Concern [Yuffie/Vincent]

[Yuffie]

Yuffie tossed and turned as she slept. She hadn't quite gotten over the thought of being tainted with darkness and she was unable to not think about. After all it concerned her greatly, she didn't want to have this darkness in her. Since it hadn't gone away when she fell asleep she ended up having a nightmare.

It was dark and there was utter chaos. Yuffie was a little girl again, about 7 or 8 years old. It was that day again, the day that Maleficent came and basically destroyed their world. She was afriad, and had began running. She wanted to find a place to hide. However, she soon tripped and fell. As she got back up she saw a figure in front of her now, a dark figure. It started approaching and as it got closer she was shocked. It was herself, her current self. Except it seemed she was taken over by the darkness completely. She headed for her younger self and as she approached raised her fuma shuriken and...

"Noooo!" she yelled as she woke up with a start, sitting up. She sighed a sigh of relief. It had been a dream. Well a nightmare, what was important was that it wasn't real. She lied back down, looking at the ceiling. She knew the thought of the darkness taking over bothered her, but hadn't realized it bothered her this much. And now she felt like she couldn't fall back asleep. She stood up and looked out the window. What could she do now?

She then had an idea. She got dressed and then started heading for the Crystal fissure. She figured he'd still be awake at this hour....probably. She reached them fairly quickly and started walking inside "Hello..?" she called out as she walked further in.

[Vincent Valentine]

Things need to change.
--

After dark, the Crystal Fissure looked completely different. It was dark except for the gentle purple glow emanating from the crystals. Vincent hadn't been able to figure out as of yet what made the crystals glow.

This evening, Vincent had made a return trip to the small caverns after everyone else had gone to sleep. Ever since the appearance of that mysterious man who had destroyed part of the town, Vincent's thoughts had changed. He had come to the fissure late tonight to ponder that man.

Earlier that day, well really yesterday as it was actually early in the morning and not late at night, Vincent had been walking around the caverns as he always did- the Crystal Fissure or surroounding areas, rarely the town- when he'd heard distant sounds of battle. It was unsettling. He knew, deep down inside somewhere, that something bad was happening in the town. He had cursed himself for not being there to help his friends. He knew they were in trouble for some reason, he could feel it. Those distant sounds were far too loud and far too destructive sounding for them to be from a simple Heartless battle.

So, he had run to the town to help... but he was too late. He discovered Aerith, Cloud, Squall and Yuffie- as well as a few other people he did not recognize- recovering from an intense fight. Not to mention the town... demolished. Parts of it at least. Just more reconstruction to be added to the list.

But the stories his friends told him were the most disturbing. Talks of tainted hearts and darkness... even Yuffie, the eternal optimist, looked defeated. And Vincent hadn't been there to help. No, he'd been off brooding as usual. Things were going to have to change.

Thankfully, his friends had come away mostly without injury. At least there was that. And after everyone retired, Vincent had snuck away to ponder the days events. Not without some guilt and worry that he would miss something else, however.

He was interrupted in the middlde of his thoughts, however, but a familiar voice. Yuffie appeared, face and body tense. Instantly, Vincent began to fear the worst. What now? Why else would she be out of bed and wandering around at this hour?

"Yuffie. What are you doing here? Is everything alright?[/color]"

[Yuffie]

Yuffie continued looking around, the crystals being the only source of illumination in the fissure. They were so pretty a night like this, and for a moment she got distracted by them. It was then that Vincent happened to answer her and since she was not expecting it, she jumped in surprise with a small audible gasp. She calmed down when she realized it was him. Vincent tended to blend into the dark really well at times, so often she would get startled when he suddenly spoke, though she thought she would be used to it by now. The events of yesterday and her nightmare weren't helping matters either.

She walked over towards Vincent, getting a better look at him. He looked worried, though she didn't blame him. He had seemed like he was feeling guilty about not being there when the figure had showed up, and now he was worried for all their sakes. "Everything's alright," she said to him, trying to reassure him. "I couldn't sleep. I figured you'd be up still, so I came here hoping to run into you,"

It was obvious that more was on her mind and she hadn't said anything about why she couldn't sleep. However, they could talk about that later. " What about you? What are you up to out here today?" she asked him giving him a smile.

[Vincent Valentine]

I can see your fingers crossed behind your back.
--

To Vincent, that smile didn't seem very genuine. Perhaps he was just projecting his own anxieties onto the girl, but that smile didn't quite reach her eyes.

She tried to change the subject. He wasn't very keen on the idea. She was doing it on purpose, trying to avoid her reasons for coming out here. He had a good idea what this was about. He humored her, hoping to get to the bottom of the reason why Yuffie couldn't sleep.

"Thinking,[/color]" he replied. He didn't add more. He was sure Yuffie was intelligent enough to know what he was thinking about... same thing she was thinking about and presumably the reason why she was up at this god-awful hour.

Vincent gave her a look. The look. He was trying to wring a straight answer out of her without saying or doing more than what was necessary, and as quickly as possible. The less time they spent in this damp cave, the better. She needed to be home, resting and recovering from the previous day's battle, not out here trying to make small talk at one in the morning.

[Yuffie]

Yuffie soon realized that she couldn't avoid talking to Vincent what she kind of wanted to talk about in the first place. She knew that before she came here and she still tried anyway. It was worth a shot in her mind, but obviously Vincent wasn't gonna have any of it. All he had said to her question was that he was out here thinking and she already knew what about.

Then he gave her that look. He just haaad to do it too. Vincent didn't bother playing around, he was going to get her to start talking now and that was probably what she needed right now. The smile she gave faded quickly, he had seen through it. There wasn't any point trying to hide how worried she was. "You too huh?" she replied.

She paused for a moment trying to think of what exactly to say next. "I.....I'm afraid," she said finally, not able to prolong it any longer. She hated admitting she was afraid of something, especially since she was always as cheerful as she could be with people she met. "I'm afraid what that man said is going to happen to me...to everyone. I'm much more scared of the darkness then I care to admit..." It was a fear that had stayed with her since that day when the heartless came to their world. After all she was only a child when they invaded. And even though she had eventually made up her mind to help fight back the darkness, she still had moments where she was as afraid of the dark, as she had been when their world had been taken over.

[Vincent Valentine]

Out of the darkness comes a new direction.
--

Afraid of the dark.

Many children claimed to be afraid of the dark, if not most children at some time. Scary things lurked in the dark corners of rooms, under the bed, in the closet. Monsters lay in wait, ready to nibble on toes and cause bad dreams. It is for this reason nightlights were invented- to stave off the dark and comfort frightened children so that they could sleep and have sweet dreams.

Yuffie's confession fear was just another reminder that she was still a child, although barely. She feared the darkness, but this was not something that could be warded off with a cheerful plastic nightlight in the shape of a cartoon character's face. This was very real and very scary- even Vincent himself was scared, although he would probably never admit it as easily as Yuffie had.

What he feared most was losing Yuffie. And Aerith, and Cloud, and Cid and Squall. Losing them when he could have done something to protect them. Maybe that was already starting. Maybe what Yuffie had said just then was true, and what the man said would happen was already happening. Panic gripped at Vincent when he realized he could already be losing his friends to darkness, and that fear made itself known only by the appearance of a line in between his eyebrows when he scowled. He could have been there. He could have done something, even if it that something had been putting himself in the same danger as everyone else.

He had no idea how to comfort the girl. He had to try and find a way however, because he had made it his mission to atone for his sins not by sleeping forever in a coffin or sulking in a cave. No, he would atone for his sins by protecting this girl and the others in the Restoration Comittee that had taken him in. The rest of the town too, if that's what it took.

At this rate, in his mind anyway, he would never be forgiven because he kept screwing up. It was good a time as any to start trying to reverse that.

He was quiet for a moment as this went through his head. In a matter of minutes he had decided on a new course for his life. When he spoke again, it was quiet. Calm. As comforting as he could manage in his gravelly tones.

"It's okay to be afraid, Yuffie. We all are.[/color]"

Well, at least he tried.

[Yuffie]

Yuffie waited for a reply from Vincent. He seemed to be thinking, he always looked like something was on his mind. She hoped he had something to say that would just reassure her she was being paranoid. That this talk of a darkness inside her growing was just nonsense. Something to make her feel better. She noticed his face seem to turn into a scowl for a moment, he still probably felt bad he wasn't there when the figure attacked. She probably wasn't helping his guilt either by coming her in the middle of the night, afraid of the dark.

He was quiet for a few moments longer and Yuffie wondered what he could possibly be thinking. It was hard to really get a good read on him at times. Then he finally spoke, saying it was okay to be afraid, saying that they all were. He had said it quite calmly, but it wasn't that reassuring. She understood she wasn't the only one afraid, she got that. But that wasn't exactly what she wanted to know. "I get that....I really do," she replied to him still uneasy. "But...."

She then suddenly grabbed him into a hug. She was so afraid, afraid that the darkness would get a hold of her heart. Afraid of becoming like what she saw in her nightmare. "Please...tell me the dark won't take hold of me or anyone else..." she suddenly said, tears starting to flow from her eyes. "I...I don't want to become what I saw in my dream...."

[Vincent Valentine]

It's kind of an odd choice for a crying shoulder, don't you think?
--

Vincent stood frozen for a moment, completely unused to feel of actualy physical human contact. He'd never been touchy-feely, even before, but this... he wasn't sure what to do, so he hesitantly put his arms around her. She was small. And crying. Well, that did it. Vincent couldn't stand the sight of a crying woman, no matter what age.

What he wanted to say was "Yuffie, I'm not going to lie to you. What that man said could very well come true and you're just going to have to be strong." He really didn't want to lie to her in the name of comfort. So he went against his instincts and lied to her.

He spoke just as slowly and thougtfully as he had embraced her. He mulled over every word because he didn't want to say something wrong that would further upset her. She didn't need a reality check right now- she'd gotten one of those yesterday. She didn't need a firm talking to about the importance of acting like an adult instead of crying. She needed to cry, and what she needed was someone to come crying to. Heaven knows why she'd chosen Vincent for that role, but since she had, Vincent complied.

"The darkness won't take hold of you, or anyone else,[/color]" he echoed, although not without feeling. He held her a little tighter. "I refuse to let it,[/color]" he added as an after-thought, if for no other reason than to remind him of his mission.

She said she didn't want to become what she had seen in her dream. That explained what she was doing up. Nightmares. She probably wasn't the only one having them. He was curious as to what she had been dreaming of but he was a man of few words so he decided to wait until she told him. Yuffie was such a motormouth, she would probably end up spilling it within moments.

After he spoke, they stood there in an awkward silence. Vincent let his arms fall to his side while Yuffie still clung to him and patiently waited for her to reply, however that may have been.

[Yuffie]

Yuffie clung to Vincent as she cried. This is what she needed right now, a shoulder to cry on and someone to tell her that everything would be okay, whether it was true or not. She felt Vincent put her arms around her and then after awhile he spoke. He reassured her that the dark would not take hold of her and everyone else and that he would not let the dark harm them. That made her feel a lot better, she felt safer now knowing he would be protecting them from harm. She already already knew he would be doing so, but hearing him say it out loud made her feel safer than just assuming it.

A few moments passed, her still clinging to Vincent for a moment. She looked up at him and it looked like he was waiting for her to say something now. Probably to talk about her dream. His arms had fallen to his sides by now. She let go and wiped the tears away from her eyes. "Thank you..." she told him when she had calmed down a bit. "I really needed that..." She then fidgeted with her hands for a moment, trying to think about if she really wanted to talk about her nightmare. Though when she thought about it she guessed she should, he was here listening to her and all.

"You want to know about my dream right?" she asked him before going ahead and describing it. "I...I was back to the day the heartless invaded, a little girl again. Trying to escape. But I tripped and then I ran into....myself, my current self. Except...I was...I was...." She didn't want to finish it and tears slowly came back to her eyes. "I'm sorry...I...I just don't want to have what happened in my dream come true..."

[Vincent Valentine]

Glad to be of service.
--

Should Vincent have felt guilty for being a little relieved when Yuffie let him go? He did. Before he could say anything else, the girl launched into the explanation of her nightmare. Tears sprang to her eyes again and it made a pain shoot through him.

He should have known Yuffie's dream would go something along those lines. He was able to piece together the rest, the blank parts where Yuffie had been unable to finish. For the most part, he felt dream analysis was unreliable but in this case he could see how the previous day's events had gotten her right down at the core.

She feared the darkness but more importantly she feared herself and how that darkness would affect her. Vincent figured the others had the same thoughts. He knew he often did, wondering if how much more destructive he could be under the influence of darkness.

But where he could imagine himself under that influence he just couldn't see... couldn't comprehend Yuffie or any of the others like that. It just didn't compute. He knew it was possible. They had hearts therefore every single one of them were just as susceptible to corruption as the next person. But when he brought their faces up in his mind's eye, it just didn't fit. Especially Yuffie and Aerith.

Of course, there was always the possibility Yuffie's dream was in fact prophetic. A vision of things to come. Maybe even this dream was the beginning of the darkness moving inside her. Vincent put those thoughts away promptly. The dream was nothing but that.

It seemed that Vincent had used up all his words for the morning, and he replied only "Hmm...[/color]"

He let his eyes wander around the cavern.
He looked back down at Yuffie, and an unsatisfied look flashed over his usually serene face. "You should go home.[/color]"

He hoped she wouldn't take it as "Go away". He hadn't said much at all about her dream and offered no more comfort, just a suggestion that she go home. He would just feel better if she was at home with the others. And she needed rest, you could see it in her face. Hopefully now that she had shared her dream, she could sleep peacefully. If she wanted, he would escort her. What they didn't need at this time was a Heartless attack.

Hopefully she would understand.

[Yuffie]

Yuffie wiped away more tears from her eyes, she hated being like this in front of someone, but she couldn't help it. She had talked about what frightened her and it just all came with admitting that. She waited for a response from Vincent, he looked deep in thought like he always did. Though he only replied with a "Hmm..." She wasn't sure what that was supposed to mean, but it looked like he didn't have much to say about her dream. Which was okay with her, she didn't really want to talk about it anymore.

And then he told her that she should get home. It was kind of blunt, but that's how Vincent was. Yuffie normally would normally take that as someone wanting her to go away, but with Vincent statements like that more had to do with concern than him being annoyed. She yawned, she was pretty sleepy but she didn't really want to head back just yet. Mostly because now that she had spilled her guts out she was more afraid of heading home in the dark then she had been coming here.

"I don't feel like going home just yet," she told him. "I want to hang around here a bit more and look at the crystals with you. Do you mind?" She mostly just didn't want to admit again that the dark was scaring her, she had already admitted that, once was enough. Plus now that she thought about, she did kind of want to look at all the pretty crystals around them.

[Vincent Valentine]

If looking at shiny rocks makes you happy, so be it.
--

[/right][/size]

Vincent sighed. It was a sound that said "Suit yourself."
He wasn't going to argue with her or force her to do anything she didn't want to. And if she wanted to stay and look at the crystals with him, fine. As long as she didn't start crying again.

And just like that, the mood shifted a little. All that needed to be said had been said. Now all that was left to do was take in their surroundings. No more words needed to be exchanged unless Yuffie thought of something else she wanted to say.

It seemed that it would be a while before Yuffie was ready to go home, so Vincent made himself comfortable. He sat down, with one knee drawn towards him and his arm resting there, against the cavern wall and looked up at the crystals. There was an open spot next to him if Yuffie got tired of standing. Usually she was a ball of energy that was always moving but at that moment, she was standing completely still. A sight to behold. So he though maybe she would want to sit at some point.

He didn't mind staying until morning.

[Yuffie]

Yuffie heard Vincent's sigh, he had given up on trying to convince her to go home just yet. She gave her own sigh of relief, having succeeded in convincing him in letting her stick around. She then gave him a smile, a genuine one this time. "Thanks" she told him. She knew he was more comfortable being the tough brooding loner guy, but she appreciated that he would stay here with her.

Vincent went to sit down and Yuffie followed him, sitting right next to him to look at the crystals. Not much was said right now and Yuffie couldn't really think of anything to say just yet, which was probably a first. She was much more interested in watching the crystals glow. They were so pretty and help make this night not look so frightening. She yawned again, she knew she was sleepy but she was going to do her best to stay up!

She looked over at Vincent. Yuffie wondered if he knew why the crystals glowed like they did, he did spend a lot of time out here after all. Though she could feel her eyelids getting heavier. Maybe she could just rest her head for a bit? She rested it against Vincent's shoulder, hoping he wouldn't mind. "Do you happen to know why-" She yawned again. "Why the crystals glow like this, Vincent?" she asked him. Though she wasn't going to hear the answer. As soon as she finished asking, she fell asleep on his shoulder, finally calmed down enough to do so.

[Vincent Valentine]

If you're afraid of the dark, these crystals are perfect nightlights.
--

When she put his head on her shoulder, Vincent looked down but didn't give much of a reaction. It felt slightly uncomfortable. He didn't know why Yuffie was doing this. He didn't want to ask her to move, though. There was no harm in it, and she looked calmer now. The tension in the air, which had once been almost tangible, was gone for the time being.

She asked why the crystals glowed the way they did. Vincent didn't have an answer for her- besides a vague explanation of bioluminesence that may not have even been right- and was going to reply to that effect but he felt the change in her breathing and the way she held herself and knew she was asleep. Another glance down confirmed that and he sighed.

Well, at least she was sleeping now. Even if a cold, hard cave floor didn't make a good bed and his shoulder didn't make a good pillow. He supposed he would just sit here until she woke up. If any explanation was needed as to why he was escorting the girl home in the morning, he would tell them the truth.

He looked up at the crystals. In one, their reflection shimmered back at him, distorted. He looked around and saw that other crystals also reflected himself and the sleeping girl on his shoulder.

After a few minutes, he decided he really wanted to have an answer for her about those crystals. He decided when he had the time, he would so some research and figure out why they were glowing.