It all started after the Omega chapter was closed and done, Chaos seeming to return to the Planet shortly afterwards.
He had his Turks assisting Avalanche around the clock to find their missing friend now that the the final danger had been put to rest. He'd been found in a snow bank, buried after his downward fall from the sky. Reeve Tuesti and Tseng found Vincent Valentine first; Tseng's was the first face he laid eyes on when he woke.
Hospitals had been woefully overused from first Geostigma and then the masses hurt during Omega's rise. None were top notch enough for the likes of the Planet's champion either.
It was agreed to allow Tseng to take him to Healin Lodge with Rufus' approval.
Vincent remained unconscious for two weeks. In that time, Tseng played his nurse maid. It was odd to all involved. Tseng had simply stated he was returning the favor from when Elena and he were captured and tortured but saved, by no other than Vincent Valentine.
Wary indifference blazed in crimson eyes that watched and observed, and was the next visage to greet Tseng on Vincent's waking. He was cautious, and for good reason, as they had been enemies not so long ago.
Tseng remained steadfast throughout though, not being swayed. Vincent did not deny his help, only was curious as to why he would care for him in the first place. Tseng regaled the same story to Vincent himself.
Once Vincent felt well enough, he left without a word back to Nibelhiem Manson that had been renovated after Sephiroth's first fall.
Tseng slowly but surely followed. It was under the pretense of monitoring the man. Well, it started out that way. Vincent wasn't oblivious in the least of the other's actions.
Before long, Tseng was flying to the old mansion, sneaking around the house. Vincent allowed for the behavior as he still watched from afar.
Finally, Tseng put his plan to work.
What started as discussions to bring him back to the Turks was of course met with opposition because of their history...his personal history with the company; he would instinctively be distrustful.
Tseng instead began to simply enjoy the man's conversation.
Vincent no longer was like a skittish animal and didn't glare anymore. He'd even accidentally smiled once. It was like a beautiful miracle to Tseng.
While Vincent still didn't come back to the Turks he did go back to work.
He decided to remain at Reeve's side at the WRO with his chipper, yet sometimes annoying teammate, Yuffie. At least they had been in his group and had proved themselves worthy.
Though Vincent was known to be neutral and aloof at the best of times, on the off chance that they'd meet, sarcasm and dry humor was exchanged; sometimes straight barbs followed. For as silent as Vincent could be, Tseng was making him feel again.
Tseng himself was a workaholic, unable to break the shackles of Shinra, whether they were fundamentally different or not.
A strange phenomonon happen.
After enough banter and time, their behavior became common place to all around them. It just was normal now between the two men.
Vincent eventually began to see him as a colleague in time instead of the face of all wrongs Shinra committed. After all he was just another soul tainted by blood on his hands, too.
After exchanging stories of work in their respective fields and after too much wine one lone evening, attraction came to play.
Of course Vincent had his reservations again, morally and personally. Sure, in the year past, he had moved on from Lucrecia but still wondered was it even appropriate to seek love again. He knew Cloud would not approve, Barrett either. That was fine. Now a days, they weren't as close as before.
Everyone had more or less moved on. He only maintained communication with Tifa, because she demanded his status, still being a mother figure of the group.
Yuffie, who was still nursing a childish crush on him would become hassle as he saw her daily. Cid and his foul mouthed antics was welcomed when he spoke by phone to the man as well. Nanaki, who held the intelligence and wisdom of a older being, was the only one he went and visited in person.
Tseng would meet opposition for a different reason. Firstly, when your boss has feelings for you, that can make things convoluted. Tseng simply looked on as Rufus ranted in his own way about how it wasn't right and there were others better suited for him. Tseng respectively explained that no one, not even Rufus, could make a claim to who he shared his life with. Politely asking if there was anything else needed of him, Rufus looked on in angry shock as Tseng excused himself, placed a call in PHS, and strolled out the office.
Reno's antics he could bypass by assigning more paper work to the man. Elena would need to get over it, seeing as he never was interested in her gender and that was a assumption on her part. Rude simply didn't care either way so long as he was content.
When Vincent and Tseng took their relationship to the next level, not surprisingly Cloud was ass, acting as if what he thought mattered. Yes, there had been a time he was the leader, but now was not that time. Such ideals were not needed, and Cloud knew that.
Tifa was happy for Vincent. Strangely, Cloud came around quickly, too. The couple bet that it was due to the barmaid. Cid was his boisterous self, slapping Vincent on the shoulder and screaming for tea to be made by Shera as he wanted to hear all about it. Tseng winced with each curse he said. Vincent was amused, thinking that this is exactly what he felt like when he'd talked to that redhead Reno.
It became common knowledge, as if their relationship had always been. Reno of course continued to try his antics when he returned from Icicle, only this time instead of Tseng's wrath, he met Vincent's protective nature of Tseng.
Reno ceased at once after a couple of Chaos-driven stalkings.
It was safe to say he finally gave the couple a wide berth. When Yuffie began trying to interfere, she, too, met a brick wall.
Apparently, Tseng had his own jealous streak. After being "invited" to Tseng's office, her bursting from his office in tears and him still looking cool as a cucumber...was more terrifying than anything Vincent was capable of.
Yuffie never talked about it but strangely began respecting Vincent more.
It seemed Vincent and Tseng were a lovely matched pair. It was apparent they loved each other and so everyone simply accepted it and moved on, lest they attract one or both of their ire.