Eyes Worth Smiling For

"You what?!"

"Yuffie, please, keep it down," I hiss into the phone.

"Wait...you're actually calling me while she's close by?"

"Well, she isn't that close, but..."

Yuffie's voice goes low, "And just what do you mean by that, Cloud?"

"I believe he means you are excessively loud."

"Shut up Vincent! No one asked you for your opinion...morbid cl-

"Wait, Vincent?" I'm confused...I called Yuffie.

"You called me when Vince and I were talking, so I just pulled him over into the conversation," Yuffie stated.

"Wait...you can do that?" I asked.

She giggled, "Well, not exactly."

"She's talking to us on two separate phones, Cloud," Vincent explained, "And she's got us on speaker-phone."

"Ugh, you ruin everything Vincent. I was really going to see how long it was going to take him to figure this out," Yuffie whined.

"I think you've deviated from the original subject, Yuffie."

"Oh! Right! Cloud; so, you're taking her out to dinner..." Yuffie states slowly.

"Yes, correct," I whisper into the phone, glancing over my shoulder.

Maybe Yuffie was right; maybe I should've waited until Tifa was gone, or until I was gone...or something like that.

But no...I like it difficult. I like that chance of actually ruining everything.

Cause, ya know, that's just me.

Right.

"Where? Are you going to-

"I'm not going back there, Yuffie. Trust me," I cut her off.

"Oh! Right, I get it." she states, then changes her voice to a whisper, "He's still traumatized by that whole cake throwing incident."

"I can still hear you," I growl.

Why does the only other female I know have to be Yuffie? I could've called Shera...but then I might've had to talk to Cid.

Cid versus Yuffie...that is a hard choice.

"Dude, like seriously though...why are you calling me," Yuffie asked.

Good question.

"Because Yuffie, I need you to..." I sigh, "I need you to buy a dress."

There's a silence.

"I thought you were past those days, Clo-

"Shut up, Vincent. It isn't for me."

"Oh thank goodness...I was a bit worried for a minute. I mean, I know I have good taste and everything-

"Yuffie, concentrate here."

I take another glance over my shoulder at the door to the office. I've been lucky so far not to have any interruptions.

Seriously, difficult is the only way to go.

"Oh, right...so why...?"

"Well, you bought that dress for her for her birthday...and I figure you have the correct measurements, and it actually was a pretty nice dress-

"You're rambling, Cloud," Vincent cuts in, "It was a good choice though."

Oh yes, Vincent, fashion guru that you are...keep talking...and watch where you point those shoes, they're more deadly than that claw.

"Why thank you Vincent," She beams, and then growls, "You have little faith in me, don't you Cloud?"

"Let's take a look at your track record, Yuffie."

"Excuse me?"

"He means you steal, which leads to a lack in trust, which leads to a lack in faith-

"Thank you Vincent! I can figure that out on my own," she shouts.

"Then why did you ask," Vincent queries.

"My God, Vincent, you really don't get sarcasm, or just...like any type of humor," Yuffie states.

Okay, we aren't getting anywhere at all here...and I'm wasting precious time.

"Guys, hey guys-

"I don't think that's completely true."

"Oh, really, Vincent? Please, enlighten me of your humor. Give me a joke, please. I am waiting, and I really, really, really, would like to hear this...please," Yuffie continues.

"Guys-

"Fine."

"G-..." Wait, I want to hear this too.

"Okay, I'm waiting Vincent."

I hear him clear his throat, and I find myself pressing the phone into my ear almost desperately. I mean, really...I've never actually heard Vincent tell a joke...not even a knock-knock joke or anything. And...well, I mean, I know I'm not one for jokes, but I mean really. You have to know at least one joke.

"A naked blonde,"

This is Vincent? There's a side to him we didn't know.

"...Walks into a bar with a poodle under one arm and a two foot salami under the other. She lays the poodle on the table. Bartender says, 'I suppose you won't be needing a drink.' Naked lady says-

"Cloud!"

Son of a-

"Cloud, where are you?"

Tifa!

I hear her footsteps getting closer to the door, there's a thud, and then she's knocking on the door to my bedroom.

"Cloud? You in there? I've got laundry..."

Err...

"I'm in the office, Teef."

The door opens, and she smiles, studying me with her eyes. I can hear cackling coming from the phone. I press it to my ear frantically, hoping to muffle the sound.

"What are you doing in here," she asks.

"Uh, I'm on the phone..."

"I can see that, Cloud." There's mischief to her smile.

"Oh, well...yeah...uh, just clarifying deliveries...directions..."

She smiles, "Okay...well, do you mind if I put your laundry in your room?"

I frown, "No, of course not."

"Okay, well, lunch is almost done...you know, whenever you're done 'clarifying' and what not."

"Okay, thank you, Teef."

She smiles, one that touches her eyes, "You're welcome."

Knees...jelly...

She closes the door.

"Ehmagawd...they...are...so...cute," Yuffie squeals.

"Yuffie, please," Vincent starts.

"What? Can I not admire them? It's cute, okay? Damn fricken cute."

"Yuffie...you sound strangely like Cid."

"Shut up!"

"Hey," I start, "I didn't get to hear the end of that joke...can I hear it now?"

But they're too busy bickering.

"Cloud...didn't you need something," Yuffie asks.

"Yes, the dress," Vincent supplies.

But what about the joke? You can't just leave me hanging like that, can you?

"Oh! Yeah, like...what kind of style we talkin, Cloud...like sexy scandalous? Or...like, sexy tease? Or...um, sexy conservative with slight teasing but not enough to draw too much attention?"

...What?

"Um...I like the not drawing too much attention."

"So, like, knee-length?"

"...sure?"

"Okay, okay," I think she's writing this down. "Like, with not too much attention...erm, we could probably go one strap-

"No."

"You're right, knee-length and one strap? A little much...you are good at this, Cloud."

Shut up!

She continues, "So like, are we looking for a pattern?"

Pattern? What? This is getting too complicated.

"Not really..." I don't know!

"So, like, maybe a little something, but nothing overpowering?"

"...sure..."

"You don't sound sure, Cloud," Vincent says.

"I am."

"Heh, Vince is right, Cloud. Not sure at all..."

"I guess," Oh this hurts to say, "I guess I'll just have to trust your judgement."

Another silence.

"Ehmahgawd...that is like...somebody, please...tell me someone got that on tape. I need actually evidence, nay, proof, that Cloud Strife is trusting my judgement."

"It is a frightening thing to consider," Vincent replies.

"Don't ruin the moment, Vince," she turns her attention back to me, "So, like...you're covering this, right?"

"What? Oh, yes. I'll pay...shoes, and the dress."

"Gas money?"

"What?"

"Cloud! I need transportation! Who knows where the hell the perfect dress is going to be, and you do want the perfect dress, right?" She asks.

"...Yes...but I want receipts."

"You're no fun! So...I guess we're done here...and you can go eat lunch with your lover," Yuffie teases.

"Yuff-

"Wait...what about the color," Vincent asks.

Yeah, that would help.

"Same as her eyes."

Yuffie snorts, "Cloud...you have...you can't be serious."

"What? Her eyes are the perfect color."

"No...please...you can't be that dense," Yuffie laughs.

"What are you talking about," I ask, I'm starting to get annoyed here.

Her laughter dies, "You're serious, aren't you?"

I nod, though it's futile.

But I think she knows I nod, because she keeps talking.

"You are...no, no way...geez Kuh-loud...you are an original, aren't you?"

"What..." stay calm, Cloud, "...is the problem, Yuffie?"

"What's the problem? Damn, I know Tifa can work any color, but brown? And especially for this occasion-

"Wait, brown?"

Whose eyes has she been looking at?

"Tifa's eyes aren't brown," I argue.

"What? Yes they are! Do you know how peeved she'd be if you didn't know what color her eyes are?"

"Yuffie, her eyes aren't brown. I think I'd know."

"Well, obviously you don't...tell me, Cloud, what color are her eyes?"

"Red," I state, it's obvious, "...kind of like wine; they get little flecks of gold in them in the sun."

There's another silence before Yuffie replies.

"God, Cloud...as poetic as that was...well, I mean, they aren't red...I mean, the only red-eyed person I know...well, I hope you aren't buying a dress for him."

"Yuffie!"

We pause, seeing that both Vincent and I yelled it at the same time.

I don't know what to say. How can she be that dense? I mean, obviously her eyes are red, not brown...I swear, she's...she's a complete idiot.

"He's right, though, Yuffie," Vincent's voice breaks the silence.

"What? No he isn't!"

"Yes, Yuffie...he is. You just have to pay attention. Tifa's eyes are red," Vincent pauses, "...but they're only red when she looks at him."

What?

"What," Yuffie asks, "Is that even possible?"

"Apparently," Vincent replies.

Yuffie sighs, "Okay, obvious you guys are color-blind..." I'm about to argue, "But! Since this is Tifa, and since you so totally want this night perfect, well..a red dress it is...with gold flecks in the sun."

"You know, Tifa was the only one he smiled at," Vincent says.

"What are you talking about?" Yuffie asks.

Even I'm curious.

"When we fought Bahumut in Edge." My eyes narrow.

I hear Yuffie gasp, "Really," she coos, "How do you know?"

Yes, how does he know?

"Tifa told me he smiled at her. I asked her what it was like to see him smiling again after he healed Denzel. She told me he was already smiling again."

"Holy crap, that is like...the most romantical thing I have ever heard. That is frickin adorable. He had his little brow furrowed, and those eyes just narrowed in determination, or at least he did when I saw him. But he took time to smile?"

"Yes," I can practically hear the smile in Vincent's voice.

Must they speak as if I'm not even here?

"Awwwwww! That is so cute! He smiled, in the face of danger because of true love! That's like, novel worthy."

"Were her eyes red then, Cloud?" Vincent asks.

"Red with gold flecks?" Yuffie adds.

I hit my head against the wall; they won't let me live that down.

"What was that noise," but Yuffie stops caring, "So, Cloud...is this like...the dinner? The question? The night? Huh? Huh? You have to tell me, or else I'm so totally not going to buy this dress for you. It's been what, a month, month and a half, since her birthday?"

"..."

"Even I'm curious, Cloud," Vincent adds.

"I...don't know...it might be...too soon."

"Too soon? Too soon?! It's anything but too soon! You guys, have known each other since what, childhood? Okay, granted maybe not close, but still! And, you've...been like, living with each other for how many years?! And...you've had this immense crush on her for like...two...three...four years now? And aren't you in love with her? Stop me if I'm wrong."

"It isn't...that simple Yuffie."

"But you, you're ready, aren't you? You've been ready for a long time, haven't you?"

"Yuffie..."

"So what's the problem?"

"I don't know...if she's ready...I don't know...if I'm ready...I mean, that...it's a big thing."

"You've given this a lot of thought, Cloud?" Vincent asks.

"Yes."

"You love her?"

"Yes."

"Then don't plan it," Vincent replies.

"What?!" Yuffie screeches.

"Take her out to dinner, that's fine. But...you'll know when it's the right time, if you're still unsure. Take it with you, it might be the right time then. It might not. Eventually, you'll know if you're sure, if she's sure, and when the right time comes."

Another moment of silence.

"Okay." That doesn't sound so unreasonable.

Yuffie sighs, "Okay, but you might be setting her up here. I'll get the dress for you. How much time?"

"Two weeks."

I hear a soft click, but ignore it.

"Alrighty, consider Yuffie Kisaragi hired and on the mission!"

I imagine her punching her fist in the air, and shake my head.

"Good. And...thanks, both of you."

"Hey, that's what we're here for," Yuffie replies.

There's a grunt of response from Vincent, and I smirk slightly, feeling slightly relieved to have finally accomplished something.

"What's it look like," Yuffie asks.

"Can't you just wait?"

"No! I don't know how long I'll be waiting."

"Pearl, and silver."

Yuffie scoffs, "Oh great description!"

"It's in a little red box. Velvet and what not...It's Midgar Jewelers; it's a circle. Does that help?" I ask.

I hear a soft gasp, and a thud.

"Yuffie?"

"That wasn't you, Cloud?"

"Vincent?"

"No."

The color drains from my face.

"...You're on...the bar phone?!" Yuffie whispers, yet some how manages to scream.

"Hang up the phone, just hang up the phone," Vincent says softly.

I quickly put the phone back on the receiver.

Oh...

Great...just great.

Someone is in on my ruse, and possibly the most important person.

And I didn't even get to hear Vincent's joke.

Dammit!

A/N: Ah, it's a good day when you can mess with Cloud's head. And with YOUSE guys's head...heads...yeah. I didn't feel the need to continue Meteor's anniversary, just for the fact it'd be more brooding, blah de blah. Some brooding, okay, but not too much...and that was like, two chunk full chapters of contemplating! So Cloud got tortured. Completely makes sense. The whole thing with the red eyes? I dunno, Squeenix tried to make everything realistic, and one of Tifa's coolest things physically is her eyes. Because, like, they're natural (And I know what you GUYS are thinking. Eyes up, boys) Seriuosly, guys, ever want some brownie points with a gal, completely just surprise them with eye descriptions. Or, at least, that'd score brownie points with me.And I thought that was incredibly sweet when Cloud smiles at Tifa when fighting Bah.! He does, in case you missed that. And! another random AC fact, at the begining when the silver haired trio shows up, Loz and Yazoo trade places...like, when they go flying off the cliff after Cloudie boy. I thought it was interesting. Little things like that...they catch my attention, and I like to keep you informed. So many new people reviewed this time! Hello! It's always nice to know I'm getting new fans, and getting fans period...well, that's just awesome! And, of course, all the old fans, you guys are the great awesomeness as well.

Cookies to the people that know where Vincent's joke is from...educate the world, people. Let those ignorant learn something important! EDUCATE!

later loves