Yuffie tugged on the ends of her shirt, making sure it stayed in place of where it was clasped down. Finally, her normal attire was in her possession again; She pouted, rubbing her thumb over the orange strap slung over her shoulder, noticing the slight stain left from battle that Tifa couldn't seem to get completely clean.
'Perfect attire for a princess…' she mocked, grabbing her cloth yellow pouch and fastening it to her waist before continuing out of her room, and down the stairs.
"Oh, Yuffie? I'm impressed, we were expecting to have to wait another hour or two for you to wake up, and you're already dressed for the day?" The soft clink of Reeve's cup rang in her ears as he spoke.
"I have a headache…" She complained, slouching in the stool next to Reeve. The rest of the bar seemed empty…
"Wait, we? What's going on, why were you waiting for me to get up?" Yuffie's voice was scratchy, probably signs of an upcoming cold, as she looked around the room.
"Yes, Vincent and I. I have a mission for the two of you." Reeve smiled at her, taking another sip of his drink.
Yuffie looked around, "um…where is he then?"
"Oh," Reeve chirped, "he's outside I think, he'll probably be in soon. Anyway, about the mission…" Reeve continued to speak, unknowingly tuned out by Yuffie.
'My head hurts really bad…' She thought, slouching further in her seat.
"…so with the two of you there, and having accomplished that, we'll…Yuffie?" Reeve's voice began to make more sense than just adjacent mumbles, Yuffie tried to block it out again.
'He's talking too loud…I think I'm gonna faint…' She closed her eyes tight, trying to ignore the echoing noises around her.
Everything was black behind her eyelids, the lack of light making the pounding pain quiet down a bit, but even so, the longer she waited, the more painful it became.
She gripped the side of her head, putting pressure on her temple.
"Yuffie?" Reeve's voice came into full focus again.
Opening her eyes, she turned her head to see him.
"Sorry…migraine," She smiled.
Reeve sighed, "were you even listening to what I said?"
Yuffie ignored him again, turning in response to the door of the bar opening. Vincent walked in, seeming to watch his feet as he walked. Yuffie noticed the weather behind him, rain flying diagonally with the rough wind, and rolling thunder that seemed to go on for a while before finally settling. Vincent's hair was soaked, strands stuck to the sides of his face and neck. His cloak seemed to follow him closely, leaving a puddle of water behind him.
"Morning Vinnie," Yuffie winced at how loud she said it. She put her hand to her head again, looking away.
"Morning, Yuffie" he said after hesitation, "what's wrong with your head?"
"She has a migraine." Reeve noted through taking another sip of his drink, that Yuffie finally presumed to be coffee.
Vincent didn't reply, he simply went over to the two, standing to Reeve's other side.
"Will we be leaving for the mission now, then?" He asked, no concerns about the weather.
Yuffie wanted to yell in protest, but chose not to anger her headache once more.
"Yes, you'll take the chocobos. We'll need the advantage in transportation, in case something were to happen and we had to get to you two as soon as possible. I hope that-"
"WAIT, WHAT?!" Yuffie yelled, ignoring the screaming pain she felt in her head, "Have you not seen the weather out there?! How can you expect me to-" trying to stand, Yuffie stumbled, just barely catching herself.
"Yuffie?" Reeve spoke, ignoring her sudden outburst, "are you sure you're even well enough for this mission?"
"Huh…?" Yuffie stuttered, "um, that depends, what's the mission?" She asked innocently.
"…you really weren't listening to me, then." Reeve mumbled, standing up. "I need more coffee for this." He walked over to the coffee maker.
"Wha—hey! I was talking to you…" stumbling again, Yuffie drifted forward, losing all grip on her muscles as she fell into what seemed like soft, damp fabric.
"Yuffie?" Vincent asked, looking down at her.
Yuffie turned her head up, feeling her eyes droop as she rested her chin on Vincent's chest.
"l'm all wet now…" she complained, still resting against him.
'I feel really sick…' Her thought seemed to echo in her mind, as she leaned further into Vincent as her energy seemed to drift away. Vincent wrapped on arm around her waist, giving her more support.
"Reeve, I think I should go alone." Yuffie could hear Vincent's voice emitting from his chest as she leaned the right side of her face into the red cloth, avoiding the buckles.
"Is she okay?" This time, it was Reeve's voice, sounding from behind her.
"I'm fine…." She mumbled in a high pitched sigh.
"Oh, I see. So you're simply taking advantage of Vincent then?" Reeve teased, trying to hide his amusement.
Yuffie turned to glare at him, "I was perfectly fine falling on the floor, Vincent just got in the way." She grumbled through the damp cloth.
"Yuffie," Vincent spoke, looking down at the young ninja, "can you stand?"
Yuffie tried to perk up, as she stood straight, "yeah! Sorry, guess I'm still tired." She smiled, bouncing her arms around as she made her way to the stool, stumbling the entire time.
"Yuffie" Reeve questioned, but sighed. "Fine, now, about the mission. It's simple, some high rate drug dealers in Nibelheim have decided to add a toxin to whatever they're selling. There have already been over 20 deaths as a result. I want you and Vincent to go in and stop them; now, if anything happens, you'll contact Tifa, and she and Cloud will be sent in. So on and so forth, you'll have backup if things end up for the worst when she and Cloud come in. Hopefully and doubtfully, you won't need any in the first place." Reeve took a large gulp of his coffee, making a face at its bitter taste before adding more sugar to it absentmindedly.
"…you really need to send two AVALANCHE members in after drug dealers?" Yuffie mumbled, from her spot at the bar, her face pressed into the cold surface.
"Well, considering how long this has gone on with no one even knowing what the drug is, I have a feeling it may be more than simple drug dealers…" Reeve replied, trying his coffee again.
"Ugh, fine. We leaving now, Vinnie?" She mumbled half heartedly, reaching for her shuriken.
Vincent hesitated as she wobbly made her way to the door, "yes" he answered simply, looking at Reeve.
"Keep an eye on her." Reeve told him through taking another sip of his coffee, finally seeming satisfied with its taste.
Vincent nodded before turning to follow Yuffie out the door.
Two chocobos were tied to the post of the bar's railing, ready to leave with the two members of AVALANCHE; one incredibly calm and collected, swiftly glancing at the other ever few seconds for her own well-being, the other stumbling to the chocobo, holding on to everything around her for support.
"Yuffie, really, I can do this on my own. You shouldn't be going on a mission in your state." Vincent insisted as he untied the larger chocobo's ties.
"Vinnie, really," Yuffie mimicked, "I'm fine. I'm just sleepy, is all." She smiled at him, struggling to climb atop her chocobo. Vincent watched wearily as she finally managed to bring her other leg around the large bird's back, taking the reins and smiling proudly down at him.
"See?" She mused; placing her shuriken into a holder on the chocobo's right hip.
Without an answer, Vincent urged the chocobo to move forward, motioning softly for Yuffie to follow.
"I guess riding these big birds isn't so bad," Yuffie mumbled, half to herself, as she pressed her face into the chocobo's feathered neck, "at least I won't get sick this way…"
"You're already sick." Vincent replied, not taking his eyes off the rode in front of them.
"I told you, I'm fine" Yuffie grumbled, turning her head away from the man.
Vincent glanced at her from the corner of his eye, she sat awkwardly placed on the large bird, her arms hanging lazily to the sides, head and shoulders sliding slowly to the right side; forcing her to adjust every now and then. He sighed to himself, forcing his gaze away.
"Don't you think you should watch the road?" He asked, although meaning for it to be more like a statement.
Without a word, surprisingly, Yuffie took the reins and stretched her arm out towards him, earning a questioning look from the gunman. Sighing loudly, she turned to look him in the eye.
"Could you please lead this dumb bird for a while? I just need a bit of sleep, and I should be better in no time…" her voice was mumbled by the feathers that hid her lips from him; he looked at her for a few moments more before tugging his own reins to bring his chocobo closer so he could take hold of the reins. He pulled on the leather, bringing both rein together, along with bringing her own chocobo closer to him.
Yuffie suppressed a surprised gasp as her leg brushed against his. They were both soaking wet, something she just now realized as she noticed how wet the leather of his pants were. She took notice to how annoyingly stuck her hair was to her face; strands streaming down her cheeks and forehead, with a few making their way into the corners of her mouth. She pushed her hair back, turning her head around after feeling how hot her cheeks were from the blush that spread across her cheeks each time their legs touched with the bounce of the chocobo's stride.
Soon taking comfort in her position, Yuffie drifted into a soft sleep. The sound of the rain and the pounding of her migraine finally beginning to fade, she was able to appreciate the situation.
She was on a mission with him.
Smiling, Yuffie's sleep grew deeper, all conscious thoughts fading; she was left alone with dreams of nothing but finding happiness and fear from the strangest things possible that one could not think of on their own.
"Yuffie?" Vincent's voice rang through her head, reminding her of the stubborn headache she had. But still, despite the pain in her right temple, she wanted to hear his voice.
"Yuffie" there it was again!
'I'm asleep, then? Yeah…asleep on the chocobo…' Yuffie was almost completely out of it as she snuggled closer to the warmth of the chocobo's feathers.
"Yuffie…" Vincent's voice finally brought her out of it as she grasped her shoulder. She turned to look at him, her eyes drooping, threatening to close again.
"…where are we…?" she managed, rubbing her eyes stubbornly, attempting to ignore the throbbing pain that seemed to grow worse.
"We're stopping here for the night," Yuffie suddenly realized that Vincent was raising his voice, trying to beat the sound of the wind's angry howls, "the weather has gotten much worse."
Yuffie looked lazily up to the small, rundown hotel Vincent had chosen.
'…great…' She groaned, slipping off the chocobo and gripped her shoulders out of reaction to the cold wind.
"Let's just get inside! This place better have heating…" She complained, almost positive it wouldn't.
And of course, it didn't.
"This place is freezing, Vinnie!" Yuffie hissed, hugging herself, shivering.
"I'm sorry, but it didn't look like there would be anywhere else to stop for a while to come." He answered, walking up to the desk, continuing to speak with the clerk.
Yuffie looked around the lobby with a scowl on her face. The only people other than them and the clerk were two men sitting alone by the fireplace, seeming to be talking about her as they continued to whisper something, smile, and then look at her.
'Gross old lechers' she wanted to scream that, but her headache had gotten even worse, and all she wanted to do was get into her room, and sleep; despite how cold it was.
"Yuffie" Vincent questioned, looking from her to the men she was staring at. He sighed irritably, before handing a small key to her, "let's go to our rooms." He spoke quietly, not leaving his gaze from the men. Making a note to watch out for them when they were around Yuffie, he led her up the stairs and to her room.
"Mine is a few doors down. Remember to call me if something happens…" He spoke to her, but kept his gaze on the door that led to the staircase.
Tilting her head, Yuffie nodded, unsure what his problem was.
"Night, Vinnie." She mumbled, just happy to finally have a room with a soft bed.
"Goodnight, Yuffie." His voice faded as he made it to his room. Yuffie watched, making sure which door was his, just in case. His comment about something happening had made her nervous.
She sighed, stumbling over to her bed.
'Should I use a heal material for my head…? Would that work…? No… don't waist it on that… just need to sleep…" pulling her legs up to her chest, absently tucking the blankets around herself, she fell once again into a calm sleep; taking in everything that happened the past while, starting with everything happy.
Then ending with everything broken, and remembering the empty feeling that consumed her while Vincent was no longer with her.
A/N: This was my longest chapter so far! Sorry they're all kinda short, I'm gonna start working on it as I go along.
I hope you guys enjoyed! I'll update as soon as possible, but remember—Reviews keep me going. : 3
Thanks for reading my story, and keeping up with it so far!