Written in response to 30 Quills Challenge: No man chooses evil because it is evil; he only mistakes it for happiness, the good he seeks.
For the Good of Mankind
By Rociel
27 October 2005
Vincent Valentine, ex-Turk, was a man shrouded in mysteries. Tall, strong, poised, he cut a powerful figure as one of the best marksman in his time. At fifty-nine years of age, he looked no older than twenty-seven, his body frozen in time ever since he was subjected to a certain scientist's diabolic experimentation for the inherent good of science. Those who knew him knew he was a force to be reckoned with. There was little that could faze him. Even so, Vincent was a rather unhappy man. He sighed tiredly as he was interrupted from his slumber for more times than he could care to count. On hindsight, he never should have gotten that cellphone from Midgar.
"If it is about the carrots, I have conveyed the message to Cloud, " he started in his usual monotone before the other could even speak, deceivingly patient, not betraying even a hint of the frustration he felt.
"Well, hello Mr. Sunshine," the female voice sounded slightly miffed.
"Yuffie." Vincent acknowledged in his own quiet way.
"Took you long enough," Yuffie grumbled in a manner not unlike Cid. Vincent almost smiled at that thought. Yuffie and Cid had never gotten along well with each other. Yuffie thought Cid was a grumpy old man and Cid saw Yuffie as a brat kid threatening to soil the pristine floor of his airship. Cid loved flying whereas Yuffie was perpetually airsick. He had to wonder how they would take it if he ever told them how alike they acted sometimes. Chances were, they would put him right back in his coffin. "What were you doing? Sleeping?"
"Yes."
Clearly, that was not the answer Yuffie had been expecting. After a moment of silence, she asked tentatively, "Where are you now?"
"Nibelheim."
"Vincent…" Yuffie started carefully, totally unlike her usual self. It sounded almost like she was addressing a much younger child. Vincent frowned, wondering what caused the sudden change in tone and attitude. "If you really need a place to stay, Wutai has plenty of spare rooms. There is no real need to return to that… coffin..." She sounded disturbed.
Vincent sighed. "An inn, Yuffie, I'm staying at an inn. If there's nothing else-"
"Wait!" Yuffie called out hastily before Vincent could hang up. "Wouldyouliketojointherestofthegangforapicnic?"
Vincent could barely catch the rush of words from Yuffie. "I'm sorry?"
"A picnic! Everybody'll be there!" She continued excitedly. "We're meeting at the entrance of Wutai at noon three days from today. What did you think I was asking you? Whether you slept nude? Though that does pose an interesting question… Do you?" Yuffie asked curiously.
"I'm not-" Vincent interjected but was cut off by Yuffie.
"Pity. Anyway, see you there! And I mean it, or I'll personally hunt you down and drag you over by your hair. You know I can and will do it." Yuffie warned him seriously. Vincent did not doubt that. Yuffie Kisaragi, Lady of Wutai was capable of carrying out any threat she gave voice to.
"Wait-" Vincent tried to protest again.
"I'll call you!" Yuffie promised cheerfully.
"Yuf-" The line was cut off abruptly before he even got a word in. He frowned at the phone. For two years after Sephiroth summoned the meteor that threatened the planet, he had lived in relative peace and solitude. He was free to do as he pleased, travelling widely, never staying in one place for long, doomed to forever wander the lands in atonement for his sins. He was an ex-Turk, one who was extremely good at what he did, with a flair for the melodrama. Nothing fazed him. Things should have stayed that way. It should have but it did not. Everything changed the day he stepped through that fateful door. Some thresholds were never meant to be crossed. He doubted that he would ever find peace again.
No man chooses evil because it is evil; he only mistakes it for happiness, the good he seeks. Unfortunately for that man, Vincent Valentine was past caring about good and evil. There would be hell to pay once he found him - the scientific genius who created monsters and twisted lives beyond repair, the man who made sure he never forgot what changed his life so completely, turning it into a living nightmare.
The man who invented cellphones.
End.