Chapter 3 (Part I):
True friends…
Vincent felt a little better without his cape, but he still wanted it back. And he knew that he wouldn't find it if the Turks took it and "got rid of it." It looked like it would be one of those days, after all….
After a few moments, the former Turk walked downstairs to see the Turks sitting around small Christmas tree. It was also then that he noticed that none of them were really professionally dress. Sure, they had their uniforms on, but their clothing was loose and their jackets removed.
It was weird. Back then, the Turks weren't allowed to act in such a way…. But then again, times had changed.
/"Hey, Vince!"/ Sei-lyan shouted from across the street. He and Mayne
waited for their superior to cross so they could make it to the party.
Vincent crossed over the three-lane and managed not to get hit.
/"Good job there boss! Any slower, and you would've got killed."/
Mayne chirped in a stupid voice. The red head was definitely in a good mood
that night. He had a blind date, though, that he wasn't too excited about.
Other than that, he was cheerful.
/"If Vince died, then you would've been made boss and then I would get
killed!"/ The wutaian muttered under his breath.
/"Now, now, Sei-lyan. Don't get too excited about me nearly getting
killed, which would get the rest of you deader than a door nail!"/ Vincent
patted his best friend's back.
/"It's doorknob, dip-shit!"/ Mayne laughed heartily and Sei-lyan joined in.
It's not everyday that you get to embarrass you boss, especially when he acts
so cool about himself the way Vincent did.
The three Turks walked upstairs in the building they'd intended for the
company Christmas party. They were also getting their next assignments
as well. Vincent was supposed to meet his new employers. Two of them
were the top most supervisor and president of the Shin-Ra Science
Department. The third was an assistant to the supervisor and president.
Inside, several of the employees of Shin-Ra were there, including the
president and his wife, along with there three-month-old son, Rufus.
Mayne stayed with his pals, because his date would be there and he
didn't want to see here just yet. He was quiet, nervous as hell. And he
really didn't want to get involved with someone, not until he knew that
they-
/"Excuse me?"/ a woman with short red hair and green eyes walked over
to Mayne and smiled. /"You must be Mayne, right? My name's Millie.
I'm your date for this evening?"/
Mayne's mouth dropped to the floor metaphorically
/"….Oh, YEAH!"/ Mayne took his arm around the girl and gave a sweet
smile to his friends. /"Later guys! I'll be having a good time now!"/
/"Later Mayne."/ Both of his associates waved their goodbyes and
watched their friend leave, who mouthed the words 'lucky me' before
turning away with his date. Vincent and Sei-lyan stared at one another
and smiled.
/"At least we won't have to worry about Casanova for the night, now
will we?"/ Sei-lyan noted just before taking out his cell phone and calling
someone very important….
/"Hello sweetie….Yeah, I'm at the company's party right now….Can you
put him on for me?…Hey, there boy!….I know…"/
Vincent left his friend alone, but then stumbled into a young woman with
long, brown hair and green eyes. She was only about a foot shorter than
himself and looked very bright, considering that she was very young.
/"Hello. Sorry about that!"/ She smiled warmly at the Turk who was,
more or less, blushing.
/"That's alright, Miss…?"/
/"Oh, I'm sorry. My name is Lucrecia. I'm in the new division. The
Science Department division that will be sent to Nibelhelm…To work
On the Jenova Project?"/ The woman explained for him. She was
definitely friendly…
/"I see. Then you must be working for Professor Gast and his assistant,
Hojo. I'll be working with the three of you as your body guard. I am
Vincent Valentine. Good to meet you, Miss Lucrecia."/
/"Likewise, Mr. Valentine….Sayonara."/
"Hey, there Vincent!" Reno called from below to the former Turk. Vincent looked down to see that everyone was staring at him. The man made his way down to the four Turks, slowly. He didn't want any of them assuming that they were friends, little less allies. As he furthered down the staircase, Vincent noticed the terrible storm outside. It was surprising that the Turks even found him out there….
Why did they save him?
Did they want information?
About himself….Or Sephiroth?
Rude politely offered Vincent another drink, which was properly declined. He wasn't ready to throw up his own blood again anytime soon. Then Tseng asked him to sit down with them.
"Thank you." Vincent sat between Elena and Reno. Reno didn't seem to mind, but Elena was a nervous wreck. She was horrified by what Vincent could do to her and She wasn't about to let him do what he wanted with her without a fight!
Vincent noticed this immediately, and he started to contemplate whether or not to move to another place to sit. He didn't like being the object of fear in everyone else's mind.
I suppose that I'll have to be getting used to this kind of treatment from now on. I can't blame her. I'm a monster, no matter what anyone says…and I am a fool for thinking otherwise…
"Tell me Vincent…" Tseng began his questioning; something Vincent knew would come sooner or later. After all, old habits died hard, and Tseng must've gotten from his father, as did Reno get his father's "laid-back" mentality.
"What do you want to know Tseng?" Vincent retorted coldly just before Tseng could ask his first question.
Tseng chuckled quietly.
"Why were you alone?" It was the same question, only worded differently, than before.
Why am I alone…Why am I alone…?
"I don't know why. I was flung off of the Highwind after leaving the Northern Cavern. I don't remember much afterwards…" Vincent just blurted it out like it was nothing. Tseng and the rest of his men were….shocked and confused.
"What are you talking about Vincent? I don't understand."
"Right after we killed Sephiroth….We left and I was-"
"You're kidding me, right?" Reno interjected. "That was six months ago, man! You have to be pullin' our legs! Unless you wandered around all that time without knowing it."
Vincent gawked. They were a bunch of liars! There was no way that what happened happened six damn months ago! They had to have been lying….right?
"Now, now Vincent….There's no need to lie to us, now is there?" Tseng's eyes narrowed just slightly, giving a feeling of that maybe...he was mad?
And Vincent didn't want to believe a word any of them were saying, which was making him irritable as well. He wasn't enjoying any of this at all and there wasn't anyone who could-
"Anyone for a Christmas Cookie?" Elena shoved a large plate of green and red sprinkled cookies into Reno and Rude's faces. She was unusually happy and chipper, which was creeping all of the men out. Even Vincent began to lean back uncomfortable in his seat and held his breathe without even realizing until he was offered a treat as well.
"Don't worry Vincent, They're not poisoned or anything!" For no reason, Eleana was being nice to him? Vincent quickly noted this and kept his guard in check before taking a red and green sprinkled cookie from the silver tray. He sniffed, then bit, chewed and swallowed slowly. It was actually really good...
"Well!" Elena's eyes were wide with excitement...and anticipating joy.
"Thank you. This is very good."
"Oh! That's great!...At least, someone likes my cooking!" She turned an eye toward the other men, who were now shoving their cookies into their mouths and giving praise to their female comrade. Her stare didn't last for long. Vincent was already asking for another cookie and the other men were becoming weary of this behavior
Damn, we're gonna look bad if this guy keeps it up, and I do not need that woman on my ass tonight! Rude coughed quietly and asked,
"So, where you from?"
Vincent was stunned, so much that he couldn't really think of the answer for a few seconds. "Durramarung."
"Where is that located? I've never heard of that!" Reno, quick with his input, spat. Vincent suddenly remembered that Durramarung was no longer called that, but SECTOR 5.
"It really has been thirty years..." his muttering caught no one's ear.
