And another long chapter after being busy with so many things I couldn't even see straight. Work, planning a trip to China, saying goodbyes to my visiting sister, climbing around in a forest obstacle course…….(the bruises hurt). But now it's finished. The chapters are taking longer than usual, so my apologies, but it can't be helped. I'll attempt to make it faster, but fact is, I'm so busy I can barely spare time for my laptop at the moment. But the chapters will continue coming.
Thank you for the reviews, enjoy, and cheers!
Kyyrin
Chapter Seventeen
He sat with his back against the cool glass, eyes closed in the now darkened room. This atmosphere was about as much as he could handle at the moment. Silence. Stillness. Darkness. Nothing stirred except for the steady, soft hum of the computers. Nothing to bother him. No one irritating around.
Just the two of them.
"I failed you."
He adjusted his head against his backrest, willing pain in his chest from the walk to subside.
"I know you said it wasn't my fault, but I still feel like there was something I could have done to save you. Maybe if we had been together when it happened……..Vincent said you would have rescued me as well……given your life for me……but I still can't get the thought out of my head that there might have been another way……"
Inhaling deeply, he attempted to relax, still in inner turmoil, but feeling more at ease than he had in a long time.
"That was a selfless thing you did, saving your sister's life. A-At first, I-I was pretty angry…..furious at her that she had lived and you were…..but……I-it's not her fault. It can't be. It was your choice. Your sacrifice……I……I haven't spoken to her much yet, but I'm sure she's just as wonderful as you. I mean, all she really needs is someone to love her……to care for her…..tell her how much she's appreciated. I'm sure she didn't get that in Deepground……..and…..and I'm willing to do that. Shelke shouldn't be shipped off to some foreign relatives of yours after this. She should at least be with someone that can help her regain what she's lost…….and I think……I can do that……our team can do that. I'll take care of her……I'll love her…….I promise."
He swallowed, the familiar feeling of tears welling up in his eyes, and hollowness in his chest overwhelming him.
"And…..I-I'll try to take care of Vincent…….to the best of my abilities. He has so much to give, but still so much to learn. You would have been the best person to teach him about the wonders and importance of life, living the moment, looking to the future. But I'm sure I'll able to manage at least some of it on my own. I promise that too. I won't leave Vincent to fend for himself. His life has been too full of hardships and sorrows for anyone else to push him away. He….he needs love and care as much as Shelke does. I just……I just need to find a way for both of them to accept it. It will be trying….I suppose…..but I'll manage, you'll see."
The tears that he had fought to hold inside for so long, came then. Like a dam splitting and shattering somewhere inside him. He hadn't been able to free his emotions completely since the incident. He had been too shocked. He hadn't wanted to believe it. But now, it seemed, he was slowly starting to come to terms with the fact that she was gone.
"I…..I love you………I love you…….I…I don't know what else to say but that. You were my life. You were a great part of what I lived for…..how can I…..I keep asking myself…..how I'm going to live without you. You are…..the most beautiful, precious women I have ever laid eyes on…….and…..I was so happy…..we were so happy……"
"Shalua…….."
He broke down sobbing, unable to control anything anymore. The heartbreak was too much to bear. Her death was weighing on him, their undying love to one another tested and strained by the loss. But he would go on loving her. He would attempt to move on, but he loved her as strongly as he had on the day he had confessed his love to her.
But eventually, the sobs ebbed, and a look of tranquility crossed his features. Of he hadn't accepted it yet. And he still had a long way to go. But it was a start. He wouldn't give up on life.
"I……I'm kinda tired. You…..you were always behind me to rest more…..eat more….do less work…..I guess all the times I didn't listen are catching up to me now…….I think…..I'll take a nap….here. You don't mind……do you? Of course not…..you always said I ask too many questions…..I guess I'm just…..pretty hopeless……"
He settled down, a small smile crossing his lips, as he tried to get comfortable. Vincent and the others would find him eventually. He'd deal with his friend's wrath then. But this had been necessary. It couldn't have waited. He hadn't had this much time for himself for a while.
"I……I love you…..so much….."
The faint whisper was all that Reeve managed before he succumbed to sleep.
In the darkness of the lab, Shelke Rui lay in the chair she had been on during the meeting, SND helmet in her lap, eyes wide open.
"That was a selfless thing you did, saving your sister's life. A-At first, I-I was pretty angry……furious at her that she had lived and you were……but……I-it's not her fault. It can't be. It was your choice. Your sacrifice……I……I haven't spoken to her much yet, but I'm sure she's as wonderful as you. I mean, all she really needs is someone to love her……to care for her……tell her how much she's appreciated. I'm sure she didn't get that in Deepground………and……and I'm willing to do that. Shelke shouldn't be shipped off to some foreign relatives of yours after this. She should at least be with someone that can help her regain what she's lost……and I think……I can do that……our team can do that. I'll take care of her……I'll love her……I promise."
Word's failed the young ex-Tsviet as she had listened to the conversation the WRO Commissioner Reeve Tuesti had had with her deceased sister. The bond they had had with one another…….it was extremely difficult for Shelke to comprehend. It made her head ache and her thoughts spin that someone could give so much devotion to any one person. And care for another that they barely knew.
"After I threatened to kill him, and Deepground reduced his organization to ashes. He still says……he loves me."
The place in Shelke's heart that was usually devoid of emotion, flickered with a foreign feeling that disappeared just as quickly. It was the same feeling she had experienced when Shalua had smiled at her before being locked in the room with Azul. The same feeling she got whenever she saw Vincent, although she mostly attributed it to the fragments of Dr. Crescent within her. And now Reeve Tuesti.
Blinking slowly, she let the Commissioner's words run through her head once again.
"I'll take care of her……I'll love her……I promise."
Sighing she closed her eyes, dozing off again, tired from the toll the SND had taken on her body. Though a single though crossed her mind before sleep took her.
"Someone……you care about……"
He was at his wit's end. And for him, that was most definitely not common. Now, an extremely annoyed Vincent Valentine stalked towards his sleeping quarters, after checking the entire bottom area of the airship with Nanaki, who had eventually retired to his quarters, assuring Vincent that Reeve was fine wherever he was. Yuffie had opted out and run to the nearest bathroom, and now Vincent was hoping Reeve had had at least enough common sense to come here, lie down, and sleep.
But his hopes were dashed when he flung the door open revealing the room to be empty, save for Cait still sleeping soundly on his bed, as Vincent supposed Cid had left him. Sighing loudly, he walked over and sat on the bed next to the sleeping cat. Eventually, he figured since he was looking for Reeve anyways, he would wake Cait and take the feline with him. It would brighten Reeve's spirits…..wherever he was.
"Cait?…..Cait, wake up…..I am ready to take you to Reeve."
The cat's eyes almost instantly snapped open, and he rubbed them rigorously, looking at Vincent with an eager expression on his face. Hopping onto the gunman's lap, he sat down and looked up at him.
"You'll take me to Reeve? Well, thank you, lad. I sure hope he's feeling better….."
Vincent blinked once and stared down at Cait, not sure if the feline wanted to be carried again or not. He didn't know, and frankly, he didn't much care. So he picked up Cait, who leaned his head onto Vincent's chest, and walked briskly out of the room, still wracking his brain for places Reeve could be in.
He could be working. Somewhere quiet. But he'd basically checked all of those rooms already. Well, he was grieving too. Vincent had seen it in his eyes after the meeting. Shalua's loss was hard for him to bear. Perhaps he had needed to clear his mind. And what better place than……..
Vincent screeched to a stop right after he rounded a corner, colliding nearly head on with a rather shocked WRO member. He felt his cheeks tinge bright red as he attempted to apologize for the unwanted encounter. Doubling his speed, he ran up the stairs and through the hallways of the Shera, berating himself for not realizing sooner where Reeve was.
He had passed the place off at first thought, believing that his friend was in too much emotional turmoil to set foot inside it. But now……
Running up the last flight of stairs, he hurried passed the entrance to the bridge, Yuffie (who looked at him as if he had gone mental), and sped passed the room with the ceiling that changed colors. The WRO member guarding the door to the lab opened her mouth to say something, but Vincent was already through the doors before she could get the words out of her mouth. Sincerely hoping he was right, he pressed the button to open the last door, and stepped inside, shutting it behind him.
The sight that met his eyes was nothing less than heartbreaking, and might have possibly broken his heart had it not been shattered already.
Reeve sat, propped up against the healing tube that held Shalua, sleeping with the most peaceful look on his face Vincent had seen since he had caught his friend sleeping on a couch back at the old WRO Headquarters while he had been staying with them. One hand was wrapped around his chest, and the other was supported on his knee, and leaned against the tube, touching the spot Shalua's cheek would have been, had the glass not been there. Cait Sith #5 sat motionless next to the door, and Vincent could see Shelke resting on her seat as if Reeve hadn't noticed her presence.
Cait struggled in his arms and made a soft noise, but Vincent hesitated in putting him down, instead pushing him inside his cloak. The cat made muted noises of protest, but soon gave up and gave in.
"Stay there. I don't want to wake him yet. You will get to talk to him soon enough. I……will check on Shelke first."
Moving over to where the former Tsviet lay, Vincent was startled to see that she wasn't sleeping, as he had assumed after the trying SND, but rather half awake, seemingly drowsy.
"So tired.…..", the soft whisper echoed through the quiet room, and Vincent moved closer, checking to see if she was at least somewhat coherent. Shalua had asked him to take care of her, after all.
"Vincent Valentine."
Why did she keep doing that? Calling him by his first and last name. He wasn't particularly fond of his surname. It reminded him too much of his days as a Turk. But as annoying as it was, he supposed he'd tolerate it for the time being. At least until she started to adapt to the change of lifestyle.
"What?"
"This…..feeling. Is this what you meant by doing something for someone……you care about?"
Hm. Perhaps she had finally grasped the concept. But it was best to not get his hopes up. Even he didn't completely grasp that concept yet.
"It seems so", he offered slowly, trying to read her expression, and once again, failing.
"Dr. Crescent's data has begun defragmenting within my mind……I can see many different images…..Images she experienced…….with you."
Vincent's heart ached anew. Oh Lucrecia. He didn't think Reeve knew just how much he knew what the man was going through right now. Whenever someone even mentioned the name of his deceased loved one, his heart started to pound, his chest began to ache, and his eyes burned with tears he wouldn't shed. Planet, he missed her. He loved her more than words could describe. What he wouldn't give to be in Shelke's thoughts right now, reliving the precious moments he had spent with Lucrecia.
"Interference.….Recovery.….So tired….."
It took him a few moments to register that Shelke had now completely fallen asleep, and he picked up a blanket from the nearby shelf, draping it over her frail body. Turning around, he focused his attention on Reeve, whose head had drooped to his chest, and hand had fallen to his side. Reluctant to wake his friend, he crouched down, and gently rubbed Reeve's shoulder, in an attempt to wake him. Not expecting it to work after the first attempt, Vincent made to rub it again, but Reeve surprised him by shooting upright, eyes wide as he grabbed the gunman's wrist in a surprisingly quick manner. Vincent froze, and looked his friend straight in the eyes, deducing that he must have been in the middle of a not so pleasant dream. He knew that feeling as well.
"Reeve. Calm down. It's only me. Did you sleep well?"
At this, Reeve sighed, sagging against the healing tube and closing his eyes, opening them a few seconds later very slowly.
"V-Vincent. I'm sorry……I just….I just needed space….time alone…..I had to get away for a while….I-I'm sorry I worried you……"
"It's…..alright….But you could have…well, it doesn't matter. You are…..safe."
Reeve smiled fleetingly, and spoke again.
"I….I think I might take up your offer on lying down now…..As much as I hate to admit it, I'm afraid……I'm exhausted. Is your room still an option?"
Vincent nodded, and then thought back to Cait, who was still clinging to him, hidden under his cloak.
"I will assist you. But…..I have someone who would like to see you first….."
Reeve raised an eyebrow and stared at Vincent blankly. He had no idea who wanted to see him that wasn't dead already. Almost everyone he knew was either with the ground squad, or on one of the airships.
Vincent's eyes twinkled when he realized Reeve didn't have a clue, and he pushed his cape aside as a very excited Cait Sit #2 leapt out from under the folds and into Reeve's arms.
"Reeve! Shiva's, love, I've missed you, lad. Thought you'd be a goner for sure! But then again, I thought I'd be a goner as well! How're you holding up?"
Reeve gave a gasp of surprised, and stared from Cait to Vincent and back again, wrapping his arms tightly around his creation.
"C-Cait? N-Number two? W-What? Dear Planet, Vincent, where did you find him? And…I-I mean, is he all right? Does he need any repairs? Ifrit, am I happy to see you Cait……you have no idea……"
Vincent smiled underneath his cloak as his two friends hugged each other so tightly, he doubted they would let go anytime soon. He had figured that this display would be the result of bringing Cait to Reeve. And he was happy that it had improved his friend's mood.
"Hm. Cid fixed him up once I brought him on the Shera. He said he didn't touch the programming, but you should check sometime just to be sure. He was……still in your room."
Reeve looked up at him, positively beaming. It was the happiest Vincent had seen his friend since the second siege.
"Thank you, Vincent. You have no idea how much it means to me to have Cait back."
"You're……welcome…..Now. We should leave so you can take advantage of the few hours we still have, to sleep."
This time, without even asking Reeve's permission, Vincent supported the man and hoisted him up before he could think to protest. Cait remained held in Reeve's one arm that was clinging to Vincent, and they laboriously made their way out the door and towards Vincent's quarters, slowly, but surely.
"H-How's Shelke?", Reeve's weak voice penetrated Vincent's thoughts as he smiled at Yuffie reassuringly when they walked passed the heaving ninja. She grinned back, and gave him a thumbs up sign.
"Tired. But fine. I believe she is slowly beginning to grasp the concept of caring for someone. Very slowly. It will take more than enough time, Reeve, but I am sure we can trust her."
"Of course we can…..", Reeve murmured distantly, stroking Cait's fur. "If Shalua did, we can too."
Vincent inclined his head in a nod, and pondered asking Reeve the question that had been on his mind ever since he had, in fact, heard of the WRO Headquarters, and then seen it in all it's glory. Reeve may have worked for the Shinra, but there was no way in all that was holy that he could have managed to build up everything he had on the waning salary of a now ex-urban development executive. Thinking it wouldn't hurt to ask, he did.
"Tell me, Reeve. Who's backing your operation?"
There was a moment of silence, and to Vincent's surprise, Cait responded first.
"Ooooh…….that…..", the cat made a noise that sounded something like a sigh, and surrendered the conversation to Reeve, who laughed a bit, and began to explain.
"Actually, I'm not sure. I have only met with a representative."
Vincent raised an eyebrow. It wasn't like Reeve to do business with someone he didn't know personally, or at least by seeing. Whoever was giving his friend the money must have thrown plenty of '0's behind the actual amount.
"However, the WRO is crucial for this planet's survival."
That much was true. But still. Reeve must have some sort of an idea who was behind it.
"I'm not concerned with the reasons this person has for helping us, as long as he continues writing the checks."
Vincent snorted. Ok, perhaps there was no idea at all. Reeve must have been at his ropes end, then, in order to take money from a complete stranger.
"Though, I have a feeling it is probably someone who believes he is in debt to the Planet……"
Vincent stopped so suddenly that Reeve tripped and would have fallen over had the gunman not realized his mistake and steadied his friend. Of all the people Reeve had chosen to take money from, it had to be him? Letting out a soft sigh, he let out his next comment without even meaning too.
"Working for Rufus again I see……."
At this, Reeve wrestled in his grip and yanked himself out of Vincent's grasp so suddenly that Vincent, being as surprised as he was, let go. Standing straight and tall, albeit swaying slightly, Reeve addressed him with the look of a WRO Commissioner in his eyes. It was nearly the same, cold look he had given Vincent during the first Deepground siege. Cait looked frightened, eyes flitting from one man to the other, obviously awaiting a confrontation.
"I don't think it's any of your business who I choose to take money from and who not, Vincent. If you have a problem with it, then say so. I've lived through many horrible hardships during my time at the Shinra as well. You are not the only one that was hurt and discarded like a piece of garbage after working for them. I don't think you have any idea what I endured after I betrayed them for AVALANCHE. But I'm willing to forgive, Vincent. If Rufus has had a change of heart, I'm willing to accept that."
"I didn't say anything……", Vincent murmured quietly, still stunned the Reeve had been able to see through him as well as Shalua had. And that made him feel quite a bit more that a little ashamed of himself.
"Of course you didn't. But you were thinking it."
Reeve fixed him with a glare that could have wiped the permanently cocky grin off Yuffie's face any day. So Vincent said the only thing he could think of in a situation like this.
"F-Forgive me…….I am sorry……"
Lowering his eyes to the ground, he felt the familiar feeling of guilt well up inside him. Guilt over Lucrecia, over Shalua, over Reeve……He had treated his friend in a manner that had presumed Reeve had no idea what he was doing. But Vincent knew full well that he did. Reeve was near to the most intelligent man Vincent had ever met.
"Vincent, no……no, I didn't mean for you to feel guilty. I just……I just needed to make you see that I know what I'm doing. You don't need to worry. The second I think that Shinra is planning something again, I'll break contact immediately, money or not. But for the moment, I trust Rufus. I…..I'm sorry I yelled……I'm just so irritated……and tired…..I shouldn't have…..I'm sorry….."
Vincent lifted his head a little to survey his friend, who had begun to sway more precariously now, the look of pain returning anew to his eyes. Moving over, his wrapped an arm around Reeve's waist, and continued to walk him forward. His quarters weren't far anymore, and they couldn't afford to lose any precious time Reeve could use to rest. He felt his friend lean heavily on him, feet dragging as he attempting to make it the rest of the way. Reeve knew what he was doing. He wouldn't risk his life for the good of the Planet if he didn't. And that was something he himself would have to keep in mind while fighting Deepground. Did he know what he was doing?
"I….forgive you, Reeve. Stop apologizing. You make me…..forgive you too often. Before I came to stay with you and Shalua, I had never said that phrase all my life."
A small smile crossed Reeve's features, as Vincent opened the door to his room, and helped his friend onto the bed and under the covers. Feeling Reeve's forehead, he was pleased to find that the fever hadn't spiked, but a bit peeved to find that it hadn't come down either. Well, bed rest would tend to that. Reeve let out a small sigh, and buried himself under the blankets, Cait snuggling up to his chest. Vincent wondered how long it had been since Reeve had actually gotten a good amount of rest in a proper bed. Striding over to the couch, he sank down and removed his gold armored boots, lying down and using his cloak as a blanket.
"Are you sure you'll be alright on the couch, Vincent?", came Reeve's sleepy inquiry as Vincent got settled amongst the cushions. "I can sleep there…..too…..you know….."
Reeve's words became airier and fainter, which sounded to Vincent as though his friend were in the beginning stages of falling asleep. But there was still one thing he had to get off his chest. It was now or never.
"Reeve? Do you have…..a moment?"
"Sure", came the sleepy murmur, accompanied by a soft moan of pain as Reeve obviously forced himself to turn and face Vincent. "But…..make it quick…..please."
Vincent swallowed hard, wondering how on earth he was supposed to make what he had to say quick. He was already struggling with the effort to work up enough courage to say it, let alone make it quick?
"Please….Vince……Or I won't……be able to help it……if I fall…..asleep…."
"Hm……..Shalua…..asked me to……deliver a message to you…..before she……passed on……"
There was a pause, and he heard Reeve shift. Looking over, he saw his friend's eyes watching him sleepily, but with all the interest and hope in the world. This was it then. There was no turning back. He couldn't disappoint Reeve.
"She……she……."
Tongue-tied. And that was something to say for an ex-Turk. The only other time he had ever felt so hopelessly at a loss for words was when he had been around Lucrecia and sometimes, Shalua.
"She what, Vincent…..?"
"She kissed me."
As soon as the words left his mouth, Vincent instantly regretted them. What other embarrassing things must he go through to succeed on the path to self-worth? Reeve's reaction was instantaneous.
The WRO Commissioner all but flew upright in the bed, sending Cait crashing to the floor with a resounding plunk and the feline let out an annoyed his before clambering back onto the bed and settling himself on Reeve's lap. The ex-Shinra executive stared at Vincent almost as though he feared the gunman had lost his mind somewhere between the last five minutes and the present. His mouth opened and closed as he fished for adequate words to say that would fit the current situation.
"W-What???…….She did what?"
"Kissed me……", Vincent muttered in shame, burying himself deeper into the folds of his cloak. How many times would he have to say that over and over again to make Reeve understand?
"Why??", came the next incredulous question, and Vincent could pick up the hints of jealousy and frustration in his friend's voice.
"You owe me, Rui", Vincent growled in his mind, positive that Shalua had planned this to make him look and feel like an idiot. He was pretty sure she was having a laugh at this display somewhere in the Lifestream……possibly with Aeris…..and Lucrecia.
"She said…….I should…..tell you….the…..kiss……was from her. And that…..she loves you……", Vincent finished in a lame, awkward fashion, feeling more than just a little stupid. He should have kept his mouth shut. It wouldn't do Reeve any good to get revved up over this when his friend need rest.
But to his surprise, Reeve did exactly the opposite of what Vincent had expected from him. He didn't rant, he didn't fly into a rage, he didn't break down and cry, he simply……laughed. It was an almost knowing laugh, and Vincent watched bug eyed as his friend relaxed and leaned against the backboard of the bed, a genuine smile not unlike the one in the lab crossing his lips.
"Well…..that's…..typical Shalua……thank you for telling me, Vincent. I appreciate it."
Vincent let out a small sigh of relief, and sank into his pillows, happy that it was over, and that Reeve wasn't throwing a jealous fit. He shifted a little, closing his eyes, sure that the topic was closed and the conversation over.
"How was it?"
The question was nonchalant and interested. A question that an unfortunate Vincent was most definitely not prepared for. Which was why he answered without thinking, in his tired, aching state.
"Wonderful", muttered honestly, almost dismissively, with not a hint of sarcasm in his voice.
It took a moment of dead silence for him to realize what he had just said.
His eyes snapped open and he sat up straight faster than Reeve could start laughing. And that he did. Vincent could honestly admit, he had never heard his friend laugh so heartily as he was doing now. Face burning, he attempted to frown at Reeve, but the man's expression was so cheerful that he couldn't manage more than a sigh and raised eyebrows.
"Reeve. That is not what I-------"
"Wonderful, you say? Well, if the ever stoic, silent, Vincent Valentine found it 'wonderful', then it must have been brilliant. That's good to know, Vince."
Reeve, still laughing, barely managed to duck as a pillow flew towards him.
Vincent and romance. Nuff said. Drop a not and tell me how you all liked it. Cheers!