Final Fantasy - All Series Fan Fiction ❯ Connected ❯ Movies ( Chapter 6 )

Chapter 5

Movies

 

It's so much better
When everyone is in
Are you in?

Are you in? - Incubus

 

 

 

“Ok, looks like I accidentally bought black licorice. Anyone want it?”

 

Only one hand went up in response to Yuffie's question. She blinked. “Vincent?” she asked wonderingly. Jace, Reno, Reeve and Rude turned to look at the gunman who was slowly letting his hand drop. He met their surprised looks with his usual enigmatic expression and a shrug. Tifa, the only person who had seen Vincent go to town on a bag of the bitter candy just smiled and resumed mixing drinks. After a moment or two, Reno broke the silence with a muttered “You think you know someone…” and then joined the others in the pleasant task of getting comfy in front of Rude's TV. Even though Bad Movie Nights were Yuffie's baby, the past couple of gatherings had taken place at Rude's apartment. Yuffie had a tiny place to begin with and it was packed with various mementoes, weapons, books and just plain junk. No one had dared to bring it up after Reno had called her the `Packrat Princess' and lived to regret it. In addition to that she only had a 26 inch TV, meaning her guests had to cluster together on or in front of her two-seater loveseat and peer intently at the screen.

 

After a couple of uncomfortable nights spent trying to see around Cloud's hair, Reno decided his partner's place was the perfect place to host this little film orgy. Rude had a state-of-the-art system complete with true surround sound and a screen so big Reno joked it was stolen from a movie theatre. It was simplicity itself to bend Rude to his will. Reno just let it slip that Yuffie had said she might stop hosting movie night because of the lack of space.

 

“You have to admit man, we're packed in like sardines without the oil,” Reno had drawled one day over lunch, watching his partner closely under the cover of checking out the women at the table behind them. “I didn't know they even made TV's that small anymore. I asked Yuff why she didn't just buy a bigger one and she gave me one of those woman looks. You know, the `why are you so dumb, oh yeah, it's because you're a boy' looks. I worked past it though and managed to get it across to her that watching the back of somebody's skull wasn't doing it for me, doubly not when chocobo head is in town. She said she'd bring the movies and the snacks if we could do it somewhere else.” He paused, making sure he had Rude's attention before continuing with his covert campaign. “The where of where else is going to be a problem though. You've got that awesome setup, but I know how you are about keeping the place neat. My TV is a decent size, but to be honest, the place isn't much cleaner then Yuffie's so that's not an option. Can't do it at Seventh Heaven because we'd keep the kids up. Reeve doesn't own a TV and I'm pretty sure Vincent Vampire just hangs upside down in cave somewhere.” Reno shuddered for effect. “I don't think I'd go to his place even if he was offering. But anyway, that leaves Jace, and from what I remember she doesn't have a much bigger TV then the Yuffster.” Rude had stopped chewing and was eyeing him over his shades. Reno mentally rubbed his hands together. Now for the hook… “It's kinda annoying having to give the whole thing up yo, I really liked it. You know me, I love a bad movie. Besides, it was kinda cool to see everyone without being shot at or trying to save the world.”

 

Rude shot him a look. Reno just smiled. Come on man, you don't see Tifa anywhere else on anything even approaching a regular basis. You know what I'm doing, but I know what you want… Come on, take the bait… Rude's lips tightened for a moment and then he sighed and pushed up his glasses. “I'll talk to Yuffie,” he said quietly.

 

Reno smiled even wider, all white teeth and smug pleasure at getting his way. “I already took care of it, partner.” He refocused on his sandwich, ignoring Rude's exasperated sigh. Poor Rude. He's a sucker for that girl. Eh, at least he knows it. Reno's smugness decreased a bit when it occurred to him that he was hardly in a position to talk considering his behavior around Yuffie. Women. Can't live with `em, can't live without `em. There's somethin' irresistible-ish about 'em… Argh, now I'm rhyming in my head, not mention talking to myself. I hate you, hormones…

 

From then on, instead of cramming themselves onto Yuffie's loveseat or fighting her stuff for floor space the participants in Bad Movie Night relaxed on Rude's high quality suede couches, sank their feet into his plush carpet and experienced what had to be the one of the most impressive entertainment centers they had ever seen. Tonight Jace was seated in her usual spot in her usual style, namely on couch between Rude and Reeve, margarita in one hand and a handful of popcorn in the other. She really enjoyed these nights, something she hadn't been sure would be true the first time Yuffie had invited her.

Jace had arrived at Yuffie's apartment that first night feeling nervous and not entirely sure this was good idea. True, she had spent time with Reno and Rude, drinking and occasionally trading good natured insults. She'd also gotten to know Yuffie as they plotted their as-yet unrealized revenge against their favorite Turks. She wasn't sure however that any of that prepared her for a night spent with most of AVALANCHE. Sure she'd heard of the team that saved the world several times and heard stories from Reno and Yuffie but that didn't allay her worry. Just because Yuffie liked her was no guarantee that anyone else would. Jace was quite relieved when Yuffie grabbed her hand two minutes after she walked in the door and dragged her off saying something about `the grand tour'. The `tour' turned out to be Yuffie pulling Jace down the hallway and vaguely gesturing to the bedroom as they passed. Yuffie tugged Jace into the bathroom, shut the door and hopped up on the counter next to the sink. Jace leaned her back against the door and raised an eyebrow at the other girl.

“You had that chocobo in headlights expression,” Yuffie said flashing a wide grin. “I thought I'd better give you a quick who's who so you know how to deal. Where to start… Let's see… Hi, I'm Yuffie!” Yuffie offered her hand to Jace who grinned and shook it. “I'm a ninja and my father is Lord of Wutai. I work for the intelligence department of the W.R.O. You know Reno and Rude… Next up, is Vincent. He used to be a Turk until Hojo got a hold of him… You know who Hojo was right? Good. So he's broody and never takes off his cloak but he's a good guy. Not big on the physical contact just so you know, not that I expect you to run around fondling people. Not before your third drink anyway. Then there's Tifa, she's really nice, really easy to talk to. You'll like her, everybody does, especially Rude. Man I hope tonight…” Yuffie paused for a moment and frowned at a hand towel. Then her face cleared and she launched back into her litany. “Reeve's not here yet but you know him anyway… Last and spikiest is Cloud. He's quiet but not as much as he used to be… Man it used to be like pulling teeth to get him to freaking talk! You won't see him much; he spends a lot of time in Corel working with Barrett… You have no idea how much it took to get him to promise to come down for this. I said to him `Cloudy, you've been promising to come to one of these and you haven't yet' and he just started going on about how they found all this oil out there and Barrett's really excited. You'd like Barrett; he's a big softie really… Anyway, I said `Cloudy you owe me' and he said…”

Jace blinked as she tried to keep up with the sudden tangent. She'd had a question but she was going to lose it if the other girl kept rambling. “Whoa,” Jace said, interrupting Yuffie in mid sentence. It seemed the only way to get a word in edgewise. “What do you mean `I hope tonight'? Hope tonight what?” Yuffie sighed before replying. “Cloud and Tifa grew up together. They went through a lot and when they finally hooked up it was like `about time'! But it turns out that they're a lot better as friends then as a couple so they called it quits. It was all amicable though and Cloud still stays with Tif when he's not in Corel. But anyway, you would think that Rude would move right in right? Because he should, he's had the mad hots for Tifa since time began, even back when we were all trying to kill each other. I always knew something was up; he'd do everything he could to avoid fighting her. That's so cute, don't you think?” Yuffie paused for Jace's enthusiastic nod and then continued. “Everybody's waiting for him to make his move… well everybody `cept Tif because she isn't the sharpest when it comes to romance and Cloud cause he's just not the observant type when it comes to women and he's in Corel most of the time anyway… Where was I? Oh yeah, Rude's procrastinating self. I know he knows they're not still together but he still isn't doing anything about it. I think I'm going to have to talk to Tifa…”

Jace jumped when someone started pounding on the door. “Oh ladies,” Reno yelled through the door, “Sorry to bust in on your little bonding session but some of us would like to get started before the midnight. That and Cloud has been out here doing the pee-pee dance… Ow! Ow! Stop hitting me you blond bastard, that shit hurts!” Yuffie sighed. “Boys are silly.” She said gravely. Jace nodded. “Very much so.”

Reno and Cloud continued to snipe at each other as everyone settled down to watch the movie much to everyone else's amusement. Yuffie's little dissertation had, in fact, made Jace feel much more comfortable. She still found Vincent a bit creepy what with the tattered cape and the red eyes but other then a nagging desire to protect her neck Jace wasn't worried. She had a very good time until Reeve arrived late and took the only space available which happened to be right next to her. Noticing her discomfort he wasted no time in reminding her that work was work and not work was not work and “never the twain shall discuss the other.” He'd delivered that bit of questionable grammar while stealing some of her popcorn. By the end of the night she was relaxed enough to slap his hand when he went after her last candy bar.

 

Three months and six or so movie nights later the seating arrangement was a settled thing, modified only slightly by the change of venue. Reeve sat on the couch in the spot nearest the door since he often left early or arrived late. Jace sat to his left and Rude sat on her other side. Reno sat on the floor a little to the right of Reeve, and Yuffie sat six inches or so to the left of that. Tifa sat next to Yuffie, just a little to the left of Rude. Vincent sat in the overstuffed chair near the couch, ever the loner. Rude pushed the play button, Reno doused the lights and the seven of them settled in for “Teenage Ghoul Girl A Go-go”.

 

About halfway through the extremely bad sex scene near what Jace sincerely hoped was the end of the movie, the margaritas caught up with her and she headed to the bathroom, laughing at Reeve and Reno's cries of `down in front!' When she returned a few minutes later, the horrifying sex scene had somehow morphed a horrifying song and dance number. She once again braved the journey in front of the TV and resumed her seat then looked around hopefully for the popcorn bowl. Her eyes fastened on Yuffie, or as Jace liked to call her, `She Who Hogs The Popcorn'. The princess was laughing at the screen in between crunchy handfuls. Suddenly, she jumped a little and shot the person sitting to her right a dirty look. Reno grinned manically at the disgruntled princess and grabbed a handful of popcorn before turning back to the screen. Yuffie continued to glare at him for a moment, and then refocused on the movie. As soon as she stopped paying attention, Reno's head briefly turned back towards her. He looked back at the screen, but scooted over until he was flush with Yuffie's side, deftly avoiding Reeve's feet. The princess said nothing, only leaning into the Turk a bit. Jace smiled and looked at Reeve. He too, had been watching. They smirked at each other, and Reeve motioned for her to look down and to her left. Lo and behold, Tifa had started using Rude's knee as a pillow. Jace risked a surreptitious glance at the bald man's face. His expression was as stoic as ever, but he was barely breathing. Jace looked back at Reeve, who grinned widely and leaned in to whisper in her ear, “Inter departmental cooperation.” Snickering quietly, they went back to watching the on-screen antics.

 

 

A/N: Many thanks to `The Muppet Movie' for Reno's rhyming thoughts. There is actually a movie called “Teenage Ghoul Girls A Go-go and it is awful in ways that cannot be adequately described by the human tongue.Please review!