Deal of Eternity
Disclaimer: Don't own, don't sue.
Reminder: "blah blah" -speech
'blah blah' - thoughts
The friends walk to Cloud, Cid and Reeve's cars parked along the curb. Cloud's dusty, red sand buggy, Cid's suped up white Thunder Bird with sub woofers and Reeve's silver economical hybrid, Yaris.
"Damn it! I can't believe we fucking lost," Cid mumbles petulantly, bunching his beach towel into a small ball. Shera sighs. His girlfriend wraps her arm around his waist and lays her head on his shoulder as they walk hip to hip. Cid smiles lightly, apparently feeling better now with the attention.
Reeve rolls his shoulders as he carries his and Elena's beach towels to the car. "If it makes you feel any better we really lost to Vincent," he says offhandedly.
"What?" Tifa demands, outraged.
Reeve looks to his friends for help but Cloud, Cid and Reno apparently want none of Tifa's fury. "Well, I mean, Vincent scored more than half your team's points. So when you think about it, it's almost like we lost to him," he defends himself quickly.
Tifa frowns but then looks at Yuffie speculatively. "Hey Yuffie who you riding back with?"
Yuffie shrugs. "I don't know. Who did I ride here with?"
Elena laughs. "Yuffs, you're so forgetful. You rode with me and Reeve," she answers.
"And me, of course," Reno chimes in as he throws his arm over Yuffie's shoulders. He leans close to Yuffie's neck but she pulls away from him.
"So I guess I'll ride with Reeve and Elena if it's ok?" she asks Reeve as she tries to make her detachment from Reno less noticeable.
"Sure, no problem," Reeve assures her. They stop in front of the car. "Uh Elena can you open the back for me, please?" he asks after trying to reach for the handle while holding the towels and sun block etc. Elena reaches over and opens the back, while surreptitiously giving Tifa and Shera looks.
"Uh Honey I'll ride with Reeve and them ok?" Tifa says more than asks as she hurriedly gets in the backseat of the Yaris.
Shera turns her face to Cid and asks gently, "Cid, do you mind if I ride with my friends?"
Cid grumbles but walks her to the door and helps her in. Shera smiles at him gratefully as he even buckles her seatbelt for her. He walks to the back of the car and leans towards Reeve. "You better drive safe," he warns.
"I always do," Reeve replies as he watches Elena get in the passenger seat. He goes back to situating the towels.
Yuffie frowns at the car. The Yaris is large but there is only one seat left in the back. "Where is Reno going to sit?"
"Reno can ride with Cloud. Right Cloud?" Tifa asks. She smiles at Cloud and lets one strap of her bikini slip down her shoulder.
"Uhhhh," Cloud groans.
"Cloud?" Reeve tries to get his attention.
"Ummm," Cloud murmurs, a little drop of salivia dribbles down his chin.
"Damn it Spike snap out of it!" Cid yell irritably.
Cloud shakes his head and clears it. "Ah, yeah sure. Reno can ride with me," he says.
"Ok, well then let's go," Elena says .
Reeve closes the back and gets in the driver's seat. He pushes the power window button down and leans his head out. "Lunch is my treat. I'm going to the burger place off the express way. Meet us there," he says.
"Is that the place with the waitresses on roller skates, the funny hats and that damn fortune telling machine?" Cloud asks.
"Yeah," Reeve answers.
"Beggars can't be choosers," Reno grumbles. He waves at Yuffie as he heads for Cloud's buggy.
Reeve hits the window button and turns to Elena when the window is up. "Why do they hate that place so much?" he asks her.
"Cid didn't seem to mind," Yuffie points out.
"Maybe it's because last time they went that machine said Cloud would hook up with a guy?" Elena suggests.
Yuffie's mouth drops open. "No way! Really?" she demands. "What about Reno?"
Tifa shakes her head, "Something about a blonde. Tell the truth we were too busy laughing over Cloud's fortune."
Shera nods her head. "Yes, and Cid hasn't let Cloud forget it,"she laughs.
Tifa chuckles and then looks at Yuffie. "So Yuffie," Tifa begins.
"What?" Yuffie asks. 'Uh oh she has that look.'
"Where did you meet Vincent?" Tifa inquires.
'It's always best to lie close to the truth, that way you don't forget the story.' "Oh well I was camping in Nibelheim and he was there," she answers.
"What's he do for a living?" Shera asks.
'Shit! What can I say? What could be equivalent to ruling Hell and punishing sinners for eternity?' "Uh he's a prison guard," Yuffie lies.
"Oh, that sounds kind of neat," Tifa replies.
'Thank god I got through that one.' Yuffie smiles at her friends, ready to change the conversation when Elena asks from the front seat.
"Is he a good kisser?" Elena teases.
The man swings Yuffie into a seat and leans in. Yuffie freezes in shock. 'His eyes are red!' The next thing she knows she feels soft lips pressing against hers and a hand stroking her cheek, coaxing her mouth open.
Yuffie's face goes hot at the memory. Her friends see her face.
"Oh my god! You have kissed," Tifa squeals.
"Na uh," Yuffie lies.
"Yeah huh," Tifa and Elena tease back.
"It's not like that at all," Yuffie stammers.
"So what is it like then?" Shera asks.
"Uh well," Yuffie mumbles.
"Come on! We won't say a word. We swear it. Right girls?" Tifa asks.
"Yeah," Elena answers.
"Not a word," Shera says solemnly.
"Um," Yuffie grumbles. "Well uh, er..."
"Oh for the love of Siren, was it closed mouth or open mouth?" Elena demands.
Reeve's face jerks to Elena. "Elena!"
"What?" she asks innocently.
Reeve turns the car down an exit ramp.
Yuffie ducks her head. "Just lips," she mutters.
"Now we're getting somewhere," Tifa grins.
Reeve shakes his head. "Yes," he agrees. He turns the car into a parking lot. "Like somewhere to eat," he says as he pulls into a parking space.
"Oooh," Tifa and Elena groan in disappointment.
Yuffie smiles in relief now that the interrogation is over. 'They wouldn't ask me anything in front of Reno. Just get through lunch and then go home. No problem.'
Reeve leads them to the entrance as Cloud and Cid pull into the parking lot. He waves at them as he opens the door for Elena, Tifa, Shera and Yuffie.
The restaurant is better than Yuffie envisioned for a place Cid so casually dismissed. There are many leather booths with polished wood tables and a sports bar. Along the walls are collections of hats from around the world, the servers rode around on roller skates and there was even an indoor skating rink.
Reeve nods to the Host and they are promptly sat at a round table overlooking the skating rink. Elena, Yuffie, Tifa and Shera sit together on one side while Reeve, Reno, Cloud and Cid sit on the other side. Not a minute after sitting down does their waitress arrive with menus, silverware and napkins.
"Welcome to Cait Sith's Burger Rink, I'll be your server this afternoon. My name is Megan. Can I start you off with drinks?" she asks as she pulls out a pad of paper and a pencil.
Reno nods, "Sure thing Sweet cakes, I'll have a Budweiser. No glass." He winks at the pretty, blond server who is roughly sixteen. Yuffie frowns but chooses to say nothing as she looks at the menu.
Elena raises her head from the menu and calls to Megan, "I'll have a strawberry spritz."
Tifa shrugs and orders, "I'll have a watermelon spritz."
"What's a strawberry watermelon spritz?" Yuffie asks.
Elena and Tifa exchange anticipatory smiles as Reeve explains. "A spritz is a novelty drink, exclusive to this place. Take for example Elena's spritz. They take fruit punch mixed with sprite and 'spritz' it with a sweet strawberry syrup. That's a strawberry spritz. A watermelon spritz is the same except it has watermelon syrup," he tells her. He looks at Tifa and Elena before adding, "Be careful though. They can be quite addicting as I've heard."
"Oh sounds cool," Yuffie says as she looks over the spritz flavors and settles on cherry. "I'll have a cherry spritz, please."
Cloud scratches his neck before looking up from the menu. "Just a bottle of water," he decides.
Cid has a cigarette dangling out of his mouth as he digs in his pocket for matches as he yells, "Sweet tea no lemon."
Reeve reaches over and pulls the cigarette from Cid's mouth. "No smoking in here, remember?" He hands the cigarette back to Cid.
Cid grumbles, but puts the cigarette back in the pack.
Shera nods approvingly at Cid before ordering her drink. "I would like a sweet tea, no lemon as well, please."
Reeve orders, "I will have a cherry coke please. Also we would like a 'Mega Mog' appetizer and an order of the 'cheesy bacon fries'."
Megan smiles politely to everyone and says, "Ok, I'll be out with your order soon." She flashes Reno a grin as she walks away.
Yuffie bites the inside of her cheek but again chooses to say nothing. 'I don't want a fight in front of everyone.' Yuffie feels a little flower of hurt blossom in her chest though as Reno ogles another pretty blond at the bar. 'What is wrong with me? Why is looking at other women? I'm his girl! Why is he acting like this? Why isn't he happy with me?' Tears begin to burn in her eyes so she looks around, hoping no one notices.
She doesn't fail to see the compassionate looks Shera, Tifa and Elena are giving her nor the pissed off glares Cid and Cloud are throwing Reno. Reeve, bless his soul, decides to draw Yuffie's attention away from her faithless lover.
"Yuffie did you notice the machine in the corner as we came in?" he asks her.
Yuffie shakes her head no, not trusting her voice to sound normal.
Reeve nods towards the door and Yuffie leans in her seat to see. She can see two little kids in front of a giant white mog toy with purple wings. Sitting on top of the mog is a stuffed black and white cat wearing a red cape, gold plastic crown and holding a blue megaphone. The kids put money in the machine and the cat on top starts to hop on top of the mog as the mog starts to dance. After a few seconds she can see a little slip of paper pop out of the now still mog's mouth.
"What is that?" Yuffie asks.
Reeve smiles proudly. "That is Cait Sith, the fortune telling machine." He chuckles, "It is always wrong though, so don't put any stock in its predictions."
Elena smiles and whispers loudly to Yuffie, "I swear he brings us here just to see how his 'baby' is doing."
"His baby?" Yuffie asks, confused.
Elena nods and looks at Reeve, who is now fidgeting in his seat. "Cait Sith was the first toy I designed and built," Reeve explains.
"You made that piece of crap? You never told me that!" Cloud exclaims.
Reeve nods his head guiltily, "Well after that first prediction I felt it would be unwise to admit to that." He smiles sheepishly as Cloud opens his mouth to say something else but Megan is back.
"Here you go, and you go, and there is yours..." she says as she hands out drinks.
Yuffie smiles. 'Wow, this place has great service!' Then she sees Reno and Megan give each other a hot look. 'Well I guess that explains it all.' Yuffie looks and sees Elena and Tifa have wasted no time and are drinking their spritz, so Yuffie takes an experimental sip of her cherry spritz. 'Wow!' Yuffie pulls away from the straw and sees the knowing looks on Tifa and Elena's faces. "This stuff is frigging awesome," she declares.
Tifa turns to Elena and raises her hand. "And so is born another true believer," she declares and Elena slaps her hand.
"Now we just need to get Shera to try one," Elena says.
Shera takes a slow sip of her tea and smiles at her friends. "Oh no. I'm not going to develop a spritz addiction too. Be content you've corrupted Yuffie," she laughs.
Just then Megan is back and she is bringing a huge platter almost the circumference of the table and a normal plate stacked high with fries covered in cheddar cheese and bits of bacon.
"What is that?" Yuffie asks as she looks at the huge platter. She sees the same incredulous and somewhat horrified looks on the other female's faces.
"Reeve, what the hell did you order?" Elena demands softly.
The huge platter is loaded with hot wings, crab cakes, fried eggplant, chicken tenders and mozzarella sticks. The guys look excited. Reeve is smiling, triumphant.
"Ladies, I present to you the Mega Mog," Reeve announces. "Let's dig in!."
Tifa, Elena, Shera and Yuffie look at the platter, at each other and then declare unanimously, "I'll have the salad!"
AN: Sorry everyone but my computer was hacked and the jerk left a virus. Right now I'm using someone else's computer but I don't know when mine will be fixed. No I haven't given up this story. Some of you will notice a lack of Vincent, but have no fear. The fallen one will be back. Besides I was worried I was making the story suffer by a lack of character development. Next chapter should be out this Sunday and better than this one. Hope everyone enjoys.