The Reason

Last Chapter:


"What's wrong?" She asked, seeing the almost panicked expression on Vincent's face.

"We have to go. The city is about to be attacked. WRO agents have been stationed to help evacua-"

"It's Genesis, isn't it?" She interrupted.

He froze and stared at her. "How do you know ab-" He was cut off again by the sound of choppers firing upon the small city.

They were too late. They were stuck.


Chapter 6


Vincent wasn’t given time to repeat his question. A large dragonfly swooped low outside and dropped better than a dozen DG SOLDIERS onto the street. They began firing on the people outside, the sounds of their gunfire strangely familiar to Jexebel. The people outside ran inside the restaurant, trying in their panic to find a place to hide. The soldiers followed them inside. Vincent drew the Cerberus and was able to take three of them before they turned their fire to him.

“Run, Jexebel!” He shouted, pushing her toward the doors to the kitchens. She did as she was told, moving as fast as she could for the shoes she was wearing. They dashed behind the heavy steel doors and Vincent used his suit jacket to tie the handles together. He turned to look at Jexebel to find her staring at him with an eerily calm look. He shook his head.

‘She looks kind of like Shelke did.’

‘She’s too calm to be a simple Village girl.’

‘She’s done this before.’ His years as a Turk taught him to notice subtle changes in the body, and hers was making him think that she hadn’t been even CLOSE to honest with him.

“We have to get back to the bar.” He said, coldly. “We can go out the back, but we’ll have to go on foot. Can you make it?” He didn’t need an answer. Somehow he knew she could.


Jexebel’s mind was a whirlwind. She had been here before. She had done this. Except . . . she was on the OTHER side. Genesis . . . how . . . why did she know that name? Faintly she heard Vincent ask if she could make it back to the bar.

“Yes.” Her voice was . . . empty. It reminded Vincent of Shelke’s voice before Yuffie slapped her. When she had stated that Shalua was a fool.

“Let’s go.” His voice sounded distant to Jexebel. Like he didn’t trust her.

“Stop!” She said. She saw his hand tighten on the Cerberus. Almost like he was preparing to shoot her if he needed to.

“I can’t run in these shoes!” His grip softened a little bit as she took the stilettos off of her feet. She hiked her dress up around her thigh, surprising Vincent as she pulled one of her knives from the strap between her legs.

“You always carry those?” He asked, watching as she used the knife like a hatchet and cut the heels off of the shoes.

“Yes.” She answered, her voice held more substance this time.

“Why?”

“I just always have. Why does it matter?”

“It doesn’t. Let’s go.”

That was the last straw.

“What is your problem?! It’s like you’re blaming me!”

“That’s ridiculous.”

“Bullshit. You don’t trust me!”

“Jexebel, let’s talk about this later. We have to GO!” Vincent had never shouted at her before. It bothered her, to say the least.

“Fine!” She used the knife to slice the hem of the dress, so it came to her thigh. She could move better like that. “Go!” She said, angrily.

‘Way to go, Valentine. Push her away just because she MIGHT know something more than she’s saying.’ His heart said as he scowled and slipped out the back door.

‘Not now!’ he whined internally.

‘What if she doesn’t even know she knows it? You know it’s possible! Cloud went through something similar.’

‘Alright. If I swear to think about this later, will you leave me alone so I can get through this alive?’

He quickly slipped into the alley behind the restaurant, checking to make sure that Jexebel followed him. They made their way to the bar using back streets, until they came to the alley behind the bar. Peeking down the street, Vincent spotted two soldiers guarding the back entrance. Jexebel scurried away from Vincent to check to front entrance, signaling that there were five more soldiers in front. The hand motions were standard Turk signals, once again making him wonder just who she really was. She quickly made her was back to his side.

“I have to take them out.” He whispered, aiming the Cerberus.

“No!” She whispered loudly, pushing the gun down by the barrel.

Vincent growled and turned on her. This was what he’d been afraid of. He pinned her to the building, his left hand at her throat, and his right pressing the barrel of the Cerberus against the underside of her chin.

“What?” He said, venom in his voice. “Are you going to tell me who you are? That you’re one of them?”

She struggled for breath under the crushing pressure of his left hand. “Stop!” She pleaded. “Let me breathe and I’ll tell you what I was going to!”

Vincent’s left hand left her throat and pressed hard against her chest, effectively pinning her to the wall.

She was silent as she tried to regain her breath. He shook her. “Well?” He said, pressing his gun hard against her throat.

“I was going to tell you to let me do it! If you shoot them then the whole block will know that we’re back here!”

‘Oh, shit.’ His brain said. His eyes went wide as he considered her words. She was right. He released her and caught her before she fell to the ground.

“Jexeb-“ he started. She cut him off, waving her hand in front of him. She quietly drew two knives and dashed across the alley to the other side. Vincent watched in silent awe as she skirted the wall, staying in the shadows with perfect form. She stopped just across the alley from her targets, and waited. She was shadowed from the soldiers, so they could not see her, but Vincent could see her clearly. She signaled him, motioning for him to make the soldiers turn around. He picked up a rock and tossed it down the alley, to collide with the door behind the soldiers. They turned away from Jexebel to investigate the sound. If Vincent hadn’t known that Jexebel was there, he wouldn’t have believed what he saw.

Jexebel leapt across the alley and landed on the back of one of the guards. She snapped his neck with ease. The other guard whirled around and aimed his gun at her. She lashed out wither knives and slashed his throat from both directions. Jexebel turned back to Vincent. Her face was splattered with blood from the second soldier, and there was a single tear trickling down her face. Her eyes spoke of the hurt she was feeling. The betrayal. She turned from Vincent and disappeared into the dark doorway of the bar. He hurried down the alley and followed her inside.

She was gone.

“Jexebel?” he whispered, straining his eyes to see in the dark.

“I’m here.” Her voice floated from his right. “At the stairs. There were four of them upstairs, but I got them.”

“I need my gauntlet, and more ammunition, and you need better shoes. Let’s get what we need and get out.” Vincent said. He tried to let the regret for his actions show in his voice, but apparently Jexebel didn’t catch it, as she simply turned and floated up the stairs. “Jexebel, wait! We need to stay together. Let’s get you changed, and then we can get the ammo.” He said.

“Fine.” She didn’t look at him, just made a sharp turn into her room. She didn’t bother asking him to turn around as she slipped out of the ruined dress and unstrapped the knives from her thighs. She donned the clothes she wore the first night they met. Black leather shorts, and a tight black shirt with long sleeves. She slipped her useless shoes off and slipped into her large army boots, also black in color. Then Vincent watched in awe as quietly threw her bureau open to reveal dozens of throwing knives, and an elegant, albeit mean-looking sword. He sat silently as Jexebel strapped, fastened, and buckled until she had knives scattered across her body. She turned to him as she tied the sword to her back. “Okay.” She said. “I’m ready.”

She left the room before him and then stopped suddenly before entering his room. He almost knocked her over when he ran into her. “What is it?” He asked looking over her shoulder. She pointed to the doorknob. Vincent looked just in time to see the knob start to turn.

Vincent and Jexebel separated on either side of the door just as it opened and a female soldier stepped out of the room. She spoke.

“Second floor clear, sir.”

Vincent motioned for Jexebel to get out of the bar, but she simply shook her head.

Jexebel waited until she heard the response before stepping behind the woman and snapping her neck. She gently laid the body on the ground and stepped inside Vincent’s room. Vincent stepped over the body just in time to hear Jexebel gasp and a man shout.

“Jexebel!” He said, rushing into the room. He saw a soldier attempting to knock Jexebel with the butt of his rifle. She dodged low and shoved a knife through the man’s shin. He cried out and hit the floor. Jexebel lifted her foot and crushed the man’s windpipe, effectively silencing him.

“Hurry, Vincent.” She said. “I bet they heard that.”

“They did.” He said, flatly. He went to his closet and swung the door open, only to gape in shock.

“What?” Jexebel said, peeking around him. The closet was empty.

“They took my guns. All my ammo . . . I only have two extra clips!” He was agitated, and a little worried. True, Jexebel had already proved that she could take care of herself, and he wasn’t entirely sure that he should trust her, but what if there was someone she couldn’t get to? And not knowing if he could trust her, somehow made him want her more, damn it all!

‘You’re going to be the death of me . . .’ his words to her the night before echoed in his head.

“Vincent! Come on! They’re coming!” Her voice was just like it was the night he met her, when she realized who he was. Panicked.

“Let’s go.” He lifted the table next to the window and threw it through the glass. He held his hand to her. She simply brushed it away and leapt out the window, landing gracefully on her feet in the alley below. Vincent followed her.

“Where are we going?” Jexebel asked, ducking behind a trashcan. Vincent joined her and rested his back against a building.

“We have to get to safe house twelve. That’s where Rufus is.” He realized his slip too late. He probably shouldn’t have told her that. If she WAS an enemy, she now knew a bit about where the leader of the government was hiding.

“Okay . . . where are we going.” She stated flatly.

He sighed. “Icicle Inn.” He glanced at her.

“So I can make sure that my mother is okay?” She looked and sounded hopeful.

“I don’t see why not. Though she might be a tad bit surprised to see me. It’s been about twenty three years.” He was trying to lighten her mood and make her forgive what he had done.

She caught that, and it wasn’t going to work. She just snorted quietly and began sneaking down the alley. He followed her and took hold of her arm.

“Jexebel-“ He started, “I’m sorry. My only excuse is that I’m terribly paranoid. There was no reason to do what I did. Forgive me?”

Jexebel listened to him, but said nothing. She stared down the alley behind him. He sighed and began walking ahead of her.

An hour passed sneaking silently through the complex back streets of the city, and they finally reached the outer ruins of Midgar.

“This way.” Vincent said, leading Jexebel to a large rock.

“It’s a rock.” She said, unimpressed.

Vincent smiled weakly and nudged the boulder with his shoulder. There was a large grinding noise and the boulder began moving sideways to reveal a vast underground bunker. He motioned for Jexebel to go in before him and followed her when she did so.

It was HUGE. There were hallways and doorways in every direction, and large hangars on the walls covered in guns and knives and spare ammo. Vincent pushed a button and the boulder slid back into place, plunging the bunker into darkness. He flicked another switch and a sharp florescent light began it’s harsh glow.

Vincent felt much more comfortable now that they were safe and he could restock.

“You should get some rest.” He said to her, waving toward a door to his left.

“What about you?” Jexebel asked.

“I’m just gathering more clips and reloading the ones I have, then I’ll be in. I still don’t think we should separate. Oh, will you please open that cupboard to your left and retrieve my spare gauntlet?” Vincent said, not looking up from his chore, even when the dusty arm-piece was gently laid down in front of him. He heard a few doors open and close as Jexebel tried to locate the bunks.


Once Jexebel was away from Vincent, the dam burst. She dropped to her knees on the other side of the door and covered her mouth with her hand in an effort to silence the sobs that now racked her body. He didn’t trust her. He thought she was against him. He held her at gunpoint! He said he was sorry, sure, but that didn’t change anything. She could see in his fiery eyes that he still didn’t trust her. What had she done? What had she said to make him think that? After what they’d done together . . . she thought he cared about her. Not love, no. But . . .

The thought that he had used her got the better of her and she let a tiny whimper escape, quickly jumping onto the bunk and sliding under the covers when she heard Vincent’s chair slide and his footsteps coming toward the door. It opened just as she pulled the itchy blanket over her face. She quickly evened out her breathing as Vincent’s footsteps got closer to the bunk. She didn’t let her surprise show when he sat down on the bunk beside her. She just lay there calmly, feigning sleep. He was silent for a long time. Minutes seemed like hours before Vincent finally moved. He pulled the blanket from her face and planted a tender kiss on her jaw.

“I’m sorry.” He whispered against her soft skin.

With those words, his weight left the bunk, and she heard the rustling of fabric. She assumed he was removing his shirt. She felt the frame twist a bit as Vincent climbed onto the top bunk.

They both lay awake for a long while, neither knowing that the other was not asleep.

‘Are you going to admit that you love her yet?’ his heart asked

‘I do not. I just feel bad for hurting her. I care for her.’

‘Care for her, but not love her?’

‘I haven’t known her long enough to love her.’

‘She loves you.’ His heart stated.

‘What? Don’t be stupid. No she doesn’t.’

‘If she didn’t love you, then she wouldn’t be so upset about this, don’t you think?’

‘Well, so what if I DID love her. She won’t forgive me anyway. It’s my own fault for being so damned paranoid.’

‘HA! So you DO love her!’

Vincent groaned internally and stuffed his head under his pillow.



‘He really is sorry . . . maybe I should just talk to him . . . I’m sure he’s got secrets too . . . ‘ Jexebel thought.

Jexebel tried hard to think of a reason that she should NOT speak to Vincent, but nothing came to her. She did, however, know that it had to be done now.

“Vincent.” She called out tentatively. She was surprised when he answered her, sounding just as awake as ever.

“Yes?”

“Can . . . can we talk?”

She heard him sigh, but it wasn’t annoyance . . . it was . . . relief. He carefully slid off of the top bunk and stood next to her bunk. Jexebel sat up and motioned for him to sit beside her. He did. They were quiet.

“I’m sorry.” Vincent said again.

“No, Vincent. Don’t.” Jexebel said. “You have ever right to be suspicious. I know things that I probably shouldn’t. But the thing is,” She said when he opened his mouth to speak, “I don’t know HOW I know these things. Like Genesis: I don’t know anything about him, but at the same time, I do, d’you know what I mean?”

“I think I know what it is you’re saying, although I confess I’ve never experienced it.”

“Now,” Jexebel stated with meaning, “Why are you so paranoid?”

Vincent wasn’t shocked by this question. In truth, he expected it.

So for the next hour and a half, he told her. He told her about his past. Lucrecia, Hojo, the Galian Beast and Chaos. Everything.

Jexebel sat quietly while he told his story. So quiet that for a moment Vincent forgot that she was there, and that he was talking at all. It was almost like he was dreaming about the events of his past. He sat very still and quiet when he finished, waiting for her to call him a freak and order him to get away from her. Sure, she knew about some stuff. It was obvious to the world that Vincent Valentine wasn’t getting any older, and wasn’t going to, either.

She didn’t reject him, though. Instead, she cupped his jaw and forced him to look at her.

“I’m sorry.” She said. “I was so cruel, and unwilling to listen before. I have cause unnecessary pain for the both of us. I’m the one who needs to be forgiven.”

“No.” Vincent said. “Don’t take all the blame. Maybe, just this once, I can force myself to share the guilt with another.” He turned his body to face her.

“Forgotten?” He asked.

Jexebel smiled that smile that he loved so much. “Forgotten.” She agreed. He nodded and stood to climb back onto his bunk. She grabbed his wrist to stop him. “Stay.” She said.

Vincent smiled and climbed into the bed beside Jexebel. She rolled on her side, facing the wall and cuddled back into him when she felt his warmth behind her. Finally warm, comfortable, and somewhat at ease, the two drifted into a deep sleep.


Vincent awoke to a warm, delicious pressure at his groin. He stretched and realized that the pressure was Jexebel’s backside as she struggled in her sleep to find a comfortable position. It was heaven. It was hell. Vincent could feel himself getting hard.

‘No, no, no!’ he thought. ‘Not now! She’s not ready!’

But his body would not listen to his brain – big surprise – and he let his hands slide up thighs to her hips. She had removed her weapons, and her shirt and shorts, sleeping only in her bra and panties. She must have done it sometime after Vincent went to sleep, he thought.

Jexebel pushed back against him again and let out a small sigh. He bit his lip and tentatively pushed forward into the pressure. His mind gave in as he leaned down to her neck and inhaled. He could smell the blood left on her skin from her killing the soldiers at the bar, and oddly, it turned him on even more. He nipped at her neck softly, smirking when her breath caught in her sleep. He rolled away and removed his pants, then rolled back just as quickly. He stifled a groan when the soft fabric of her panties slid against his growing erection. He gently thrust against her backside, creating a slow rhythm, and resumed his feather-light assault on the nape of her neck. Within in a few short minutes, he was rock-hard and aching. He slowed his rhythm and was about to get out of the bed to fix the problem when Jexebel startled him by speaking.

“Vincent . . .” She moaned, arching against him. “Put it somewhere useful!”

His heart stopped beating for a second. “Are you sure?” He whispered against her ear.

“Yes . . . please . . . just do it!” She whimpered, reaching back to grasp his hip and pull him against her.

“Alright,” He said, “But turn over. I want to see you.”

Jexebel complied, scooting away and then rolling onto her back. Vincent threw the covers back and gracefully climbed on top of her. She immediately spread her legs, wrapping them around his waist. Vincent slowly lowered his lips to hers, kissing her gently as his hand wandered to her heat, slipping inside her panties. He stroked the bud there, making Jexebel gasp and buck against him. His tongue plunged into her mouth as he slid a finger inside her.

Jexebel was getting impatient. She lifted her hips and slid her panties over her rear. Vincent took over, sitting back and lifting her legs to slide them completely off. She sat up and reached for the front clasp of her bra, only to have him push her hands away. He dove in to her chest and attacked the clasp with his teeth, having it open in no time at all. His hands gently pushed the straps off of her shoulders and down her arms. He flung the bra across the small room, and turned his attention to her breasts. He nipped at a nipple, pushing Jexebel back down on the bed as he did so.

“Vincent!” She gasped. “Please . . .” She moaned when his fingers resumed stroking her clit.

“Are you absolutely sure?” He asked again. He didn’t want her to do anything she’d regret come the morning.

Jexebel let out a primal growl and flipped them over so that she was straddling him. “Yes!” she said. She wasted no time lowering herself onto him, flinching at first for being stretched so much.

Vincent hissed loudly as the feeling of Jexebel’s tight heat surrounded him. It was like liquid silk, and white-hot. She rocked on top of him slowly at first, dropping to her elbows so she could kiss him. She whimpered into his mouth as he thrust up to meet her. It was maddening. He couldn’t get deep enough!

Without warning, he flipped them over again and slid back inside her. He dropped to his elbows and shuddered when he felt Jexebel’s arms and legs lock around him. He kissed her neck, breath rushing past her ear. He thrust hard; he could feel her cervix against the tip of his erection. He worried that he was hurting her, but when he tried to slow down she dug her fingernails into his back and begged him to speed up again.

There were no weak whimpers. No soft moans. Just ragged breaths and harsh growls as the heat reached a blistering peak. Jexebel let out low, guttural cries when Vincent dipped low again and took a nipple into his hot mouth, nipping and rolling it with his tongue, and he let his hand find her clit again.

“Yes . . .” She finally said. “Vincent . . .!” She only gasped and her nails scraped across his back as she achieved her climax, leaving marks that he knew would be there for days.

His mouth released her nipple and claimed her lips as he continued to thrust, prolonging her pleasure and so near to his own peak. Her walls contracting around him proved too much. He ripped his mouth from hers and threw his head back, moaning as he reached climax.

“Jexebel . . .” He whispered. His perfect rhythm faltered and he thrust jerkily and hard, growling with each thrust.

Vincent collapsed on top of Jexebel, too spent to move. She didn’t seem to mind his weight, and wrapped her arms around him as he gasped for breath. Then she spoke.

“Please don’t break my heart, Vincent.”

Vincent lifted himself and looked into her eyes. He said nothing, just leaned down and kissed her softly. He rolled off of her and draped his arm and leg possessively over her body.

“I won’t.” Spoken after a few minutes. He finally admitted the reason he couldn’t ever harm her, physically or no.

‘I love you.’

Someday he would say it out loud.