'I hate Mondays. It's good some things never change.' Vincent mumbled to himself mentally. In the background he could hear the odd rhythmic pounded along with a mechanical "whine" sound. Vincent was only mildly curious of what produced the sound, but since it did not seem to produce danger, Vincent remained in his bed.
If the initial sound was not enough, another sound came to his ears. This one was even more vague then the first. It was the sound of something vibrating followed by a simple song tune.
Reeve placed his feet on the edge of the treadmill as he answered his cell phone. In his bedroom his pager danced and sung as someone attempted to contact him. Keeping his conversation brief, Reeve finally hung up and jumped back onto the moving conveyer and began to jog. His immediately began to ring, this time he immediately recognized the number as one of the several hired contractors.
"Yes, I know you are busy. Who isn't?"
Vincent listened to Reeve talk on his phone, one conversation after another. Reeve's voice rose up in irritation.
"I don't care if your grandmother is digging the ditch. The agreement was for tomorrow and that is that. There are thousands of people depending on us to return life back to some sort of normal."
Reeve's voice dropped down. It seemed the conversation had ended. Sighing, Vincent relaxed against the pillow and stared at the ceiling. He felt tired.
Reeve's cell phone rang again. The thumping stopped. "Hello mom. How are you doing over there...?"
Vincent rolled over on his side now facing the wall. 'Great, not only does this man have a strange doll fetish, he is also a mama's boy.' But before Vincent could continue further, Reeve's voice changed again.
"What mom? I can't hear you...breakin'...up..m..later." Reeve hung up and tossed the phone to the couch.
Vincent could not help but smile. 'Good, I was wrong on the second thing. I could have not done better myself.'
The strange thumping resumed. Now awake and a little more curious, Vincent crawled out from underneath the blankets and stumbled out toward the main room. There he found Reeve jogging, the curtains drawn back to reveal the pastel colored dawn as the sun rose up from the east.
"Good morning, Vincent." Reeve managed between breathes. "How can you beat a view like this?" He gestured to the window as he checked his pulse monitor on his wrist.
Vincent rubbed at his face and looked at the clock on the all. 'It's only six in the morning? The sun isn't even awake yet.'
After not hearing a response, Reeve cast a quick glance over to see Vincent's almost confused expression as he stared at the treadmill. Reeve chuckled.
"Is it that strange to you? I use to get up early and go to the work gym, but I found I like to work out at home. Though I do miss meeting with some of the people who also had a similar time routine.
Vincent only made a few guttural responses before pulling up a barstool and sat down, still watching Reeve run on the contraption. 'It's almost like a hamster wheel.'
"Oh, I will take an extended lunch. We needed to take you shopping and get your some new clothes. What you have will not do." Reeve stated as he jogged.
Vincent's eyes drifted to the ground. 'I am not too sure about that.'
"How about this?" Tifa held a dress shirt to Vincent's face. He pushed the shirt back.
"Why? I don't like red." Vincent stated flatly.
Cloud smirked. "Ah c'mon, I think it brings out the red in your eyes."
Vincent's face dropped. 'I wish he would have warned me that Tifa and Chocobo head was going to be here. I would have found a way to get out of this.'
Reeve's face wrinkled in confusion. "If you didn't like red, then why were you running around in something like a costume shop reject?"
Vincent shrugged and looked away. "I did not have anything else to wear."
Reeve the shirt one more look before placing it back on the rack. "How come you did not say anything sooner?"
Vincent touched one of the white shirts. 'Because I knew this would happen It becomes an elaborate game of "Let's dress up Vincent." Instead, he simply shrugged as he diverted his attention elsewhere within the apparel shop.
"I appreciate your charity, Reeve, but I am more then capable of shopping for myself." Vincent's attention lingered on the black dress shirt.
"You are sure about that?"
Vincent sighed and closed his eyes. Reeve smirked and walked off into another direction. He found it was too easy to push the man's buttons. "Very well. I am sure the young gal over there could help you." He winked and disappeared behind a set of posed manikins.
Taking a little delight in the brief moment of solitude, Vincent began thumbing through the racks of shirts and pants. After some frustration and annoyance, Vincent walked out of the shop with a black suit some shirts, pants and other necessities that he lacked.
Leaning against the back of the wooden mall bench, Cloud looked around trying to find something to pass the time. It was obvious the young man was bored. Somehow, knowing this did not bring Vincent much comfort. The last thing they needed was a swordsman with a short attention span.
Cloud sighed and crossed his arms. "Gees, how long is it going to take?" He muttered and glanced at his watch. Vincent remained quiet sitting with his recent purchases. Cloud shifted on his feet while his bright blue eyes looked over the surrounding storefronts with little enthusiasm. "Wanna get something to eat? How 'bout an Orange Julius? It's been a long time since I had one."
Vincent looked over and gave a look of confusion. "Orange Julius?"
Cloud rubbed at his spiked blonde hair. "Dude, you don't know what that is?" Cloud looked genuinely confused by Vincent's lack of familiarity with the mall munchies favorite. Cloud looked around and shrugged in defeat until something else came to mind inspired by the smell of cinnamon.
"I hope to hell you know what a cinnamon bun is right?"
Vincent looked up and narrowed his eyes in annoyance.
Cloud forced a smile. "Good. I think I smell a Cinnabon around here..." The young man sniffed and looked down east hallway of the mall. Cloud looked back at Vincent. "You're absolutely right, Vincent. Enough talk, let's go eat something!" Cloud began to march off into the light crowd of shoppers. Cursing under his breath, Vincent grabbed his bags and followed after the blonde hair. He knew if he did not keep a close eye on the young man, they would never find him again in the three levels of hell.
"You are sure about this, Reeve?"
The man smiled as he placed his hands into his pant pockets. "Absolutely, Tifa. You wear that on the grand opening; there will be no fail. Are you sure I cannot persuade you into updating the style of the bar to bring in some of high-rollers into your place?"
Tifa examined the stuff within her bag. "Nope. I happen to like the vintage style of the place and so do many of the locals. I think if I changed for something that came out of the northern Midgar, I would be hunted down with pitchforks."
Reeve snickered. "Of course. Though I can't see why you can't exploit that for your benefit. I can almost see it now..." Then he stopped seeing an empty bench where he last seen Vincent and Cloud. "Oh dear..."
Tifa pursed her lips. " Vincent's stuff is gone and there isn't any screaming. You can scratch beast off..." The delicious smell of baking cinnamon came to her nose. Tifa sighed. "Cloud."
Realizing he did not have a napkin to wipe his sticky fingers off on, he wiped them on the pant legs. Vincent looked away and watched people walk by with their purchases in one hand and a child in the other. Others walked hand in hand while they walked. Vincent could not help but to feel a ping of loneliness.
"Hey, look lively Mr. Sunshine. How can you mope after having that?" Cloud dropped down in a seat unceremoniously.
"I was not moping." Vincent offered.
Cloud rested his hands on his knees. "Like hell you were. I know mope when I see one. This is a mall! Ah gees, Vincent why do you have to be such a downer?"
Vincent blinked and looked over confused by the term. 'Downer?' "Someone has to be a realist in your happy world of fuzzy chocobos."
Cloud almost laughed. "Fuzzy Chocobos?...wait." Cloud thought for a moment. "You weren't trying to be funny like haha funny were you? Man...that's not nice."
'Does it even hit your thick skull that I have little love for crowds, Cloud?' Vincent thought. It was not that he actually hated Cloud, but Vincent did not necessarily love the swordsman either. 'If I ever need someone who can bludgeon something to a pulp with a nailbat, Cloud would be the one to call.' All Vincent really cared to do was to go back home. Being in such a place made him feel nervous and uncomfortable. That in turn made beast feel the same.
Cloud sensed the growing tension and knew he needed to distract the brooding man. "Hey, I've been meaning to ask for your help on something."
"My help?" Vincent almost laughed. 'Sure if you have someone you need plugged or something I can use as a chew toy, I would certainly be your man.'
Cloud leaned back in the metal chair and placed his hands against the back of his head. "Yeah. I picked up some extra Gil lately and I want to get something nice for Tifa. I thought about asking Barrett, but I think he would spill the beans to her before I could give it... Talked to Cid and he told me something with lace and small straps, removable straps...but I want to get something real nice for her. She's been good to me, Vincent."
Vincent was quiet for a moment while he played with the plastic handles of his bags. "What makes you think I have any opinion that would be of use to you?"
Cloud scratched at his head. "I dunno there is this whole thing you had with Lucrecia. I mean you look like you know how to pick out something...well...classy? And that you probably have more experience with this whole women stuff then me..." Cloud placed suddenly with the small metal chain that connected his wallet to his belt.
Vincent blinked and nearly snorted. "What? I never got a chance to..." Vincent stopped. "Since when have my romantic involvements become the topic of the conversation?"
Cloud opened and shut his mouth. "Fine, will you help me though? I'm kinda clueless."
Vincent almost clapped, but controlled the impulse. "Of course..."
Before Vincent could say more, Cloud had already stood up and began to make his way back into the slow moving flow of people. Making sure to grab his bags, Vincent followed after him.
Tifa ran up to the small seating area near the Cinnabon booth and only found a young woman seated with a small child.
"Excuse me, did you by chance see a young man about this tall with spiky blonde hair and a taller man dressed in black with red eyes?"
The woman shook her head as she held the small drink cup to the girl. Tifa rubbed at her neck with one hand while another rested on her hip. Cloud was nowhere to be found near the food booths or the food court. 'Where is that fool? Not that Cloud can't take care of himself; I am just worried about the companion he is dragging with him. I am just waiting to hear the screaming and see a very large purple monster charging down the corridors.' Tifa shook her head. Reeve walked away from the counter carrying two small cartons. Tifa looked at him in exacerbation.
"Don't worry, I thought we could at least grab something quick to eat." Reeve held the second carton out to her. Allowing herself to smile, they sat down briefly and ate.
Cloud stopped at the first jewelry store they came upon and slid inside toward the glass counters. "I can't fail with something pretty like a necklace right?" Cloud asked eagerly as he sought out approval.
Vincent just nodded. Cloud made his way over to the other end of the story while Vincent lingered near the entrance of the store. The place suddenly felt very small. 'I should not be doing this. It's too soon yet, I can feel it.' Vincent coughed. 'Did I neglect my medication again?' He made a note to take it when they got back.
His eyes drifted down to the counter near him that held a large display of various men's watches. 'Those are nice. Perhaps not the gold one with the diamonds, but that steel colored one is quite nice.'
"Hey, do you think she would like this?"
Vincent turned to find Cloud holding the necklace up to his neck. Cloud frowned seeing Vincent's expression.
"Yeah, that's what I thought. Too much." Cloud turned around and returned the necklace. "Oh sweet! Check this out. They have a tiara that is almost like the one I had to wear. And ya know what? I think I still have the dress laying around somewhere." Two of the floor clerks looked over at Cloud. Vincent edged away trying to make as much distance as possible between him and the swordsman.
Cloud marveled over the small black velvet box before slipping it back into his jacket pocket. "Hope Tifa likes it."
"I am sure she will." Vincent offered passively as he walked quietly nearby. "Speaking of her, perhaps we should go back..." Vincent stopped realizing that Cloud had disappeared. He searched the crowd until he saw a brief flash of blonde hair before it vanished behind the hanging wooden sign of the weapon shop. Growing ever more tired and annoyed, Vincent backtracked and ducked into the store with the intention of dragging Cloud by the collar until his eyes fell upon the display of various guns. Raising an eyebrow in curiosity, he paused looked down into the case.
Tifa pulled out her cell phone and attempted to call Cloud, but all she managed to get was his voice message. Frowning, she closed her phone and placed it into her small shoulder bag. "Cloud must have either turned his phone or he is distracted."
"I would put my money on the distraction." Reeve jested. Tifa rolled her eyes as she continued to scan the crowds hoping to either spot Vincent or his spiky hair counterpart. But she failed to see either. Feeling frustrated, they paused infront of a jewelry store. She turned and saw the earring display and smiled.
"Those are so beautiful." Tifa after while sighed and turned away. "Some things are not meant to be." She glanced at her watch and frowned. "Cloud, we need to get going." She mumbled.
Reeve glanced at his watched and cursed. "I hate to leave you to Mr. Clueless and Mr. Sunshine, but I have a client I need to meet with in ten minutes." Reeve turned away and started toward the direction of the nearest exit. He turned briefly and made a hand gesture near his ear and mouthed, "call me". Tifa laughed and turned away. Cracking her knuckles, Tifa began to screen the storefronts with more determination then before. Cloud had to be somewhere and she would find him.