Chapter 7
Wutai surprise
Cid was already changed his clothes and was working on the ship. Once again the monitoring system broke and he couldn't monitor the engines output. Cloud was making himself useful by handing him parts and tools.
Yuffie and Tifa were now in the kitchen making lunch. Cloud somehow managed to convince Barrett into helping him and Cid. Once again Vincent felt useless; he was standing in the corner watching. Glancing down at his metal hand he sighed. He hated the fact that he couldn't help them with the repairs. The only thin he could do was watch. With that Vincent turned to walk out instead of standing there feeling useless. He needed to go and his bullets, at least that would occupy his time. He made sure to remind himself to buy extra and put some in the weapons room since he had already gone through his back stock. Cloud called from his perch on the control panel.
"Are you going to town now?"
Vincent nodded his head.
"You will miss lunch."
"Tell Tifa not to save any, I am not hungry."
"Ok but you know she'll insist you eat double your share at dinner." Cloud said smiling.
"I'll be back by dinner" Vincent replied as he left the Highwind and made his way for Junon.
Cloud nodded even though Vincent was out of sight. He knew how particular he was about his bullets and his guns for that matter. As he put it one time "If someone gets me unsatisfactory ammunition and my gun jams then how do you expect me to save you?"
"Damn it Spiky, hand me that damn condenser" Barrett snapped. Shaking away his memory he handed Barret the part.
Thirty minutes later Yuffie came skipping out and kicked Cid in the feet.
"What the hell!" He yelled coming out of the bowels of the control panel.
"Lunch is ready" she replied happily and ran back to the table. Tifa had already brought out the food and was sitting down waiting on everyone else. Yuffie joined her at the table soon followed by everyone else. She made soup and sandwiches for everyone. Sitting down the all dug in. Yuffie was looking around for their dark clad gunner.
"Where's Vinny" she asked her eyes resting on Cloud.
"He went to get his bullets." He replied taking a bite out of his sandwich.
"Oh, well I guess I'll have to make an extra big dinner" she said mischievously.
"Yuffie…" Cloud started before he was cut off again.
"I know Cloud, I was only joking."
She had a plan for when he got back and was excited when no one realized she was making dinner. She only hoped her plan for Vincent worked. Once everyone finished lunch they threw their plates away so they didn't add to the night dishes. Tifa always put lunch on disposable plates, it also helped ease cleanup. That came from feeding orphans and having Marlene and Denzel at 7th Heaven. The boys went back ot helping Cid and the girls went off to gossip. This time in Yuffies room which just so happened to be across the hallway from Vincent's.
Vincent walked down the worn dirt road to the gunsmith. He was getting stared at by other people on the street. He was used to it now, after all he was the most noticeable member of AVALANCHE and he stuck out like Cid did in a church. Even though he was used to the stares he still felt uncomfortable with it. He quietly made his way down the alley to the shop finally getting out of the stares. He decided he was going to take the alleys back to the ship knowing it would take longer. Stopping before he entered the gunsmith he looked down the darkened alleyway. He had an uneasy feeling of someone watching him, Chaos remained quiet, obviously he didn't feel it. Seeing nothing he entered the gunsmith. Paying for his ammunition he walked back out in the alley. This time he went the opposite direction away from the looming street filled with people and not hearing the person walking briskly towards him.
He was hoping to escape through the alley. Walking very fast he turned his head and looked over his shoulder as he rounded the corner smacking into something very solid. Falling on his butt he looked up only to have three gun barrels returning his stare.
"Whoa!" Reno yelping knowing very well who was on the other end of that gun. Scrambling to his feet he straightened out his coat.
Vincent didn't drop hi gun from the fiery red head, it followed him as he stood.
"Damn Valentine, drop your gun yo" Reno asked.
"You ran into me, force of habit." Vincent replied.
"You sure know how to scare the shit out of someone."
Smirking behind his cloak he put his gun away.
"If you see Tseng I didn't come this way" Reno said walking around the gunman and picking up into a jog. Reno probably pissed Tseng off with one of his pranks that went too far. Vincent shook his head and continued walking down the alley towards the Highwind. The closer he got to it the worse his feelings of someone watching him got. Turning around and seeing nothing several times his feelings still didn't cease. It wasn't Tseng, he already pointed him off in the direction of Reno and he didn't see Red around either but there was defiantly something there watching him, though he couldn't see it. He decided it would be best to keep this to himself. Cloud had enough to worry about with tomorrows' mission.
Dinner was almost ready. Everyone was a little nervous when Tifa told them Yuffie was cooking her Wutai Surprise. Barret was already seated at the table reading the plan for the following morning and Cloud and Cid were up on the deck going over panel operations. The crew managed to make it back and they were now in their barracks. Cid gave them the entire night off so they ordered pizza and decided to have a movie night. They had the delivery boy come to the cargo hold so they didn't interrupt the captain. They knew how much he hated it. Red followed them in through the hold and decided to watch the movie with the crew. Yuffie was trying to cook and Tifa was reading a magazine enjoying a night without having to cook.
There was a loud crash followed by a few choice curse words coming from the kitchen. Yuffie burnt her finger on the stove. Stumbling backwards she knocked some of the pots off the counter. She was almost finished with dinner and wanted it to be special. The thing was she didn't cook very often and was having a hard time. Plus, the lid to the powdered garlic fell off and almost dumped the whole container in the sauce which left her spooning the majority of it out the best she could. Her shorts had sauce on them, her finger hurt from being burned and she really wanted Tifa to come in a help her. She was so much better at this than Yuffie was. But giving up was not her strong suit after all, she loved Wutai surprise and she wanted to share it. She picked up the spoon and stirred the noodles. She was extremely careful when chopping the veggies. She didn't want to cut herself or remove a finger. She already put the dishes out on the table so she wouldn't have to worry about it when she brought out the main dish. She was going to make desert but changed her mind seeing how hard it was for her make dinner.
"Geesh. I don't see how Tifa can do this everyday." She told herself dropping the vegetables into the sauce still hoping the garlic wasn't too much. Cooking wasn't really her thing but she wanted to make it mainly for Vincent.
"Ok, needs fifteen more minutes." She sat on the counter in the middle of the kitchen and waited.
Tifa set the table and called everyone in for dinner. Yuffie came out of the kitchen walking very carefully carrying the huge pot. Setting it down on the table she began dishing it out on plates.
"What the hell is it?" Cid asked as she handed him his plate.
"Wutai surprise" Yuffie answered, clearly in deep concentration.
"Looks like a damned animal carcass" Barret said sniffing his plate.
"Guys I am sure it will be good. Thank you Yuffie." Tifa replied grabbing up some of the noodles on her fork.
Yuffie smiled. She really hoped it was good and the garlic didn't ruin it.
With some hesitation everyone started eating. It actually wasn't bad, slightly heavy on the garlic but otherwise it tasted alright.
"Not bad Yuffie" Cloud said with a mouth full of food.
"Wait a second, where's Vinny?" Yuffie asked setting her drink down.
"Probably eating in town" Cid said smiling. He actually was enjoying it but he didn't want her to know that.
"I'm sure he is on his way back" Tifa answered throwing a glare at Cid who smiled. Barret was busy eating and didn't bother to interject.
"I made this for everyone" Yuffie said pouting. "Not just some of us."
Just as she finished her sentence Vincent entered the room only to be stopped in place by all the eyes staring and the overwhelming scent of garlic that made his head spin. Not returning their stares he walked towards the weapons room.
"Vinny, come eat with us! I made Wutai surprise" Yuffie said beaming.
Again Vincent stopped and his eyes met theirs.
"Yuffie, I can't" he answered quietly.
"Why not?" Yuffie asked; her excitement deflated. Everyone turned and faced Vincent, waiting for his answer. Barret and Cloud taking a drink of their tea.
"I am allergic to garlic" he replied quietly knowing the response he was going to get from Barret. Everyone exchanged glances with one another and Barret snorted in laughter almost blowing his tea on everyone. He brought his hand up to stop it. Cloud set his tea down.
"You can't just try it?" Yuffie asked.
"Vincent, you are highly allergic to it aren't you. Which means even the smell makes you sick, right?" Tifa asked.
Vincent nodded his head looking to Barret.
"No Barret, I am not a vampire." He said walking away form the group to put his ammunition cases in the weapons room. He figured he would stop that one before Barret got a chance to say anything. He hated the coffin comments. He opened the door to the weapons room, pausing to make sure he had the right bullets to put in there. Putting them on the shelf he turned and grabbed the door handle and started walking out.
Cid chuckled and Barret clamped his mouth shut. That explained why he didn't eat when there was garlic in the food. Now everyone seemed to understand.
"Who knew" Cid said as he finished his plate.
"Vincent allergic to garlic, that's a good one. I still think he is a vampire" Barret added drinking more of his tea.
"I guess I will have to watch what I season with from now on" Tifa said smiling. She looked at Yuffie who was staring a hole in the table.
"I feel bad. He couldn't eat because I put garlic in it."
"Yuffie, no one knew. Don't worry about it." Cloud said before shoving more food in his mouth.
