The Many Aspects of Materia ...in which AVALANCHE and friends find out exactly what sort of advantages Materia can have...and not just magic-wise. -series of oneshots based on the different kinds of Materia and a certain pairing-

Chapter Materia: Independent: Cover

Chapter Pairing: Yuffentine; Yuffie/Vincent

Chapter Setting: during Final Fantasy VII, in-game

Cover

Yuffie was on her knees.

She didn't like being on her knees. Never liked it, actually. For her, kneeling down in such a way…well, that meant to submit! Psh, the Great Ninja Yuffie never submitted. Will never submit. Doesn't submit. Period, end of story.

But, all the same, she was on her knees.

She sucked in a breath of air, attempting to use Conformer to pull herself back up to her feet again. No such luck; she merely collapsed back on the thin grass in the little field in the middle of goddamn nowhere. She winced, placing a hand to her bloody side. Oh, why me, why me…

Chocobo Head seemed to have a knack for attracting unwanted battles with monsters. As the whole party of them couldn't go all with Mister Magnet (ha-ha…alliteration) at once, Cloud had chosen two people to accompany him. The ninja, and Sir Angsts-A-Lot Valentine.

Well, Vinnie wasn't all bad, she had to admit to herself. He was tall, and good with a gun. Silent but deadly. He did look a bit mysterious, but that seemed to add to his already charismatic air that was full of self-suffering. Plus, those gorgeous red eyes…that soft black hair…that smooth, pale skin…mm, he was goddamn sexy.

Wait…WHAT AM I THINKING, Vince's obsessed with some supposed-to-be dead lady rotting away in a cave that is fuckin' impossible to get to! 'sides, I gotta concentrate on the "situation at hand" - staying alive in this idiotic random battle.

Yuffie gritted her teeth, trying - and failing - to pull herself up to her feet again. No good, no good…if only the cactus thing hadn't used friggin' 1000 needles! She moaned. Shit, man, why doesn't anybody heal me!?

She glanced at Cloud in irritation. His fault, after all, they were stuck on this island trying to get Tetra Elementals or some other shit that only God knew about. She let out a huffy, pouty sigh…then something rather horrific caught her eye.

The cactus thing was preparing to use the needle attack again.

And it was aiming itself right at her.

"Oh shit," Yuffie groaned, preparing herself to get knocked out, holding up Conformer in a weak defense, shielding her eyes from the sunlight…

…which, suddenly, there wasn't any.

She peeked up through her eyelashes. Am I dead…? That's WACK, I didn't feel a thing! But no…it wasn't death, but that of a figure in a long, tattered, red cloak and scarf, staring down at her with unreadable red eyes.

"Vinnie!?" she squeaked in surprise, seeing him wince from the attack. "I…uh…what're you doing!?"

"Covering," he said in his simple, one word answer, plucking out a small purple orb from his armor and holding it up in the light. Yuffie squinted at the materia, seeing the sunlight dance and reflect off of it. The way the sun it made it look kinda pretty…and shiny. Ah, good ol' Materia, how I love you so.

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Chocobo Head race up to the cactus thing with his big-ass sword and slice it in half. But she didn't really care, because at that moment, Vincent was holding out his gloved right hand for her to grasp. She took it tentatively, and he pulled her to her feet. She stumbled a bit, and collided with his chest.

"OOF!"

She blushed and heard him sigh, and place his non-clawed hand on her shoulder to steady her - though he didn't move her further away, she noticed. "Be careful," he said quietly.

"Oh, right, sure thing," Yuffie chirped, rubbing the back of her neck with the hand that wasn't holding Conformer with loose fingers, trying to cover up her awkwardness. Omigod, I never thought I could get this close to Vincent Valentine!

"I won't always be there to cover for you," Vincent added, in just as a quiet tone. His hand lingered on her shoulder, her face tilted up to him, his down by hers. She could smell his breath on her face, which was oddly sweet.

Then he was gone, already walking away with a swish of his cloak, leaving behind a rather flustered Yuffie. After a moment of silence, she gathered herself up and waved to his retreating back as he went over to talk to Cloud. "Thanks, Vinnie!"

He turned his head back to acknowledged the fact she'd spoken, and she could swear she caught a glimpse of a smile.

For some reason, Yuffie's side wound wasn't bothering her as much anymore, and it was with a grin the Great Ninja bounced after the rest of the group.