Now, Tomorrow, Always

~Now, Tomorrow, Always~

By: Aerys Krystie and Lunar Plexus.

~ * ~

Behind a large, dark wood table, with various books spread out across it, stood Vincent, staring down at the books and sheets of paper. The little problem with Fenrir was proving to be a tad annoying. Every book they owned within the massive library at the house offered no help. There was always the option of taking the machine to a mechanic, but Cloud would feel terrible if Cid ever found out.

Vincent turned a page in a thick book of mechanics when the door to the library opened and Tifa entered, a cup of tea in hand. She set it down on the corner of the table, moving to stand beside Vincent and look over the books and...where did he get blueprints from?

"Reno would like to see you. I guess he's discovered literature," Tifa said with a slight laugh in her voice.

"I'm hurt, Tifa," Reno remarked from the doorway.

Reno was feeling a little more confident. Tifa was being totally natural with him, so Reno assumed that Vincent hadn't mentioned the incident to her.

Vincent raised his head, fixing Reno with a gaze that was void of emotion for a second and returning his attention back to the book he was thumbing through. His ears twitched slightly as Tifa left his side.

As she passed Reno, she asked, "Would you like a coffee? We know it's a strain for you being up this early."

Sticking his tongue out, in the most mature manner, Reno accepted.

Left alone now, Reno's eyes traveled up to Vincent. He was poring over his book, apparently completely oblivious to Reno's presence. Reno wondered what he was supposed to say. He was a little uneasy about this, but he knew he wouldn't feel right until he'd apologized.

" I've never been up this early after a night like that before." Reno said, taking a step towards the desk.

Vincent didn't move. Reno had a horrible flashback to last night. He took another step closer.

" It might be hard to believe, but I never actually had a night like that before."

Reno really did want to explain himself, to make it clear that it had just been a bad first impression.

"I don't behave like that, really. I've never talked to anyone that way."

Vincent continued reading, as Reno moved to the front of the desk. Looking at Vincent's left arm, Reno wondered how he hadn't noticed the shining claw the night before. It had to be a pretty bad accident that got you stuck with that thing for life. Reno realized he was beating around the bush. Babbling got him in trouble with this dark-haired man last night. He guessed it was better to just say what he came to say.

"I'm sorry. Really."

Vincent raised his head again, looking Reno in the eye. "Apology accepted." The way he said it, Vincent hoped he got the point across to Reno that their little conversation had ended and there was no need for the redhead to overstay his welcome in the library.

Reno was taken aback. He hadn't expected forgiveness so easily. He wasn't sure Vincent meant it, he was so hard to read. He felt like his apology was incomplete, he wanted to explain himself further. The fact that Vincent had spoken improved Reno's confidence somewhat, anyway. He walked around to the other side of the desk, standing next to the man leaning over it.

" Are you sure you mean it? Because I know it must have been really...embarrassing...for you, and I really don't want you to think the wrong thing about me. I'm not totally shit, really."

Vincent continued to ignore Reno. Reno wasn't the most perceptive person, but he did realize at this point that he probably wasn't going to get anything else out of Vincent. It was strange how it bothered him. After all, he'd said what he needed to, and he didn't know the man anyway. But it still bothered him.

Reno turned and headed towards the door. Vincent didn't look up even when Tifa entered with Reno's coffee. Vincent heard the redhead turn it down.

"Really sorry, but I gotta run."

And he was gone.

* * *

Vincent's shoulders relaxed. They had tensed slightly when Reno stood beside him. Not that Vincent had a problem with it, since it was obvious Reno had invested in a shower and put it to good use. There were just some lines that shouldn't be crossed after last night.

With an inaudible groan, Vincent sat down in the high backed chair, rubbing his eyes with the thumb and forefinger of his good hand. Last night was becoming even more of a problem than Fenrir's engine. Hopefully this would be the last time it was ever mentioned and the last time he would ever think about it.

Embarrassed? Was I embarrassed? Vincent stared at one of the books on the table but not seeing it. No, I wasn't. Annoyed, but not embarrassed. And no-one who saw would associate me with him. He was fairly certain that was a good thing, even if it did, in some unknown way, seem like an interesting concept. Perhaps it would make him seem a little more normal.

Vincent blinked at his thoughts. When did being socially accepted matter to him? If society knew the real him, they would lock him away out of fear. Shaking his head, Vincent stood. He didn't have time to dwell on thoughts like those. Reno had apologized. Vincent didn't need one. He knew what people were like under the influence of alcohol. Cloud was the perfect example.

The few times that the blond stumbled into the house, making enough noise to raise the dead on another continent, and yet not managing to wake the children, were few and far apart; even more so now that Cloud was at the orphange everyday. Drunk people always managed to say the worst or most inappropriate thing, most of the time having nothing to do with the current predicament. And then there was their actions.

Vincent scolded himself. Now was not the time to be thinking about anything except finding a solution to Fenrir's irritating problem. He went back to scanning the books. His attention was drawn away from as small pattering feet entered the library. Vincent's eyes softened when he saw Marlene.

"Uncle Vincent!" she squealed, hugging his leg. "Reno was just here!"

Vincent let a gentle smile grace his lips as he unwrapped Marlene's arms from his legs, picked her up and sat her on the table's edge. As he straightened his shoulders, he felt her tug his cape, which meant she wanted to whisper something to him. He lowered his head so she could tell him her secret.

"Do you think Reno would mind if I called him 'uncle'?"

Vincent thought it over and whispered back to the girl, "You should ask him."

Marlene nodded and turned her head to look at the books. "You still haven't found what's wrong?"

Vincent shook his head. "Not yet."

Marlene bit her lower lip but grinned. "You're Uncle Vincent. You can do anything!"

Vincent patted Marlene on the head, moving a book out of the way to pull another forward. They stayed like that until Tifa called out that dinner was ready. Marlene hopped off the table, taking Vincent's hand and, not giving him a chance to say no, dragged him to the dinner table.

~ * ~
End Chapter VI.

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