First Time for Everything
Shizuka Usagi
Chapter 2
"Both of you are evil, ya know that." Yuffie said in a huff, crossing her arms and pouting her lip.
"Oh, c'mon, Yuffie, it can't be that bad. Besides, it's for your own good." Selphie informed, applying eye shadow on the reluctant ninja. Aerith smiled encouragingly and put the finishing touches on her hair.
"What good will going on a date do me? I told you two—Zexion is just. my. friend." Yuffie insisted, placing emphasis on each word.
"I don't know, Yuffie… if he was nothing more, why else would he take on your offer?" Aerith asked logically.
Yuffie sighed. She couldn't find an excuse for that. She had only known Zexion for a few weeks. Not to mention he was the most enigmatic person she ever met—including Cloud and Leon. Aerith had opened up Leon (could you not see that smile on his face?) and Tifa and Cloud had opened an orphanage/delivery service after he defeated Sephiroth.
She had yet to open up the cloaked schemer.
"There. All done." Aerith announced in her gentle tone. Selphie clasped her hands together, barely able to contain her excitement. Yuffie turned slowly around in the swivel chair to look upon her reflection in the mirror—not without giving the two a suspicious look. They returned an innocent, honest smile, urging her to see their masterpiece.
Yuffie's mouth formed an 'o' at the sight. She was not too ostentatious, but not too modest either. She wore a black skort and white top with a necklace. The girls demanded she wear eye shadow and lip gloss. To complete the look, her shoulder-length hair was left down. She kept remnants of her usual outfit, like her socks and boots.
"You look so cute, Yuff!" Selphie emitted a squeal before squeezing her tightly. Yuffie fidgeted uncomfortably under her grip.
"You should dress like this more often. This look is very becoming of you." Aerith complimented. "Although… it would have been nice if you wore—"
"—not a chance, Aerith. I won't wear a dress in a million years." Yuffie interrupted. I've already stretched my limits as it is.
Aerith looked somewhat deflated, but her smile returned in no time. "Oh, alright."
Ding, Dong. Yuffie froze at the sound.
"Coming." Aerith said sweetly, leaving Yuffie's room to answer the door.
Selphie goaded Yuffie to get up from the chair. "C'mon, Yuff. You look great. There's nothing to worry about." She practically had to drag Yuffie across the hall into the living room. She handed Yuffie a black handbag with some munny in it. "Just in case. But I'm sure your date will be gentlemanly enough to pay for you."
Yuffie groaned, wondering how a stealthy ninja, such as herself, would give into blackmail. For the threat of everyone finding out she had a boyfriend—which was so not true by the way. Aerith and Selphie happened to be passing by the marketplace one day when they saw Yuffie and Zexion on the bench together. They were also sharing the same sea salt ice cream.
She claimed the vendor had run out but Aerith and Selphie, being the hopeless romantics they are, didn't believe her. And you can guess what happened from there. So, here she was stuck on a date. Not that she was complaining about who her date would be. It was just that dates were too formal and formality was not her style.
"Evening, Yuffie." A masculine voice said in a smooth, collected tone. She felt a pleasant chill run down her spine at the sound. She berated herself for her reaction and turned to face the man. Her jaw dropped upon, taking in the sight before her.
Zexion stood before her with his usual emotionless expression. Instead of the Organization robes, he was decked out in a formal tux. The bangs that covered the side of his face were shortened so that his striking dark eyes were revealed. His silver-blue hair color shined from the lights overhead.
"E—evening." Yuffie responded, mentally kicking herself for her stammering. She didn't think he would look that drop-dead gorgeous. She stared at him until her eyes met his. For a split second she thought she saw a glint of amusement in his eyes. A moment later it was gone. I was probably just imaging things…
He cleared his throat, bringing Yuffie back to reality. "I would like to leave sometime this lifetime, you know." He chuckled lightly, causing Yuffie to blush crimson red. He had caught her ogling at him apparently. The thought made her face resemble a tomato even more. Aerith and Selphie could barely suppress their giggles.
"A—alright then, let's get a move on, shall we?" Yuffie proposed, holding her arm out to him. Zexion gave a slight nod before linking his arm with hers. Just as they began to depart, Aerith let out an audible gasp.
"I almost forgot! Would you please step back in for a minute? We have to take pictures." Aerith ushered the two back in while Yuffie withheld a loud groan of exasperation.
"Selphie, get the camera." Aerith whispered to the bubbly brunette who saluted and bounced out of the living room to retrieve the object. Zexion and Yuffie took a seat on the couch, awaiting Selphie's return. Aerith decided to pass time by initiating friendly banter with the cloaked schemer.
"So, Zexion, how have you come to meet Yuffie?" Aerith inquired with curiosity in her eyes, although, clearly she already knew this fact. Yuffie wondered where she was getting at.
"Technically, she met me in the marketplace." He replied shortly.
"Is that so?" Aerith said knowingly. "When did you start meeting afterwards?"
"Every so often," Yuffie replied warily, "at the same spot."
Then she smiled suspiciously and leaned in closer to the couple. "How did you come to… form feelings for each other?"
Yuffie felt heat rush to her cheeks. She didn't think Aerith would ask that. Wasn't that a personal question? She wasn't sure how to answer that. Besides, she wasn't sure how she felt about him. They were just friends as far as she was concerned. He probably felt the same way. Then again, 'just friends' didn't seem quite right either…
She looked out of the corner out of her eye to see Zexion's reaction. His face showed no emotion as always, but his eyes held a strange softness to them. He seemed to be a bit flustered as well. To her surprise, his lips parted. But before he could say anything, Selphie trapezed into the room. She was holding a camera akin to that of Pence's.
"Okay, Aer, I got it!" Selphie declared, holding the camera out to her. Aerith nodded and took the object. She situated herself in front of the now standing couple, prepared to take photos till the film ran out.
"Strike a pose, you two!" Selphie advised enthusiastically. The couple reluctantly stood closely together. Aerith snapped a photo, however, Selphie seemed unsatisfied.
"C'mon, you call that a pose? You're acting like a bunch of stiff old timers." Selphie scolded. "Hug each other like a real couple."
Yuffie was getting ticked off at the hyper brunette, but she held her tongue for Zexion's sake. She sighed inwardly and wrapped her arms around his neck. He became rigid at the touch, but he eventually relaxed. A moment later he cautiously encircled her waist, drawing her in. She placed her head on his chest and he rested his chin on her head.
"Aw… aren't they the cutest thing?" Selphie cooed but immediately stopped at Yuffie's death glare which read, 'Take the friggin' picture already!'
Aerith took another picture and watched as the photos printed out of the camera. She beamed at how adorable they looked together. Yuffie found herself not wanting to let go of him right away. She felt butterflies in her stomach and a warm, fuzzy sensation in her heart. For some strange reason, Zexion held the embrace a minute longer prior to parting.
Aerith and Selphie smiled secretively, unbeknownst to the budding couple.
"We're off, guys." Yuffie quickly sped out, grabbing Zexion's arm on the way—not able to take the mortification any more.
"See ya later, Yuff. Don't stay out too late." Selphie called after them, waving at the door.
"Remember, Yuffie, your curfew is at ten-thirty and don't—" Before Aerith could finish her parental ramble, Yuffie was out of ear shot in five seconds flat.