“Cloud?”
“Yeah.”
“What’s wrong?”
“Hmmm?”
“Nevermind.”
Tifa sighed. It had been like this nearly everyday for the past two years. (I wonder what he’s always thinking about.) Two years. It felt like forever. Between Cloud not talking to her and she being so busy, Tifa could barely keep track of time. Every other day she was sent to someplace or another to help restore the planet. Monsters, fires, river-rerouting, construction. It never ended. Plus, coming home to having the man of her dreams simply ignore her definitely did not help. Life was easier as a bar hostess.
“Um, Tifa?” The door cracked open and Barret’s head poked in. He fancy tuxedo told Tifa that Barret was going to that night’s ball despite his previous complaints. However, his dirty brown work boots showed how simple Barret really was.
“Do you really think that Reeve will let you waltz in those?” She smiled lightly and stood from her chair.
“Haha. Reeves’ pompous-assed shoemaker ain’t done with my ‘hand-crafted, brilliantly comfortable’ shoes yet.” She couldn’t help but chuckle at Barret’s description.
“Anyways. What were you going to ask me?”
“Oh yeah. Well I was wondering if maybe I could borrow one of Cloud’s bowties. May a clip-on?” he asked hopefully.
“Sure you can. I’m sure he won’t mind.” Tifa and Barret both looked at Cloud. He sat on the edge of his bed, his back facing the two, staring absently out the window. (Who knows just what Cloud is thinking anymore. He’s become absentminded, and he gets mad so easily!) “Can I ask what happened to the one that came with your tux?” Since Tifa was only joking, she was surprised when Barret turned red and stared at his feet.
“…Well I….I uh tied it into a crazy knot that was too tight so I had to cut it off,” he rushed out in one breath.
“I guess I’ll have to tie it for you because Cloud doesn’t have any clip-ons. Unless Cid has one. Have you asked him?” She walked over to Cloud’s dresser. Just as she went to tug on the top drawer handle, Cloud’s head snapped up.
“Don’t look in there,” he yelled. “Get out and don’t touch anything!” Cloud’s face turned red and he leaped off the bed. Normally Tifa would have simply dismissed his behavior because he was becoming very possessive. But she noticed his offensive stance, his tensed muscles…and the way Cloud’s eyes were changing from blue to a unique and memorable shade of green.
“Go away.”
Barret too noticed Cloud’s eyes. He stumbled over an apology, tried to grab Tifa, then backed out of the room. His running footsteps could be heard in the marble hall as he ran for help.
Tifa was too startled by the presence of the strong mako in Cloud’s eyes to leave. She had felt Barret tug on her harm, but her feet stayed still.
“I thought…Cloud?” she mumbled as she stepped towards him.
“Get out! Now!” He dropped into a crouch, ready to spring forward. His eyes dared from the door to the open window as he considered his chanced. He snarled as Tifa tried to come closer.
She slowly backed away at Cloud’s snarl. Her almond eyes desperately searched Cloud’s green orbs. She cursed silently when she tripped over a discarded shoe and fell. Cloud dropped his defenses and leaped for the open window. She reached for him calling, “Wait! Cloud, come back!”
***********
“Welcome Alex. Please let one of the servants take your coat. I hope you’ll be staying for the whole party? Good, good.” Reeve smiled as he shook hands with the man. “Perhaps we might be able to talk about an empty seat on the Board. And I’ll be sure to introduce you tonight to some fine and beautiful dancers.”
As soon as Alex Schwim, a big honcho in Shin-Ra’s Junon branch, had moved into the Grand Ballroom, another businessman stepped forward. Reeve simply pasted the smile back on his face. He then repeated the same speech with a few changes. “Hello David. Sarah. Please allow one of my servants to take your coats. Will you be staying for the meeting afterwards David? That’s good. Maybe we can discuss future plans for your department? Your beautiful Sarah will have to save me a dance.”
Reeve was exhausted. He had been greeting people for two hours and was ready for a break. Since there was no one behind David and his wife, Reeve sent a servant to bring him a chair and a glass of wine.
“Pardon me sir, but there is a woman waiting for you in Conference Room D. She said that it was very important to meet with you right away.”
“Thank you very much. Will you please find the co-executive president and tell him that he must greet guests for me. I will only be gone for a short while.” “Yes sir.”
Reeve sighed and trudged through the halls to Conference Room D. He had really been looking forward to that glass of wine. He knew he appetite would be spoiled after this brief but important meeting.
He came to the end of the North hall and opened one of the heavy gilded double doors to his right. He walked into the room, the door slamming shut just as he sank into a chair.
“There you are. I was beginning to think that you had either forgotten or my messenger got sidetracked,” the female voice purred in delight. She walked out from the shadows beside the door.
“I’m here Scarlett. Do you have the information?”
“Of course Reeve. You wound me by thinking that I’m incompetent.” She slid up behind him, wrapped her arms about his neck, and pushed the disk to his chest. “Shall I show you just how competent I am?” Scarlett leaned forward and stroked his chest, his stomach, his thighs…she practically swayed with the delight of this new adventure. (I’ve slept with every man in the company but Reeve. He can’t hold out forever! And just think of all he jealous women there will be when I tell this little story of conquest. Ha!)
“Yes. As a matter of fact, you can prove to me how able you are,” Reeve stated simply. Scarlett’s eyes lit up. He smiled at the thought of his next words. “I need you to travel to Midgar and sift through what is left of Hojo’s ground lab there. I need information on all of his ‘specimens’ and side projects. You should receive no resistance as Midgar is practically abandoned.”
Reeve chuckled as Scarlett hissed at him and stormed away. She was too dangerous an ally for him to let down his guard to “reward” her. Besides, the woman was a walking tramp disease. He had been turning down her advances for years.
“I guess I’d better go back to the party.” Being the President of Shin-Ra had some major fallacies. ***********
The Grand Ballroom was alit with hundreds of candles, as well as a soft electrical glow. Two hundred round tables were set up around the dance floor, six seats around each table. The room was nearly full.
Vincent stood in a shadowed corner, silent as usual. He had left his bright seat at the head table so that he might be able to think. But it was too noisy in the room, especially with his heightened hearing. Vincent was too polite to simply walk out of the room. Reeve had spent days talking him into coming.
He regretted his decision to stay as a young woman approached him. (Like it isn’t obvious that I want to be left alone. I’m by myself and in the darkest area of the room. Why didn’t I just leave?)
“Hello sir. May I ask your name?” The girl was no more than 19 years of age. She had beautiful golden hair and striking blue eyes. (Blonde hair, blue eyes. Just like Cloud.) Vincent mused. (But she’s not better looking than Lucrecia was.) He considered lying to the girl, but saw no point in it. “I’m Vincent Valentine.” He said it as coldly as possible, hoping she might take the hint and leave him alone.
She didn’t. “Would you like to dance with me Mr. Valentine? You look awfully lonely in this corner.”
She glanced over at an older man, possibly her father.
Then Vincent understood. This girl wasn’t naïve. She knew exactly who he was, and the kind of connections he had to Reeve. These high-class executives were deceptively clever. Always they were trying to advance up the social and political ladder.
“No thank you. I’m not interested,” he replied monotonously. “If you’ll excuse me, I need a breath of fresh air.”
“Please allow me to join you. Perhaps we can take a walk through the gar-“
“I don’t believe that I’ll need an escort.” He moaned inwardly. (Will she never give up? Do I have to become even more blunt than I already am?!) He cut her off just as she about to object. “If you’ll excuse me…”
He turned sideways and slipped from the corner. Wandering the maze between tables, he emerged in the main aisle. From there Vincent started determinedly towards the doors.
“Mr. Valentine! Allow me to introduce you to my dau-“
Vincent brushed by the man, ignoring his young daughter.
The door was still thirty feet and the aisle was lined with tables. He had no chance of making it out alive. He’d have to meet every eligible woman first.
Vincent began to walk faster. He had to consciously keep himself from running. Some shred of dignity had to be kept. But the thought of these people trying to use him…
“Why is that Vincent? Vincent Valentine?”
“Excuse me,” Vincent tried to move past the hulking man. He moved to block Vincent’s escape.
“Do you remember me?”
“Should I?” Vincent replied sourly.
“Of course! I’m one of Lucrecia’s old lab assistants, back in the days of Sephiroth.”
“You were WHAT!?” People were starting to stare at him for more than their daughter’s sakes.
“I was-“ the man began to back away, hands held before him protectively. “She spoke of you-“
“Get away from me. You damn experimental scum. You ruined her,” he growled. “You and Hojo. And everyone else. It’s your fault that she went insane.”
“But I h-had nothing t-to do with it! It was all because of Hojo and…and Jenova!” He spun around and started for the tables.
Vincent’s call made him move even faster: “I’ll find you! And I expect you to answer anything I ask!!” He thought about going after the man. However, this new prospect made him yearn for quiet even more.
The rest of his exit was unhindered. All except for an elderly woman standing by the huge double doors. “And what do you think you’re doing young man?” Her wrinkled face scrunched into what seemed a thoughtful frown.
“I’m leaving.”
“Whatever for? The party has just begun.”
“I’ve had enough excitement for the night.” He nodded to the guards. They bowed deeply and opened the doors. Turning, Vincent bowed his head slightly, “Goodnight Elder.” The woman simply watched him walk into the hall, her lips pulled tight in a secret.
(I need air. That room was too stuffy.) He walked slowly down the hall until he rounded a corner. Out of sight at last, Vincent began a steady jog outside. Soon, he was running.
As he ran, the only sounds echoing back to him were that of the party. (No footsteps. Oh God. What have I become?) No. Thinking of that was too painful. He’d rather just forget his past life. (But that scientist…)
Vincent heard the wind before he’d even reached the doors. Being imprisoned for so long had honed his hearing. Pushing open the doors at the end of the hallway, he stepped outside. The caressing brush of the cold night air caused Vincent to relax. He slowly slid to the cold earth, spreading full length upon it. Pressing his cheek to the ground, he savored the soft grass, crisp air, and the tangy smell of earth. The overwhelming feeling made him suddenly tired. But he hadn’t slept in years…
An angry growl forced Vincent to stumble to his feet. He shook his groggy head to clear it of the tiring fog. Peering into the darkness was- (No. Wait. How?) Rubbing his eyes frantically, Vincent stared at the apparition standing before him.
Michelle: All views expressed above were those of me. Tee hee. ^_^ So if you have a problem with how I expressed a character, I probably won't change it. I've already changed it once, that's enough. That's it! -Michelle/Acid/Jenova