DISCLAIMED: (08/20/09)
Characters: Reno/Yuffie, Vincent/Yuffie, Cloud/Tifa(minor), Rufus & the Turks, AVALANCHE
Genre: Romance/Drama/Action
Rating: T for language and light adult content. And some violence in this one=P
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: Hey guys! Sorry I haven't been getting back to you personally on this one, there's just too many of ya'll but I'm trying. I do appreciate it though since it reminds my absent-minded arse to update along with a tingly enthused feeling that you likes;D If you have a question or anything, I will do my damnedest to answer it quickly.
Here's the rest of the Blue Devil conflict and...well, afterward.
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Chapter 六
"Where's Rufus?" The bald man sneered.
Tseng and Reno stopped before the angry bald-headed man, bearing a striking resemblance to Rufus Shinra, flanked by two other Blue Devils. Reno, held a briefcase.
"Where's the princess?" Reno countered.
Ranulf smirked. "Somewhere safe."
"So is Shinra," Tseng intoned.
Ranulf held out his arms, "So how do we do this?" he asked, looking amused.
Tseng crossed his arms as Reno glanced at him. Reno rolled his head back to the bald man before him and nodded, "We do a weapon check, and then we see Yuffie and we'll bring out Shinra."
Ranulf smiled, but it didn't reach his eyes. "By all means."
Reno set the suitcase down and sauntered towards the tall man. After a quick pat-down he found no weapons and stepped back. Ranulf smirked at them.
"Naruhodo? Now where's Rufus?"
"We see the girl first, yo." Reno countered.
Meanwhile…
"Get your hands off me!" Yuffie struggled in Lucina's hold.
She cackled and gripped her tighter. "I guess ninjas aren't known for their strength."
Yuffie glared. "I guess all that mako is the reason you latched onto a psycho for a boyfriend," she spat at the bright blue-eyed Blue Devil.
Lucina back-handed her, Yuffie's head snapping to the side. She winced and bit back a curse. The bitch was strong.
Said strong bitch leaned close. "Ranulf was cheated his place in the corporation, treated no better than a monster," Lucina spat at her.
Yuffie scowled at her. "So he became one?"
Lucina stared at her hard as she straightened. "Better men have become worse in such circumstances."
"Hah! So you agree there's better men out there," Yuffie retorted smartly.
Lucina raised her hand to strike her once more, but a sound caught her attention. Her hand lowered as she looked to the door of the shack they were currently in. Blue Devil soldiers stood at attention outside the door and some were scouting the area. Lucina's mako infusion helped her sense them but what she felt was stronger.
She crossed to the door, while Yuffie worked to bring her cuffed hands to her front. A loud thud was heard right before Lucina pulled her gun from its holster and flung the door open. All she saw was a red cape and immediately shot at it. Her bullets were blocked or dodged. Yuffie leaped up tucking her legs in and pulling her arms to the front of her in one swift motion.
She dove forward as Lucina's gun was shot out of her hand, whipping her leg around catching the other woman on the back of her legs, knocking her down. Vincent appeared with a swirl of his cloak, his gun pointed down at Lucina.
"Her gun, Yuffie."
Yuffie glanced at the ground where Lucina's weapon dropped and grabbed it in her cuffed hands. Vincent had taught her the basics of shooting so it wasn't that awkward to hold the heavy weapon. She pointed it at Lucina with her cuffed hands.
"Bring her out," was heard over her com device. Lucina froze.
Yuffie and Vincent shared a look. He nodded. Yuffie turned back to Lucina.
"Tell him you're coming."
The woman glared at the ninja. Vincent cocked his gun. The Blue Devil's eyes returned to him, flashing.
"Do it," Vince's voice was hard, cold.
Reluctantly, Lucina lifted the mouth piece and spoke into it. "Hai."
"The key," he demanded, nodding at Yuffie's cuffs.
Lucina reached for her pocket but paused when Vincent trained his gun on her face. Glancing up, she watched him lean over her to slip the key from her himself. She gave him a smirk, while Vincent's face remained steel.
Straightening, he stepped back, gun still trained steadily on her while he handed Yuffie the key, taking her gun. Quickly, she unlocked the cuffs, throwing the key outside.
"Get up," Vincent ordered.
Lucina slowly stood. Vincent nodded to Yuffie, who then came behind Lucina and cuffed her hands behind her back. Yuffie glanced back at Vincent, a silent question passing between them as she walked towards him. He handed her back the gun and nodded again as she turned to face the mako infused woman.
Yuffie bowed her head briefly before stepping forward, raising the weapon and striking the other woman across the face with the butt. Lucina fell from the force and surprise, hitting her head on the stone floor, before falling unconscious.
Vincent immediately turned to the door, but was stopped by a hand on his arm. As he glanced down at it, Yuffie hopped on tip-toe and dropped a kiss on his cheek. He looked at her surprised for once.
She smiled back. "Thanks for saving me, Vince."
He looked down and nodded briefly. "Hn."
He turned to leave again and she followed. Before, he used stealth, but now he picked off any Blue Devil soldiers they came across, Yuffie holding her own, though he kept shielding her behind him.
At the sound of shots, Reno and Tseng engaged in hand-to-hand with Ranulf and his goons. Elena soon flew overhead in Reno's helicopter. Reno kicked out at his attackers knocking one goon into the other, sending them to the ground. Leaping backward, Reno looked up in time to see the weapons Elena launched from the chopper and caught them, tossing a gun to Tseng.
Reno yanked out his EMR and fried the goons as they charged him, turning one to stone while sending a roundhouse kick to the other.
The gun blasts grew closer as Vincent and Yuffie came into view.
Tseng still battled Ranulf as his gun was kicked away, using his fists instead. Reno knocked the second goon to the ground and kneeled on his back before deftly twisting his neck, the man going limp. Standing, Reno turned to see Rufus repelling out of the helicopter overhead.
Yuffie and Vincent stared up at the spectacle as they ran forward.
Ranulf was focused on Tseng however and did not notice. He seemed to be having a verbal battle with the ex-Turk as well as physical, and was enraged. With a loud roar, he threw the ex-Turk into the side of a train. Tseng crumpled to the ground from the impact. As Ranulf strode towards the downed bodyguard, Vincent raised his gun. Before he could pull the trigger a shot rang out.
Ranulf staggered as a stinging pain erupted in his shoulder near his chest as the bullet went all the way through. He turned to see his cousin a hundred feet away, slowly lower his smoking shotgun. The Blue Devil grinned madly.
"Let us have it out then, Rufus," he called out. "And no running this time."
Ranulf starting walking heavily towards his cousin. Reno stepped forward, but Rufus held up a hand halting him.
"We will end this." Rufus said simply. He nodded towards Reno.
Reno nodded and glanced overhead at Elena in the helicopter, still circling. A moment later, a sword dropped from it, its point landing in the dirt before Ranulf, equipped with Cure materia and nothing else.
Ranulf strode forward and took it. Seeing the equipped materia, Ranulf sent Rufus a hard smirk.
"Maybe you have changed, cousin," he called out.
Rufus said nothing.
"Your chivalry astounds me, Rufus. But nothing you do now can change what you should've done in the past." Ranulf grinned evilly. "We shall finally see who was more worthy," he finished, before charging Rufus, who immediately cast Big Guard and barely felt it when he was hit.
Rufus cast Ice3 then. Ranulf had always been inordinately affected by the cold. But this only enraged him, causing Rufus to dodge his feral attack.
While they continued to battle, Rufus holding his own against his mako-infused cousin, Elena landed the chopper a safe distance away.
Vincent and Yuffie ran towards it, while Reno helped Tseng over to it, both climbing into the helicopter behind the other two.
As they rose into the air, Rufus managed to disarm Ranulf. In a blind rage, the Blue Devil charged his cousin with a roar. Rufus fired point-blank, burying a slug in the other man's chest. Ranulf staggered back, slowly sinking to his knees not far from Rufus.
The former Shinra president strode toward his downed cousin, his gun lowered. Ranulf glared murderously up at him.
"So finish it," he spat out.
Rufus stared down at him cooly. "No."
Ranulf narrowed his eyes. "No?" He laughed then, choking. "Should've expected so. Never had the balls to do anything before, why would you have them now," he snarled.
Rufus smiled. "I've already won. Killing you would simply lower myself to your level." Backing up, he waited as the chopper lowered to his level. Over the roar of the engine, Rufus added, "You were always an insignificant part of my life and this way, that's how it will remain." With a final smirk at his cousin's murderous scowl, Rufus grabbed the bottom of the chopper before it lifted into the air.
Reno and Vincent helped the former president into the chopper. As soon as he was seated, he spoke, "Everything set?"
"Yes sir," Elena replied.
"Good. Activate the charges."
"Aye, aye sir."
As Elena steered the helicopter out of Midgar, explosions erupted as Reno set off the charges they set. Rufus stared down dispassionately as the area around his cousin erupted with debris and smoke.
ЯεπΘжΨμҒғϊΣ
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Yuffie stood at railing on the deck of the Shera. Reeve and Cid had handled the base, the Blue Devils either dead or imprisoned. Going back to the sector seven train graveyard, authorities found Lucina buried under a bunch of rubble, but breathing. She was in a high security medical ward, currently in a coma and the doctors didn't know if she'd ever wake up.
This turned her thoughts to Rude. Reno had immediately returned to his friend's bedside once they returned. Vincent was settling things with Reeve and Rufus about payment.
Yuffie was just waiting for Vincent as he'd asked her to, before heading back to Tifa's bar. She pulled out a throwing dagger and flipped it about, twirling it between her fingers.
Soon she was picturing Ranulf and darting about the deck, slashing and jabbing in a dance. Vincent heard her grunts and exclamations first, and thinking she was being attacked ran to the door, his gun drawn.
What he saw made him slow, his gun lowered. Yuffie cartwheeled before spinning and jabbing at an imaginary assailant. She ducked an attack and spun on one leg at her fake opponent's legs, before pushing off the floor with her hand, her legs kicking up and out, catching them by the neck with her foot, which she brought down swiftly as she landed, immediately kneeling on her opponent's chest, her knife at their throat.
Vincent shook his head, his expression amused as he holstered his weapon. Yuffie glanced up at the noise.
"Vince, hey," she straightened fluidly.
Vince nodded. "Whom were you fighting?"
Yuffie glanced down as if there really was a person there. "Ranulf. For sucker punching me in the gut," Yuffie scowled, rubbing her stomach as if it still hurt.
Vincent's gaze turned to stone. He looked away.
Yuffie cleared her throat. "Eheh, so…you all done?"
Vincent looked at her and nodded.
Yuffie sheathed her dagger and lightly bounced towards him. "Good. Let's go."
As she tried to go past him, he caught her arm. "Yuffie."
Apprehensively, Yuffie glanced up at him.
"I…I'm sorry," he said.
Yuffie shook her head. "Why?"
Vincent's hand dropped from her arm and he looked down. "It was…impudent…for me to have…kissed you. It won't happen again." His head lifted suddenly and he met her gaze. "I beg you forgive me."
Yuffie was at a loss. Her mouth opened and her head jerked slightly as if to reassure him, but did she want to? Didn't she know this would happen? All her blustering and fanciful speeches about being the greatest were really just a smokescreen. Her father didn't deem her worthy of his attention, or ruling Wutai. Why would anyone believe so? Vincent apparently came to the same conclusion.
Hurt, she glared up at him. "What, you realized I'm not your precious Lucrecia? Or even the substitute Shelke?" she lashed out. Vincent stepped back, his face surprised, but Yuffie didn't see it. She continued on, "Well, don't worry your pretty head about it. I know someone finds me desirable." With one last glare, Yuffie turned and leaped from the deck, bypassing the rope ladder completely. Vincent ran forward to see that she made it safely from such a reckless jump. He saw her drop to one knee as she landed, before taking off at a run.
Straightening, Vincent's thoughts turned to her words. She thought he was still in love with Lucrecia and that he had mistook her for his first love. He grimaced at the thought that she would think he would think of Shelke that way.
But he'd obviously hurt her. She'd been surprised when he kissed her and hadn't responded as if she'd been harbouring feelings for him beforehand, her lips tentative, so he conjectured there was something deeper that had offended her.
Someone finds me desirable… She didn't think he thought her desirable. Nothing could be farther from the truth. His fondness for her changed into something more as he watched her slim form mature, her stature grow slender and smooth, replacing her gawky teenage state of being.
But she'd said she knew of someone who did find her desirable… someone… Vincent's eyes lit with realization, before narrowing. Reno. He knew he saw interest for Yuffie there. Yuffie was obviously the densest female when it came to these things however, so the flame-haired assassin must've done something overt to catch her attention.
Or she actually liked him and had already noticed him.
Vincent froze at this thought. Then he sighed. Maybe he should just step back. Reno was closer in age to her, and while his past was no cleaner than Vincent's, he wasn't part demon. His chest hurt though, at the thought of Yuffie with him. He didn't want to let her go. He'd let go of too many already.
Vincent breathed deep. Other than hurt, he didn't know how Yuffie felt and needed to know. He'd let a smidgen of hope in already and it squeezed his battered heart in a vise-like grip. If she did not feel anything for him, he'd let her go. Too many things in his past had been left unsaid and then it was too late. It was time for a change.
ҰμҒғΦєЖυΦπсЭиГ
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Yuffie huffed as she made it to the 7th Heaven bar. Still angry, she fumbled and ripped at the keys in her pocket before shoving the right one in the lock and jerking the door open. Ripping the key out she slammed the door and paced the bar.
Her self-esteem crashed with Vincent's rejection and the pain made her want to lash out. With purpose, she strode up the stairs, heading for Tifa's gym. It consisted of mats and dumbbells and all sorts of weight-training equipment. But Yuffie zeroed in on the large punching bag. Her fists clenched as she strode towards it. Reaching it, she jabbed out with a right hook. The impact shot up her arm, leaving her feeling vindicated. She continued, picturing every male that deigned to piss her off as the center of the bag.
She hadn't even decided how she felt about Vince and he blew her off. It was like she was cheated a chance. Despite it being a chance she'd never imagined, it still hurt to have it snatched away.
Despite his affinity for coffins and his preference for silence over vocal interaction, she'd always been drawn to him. He was a lost soul, and though she hadn't had any experiments done on her or harboured any tangible demons, she felt the same. While he'd lost his Lucrecia, she'd lost her mother, the only one who'd ever loved her just because. She was a great warrior and fought in the war against Shinra, and Yuffie'd always strove to be as great as she was. But her father cast her out as soon as she was able to hold a full-fledged boomerang and she found herself adrift, dependent on herself and no one else. Vincent…they were kindred. Lost souls…
But he'd always seemed unattainable, so she hadn't even bothered following the lines of attraction. Aerith and Tifa would whisper and giggle about it, but Yuffie had always rolled her eyes and concerned herself with materia. Well, materia no longer concerned her like before, Aerith was gone and Tifa had Cloud. What did Yuffie have?… Now she knew what they'd always wondered.
His lips felt wonderful. He wasn't cold and unemotional, not when she'd see the proof in the intensity of his gaze fixed solely on her. Obviously, she was not his type as he regretted it. His rejection confused her when thinking about his gaze. They'd been alight with more awareness and emotion than she thought possible. But he must've been seeing Lucrecia when looking at her, she thought dejectedly. With a last pitiful punch to the bag, Yuffie turned and slipped down it to the floor.
What was wrong with her? She didn't even think of Vincent this way before. Now that he'd seemed to show interest and just as quickly snatched it away, she was feeling heartbroken? She shook her head, before laying her forehead on her knees.
Her thoughts turned to Reno and their last interaction. When he'd kissed her, she was dizzy from lack of sleep. She'd leant into him and his lips put just the right amount of pressure on hers to send warmth shooting to her toes, before he gentled and dotted kisses along her mouth. All she'd wanted to do was curl up against his chest and know that he was there.
Apprehension about the following night's activities in the back of her mind, it was a comfort she was willing to take from someone who seemed so willing to give it. But then he'd stepped back and old insecurities and paranoia set in.
What he thought of her now, she didn't really want to know. He probably regretted it like Vincent. She didn't need two rejections from two unsolicited advances. Her bravado was bent and wouldn't be able to take it.
She convinced herself she was better off without both. Maybe she'd start looking for someone, instead of them popping up and deciding for her. Maybe Tifa could help her. Happy people in love always wanted to help others around them find the same thing. Yuffie cheered to the thought. Her naivete about men didn't consider that along with being a princess, she was a heroine for the planet, and would have to watch out for fortune hunters and glory seekers. She just wanted to forget her pain, not used to dwelling on it like Vincent, and take action.
Yuffie stood brushing herself off. Tifa and Cloud would be home tomorrow night. She decided to clean and make everything perfect for their return, having a new sense of purpose. It was midweek but she'd closed the bar while she'd been gone, so she worked until midnight.
She straightened and leaned on the handle of the mop as she wiped her sweaty brow, taking a deep breath and surveying her handiwork. She frowned as she heard a knock on the front door. Yuffie set the mop aside and carefully made her way across the wet floor. She hoped it wasn't Vincent, not wishing to have him ruin her new resolve and her mood along with it.
"We're closed. Who is it?" she called through the door.
"It's me, yo."
Yuffie bit her lip and unlocked the door, pulling it open slightly to reveal the vibrant redhead leaning against his forearm braced on the door frame. He stared at her beseechingly beneath his arm.
"We're closed," she repeated, unsure of how to greet him.
He nodded. "You said that." Looking away, he sighed. "Look, can I crash here? The nurse caught me and sent me away, something about visitor's hours…"
"Um, sure…" Yuffie stepped back, swinging the door wide to allow him entrance. "Be caref—"
Too late, his soles lost friction upon meeting the wet floor and he slid his arms reaching out wildly to the closest thing, which turned out to be Yuffie. She let go of the door and yelped as he almost took her down with him. Gripping his arms, she tried to steady him. His feet finally regained purchase and he slowly straightened, still holding tight to her.
Yuffie glanced at his face and found he was staring quite intently at her. She flushed as he straightened and stood over her. Looking down, she saw her arms entwined with his and disentangled herself.
She avoided looking at him by closing the door and locking it. But when she turned back around, he was right there. Placing a hand against the door behind her, she was pressed back as he leaned towards her, his eyes alight with obvious interest.
She wasn't prepared for this. He was supposed to reject her like Vincent. She was supposed to forget about them both and take control of her life.
As he neared and his eyelids started to drift closed, she put a hand to his mouth. "Wait."
Reno opened his eyes, before they went cross trying to look down at her hand at his mouth. He pulled back slightly, his eyebrows raised.
"I…I better show you where to sleep," she rambled out, before ducking around him and towards the stairs.
She reached the stairs before turning to glance back at him. He had turned and was watching her, not moving. Tilting her head, she asked, "Coming?"
This Reno was scaring her. More than him attacking her in battle had ever done. He considered her quietly a moment, before his head dropped and he shook it with a short laugh. He started towards her as he lifted his head and nodded.
Yuffie ran to the top stopping along the hallway. When he reached the landing as well, she said, "Well, choose a room. Though I don't think Cloud and Tifa will appreciate you using theirs."
Reno cocked his head to the side. "What about yours, yo?"
Yuffie rolled her eyes and crossed her arms. "Didn't they teach you deductive reasoning at Shinra Co.? I'm using my room."
Reno smirked and strolled closer. "Actually, it was a prerequisite. And that was kinda my point."
Yuffie's eyes darted around nervously at his proximity. "Er…so was, uh…ehem, a large vocabulary, I take it?" she stuttered.
Reno stopped right before her, staring down at her with a knowing smirk. "Nah." His eyes considered her. Her breath was coming out faster, her chest moving in and out quickly, her eyes wide.
His head bent slightly, and Yuffie pressed back against the wall. "It's easier to fake that," he added, his voice low.
"Reno, I—" was all she got out, before his mouth met hers. The kiss was warm and startlingly soft. Yuffie's eyes fluttered shut as she leaned into him, deepening the kiss. She felt his hands cup her hips, and placed her hands on his arms to steady herself as he tugged her towards him slightly.
He hadn't meant to kiss her. He'd decided it was foolish when she stopped him the first time. But he was finding his resolve around the ninja princess was almost non-existent. And now that she was responding, he didn't know if he could let go.
Yuffie couldn't believe this was happening. This certainly didn't help her new plan of forgetting about both him and Vincent. But then, she was tired and still hurt from Vincent's rejection and that this dangerous, slightly goofy, but passably cute…man wanted her, it was a bandage to her hurt ego. Alright, he was more than passably cute, he was…intoxicating. Yes, that was the word. She'd read it in that one book she'd read. When asking Vincent what it meant, he'd actually turned a shade red, before presenting her with a dictionary.
Extremely exciting as if by alcohol or a narcotic.
Well, she certainly felt drugged, despite her heart beating a million beats per minute.
Yuffie slid her arms up over his shoulders and around his neck, standing on tiptoe to do so, what with her small stature. Her front pressed against his, rubbing lightly.
Slight as it was, it drove Reno crazy. He let out a soft groan as he pressed her firmly between him and the wall. Yuffie let out a gasp at the contact and Reno took advantage, sliding his tongue into her mouth seeking out hers.
This startled her and she stilled, curiously feeling his tongue along hers. He grinned against her mouth briefly, before resuming sliding the rough part of his tongue over hers suggestively.
Renewed heat coursed through her and she pushed her hips against his. He ground back against her and they both gasped at the feeling, breaking the kiss.
Since they'd stilled, Yuffie felt her senses returning and she realized what she was doing and panicked. Reno already knew exactly what they were doing and immediately leaned back in to recapture her mouth. She turned her head however, so Reno busied himself with her neck.
"Reno, wait—"
His tongue flicked out along her neck, cutting her off as she gasped. Her eyes shut, and she clutched his shoulders as his administrations continued. Yuffie's mind slowly numbed as she laid her head back against the wall, the sensations over taking her. Why was this wrong again?
Reno sucked, kissed, licked and nibbled his way down her neck but only when his hands on her hips slipped before coming up to cup her behind, did she remember why.
Yuffie pushed him away abruptly and hard. Reno hit the opposite wall, his hands moving behind him to lessen the impact. He still ended up hitting the back of his head.
Wincing, and rubbing the back of his head, he looked at her confused.
Yuffie glared back, angry that she'd lost control. "I let you kiss me, but that doesn't mean I'll let you grope me."
His gave her a bizarre look. "A simple 'no' would've worked, yo." He tilted his head side to side and rolled his shoulders a couple times. She was short and he had a crick from bending down so far for so long.
"And it's not like you didn't kiss me back, yo," he added.
"So what?" she frowned. "And stop saying 'yo'."
He just gave her a look. Huffing, she folded her arms and stomped away.
Reno scowled at her back. Damned confusing, she was, but he really didn't want to examine why he kissed her or what she thought about it, since he didn't know himself; so he let her go.
Recognizing the living room he woke up in not so long ago, he decided it was as good as any. Closing the door, he shrugged off his jacket and kicked off his shoes. Collapsing facedown on the couch, he let his hand rest on his EMR, which lay on the floor next to him, falling instantly asleep.
ЯεπΘжΨμҒғϊΣ
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A/N: Let me know what you think;)
