Maiya had locked both shop and apartment door having given Vincent copies of the keys when he gave her copies of the keys to his house years ago. After her scare in the alley those many years ago and his illness, it just seemed to be a natural step for the two of them to ensure that one could check on the other as needed. Vincent knocked on the door to the apartment and heard Maiya inside coming to the door. What he thought was strange was that he could hear her walking across the floor in her good dress shoes, something she almost never wore. However when she opened the door to invite him in, he found himself speechless for the first time in a long time.
When Vincent first met Maiya nearly 15 years ago he could clearly remember how she looked. Her hair back then had only come down to her hips. Now her hair was knee length and tonight most of it was unbound, the sides pulled back into a bun that kept the wavy mass out of her way. Smokey tones highlighted her eyes and lips bringing out a more sensual side of the woman that most people didn't see on a daily basis.
What really drew his attention was the change in her attire. A sheer black long tunic was braced and highlighted by a dark red silk over-bust corset with gold floral embroidery. The tunic flared out some from the bottom of the corset giving her, less of the slender look that she preferred when she wore the corsets when her pants and more of the hour glass that she liked when she was dressing up for an evening. Under the flared section of the sheer tunic which fell to her knees, was a simple black long skirt that was slitted up to the knee displaying her shapely calves as she walked across the apartment to lead him to the bedroom. Having shaken himself out of the daze he was in Vincent looked at his long time companion, questions firing off in his eyes.
Her smile was almost dangerous as she answered. "Just go in there. We're going out tonight to have some fun and I thought you might like something a little different to wear." Giving him a gentle push she closed the door after him, wondering if she had guessed right in what she had made.
Normally Vincent's idea of dressing up was to wear the his clothing that Maiya had made for him from the dark silks and brocades she had found that suited him. Apparently tonight she was looking for something a little different and Vincent found he couldn't really argue her taste as he had found out nearly 10 years ago that she had a very good eye for fashion and what would suit his own style. It didn't mean he had a lot of clothing still, but he had a few other outfits that he could use when he needed something other than his black and crimsons.
As Vincent stepped out of the room he saw the measuring glance of the trained tailor in his friend's eyes before they brightened with her smile. "I knew that would work for you." Looking him over one more time she took in the black silk shirt she had made for him under the vest that had surprised him greatly when he looked the outfit over. The back was made of red dragon hide tanned to a suede finish. The front panels of the vest were backed with a thinner suede finish dragon hide and overlayed with rows upon rows of the smallest crimson dragon scales he'd ever seen. The work had to have been costly and time consuming to get the hundreds of scales that made up the front panels of the vest. There had been no need to change the black light weight leather pants he'd worn over but the boots had been another surprise for him as well. Heavy gauge black leather, wide toes and brass caps on the toes in the design of flames. Now that Vincent had seen the vest, he understood Maiya's color choices tonight. Her reds were just a few shades darker than his, while the golds were just a bit brighter. The effect between the two of them was stunning.
Stepping up on tip toe, Maiya kissed Vincent on the cheek grinning in the cheeky fashion she had when she knew that he was greatly pleased with what she had made, but didn't really have the words to tell her how he felt about it. Taking him by the hand they left the apartment and stepped out into the cool night air. "Where are we going?" Sometimes Maiya would tell him where they were going and other times she'd surprise him when they did outings like this. Tonight Maiya didn't answer his question and only grinned at his almost inaudible sigh of mock irritation.
"Patience old friend, you'll get to see where we're going soon enough." As they walked in companionable silence Maiya noticed the looks Vincent was getting and was pleased with the look she had pulled together for him. It really wasn't much different from his usual look, but instead of hiding him in the shadows, it drew him out, defining his lines and showing that there was more to the mysterious member of the WRO than his silence and good looks.
As they showed up to their destination Vincent smiled. It looked like tonight was going to be a night of wining, dining and dancing given the energy his partner was exuding. He was fully aware of the date but as with the past, it never stopped them from going out to enjoy themselves. Instead of paying for their own meals, they had come to an agreement that this one night a year, they'd pay for each other's events and costs. Reverse dutch in a way.
Lovers and couples came out on this night every year to celebrate what they had. Maiya had convinced Vincent about five years ago to go out on this night, not as a couple, or as lovers, but as friends who loved each other enough to go out and enjoy the night together. Since then it'd become one of their traditions.
Completely skipping the line to the popular restaurant and getting quite a few glares along the way, Maiya lead him to the host stand and presented her reservation card. As they sat down they smiled, Vincent had seen that there were men in the establishment that had noticed the woman who had been with him, much to the dismay of their dates. Maiya had also noticed the same for many of the women in the room.
Ordering for each other Vincent surprised Maiya by pulling her out of her seat and to the dance floor that their table had been next to. The music that had been playing was a medium tempo waltz and as they whirled around the floor neither paid any attention to the number of looks they had been gathering during the number. For despite the semi-reclusive nature of Vincent, and the limited socialization that Maiya did, the two were excellent dancers. Vincent having picked it up as a member of the Turks to help him to blend into the more social situations that might arise in any of his jobs. Maiya had learned over time, but most of the obscure dances that she knew were taught by having a night out with Reno and having him teach her so that she would be able to keep up with her dearest friend. Reno had loved that evening as she had proven that she was a quick learner and quite capable of keeping up with him all night long. Rude had watched the pair all night, even allowing himself to be talked into a dance with the woman. Both had enjoyed that night those years ago and it served her well when she surprised Vincent by knowing the dances he'd tried to trip her up with.
Leading Maiya back to the table with a slight smile they found their drinks and discussed events that were happening in the WRO. Recently as the world started to calm down more and people were realizing that the WRO was nothing like the ShinRa Power Company, they had started making greater strides in bringing life back to the damaged areas of the planet. Cities were all but repaired completely and people were easier to deal with once they realized that those that had once been ShinRa and actually cared about the direction the planet was going in were now members of the WRO.
Politics was no longer a touchy subject and the conversation that evening certainly ranged through that topic as well as many others while the pair ate. The night only started to get interesting for the long time friends when Maiya came back from the restroom to see a very neutral Vincent looking up at an angry young man who was holding the arm of a young woman, his girlfriend Maiya guessed, and speaking angrily to her companion. Stepping up to the situation she asked, "Vincent, what happened?"
Vincent's face was all but plastered in its neutral facade, but Maiya could see the spark of amusement in the depths of his eyes as the three turned to her and took in her stance and outfit and how it was a close match to the man who was sitting. "This young man was just expressing his irritation with me over his companion's lack of class and manners."
Maiya nearly snorted in amusement as the young woman turned back to Vincent anger flashing in her eyes at his blunt criticism and appraisal of the situation. Before the woman could speak however Maiya stepped in once again. "Young lady, go back to your companion for the evening. If you truly do not wish for his attentions then you should not have agreed to an outing. The two of you can deal with your problems on your own, there is no need to drag Vincent or myself into this."
It was at this point that the young man spoke up. "This situation would not have happened ma'am if Tanya here had not decided that Mister Valentine here was more worth her time than myself. When he did nothing to discourage her, I felt it only appropriate to deal with the situation as best as I saw fit."
It was now that Vincent looked up at the younger man. "I did nothing to encourage Miss Tanya, this alone should have told her that I was not interested in her attentions. The fact that it is obvious that I am not here alone even if I was, at the moment, sitting alone should have diffused the situation before this all came to the head it has. Now if you two don't mind, I will go back to my interrupted evening with my companion and wish to hear no more of this." Standing, he held his hand out to Maiya and as she took it, lead her out to the dance floor once again to escape the two who had rudely interrupted their evening.
With his right hand on her waist to guide her, Vincent found the rhythm of the music and swung his partner into their third dance for the night, and certainly not their last. "Poor boy will be better off for knowing how that girl thinks when she's not around him." Maiya muttered, eyes sparkling lightly in amusement, so she wouldn't be overheard by anyone other than her dance partner.
Vincent nodded, truthfully he had been mildly annoyed with the two that had interrupted his evening but found his humor restored quickly with Maiya's sharp observations and amusement with what had happened. Another three numbers passed before they decided to go back to their table, Maiya amused by the number of observations Vincent had quietly made about the couples around them and Vincent pleased that Maiya was able to keep up year after year with him, and the younger generation around them.
It was late in the night, or early in the morning depending on how one looked at it when Vincent and Maiya finally left for home. There had been some instances throughout the evening when one or the other of them had to brush off the attentions of others, but they had a good time. Vincent couldn't remember a time when Maiya had moved so well out on the dance floor and was surprised when she told him, "I had a refresher course last week when I went out to talk with Reno and Rude."
The answer had surprised a chuckle out of the taller of the two. "I should have known that Reno wouldn't let you get rusty." While not all of the Turks had taken up service in the WRO, those that were left after the rebirth of Sephiroth stayed in touch, their information gathering skills second to none. Those that had taken up service in the WRO had gotten closer, becoming a small family within the organization, and taking care of their own first. Somehow, Vincent had become a part of that group, despite his long term forced resignation from the original group.
Maiya laughed, her voice rich with the years she had put behind her. "Of course. That man takes it as a personal insult if he teaches someone a skill and they aren't able to keep up in practice." Both laughed at the accurate summary of Reno's teaching skills.
As Vincent stepped into the shop area of Maiya's, he gently grasped his friend by the arm and pulled her into a hug. "You've been the closest person in my life for many years now. I'm grateful for everything you've done for me."
Smiling gently up at her dearest friend she answered. "You've been my dearest friend for a long time now too. Thank you for being there for me through everything." Gently caressing the cheek of her friend she watched close as he left before locking up behind him. Stepping upstairs into her apartment she still smiled. Tonight was not a night of lovers for them. Instead it was a reaffirmation of the deep love and companionship they had found in their friendship. One, she hoped, that would continue to be strong and tie them together for the many years to come.