Final Fantasy - All Series Fan Fiction ❯ The Unknown Ally ❯ Chapter 3: Vincent's Makeover ( Chapter 3 )

Chapter 3: Vincent's Makeover

 

Yuffie was bouncy and energetic when the gunman walked into her room the next morning. She had a pair of scissors in her right hand and a comb in the other. Vincent was beginning to have second thoughts about the whole idea.

 

`Okay, Vincent,' said Yuffie, surprisingly business-like in spite of her energy. `If you're going to pass yourself off as a Turk, we need to make sure you look the part.' She suddenly grinned. `This is going to be fun!'

 

`Yuffie….,' growled Vincent.

 

`Sorry, I've just never seen you without that mane,' replied the shorthaired sprite. `It's going to be a hell of a change after I'm done with you. Now, take off your cloak and let's get started.'

 

The gunman sighed and did as he was told. He sat down in the chair Yuffie had provided for him and she immediately started to trim away at his hair. Vincent tilted his head down and to the side as instructed and she gently snipped away at his long mane. She stopped briefly to remove the red sash around his head and combed his hair till it was smooth and straight.

 

A few hours later, Yuffie stared in shock.

 

`Oh my God,' she whispered. Vincent frowned.

 

`I never thought I'd see you like this,' she said. `You can look in the mirror if you want.'

 

Vincent rose to his feet, brushing himself off of the stray hairs that were sticking to his leather shirt. He turned to the mirror and stared in surprise. It was like the last thirty-four years never happened. Except for his crimson eyes, he looked exactly like he did when he originally worked for ShinRa. He touched his hair; he was unable to believe it had been such a long time since he'd worn it like this.

 

`Well, what do you think?' asked Yuffie. Vincent turned to her, a strange look in his eyes.

 

`It's like I was never locked in that place,' he said. Yuffie looked down at her shoes.

 

`I…I found a picture of you when you were still working for them,' she admitted. `Last time I did some digging for Reeve concerning ShinRa.'

 

She opened a drawer and pulled out a colour photograph and handed it to him. The soon-to-be-reborn Turk took it and looked at it. It was a photo of him when he was still with the Jenova Project. He didn't think anything from that period was still intact. He looked at her and Yuffie suddenly couldn't look him in the eyes.

 

`Why did you keep this?'

 

`I…I always wondered what you looked like before….before we found you,' she said. `I didn't mean to hide from you. It's just you were so lost in your own world that I couldn't bring it up. And then you were spending so much time with Hellfire the minute she came on board….. then that thing with Halanitum pushed it out of the way. I didn't think it would matter so much.'

 

Vincent studied the photograph. Had it really been so long? He handed the photograph back to her but Yuffie shook her head.

 

`Keep it,' she said. `I bet Hellfire would appreciate a memento from your past.' With that, she shooed Vincent out of her room and shut the door behind her. Vincent pocketed the photo and made to walk off when the door opened again.

 

`You forgot this.' Yuffie tossed the crimson cloak to him and he caught it deftly in one hand. `Now go and shock the hell outta Cid.' She grinned and shut the door. Vincent smiled and threw the cloak back on as he walked to the bridge. He paused suddenly and walked back to his room. He found a suit laid out for him and a note in neat writing sitting on the bed. He picked it up and read it.

 

Vincent,

 

I got this when I was in Edge last. It used to belong to Reno, a friend of mine. Hope it fits and good luck with your mission.

 

Love,

Tifa.

 

Vincent smiled. `Thanks, Tifa.' He glanced at the claw on his left arm and sighed.

 

Time to start the next phase. He carefully removed the claw, revealing a normal arm beneath. He knew there'd been nothing wrong with his arm from the beginning. He wore the gauntlet as a reminder of what Hojo had done to him in the past. Also it made a formidable weapon. He slipped the suit on over his leather clothing and found it fitted him like a glove. He zipped up the jacket and looked in the mirror and found an old face staring back at him with new eyes.

 

`Welcome back, Turk Valentine,' he said softly.

~*~

He didn't realise his transformation would garner such an outward response. Barret and Cid immediately stopped arguing as he walked onto the bridge. Cloud and Tifa stared in amazement and Reeve had to blink twice to know he was looking at the same person.

 

`Vincent?! My God, I never thought I'd see you look like…..like this!' cried Cid. `Yuffie did a hell of a number on you.'

 

`That she did,' said Barret. `If it weren't for those eyes, I would've thought you were a different guy.'

 

`That's exactly what we're hoping for,' said Reeve. He approached Vincent and handed a card with his photo on it. `Here is your ID. Your name is Hunter Ephraim and you lived in Midgar before the attack, then moved to Kalm. I've already contacted ShinRa and informed them that you've just come out of hiding for the past ten years and wish to work for them. They've got a helicopter on the way and they will be waiting for you at this spaceport. Be on your guard at all times.' He laid a hand on Vincent's shoulder. `And be careful.'

 

Vincent nodded and the members of AVALANCHE came to give him a proper farewell before he walked out of the door and stood at the spaceport.