Yuffie :12:

[viva_la_materia]

Fine. Fine! [Yuffie looks like she might be sick or cry. She's been talking to the House again, and she doesn't like what it's telling her.]

If everybody's so worried about a majority tie, then fine! If you know for absolutely sure that you're innocent, then vote for me! [She hits herself on the chest with one fist, fiercely.] I'll be your

Comments

[wyvernridesyou]

Yuffie- NO.

[viva_la_materia]

Heath, what am I supposed to do? Everybody's too busy worrying! They're not listening to me! And this fixes the problem, right? [She hiccups a dizzy laugh.] We won't even have to guess which one was the majority...

[wyvernridesyou]

YUFFIE.

[ he yells it, uncharacteristically angry ]

All of those people who have died...! You have to live for them! You can't die! How you feel right now about them-

HOW DO YOU THINK IT WOULD MAKE PEOPLE FEEL IF YOU DIED?

[ after all, it's why Heath himself is still alive. he's alive for his entire squadron ]

[viva_la_materia]

[Yuffie is overwrought and miserable and shouts right back.]

Well, how's everybody gonna feel when whoever the traitor votes for dies?! I mean, duh, I don't wanna die, but how--how can I ask for this and then have you cover me? How is that right?

[wyvernridesyou]

Someone's going to die no matter what! I already nearly lost someone I cared about- I lost my whole squadron because I couldn't do anything! I'm not going to lose you too when I can do something!

[ he's red in the face and can't believe he's shouting at a woman like this but- ]

[ the idea of her dying after so many people she cared about- ]

[ he can't allow it! ]

[viva_la_materia]

But somebody has to be the majority and--and--and it isn't fair! [Yuffie is not going to cry, she is not going to cry!]

None of it's fair, but at least this way I'm not letting two people die and keeping my feet clean, Heath, please--!

[wyvernridesyou]

IT WORKED with Legault, having him draw all of the votes! We only had one die instead of two! It would have worked! It was going to work! The only reason it didn't was being everyone got scared by the attempt at killing him!

[ his hands are on his shoulders and it might feel as though he's moments away from shaking her, but he's actually trembling ]

Please- please let me save you.

[viva_la_materia]

But, but how can I ask for that?

[Yuffie's eyes are filling with tears, no, no, she's always the baby of the family, everybody's kid sister, but there's nobody to fall back on now except Heath and he's trying so hard...]

How's anybody gonna take me seriously if I ask for that? This has to work, Heath, I can't...I can't keep watching people die.

[wyvernridesyou]

ASK? I'm offering! I don't want to see you die! You-

You care for everyone- so much-

[ Heath's eyes are wet- this is hitting so close to home- ]

It's not about who's going to take you seriously! It's about the fact that this isn't just your decision! There are people here! People that care about you!

[viva_la_materia]

But...but... [Yuffie blinks, and a tear runs down her cheek. She swipes it away, frustrated with herself.]

[wyvernridesyou]

[ ohh now he feels bad- he's made her cry- but... but this is for her own good! ]

We're going to get through this without anyone having to sacrifice themselves.

[viva_la_materia]

[Yuffie sniffs.] But somebody's gonna have to. The traitor vote, and the...the traitor...

[wyvernridesyou]

But you're not the traitor. So you don't have to die. We should try to keep people who don't have to die from dying. It's like a war. There's going to be casualties... but does that mean you want- does that mean you want your wingmates dead? You have to save whoever you can.

[ his grip on her shoulders has loosened so that it's just his hands resting there. he's still shaking a bit, but not nearly as badly as he was before ]

[viva_la_materia]

[Yuffie cracks the hint of a smile at the odd term.] Wingmates?

[wyvernridesyou]

Wyvern riders and pegasus knights. We call our comrades that. It means your fellow soldiers. The people you have to protect.

[ have to... and sometimes failed to ]

[viva_la_materia]

[Yuffie's smile widens a little.] Oh. In Wutai, we call that nakama.

Mine were always protecting me. [She sets her jaw.] It's about time I did some protecting, too. Vince doesn't get his vampy butt in trouble enough for me to make it all back that way.