And so I shall say it once more I do not own Final Fantasy VII. The game and etc. belong to Square. (Disclaimers are so fun.)
The Flame of You…
Chapter 3
The harsh light of the sun's energy penetrated from the closed windows and emitted its blinding rays onto her closed eyes. The impish girl tried to ignore the annoyance the sun was giving her. Truth be told, she was not a morning person.
Yuffie loitered within the tangled mess of black satin sheets; an apparent favored linen of Vincent's, and began to ponder of where today might lead her. She hated the fact she had no idea where to begin her search, Reno was not one to give certain details. Of course, he purposely did that this time.
She reasoned it was out of an intoxicated state that he left without a word goodbye. She smirked at the thought of him begging to return once he thought he would lose her to someone else. She knew he hated it when a guy would even look in her direction much less, hit on her. He was of course, the jealous type.
Her thoughts stood to a halt when she smelled something. It was not a bad scent but more of a welcoming aroma. It was the one smell that always presented itself as hailed this early in the morning. She smiled to think she would be welcomed by an appetizing breakfast or actually who was making it.
Yuffie lazily got out of the queen-size bed and glanced at her reflection in the mirror. Good God, she looked rather horrid without any make-up! Sighing, she pulled a silver handheld brush from her bag and began to comb through the tangled mess of hair.
She stopped brushing her sage locks as an evil thought crossed her mind. She laid the brush down and changed into something more suitable to greet her host. Surely, a man of Vincent's competence would not wish to see her in a skimpy nightgown.
Yuffie checked her untidy appearance once more and skipped out of the room. She wished to see the look on the gunman's face. Hopefully, the expression would indeed be quite rewarding.
From a distance, she could inspect a dark man standing over an active stove with what appeared to be a spatula in his hand. Yuffie had to control a giggle that tried to erupt from her mouth. The visage of a dark man doing ordinary housework did tend to look quite unusual especially from Yuffie's view.
"My God, Vincent! I never knew you had it in you!" She barked with laughter.
Vincent almost dropped the metal spatula as he heard her unexpected comment. Honestly, he would have noticed her presence the moment she entered but his thoughts kept him otherwise.
"…Yes. Well, I thought that you would be hungry so…"
Yuffie nodded as she overlooked his progress. He was certainly full of surprises; she would enjoy seeing more of his hidden secrets.
"Well…thank you. It's very kind of you to make me something before I leave this morning."
Vincent said nothing as he placed the food onto elegant China plates. His crimson stare fixed itself upon her intent gaze. Stoically, he handed her a plate of food and took a seat beside of her. He said nothing as they ate in silence. Yuffie was somewhat disappointed that he did not question or ever flinch from her horrid appearance.
Vincent eyed the girl's morning guise. He suspected that she did not care to look informal in front of him or wanted to see what he would have said to see her in such a state. The truth was; he did not care what she looked like; he was merely amazed by her current behavior. Apparently, Yuffie approved of his culinary skills since he noticed the look of satisfaction upon her face. A tinge of fulfillment filled within his darkened soul. He dared not question the unexpected emotion.
"Hey Vinnie, you know this is like the best breakfast I have had in a long time!"
Vincent cringed at the nickname. "Yes…well um, thank-you for trying it. I assure you that I did not poison it."
Yuffie's smile fell to an agape expression. "Um…um…did you just make a joke or did I simply imagine that?"
Vincent said nothing to the question. Instead, he continued to eat a piece of egg. What in the world had come over him? He never made a joke, especially when it concerned another person. It had to be the end of his sanity.
"Vinnie? Um, are you okay there? You seem to be drooling."
Vincent dropped his fork. "Oh, sorry. It appears I did not get a lot sleep last night, I'm sorry."
Yuffie shook her tangled mess of hair. "Gawd! Why are so sorry? I swear I think you've gotten whacked too many times over the head with a rolling pin! You really need to get out more!"
"Why would I need to get out more, Yuffie? I am not a socialist like you." He deadpanned.
"I…I…just thought you would like um…never mind."
Yuffie looked at the plate of scrambled eggs and bacon as a security blanket from his dissecting gaze. She hated it when he would stare at her as if she were a virus. It was as if he enjoyed making her feel uncomfortable. And for that, Yuffie needed to leave.
"I'm going to go now. Thank-you for breakfast and letting me stay last night. It was very kind of you, but I must be off." She stuttered as she got up from the chair.
"Wait." Vincent whispered from his seat.
"What?"
"I'm sorry I made you feel uncomfortable with my staring and lewd remarks. It's just that I don't talk to people."
Yuffie's eyes widened in disbelief, did he just apologize to her again? That was indeed un-Vincent-like. That transformation must have indeed done something to his thinking.
"Um…it…it's okay. I think I need pack to now." She stuttered as she left the room.
Vincent said nothing as she left the kitchen. Why did he always have to frighten off people with his actions? He shook his dark mane and contemplated a valediction to the ninja. It would be quite rude not to thank her for saving his life and wish her luck with finding that asshole. However, the last statement would be a lie.
His thoughts were interrupted when he heard a thud and a light curse upon the wooden staircase. 'She must have fallen on the staircase. I knew I should have replaced the flooring.'
"Owie God! Stupid son of a…"
"Yuffie? Are you alright?" Vincent asked from the base of the stairwell. "I heard your fall."
Yuffie glared at the gunman in apparent anger. "What's it look like?! I fell and probably busted something and here you ask if I am all right! I'm peachy!"
"Here, allow me to help you up." He whispered as he approached her slumped form.
"Ow, stop it! You're hurting me! I can get up myself!" She fumed waving him off.
"Apparently not. You have sprained your ankle." He examined her swelling ankle with his human hand. "Come on, you need to rest for a few minutes."
"Vincent, I have got to go! I cannot rest, he needs me!"
Vincent's semi-concerned gaze changed to a stony expression as he lifted her into his slender arms. "I'm certain that ingrate would love to see you stagger yourself to him! You will not go very far on that ankle, Yuffie."
"Put me down, you bastard! I don't care what you suggest on my safety! How dare you speak about of Reno like that! It's not like your were any better as a Turk!" She seethed with apparent anger.
Vincent stopped in the hallway; she had struck a nerve. He placed her on the carpeted floor and stared at her with an incredulous look. "Walk." He commanded.
"Fine!" Yuffie clenched her teeth as she stumbled to her room.
Maybe Vincent was right about taking a rest before traveling. The pain in her ankle was beginning to become unbearable as she placed more weight upon it. She could feel nausea overcome her as cold chills engulfed her form. She never knew so much pain could come from a tiny sprained ankle. God, she felt like a complete dumb ass.
She stumbled into the tiny room as she lost her balance. She expected a hard fall to the wooden floor but it never came. Yuffie looked up to see Vincent holding her waist. The look on his face still held apparent anger. She knew she pissed him off with the rude comment.
Yuffie snorted at her stupidity. "Yeah, yeah, you want me to apologize and say what kind of idiot I am for not taking your ever so wise advice, right?"
Vincent said nothing as he gently placed her on the bed and left the room. She glared at the open door; he could have at least been a gentleman and shut the door. Yuffie hated cynical people that angered her intentionally.
Her lewd comments about the ex-Turk stood to a halt as he entered with what appeared to be an ice pack. Vincent did not look at her as he placed the cold bundle upon her swollen ankle. Yuffie held back another offensive comment as he gently wrapped a small dishtowel around the pack.
"You should rest for a few minutes before you even attempt to stand up. Your sprain is quite bad for it to have swelled up the way it has."
"Lemme guess, it's an ugly shade of purple that has a greenish tint on the outside, right?"
Vincent looked into her eyes. "It's a close description, except it's a little black in the middle."
"Oh, how lovely! I'm certain Reno's gonna love to see my pretty little boo-boo! I hope he kisses it!"
Vincent decided it best not to comment on her apparent jest. He'd had enough about the drunken Turk to last a lifetime. Vincent kept his gaze upon her face. He noticed the pain in it when she lightly moved the inflamed ankle. It was a shame a Cure spell or potion would not alleviate her pain.
"Vinnie?"
Vincent flinched at the nickname once again. Could she not call him by his name? "Yes, Yuffie?"
"You don't like it when I call you 'Vinnie', do you?"
Vincent stared at the floor. "To be honest, no I don't."
Yuffie looked down at her lap, as if she were ashamed she uttered the horrid nickname. She knew he hated it, but why on Earth did she still call him that? Usually, when she called Cloud, 'Spiky-Ass' or Tifa, 'Boobs' they told her to shut-up. It was strange Vincent never said a word to her about it. He was indeed, a gentleman, well at times anyway.
"I'm sorry I called you that, Vincent. I'll try to stop doing it so much because I hate it when Cid and Barret call me, 'Brat' or 'Thief'. I understand your point." She whispered.
Vincent knew it was a little difficult for her to apologize. Yuffie was indeed, a proud girl. A proud girl, that still had emotions. It was odd that she could be so open with him and shut everyone else out with her wave of indifference. Wasn't that his job?
Vincent gazed into her cerulean-eyes; they seemed to cast him into a daze of unknown feeling. The oceanic orbs looked as if they beckoned him into their opaque void of fragile innocence. It was a cruel shame Reno did not take advantage of the inner beauty within this girl; even her eyes could captivate demons.
Yuffie placed a delicate hand upon his organic one, the action made Vincent flinch a little. She pursed her dark brows together and stared into his bloodied eyes. It was odd that Vincent never left her like the others. Even if she were on the verge of death, her so-called friends would say their farewells and leave her to die…alone.
It seemed that her dark comrade had the decency to restrain her from hurting herself even more. Why did that bitch ever leave him for such an ugly profound prick like Hojo? It made her angry to think of that woman again. Deep down, she knew someone else acted like the deceased scientist although, she would never consider admitting that irrefutable fact.
Finding her voice, she finally spoke to him. "Vincent, thank-you for helping me realizes how much of an ungrateful brat I have been to you. I believe my ankle feels better I think I can walk on it now." She said pulling herself out of bed.
Vincent got up from his seated position on the bed and gently pressed her back down. "Yuffie, I think you should rest a few more minutes. The pain may be receding but it can be brought back when you apply pressure to it. That ice will numb it but it's merely a temporary pain reliever."
"So, how long are you saying it will take to be fully healed?"
Vincent stared at the floor. "A few days to the minimum. A sprain that bad can affect you for at least a couple of weeks…"
"A couple of weeks?! Good God, Vincent! I cannot wait that long to find him! I need to go today! I don't care if my ankle bothers me! I need to find Reno!"
Vincent glared at her. "Go if you must, Yuffie. I will not stop you…"
"Good! Now, all I have to do is get my bags and I'll be out of your hair!"
"Tell me, how do you plan to travel?" He inquired, apparent sarcasm lay within his deep voice.
Yuffie looked at him dumbfounded. "I um…haven't that of that part yet. I planned on traveling by walking but now, that idea's shot out of the water. Maybe a kind chocobo will come my way!"
Vincent exhaled as he laid her belongings on the bed. He placed them over his slim shoulders and extended his claw out to her. Yuffie looked at the metal appendage for moment as she placed her hand into it.
Vincent pulled her up as he placed her once again into his stalwart hold. Yuffie somewhat blushed from the gesture as he led her down the stairwell. She stared at him in question as he placed her upon one of the soft black leather sofas.
He placed a hand in the air to silence her question as he left her for a moment. Yuffie wondered why he would just leave her to wait for him like that. Did she not explain to him that she had to go? God, Vincent could be so inflexible at times. He reminded her a little of Reno.
She groaned at the thought of the flame-haired man and his corporeal hints. He always made sexual comments to her but she tended to ignore them. The Turk was merely a tease when it came to being serious with her feelings. He never noticed he hurt her when he would lead her on. That was partially the reason why she never slept with him. Who was to say he would stay with her after he got what he wanted?
She shook her head of the depressing thoughts as she could hear the metal clanking of Vincent's infamous boots enter the room. Her quizzical look stared at what he carried. Why did he have a black bag in his hand?
"Um…why do you have a black bag with you? It's not mine."
"Of course it's not yours, the bag is mine. Come on, we're going."
Yuffie's raised an eyebrow in question. "We're going?"
Vincent nodded. "Yes, we are going. Come on then." He whispered as he picked her up.
"Wait! Hold on a minute! I thought I was going, not we!"
"Apparently, you cannot go by yourself. I will not have you endanger yourself because no one would accompany you. Besides, I very much doubt you'll be able to catch a chocobo in your condition."
"Did I say I was gonna catch one? I could very well buy one from somebody! Jesus, Vincent!"
"The closest person to sell you one is near Cosmo Canyon. I doubt you will trek that far on your ankle."
Yuffie snorted at Vincent's accurate acknowledgment. He was right, she wouldn't last that long. No alone, anyway. "Fine. But why are you coming? I mean don't you have to stay here and do whatever it is you do?"
Vincent gazed into her inquiring eyes. She certainly analyzed everything that went on around her. No God's wonder Reno left her, he probably could not handle her unending inquiries. The thought almost made him grin.
"I have nothing here to hold me back. You need someone to help you until your ankle heals and since no one other than myself seems to be free, I shall offer you my services."
"Vincent, you sound so professional! I love it when you talk proper!" She giggled as she placed her arms around his neck as he lifted her against him.
Vincent shut the mansion doors as he carried her to the garage. Yuffie gave him an odd look as he walked to a tiny building and carried her across its threshold. The small action made them look like a strange couple performing the ceremonial task on a wedding night. Both never considered the thought.
Vincent placed a majority of her weight onto his claw as he pulled a brown sheet off of something. Yuffie's eyes widened to see what lay beneath the tattered tarp. What in God's name was he doing with a motorcycle? That in its self was creepy! The idea of Vincent owing a beautiful machine, as this black bike no less than amazed her.
"I know what you're thinking, Yuffie. Cloud sort of gave it to me after Meteor and I kept it in here."
"I swear Vincent…you are indeed full of surprises! What else is it that you're not telling me, eh? Do you by chance have a pool in the backyard?"
Vincent shook his dark mane as he handed her a helmet. "Do I have to wear this?! It doesn't go with my color!"
"I see, so a black helmet will not go with that black tank-top or whatever you call it that you're wearing? Put it on before I have to myself."
"You wouldn't dare!" Yuffie challenged. "Besides, my safety is not that important!"
Vincent wrenched the helmet out of her hands and placed it on without question. Yuffie could have swore she seen a glint of satisfaction within his claret-eyes. Maybe he was changing into a cynical asshole she knew he was deep down. It would be quite interesting to see more of his unanticipated actions.
He placed a scarlet one over his head and got on the black bike. Yuffie's lips turned upward to imagine him riding across the country with her holding onto his waist. This journey was beginning look more promising by the second. At least, she would not be bored with Vincent's company. Quite odd to think that someone like the ex-Turk would spark her interest so.
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Author's Note: First off, I would like to thank everyone who has reviewed my fic! Thank-you for the comments and suggestions! Really, they mean a lot! ^_^ Anyway, I shall introduce more people within the following chapters! It's starting to bore me without a little conflict and whatnot. Chapter Four shall hopefully be up soon!