FFVII/Vincent Valentine: Afraid
Title: Afraid Album: Heretic, David Bowie Claim: Vincent Valentine Characters: Vincent, Lucrecia Rating: PG Summary: I figured I should start with a begining. Crossposted to my fic archive.
"I wish I was smarter."
"Stop it, Vin," she tells me.
"I do. Just because you're tired of hearing it—"
"—doesn't change it. I know, Vin. But you are smart. You're just… you don't care," she shrugs.
"I do care," I argue, but halfheartedly, because we've had this argument like eight times and it doesn't change and it won't stop me from leaving. It's only after I say it that I realize I'm making her point.
"You only care because you don't want things to change. What made you like this? You used to be interested in stuff, when we were younger."
"What made me feel so bad?" I don't answer my own question. I can't really do it without hurting her feelings, and I don't want to do that. I'm scared because everything's changing, and everything's changing because I'm not good enough.
The truck pulls up. Mr. Hollander is driving me to civilization, a.k.a. Costa del Sol, where I'll head for Midgar. I'm not really sure what I'll do when I get there. Dad said he's pulling strings, but he might not get them pulled fast enough, and I should look for a job when I get there.
At least this goodbye is almost over. I throw my duffel bag in the back of the truck and look at Lucrecia.
"I'm sure I'll be back soon enough," I tell her, trying to be flippant. "Dad will get bored without me to yell at."
She frowns and punches me in the shoulder. "He'll just yell at the rest of us."
I open the door of the truck and then I hesitate. "Kiss me for luck?" I ask her, as surprised as she is when I realize I said it.
For a minute I think she's going to punch me again, but she ducks in and presses her lips to mine. They're dry and soft and I stare at her stupidly when she opens her eyes.
"Good luck," she says. I nod and climb into the truck. I tell her goodbye, and Mr. Hollander starts driving, making small talk that I don't listen to.
I'm still so afraid, but as she and the house and all of Nibelheim fade into the mountains behind me, the fear is drowned out by something else. I think it's relief.