Learning How To Breathe
By Faronon Star Wolf
19/?
Wordcount: 1536
"Cloud--" Vincent wasn't having any fun, by the look on his face. "Cloud," he finally spat out, looking irritated. "Stop talking and listen." A pause. "Thank you."
I tuned him out while he explained to Cloud our fun fun situation by phone. We were out in the middle of freaking nowhere, and there wasn't much chance of us being able to walk anywhere before we had to keel over to sleep, and since we had no supplies--
Well. Keeling over to sleep would be a bad idea, because I didn't want to wake up as monster food.
"And we would appreciate it if someone would drive out and get us," Vincent concluded, sounding like he didn't really expect that to happen. "...very well. We will meet you there." He sighed and pocketed the phone.
"Well, Vinnie Vintage, what's the plan?" I asked, peering up from where I was sprawled. He gave me a disgusted look and turned away. "Vintage," I said in a sing-song voice. Vinnie twitched. "Hey, hey, Vinnie, what're we going to do?"
He sighed. "We are to meet Cloud and the others at the ford in the river," he replied reluctantly. I jumped to my feet and did a little dance, not only because we had a solid plan, but because I'd gotten him to answer to "Vinnie". Score for me!
We started walking and we killed monsters and I nearly annoyed the pants off of Vincent.
Nearly.
Vincent wasn't pantsless when we finally reached the ford, where Cloud-and-friends were waiting.
I froze at the sight of one--friend--in particular.
"Damn it," I hissed, staring at Cait Sith. He had the grace to look nervous. He should. My glare was just one degree below being able to kill. "What is he still doing here?"
Vincent raised an eyebrow and went over to talk to Cloud. I stayed where I was and glared at Cait Sith, rubbing my wrist absently. I hadn't thought to put my shoulder-guard on before I left, so the back of my wrist had been rubbed raw--I was really hoping that someone had thought to bring it.
It took a while, but I finally realized that no one had come over to talk to me. With one last angry look at the cat and his doll, I walked over to talk to Cid. He was closest.
"What do you want?" he asked, more harshly than he had the last time I'd gone to bother him.
I frowned. "I want to know why everyone is acting like I kill babies or something."
Cid said something pungent and puffed angrily on his cigarette, but he didn't respond otherwise.
"Answer me," I demanded, looking at the others.
There was a silence, until Cait Sith spoke up. "You're acting like you think we don't know what you did," he said, his voice hiding any hint of nervousness he might feel.
"What--" I started and choked, feeling betrayed--
"We know that you gave Shinra the keystone."
--
I felt frozen.
It made sense now--the cold way that everyone was looking at me, how everyone was avoiding me.
I could hear Vincent talking faintly, but--
--they thought I had sold them out to Shinra--
--Shinra, the reason my mother was dead--
--Shinra, where Cait Sith worked--
I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. I could feel tears stinging my eyes, but I pushed them back as best as I could. Opening them, I looked around to find everyone was staring at me. "Are you so sure," I started, and paused, swallowing in an attempt to keep my voice from wobbling, "that you've really discovered the traitor?"
And with that, I turned and started to walk away. I didn't--didn't want to see--
I didn't want to see them look at me like that, like I was worth less than the dead monsters we'd been leaving behind us.
Like I was dirt.
--
There was someone following me.
I didn't want to look at them--we know you gave Shinra the keystone--so I just kept walking. I knew that it wasn't Vincent, but other than that I didn't know who it could be.
I just--walked.
Finally, though, they lost their patience--they came up beside me and put their hand on my shoulder--I hit it away, and whirled to face Cloud.
"What do you want?" I hissed. I wanted him to-- to-- "Just--go away! You've already decided, haven't you? So why don't you just go and piss on a monster!" I spun and stalked off again.
"Yuffie--" Cloud growled. I ignored him. He grabbed my shoulder again, and this time I reached for my shuriken, staring at him balefully.
"Cloud, I swear by Leviathan's Crown if you touch me again--"
"What happened to your wrist?" he interrupted, staring at the rope burn. I glared at him for a second, and laughed humorlessly.
"Well, I'd explain, but since you're so sure I'm a turncoat..." I shrugged and smiled grimly. "What lead to that decision, anyway?"
Cloud blinked. "Cait Sith told me--"
I snorted. "Told you he saw me leaving the hotel with the keystone, right?"
He nodded. "And I don't see any reason not to trust him."
"How about this?" I asked bitterly, and laughed again. "He told me that you were asking for me, and he begged me to come quick and bring the keystone."
"What?" Cloud asked, quietly, looking startled. I nodded.
"And when I got to the Chocobo Square--where he told me to go--not only did I not see you or any of the Shinra people you'd supposedly confronted--did I mention he said that Shinra had Barret's daughter and Aeris' mother hostage?--not only did I not see anyone, but then I got to play hide and seek with the Turks."
"...why should I believe you?" Cloud looked indecisive. "You've lied to us before--"
"Oh, shut up. There's a difference between lying and stealing, and I've already explained why I stole from you. Besides, would I have rope burns if I was an guest of Shinra?"
"Well--"
"You know what? Forget this. You're not going to believe me, no matter what I say, so why should even I bother?" I started pulling the Materia out of my weapon and armor, feeling that ancient knowledge just disappear as it lost contact with me. "Here--have your Materia back. You're not going to let me stay, so you may as well take it back." Cloud opened his mouth, but I didn't let him say anything. "If you come back to Wutai, you can have the rest back--I'll figure how to get more myself." Pushing the Materia into his hands, I turned and started to walk away again.
"Yuffie," Cloud called. I turned back to him, blinking back tears. "You're telling the truth?" I nodded, and he bit his lip. "Come back with me. I'm going to confront Cait Sith."
"You--why?"
He was frowning. "Because things don't seem right." He wouldn't expand on that, and I didn't feel much like pushing him for an explanation.
The walk back to where the buggy was parked was a silent one--if the other person was someone like Vintage, who seems to be silent for at least five hours a day, it wouldn't be that much of a surprise--but for me and Cloud? Quite an accomplishment.
Cait Sith had his back toward us when we returned, not noticing us until Barret looked up, his face twisting into a look of anger. The cat turned, eyes widening in panic before he managed to cover it up. I had to smile, but it was bitter. And from Cloud's snort, he'd noticed it as well.
"What'd you bring her back for?" Barret growled. "We already know what happened, thanks to Cait Sith--"
"Cait Sith may have left a few things out," Cloud said, looking at Barret steadily, and the taller man glowered for a few moments before he looked down.
"You'd believe a thief over me?" Cait Sith squeaked, sounding insulted--and nervous. I wasn't the only one who heard it, either, because Aeris gave him an odd look.
"I believe her," Cloud said, and left it at that. "Now, Cait, would you mind explaining why you told Yuffie that Shinra had Barret's daughter and Aeris' mother--"
"What?" Barret exploded, furious, turning to face Cait Sith. Reaching out to grab the cat, he shook him furiously. "What do you mean, Shinra has my Marlene?"
"I'd hoped it wouldn't come to this," Cait Sith said, his voice sounding totally different--it wasn't that high-pitched whine anymore--it was a deeper, more human voice. He reached up and gripped Barret's wrist and--
--a spark of electricity?--
--something jumped from the cat's paw to Barret's arm, causing him to drop the cat. Cait Sith landed back on Mog's head, and cocked his head. "What I told Yuffie is true--Shinra does have little Marlene and Mrs. Elmyra. I just didn't tell her the whole truth, though I think she's figured it out by now." He smiled, showing pointy teeth. "I work for Shinra."