Hot Shot's girl: Getting close to where--something bad happens to Vincent. You'll see, but mind you there is VincentXShelke fluff. Much :) Well enjoy.
He understood me when no one else could. He had lost a loved one at a young age just like I had. Both our mother's died at a very young age.
We both mourned our losses. He my sister, Shalua, and I his father, Gilmore. Having him actually understand me was—something I've never experienced. No one has ever mourned for my losses before—but he did. I wonder if it was the same for him?
I'm sure it was. We held onto each other that day just mourning for our past lives. So much was ruined, so much sadness and bitterness. It took the incident with Omega to bring us out of that.
I'm glad though. He is as well. We promised each other to put the painful past behind us and only reflect on the good. We knew that, together, we could do it.
It had been a year since I had been with Vincent Valentine. Most of the time we spent alone together. Yes I saw 'our' friends ever time we went to Midgar, but who ever said we went there occasionally? Vincent was right about leaving friends alone—even they knew of this and knew Vincent wanted to be left alone unless he came to them.
That is one of the reasons why his friends never knew about his little 'accusation'. I still call it 'the day under the tree'. We had a spot under this tree we always went to, to have picnics, sit, or just talk.
This time—it was different. Once we got there I didn't expect him proposing marriage to me. I honestly didn't know why we were going there in the first place. Perhaps to have a picnic, but where was the food? Perhaps to talk, but why were we so silent on the way there? Perhaps to just sit and enjoy the warm breeze, but why were our hearts so restless that day?
Vincent took my hand in his and looked me square in the eyes. I have to be honest I somehow knew what was coming, but I was so unprepared for it.
"Shelke," he said looking at her with his ruby eyes. "I know you remember our past lives and how many mistakes we made because we didn't express our love to one another."
"I do," said Shelke casting her blue eyes down to the grass. "But we've paid up for the things left unsaid."
"No," said Vincent shaking his head and taking her other hand in his. "Do you remember when you told me to tell Lucrecia my true feelings for her?"
"You have, Vincent Valentine," said Shelke looking up at him with a smile as she twisted her shoulders.
"Not nearly enough," said Vincent. "You see—I don't want to just love you Shelke Rui."
At that split second my eyes widened as I looked into his face. My mouth went agape letting out my small gasp realizing where this was heading.
"I want to always love you Shelke and I want you to know it," said his hands tighter around hers. "I know many would not approve, but I don't see you as a little girl Shelke. I want you to spend the rest of our lives with me. Will you Shelke?"
I bowed my head with a smile as I let go of his hands. I turned around and just tried to comprehend everything. I knew this day would come and when I began to fall for Vincent sooner than I wanted to I only knew it'd come quicker. Vincent watched as I shuffled around the tree thinking to myself.
I fiddled with my fingers until I halted and looked at him just starring at me. I could tell he desperately wanted me to say yes. I must admit I was scared. Not because of others' approval but of my physical form.
I knew that—when married—couples like to perform intimate marriage acts. I wasn't sure I was ready for that. In my mind perhaps, but not my body. I still couldn't help but smile at him. My heart nearly flew away from me again.
"What would happen if I say yes Vincent Valentine?" she asked placing her right hand on the trunk of the tree she stood next to just starring at him.
"Then," said Vincent taking a step forward. "We'd be together."
"In what way though?" she asked hugging herself and casting her eyes down.
It was then, I could tell, Vincent understood my fear. His eyes scanned me as he leaned back on his heels dropping his arms next to his sides.
"No," said Vincent. "Not like that Shelke. I would never do something you don't want to do."
"It's not that I don't want to Vincent Valentine," she said looking at him. "It's that I'm not ready to."
"I know Shelke," said Vincent coming up to her and soon kneeling down placing his hand on her shoulder. "But he be a fool whoever said marriage was all about that."
At that I smiled and cast my eyes up into his. He smiled back at me with so much love and kindness that I knew he cared so much for me. Always putting me before him.
"Marriage is so much more than just physical intimacy," he said looking up into the peaking sunbeams through the tree's branches. "It's the process of a bonding between a husband—and a wife."
"A . . . wife, Vincent Valentine?" Shelke said looking deep into Vincent's eyes.
"A wife, Shelke Rui," said Vincent with a quick nod of the head as he leaned in to kiss his bride.
I let him in and that day we were married. I let him get inside my heart and we were together. Just as soon as I wrapped my arms around his neck he held me tight letting me know he'd always be there for me to hold me in his strong and secure arms. I believed him, but now—I wonder if I ever should have.
Vincent had neglected to tell our friends about our marriage. One reason being, probably, because of a mission that arose. It seemed right after we were wed that this incident came to happen.
He had told no one, but Reeve. Reeve had not agreed on Vincent's actions. He stated I was too young, but Vincent only told him I was in physical form, but not mentally. Reeve knew Dr. Lucrecia's data had been defragmenting in my neural network.
He was very well aware of Vincent's lost love. He admitted he knew this was going to happen later on. He knew Lucrecia would eventually consume me and my emotions would turn into attraction towards Vincent—and Vincent wouldn't deny me love. After all—I am Lucrecia Crescent in a way.
But there was no stopping our marriage. Reeve knew there was no use as to trying. He didn't see any threat it seeing how Vincent took great care of me and considered my emotions and feelings before his own. In a way he was happy that it was Vincent to wed me—he knew I'd be well taken care of—just what Shalua wanted.
During this time is when I figured out the emotion called fear. Vincent was no longer immortal. He lacked most of his traits before when he harbored the demon Chaos. No longer could Chaos aid Vincent in dire times.
Whenever Vincent was weak Chaos would hold his strength and help him live. But now . . . now Vincent was vulnerable to death. I was afraid, as I heard it was called. Vincent always came back to me.
No matter how tired or hurt he was. He still returned to me. I was glad, but knew it was wrong for he could rest where he was at than hurting himself more just to see me again. I told him my feelings for this, but he neglected them and continued coming to me . . . sometimes near death.
I was almost 20 now—ten in physical form, but I had grown quite a bit. I didn't want Vincent to miss my birthday. I told him this, just another way of giving him an excuse not to die. No matter how skilled he was—he could still return to the lifestream at any moment he's away in battle.
Deepground was still very active. Word of Genesis arose and that of Hojo also came to conversation. I was just as important to this mission as Vincent. Though I stayed away from the battles I still played a vital roll in everything.
I performed SNDs to help out my friends in battle. I told them where to go or what they needed to do. Still . . . being aware of Vincent's condition in battle frightened me. Sometimes he fell and I thought he'd never get back up—but he always did defy the laws of life—immortal, or not.
I was happier when the battle's died down a little. Where they didn't have to go out and fight in an all-out-battle. Whenever that happened they'd spend their free time in Midgar . . . if their mission wasn't far away. It was one of the times I got to see Vincent Valentine—my husband.
One of the times when they were back in the city they had stayed for a week. It gave it just enough time to come to my birthday—but it was the day before they left and so it wasn't such a good one to me. We celebrated my 20th birthday and I was so glad everyone decided to get the war off their minds. There's been so much battling I didn't think they could just shut it out like that . . . but then that's what made that team so special didn't it?
Vincent could tell this was heavy on my mind . . . I could see it in his eyes. They were never off me the whole party. I'm surprised no one ever got any ideas. Well I'm sure they had, but they never brought it up.
I couldn't help but isolate myself from everyone. Even though it was my birthday I was so unhappy. They just didn't understand me that's all. They didn't understand how useless I felt watching all my friends—and my love—get injured and almost die each minute they were in battle.
Tifa, she loved Cloud, but was always there for him in battle. She was there in physical form and I envied her. I wasn't, only in virtual. Yes I could fight but I wasn't needed there and either way Vincent would not approve.
I just wish . . . Vincent would be locked up far away from battle so he'd be safe. That's all I wanted him to be . . . safe. I'd give myself if that's what I'd take for him to live. It's just the Lucrecea part in me—I can't help it.
That day was when I felt a new emotion—anger. I was angry at so many things. One being how Vincent acting like it was just a normal day—hanging your life out on the line. Another was that I couldn't protect Vincent—I was useless in that area. It is true I underestimate his skill, but I know that even the strongest die some time.
My eyes showed my anger and I was unaware of Vincent's awareness to it. My breathing became heavier as I experienced stress from the emotion. I soon glanced over to see Vincent come right beside me. I could do nothing but turn my head away and cross my arms.
He sat down beside me and only starred me down. I didn't want to look at him, but he soon took his clawed hand and gently turned my face back to his.
"What is it Shelke?" he asked pushing his lips out for a second.
"It's—it's nothing," she said turning her head back away.
"Tell me," he said fiddling with a few strands of her red hair between his golden fingers.
"Stop it—please," said Shelke shooing his hand away from her head.
"Don't make me proclaim our marriage right here and right now," said Vincent with a very little hint of a joke.
"It's just," said Shelke slowly turning her face back to his. "I'm—s-scared."
"Of what?" asked Vincent.
"Of losing you," she said not knowing tears were numbly running down her cheeks. "And I can't!—I just can't!
At that I had to run out of that place. I ran outside just wanting to be alone. I took a quick glance up at the night sky, but soon cast my eyes down. I hugged myself just wishing I'd stop acting so childish.
I soon heard the door open and shut and just as it had I felt that familiar embrace around me. Vincent placed his hands on my arms and just stood behind me with his chin inclined down on my head. I tried to stop crying, inhaling so much air. Vincent could tell I was uneasy and so started to rub my arms a bit to get me to calm down.
It helped—a little. I just shook my head and said—
"I feel useless Vincent Valentine."
"But you're not," said Vincent humming to her.
"On the battlefield yes. What am I to do when one of you falls? I cannot pick you up with just my words," she said.
"No—I suppose not," said Vincent casting his eyes down a bit. "But our friends can take care of themselves."
"Who will take care of you though?" asked Shelke turning to him.
I looked into his eyes that just starred back at me just wondering why I worried so. Vincent didn't like it when I worried. He said it was a waste of emotion. I still, to this day, blame it on the data fragments.
"Even though . . . Chaos is no longer here to fight for me when I'm down," started Vincent as he took his gloved hand and stroked through Shelke's red locks. "Doesn't mean you can worry about me dying."
"I just don't want to lose you," said Shelke resting her head on his chest.
"I know Shelke," sighed Vincent placing his hands on her shoulders. "Nor I you . . . that is why I'm glad you're so far away from battle. There—you're safe."
Vincent then placed his hands gently on the sides of my head and tilted it up to where he could kiss my forehead. After that he embraced me in a tight securing hug. I hugged him so close and tight that night but I was still afraid it wasn't enough. Vincent Valentine could never, truly, chase away my fears and worries.
The night was still young when we left. Though I didn't talk at all the way back to the cottage. It was my silent walk.
When we got to the door and Vincent opened it for me I entered with no word, not even a 'thank-you'. I just walked in and halted waiting to hear the soft slam of the door as it shut. Once I turned I only had a small second to gasp before I was swept in Vincent Valentine's arms and smothered with his kisses . . . perhaps it was because Vincent saw me as Lucreica again like he did quite often and forgot the young girl he held? Yes . . . that was probably the case considering what happened next and that the Vincent Valentine that saw Shelke would never do.
I have had this experience before, this 'make-out' as everyone called it, just once though. Our third kiss was a 'make-out' but that was when I was still innocent to such passionate kisses. I knew Vincent was leaving tomorrow and that he only wanted to see me smile. Also if this were what it took for me to smile then he'd do it, with my will or not.
My instincts instantly made my arms wrap around his neck and my legs around his waist. I felt his right hand swing back his scarlet cape so he could have a better grip upon my thigh. I was too caught up in the moment to understand that the places he touched were 'too' intimate.
That night I experienced our first lovemaking—and last. Yes . . . Vincent must have saw me as Lucrecia that night, and I must have strongly acted like her as well, butif I would have known it was to be our last I would have never made him stop. I never felt so complete like that in my life. Vincent Valentine made me whole in so many ways.
I hadn't expected it to happen that night. I had expected it to happen a couple years later, but it didn't. Vincent got aroused just as much as I did and it was an electrifying feeling. I inhaled sharply as his lips met my neck.
His warm kisses soon trailed down to my collarbone only making my hands that were tangled in his hair scrunch into fists.
I wanted him to continue. Oh by all means I wanted that new feeling to last. Of all the feelings I've experienced and discovered—this one—was, by far, the best one. I felt so different that night. It was almost like a new me or—one I hadn't known yet.
Vincent's strong arms wrapped around my back just crushing my abdomen on his. By in no way was I hurt. I liked being this close to him, but . . . I wanted to be closer. I had a feeling—so did Vincent Valentine.
I felt one of his hands sneak up my shirt. I was in no way alarmed. This just encouraged me to do the same—well—if I could. All I could do was tease his buckles. I didn't know how his clothing worked, but he soon helped me.
His other hand came to his cape and quickly took it off. His other hand still holding onto me from the bare of my back under my shirt. He managed to unbuckle most of them, but I'm sure he still had a long way to go.
I soon found us moving. Vincent had decided his bedroom was a better place to perform this than in the living room. I was plopped on his bed all the while he still kept kissing me and showing me his love. My arms and legs were still around him, afraid to let go not knowing what would happen if I did—I was afraid to lose the feeling.
Vincent's shirt was slightly opened. I just gazed at his bare chest wondering what the rest of it looked like. This was another feeling I figured out—lust. At that moment I let go of his neck as he worked on his buckles, but I refused to let him as I used my arms to push up on the bed to catch his lips in mine.
This immediately stopped him as he wrapped his hands around me and let his body fall on mine. I wrapped my arms around his head, my nails digging into his scalp as passion, another emotion, took a hold of me. By doing this it was the first time I ever heard Vincent Valentine moan in pleasure. I inhaled it in and just closed my eyes.
Vincent's hips had smashed into mine only causing him to groan. Not really in pain either. He was forced to let go of me to finish with his 'buckle task'. I was too caught up in the moment to even do anything myself.
Once most of his buckles were loosed he came back to smothering me with his warm kisses. Expecting me to do the rest of the work he just continued to kiss me. His hands exploring my body underneath my clothes. It wasn't long before he had my shirt off and his hands on my skirt.
I hadn't even noticed this until it was too late. Once I heart the zip of my skirt was when I came back to my senses and the feeling left me. I gave out a gasp and shot my head up. My eyes were so wide and my heart ready to pound right out of my chest.
"What is it?" heaved Vincent looking at her new expression.
"W-what are we doing?!" Shelke gasped looking around.
At that I pushed Vincent up off me. I sat up trying to control myself. I couldn't believe that I had almost made love with Vincent Valentine—okay so I could have but now . . . I knew this was wrong.
"No, no," said Shelke getting up off the bed and wrapping her arms around her visible bra. "We can't. I-I'm sorry I acted so . . . so . . ."
"Womanlike," said Vincent for her as he laid there on the bed just watching her confusion.
I turned to look at him with soft blue eyes. My mouth lay agape just slightly. I blinked as I starred at him laying there in bed, his body just ready for mine—but was mine ready for his? Vincent was already fully developed and me—still developing. Vincent soon sat up and looked at me.
His slightly open shirt that showed his bare chest emitted another emotion that was so new to me—temptation. Who knew that an act like this could form so many emotions out of you? But I couldn't though. Yes my body ached for him as well as my mind but I knew—as someone logical—it wasn't right . . . not now.
"I'm so sorry," said Shelke as she turned away ready to leave.
"No you're not," said Vincent in a swift motion of his arm stretching out and grabbing her by the arm then pulling her back on the bed soon coming on top of her and kissing her deeply again.
The feeling had come back once again to me. My stomach felt so strange in that moment, but I gave it a try. I was scared yes, but Vincent was so kind and loving it chased all my fears away.
We were married after all and now we were truly married. It is true what they say—the first time did hurt just a little, but once you got used to him everything seemed better. I was surprised with how my body reacted to him. Since I was in the body of a 10-year-old I thought it'd want to reject him but it didn't.
Like I said—it was my first lovemaking but it was good. It was Vincent's as well, but he always seemed to know what to do. I told him to not look at me as a little girl, but as Dr. Lucrecia. He just told me he'd see me as Shelke. At that I cried in his arms.
He held onto me tight after it was over and I wept. He was so kind to me. He made me so whole that night and ever more in love. We slept so close in each other's arms and it was like we shared the same breathing, the same heartbeat, the same body—Vincent Valentine was my missing piece.