Disclaimer: I do not own Final Fantasy VII or any of its characters. I am just burrowing them.

Author’s notes: Finito…! This is the last chapter of this small fic! I hope you all like it, even if not all of you reviewed. ~Enjoy!

Fanart: You can check an illustration I did for this fic in the following link (get rid of the spaces): h t t p : / / gigi-fenixphoenix . deviantart . c o m / art / FF-Vincent-x-Tifa-133269018

Word Count: 2,764.

Last edited: 25th of May 2009.

“I was frozen in time, but I feel as if my time is just beginning.”

-Vincent Valentine (Final Fantasy VII)-

“Cell phone Quest”

By: FenixPhoenix

Chapter 3: “The Call”

Tough he knew there was no way the group could catch them, Vincent kept gliding -with that incredible speed Hojo’s experiments had provided him- for more than ten minutes. To his hidden delight, he heard Tifa giggling as he carried her, bride style, away from the mismatched group of ex-avalanche members.

When at last he halted, he spared a glance in the direction where he knew the store stood, lost in the distance. He tilted his head slightly to one side, willing his keen ears to pick up the sound of their companions’ footsteps. But they weren’t there. They had not followed. Perhaps they hadn’t even tried.

With mixed feelings, he put Tifa down. Part of him was reluctant to let go of the woman and the sense of warmth her closeness produced. The other part, that which found a sense of comfort in his solitude, was utterly relieved.

It was, after all, hard to get over the idea that the best way not to get emotionally hurt was not to get emotionally involved with anyone in the first place. Even now, the ghosts of his past could do little more to increase his pains. Pains that, he realized, had somewhat dimmed as time passed by. The same pains that he sometimes forgot altogether when Tifa was near.

It was refreshing.

“That was fun,” she said when his attention had returned to her.

He smirked in self-satisfaction when he noticed the flush that was painting her cheeks a shade of pink in combination with the smile that showed even in her gleaming wine eyes. The fact that he had produced feelings in another person that were positive made him clung to the moment fiercely. He trapped her face in a frozen mental image which he immediately stored; hidden from even the prying looks of the demons inside him.

“Hmph…Which part?” he asked with a smirk as he followed her lead and sat on a nearby bench. The park where Vincent had chosen to stop was almost deserted and part of him wondered if he had searched, unconsciously, for such a place.

Tifa chuckled softly, “The part where you scoop me in your arms and ran for dear life.”

“…” he stayed silent as he processed this. Did it mean that she too enjoyed his company? But did she enjoy it in the same way Vincent did? Or was he just a friend to her, unable to inspire the feelings a certain blond swordsman had once ignited in her heart…?

He watched with interest and confusion as she suddenly shifted with awkwardness as the silence stretched. The blush on her cheeks intensified as she switched her gaze from his eyes to the things inside the white bag.

Vincent frowned at the change in behavior and quickly began probing his brain, searching for the reason that could have caused it. Then, a possible reason for the mild tension created between them came to mind.

He knew Tifa, unlike him, disliked a soundless atmosphere and perhaps she had taken his silence as an indication that she should never speak of the episode again. Suppose she believed the action --the human contact they had shared had made him uncomfortable?

And granted, part of him did felt uncomfortable at her touch –or at any touch from any person out there. However, that did not mean he didn’t like it –crave it even… Vincent was even willing to try to get past that fright of the unknown, but only for her.

“I…,” she bit her lower lip, her eyes still peeping inside the bag.

He supposed she was trying to find a way to break the silence, so he decided to help.

“Perhaps we should do it again,” he spoke calmly, enouncing each word with the confidence he had always managed to project but which, sometimes –like this one- he did not quite feel.

He felt her eyes upon him in an instant. Through his peripheral view, he saw Tifa open her mouth and then close it again. He turned to her. He could read the surprise his words had cause in every line of her porcelain face. Yet, underneath that, he could swear he saw something else lingering in her eyes.

But what was it? Was it, perchance, hope? Or was that hope simply a ghost of his own wish being mirrored in her eyes?

He turned to gaze at the horizon before him without seeing it at all. His restless mind rapidly came up with images of them together and flashed them below his eyelids with ruthless force. The images of the possible future with Tifa were both sweet and painful. Sweet because they could come true and painful because they could be shattered before they were given a chance to solidify.

But he was willing to take the risk. Unlike Cloud, Vincent was willing to put it all on the line –his heart, his body, his soul, his pride, his dreams and his hopes—for her. He would give her everything he possessed. He would even lose himself in her… if only she would let him…

Despite trying to maintain his face a frozen mask that would give away nothing of the turmoil inside him, Vincent couldn’t help the smirk that quirked a corner of his lips as he spoke, “Of course, next time I could do without the ‘running for my dear life’ part.”

“…Next time?”

There. The smile was back on her face; her cheeks blushed as she gazed at him. And though her tone had been teasing, he could see a spark of uncertainty and something else –was it really a silent wish of hope that lingered there?

“…Unless you rather not repeat th--”

“I would like a next time,” she said quickly, cutting him off quite abruptly and blushing deeply as she did.

He gave her a lopsided smile of his own –which was not that different from his smirk- and nodded, “I wouldn’t mind a next time as well.”

“You’ll need your cell phone for that, though,” she said taking a box out of the bag and placing it on her lap. “That way you can call me to… you know… hang out… if you want that is…”

“Naturally,” he replied watching as she carefully began taking numerous parts out of the box. A huge smile graced her features as –with expert fingers- she began assembling his cell phone which, he noted, was like hers only red in color.

When she placed the battery in the slot behind the item she said, “I asked the manager to charge the battery for me. It should be working for around an hour or so before the battery dies.” At Vincent’s inquiring look she proceeded to explain, “He didn’t get to charge it that much.”

Vincent nodded in understanding and watched as she flipped the phone open and pressed the only red button there. The screen of the phone flashed with an image that looked like…

“Cait Sith?” he asked with eyebrows arched as the image disappeared and small icons appeared in the screen on its stead.

“Ah, yes,” Tifa turned to him, “Perhaps you did not notice, but when I was buying your cell phone Reeve approached us. He made a contract with his company for you. This way you’ll be able to use your phone right away.” She bit her lower lips for a second before adding, “By the way, since I didn’t have your address I gave the clerk mine for him to send your bill. It will be sent the first of every month. And… you know… I could call you and you can just pick it up in my house… or I can take it over to your house…”

“Thank you, Tifa. I can pick it up,” he replied adding a smile when he noted she wasn’t sure whether his answer was polite or just cold. The smile seemed to help.

“Okay,” her gaze turned back to the phone, “I’ll just personalize it for you.”

His gaze kept moving back and forth between her lovely face and his new acquisition. He watched as she input the date, the hour and even his name so that the first message whenever he would turn on his phone would be ‘Good day, Vincent Valentine’.

Vincent then noticed as she opened his contact list and began filling in her information. She added her full name, her birthday, her phone number, her cell number and even her address.

“I am making a shortcut to my contact,” she explained and when she finished she elaborated, “This way you’ll just have to dial one and then press send –the green button- and you’ll be calling my cell.”

Finally, he watched as she accessed the ‘bluetooth’ program and turned the thing on. Whipping out her cell and flipping it open she did the same. Then, after the phones were connected, she sent Cid’s image to his phone.

Putting her cell away, she took his –which she had left sitting on her lap- and placed the photo of them together as the background image on the main screen.

Perhaps that was the detail he liked the most.

“It’s a nice picture,” she said, blushing as she handed him back his phone. “Of course you can change it if you want… I am sure there are other pictures you can put there…”

Vincent was surprised by how little credit she gave herself. He was sure that she was feeling very self-conscious and oh, how he wished he could put her at ease. But how could he do that without appearing too forward and pushing her away?

“It pleases me,” he said and when she turned inquiring eyes towards him, he explained, “The photo. It pleases me.”

She smiled widely and her eyes moved towards her hands. Her fingers were again fidgeting with the zipper of her jacket. It was a nervous gesture and he fought the urge to just trap her pianist hands with his.

“Just… call me, okay?” she was still not looking at him but he could hear something odd in her voice. It almost sounded like a plea. “I mean, don’t just save my number and never use it. We could… you know… get a drink or a coffee or go to the movies. Or even just…,” her eyes locked with his, “hang out.”

He nodded, “I shall.”

Then silence.

He saw her bit her lower lip before she rose. “Before I forget,” she said taking his wallet out of the pocket of her jacket, “I believe this is yours.”

He stood up, took it back and placed it in the back pocket of his pants.

“Thank you,” he said.

Then silence again.

“Well… I guess I’ll just wait for your call then,” she smiled, but he could see she was disappointed.

As much as he wanted to just ask her out right then and there, he didn’t.

“Bye, Vincent,” she said as she spun around and began walking away, not even waiting for him to say something else. It hurt him more than he had expected when he had seen that flash of pain in her eyes, just before she had turn her back to him.

Still, he waited.

Vincent Valentine stood unanimated looking at her retreating form until she was a block away and just about to turn a corner. Only then did he flipped opened his phone. Calmly he dialed one and pressed send.

Mildly amused, he watched as Tifa whipped her phone out and flipped it open. She stopped when, he guessed, she realized who was calling. He hadn’t known if she had saved his contact but when he saw her look back, he knew she had.

Even from afar, he could picture the frown in her brow. She tilted her face in silent inquiry. In answer, he raised the phone to his ear and she did the same.

“Vincent?”

The corner of his lips quirked at her tone. It was curios, bewildered and amused at the same time.

“Would you like to go get a drink with me?” he asked, straight to the point.

He heard her laughter ringing through the phone as she shook her head slightly in what he guessed was unbelief. The melodic sound erased the pain he had felt when he had thought he’d hurt her. She began walking towards him as he strolled her way, still holding their phones to their ears.

He waited until they had closed the distance to end the call. They put the phones away and stared at each other.

“Well?” he asked, fully aware that she hadn’t answered his question.

“Oh! Yes, I would like to have a drink with you,” she said smiling widely. Then, her brow furrowed again, “But why didn’t you ask me when we were sitting in the bench?”

With a lopsided smile he reasoned, “You said I should call you if I wanted to hang out. I merely waited to be able to do just that.”

She laughed again, clutching her stomach and shaking her head. He watched her almost in a trance. When she managed to compose herself, Vincent realized he could control himself no longer.

Without heeding the part of him that was screaming in distress -flashing numerous red flags inside his mind- he closed the distance between them entirely. He watched as her cheeks turn a shade of red and felt her hands on his chest, her fingers clutching the fabric of the scarf he borrowed.

Almost automatically, he leaned slightly forward, breathing the scent of her perfume. The aroma reminded him of flowers; roses flashing inside his head.

He was still trying to decide what to do as his eyes moved from her beautiful eyes to her slightly parted lips. Idly, he noted she was doing the same but before that could fully register, something unexpected happened.

Vincent Valentine felt her pulling him towards her; finishing what he’d started by tugging at the scarf around his neck. He brushed his lips against hers in a feather-like kiss. They were softer than he’d imagine and the feeling was exquisitely delightful, madly enthralling.

Her eyes were intent on his when they parted. Swirling in her wine orbs, he realized he was looking at fire burning slow but steady in them.

“Is that all you can do, Valentine?” She said with a cocky smile that made his heart drum faster.

How had Cloud left her?! Not that he was complaining…

“Is that a challenge, Lockhart?” he asked smoothly, a smirk on his lips.

Her smile widened and he saw her lick her lips, “What would you do if it was?”

“I would have to prove you wrong,” he answered as he kissed her, this time, deeply.

To his satisfaction, Vincent felt her kissing him back as he pulled her closer; his claw on her lower back as his human hand grasped the back of her neck. And, like he had always silently wished, he simply let go off himself, getting lost in her warmth and the fire of her touch.

And to think it had all begun with a cell phone.

-FINIS-

Story Written by: Giselle González

© Final Fantasy VII is Property of Square Enix.

Fanart: You can check an illustration I did for this fic in the following link (get rid of the spaces): h t t p : / / gigi-fenixphoenix . deviantart . c o m / art / FF-Vincent-x-Tifa-133269018

-o0o-

:…:Other Final Fantasy Stories:...:

+--+Unexpected Date +--+

A Final Fantasy VII. “Who could have thought the day that started so horribly could end up to be the best day of her life,” Tifa wondered as she remembered Vincent's touch. ::Tifa x Vincent:: One-Shot. A date in Gold Saucer.

+--+Ashes of Memories +--+

A Final Fantasy VII. Tifa is plagued by strange nightmares… but what if they are not just nightmares? What if someone trapped between times needs her? ::Tifa x Vincent:: Eventual FF8 crossover ::Squall x Rinoa::

+--+OneWinged Angels +--+

Jenova’s control over Sephiroth broke with his death. Now, he is sent back to protect Tifa and save the planet from the entity that threatens it. The problem: how to convince her of his good intentions? ::TifaxSephiroth:: Post AC.