Disclaimer: I do not own Final Fantasy 7, or my own studly Vincent
Chaper Fifteen
In the days when Avalanche and its eventually expanded group of followers travelled from town to town in the pursuit of Sephiroth, there had never really been time for any of them to appreciate the gentle rolling hills and the lush green grass that covered the plains and mountains. Vincent had enjoyed the soft country side many years ago in the company of Lucrecia; oh, Lucrecia was a time so long past. As a young Turk, Vincent watched over the beautiful lab assistant as his father had done before him, his duty being to protect her no matter the cost. Incidentally, protecting her had cost him, and Lucrecia, dearly. However, in the moments that Vincent had spent in her company, he had been allowed times to enjoy the serene calm and beauty of Gaia.
That was over 20 years ago now, and for the first time since then, Vincent was gazing around the countryside in a way that he could actually appreciate it. No threat of Meteor, or Cetra that were in danger. Just him, the sun, and-
"Leather pants, gross," the gunsman moaned, pinching the tight leather of his pants. Just because he was infused with Chaos, did not mean his pants didn't stick to him like glue when he was sweaty. And boy, was he. Tugging the end of his cloak above his head as he walked to shield away as much of the blistering sun as he could, Vincent pulled out some ice materia and slid it down his pants. The instant freshness of the materia cooled his skin, and he smiled in relief as he strode on. It wasn't as if anyone was around to see, after all.
In fact, he chuckled at the mental image of if Yuffie had seen. She would be disgusted at him defiling precious materia in such a way! In fact, imagine if anyone saw the mysterious and proper Vincent stick anything so close to his underpants.
At least the leather pants were tight enough to keep it from rolling down too far, thankfully. Putting ice materia in his underwear didn't sound too appealing.
"WARK WARK YOURSELF, YOU STUPID GIANT CHICKEN."
Yuffie was thoroughly unimpressed. While Vincent had been taking his sweet time enjoying life and his pleasantly cool materia, Yuffie had hammered through the fields, kicking small monsters as she went. She was pretty sure she even outrun a Weapon, she didn't stop to check. She was going to win, and for once, she had a clue before that smug, arrogant, sexy man-
"NO!" Yuffie yelled, bashing her head against the wooden panelling. No man that sure he could beat HER, the great ninja Yuffie, Princess and all around badass, could be sexy. No way. Not even with that silky hair, smouldering gaze and amazing cheekbones. Not happening.
Chocobo Billy approached Yuffie as she continued to bash her head, hesitantly clearing his throat. "Y'know, maybe if you gave it some greens- uuuuuuuh, forget I said anything."
As he was talking, Yuffie turned her head to snarl at him, her eyes glowing like Bahamut itself.
"Hiiiiiiiiiiiiiiisssssssssssssss," Yuffie spluttered, in a feeble attempt to be horrifying. She wiggled her arms at Chocobo Billy until he was unnerved by her lack of mental stability and retreated out of the barn.
Yuffie sighed, once again in silence as she formed her game plan. She had paid a handsome amount of Cloud's money to hire a Golden Chocobo from the Chocobo Farm once she discovered the latest clue, which was literally a crudely drawn picture of Cloud with x's for eyes in a wheelchair, meant a trek across the oceans to Mideel. And for that she needed a Golden Chocobo who could trace the shallows there. The only chocobo at the Farm that could. She had to coax it into coming and not eating her hair fast, before Vincent got there.
As she grimaced and prepared herself for a round of hate with the giant, ugly bird, Yuffie caught sight of Vincent from the corner of her eye. He was sauntering into the farm, a bag of greens in hand. Oh, hell no!
Yuffie ripped open the stable door and launched onto the chocobo's back. She would do this the hard way, and gallop her way out.
"Go forth, ugly one!" Yuffie yelled, mushing the chocobo. Peter, the golden chocobo did not appreciate Yuffie, and started doing a crazy hop of the stables, attempting to throw Yuffie from its back. The obtuse ninja clung to Peter's back, crying for help as Peter started throwing himself at the outside pen in an attempt to dislodge her.
Vincent watched in bemusement. He had never seen the girl so riled up; he must have really embarrassed her for her to go through well, all of this embarrassment. Sighing, Vincent flicked his cape back in one very cool motion, and pulled open the bag of greens. Closing his eyes, he took a deep breath before they flew open again. As fast as light, Vincent raced towards the rampaging Chocobo. In a flash, he crammed a green down his squawking throat. As suddenly as Vincent had launched himself at Peter, the chocobo quietened down. Yuffie was clinging to his feathery neck, her eyes squeezed shut as she shook in fear.
As he watched her, panic enveloping her small body, a pain ripped through Vincent's heart. It reminded him of the time that he took Lucrecia on a picnic, and tried to teach her to ride a chocobo. Even with him behind her on the bird, she couldn't shake her fear.
That's how he knew how to fix this. Swiftly, Vincent leapt up onto the chocobo, sliding his left around Yuffie's waist so the cool metal would feel good against her flushed skin, and used his right arm to grab the reins that Yuffie had neglected to notice.
"I'll take care of you, even if you so desperately want to beat me," he whispered in her ear as tears dropped her face. Vincent placed the lightest of kisses upon her short ruffled hair, before setting course for Mideel.
AN: It has been literally for FREAKING ever, I am so sorry guys ;_; I will never leave you this long again, I swear! 3