A/N: This chapter has been revised taking in the constructive comments given to me in some of my reviews. Please enjoy the revision.
Disclaimer I do not own Vincent or any of the Final Fantasy Characters in this story. Valayris Valk is my own creation thought.
The next morning Valayris sits up still wrapped in Vincent's cape. Pulling it tightly around her she looks around to see no sign of Vincent. "Where can he be now?" Valayris asks.
"Vincent?" Valayris calls looking in all the trees remembering that's where he had hidden yesterday.
"Morning Valayris," Vincent greets from his branch.
"What are you doing up there?" Valayris asks tilting her head slightly.
"Keeping watch," Vincent explains.
"Did you sleep at all?"
"I hardly sleep anymore," Vincent tells her.
"Oh," Valayris sighs.
Silence falls over the two. Valayris's mind races to think of something to say to him. Vincent being a man of few words places a challenge on Valayris to think of a good conversation starter.
"Thank you again for the cape last night," she says gripping it tightly, "It's very warm.
"Did I just say that?" Valayris asks herself internally smacking herself in the forehead, "Great white mage blunders simple conversation with dark stoic protector."
Vincent sees Valayris's face express her trapped deep in though. Vincent wonders what she was on her mind.
"White Mages must be very troubled people," Vincent thinks to himself. Snapping out of her deep thought she pulls the cape off her shoulders. Holding it out to him Vincent jumps down from the tree. Landing in front of her he holds out his hand waiting for her to give him the cape. Looking at him briefly she gets an idea.
"Wonder what how this will go over?" Valayris asks herself.
Instead of handing Vincent the cape Valayris stands on her tiptoes swinging the cape onto his broad shoulders buckling the cape back on.
"Thank you," Vincent says placing his hand on hers.
Looking down Valayris blushes. She couldn't believe that crazy idea worked.
"Wow," Valayris sighs internally, "Progress."
Looking back up at Vincent, Valayris's cheeks still pink from his touch. Vincent notices the pink in her cheeks, "Did I cause that?" Vincent asks himself, "No, she must be warm."
"We should be going," Valayris says.
"Yes, you are right," Vincent says taking his hand back.
Turning toward camp Valayris starts to clean up the campsite to avoid being tracked.
"Its a good day's walk to the mines," Vincent says, "And with the carnage I left behind in that cave it's a guarantee that we will have them on our tails."
"Fabulous," Valayris sighs, sitting down on a nearby log.
Vincent could tell Deep Ground weights heavy on her mind. It was a concern of his too. They were ruthless and well trained making them extremely dangerous. Until Vincent had more information on Deep Ground the best plan of survival was to remain under their radar.
"Don't worry," Vincent tells her, his voice getting deeper, "I will protect you."
The bass in his voice causes her to blush.
"There's that pink again," Vincent thinks, "She really must be warm."
The two begin traveling toward the mines. They travel in silence for miles. The silence drives Valayris's crazy. Ever since living with Tifa, Marlene, and Denzel silence rarely ever happened and she had gotten use to noise. Her mind tries to think of something to spark conversation in hopes to remedy the silence plaguing them. She wants more then anything to continue the progress from earlier. He was an enigma, a handsome enigma but an enigma nonetheless and Valayris was never one for riddles.
"I love the forest," Valayris says, "Its such a rarity on our lands."
Those words leave her mouth and Valayris smacks herself on her internal forehead.
"Ugh!" Valayris says, "Why is it I can start talking to anyone else and I can be very articulate but when it comes to talking to Vincent I talk about the forest?"
Vincent nods in response.
"Vincent," Valayris asks getting up the courage to ask a question that had left her wondering since she met him.
"Yes Valayris," Vincent asks raising an eyebrow slightly.
"Why were you in that cave?"
"Why do you asks?"
"Cause when I walked into that cave I felt this cold tormented feeling creep into me," Valayris explains, "I just don't understand why someone like you who has friends that care about you would lock themselves in a place of such sorrow."
Vincent stops and looks at Valayris. Sadness fills Vincent's face, a love that never was lived inside that cave. A love he couldn't let go, not yet.
"Guilt," Vincent states.
"Lucrecia," Valayris sighs looking away.
The Red Knight images fades slightly in Valayris's mind. Vincent was a Red Knight he just wasn't her Red Knight, not now, not ever. Vincent could tell she was hurt, unsure of why he just knew she was.
"Valayris..." Vincent starts placing his hands on her shoulders her turns her to face him.
His touch sent chills down Valayris's arms.
"Maybe there still is hope for me," Valayris states internally.
"You..." Vincent starts again.
"I...," Valayris encourages.
"Please let this be good," Valayris thinks to herself.
"How touching," a voice says.
The voice rings of blood and hatred. It was a sound Valayris recognized.
"Deep Ground," Valayris quivers.
Pulling Valayris close to him with one arm he draws Cerberus with the other. Valayris sighs in Vincent's sweet smell, calming her nerves. Looking up Vincent sees a small scout group of Deep Ground soldiers.
"Come now Mr. Valentine, we don't want any trouble. Just hand over the lovely white mage and no one gets hurt." The soldier says.
Valayris feels Vincent's grip tighten. They couldn't have her. Vincent would never allow them to take her. Vincent needed to prove to himself that he could protect someone. Proving to himself his worth in life.
"She's under my protection, you can't have her,"
"We know she's under your protection Mr. Valentine, that's why we'd like to handle this in a gentlemanly fashion. Hand her over and we all go home happy."
"The only way you'll get her is to kill me," Vincent growls.
"Do you really want to challenge 10 Deep Ground Soldiers to a gun battle for one little white mage," the leader asks.
Vincent nods slightly in response.
"Well then lets play,"
"Valayris go and hide and don't come out till I call," Vincent whispers in her ear.
His lips were so close they brush gently against her ear as he spoke. The gentle physical contact causes Valayris to blush.
"Do you understand?" Vincent whispers again.
"Yes,"
"Now go,"
Swinging his arm out Vincent flings Valayris behind him.
"Get her men," the leader says pointing at the running Valayris.
Firing his gun Vincent kills the three men instantly.
"It's not going to be that easy," Vincent says reloading his gun.
Valayris couldn't help but watch from her safe spot as the gunfire roars. Clasping her hands together she closes her eyes briefly whispering, "Please Vincent, be careful."
The battle rages on while Valayris continues to be a spectator. The soldiers drop steadily while Vincent remains unharmed. Firing what he believes is the last shot hits the leader of the group in the chest. The leader staggers as Vincent turns his back to him.
"Nothing to it," Vincent thinks.
Valayris sees the leader raise his gun and aim it at Vincent.
"No!" Valayris cries rushing to Vincent's aide.
Vincent hearing a gun fire turns he to see the bullet penetrate Valayris's flesh. Letting out a horrific scream the bullet rips through Valayris's delicate frame. Falling toward the ground Vincent catches her. The leader gasps at his mistake before keeling over and dying. Looking at Valayris trembling his arms Vincent fills with anger and sadness. She can't die, she has a job to do, she must save Midgar. The Lifestream can't have her, not now.
"Vincent you're ok," Valayris breathes brushing his cheek with the back of her hand.
"I'm the one suppose to be protecting you remember, not the other way around," Vincent says holding the wounded mage in his arms.
"Oops, my mistake," Valayris coughs.
"Can you heal yourself?" Vincent asks trying to think of what to do.
"I've lost too much blood," Valayris tells him glancing at the bloodstain spreading on her shirt.
"Then I will heal you," Vincent says.
"Thank you my Red Knight," Valayris smiles weakly.
Valayris's eyes roll back in her head as she passes out. Quickly Vincent works to stop the blood from flowing. Ripping off a piece off his already tattered cape he fashions a bandage.
"I'm sorry I have to do this, to save you," Vincent apologizes unzipping her shirt to reveal the wound and her black bra.
Securing the bandage around her wound Vincent zips her shirt back up picks her up in his arms and carries her.
"Hang in there, Silver Healer. I will get you help soon," Vincent promises.
Vincent trudges slowly through the forest to keep from aggravating her wound. His mind in a panic, the 'what ifs' cloud his thoughts, what would he do if she died? He couldn't live with the guilt of the death of two women hanging over him. Looking down at Valayris Vincent doesn't see Valayris he sees Lucrecia in his arms. Vincent fights the urge to jump.
"Lucrecia?" Vincent asks.
Looking at the Lucrecia, she melts back into Valayris.
"She's not going to die like Lucrecia. I will not let it happen," Vincent tells himself.
Making it out of the forest he sees a small town bordering the mines.
"Good, help," Vincent sighs.
Entering town Vincent is welcomed by Reno and Rude. Reno and Rude walk closer not yet seeing the figure draped in Vincent's arms.
"Vincent!" Reno states in surprise, "It's a surprise to see you here."
The two Turks get close enough to see the bleeding figure resting lifeless in his arms.
"Who is that?" Rude asks gesturing to Valayris.
Vincent opens his mouth to answer when Reno interjects.
"She's the white mage who can cure Midgar," Reno says his eyes filling with surprise.
"Well if I don't get her help she'll be dead," Vincent snaps.
Vincent was tired, anger and over all worried about Midgar's savior he didn't have time for formalities.
"What happened?" they ask.
"She was shot by Deep Ground," Vincent explains to the Turks.
"Rude, go get help," Reno orders, "Vincent come with me."
Rude runs off into the distance as Vincent nods he really had no other choice but to go with them. He was doing this for Valayris's survival not for the pleasure of Reno's hyperactive personality.
"I'll take her Vincent," Reno says offering out his arms.
Vincent pulls her closer to him in hesitation. Vincent didn't trust Reno, especially with something this valuable.
"Come on, Valentine it looks like you're gonna pass out," Reno states.
Reluctantly he gives Valayris to Reno. Looking down in his arms Reno couldn't help but think, "She looks like an angel." His heart flutters in the excitement of being close to something so beautiful.
"Reno!" Vincent says.
"Huh?" Reno says snapping out of his trance.
"Lets go," Vincent says, "We don't have time to waste."
"Oh right," Reno says.
Walking into the Inn they walk into Reno's room. Reno gently sets Valayris on the bed. Looking down he sees her blood staining his messy white shirt.
"I thought Cloud put you in charge of her protection," Reno states heading toward his bag fishing out a new shirt.
Vincent just glares at him.
"No need to glare Valentine," Reno says changing shirts.
Crumpling up the bloody shirt he throws it into the wastebasket.
"She jumped in front of me," Vincent snarls, "She was protecting me."
Sitting quietly Reno watches Vincent sit next to Valayris. Vincent brushes the stray hairs away from her face.
"Be strong Valayris," Vincent says as Reno looks at him.
Rude rushes in with a doctor before Reno had a chance to make one of his signature smart ass comments.
"Where is the patient?" the doctor asks.
The guys gesture to the bed. Rushing over to her the doctor begins to examine her.
"Where is her wound?" the doctor asks.
"Right side of her chest," Vincent answers.
"I know that! I was indirectly telling you to leave! This isn't a peep show. Give the lady some privacy," The doctor states, "Geesh, youth these days."
Exchanging glances the three leave the room as they hear the unzipping of her shirt.
"You realize Vincent if she dies Midgar is doomed," Reno states pointing at the closed hotel door.
"Well she's not going to die," Vincent snaps back, "She can't die."
"I assure you she can that's why Cloud put her in your care," Reno snaps back.
Vincent glares at Reno before walking off.
"Reno? What's gotten into you?" Rude asks.
"She's to beautiful to die Rude," Reno states turning his back to him.
Rude sits down in a chair in the hallway as Reno leans against the wall, defensively crossing his arm, his head bowed deep in thought.
Vincent sits on the roof of the Inn trying to collect his thoughts.
"Please Valayris come back to us," Vincent whispers bowing his head slightly.
Lucrecia's memories flash in his head. Cradling his head in hands he says, "Please Lucrecia, I'm sorry I couldn't save you. Please just let me live again."
Memories replay in his mind not allowing him to forget every good, bad, and tormented moment.
"Beautiful Lucrecia, you will always be my beautiful Lucrecia," Vincent says, "Ever since you've been gone from my life I've been so cold. I want to live again to feel the warmth of life."
"Please my beautiful Lucrecia let me love again," Vincent says as his grip loosens on his skull.
Vincent returns to the hotel just in time to greet the doctor walking out.
"How is she doc?" Reno asks.
"She'll be just fine, " the doctor states holding out the bullet in his hand.
The three men sigh a collective sigh of relief. The doctor hands the bullet to Vincent along with his blood soaked torn piece of his cape, "You saved her life young man."
Hearing those words sends a calming rush down Vincent's body.
"You got her help just in time," the doctor states, "She is a very strong young woman."
The doctor looks at the three men, "Now listen to me very carefully. She needs rest and lots of it. When she comes around, little and I mean very little to no physical activity, unless you don't want her to heal correctly?"
The three men shake their head in unison.
"That's what I thought," the doctor says, "I'll be back to check on her regularly. If anything changes you know where to find me."
"Thank you Doctor," Vincent says shaking his hand.
"Yes thank you," Reno smiles cutting in front of Vincent, shaking the doctor's hand.
Rude calmly nods his thanks at the doctor. Smiling the doctor nods back.
Walking off the doctor shakes his head thinking, 'She's got her hands full with those two.