***Hey, all. Sorry this chapter seems to be such a time waster. I normally write two chapters a day, and this one took me half a week to finish. I originally wrote the scene where Tifa and Yuffie stopped by the bar for a drink and was going to throw Shelke in there, but decided against it in the end.
There is some fun Lulu-bashing in this chapter though… I always enjoy that, haha.
The next chapter will be more exciting – I promise!***
Chapter Ten –To Reinvent Ourselves
By the time they had filled six large shopping bags with clothes, wigs and other tools of disguise, Yuffie was eager to return to the inn. The idea of Vincent and that Lucrecia wanna-be alone together had been eating at her all day. Tifa had wanted to stop at the bar to check on Cloud.
Yuffie proceeded to voice her concerns. "It's not like I don't trust him, I mean, Vincent's a saint, but, like, that stupid Lulu chick is out to get him, I just know it!"
"Okay, Yuffie, you win!" Tifa exclaimed. "I just feel bad for leaving Cloud to tend the bar all by himself."
"Cloud's fine! My sanity is at stake!"
Oddly, only Lulu was there to greet them when they reached the third floor suite. She sat at the foot of one of the beds, completely engrossed in a documentary centered around Avalanche just after they had saved the world – the first time. Yuffie instantly recognized the footage and raced to the VCR, ripping the tape from the machine.
"Yuffie, I was watching that," Lulu announced calmly.
Yuffie whirled on her. "This is my tape! Mine! What were you doing going through my stuff!"
Lulu batted her elegant eyelashes innocently. "I didn't mean to snoop," she said, shrugging. "I was bored."
"Why I oughtta-"
"Where is Vincent?" Tifa interrupted, glancing around the room.
Lulu pointed a thumb over her shoulder casually. "He's in the shower."
Yuffie shook the tape in Lulu's face. "You hussy… What did you-"
"You're getting upset for nothing, Yuffie. Vincent Valentine is without a doubt the most honest and chaste man to ever walk the face of the planet. I don't think you'll have to worry about him so much as looking at another female human being for the extent of your relationship, such as it is."
"And what's that supposed to mean?"
It was then the bathroom door opened and, through a cloud of steam, Vincent Valentine emerged. He wore nothing but a towel around his waist, and his hair was combed back away from his face, clinging to his shoulders. He looked slightly embarrassed as he knelt to rummage through a small bag of his belongings. The three women could only watch in silence and Yuffie felt a surge of pride as she reminded herself that this perfect creature was in love with her.
As she drank him in, she couldn't help noticing the rather severe scarring around the base of the metal claw which replaced his left hand and forearm.
Momentarily her mind conjured up a gruesome image of Hojo removing the appendage while Vincent's body lay lifeless on a table that could still be found in the basement of the Shinra Mansion.
Vincent, being what he was, did not acknowledge their ogling. Instead, once he'd located and removed his shaving razor from the bag, he muttered a quiet, "pardon me," and retreated quickly back into the restroom.
While they waited for Vincent to shave and dress, Tifa and Lulu sorted through the bags and began working out the clone's new look. Yuffie sat morosely on Vincent's bed, staring at the bathroom door. She had been suddenly overcome with a strong need to comfort him; what the heck was that about? Everyone felt that way about Vincent from time to time, but nobody acted on the impulse.
It just wasn't like Vincent to accept pity or remorse from anyone. He strived to hide his dark emotions, rather than share them with outers. While that was an honorable trait, Yuffie couldn't help wonder if it might do him some good to talk about his past with someone who wouldn't judge him. Everybody, at some point in their life, needed to open up and get a few things off their chest. Why should Vincent be any different?
"You look adorable!" Tifa suddenly exclaimed, ripping Yuffie from her thoughts. She turned to find that Tifa couldn't have used a better word to describe Lulu in her blonde wig and blue halter sun dress. Tifa had excellent taste in clothes… damn her.
"Yuffie, you might as well take Vincent his clothes so he doesn't have to get dressed just to come out here and get them."
Yuffie grinned; this would be fun. She pulled her favorite suit from the bag and sprinted to the bathroom door. She knocked and the door opened slightly. Vincent's red eye peered through the crack. "I'm sorry about the towel," he said quietly. "That wasn't appropriate."
"Oh," Yuffie babbled. "Don't worry about it. Here, I picked this out for you." She handed the suit over and Vincent grunted with what she guessed was his heartfelt approval.
"It's nice. Expensive?"
"Not too expensive," she admitted. "I can be pretty thrifty when I wanna be."
"I can imagine your idea of bargain shopping doesn't usually involve purchasing the objects of your desire," Vincent said with humor only Yuffie could detect – not that the others could have even heard him.
"I'll have you know I paid for everything today. My training is rendered somewhat useless when Tifa's around screaming about how cute everything is."
"Yes, I imagine she draws quite a lot of attention to your otherwise covert operation."
"Exactly!"
Vincent smiled at her then, and she peeked over her shoulder to make sure Tifa and Lulu weren't looking before pushing the door a little wider and pecking him on the lips.
"I'll be out shortly," Vincent said, brushing the back of her hand with his fingers before closing the door again.
Lulu was already laying out Yuffie's new outfits on the bed while Tifa teased the red wig.
"Yuffie, you should get ready before Vincent comes out. It will be cute to see his reaction."
Yuffie wondered what was up with the nicey-nice act, but went ahead and threw on her favorite new clothes. When she stepped back around the privacy screen, Tifa and Lulu's eyebrows rose in shock.
"Um, Yuffie?" Tifa said quietly, "the point of getting all these clothes is to avoid drawing attention to yourselves."
"If Lulu gets to be cute, so do I!" Yuffie protested. "Now, give me my damn wig!"
She jumped in front of the full-length mirror on the wall, pulled the red wig over her head and gazed dreamily at her own reflection.
The skirt was short and black, with a studded red leather belt hanging loosely at her hips. The shirt was more or less a tube top with a black and grey zebra-print on the front, and a mesh back. Once she was satisfied with the positioning of her ensemble, she turned and pointed a finger at Tifa.
"Okay, so, what do you think? I'll tone it down some later, but this get-up is just dying to be worn!"
Tifa shrugged and she and Lulu looked at each other with a certain knowing smile on each of their faces. "Whatever you want," Tifa said calmly. "Just don't come crying to me if you get spotted before you even leave Edge."
"You really think it's too flashy?"
Lulu nodded sincerely. "Maybe save that one for later," she said.
"Fine. What else do you have in that bag?"
In the end, Yuffie settled for a casual skirt and blouse – not her usual taste, but that was the point, right? Tifa and Lulu insisted she looked terrific, but the whole thing just felt wrong.
Vincent reemerged from the restroom a few moments later looking like a male model. He must have known how great he looked, Yuffie thought, but of course he was going to play it cool. "Do I get a wig?" he asked.
Tifa shrugged. "Ask your companion."
Vincent turned to Yuffie who smiled. "I just… you have such pretty hair, Vincent. I thought it would be a shame. So I got you this sa-weet fedora, instead!"
Vincent put the hat on and pulled it low so it shadowed his eyes. "Well?"
"Here," Yuffie said quietly, handing him a pair of dark glasses. She hated to even imply that his red eyes might be a problem, worrying that it might hurt his feelings. They certainly weren't a problem for her, but they would draw attention, and there was just no getting around that. He didn't seem to take offense, however, and slid the glasses on without hesitation.
Tifa clapped her hands together. "You guys look awesome! I don't think I'd recognize you if you all three came and sat right up at the bar. This is going to work!"
Lulu hugged Tifa excitedly. "Thank you for all your help, Tifa. You have no idea how much I appreciate it. If we ever see each other again, I'll be sure to make it up to you somehow."
"Don't mention it," Tifa replied sweetly, returning her embrace. "That's what friends do."
"Friends, huh?" Lulu echoed. "That sounds so nice."
Oh gawd, thought Yuffie. She's getting all emotional now.
"You look wonderful," Vincent whispered in her ear, letting his cheek brush against hers briefly. She blushed and reached for his hand; she got the claw instead, but didn't mind.
"You look… unbelievable," she said. "I'll always like the cape best though."
"Rest assured, I'll be returning to my normal attire once this is over with."
"However long that takes."
She felt herself being pulled away from Tifa and Lulu's BFF moment and around the corner. Vincent pulled the dark glasses off to show he was serious.
"Yuffie, I'm not thrilled about what's happening. If you think I'm eager to drop everything and take Lulu to the other side of the world, you're mistaken. There's nothing I'd rather be doing than enjoying the remainder of my vacation with you, and you alone."
"Vince…"
"In fact, I find it extremely unfortunate that we've been interrupted just as we've discovered our true feelings for one another. Once this is over, I promise to make it up to you."
Yuffie shook her head. "You don't have to do that, Vince. I'm happy just to go where you go. I just wish…" She glanced back toward Lulu.
Vincent nodded. "So do I. She'll be out of our lives soon enough. With any luck, that will be the end of it. Until then, I'm going to do everything in my power to ensure her safety. I'd like to know you're with me."
"I'm always with you. Even if Lulu is a total hosebag."
Vincent's eyebrow went up. "Hosebag?"
"Shhh! She'll hear you!"