DISCLAIMED: (08/06/09)
Characters: Reno/Yuffie, Vincent/Yuffie, Cloud/Tifa(minor), Rufus & the Turks, AVALANCHE
Genre: Romance/Drama/Action
Rating: T for language and light adult content.
Summary: Yuffie was just doing something nice for a couple friends. Why her world suddenly turned upside down by two different men was anyone's guess. Explores an age-old question – Vincent? Or Reno? Rated for light adult content.
A/N:Thanks everyone for reading this! A huggle to anyone who reviews.
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Chapter 三
Reno was waiting for them at the entrance, his EMR resting on his shoulder in his customary stance. He smirked at the group.
"This all of ya? Damn, Strife and Jugs make you guys so much more impressive looking, yo."
Barret growled and started forward. Yuffie side-stepped in front of him to intercede, and Barret knocked her forward albeit unintentionally, with his extra weight. Yuffie stumbled awkwardly right into Reno's arms. Well, arm since he was still holding his weapon in the other.
"Don't call her that, little f$%#!" Barret yelled from behind Yuffie.
Reno was grinning down at Yuffie who was desperately trying to extricate herself from him on rubbery legs, without pawing him obscenely. Damn Barret! "My apologies, yo. Mrs. Cloud Angst, then."
Yuffie managed to push herself away from him by then and folded her arms with a huff, trying to keep the blush staining her cheeks from growing.
Reno smiled knowingly and winked before looking at the rest of the group. "Shall we?" and he turned and headed into the old fort.
The group followed him, Yuffie hunching her shoulders, Barret grumbling, and Vincent glowering.
Turned out the ex-Turks called Reeve as well, for he greeted them in the meeting room. He and Vincent shook hands and exchanged gruff words, on Vincent's side at least. Yuffie gave him a quick hug and afterward he immediately checked his pockets. She mock-glared at him and he laughed.
He and Red nodded at each other, Cid slapped him on the back and asked how the fuck he was doing, while Barret offered him a "yo".
"Everybody sit down, yo," said Reno as soon as the greetings were done.
The Avalanche members moved to the large table, obviously new since their last visit, and sat, save for Vincent. He leaned back against the wall in Yuffie's eye-line. Cid sat next to her and blew a large cloud of smoke her way, causing her to scrunch her nose and wave a hand in front of her face.
Coughing, she said, "Damnit, Cid. I don't want to smell like a friggin' smokestack!"
He frowned at her before, smirking. "Maybe you should have one or two. Calm your ass the hell down."
"Cid is a terrible influence on her," Red muttered next to Barret.
The gun-armed man looked at the cat quizzically. "No way'd Yuff would take up smokin'."
"I meant her base exclamations."
Barret frowned. "What base?"
Red looked at him.
"Come on, Gramps. I'll race you around the fort and Barret can pick up your smelly corpse with the Shera when you cough yourself to death halfway through," Yuffie taunted.
Cid went to retort when "—Enough!"
The group looked over at the head of the table, where a glowering Tseng stood at Rufus' chair.
Rufus spoke then. "I have a proposition for you all. A terrorist group calling themselves the Blue Devils has been forming since word somehow leaked of my existence. Their group is rather large and the bulk of them are mako-infused. I need your assistance in bringing them down."
Reno stepped forward. "Ya and there'll be a big payoff innit for ya."
"How much?" Barret asked.
"Five million."
"Holy—" Cid started.
"Each." Reno cut him off.
The group looked at Rufus for confirmation. He stared steadily back.
"What do we need to do?" Yuffie asked.
Reno smirked at her. She ignored him.
"After Reno interrogated the survivor, we now know their base's coordinates." Elena informed, placing a file in the middle of the table.
Yuffie pulled it forward and leafed through. Red trotted up next to her and scanned them as well. Info about the man they captured and a map of where the base supposedly was. It looked like—
"This is that island below where we found Knights of the Round?" Yuffie frowned. Cid pulled the map closer to see what she was talking about. "But there wasn't anything there."
"That's because the base is underground, yo." Reno replied.
"We sent a discreet air-jet overhead and mako radar was off the chart," added Tseng.
"We need one of you to infiltrate and shut off security before we muscle our way in. Preferably someone who isn't radiating mako," Rufus added. "Their soldiers will sense it right away."
Cid snorted. "Right. That leaves me, big guy and the brat. Red doesn't have the finesse to shut down the controls."
Elena looked at Yuffie. "Don't you have ninja training? They're supposed to be super quiet right?"
Yuffie grinned. "That's me! Stealth is my middle name."
Cid snorted. She glared at him.
"But she ain't got no technology trainin'," Barret protested. "How's she gonna shut down a' entire undergroun' base and still let us in?"
Reeve stepped forward. "I could give her a short tutorial. Shutting the power down won't be hard, just have to configure a few things to open all the doors. It would be easier if we had blueprints of the hide-out, though."
Rufus nodded. "Alright. Reeve you show her what she needs to know and we'll do another recon first. Show her how to download the blueprints off their computers as well, and we'll plan our attack from there."
"Yuffie is a strong ninja, but you are putting a lot of pressure on her…" Everyone looked over as Vincent finally spoke. "…What if she does not make it out?"
Everyone looked back at Rufus.
"The main objective will be to obtain information. As long as she succeeds, and sends it back to us, we will then have the resources to get her back out, should we need to."
"Bullshit!" Cid exclaimed slapping the table. "They'll likely kill her before we can fuckin' get to her!"
"…Every plan has its risks."
Barret and Cid started up and forward at this. Tseng and Reno stepped forward to hold them back.
Rufus spoke over their exclamations. "Miss Kisaragi is a talented young woman with the proper training. My associates," he gestured to the ex-Turks, "have assured me of her ability to handle herself and I have no doubt she will be able to succeed. The risk for her is small, in my mind."
Barret shrugged Tseng hand on him off and glowered. "It's yer mind tha's small," he muttered.
Yuffie was fighting a blush. Rufus was an ass and the enemy but he was complimenting her abilities and it was still gratifying.
"But if she is caught, they'd have no reason to keep her alive," interjected Red as Cid and Barret retook their seats.
"I'll make up a story. I work for Reeve, which I did and he's in on guarding Rufus and will come after me. I can be bait, if it comes to that," Yuffie spoke up. "Plus, my father's ruler of Wutai—they're opportunists aren't they?"
"Among other things," Rufus conceded.
"Right, well they do need money for their 'cause' or whatever and could ransom me to him," Yuffie continued. No matter that she didn't know whether Godo would care or not, this group probably would believe it. Yuffie looked around for approval.
Reeve finally spoke. "I don't like you putting yourself in danger, but you are one of the more valuable members here."
Barret grunted and shifted in his seat. "Why lord Godo ain't put a leash on ya yet is anyone's guess."
Yuffie rolled her eyes, before looking at Rufus.
"I'm in."
Rufus nodded. "Good. Reeve, how soon can you have her ready?"
"What are our time constraints?"
Tseng and Rufus glanced at each other. Tseng then looked at Reeve. "Yesterday."
Reeve pursed his lips and nodded. "Got it. We'll start tonight and work through tomorrow, so tomorrow night?"
Another glance between employer and employed. "That'll do."
The meeting broke then and Reeve stepped up to Yuffie.
"Are you sure about this?" he asked concerned.
Yuffie nodded once. "I can do it. Just teach me how."
Reeve gave her a rueful smile but nodded.
"Alright."
They looked up as Vincent approached them. "Yuffie…can I speak with you?"
Yuffie felt her eyes widen and nodded.
"Just meet me above the shop. I'll set things up," Reeve said before exiting.
Vincent turned and led Yuffie out and away from the others.
Turning to face her, Yuffie stopped and stared up at him.
"Yuffie…I don't think you should do this."
She cocked a hip and rested a fist on it. "Why not?"
"It's a suicide mission. They may shoot you before they find out who you are. You can't risk it."
Yuffie was so shocked at his obvious concern she didn't know what to do, so she smiled and said, "Aww, Vinnie I didn't know you cared so much!"
"Yuffie, I'm serious."
"There's a shock," she muttered with a roll of her eyes.
Suddenly, he took her by the shoulders, leaning forward to look at her at eye level.
"Yuffie, I can't let you go."
Yuffie frowned at his fervor.
Vincent sighed. "I didn't do anything last time…it cost me everything…I won't make that mistake again."
Yuffie felt her jaw drop. He was talking about his dead chick again. Vincent was likening her to Lucrecia?! But he had been in love with her; he couldn't be in love with Yuffie. Vincent was uber emo; emos don't love anything but pain, self-loathing and deep down, themselves.
Yuffie shook herself out of her thoughts. Vincent wasn't likening her to his great love, he was comparing their situations.
"Vince, I…" Oh no, she was starting to talk like him. "If it were you who could do it, you'd do it no question."
"Simply because I am more resistant to death. You…are not," he returned calmly.
"I've had ninja training all my life, I know I can do this."
"Nobody can cheat death forever, Yuffie."
Yuffie set her shoulders. "No, but they can't sit around while bad people do horrible things. Someone besides Rufus could've been near that car when it blew up; did these guys care about that? No!" She crossed her arms and gave him a hard stare. "I know you and Cloud are like super warriors and stuff, but I'm pretty damn good myself and I'm positive I can do this."
Vincent shook his head. "I'm afraid your overconfidence will be your downfall."
Yuffie saw the resignation in his eyes and knew she'd won. Smiling, she stepped towards him. "Vince, I'm not the annoying little sixteen year old materia thief you met four years ago. If I was I'm sure my Conformer and your Cerberus would be out right now," she added with a rueful smile.
"…You'll wear bullet-proof armour," he said finally.
Yuffie rolled her eyes and nodded. "Just the vest. The rest will be too creaky."
"Hn." Vincent nodded.
He was going preverbal meaning their conversation was ending.
"Well, I'll see you later then!" With a happy little salute, she turned and took off towards the ladder.
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Yuffie rubbed her eyes as she headed to her sleeping quarters. It was 3 in the morning, and Reeve finally decided she needed rest, though she told him she was fine. Yawning while doing so didn't make it very convincing however.
"Yo, kid."
Yuffie looked up to see Reno leaning back against the wall near her.
"I'm not a kid. What are you doing up? Can't sleep?" she asked.
He smirked and pushed off the wall. "You could say that." He strolled up to where she'd stopped.
Yuffie looked up at him with bleary-eyes. Reno looked mildly thoughtful, scanning her face. When he reached out towards her, Yuffie just stood there. He reached behind her and grabbed one of the ends of her headband, skimming it forward over her shoulder. Yuffie looked over to watch his hand drift down, coming to the end of her band, before sliding the rest of the way down her arm. She lifted her head in time to see his bend low, and then he was kissing her.
As fuzzy as her brain was, she could only think this had to be a dream. Wanting to make sense of it all, she started to pull away, but he stepped closer and his hands came up to the sides of her face and held her in place. She gripped his hands and let her eyes flutter shut as he kissed her long and hard.
It grew softer as he placed shorter kisses over her mouth, tapering off as he lifted his head slowly. Yuffie languidly opened her eyes and stared into his. His were heated and intense, sending a fresh wave of warmth through her.
Their hands dropped as he let go of her face and stepped back, but retained her right hand in his left as he turned, nodding behind him for her to follow.
Yuffie tried to clear her thoughts as he pulled her a few steps forward. Pausing, she frowned.
"Wait, I—"
"Relax," he interjected. "I'm just showing you your quarters. You want to get some sleep, right?"
Yuffie looked at him warily. The corner of his mouth lifted in a small knowing smirk. He jerked his head again, saying, "Come on."
Yuffie let him pull her along this time, though watched him suspiciously.
"You'd be sharing with Elena, but she's on surveillance tonight." He said, as they stopped at a rope ladder. She looked up, but didn't see anything of interest. Glancing back at him, she saw him gesture to the ladder. "After you."
Yuffie didn't like his cocky smirk and stepped back, dropping his hand. Frowning, she said, "This hasn't been all a trick, has it? There's no ambush up there to get rid of me? Where are my friends? I want to see them."
"Whoa, whoa, whoa, relax!" Reno waved his hands and stepped towards her, an amused smile on his face. Yuffie stepped back again as he advanced. "Nothing is wrong. Your friends are fine, yo. You're a little too paranoid for someone so young."
Yuffie frowned harder. "I'm almost twenty-one, and I've seen more than most. You could have Sephiroth and his Remnants up there for all I know!"
Reno's eyebrows shot up. "Oh, really? Maybe we have the whole Blue Devil organization up there too, since 'ole long sword didn't like Shinra any more than they do."
Yuffie glared. "I don't trust you."
Reno snorted derisively. "Well, that's obvious." Waving his arm, he continued, "Look, sleep here on the floor then. I don't care, yo." And he walked off.
Yuffie stared at the wall, still frowning. She looked behind her to see Reno disappear around a corner, before stepping forward and looking back up the ladder. Still unsure, she reached into her pouch for a light grenade. Activating it, she threw it up into the room and looked away as bright light illuminated the area above.
Satisfied that anyone who may be lurking up there would at least be blind, she started to climb. Reaching the top, she saw it was devoid of bodies, both conscious and unconscious.
Quickly she checked the small water closet and under the two beds. Finding nothing suspicious, she let out a deep breath.
She wasn't sorry she was cautious. While a Turk, Reno's first and foremost allegiance was to Shinra. No matter that he wasn't one officially anymore, or that he kissed her, he was back with Shinra, and who knows really if he ever left him. That could've been a lie as well, to throw them all off.
Yuffie sighed. Her first real kiss and she can't trust the guy as far she can throw him. And on the eve she could very well cease to exist. Yuffie kicked off her boots and crawled onto one of the beds. Well, at least it's better than nothing…
ЯεπΘжΨμҒғϊΣ
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"Yuffie."
She glanced to her right, meeting Vincent's gaze. He'd just finished tightening the sides of her bullet-proof vest. They were standing in the back of Rufus' super stealthy jet, making last minute preparations for her to head into the base. She tried to calm her nervous fidgety hands. It wasn't working.
He grabbed her hands then, and she became perfectly still, staring down at them. Slowly, she lifted her gaze to his.
"Calm down," he said.
She nodded, taking a deep breath. "I will. I am. I mean—"
Yuffie was cut off as he stepped forward abruptly, coming impossibly close, before leaning down and pressing his lips to hers. His smooth lips pressed against her warm ones, rubbing lightly over her in a sweet yet sensuous caress. Yuffie's eyes were wide with incomprehension. A strong wave of déjà vu swept over her and she closed her eyes. This could not be happening again! And then it was over.
He pulled away, straightening slowly. Yuffie kept her eyes shut until she felt his gloved hand cup her cheek. They fluttered open to find the most vulnerable look she'd ever seen grace Vincent's features.
"One minute."
The voice of the pilot over the intercom broke the moment and Yuffie looked away, his hand dropping to his side.
"…Be careful. Hide away at all costs," Vincent warned, his voice deeper than usual.
Yuffie nodded distractedly.
"…Ready?"
Yuffie closed her eyes, zoning everything else out. Taking another deep breath, she opened her eyes and nodded. Cracking her neck she bounced side to side, keeping limber. Vincent asked again, needing her to say it.
"Yes," she met his gaze with a rare determined one of her own. "I'm ready."
ЯεπΘжΨμҒғϊΣ
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A/N: Let me know what you think ;)
