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Vincent Comes Home	By : sailtheplains Category: Final Fantasy VII > Het - Male/Female Views: 1270 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Final Fantasy VII, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
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Vincent straightened his tie, keeping his eyes low, and walked the perimeter of the mansion. Again. It was becoming something of a mantra for him. Everyday, he would come out and pace the grounds. Nothing was ever there, save the occasional wandering monster from the fields outside the town but he did it every morning, every afternoon, and every evening. He knew the routines of all the townspeople. Mister Strife, Senior would take his son out to the fields every morning, and around noon they would come back for lunch with Lockhart and his wife and their son. The two boys would be of age soon. Lockhart already had a girlfriend. Strife seemed rather shy but he was a good lad.
And that was the way of things. Children would run about, playing, sometimes wandering out too far. Sometimes daring each other to go to the Mountain. Or even to the Mansion. They’d dared each other to come up to him too. But so far, none had. He wasn’t sure what kind of thrill they were looking for. Everyone knew they were there; that the scientists from ShinRa were there. Some of the people here were nervous about having ShinRa right in their back yard. These types edged away from them when they had to go into the town for supplies. They didn't like it when Vincent did his rounds and forbid them from going near the Mansion. These were, perhaps, the wisest of them all. They were afraid of what ShinRa was doing.
This was a common little town with a common little life. Children here grew up and either went away to the military or they married each other and became shopkeepers, weapons masters, or restaurant caretakers. So it was a bit of a surprise when, during the middle of one such round, a commotion struck off in the town. Suddenly, people were either walking away very quickly and going in their houses or they were scittering to the main gates. Vincent touched his gun unconsciously and stalked into the village. The people either pretended he wasn’t there or parted the way for him. He still couldn’t get used to how they looked at him. Like he was either a piece of trash or some fearsome monster.
“Valentine.” It was Hojo.
Vincent scowled, adjusting his earpiece he answered, “Sir.”
“The will be a small battalion entering the main gates. I can see you’ve noticed. ShinRa are escorting another scientist who will be my assistant in the Jenova Project.”
“Gast?” Vincent could hear the disgusted growl Hojo made.
“He’s too wrapped up in that Ifalna. I don’t even know if he’s coming back. I need an assistant.”
That much was true. When they had been sent to the last Cetra woman she had agreed to work with Gast on his project. His reports had been frequent and informative. Lately, however, his reports were scarce and had little to do with Cetra anymore, revolving around this Ifalna herself. Vincent had no illusions about what was probably happening to Gast. Hojo, however, seemed to have blinders on.
“Valentine! Are you listening?”
Vincent grimaced. “Yes, sir. Continue.”
“Her name is Lucrecia. Lead the battalion to the Mansion and let them rest in the rooms. Or send them to the Inn. I don’t care. Do something with them. Bring Lucrecia to me.”
“Yes, sir.”
“And Valentine. Don’t leave this Mansion again without informing me.”
Vincent had to close his eyes and swallow, biting back his reply to a mild, “Yes, sir.” Scowling, he nudged his way through the crowd, looking over heads to see if he might catch sight of the battalion. They had just entered the gates and stood in formation when he got to the front. Consciously this time, Vincent touched the cold barrel of his gun. The crowd seemed to step back now that they realized that Vincent was there. He glared over the battalion. “Where’s your Captain?” A tall, burly sort of woman was just hammering her way to the front. “Sir. Hojo said we would be—“
“Yes, to the Mansion. Or the Inn. Whichever you prefer. Is the woman with you?”
“Lucrecia, sir.”
Vincent gave a curt nodded. “Your soldiers may do as they wish. But don’t bother the townspeople unless to pay them patronage in the shops or inn. Understood?”
She gave a graceless, hard-eyed salute and turned to her battalion. “Go to the Inn and pay for your rooms. I’ll be with you shortly.” She turned back to Vincent as her troops disassembled, leaving a lone figure who had been in the very middle. The loner seemed uncertain what to do and then stepped forward hesitantly.
“Captain…” The Captain turned back. “We will escort you to Hojo, Lucrecia. Come with me. This is...”
“Vincent Valentine.” “Vincent Valentine, a Turk. Mister Valentine, this is the scientist.” Vincent swallowed. He gave a curt nod and turned away, perhaps a bit too quickly but no one seemed to notice. He stalked back towards the Mansion. The Captain and Lucrecia followed. The townspeople dispersed around him, probably eager for a few coins from the battalion. Vincent stared just ahead at the dirt as he walked. He glanced back to ensure the two women were still with him and, finding they were, turned away quickly. He was tense. God, he was tense. He buried his hands in his pockets. They were icy cold and clammy. His eyes felt dry; his heart was yammering. He took a deep breath. Cap it off, Vincent. What’s wrong with you? He could feel her eyes on him. Could he? Or was he just imaging it? His nerves had suddenly jumped up and scattered. God, get a hold of yourself.
“Valentine,” came the nasally growl in his ear.
Vincent scowled again. “Yes, sir.”
“She with you?”
Vincent rolled his eyes. You think? “Yes, sir.”
“Is she capable?”
Vincent stopped walking. “I haven’t spoken to her yet, sir. And I hardly think I’d be one to judge.” He was a Turk, not a scientist.
“I didn’t ask you to think, Valentine. I asked you if she looked capable.”
Nevermind the fact that Hojo hadn’t asked if she ‘looked’ capable, Vincent took his hands out of his pockets so he could clench his fingers. The woman and the Captain were gathered around him now. He gave a growl and turned to look at Lucrecia. He looked up. He looked down. She blinked and drew back from him. “Yes, sir, she looks capable. Healthy.” Lucrecia gave him an incredulous look, as if she couldn’t believe he’d just said that. He gave a frustrated, if not apologetic, sort of shrug and turned away before she could look him in the eye.
“Well, I’ll be certain to judge for myself whether she is strong enough.”
Vincent barely paid attention to that. He didn’t care what Hojo was working on. He didn’t know enough about it to care. And Hojo was always trying to bait him into asking questions, just so he could deny him. Vincent continued walking, opening the door to the Mansion and holding it for the two women. The Captain nodded her acknowledgement. Lucrecia smiled at him. He swallowed, which took a considerable effort, and looked away.
The Captain turned to Lucrecia as they all stood in the front hall. “This is where I leave you. If you need anything, we’ll be at the Inn for a couple days.” She turned to Vincent. “Sir,” she snapped out, giving a hard-edged salute. She turned completely and let herself out of the House.
Vincent curled his fingers. He looked at the scientist. She looked back. Her eyes were open, studying him like she might a curious-looking plant. He felt his shoulders tense again. “I’m to escort you to Hojo.”
She drew her eyes away from him and nodded. “Thank you, Mister Valentine.”
He nodded curtly and started upstairs. He waited for her to follow and then walked beside her. Usually, when Vincent escorted someone, he said nothing. There was nothing to say. He didn’t make small talk. But suddenly, he found himself wishing he could comment on something….or perhaps apologize for being so brusque. He licked his lips, rolled his shoulders and led her to the back room. “To get into the basement, just press this stone and the door will open.” He did so, demonstrating. “Be careful on the stairs. They’re old and tend to creak.”
She nodded, but said nothing, merely followed him down the circling stairs and into the hall. “This room to your left has equipment in it. Extra supplies. If you should require anything, let me know.”
“Thank you, Mister Valentine.”
He studied the ground, hating himself for a reason he couldn’t quite pin down. He remembered to breath and grasped the icy cold knob of the door ahead of them. “This is the library. The lab is just through here.” He opened the door.
And Hojo looked up.
No. Vincent lifted his face to stare over the counter. The bartender barely glanced at him before heading down the row. “Need somethin’, Mister Valentine?” Vincent shook his head. Mister Valentine. Now that all this Sephiroth business had finally passed, Vincent and his other companions were known worldwide as heroes. Where ever he wanted to eat, the food was nearly always free. He needed ammunition, free. Drinks? Free. Room at an Inn? Free. He always insisted on paying but most wouldn’t hear of it. Especially those who had seen the near-genocide. Who had looked up into the sky and had seen that hell-sent ball of death, speeding towards the earth.
The bartender took his glass and refilled it anyway, placing it gently before him. “You all right, sir?”
Vincent swallowed and nodded. The bartender let his eyes linger over the ragged man before him and then went to another customer. He had his reputation, of course. It protected him. No matter where Vincent went, thugs stayed away from him, con artists avoided him, priests wanted nothing to do with him. He was the Silent One. The Sharp Shooter. The Vampire. It didn’t entirely bother him, but he didn’t like it either. He had been alone, in sleep, for many years. He was awakened and set free by Cloud and his ragtag group of fighters. He had participated in an apocalyptic battle to save the world. He had made his peace by helping to kill Sephiroth. And where was he? In a bar in the North, getting drunk. Everyone had gone their own way. Deep down, perhaps, he had hoped that they would stay together. Deep down. Too deep for him to admit to. Barret, Tifa, and Cloud had gone back to Midgar to live a peaceful life. Nanaki returned to Cosmo Canyon. Yuffie? She was a ninja. He supposed she did ninja-like things. Cait Sith…where did he go? He couldn’t even remember anymore. Cid was back in Rocket Town with his ship. Could I captain a ship? Vincent smiled with that thought. He? Captain a ship? He didn’t quite have Cid’s flair for command. Not anymore anyway. Vincent took his glass and drained it, licking the bitterness off his lips. He pushed off his stool, dug around with his claw and pulled out some gil. He left it on the counter and, before the bartender could protest, left to his room. He had given up on his last tie to Lucrecia. He had given up his guilt when they killed Sephiroth. So what did he have now?
Old clothes, his gun, and the monsters tapped in the back of his mind.
He shouldn’t stay away.
He should go see them.
Go see them? You sure you wanna do that?
Yes. Tomorrow.
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Vincent Comes Home