Chapter Three: On Edge
The pair of heroes walked at a casual pace through the bustling streets of Edge. They'd put the chocobo in a stable and paid for three days' board for the animal. They were nearing Seventh Heaven when Yuffie glanced sidelong at her quiet companion. "Hey, Vince?" "Yes?" "You got a cut, right? I mean, after we beat Sephiroth, Cloud paid everyone. We split the money. You got yours, right?" "Why do you ask?" "Well, everyone else went out and spent it. Cid built the Shera. Tifa rebuilt Seventh Heaven. Barrett started his alternative fuel business."
"What's your point, Yuffie?" "Well, you're just squatting at Cosmo Canyon. Before that, you just seemed to wonder around. You stayed in Kalm for a while, but never bought a house." "Is that a problem?" "No, but… Aren't you ever going to get your own place?" "Actually, I was thinking of fixing up the old Shinra Manor in Nibleheim." Yuffie gave him a look. "That was a joke, Yuffie." "Coulda fooled me, Oh Sinister One." Vincent stopped suddenly and Yuffie had taken a few more steps before she noticed and whirled around to face him. "Did I say something wrong?" "…Yuffie, do you really find me sinister?" Yuffie raised an eyebrow. "Well, not anymore." "Not anymore?" "You have to admit, Vincent, you do kind of resemble an evil villain in appearance." "Hmm." "But that's one of the things that makes you so cool," she said bashfully. "Check it out. I walk down the street with you, and everyone gets the hell outta our way. Nobody wants to fuck with Vincent Valentine." Yuffie beamed up at him, but the smile quickly faded when he didn't answer. "Come on, Vince. Don't tell me you don't dress like that on purpose." He looked up then. "You're right. I needed an outer visage to match the monster inside." His claw hand moved to his chest then as he bowed his head.
A moment later he felt Yuffie's tiny arms fold around him. He froze, and realized he hadn't been this close to another living being since the short-lived affair with Lucrecia. "Yuffie?" "I like you the way you are, Vincent. Don't ever change." "Hmph." It was awkward for him, but he returned her embrace. "Right back at you, kid."
Ten minutes later they were seated near the window in Tifa's bar. It was crowded, and noisy, but Tifa seemed to have things under control. Yuffie had insisted they stop for a light lunch out of her knapsack during the journey. They'd ordered tea instead.
"So, how've you been, Vince?" Yuffie asked, head resting in her hands on the table. Vincent's lips pursed. "I'm fine," he said sternly. "Okay," Yuffie said, holding her hands up. "I know you don't wanna talk about yourself. I'll drop it." "Thanks." "No prob." "What about you, Yuffie?" "Me?" Vincent cleared his throat. "How have you been?" "Oh… You know, fine. Dad's trying to marry me off, but I told him I'd never come home if he tried it again. He hasn't." "Marry you off?" "Yeah, you know, like pre-arranged marriage. I was like, hell no!" "That's… very old fashioned." "Tell me about it." "I think you were wise to refuse." Yuffie blushed. "R-really?" "Mmm. Arranged marriages are rarely happy marriages." "Oh. Yeah, that's true…" The sound of laughter caught her attention.
"Yo, Vince. Don't look now, but those girls are staring at you. I think they're from your fan club." Vincent glimpsed coolly over his shoulder, catching sight of the four girls in the corner of the bar. They giggled and looked away quickly. "Hmph. They wouldn't even have a fan club for me if they knew the truth." Yuffie grinned sheepishly. "I wouldn't be so sure about that, Thou Sinister One."
Vincent gave her a strange look. "Okay, okay, I won't call you that anymore. Promise!" "I don't mind so much," he said. "Huh?" "I mean it's alright if you want to call me that. I've been called much worse." "Oh, right… I'm sorry, Vince." "Don't be. I'm not as fragile as some people like to think." Yuffie smiled then. "I hope you're not referring to me, Vincent Valentine! Because I certainly don't think of you as 'fragile.' In fact, you're probably the toughest of all the Avalanche guys." Vincent smirked. "Is that so?" "Yup. Like, take Cloud for instance. He's pretty badass, but even he broke down a few times. Cid? He's all prickles on the outside, but I bet a shrink would have him crying on the floor in a matter of minutes. That dude has some serious issues…" "Cid? Crying?" "And then there's Barrett. O-M-G what a crybaby!" "Yuffie-" "And Red XIII, well, he's alright but he did get a little emo there for a while." "Yuffie, you should really watch what you say about your friends."
Her tiny shoulders fell dramatically. "Sorry. I was only using them as examples to make you feel better about yourself." Yuffie felt a strange hand settle on hers and looked up with wide eyes to see Vincent smiling at her warmly. "I know," he said. "Thank you." She blushed and began glancing around the room nervously. "No problem, heh-heh." Vincent, sensing her discomfort, pulled his hand away and leaned back in his seat.
"Anyway," she said, "my point was, you handle your problems better than most people. Even though we all knew you were hurting, you never let it show. That kind of thing takes a lot of strength." Vincent nodded. "I'd never expect another person to bear my burdens. Not even my closest friends." "Then you do think of us as friends?" "The only ones I've got."
Their tea arrived then and for a few moments they sat in silence over their steaming cups. Finally, Yuffie perked up. "Oh yeah!" "Hmm?" "Aren't you going to go talk to those girls?" Vincent rolled his eyes. "Come oooon, Vince! You need a girlfriend!" "Shhh, Yuffie. Someone will hear you." "Ooooh, don't tell me you're scared of girls." "Scared, no. Just… Not sure I'm ready to start anything new." Yuffie shifted in her chair, leaning closer. "Is it… Lucrecia?" He shrugged. "No. I think it's just me." "Afraid of commitment?" "No." "Oh. I get it." "What?" "Fear of abandonment. Same reason you never call any of your Avalanche friends – not even me – and the same reason you won't let anybody inside that red cape of yours." "Inside my cape?" "Figure of speech." "First time I've ever heard it." "Okay, it's a new figure of speech. I made it up." Vincent chuckled lightly, looking rather pleased with himself. "You know, Vince," Yuffie said in between sips of tea. "You're funny. People don't know that about you." "I wasn't always a demon-infested vampire, Yuffie. I was older than you are now when Hojo killed me, and my… existence had been relatively normal up til then." "Badda-bing! See? It's dry, but it's definitely humor. You could score a date, easy." "I'm comfortable right here," he said matter-of-factly. There was still a warmth in his eyes which made Yuffie blush slightly. Not wanting him to notice, she quickly rose from the table. "'Scuse me, Vince. Nature calls."
Once in the restroom, she splashed cool water on her face, hoping to calm the redness. It wasn't really working, she realized. What was going on here? She'd known Vincent for years and suddenly she had a crush on him? Ridiculous, she told herself. Out of the question. I'm the last person Vincent would consider. Even so, she found it more difficult to look him in the eye once she returned to the table. Even more disappointing was the silence that ensued for the remainder of their meeting, which wasn't long.
Vincent walked Yuffie to the inn where they'd both be staying. Yuffie was exhausted from the long journey, but knew Vincent would be up most of the night. "Thanks, Vincent." "My pleasure." "I, um." "Yes?" "I had a good time today." "The feeling is mutual, Yuffie." He sounded sincere. "Are you alright?" he asked. "You haven't looked well since we got our tea." "I'm just tired," she insisted defensively. "No worries, okay?" "Very well." He turned to leave without another word. "Don't forget, we're meeting in the monument in the square, ten A-M!" Vincent waved over his shoulder in acknowledgement. Typical Vincent, she thought. Doesn't even say goodbye. She smiled then, realizing his unusual behavior only endeared him further to her. "Oh boy," she sighed, turning into the inn. "I've got issues."
Vincent, having little need of sleep, had no better place to be that night than back at the bar. Tifa was wiping down the counter when he entered. "Welcome back, Vincent." Tifa grabbed a clean glass as he approached the bar. "What'll it be?" "Tifa. May I… Do you have a moment to spare?" She grinned and set the glass down before coming around the bar. "Sure. I was just about to close up, anyway." She locked the door and flipped the Open sign to Closed before returning to the bar and taking a seat beside her most elusive of comrades. "So, what's up?" "Tifa, how would you describe me to someone who didn't know me?" Tifa's gentle face scrunched in confusion. "What do you mean?" "Please. Just answer the question. Be honest." "Well," she said seriously, "you're tall, slender. Black hair, red eyes." "Are my eyes unsettling?" "No more than Cloud's, I suppose. Personally, I kind of like it." "Go on," he pressed. She shrugged. "What else is there?" He seized the fabric of his cape between thumb and fore-claw, then let it drift back to his side. "Oh, the clothes. Well, you're certainly… original." "Would you call me frightening, or intimidating?" "Intimidating, maybe. What's this all about, Vincent?" "It's nothing. Thank you, Tifa." With that, he rose from the barstool and headed for the exit. "Anytime," Tifa called after him before he disappeared through the doors.