Something like bonding

[treasureprinces]

Who: Yuffie and Rude
When: The night after this report and before the Nero attack
Location: The palace in Wutai
Rating: PG-13
Summary: Yuffie wants to hide. She's not happy with all the turmoil, and all the sudden questions from her council. As the tensions in Wutai rise and the majority begin to suggest isolation as a means of weathering the

Comments

[tacit_turk]

"Don't we all," a voice replied from somewhere behind her. Rude appeared from behind a pillar, regarding Yuffie with a vague, knowing kind of expression. He wouldn't be surprised at all if she was startled to see him there; as much as Rude was good at being physically big and imposing, he was also good at hiding his presence when he wanted to. He had followed her because she had seemed distressed. At first, he had thought it best to leave her alone, but now it seemed like maybe she could use some company.

[treasureprinces]

Yuffie turned up to him and smiled though it was strained. She looked back down at the grass and pokes at a few blades with her toes. "No one is happy right now, with me, or with your boss. I don't know what to tell them, and 'trust me' ain't goin so good, Rudey."

She cleared her throat. "You're comfortable though?" She was supposed to act like the Lady of Wutai after all and Rude was her guest. "Room to your standards?"

[tacit_turk]

He nodded at the question, not feeling the need to say aloud that any room with a place to sleep would be perfectly sufficient. It was fancier than he was used to. Besides, it seemed funny that she would be even passively concerned about his room when there was so much else for her to be worrying about.

"Everything's good." He moved to take a seat beside her, trying to think of any kind of advice he might be able to give her, and coming up blank. When it came down to it, he was no good at the political stuff. Then again, that's why he wasn't the one in charge. He wondered what Rufus or Tseng would have come up with.

[treasureprinces]

After a year of sleeping on the ground and afraid for her life at times, Yuffie understood that any soft surface could be a bed. It was still nice to have something soft and comforting. Even if the palace was a little cold this time of year. As for asking, Yuffie really believed that someday everyone would get along and they'd be able to have their own lives. She lived in a land where there was a payout at the end, light at the end of her tunnel.

She didn't want to talk to Rufus, to Reeve, to Tseng, to anyone about this mess anymore. She was so tired and too young to feel worn dry. "It will be." She responded to him, even though he was answering her about the accommodations.

She flopped onto her back and looked over at him. From this angle he had rather elegant facial features. "Sorry to drag you away from home."

[tacit_turk]

It seemed that she'd assigned some further meaning to his comment than he'd meant, though he didn't mind. He wondered whether her comment was out of genuine optimism or an attempt to convince herself. He had a hard time mustering genuine optimism, himself. It wasn't that he didn't think things would work out, but he was more inclined to take life as it came to him more than trying to influence it, or assuming anything would come out any particular way. Yuffie seemed like the type of person who would keep pushing until everything worked out the way she wanted. Rufus was that way, too. It was something he could admire.

At the apology, he gave her a mildly quizzical look, followed by a shrug.

"No problem." Orders were orders, and he didn't mind hanging around here for a while. Yuffie was pleasant enough to be around, and he certainly didn't have any complaints about the accommodations. It would be nice if Reno was there, too, but it wasn't like they'd never see each other again.

[treasureprinces]

"You're sorta homesick. I can tell." Yuffie could see it in his face. Rude was easy enough to red, despite the big glasses and the trained expression. She rolled to her side and started picking at the grass again, rolling the soft blade between her slender fingers.

Rude was much more expressive than she previously thought. He was much easier to read than Vincent. "You got people in that mess at home that aren't trained assassins?"

[tacit_turk]

"Hm." He wondered how it was that she could tell, given that he didn't think it should have been obvious. Of course, he was well aware that he was plenty expressive if someone was paying enough attention. It had taken him years growing up to get to a point where the vast majority of people couldn't read him like an open book. The sunglasses helped. Still, it was odd to hear someone other than Reno pick something out like that.

The question prompted a tiny hint of a smile.

"A few," he replied. It was almost funny to think about. Of course, not everyone involved with ShinRa was a trained assassin, but they certainly seemed to attract people who wouldn't have any compunctions about shooting you if they saw fit.

[treasureprinces]

"Well I hope you got in touch with them all." Yuffie smiled up at Rude rather brightly. It wasn't that she didn't feel the weight, but what else could she do? The council wanted to meet her tomorrow and discuss their options. They were going to be old, crusted, and vicious about the outsiders and their perceived 'threat'.

She needed to get out and get her mind off of that argument. "Hey, you dance at all?"

[tacit_turk]

He nodded in reply, offering a tiny smile back at hers, though it soon faded to a surprised expression at the question. He gave her a slightly confused look, then shifted his gaze to the ground in front of him.

"I... can..." he muttered. Where had that come from all of a sudden, he wondered. Then again, after being around Reno so long, he probably shouldn't have been so surprised by random abrupt subject changes.

[treasureprinces]

It wasn't that Yuffie subject hopped, she'd say. It was more that she closed topics quickly and moved on. To some it may seem frantic, and maybe in part it was, but she herself didn't see herself as anything strange for the most part. Just faster than others.

"Well then, let's go, Rudey. I think we both need to get our minds off things."