Final Fantasy - All Series Fan Fiction ❯ Seduction of the Darkness ❯ Chapter 11: Blades and Fire ( Chapter 11 )

Chapter 11: Blades and Fire

 

Hellfire stirred in the early sunset and suddenly became aware of the soft silky hair that fell across her face. Frowning slightly, she brushed it out of her face purely out of habit and opened her eyes to see Vincent sleeping soundly beside her. His arms were still around her, holding her close to his slender body. From the way he held her, it looked like he hadn't left the entire time she was asleep and must have drifted off a little while after the sun rose this morning. She smiled softly as she studied the uncharacteristically serene expression on his handsome face. It didn't surprise her: from the day he'd been in Kalm to the day they returned to the ship he had barely gotten any sleep. He'd been too concerned about the success of their mission to think about anything else. Now it seemed the stress of the past few days had taken its toll on him.

 

She gently brushed his hair out of his eyes and the gunslinger stirred at her touch. His crimson eyes flew open and he gazed at the beautiful young woman in his arms. She smiled.

 

`Good evening,' she said softly.

 

Vincent looked at her, registering her greeting with a frown. `What-?'

 

`I woke up and saw you were still sleeping,' she explained. Her smile became teasing. `So that's one mystery solved.'

 

The former Turk looked at her, still groggy from sleep. `What mystery would that be?'

 

`That you do sleep.'

 

Vincent immediately caught on to that little remark and chuckled softly. Hellfire smiled, leaning over him and touching his face.

 

`You didn't leave me the entire time,' she said. `I thought you'd go after I fell asleep.'

 

He sat up, looking down at her as she fell back onto the pillows to avoid headbutting him. `I…I guess I didn't want to refuse your request.'

 

Hellfire frowned. `What request?'

 

Vincent looked at her. `To not leave you.'

 

She was shocked by this. `I said that?'

 

He nodded and leaned over her, taking in her fragile beauty. `You must have been thinking out loud.'

 

She cringed. `A habit that I find evil and embarrassing.'

 

The corners of his lips twitched in amusement as he caressed her. `Nevertheless, I listened to them. I'd never leave you, Hellfire. Not when you clearly needed someone to help you weather this storm.'

 

Hellfire's eyebrows rose in surprise. `You never struck me as the poetic soul, Mr. Valentine. You never stop surprising me.'

 

Vincent laughed. `Neither do you.' She laced her fingers through his gloved hand, squeezing it gently.

 

`We still have an hour till we begin our mission,' she said. `What will we do to pass the time?'

 

The former Turk's eyes glittered with warmth. `I think what we're doing now will help.'

 

Hellfire laughed. `Since when did you get so romantic?'

 

Vincent carefully cradled her face in his clawed hand. `Since I fell in love with you.' He leaned into her and pressed his lips into her mouth. Hellfire ran her fingers through his tangled hair, embracing him as they surrendered to their gentle passion. He caressed her, feeling that searing fire once more rush through him. Her fingers glided down to the straps of his cloak and she slowly unfastened them one by one….

 

A loud knock on the door shattered the moment of intimacy and they broke the kiss.

 

`Hellfire, you in there?' Yuffi called through the door, and the pair were privately relieved that it wasn't Cid's voice this time.

 

`Yes,' called Hellfire. `What is it?'

 

`I was wondering if you'd like to train with Cloud and Tifa and me for a while,' said Yuffi. `You know, get ourselves ready for the mission.'

 

Hellfire was silent for a moment. `That's not a bad idea, Yuffi. I'll be right out.'

 

`Great. And oh, have you seen Vincent?'

 

Hellfire glanced at Vincent who had a strange look in his eye. Was she imagining it or was there a touch of wicked amusement in those crimson orbs? `No, why?'

 

`I was going to ask him if he wanted to join us. But I guess he's got other things to do.'

 

Vincent decided to break his silence. `I'll be right out, Yuffi.'

 

`Vincent?' Yuffi's voice sounded shocked. `What are you doing with Hellfire?'

 

`It's no concern of yours,' he said. Hellfire grinned. He may have become a bit of a romantic, but he was still Vincent.

 

`Oh, okay. Well, you gonna come out or not?'

 

`We'll be right out, Yuffi,' said Hellfire. `Tell the others to be patient.'

 

`Okay, see you in the training room.'

 

After they heard her leave, Hellfire turned to Vincent who was doing up his cloak.

 

`At least we had a little privacy,' she said. The ghost of a smile flitted across Vincent's face.

 

`Not as much as I would've liked,' he admitted. Hellfire grinned wickedly.

 

`If we survive this, I'm locking the both of us in your room. At least you never get interrupted.'

 

`Well, not as often as you.' Vincent smiled.

 

`I mean it,' she said, putting her hands on her hips. `If we get out of this alive, I'm locking myself in your room and not coming out.'

 

The sparkle in his eyes became a flame of wicked amusement. `I'm counting on it.'

~*~

The clash of steel rang through the vast hall as Hellfire crossed blades with Cloud. He pushed off with considerable force, sending her flying across the room. She sprang off the wall and shot towards him but Yuffi cut her off halfway. Smiling to herself, she flipped over Yuffi and whirled round to attack but the shorthaired sprite danced out of reach. Tifa took the floor and kicked Hellfire in the side. Hellfire ducked under her next blow and backhanded her with such force that Tifa was knocked out of the air. She landed lightly beside the gunslinger who was leaning against the wall.

 

`That's good, Hellfire!' cried Yuffi. `Now let's see what you got.'

 

Hellfire glanced at her. `Are you sure you want to see that?'

 

`I heard from Vincent that you're hell on the field,' replied Yuffi. `I want to see what he meant.'

 

She glanced at Vincent, unsure of what she should do. The last time she tapped into such power, it drained her past exhaustion. She wasn't so sure if she could handle another episode like the one in Kalm. But the former Turk had privately prepared her for this, helping her to focus her magick so it wouldn't overwhelm her system again. He knew what it was like to have power that was beyond him. He nodded encouragingly. Hellfire turned to Yuffi.

 

`All right, but don't freak out. What you're about to see could shock you.' Hellfire concentrated, focusing her energy until it surged through her like a searing fire. Her sword began to glow with a violet flame and her eyes suddenly flashed with brilliant light.

 

`What the-?' Barret, who was watching from the sidelines, began to shout his astonishment but couldn't finish his sentence. He was rooted to the spot in disbelief. Vincent watched intently.

 

Hellfire's whole being was lit with a violet flame and she rose into the air like a graceful dove. She stretched out her arms like a martyr and let her head fall back. Then, with that piercing falcon cry, she shot towards the dummy in the far corner of the hall, her blade raised. All the onlookers saw was a streak of violet flame racing towards the enormous robot with terrifying speed. Vincent was only watching her now, his intensity locking out everything else around him.

 

Blinding crimson light flooded the room as she collided with the dummy robot and the others had to shield their eyes. The light faded and they stared at Hellfire. She was standing just a few feet away from the robot, but it didn't look like a robot. It was nothing but a burning heap of wires and plates. She didn't look tired whatsoever and the tattoo, which was showing due to her low backed shirt, was glowing with that crimson light. It seemed that her weakness was now her greatest strength. The moment was broken by a grating voice filled with amazement.

 

`Damn it, Hellfire! I wouldn't want to be on the receiving end of that little display.' Cid was standing in the entrance to the training hall, grinning like a fool. `It seems like Vincent's been teaching you a thing or two.'

 

`That he has,' she replied, glancing at her secret beloved with fondness. Vincent nodded in return, his crimson eyes glittering with that same warmth.

 

`Well, what do think, Vince?' Cid turned to the gunman. `Do you think she's up for this?'

 

Vincent focused his gaze on the woman he'd held in his arms earlier and nodded, his words filled with such conviction all the doubts she'd had completely vanished.

 

`She's ready.'

 

`All right,' said Cid, clapping his hands together. `Let's get to the bridge and saddle up. It's go time!'