Turk: Reactions

Chapter 6, Elena

Finally making it back to the ShinRa building, Vincent stepped inside the elevator and pushed the correct floor number. Just as the door was about to close a small fist pressed against the door, followed by a young woman pushing her way in. The doors slid shut behind with out even a whisper.

"Hey Valentine," Elena greeted, "going up?"

"With my sins? I don't think so."

Elena laughed, "so you do have a sense of humor. Where'd you find it?"

"I never lost it."

"Hehe." They continued the ride up in silence. Vincent was glad for this small piece after such a rough morning. In between floors twenty two and twenty three, the lights blinked erratically before shutting off and the elevator ground to a halt. "Why aren't the emergency lights coming on?"

Vincent shrugged his shoulders, not that she could see in the near blackness. He went pushed some of the buttons and picked up the emergency phone. "The phone is dead and none of the electronics work."

"Maybe we can climb out?"

"I will go first and open the doors." He lifted the panel above them and pulled himself up through it. He placed a foot on either side of the hatch as he looked around. The doors were only a couple of feet above the elevator. He moved towards them but a horrible screech stopped him. He looked up just as something large titled forward. His eyes widened as it fell forward.

Quickly he dropped back into the elevator and rushed towards Elena. "Eeeee!" Elena screeched as Vincent collided with her and the beam fell into their elevator. Vincent wrapped his right arm around her and sank the fingers of his gauntlet into the wall. The beam crashed through the top and jarred the elevator loose of its holds causing it to drop at a rapid pace.

Vincent pressed Elena against the wall and shielded her body with his as they continued their rapid descent. Elena clutched him desperately and buried her face in his chest. Something broke loose and caught alongside the elevator causing it to jump some more before dragging it to a quick stop.

Neither one moved for a moment clearly expecting something else go wrong. When it appeared that they were safe, Vincent pulled his claws out of the wall and released his hold from Elena. She moved away slowly and smoothed back her hair.

"Are you harmed."

"No. Thank you for protecting me."

"You're welcome." He looked around. "It appears that the other half of this elevator is destroyed." He pulled out his cell and sighed. It was broken. "Do you have your cellular?"

"No, I left it in my office."

"Then we are stuck here."

"Great…" She slid down the wall to sit. Vincent sat down next to her. She cocked her head when he began making strange noises and something metal was set aside. "What..?"

"If we are going to be here for Jenova knows how long, then I am going to be comfortable. That means no gauntlet," clothe ruffled, "and no jacket."

"Are you going to wrap your arm around me in a pretend stretch now?"

"Hardly. Besides, Tseng may get jealous."

"Not likely. He hardly tolerates me."

"Not true."

"How can you tell."

"His eyes."

"Oh." The silence lasted only for a few minutes before she spoke again. "Today, I was thinking a lot about you. Actually, about what you said. That I talk too much."

"Forgive me for being rude, but I was exhausted from this morning's problems." He shifted. "You do talk a lot, but it is the inability to keep quiet when necessary that gets you in trouble."

"Yah, I gotta work on that." She pulled something out of her pocket. "Want a cigarette?"

"Yes, please."

She passed him one and they lit up. Several cigarettes later she stated, "we should do this more often."

"Get trapped in an elevator?"

"Ha, no, hang out. You seem like fun."

"You are the only person who thinks that. However, I would like to."

"Really? Great! And you know what?"

"What?"

"When I talk to much, just let me know. And if you get too moody, I'll get you out. That way we can help each other. How's that sound?"

"Like the beginnings of a great friendship."

"By the way, call me Elena"

"You may call me Vincent."

They were almost completely out of cigarettes by the time the wall to their right gained a red spot. "What's that?" Elena leaned over. The red spot turned into a red line that went across, then down, across again, and up to create a red rectangle. It bowed for a second and then fell down. Vincent and Elena blinked as bright light spilled in around a silhouette.

"Damn! How many cigarette's did you two smoke?" Reno leaned in the fresh hole and sniffed. "Save me any?"

"Reno!" Elena rushed forward and hugged the man.

"Hey!"

Vincent put his claw back on and picked his jacket off the ground. He stood and followed the two back out. They stepped into the lobby and Vincent could have fainted realizing that they had fallen so far.

"Elena!" Tseng rushed forward. He stopped short of the blonde. "Are you okay?"

"Oh yes! Vincent saved me!"

"I didn't really-"

Tseng clasped his gloved hand, "thank you." He turned back to Elena. "I'm glad you're okay. Another foot and you two would have been carried out of here in body bags." He wrapped an arm around his shoulders. "I'll take you home." He walked out of the building with a very pleased woman at his side.

Vincent's shoulders drooped as Reno slung an arm around his shoulders again. "Let's go get some food budy." Vincent was dragged along as Reno and Rude headed for the dinner from before. Reno shook his head in bewilderment. "Man, you have had the most ridiculous day ever."

-VV-

I wanted to post this yesterday, but I was sick. Here it is now though, so please review!