Observations

Summary: Yuffie and Vincent have spent a long time observing one another.
Theme: #19 red
Disclaimer: Final Fantasy VII does not belong to me. This is a purely fictional story based on the characters and story created by Square Enix, to whom they do belong.

~*~

Yuffie noticed things about Vincent that others didn’t take the time of day to see. Like how he cut his food with his fork down turned, yet flipped it around so the curve was underneath when he lifted the fork to eat. Or like how he always buckled his right boot before his left boot. Whenever he was annoyed he hid behind his cape, yet when he was in a good mood his fringe was brushed back so he could engage in those around him. It was the little things like that, those things that intrigued Yuffie about Vincent.

It had become a hobby, one she called Vincent Watching. She kept everything she learnt locked up in her head, not wanting anyone to find out her latest hobby. Lots of people called him antisocial and distant, but Yuffie could argue against that. He was a quiet person who preferred to watch rather than engage. He listened to others speak rather than speaking himself, something she already knew. He wasn’t cold and detached; he cared fiercely for those around him and blamed himself if they were harmed on his watch.

He fascinated her more than materia ever could.

~*~

Vincent first noticed the feeling of someone watching him some time ago. He knew who it was but didn’t care so much. She wasn’t doing anything other than watching, so he let her go. Confronting her about it would no doubt make her anxious and change her behaviour, which Tifa would pick up on and change the whole group dynamics and he really didn’t have the patience to deal with it. Sitting with his back against the wall, he merely watched her interact with everyone. She bounced around and was very loud, but her eyes always drifted back to him; as if to make sure he was still where she left him.

Hiding his smile behind his cape, he continued to watch her with the same fascination that Yuffie experienced while watching Vincent.

~*~

It had been awhile since they had started watching one another. It had become something like an intricate dance full of complicated steps that brought them closer together then flung them away from one another. It kept them entertained and, more Yuffie than Vincent, out of trouble. Tifa has caught onto their little dance and merely watched from afar, trying to figure out where it would turn out.

“Hey Vince! Check this out!”

At the rather loud call, Vincent turned his gaze to where the ninja stood. Raising his eyebrows at her attire, he didn’t quite know what to think. She was dressed in preparation for Christmas, he assumed. She wore her boots as usual, but she had a short red skirt with white fluff skirting the bottom and wore a red tank top, the edges also covered with the white fluff. In short, she looked older than she was.

“Well? What do you think? Cool isn’t it? It was Tifa’s idea but I helped make them!”

Floundering slightly, he couldn’t come up with anything that he could say without looking like an idiot. However, Yuffie was used to this look when she sprung things on him and merely laughed it off. Bouncing over to him, she pressed a kiss to his cheek. Smiling shyly up at him, she rushed off to help Tifa in the bar.

If she had looked back, she would have seen the affection shine brightly in his eyes.