numbed his mind.

He kept his eyes closed, savouring the bliss of those few moments where you don't remember anything. They were his favourite thing. A time where his nightmares couldn't get to him. Well, second favourite.

He let a smile grace his lips as he thought of his dark-haired beauty. Rolling over, eyes still closed, he reached out blindly, feeling for his lover. His hand was met with cold sheets.

His eyes flew open as he stared at the empty space Tifa usually occupied. His heart hitched as he recalled his dream.

"Tifa?"

Silence. Nothing.

Loneliness and insecurity crept inside, settling in the pit of his stomach.

For once, Vincent wasn't sure what he should do.

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A/N: Holy cow! 3900 hits guys! I Love you all!!!

Wow, it's on time this time! XD Yay me! So the plot is slowly being revealed.

Let me know what you think. Please R&R!!!

I'll write a oneshot for the 40th Reviewer. Anything you want! Pairing het, yaoi or otherwise. Because I'm feeling generous, creative and I love you all!