Final Fantasy - All Series Fan Fiction ❯ Mako Eyes ❯ Aftermath ( Chapter 15 )

Vincent slowly opened his eyes, and even that was painful. His entire body ached, but not as much as his heart when everything came flooding back. Aneilla... He sat up slowly and found himself in his room that Tifa kept for him at the bar. He grunted as pain washed through him, but he swung his legs over to the side of the bed nonetheless.

 

“You know, you really shouldn't be up… you almost died that night.”

 

Vincent looked to the doorway and saw Cloud leaning against the frame, his blue eyes glowing under a shock of blonde hair that fell over his forehead. “I'm fine,” he said to the blonde before standing, ignoring the pain, and walked over to the window. He looked outside to see that night had fallen. “How long has it been?”

 

“Almost a week,” Cloud said and Vincent heard him enter the room and sit on the edge of the bed. “Reeve had you fixed up and we brought you back here to care for you. We were hoping that you would wake up some time soon. We…” Cloud was silent for a moment and then he spoke softly, “…we lost a lot of good people that day.”

 

Vincent closed his eyes, but didn't turn to face Cloud. “Aneilla…?”

 

Cloud was silent and Vincent felt like his heart was ripped into pieces, although he didn't allow it to show. I couldn't save her... Why is it that someone like myself lives and someone like her is the one to die? “Cloud…” he said, slowly turning around to face the warrior. “Is Aneilla…” He stopped when he saw a new figure standing in the doorway. His eyes locked onto a pair as crimson as his own.

 

Aneilla was leaning casually against the door frame, the sides of her long hair pulled back and twisted into a braid. A small smile crept onto her lips as she looked up at Vincent. On the bed, Cloud chuckled softly and said, “She's as stubborn as you are Vince…”

 

Aneilla pushed up and walked over to Vincent. He looked down at her and choked out, “Aneilla… you're alive…”

 

Aneilla smiled and said, “Yeah…” Then she punched him, hard, in the chest and said sternly, “You ever try to pull something like that again, I will definitely roast you. Damn it, Vincent Valentine, you almost killed yourself!”

 

Vincent smiled with a soft grunt as he looked down at the petite woman in front of him, who he thought just moments before was dead and returned to the Lifestream. He reached forward and brushed his fingers against her cheek. Why do I feel this way? Vincent asked himself. When I'm with her, the feelings I have are the same that I had when I was with Lucrecia... but in a way, it's different. That's when Vincent realized that he had fallen for Aneilla, no matter how much he tried not to. He hadn't wanted to fall for her, knowing the hardships it would bring, but it was too late now. Although he didn't want it before, a part of him wanted this now, and had wanted it for a long time. But he couldn't tell her, not now; he had to figure things out. So instead of telling her how he felt for her, he said, “I couldn't let you die, not when you've done so much… and you have so much more of your life to live…”

 

Aneilla covered his hand with her own and said, “You shouldn't have done that, Vince. I don't know what I would have done if I realized that I was only alive because you died to save me.”

 

“You would have moved on, lived your life to the fullest…”

 

“No, I probably would have dragged your ass back from the Lifestream and killed you again because you broke your promise.”

 

“Promise?” Vincent asked, and then he remembered:

 

“Hey Vincent?”

 

Vincent turned around to see Aneilla looking at him, her crimson eyes glowing in the darkness. “Yeah?” he asked.

 

“Can I rely on you to be around, in a hundred years or so, so I won't be alone again?”

 

Vincent blinked, not expecting that question to be asked. How was he supposed to answer that? “I'm not sure,” he told her. “It's hard to tell as of right now, but, for now, I can say yes.”

 

“That wasn't really a promise…” Vincent told her.

 

“But you said you would be there, and I trust that you will,” Aneilla said. “I need to have someone I can rely on, so I chose you.”

 

Vincent looked down at Aneilla and he smiled. “Thank you…”

 

“Hmm? For what?”

 

“For everything.”

 

*~*~*

 

Midgar was slowly being repaired, and life slowly returned back to normal. What they found of James was nothing more but a pile of bones and a black orb near his chest that was cracked almost into two. Aneilla took that immediately, saying that that had been his heart and she left for the rest of the day, returning back to the bar in the evening saying that she'd disposed of it and that it wouldn't harm anyone. No one asked what kind of harm it could do, and she never said, so they left it be.

 

Months pasts, wounds healed and life went on. Once Midgar was repaired, the AVALANCHE team returned back to their normal lives and separated once more, but they didn't lose contact with each other. Aneilla continued to work at the bar for Tifa but after a while, she found herself missing a certain red cloaked, dark haired man. She also found herself thinking: she told him that she loved him, but he never told her that he loved her, although the emotion he shown that night proved that he did indeed have feelings for her.

 

One night, almost two months since the battle against James, Aneilla was wiping down the bar. It had closed for the night and the three of them, Cloud, Tifa and herself, were cleaning up for the next day. Cloud was stacking chairs up onto the table while Tifa swept down the floor. The children had long since gone to bed and the only noise that could be heard was the soft swishing of the ceiling fans.

 

“Alright, I'm off,” Cloud said, stacking the last chair. He looked at Aneilla and gave her a slight wave. “See you tomorrow?”

 

“I'll be here,” Aneilla said. She watched for a second as Cloud kissed Tifa briefly, telling her not to be too long. She couldn't help but feel a twinge of jealousy for the two of them. They were so happy together and Aneilla wanted to feel that happiness the two of them shared. But she knew that she wouldn't be able to find that, or if she did, it wouldn't be for long. She was an immortal, destined to live forever and she had to suffer watching the friends she now saw as her family grow old and die, while she lived on… the only person who shared the same fate as her was Vincent, and she didn't really know if he cared for her like that.

 

Once Cloud went upstairs, Tifa looked at Aneilla and smiled. Then the brunette's smile faltered when she saw sadness glint in Aneilla's eyes. “Hey, what's wrong?” she asked.

 

Aneilla shook her head and said, “You two seem so happy together…”

 

Tifa understood and said, “You'll find happiness too, someday…”

 

“Perhaps, but what happens when the person I found happiness with grows old and dies? Tifa, I'm immortal… how can I find happiness when the people I love die all around me? Sure, it'll seem like a long time for you guys, but it'll be quick for me… one minute you'll be there, the next, gone.”

 

Tifa looked at Aneilla sadly and said, “You'll find someone… and even if you don't, you'll always have Nanaki and Vincent.”

 

“Yeah… Vincent…”

 

“You really love him, don't you?”

 

Aneilla sighed and said, “I do, but I don't know how he feels for me…”

 

“I'm sure it's the same… he's definitely shown a side of himself in the past few months that we've never seen before. Give him time… you know you have plenty of it.”

 

Aneilla smiled and looked at Tifa. “Thanks Tifa.”

 

Tifa smiled and nodded. “Sure, and hey, don't forget…” Tifa set the broom against the wall and walked over to her. She placed both hands on Aneilla's shoulders and said. “Dragons are connected to the Lifestream, so when me, Cloud and the others return to it, all you have to do is connect to us through it and we'll be there. Okay?”

 

Aneilla nodded and said, “Yeah, okay.”

 

Tifa gave Aneilla a hug and Aneilla held her friend closely. It'll be a while yet, but I'll enjoy every minute I have with these guys, and then afterwards. When the two girls separated, Tifa yawned and Aneilla said, “Go on up to bed… I'll finish up down here.”

 

“Thanks Annie,” Tifa said. She waved goodnight and headed upstairs. Aneilla sighed and turned back to the bar top.

 

She was giving it the final wipe down when she heard the door open. She looked up and scowled. “Hey, can't you read buster? Sign says we're closed!” But she blinked when she recognized the figure in the doorway. “Vincent! Geez, I'm sorry, I thought you were some drunk trying to get in.”

 

Vincent chuckled as he walked across the room to the bar. Aneilla came around to the front and stood in front of him, crossing her arms. Vincent stopped in front of her and asked, “Everyone's in bed?”

 

“Yeah, seeing as it's, like, two in the morning. Hell, I should be in bed right now, but I told Tifa I would finish up down here and lock up for the night.” She looked up at Vincent, raising an eyebrow. “Why are you here? Aren't you living in Kalm now?”

 

“I am, but I need to see… you.”

 

“Me?” Aneilla asked, blinking slightly. Then she said, “Hey, whatever it was, I did not do it, and if I did, Yuffie was involved as well.”

 

Vincent chuckled and said, “It's nothing like that.”

 

“Then what is it?”

 

Vincent didn't say anything, but instead reached up and rested his un-gauntleted hand on the side of her face. Aneilla blinked and she looked up at him. His eyes locked onto hers and before she knew it, his lips were pressed against hers.

 

Aneilla's eyes widened for a moment before she allowed them to flutter closed. She wrapped her arms around his neck and returned the kiss. After a moment, Vincent pulled away and he rested his forehead against hers.

 

“I'm sorry that I kept trying to push you away,” he said softly. “Can you forgive me?”

 

Aneilla nodded and Vincent smiled slightly before he began to kiss her again. He held her close and deepened their kiss by gently pushing his tongue into her mouth. Aneilla moaned and ran her fingers through his black hair. After a while, Aneilla pulled away and said softly, “I have to lock up…”

 

Vincent nodded and Aneilla scooted around him, hurrying to the door. She could feel how warm she was and the dragon inside of her was roaring excitedly. Images flashed through her head of two dragons flying through the sky, grasping each other with their claws and their tails entwined. Aneilla shook her head of the image, feeling the dragon twisting inside of her, wanting to fly. Can't exactly do that with Vincent... Ancients! Why am I thinking of that? After locking up, Aneilla flipped the light switch, her night vision allowing her to see. Of course, Vincent's vision was the same, allowing him to meet her half way across the bar room. He pulled her close and whispered softly in her ear, “Let me show you how much I love you.”

 

Oh golly... Aneilla thought, but she found herself nodding and Vincent took her hand and led her up the stairs to her room. Both were silent even though during the entire trip to her room she was expecting one of them to hit a squeaky floorboard and alert either Cloud or Tifa or wake up the children. But they made it to her room without a sound and as Vincent closed the door, Aneilla could feel her heart thudding against her chest. She turned to face him, her red eyes glowing softly in the darkness.

 

Vincent stepped up close to her and, wrapping both of his arms around her waist, he pulled her close and asked, “So, you can truly forgive me?”

 

Aneilla placed a finger against his lips and rolled her eyes. “Of course I can,” she said, looking up at him. As she did, she noticed that his own eyes had a faint glow to them from the Mako that flowed through his veins; not as bright as hers and Cloud's, but in the dark, she could see it. She smiled, knowing that as she did, the light in her eyes glowed brighter, and she stroked the side of his face. “I love you, don't I?”

 

Vincent nodded and he lowered his head and began to kiss her again. Aneilla started working on the buckles that held his cloak in place. As the cloak fell from his shoulders, Aneilla took a moment to look at his face fully without the collar of that cloak hiding part of it from view. She placed a hand against the side of his face and said, “You shouldn't hide your face so much… you have a gorgeous face…”

 

“I cannot compare to you,” Vincent said, running a hand through her red hair.

 

The dragon inside of Aneilla roared so loud that she was surprised that Vincent didn't hear it as the two of them continued to remove each other's clothing and Vincent pushed her down onto the bed. Aneilla felt a little self conscious, since it was truly her first time like this with any man, more so because it was Vincent, and she tried to cover herself with her arms, but Vincent reached over and pulled her arms away. “Don't,” he said softly. “I want to see every part of you. You're beautiful Aneilla.”

 

Aneilla smiled and laid down against the blankets as he came up over her. He brushed her hair from her face with his now un-gauntleted left hand and she took the said hand in hers. “Do you feel normal?” she asked. “Not human, but normal all the same… do you understand what I mean?”

 

Vincent nodded and said, “Yes, I do… I haven't felt like this in a long time.” He kissed her again before looking at her and asked, “Are you sure about this? I don't want to press anything on you…”

 

Aneilla shook her head and smiled. “No, I'm ready… I rather not have this with anyone else but you.”

 

Vincent smiled, a genuine smile that she never seen pass his lips before and she had a feeling that she was the first to see it. He adjusted himself over her and said, “It'll hurt for a moment, but I promise I'll be as gentle as possible.” Aneilla nodded and a thought passed through her mind, wondering if after over thirty years, Vincent would be able to perform as well as he should. When he slowly began to slide into her, that thought flew from her mind and she shuddered at the feeling of him entering her and of the dragon coiling like a spring. She let out a soft cry as he hit a barrier and he whispered, “This will hurt, but it'll get better after this, I promise.” He looked down at her and asked, “Ready?”

 

Aneilla nodded and rested her hands on the back of his shoulders. He thrust forward and a cry of pain escaped her lips as he slid all the way inside of her. He paused for a few moments before starting to move slowly. The pain began to fade from the pleasure she felt of him sliding in and out of her. She dug her nails into his skin as she felt the dragon try to surface and a soft growl past her lips. “Vince…” she gasped.

 

“Let it out, if you have to…” he said, looking at her. “Just not all the way…”

 

Aneilla nodded and she felt the warm sensation slide across her skin as the ruby red scales appeared on her body. She kept the wings back, but the dragon inside was satisfied. She wrapped her legs around his waist so more of him would go inside of her. Vincent pressed his lips against hers again and Aneilla brushed the tips of her fangs gently against his bottom lip. Vincent moaned and he moved his lips to her throat and she felt him bite down. She cried out and she felt her muscles tightening around him.

 

“I should pull out of you,” Vincent gasped against her neck. “I'm going to come…”

 

Aneilla shook her head and said, “Don't… it's alright… come inside me…”

 

Vincent lifted his head and looked into her eyes. He gripped her hips tightly with his hands and started to pound harder into her. Their eyes were locked as Aneilla felt her muscles lock around him and she cried out his name, followed by another growl as the dragon inside roared with ecstasy. Vincent thrust as hard and as far as he could inside of her before releasing his essence inside of her. He continued for a few more moments before finally collapsing on top of her, not worried about his weight hurting her. He rested his head on her breasts, both of them breathing heavily.

 

Aneilla ran her fingers through his damp hair, her legs still where they were. He hadn't pulled out of her yet, and she was fine with that. She liked this closeness with him and she wanted it to last as long as possible. After a few moments, Vincent lifted his head to look at her and she smiled. “Hey,” she said between soft pants.

 

“Hey,” he replied, reaching up to run his fingers over the scales that were around the outside of her face and went a little bit under her eyes in a line. “Are you alright?”

 

Aneilla nodded and Vincent pulled out of her slowly as he moved up beside her. She shifted her body as he pulled the blankets from under them to cover themselves before he pulled her into his embrace. He kissed her forehead and said, “I love you.”

 

“I know,” Aneilla said as the warm sensation returned to her skin as the scales disappeared back into her skin, the dragon pulling back and curling up to rest. “I love you too, Vince.”

 

Vincent grunted and held her tightly. Within a few moments, both had fallen asleep.

 

*~*~*

 

Vincent woke up to Aneilla curled up against him, her breath warm against his neck. He smiled, remembering the night before as he kissed her hairline. He thought he would regret coming to the bar and many times while heading there, he almost turned back. But now he was glad that didn't. Being with Aneilla like this… he remembered what she'd said last night… felt normal. Thirty years is a long time to not feel like this, he thought. As he brushed some of her red hair from her face, she stirred and with a soft moan, her eyes opened. She looked at him and he smiled at her. “Good morning,” he said softly.

 

Aneilla smiled and, closing her eyes, snuggled closer to him. “I thought it was all a dream,” she muttered. “That when I woke up, you wouldn't be here.”

 

“I'm here,” Vincent said, running his hands through her hair.

 

Aneilla nodded and then she looked up at him. “Are you staying here?”

 

Vincent sighed and he sat up a little, looking at her. “I need to return to Kalm,” he told her. “But, I was hoping that you would come with me.”

 

Aneilla looked up at him and said, “I would love to, but I don't know if I can. Tifa may need me here…”

 

“She would understand,” Vincent pressed. He wanted to take her back with him, he wanted to have more of those nights that he and Aneilla shared last night and more than anything, he didn't want to be alone.

 

Aneilla chewed on her bottom lip, looking thoughtful. She then looked up at him and nodded. “You're right,” she said, “she would understand. She wants me to be happy and being with you makes me happy. I'll go with you.”

 

Vincent smiled and he lowered his head down to kiss her, wrapping his arms around her waist to pull her closer to him. After a moment, he broke away and said, “Shall we head downstairs and talk to Tifa and Cloud?”

 

Aneilla nodded and before he could say anything else, she threw the covers back and jumped out of bed. He couldn't help but watch her petite form move across the room, all of her self-consciousness from last night gone. She went to her wardrobe and starting going through her clothing. Vincent sighed and sat up against the headboard, the blankets coving him from waist down. Aneilla took out black leather shorts, a white spaghetti strap top and undergarments. He watched her dress with a small smile. She looked up at him and asked, “What are you looking at?”

 

Vincent chuckled and said, “Just you.” Then with a groan, he got up out of bed and, picking up his clothes from the floor, he began to dress. As he put his cloak back on, he sensed Aneilla's eyes on him. He turned and saw her sitting cross-legged on the made bed, a small smile on her face. He did the last buckle and he walked over to her. Taking a gentle hold of her chin, he lifted her face up and kissed her briefly. “Let's go,” he said.

 

Aneilla nodded and she jumped from the bed and walked to the door, walking out first. The two of them headed downstairs where they could hear Cloud, Tifa and the children talking. When they got to the bottom and entered the kitchen, everyone looked up to say good morning to Aneilla. They lost all words when they saw Vincent. He couldn't help but smile behind his cloak.

 

“Morning everyone,” Aneilla said. Marlene and Denzel looked at each other and then back at Vincent and Aneilla before giggling quietly. Vincent saw Aneilla shoot the children a look and she said, “Marlene, Denzel, would you two go upstairs for a moment? I have to speak with Cloud and Tifa.”

 

The children nodded and they ran upstairs. Once they were gone, Tifa sighed and covered her face with a hand. “Some times I wonder if we should allow those two to hang out with adults all the time…”

 

“What's going on Aneilla?” Cloud asked, looking from Aneilla to Vincent.

 

“I'm leaving,” Aneilla said softly. “When Vincent returns to Kalm, I'll be going with him.”

 

Tifa looked at Aneilla and she smiled. “See, I told you Aneilla,” she said.

 

Aneilla smiled and nodded. Vincent figured that it was a conversation between the girls because Cloud looked just as confused. Vincent looked at Cloud and said, “Sorry for coming unexpected… I just…” He looked at Aneilla who was now talking quietly with Tifa.

 

“I understand,” Cloud said, standing and walking up to Vincent. He placed a hand on his shoulder and smirked. “You have no need to apologize. So, when will you be leaving?”

 

“As soon as possible,” Vincent said. “I need to be in Kalm. Reeve is there, so I want to stay close by in case he needs anything.”

 

Cloud nodded and said, “Keep in touch and we'll keep tabs here. We'll miss having the both of you around.”

 

Vincent nodded and the two of them looked at the women, who were watching them calmly. Tifa looked ready to cry, but she had an arm around Aneilla's shoulders and both girls were smiling. “When will you be ready, Annie?” he asked.

 

Aneilla smiled and said, “Within the hour… I'll just pack, say good bye to the kids and I'll be ready to go.”

 

Vincent smiled and nodded. As he watched Aneilla, followed by Tifa, walk up the stairs, he couldn't help but feel a warm sensation in his chest that he hadn't felt in over thirty years. Aneilla's coming with me... and I feel like I have a reason to live in this world now... I'm not alone, not anymore.