Chapter 3

"chat"

Yuffie strolled alongside her former companion. Former was the right word to use right? The last time they had worked together-according to Yuffie's recollection (which she was sure was spot on) she and Vincent had last partnered up during the "Deep Ground" incident three months and 2 days ago.

"What have you been up too?" Yuffie wisely chose to start with a pleasant conversation opener; though in her mind the words "You should answer my phone more often! You big butt munch" flashed across her pretty little mind.

"Where would you like me to start?" Vincent replied.

"Well…Why not at the beginning?" Yuffie was smart to keep her wise crack to herself. That was what an inner monologue was for anyway right? For some unknown reason-the normally bouncy ninja girl found herself…behaving. Yuffie kept her normally perky attitude at bay, even toning down her speech patterns! She did not dare interrupt Vincent while he spoke unenthusiastically about his travels.

Instead, Yuffie listened closely, and did her best to hide that fact that her knees were a bit shaky, and palms clammy. But by the grace of a higher power thought her face remained its usual peaches n' cream complexion and had not broken out in shy rash. For the first time ever, well for the first time in years anyway; Yuffie felt-without a doubt-butterflies in her stomach. But… around Vincent? Goodness, if her dream had not made it clear to her earlier, being around the guy in the flesh finally hit the nail right on the head.

"I've got a crush on Vincent…oh man! Of all the guys in the world I gotta go fall for a fifty year old man! Ah!" thought Yuffie as she continued alongside Vincent, he kept talking (though dully) and she kept contemplating. "Of all the good looking guys in the building…it has to be Vincent. Why him?..." she kept asking herself. Though she was nineteen and of age to date older guys; Vincent's actual age bothered her. He didn't look fifty, he still looked twenty-seven and pretty damn good. But it was a bit disturbing for her.

"I've stopped visiting Lucrecia…"Vincent mumbled out of nowhere, Yuffie's eyes bulged; her shoes squeaked having almost tripped over one of her feet, her right foot had locked for some reason-likely out of shock. Vincent waited patiently for Yuffie to compose herself before the two continued their walk through the W.R.O's third floor hallways. "Is it that much of a surprise?" Vincent looked down at Yuffie. Yuffie looked away, she knew that the disbelief she felt on the inside would be evident on her face.

"I've found my peace…I thought it was time to let her have hers at last. She is there out of her own free will, it's time I let her go…I know that is what she wants." Yuffie's eyes softened, her stare sympathetic yet impressed. Yuffie had never seen this side of Vincent before. She knew of his feelings for poor Lucrecia, a tragic romance, a woman that Vincent had so admired but could never have.

"Vince…wow your acting…sensitive." Yuffie smiled, her cutest expression of course. Vincent took one glance at her smile than straightened his posture then looked on ahead.

"I wouldn't get used to it." Vincent shrugged, and continued walking. "I'm going to the rec room. The cafeteria there actually serves decent food. I suggest you grab a couple of plates before Reeve sends us out." Yuffie's cute smile turned into a not so subtle frown.

The minute Vincent uttered that sentence; Yuffie's brashness returned.

"What do ya mean by that Vince? Grab a couple of plates?" Yuffie put her hands on her hips with a defiant smack.

"Honestly you eat a lot, might as well eat here for free instead of stiffing an innocent restaurateur." Vincent said this with an amused tone, Yuffie could not see through the cowl; so she could not tell if he was smirking or not.

"Why do I like him now? He's calling me a gluttonous thief!" Yuffie thought frantically, she followed him regardless. "I'm not that terrible Vince!."

"You racked up a bill of 500,000 gil and left Cloud to pay for it if I remember correctly."

"That…That…" Yuffie stuttered, damn! She had done that! Definatly not a good romance start. To her surprise, Vincent only chuckled. Yuffie looked up at him her lips pursed and hesitant to utter another word. Vincent stopped turned his body towards her and crossed his arms.

"Lets go to the cafeteria. Maybe we can partner up for the upcoming mission. Seems like you need a different partner…I'm sure Petra is not your favorite person. Right?".

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