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.
Groaning Valayris feels the sensation of leather against her face and a hand stroking her hair. Her stirring causes the hand to cease its stroking and pull away from her head. Opening her eyes slightly Valayris sees a familiar pair of black leather pants, pants in which she was resting in the lap of.
"Whose lap is this?" Valayris asks herself.
That's when it hits her, her eyes snapping wide open in terror. Vincent's lap, her head was in Vincent's lap. Valayris shoots upright in a moment of embarrassment.
"Oh my gosh I'm dreadful..l.." Valayris starts to say before light headiness takes her.
"Relax," Vincent says, "You're recovering don't push yourself."
Tired of being on her back she pushes herself up. In response to her physical activity her nerves send sparks of pain rushing through her chest and side. Valayris gasps at the unexpected sensation of pain.
"Stubborn aren't you? I told you to relax," Vincent says.
"Just a little," Valayris breathes, "What happened to me?"
"You don't remember?" Vincent asks.
"I remember you needing my help so I rushed to help you and that's when everything gets fuzzy," Valayris tells him.
"You jumped in front of a bullet for me," Vincent tells her.
"Oh, yea," Valayris says placing a hand on her wound.
"I remember that now. I guess that explains this," Valayris gestures to the bandage shirt.
Vincent nods in response. Valayris shifts her weight sending the sparks running through her body again this time with a little more intensity. Valayris's face winces as she finds it difficult to breath.
"Valayris," Vincent says noticing the pain spreading across her face.
"Lean back," Vincent instructs pulling her close to him.
Valayris leans back as Vincent wraps his arms around her and holds her arms in his hands. Valayris's heart beats faster in response to the closeness of the moment.
"Breathe deep," Vincent instructs.
Vincent's smell wraps around Valayris helping her relax enough for the pain to subside. Valayris blushes uncontrollably. She wasn't sure this was real anymore.
"Valayris, I have a request to ask of you," Vincent tells her.
"Yes Vincent, anything," Valayris answers snuggling closer to him.
"Don't do that again,"
"Huh?" Valayris asks.
"I don't know what to do when you're like that," Vincent says.
Internally Valayris smiles, does this means he may truly care about her?
"Progress, progress, progress," Valayris cheers internally.
"What...what do you mean like what?" Valayris asks hiding her excitement from the outside world.
"Wounded," Vincent says, "I was afraid I was going to lose you just like Lucrecia."
"Lucrecia again," Valayris sighs internally, "Maybe I'm expecting too much?"
Vincent feels in his heart a glimmer of happiness, like someone else's happiness was residing in his heart temporarily. The feeling was fantastic it had been ages since happiness, even temporary happiness, lived in his heart. Valayris sees something burning in Vincent's eyes like the excitement of feeling a new feeling for the first time.
"Vincent?" Valayris asks questioningly.
"Valayris," Vincent says reaching out.
His hand moves on its own, it wanted to see if the happiness was emanating from the fair face staring back at him.
"Is he reaching out to me?" Valayris asks herself tilting her head to the side, "Am I dreaming this or am I awake?"
Her question would never be answered because the door bursts open before Vincent could touch her. With the swing of the door Vincent's hand recoils.
"Damnit," Valayris thinks to herself, "Interruptions always interruptions."
Reno looks around the room and sees his angel awake.
"You're awake," Reno states looking at her with his intense green eyes.
The intensity of the Turk's eyes takes Valayris by surprise diverting her eyes away from him she can still feel his eyes on her. Looking back at the Turk she tries to recover her smile. She was so close to having some sort of enlightening moment with Vincent and this Turk had to go and ruined it for her.
"Damn Turks," Valayris thinks.
Reno walks over to the bed and bows slightly, "Afternoon pretty lady."
"My name is Reno," Reno introduces himself extending his hand to her.
Valayris takes his hand as Reno kisses it. Unexpectedly Valayris blushes, "I'm Valayris."
"Don't overexert her Reno. She's recovering remember," Vincent says noticing the blush gracing Valayris's cheeks.
In response to Valayris's blushing Vincent wraps his hand around her free wrist. Was that jealousy Valayris feels in Vincent's grip?
"No, why would Vincent be jealous of Reno," Valayris tells herself, "It's not like I'm Lucrecia or anything."
"I have no intention of doing that, but I surely can escort the lady to lunch," Reno says still holding on to her hand.
"I need to change clothes before I go anywhere," Valayris says.
"Understandable," Reno says, "So please get dressed and allow me to escort you to lunch."
"O..." Valayris says looking at Vincent in hopes he might speak up and fight for her time.
Valayris looks at Vincent who in turn turns his away from her.
"O...Ok," Valayris sighs.
"Excellent!" Reno exclaims.
Reno walks out of the room while Vincent stands up.
"I should let you get ready for lunch," Vincent says his voice had turned cold.
"Vincent," Valayris sighs standing up gripping onto her side, "I wish..."
"Maybe there will be time for that later," Vincent says looking down at the floor.
Vincent longs to find that happiness he had felt earlier and it seems that the happiness was emanating from Valayris. Maybe in time Vincent would find out why Valayris seems to be the key to unlocking something hidden inside him.
"You promise," Valayris gasps.
Her side was throbbing yet Valayris didn't care about that did Vincent say that maybe they would do something together like lunch?
Walking over to her Vincent says, "You shouldn't be walking about like this."
Picking her up in his arms he carries her back to the bed.
"We'll talk later about it only if you promise to rest," Vincent says
"I promise," Valayris smiles leaning into his chest.
"Good. Then I promise we'll talk," Vincent says setting her on the bed.
Turning around Vincent pulls out a shirt from a bag resting next to the bed. He lays the shirt out in front of Valayris.
"I took the liberty of replacing the shirt ruined by the bullet meant for me."
"Thank you, Vincent," Valayris says picking up the shirt, "It's beautiful."
"It will be more beautiful on you," Vincent states.
Blushing she unzips the shirt. "Red Knight alert, Red Knight alert," Valayris's mind tells her heart.
"Here let me help you," Vincent offers.
Vincent unzips the shirt. Valayris couldn't believe this was happening to her. This was a different side of the man she had meet six days prior. Helping her place her arms through the sleeves Vincent starts the zipper.
"Thank you Vincent," Valayris smiles finishing zipping her shirt.
"Your welcome, Valayris," Vincent says, "I'll let Reno know you're ready for him."
"Vincent," Valayris says holding out her hand to him.
Vincent turns to face her. Vincent notices the outstretched hand. It was a gesture Vincent was not familiar with. He didn't know if he should take her hand or not, biding on the side of caution does not take her hand.
"Thanks for saving me," Valayris says gesturing to her wound.
"I think this time I owe you my thanks," Vincent says then walks out of the room