((This is the main AU canon for Tifa.))

Tifa and Vance Shadowheart

“It took a shadow for you to see the light.”

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Tifa met Vance one day when he quite literally popped into Seventh Heaven with an offer of tea. That simple meeting changed everything for the barmaid; their conversations that began with basic greetings which spurred discussions of life, philosophy, and matters of the heart made her realize that something had been missing.

Vance had been her missing puzzle piece.

It took his assumed death for her to truly become aware of that, however.

After a devastating period of time, she was granted a second chance, being able to confess her true feelings for the shadow butler. The shock that he had not died gave her so much relief that she was desperate to see him again. Her admittance convinced him to return to her world, and she knew that after that, she could never let him go. He was a part of her very soul, and the idea of being without him, for even that short amount of time, made it impossible for her to be without him again.

But there were other matters to discuss—Cloud Strife. The two had a deep bond that had been at the breaking point for a long time. It took Vance’s appearance in Gaia for Tifa to discover that she needed something more in her life than an uncertain ex-soldier who had alternative lives of his own to figure out. She never had to question Vance’s priorities—for once she was number one. However, it caused a great deal of conflict in the barmaid’s heart. 

Unfortunately, the happiness that blossomed between them was interrupted by a call to war for Vance. Although for Tifa it was only a few days, Vance had fought for seven years. While he was gone, Tifa felt more broken and lost than she ever had in her entire life. His shade, Grim (who had indirectly started everything by tricking Vance into kissing Tifa on a whim), gave Tifa a small gift from Vance, in hopes of keeping her spirits up. In the small box given to her was a beautifully-sculpted ring. And a simple request of marriage.

When he returned, she said yes immediately. The idea of marrying someone as sweet and charming as Vance gave her the courage to give him her heart.Though their trials didn’t end. Cloud had disappeared after a terrible fight with Tifa, and she nearly killed herself from grief over hurting the two most important people in her life with an inability to choose one over the other. Because of that, she almost lost Vance entirely. She decided that she had to make a very serious choice. After a lengthy, emotionally-taxing discussion and without a moments hesitation, the two were wed by Grim. No longer could she handle not having him with her at all times. Her heart was committed—it was the rest of her that had to catch up.

Even with the bliss that stemmed from their spontaneous marriage, darkness still roused from every corner, bent on destroying what they had. When Vance disappeared, merging with Grim into an original form named Varrenth, Tifa questioned his love for her, and whether or not she drove him away. JENOVA reappeared, using the insecurities within Tifa to assume her body as a new vessel. After a destructive battle, Tifa ended up killing Vance. But it took that in order for her to break free from JENOVA’s hold, along with a spell emitted from Varrenth. He sacrificed his existence to bring Vance and Grim back, yet Tifa blamed herself for much of what happened. But Vance, being his ever gracious and understanding self, welcomed Tifa back with open arms and soft words of forgiveness. 

As husband and wife, they have each other for support and protection from the hazards of the world. To say the road will be smooth from now on would be a fallacy. No one can predict the future. But deep down, Tifa knows that no matter what happens, she will have someone to rely on. One constant reminder that she’s wanted, desired, and loved.

All in the form of a butler who lives in the shadows, offering tea.

Come what may, they would love each other until the very end. And perhaps beyond.