Final Fantasy - All Series Fan Fiction ❯ The Unknown Ally ❯ Chapter 15: Confrontation ( Chapter 15 )

Chapter 15: Confrontation

 

Vincent and Isolda made their way to the foyer in silence. Vincent refused to look at her as they stepped off the elevator and he walked off to find the lieutenant. The silver-haired scientist caught up with him and stepped in front of him, barring his path.

 

The gunslinger looked at her, his hostility towards her not faltering in the slightest. `Let's get one thing straight. I am only keeping an eye on you. I am not your bodyguard.'

 

`I gathered that from the way you walked off,' she said coldly. `I was just thinking that it would be nice if I got to know my new comrade-in-arms.'

 

Vincent glared. `I am not your comrade. I am someone you should not cross if you value your life.'

 

Isolda's beautiful face hardened in icy fury, but she held her tongue.

 

Vincent glared at her, his crimson eyes narrowed. `If there's something you want to say, say it. If not, get out of my way. I have no time for your games.'

 

Isolda's eyes flashed. `Games? Games?! I wasn't the one playing games, Vincent Valentine. Or is it Hunter Ephraim? I get so confused these days. So many names to choose from! I don't know which one yours is.'

 

Vincent glared at her. `Why did you suddenly decide to join the WRO?'

 

`I felt it was time I returned to the ranks of good people,' she said. `I do not wish to be associated with those criminals any longer.'

 

Vincent laughed harshly, a sound like breaking glass. `That's bullshit and you know it.' He must have been furious for he never resorted to explicit cursing to illustrate his opinion. `Tell me why you decided to join the WRO. The real reason.'

 

Isolda threw up her hands in disgust and glared at him. `I don't understand the workings of my own mind! I think they called it human nature. You know, the need to do good when they think they need to atone for past sins. Like you're atoning for.'

 

`You leave my life out of this,' growled Vincent. `And you didn't answer my question. Or do I have to rephrase it in a way you'll understand?' His claw flexed.

 

Isolda saw the movement and glared coldly. `Do it.'

 

Vincent glared at her fiercely, the urge stronger than before.

 

`Go on. Strike me.' Isolda was challenging him and he found himself rising to her bait. He raised his claw slightly.

 

`Unless you strike me, I'm not telling you shit,' she snarled. `You might as well beat it out of me…..if you have the balls.'

 

The gunslinger felt his rage bubbling just below the surface at the insult and he raised his claw higher. She was not going to give an answer, so he had no choice but to use force.

 

`Do it!'

 

Vincent snarled and lunged at her, lashing out with his claw. He froze. Isolda stared. His claw barely grazed her face. She locked eyes with him, not wavering under his crimson glare. The buzzing of voices had stopped and a deathly silence hung in the air as the WRO members stared at the two. Vincent was breathing slightly heavier than usual. She glanced at his claw before glaring at him. He withdrew and let his arm fall to his side, still glaring at the young woman.

 

`You know what, Valentine?' she said, her voice dripping acid. `You haven't changed. You're still a sullen, broody bastard that prefers to deal in violence rather than words and to be perfectly honest…I've had it.'

 

She turned to walk away when a clawed hand grabbed her wrist. She whirled to face the gunslinger who had her in a tight grip.

 

`Stop playing games with me, Isolda,' he growled. `And tell me what I want to know.'

 

`Fine!' she said, her voice higher than usual. `You want to know why I joined the WRO? It's because of you, Vincent.'

 

`What?'

 

`Yes, you!' snarled Isolda. `That day when I saw you end your little charade and reveal yourself, I was shocked. But it made me realise that I've been playing on the side of ShinRa for too long. So I decided to come here, to see if my skills could be of use for the greater good. And it was you who made me realise that, Vincent Valentine. But I never thought that I would have to work with someone as arrogant and bitter as you.'

 

There were tears in her eyes now. `You were my friend, Vincent. Even though you lied to me and hid yourself for so long, I forgave that because I trusted you too much to let that be a problem. I didn't mean to play all those mind games on you, Vincent, but that's how I am! I've never trusted anyone so completely until I met you. You made me feel safe and that's what I liked. Someone I could talk to about anything and everything. But you still don't trust me. And that hurts more than you could imagine. I didn't mean for….for all this to happen.'

 

Vincent was shocked by the confession that was spilling out of her. How long had she kept this inside?

 

`Why?' It was all he could manage to say.

 

`I just wanted to be your friend, Vincent,' she said, tears streaming down her face. `But I didn't realise your hatred for ShinRa ran so deep. I can't take it anymore. I couldn't….I'm so sorry!' She wrenched her wrist out of his grasp and ran from him.

 

`Isolda!' he cried. But she was gone before he could even chase her. He glanced around and saw the eyes of the WRO were on him. He turned on his heel and disappeared into the corridor, his cloak streaming behind him.