DISCLAIMED: (09/29/09)

Characters: Reno/Yuffie, Vincent/Yuffie, Cloud/Tifa(minor), Rufus & the Turks, AVALANCHE
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: Aye, this is the last of what I have. So sorry about posting this late - I just started my junior year at a university and, of course, caught a cold so I'm not thinking clearly at all. You guys have been awesome with your reviews and I hope to hear more - it was actually seeing one today that reminded me to update. =P It's nice to see some of you see the situation the same as me. Please let me know where you think it should go or which pairing you'd like to see written first;P

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Chapter 十

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"What happened?"

Yuffie rubbed her forehead. They were back at Tifa's bar. Denzel and Marlene asked if they could stay at friend's houses that night and were upstairs packing some things.

This was after, of course, they went on excitedly to Cloud and Tifa about Vincent beating someone up. And Yuffie was sporting a filthy footprint on the bare of her back.

"Reno was being a dick, and Vincent overreacted." Yuffie replied.

"He kicked you," Vincent argued.

"That's not why you attacked him."

"He deserved it."

"You dislocated his shoulder and gave him a concussion."

"He tried to use his EMR on me."

"Cause he knew he was about to die!"

"Why are you defending him?"

Yuffie gaped. Her jaw worked but nothing came out. "I-I'm not. I'm just not thrilled over the two of you killing each other because of me."

Tifa came over and put an arm around Yuffie. "Look, how bout we all cool down. You guys haven't eaten lunch yet, have you? Everyone'll feel better once they get their blood sugar up, alright? Yuffie, will you help me in the kitchen."

Yuffie allowed herself to be led into the kitchen, leaving Vincent alone with Cloud.

"Vincent."

The gunman glanced at him. The blond's face was hard. He nodded to the door, before heading through it. Vincent sighed and followed.

Cloud went around the side to his makeshift workshop. Vincent followed and stood at the end of the alleyway.

"What the hell is going on, Vince?" Cloud started.

Vincent sighed and started to reply, but the blond cut him off.

"I mean, why the hell is Reno around her anyway? He just wants in her shorts, and we all know Yuffie doesn't know shit about guys, much less his type."

Vincent's eyes widened. Cloud wasn't mad he hurt Reno, he was mad that he allowed Reno to be around Yuffie.

"Tifa's been telling me Yuffie's confused when he comes around. Thinkin' his attention to her is real." Cloud gave him a hard look. "He's done some good things lately, but he's still a player. You need to watch out for her, or he'll tear her apart."

"I agree." Vincent replied. "But as you can see, she's not appreciative of my help."

Cloud shook his head. "It doesn't matter. She has no experience with guys like him." He shifted and knelt down next to Fenrir, picking up a wrench and fiddling with the chain. "I'd watch her, but I'm leaving tomorrow." Cloud glanced up at him. "I'm counting on you, Vince."

Vincent nodded before changing the subject. "Before the incident today, Yuffie and I discussed handling the bar tonight while you take Tifa out."

Cloud blinked, looking at the other man in surprise.

"It's the first time you are taking off on your bride – she deserves a night out."

Cloud looked away, his arms lowering from their task.

"You know, I've been thinking."

Vincent waited patiently for the swordsman to continue.

"Maybe I'll expand the business. Hire some help. Maybe even have some of the orphans do local deliveries. Still have enough gil."

"What will you do then?"

Cloud shrugged. "Help Tifa with the bar. Maybe even start a garage."

Vincent nodded. "I think Tifa would like that."

Cloud nodded, lost in thought for a moment. Looking up, he said, "Well, a night out is a good idea. You're right. Tifa deserves it. I can tell her about my plans then."

Vincent nodded and turned to leave.

"Vincent."

The gunslinger paused.

"Don't let her get hurt."

Vincent blinked and after a moment, he was gone.

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ҰμҒғΦєЖυΦπсЭиГ

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Reno woke up stiff and aching. He blinked the sleep from his eyes and noticed he was lying in a hospital bed.

" 'Bout time you woke up."

He looked to the side and saw Yuffie sitting in the hospital bed next to him flipping through a magazine.

"Aren't you Turks supposed to have a higher tolerance for pain?"

He grunted and shifted, before going still. His shoulder ached like a bitch. "What are you doing here?" he rasped.

Yuffie flipped the magazine close and plopped it on the bed as she stood and poured him some water into a glass from a pitcher sitting on the bedside table.

"You're an idiot."

Reno snorted.

"You don't mess with Vincent. Period. You're lucky you ended up in the hospital and not in the Lifestream."

She tipped the glass to his mouth, and he was tempted to turn away but she'd probably dump it on his head and that would not help his whole stuck in a bed situation. So he settled for scowling at her as he drank.

"I didn't 'mess with Chaos boy'," Reno retorted when she pulled the glass away.

It was Yuffie's turn to snort. "I didn't realize you were that dense."

Reno continued to glare at her. Yuffie sighed.

"Look, you mess with any of AVALANCHE, you get us all. But messing with me? It's like writing your suicide note."

Reno sneered. "Think highly of yourself, don'tcha."

"As a matter of fact, yes," she replied hands on hips. "But it doesn't mean I'm wrong."

"You think Vincent is so enamoured of you that you have him wrapped around your finger?"

Yuffie rolled her eyes. "I'm the baby of the group, dimwit. If Cloud had seen you there, you'd also have a huge lump on your head from the broadside of his ginormous sword. You might as well hit on Marlene for all they see a difference."

Reno screwed his face up in disgust.

"I am not a pedophile. Unlike Valentine."

Yuffie crossed her arms. "Go ahead. Say that in front of Vince."

"Maybe I will." Reno returned defiantly. He didn't know why he was reacting like this. Usually, he'd make some perverse sexual innuendo and laugh it off. He was just annoyed that his heart sped up when he noticed her in the room.

Yuffie huffed and rolled her eyes again. "Gaia, you are a moron."

"You're the one that said 'Vince' doesn't see a difference between you and an eight year old."

As Yuffie's expression hardened, Reno let his gaze drift down her torso.

"You're such a pig."

Reno rolled his eyes, looking away from her. "Is this why you came? To call me names? Because, honestly it hurts my feelings," he drawled.

"'Honestly?'" Yuffie scoffed. "You wouldn't know the truth if it fell on your head while screaming 'duh!' "

Reno's eyes flashed. "Sounds like someone's upset I don't want to stare into her eyes all day like a lovelorn vampire."

Yuffie narrowed her eyes on him.

"Vincent's five times the man you are."

"Then go bug him and call him names," Reno replied irritably. He wanted a stiff drink.

"Maybe I will," she said with a raise of her eyebrows. "Maybe I'll let him take me out on a date and when he brings me home, I'll let him cop a feel? Or better yet, have hot monkey sex in his coffin." Her nose wrinkled slowly after her last comment, before she shook her head. "Strike that last part. Anyway, I should be going. Have a hot date tonight." With a quirk of her head and swish of her hips, she headed for the door.

After she left, Reno was seething. She came to flaunt her date with the guy who'd dislocated his shoulder in his pathetically liquor-less face. He told himself he was just upset he didn't get his one night with her to get her out of his system, nothing more.

"Fuck," he muttered, banging his head back against the pillow. "Nurse," he called. "Can I get a scotch?"

-

ЯεπΘжΨμҒғϊΣ

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Yuffie sat on top the roof of the bar. Her arms were wrapped around her upraised knees as she let the soft breeze blow her hair about her face.

She didn't make a date with Vincent, like she'd said. Vincent was still her friend and she wouldn't use him like that in her little fight with Reno. She felt lost though. Having something with Vincent would probably be nice – very nice actually, if his kisses were anything to go by – but with this Reno thing hanging over her head, it just wouldn't feel right.

With a sigh, she pulled out her cell. Flipping it open, she clicked the down button and scrolled through her list to 'Reeve'. She hit call and put it up to her ear.

"Reeve, here."

"Hey, it's Yuffie."

"Hello Yuffie. How are you?"

"Uh, okay. How bout you?"

"Good. Busy."

"Of course…" Yuffie stared at her feet.

"Is there something wrong?"

"Oh, no. I was just wondering if you had any work for me. Ya know, I'm just…going stir crazy with the married couple and their brats," she added lightly.

Reeve laughed. "Of course. Actually, I do. There's a strange upsurge of mako energy in Wutai…you don't mind going back there, do you?"

Yuffie thought about her hometown. She wouldn't mind picking a fight if she had to see her dad while she was there – not with the way she was feeling.

"I'll do it."

"Great."

"Do I get a partner or am I soloing?" she asked, not caring either way.

"Actually, Rhys finally resurfaced and he's mentioned something about wanting some good sake."

Yuffie laughed, remembering her past partner in crime. He had short black spiky hair, a jagged cut over one of his blue eyes, an earring high in his ear and an ever-present smirk. She'd only worked with him twice since he always went nonstop and was a daredevil taking on the most dangerous of missions, disappearing off the face of Gaia for weeks at a time. He always reappeared right when you stopped wondering when he'd show up and this time was no different. She'd completely forgotten about him. She hadn't seen or heard from him in three months.

"Tell him fine, but I'm lead on this one since it's my home turf."

"I'll try," Reeve drawled, amused. "So come in tomorrow morning for your briefing and then you can either ferry there or take the chopper."

Both options made her stomach roll. The chopper would be faster, but she wasn't really looking to hurry this mission along.

She agreed and hung up. Trying not to think of the travel, she thought about Rhys. They'd got along fairly well, fighting over which was the smartest plan sometimes, since even though she was young, she'd saved the world while he had not and knew her shit.

He was always charming and when he was not, accepted her blows physical and verbal with a grin and some sort of saucy comment about them and being horizontal.

She never took him seriously, but they developed a camaraderie that they both enjoyed. They had saved each other a couple times and developed a mutual respect. He was too much like angsting-on-Aerith-Cloud with his disappearing more often than not for her to even think of him romantically.

Not that she'd thought of anyone that way until Reno and Vincent. But even now, he was a friend. One that was removed from her AVALANCHE friends who could possibly help her put some perspective on her situation.

Now that she thought of him, she decided he was really attractive, making her think Vincent wasn't going to like him at all. Well, Rhys was no Reno, so she'd just have to make him see that. Yuffie sighed, burying her face in her knees. His jealousy was really going to be a problem if she ever decided to date him. Most of her friends were men.

It was getting late and her stomach had started to growl, so she climbed down from the roof in search of food. Downstairs, she passed by Vincent, who was helping at the bar on her way to the kitchen.

She was unsurprised when he followed her in. Opening the fridge, she looked in.

"I won't apologize."

"Then you're a jackass," she replied offhand.

"I mean to him."

"I don't think he'd believe you anyway."

"I am sorry for overreacting."

She shut the fridge and turned to him, leaning against the counter. "I don't like being in the middle. This…testosterone grudge-fest has to stop."

Vincent nodded slightly.

"I'm leaving in the morning."

He froze at her words. After a long moment, "…Where?"

Yuffie turned and grabbed some bread off the top of the fridge deciding to have a sandwich. "Reeve has a mission for me. I just need to get away for a few days."

"On your own?"

Yuffie shook her head. "Rhys resurfaced."

Vincent's countenance darkened at the mention of the handsome adventurer.

Yuffie, sensing his darkening mood, turned to him with a knowing look.

"That's another thing. This whole jealousy thing you have going when I'm around other guys has to stop."

"I'm not jealous."

Yuffie snorted.

"Not every guy wants to jump me and if they do, it's not like I can't beat their ass into the ground."

"You couldn't handle Reno on your own," he pointed out.

"You're not my boyfriend, Vincent," she said suddenly, turning to him.

He turned his gaze downward.

Yuffie sighed. "I didn't mean to be so harsh. But really," she looked at him imploringly and he met her gaze, "not every woman is like Lucrecia."

Vincent glanced away briefly before turning back to her. "You're saying Reno doesn't tempt you at all?"

Yuffie straightened her head in realization. "Are you comparing him to Hojo?" Vincent's expression hardened at the mention of his murderer. Yuffie's mouth opened and closed a couple times before she found the right words. "Vince, the situations are completely different."

"But the concept is the same," Vincent said abruptly. "Two men, one woman."

Yuffie's eyes widened at his rather impassioned speech. Well, impassioned for Vincent.

"Well, for one, neither of you are psychotic and neither am I."

Vincent stared, waiting for her to continue.

"Sorry to say, but Lucrecia was a moron. A big one. Choosing a creepy old guy and then deciding to experiment on her own child?"

"Hojo was…charming," Vince said after a moment, to which Yuffie cringed, "in his own way."

"I suppose you had to be a scientist to appreciate it," Yuffie conceded, her mouth turned downward in disgust. A seriously fucked up one, she added mentally.

Vincent sighed, "Yuffie, I—"

"This is not a negotiable topic, Vince." She interrupted. "You either back off or we can't be…friends."

Vincent studied her, his heart leaping at her small hesitation. Stuck between his own insecurities with Cloud's warning and her wishes, he decided she was prettier than Cloud and conceded.

"Alright. But," he paused, holding her gaze, "be careful."

Yuffie almost smiled but decided she wasn't ready yet and turned away. "I will."

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ҰμҒғΦєЖυΦπсЭиГ

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A/N: And that's it. For now. =P So really, I could go either way. I've noticed you guys seemed to be just as indecisive as me and while I'd love to just pick one, I need you guys to help me focus on one or the other. Especially since the urge to do a Yuffie/Rhys fic instead is not helping in the slightest;P So let me know what you think;)