DISCLAIMED: (07/30/09)

Characters: Reno/Yuffie, Vincent/Yuffie, Cloud/Tifa(minor), Rufus & the Turks
Genre: Romance/Drama/Action
Rating: T for language and light adult content.
Summary: Yuffie was just doing something nice for a couple friends. Why her world suddenly turned upside down by two different men was anyone's guess. Explores an age-old question – Vincent? Or Reno? Rated for light adult content.

A/N: Alright, this started as an attempt at my own Reno/Yuffie and I guess I was feelin' Vincent too at the time and this was the result. Its two separate couples – there's no threesome action, so sorry if that disappoints you somehow=P I'm just in a fiction posting mood and I've been saving up. Which means this was written post everything else I've posted so forgive me if it's not up to par or if it downright sucks. I think it's actually the first time I starting writing for FFVII which means Reno likes to say "yo" a lot=O

Takes place a year after DoC. All mistakes are mine.

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ΜϊЖεΦжҒз€ℓϊηğ§

Chapter 一

Grumble, grumble.

Why on earth had she volunteered to run the bar while they were gone? Like they need a honeymoon anyway. Tifa would constantly complain about the room needing cleaning and Cloud would just shrug and scratch his head. But then again, bartending would be another thing Godo disapproved of so Yuffie thought it wasn't all bad.

The sound of the bar door opening and the ensuing voice had Yuffie rolling her eyes, breaking her from her thoughts.

"Looks like Spike ain't doing so well here, yo."

"Considering it's only noon, I think that reflects more on you than the owners." Yuffie looked up in dismay and disgust. "What are you doing here, Turkey? Run out of people to maim and kill?"

The red-haired Turk waved her comment off, strolling towards the bar. "I'm between jobs. Whiskey, straight up." He took a seat.

Yuffie glared and poured him a shot, slamming the glass down before him. As he threw it back, she leaned against the bar, hands spread defensively. He noticed, and grinned. "Another."

"Isn't there any other bar you could frequent with your…unwashed presence?" Yuffie grimaced.

Reno smiled without mirth, pulling out a cigarette and lighting it. "Why when this is clearly the warmest establishment?" He took a drag and blew the smoke into her face, causing her to choke and cough, turning away in disgust. He contemplated her back as she went back to drying glasses. His gaze drifted to her rear and he nodded in approval.

"Since when are you a bartender? I thought big boobs was Spike's bitch." A glass clattered to the sink as it fell. Reno's grin widened. "Don't tell me he's starting a new harem?"

Yuffie shot him a glare, but otherwise ignored him.

"Aw, don't tell me I hit a nerve?" Reno baited. "Come on, big muscles don't always mean a big—" He was cut off as a lethal looking throwing knife was pressed to his neck.

His eyes shot up at the ninja before him, setting his glass down slowly. Just as quickly, he knocked her wrist away going for his EMR with the other hand. He jumped back off his stool, activating his rod while Yuffie flew into a handstand atop the bar, pushing off forcefully and landing behind him. Immediately she sank to her knees, whipping her leg behind her. He jumped avoiding her leg and spun jabbing out at her with his rod. She whirled and back flipped away unscathed. Reno jerked to the side as a throwing star suddenly zoomed past his face.

His gaze jerked downward just as suddenly as she kicked his EMR away before she grabbed his wrist and flipped him over her shoulder. He landed on his back with an oomph as she kneeled on his chest, a knife pressed against his jugular.

"My friends are on their honeymoon. I was kind and stupid enough to volunteer to keep this place open while they're away. I did not say I would deal with a snarky dickface like you, turkey."

Reno's eyebrows rose. "Snarky dickface?"

"Now you've either come here to kill me, or you have no business here, either way you are leaving right now…" Yuffie spoke with deadly calm, her eyes flashing with confidence the only sign that it was in fact the hyper-active, materia-stealing ninja she used to be.

Reno lifted his hands in surrender. "Alright. Ya got me, yo."

She continued to sit on him studying his face. He lifted his eyebrows at her, daring her to trust him. She didn't but she couldn't sit on him all day. Her lessons with Vincent hadn't quite taught her the cold indifference he had when killing, so she couldn't do that either.

Slowly, she lifted up pulling her knife from his neck. He sat up, keeping his gaze on hers, a slight taunting smirk on his face. Standing, he brushed himself off straightening his jacket.

Yuffie didn't see why he bothered. Her earlier comment about his unwashed appearance was true. He never wore a tie but his white shirt was smudged with dirt, his unzipped blue blazer creased and wrinkled, his boots scuffed. He had a five o'clock shadow and cuts on his hands.

His hands raised in innocence as he took a step towards her. She stepped back. He grinned and continued towards her, his pace lackadaisical.

"Hey, just thought the liquor here was good and the view nice. Course I thought Tifa'd be working but…" he grinned.

"Just. Get. Out." Yuffie bit out.

Reno just smirked and stepped right up to her. She pointed her dagger at his throat, but he still leaned in.

"…The view's still pretty damn good," he added.

Yuffie's lips parted briefly in shock. Reno grinned, wiggling his eyebrows at her, causing her jaw to snap shut and her glare to return as he sidled past her and out the door.

Yuffie looked away, her mind working furiously. Did he just flirt with her? That slimy Shinra turkey?! She stomped to the bar, tripping over something. Angrily, she glanced down. It was Reno's electro-mag rod. Ready to kick it across the room, she paused and frowned.

Reno never forgot his rod. And no, that wasn't supposed to be dirty. Yuffie cocked a hip and rested a fist on it. Something was wrong; he treated his weapon like his baby, assuming Reno would have an affinity for his own children.

Rude preferred his fists, Elena had preferred her gun, but Reno formed a loving attachment to his electric weapon, like Cloud with his ginormous swords and Vincent his ginormous gun. Gee, her friends certainly had issues with size. She made a mental note to ask Tifa if it was to compensate for other areas…

Shaking her head, Yuffie leaned down and scooped up Reno's EMR, and took it behind the bar. Reaching into her pocket, she pulled out the gil she'd pilfered from Reno during their scuffle, placing half of it in the till. She didn't feel guilty; he hadn't paid for his drinks and Tifa didn't allow tabs for non-close friends.

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The next day dawned clear and bright. Yuffie was up to see it, just finishing her usual routine consisting of running, honing her ninja reflexes and ending it with a bit of Tai-Chi, the latter two she did on the roof of the 7th Heaven bar.

Showered and refreshed, Yuffie made her way downstairs, tightening the band around her forehead as she went. Her eyes caught sight of the infamous EMR sticking out from under the bar and she sighed, well more of a huff really.

Vincent had mentioned last night when he came to help during the rush that Rude had been laid out by the ex-Turks last endeavour. Said it wasn't looking good for him, and Reno was acting erratic over it. Seemed he really cared for his partner and this was hitting him hard. Yuffie had been stunned. Reno had been his usual annoying, smirking self. But then, he did forget his beloved rod.

It bugged her the rest of the night. She thought about how she would act if any of her friends were seriously hurt and might not make it. When Cloud fell into that coma, she'd been terrified. He was their leader. He never spoke much, but he obviously cared about all of them.

But she was also angry since she wasn't used to caring for anyone but herself. First Aerith, who was always nice and humoured her, then Cloud. It had been too much. She huddled away from the group for a night and cried herself to sleep. The next day, she threw herself into training, believing they'd all depend on her more now with Tifa and Cloud indisposed.

Without realizing it, she grew more snarky and loud-mouthed. It started to piss Cid and Barret off so much, Vincent took her aside. When he tried his usual shtick with two word questions in a monotone she grew angry at him and attacked. They dueled, him only using the barrel of his gun to deflect her attacks and shooting tranquilizers at her, which she dodged. Finally, he got close enough to corner her and pinned her to a tree, his hand around her neck. She struggled furiously, kicking out, knocking away his attempts to jab her with a tranquilizer.

Having no choice, his grip on her neck squeezed, tightening till she couldn't breathe. Losing her strength, she went limp. Vincent released her immediately and she slumped forward against his chest, sobbing. His arms came slowly around her and held her until she was asleep.

Barret had gone to bed and Cait Sith had shut down for the night when Vincent carried her to the encampment, but Red XIII looked up with interest. Cid merely lifted a brow at him, taking a drag from his cigarette.

Vincent told them she'd be alright.

And she was. Yuffie remembered how she'd apologized to Vincent later on, shyly at first. When he actually smiled at her, she grew alarmed and then seemed to come to herself. "Well, I should be mad at you for almost strangling me but…I'll forgive you this time, Valentine. But you won't be so lucky next time!" And she'd scampered away like the silly little girl that she was.

That was four years ago. Vincent had needed to deal with his own stuff afterwards but after the Omega-Chaos fiasco, he had managed to become more human and responsive. They were now good friends as opposed to the mere acquaintances of the same 'terrorist' group.

She still liked to annoy him on occasion, just to see what he'd do. Before, he would do nothing until she'd give up and go away. Last time, though, he raised a hand to her forehead and pulled her headband over her eyes and walked away. Yuffie had stared at his back in disbelief, her mouth gaping like a fish.

Next time she saw him, she crept up stealthily behind him and tugged on his headband, eliciting a warning "Yuffie…" from him. And when she didn't desist, he whipped around in his seat, grabbing her arm and pinning her against the wall. Yuffie had gasped as it all happened in less than a second.

Vincent's glowing red eyes bored into hers, flashing dangerously. Yuffie couldn't look away. "Don't touch…"

Yuffie cleared her throat and laughed nervously. "No need to get huffy. Geez, didn't realize you had a thing about 'cooties'…"

She drifted off as Vincent released her and stepped back. What shocked her into not breathing was when his gloved hand reached up to her face, cupping her cheek.

He held her stunned gaze with a calm one of his own. "We will call it even."

Yuffie nodded.

"Hn." Vincent released her and left.

Six months later and she still didn't know what that was all about. But Vincent was still around and treated her like a friend, so it was okay. She didn't really need to know.

What she did know was Reno would be upset when he came out of his funk over Rude to find his weapon missing. And as amusing as that prospect usually was, Reno was apparently hurting and she was mature enough now to recognize he was still human, despite their differences. A cold-blooded killer human, but one nonetheless.

Grabbing the EMR, she stuck it in a strap on her hip while stalking to the door. Locking it behind her, she took off for the hospital.

She found the right ward and recognized a blonde sitting in one of the uncomfortable plastic seats, dozing. She awoke as Yuffie approached her.

"Elena?" Yuffie asked.

The woman nodded, her brow creased. "Yuffie?"

Yuffie nodded. "How's Rude?"

The blonde looked at her lap and shook her head. "Not too well. The doctor says there's only a fifteen-percent chance of him ever waking up. The blow to his head was near lethal."

"I'm so sorry," Yuffie fidgeted.

Elena noticed, and caught sight of her hip. "Isn't that Reno's?"

She asked nodding to the rod strapped to her leg.

Yuffie nodded. "Yeah. He left it at the bar yesterday. Do you know where he is?"

Elena sniffed. "Knowing Reno, at some other bar."

"Oh, kay…I'll check there." Yuffie turned away, not sure what to say anyway.

Five bars later, Yuffie couldn't find him. She entered 7th Heaven, pocketing the key. Turning towards the bar, she stopped abruptly. There was Reno, his head lolling to the side, the beer tap drizzling directly into his mouth.

"Reno!" Yuffie yelled, springing towards him. He jerked up, looking around blearily as she raced towards him, yanking the nozzle from his hand and pulling him down from the bar. He plopped precariously onto a stool, and she righted him before he could fall.

"Yuffette! Lovely to shee you, dawl. Could jou put that stuff in a glass fer me? My aim ishn't what it ushed-ed to be…"

Yuffie frowned at him. "How the hell did you get in here?"

"Hey," he pointed at her. "Shou are too young…to be u…loo…loosin'…Usin' that kind of language, missy."

Yuffie sighed, disgusted. "I think you've had enough to drink."

Reno slapped the bar. "Never!"

"I'll get you some coffee," Yuffie scurried around the bar. Turning to the coffee maker, she suddenly heard a thump and spun back around. Reno wasn't in sight, so she leaned over the bar and saw him sprawled on his face next to his stool.

Yuffie flicked the coffee maker on, before running quickly back around the bar to kneel next to Reno. He groaned and tried to lift himself, unsuccessfully. Yuffie rested a hesitant hand on his back.

She sighed. "Why'd I have to get stuck with a drunk Turkey?" she muttered to herself. She swore there was nothing good that came from being nice.

Tugging on his opposite arm, she rolled him onto his back. His head rolled to face her and he grimaced.

"That hurt, yo." He muttered.

"Your point?" she retorted.

He grinned. "Hey legs, think shou could help me shtand? I don' 'sink I have any."

"Have any what?"

He gave her a bizarre look. "Legs."

Yuffie absurdly looked down at his still existing legs. He did too.

"I think you do."

"Well, hey look at 'sat," he exclaimed before his head fell back to the ground and he groaned. "Now if I could jus' get my besh Rude to wake up, everythin'd be jus' dandy."

Yuffie's look of annoyance morphed immediately to one of sadness at his words. But he wasn't looking at her. His eyes were closed. They stayed closed as she picked up his hand closest to her. She held it, uncomfortably, in her lap. The ex-Turk either didn't mind or was too drunk to pull away and they stayed like that for several minutes. When Reno's snores cut through the air, she grimaced and stood, his hand dropping to his chest.

Checking the wall clock, she saw it was almost ten. They opened at noon, but she didn't think she'd gain the strength to lift him anywhere in that amount of time. Decided, she pulled out her PHS and pushed speed dial one.

One ring later and she heard a familiar deep voice say, "…Hello."

A minute later she hung up and started breakfast, leaving Reno snoring on the floor. She'd called Vincent to come help her move the heavy ex-Turk and promised him brunch in return. He told her, "…That is not necessary—"

"I know but I want to." She cut him off.

"…Hn."

She was grimacing at the grits sizzling in the pan as she fried some eggs in another, when she heard a key unlocking the front door. Her diet didn't normally consist of the fattening lard, and Vincent was the same but it amused her to no end when he ate them anyway, out of politeness.

Yuffie peeked her head out to spot Vincent looking straight down, standing over where Reno had landed.

"Hey," she called out.

He looked up. "Good morning, Yuffie."

Yuffie rolled her eyes as she ducked back into the kitchen. "I wish," she called as she sliced up a cantaloupe.

Vincent appeared in the doorway a moment later.

"Where should I put him?" he asked.

Yuffie finished, brushing her hands off. She placed them on her hips and shrugged. "I don't know? In the street?"

"Yuffie…"

"I know, I know…" she waved her hands at him, while turning back to the stove. "What do you think?"

Vincent leaned against the doorframe. "I think it'd be safe…to leave him upstairs."

"In the family room? Fine, but you're carrying him. Or you won't get any of my superbly delicious breakfast," she gave him a cheeky grin over her shoulder.

Vincent's only reply was, "Hn." But she caught a ghost of a smile as he turned to leave.

Yuffie turned back to the stove with a chuckle, turning it off. She peeked out the door and saw Vincent come upright with an unconscious Reno in his arms, the mercenary's mouth hanging wide open, drooling.

Yuffie stifled a giggle. "Why don't you sling him over your shoulder?"

Vincent pierced her with his stare, not in the least amused. "I do not need him vomiting all over me." And then he ascended the staircase.

Yuffie chuckled as she turned back to set the small table for breakfast.

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Reno woke with a pounding headache. He blearily looked up, and cursed as a lamp blinded him.

"Morning sunshine."

Squinting carefully, he rolled his head to the side and saw legs. Looking farther up he saw the familiar ninja grimacing down at him.

"Where…"

"Above Tifa's bar. Here," she held something out to him and he recognized it as a hyper. Taking it, he tried to sit up, but only managed twisting his torso up, resting on his forearm. She handed him a glass of water and he sipped it, trying to rid the bitter taste of the hyper from his mouth.

"And I believe this…" He watched as Yuffie pulled something from her side, "…is yours."

He accepted his EMR, looking down at it in awe. He flicked his gaze up to her in suspicion.

She gave him a haughty look back. "What? I didn't steal it. You left it here, yesterday."

Reno frowned. "What day is it?"

Yuffie told him and he frowned harder. He tried to stand.

"I have to go."

"Whoa," Yuffie leaped up, reaching out to steady him when he swayed. "Where're you going?"

"I have to see…I have to go—" he tried to lunge from the couch but lost his balance. He fell back onto the couch taking Yuffie with him.

"Hold on – Rude's the same," she said.

Reno turned an angry glare on her as she extricated herself from him.

She saw. "Elena and Vincent are keeping me updated. Now sit down. Turkey," she added with a small smirk.

Reno sank into the couch. His mind was fuzzy. But that's what he wanted. He didn't want to think about his best friend dying. Of him never waking up. He leaned forward, covering his face with his hands.

Yuffie sat across from him, slightly uncomfortable. She hoped he wasn't crying. She didn't think she could handle it. After a moment she hesitantly placed a hand on his shoulder. When he didn't do anything to stop her she squeezed slightly.

His head finally shot up and turned towards her. Yuffie felt her breath catch at the amount of anguish in his eyes. But a second later it was gone.

Reno leaned back against the couch, his manner indolent. He was holding her gaze with interest. A smirk slowly grew across his lips as he proceeded to scan her form and heard her huff in exasperation. When she abruptly stood, his gaze shot back up to her face. Her gaze was filled with disgust and her cheeks aflame with indignation from his blatant appraisal.

"You're such a pig, Reno. Rude's so lucky to have a friend like you," she shot at him as she turned to leave.

A hand shot out and gripped her wrist, however, and jerked her onto her back. She yelped as Reno pinned her to the couch, his hands trapping her wrists. Cold fury lit his eyes as he glared intensely down at her.

"Don't ever talk about him." He bit out. "Hear me?"

Her eyes were wide in fright. She nodded hurriedly when his hands tightened considerably around her wrists. And then he was lifted off her.

Yuffie quickly sat up, her mouth open in mixed surprise and horror, seeing Vincent flinging her couch-buddy across the room.

"Vincent!"

The dark-haired gunslinger turned to look at her and she snapped her jaw shut at the ferocity in his expression. She glanced away and saw Reno, groaning and using the wall to stand back up.

"Reno!" she rushed past Vincent and reached a hand out to help the ex-Turk. He pushed her away and turned to glare at Vincent, who glared back.

"Stay away from her," Vincent spoke menacingly.

Reno's gaze hardened. "Gladly." Then he turned and staggered out and down the stairs.

Yuffie folded her arms tight, and glanced at Vincent. He was looking at her, his eyes slightly wide in concern.

"Are you alright?"

She nodded. "You didn't have to do that, you know. He's obviously upset and I said something I shouldn't…"

Vincent stepped towards her when she drifted off. "Yuffie…"

She gave him a sad smile. "I'll apologize tomorrow." She jerked her head towards the door. "Come on, got a bar to run," she gave him a slightly brighter smile.

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A/N: I apologize as this isn't finished, but I stopped it at a point where it could still go either way in a second part type deal. When writing it, I had decided to write two different endings – one for each guy. So this is a base for both stories. However, my well of plenty, so to speak, dried up so any encouragement you can give in regards to enjoyment of reading it will possibly help me finish up an ending to please everyone. Sorry to post this under Reno & Yuffie but there's no third character filter so there ya go.