Drinking Coffee

Chapter Sixteen: Living this Life

He was annoyed.

It had been three days.

It was getting worse.

And the Kids.

Who had figured it out…

(Reeve told them)

Were not helping.

They were dropping hints. Like so:

"Yuffie. Cloud told Vincent to give you a ring."

She smiled. "Sure thing. But wait…Vincent is here…Silly Cloud." She went back the dishes and Dog skidded across the floor and tried to bark.

Denzel laughed. Marlene smiled. Vincent sighed and slapped his head.

"I'm going out."

Yuffie smiled and turned back to Vincent. "Alright. Take the kids with you."

Vincent looked at the kids.

They looked at him.

They smiled.

He sighed.

"Come on." He stated. Then…

A crash. "Yuffie, Dog just hit the glass door!"

"OH SHIT!"

Vincent did not go out. He had to help Yuffie, and the demon children continued to rue the day.

Vincent watched them. Denzel was a maniac. Marlene was sweet. He was on the sofa. A book in his hands, his glasses on his nose, and a kitten on his head.

"I don't understand why I just can't skip class for two weeks."

Vincent sighed. Marlene hit him, "Shut up." She looked back down at her textbook. Yuffie stood in the doorway.

"Mar, you're with me." Vincent pulled the cat off his head and Dog squirmed and tried to bark again. Yuffie laughed and walked over and took the kitten. She leaned down and kissed Vincent's cheek, "Good luck Vinnie."

Marlene stood up and followed Yuffie out of the room. Denzel watched and then turned back to Vincent, "Okay…so what are we learning about?"

Vincent glowered. "History."

"Oh joy. I get to learn about you!" Vincent glared and looked at the book.

"Chapter fifteen. The Jenovan Crisis." He read aloud. He shut the book, "Alright…here is what happened. Man goes insane after seeing crazy idol material. Rag tag group joins up. Leader says 'Let's Mosey' too much. Leader booted off Highwind." Denzel laughed and wrote I down. "Long story short…we beat the bad guy."

"That's now what the papers say. The papers said… 'The Jenova Crisis: the time when an overprotective mother and her zealous son went on a tirade on Earth. A Chocobo headed youth, his "posse" took on the disastrous duo, and when asked before the battle to comment on the desired outcome, said Chocobo had this to say. "We don't have time for interviews right now. Come on guys. Let's mosey!" Inspirational words from this planet's savior.'" He said putting the paper back down in her notebook.

"To hell with the news." Vincent stated.

Denzel did a fist pump and shredded the thing.

"And you get the girl?" He said pointing his pen at Vincent.

Vincent sighed, "Yeah…I got the girl. Somehow."

"Dude. She's hot."

"Denzel?"

"Yes?"

"Shut up."

"Sorry…I was trying to be Alex." Vincent sighed and leaned back, "Uncle Vincent…can I ask you something?"

He looked up and opened his eyes, "Yes, what is it?"

Denzel sighed and his eyes darted around the room, "Okay, but don't tell any one. Even Aunt Yuffie." Vincent's eyes widened. Denzel had always trusted Yuffie. "She's got a big mouth and can't be trusted with this." Vincent nodded he understood.

"I understand Denzel. I wouldn't put it by her to tell Marlene or Tifa."

He sighed and placed his head down on his book. "You can tell Mom. But you can't let Marlene know that I know about him."

"Him?"

He lifted his head and gritted his teeth, "Yes him, Denim Light. Or something or other. "

"Denim Light?"

"That's him…" He frowned. "What should I do…I mean I don't like Marlene or anything but…I don't want her hurt by that guy…" He frowned even more. "Stupid Denim Light. If I went to Edge Alterative I'd kick his…butt…" He said lowering his voice on the last word. Vincent raised an eyebrow.

Denzel sighed, gathered his things, and began to get up, "I knew you wouldn't be able to help me…"

Vincent sighed. This was a major pain. Denzel had heard something ridiculous through the 'Grape Vine' and was obviously freaking out because he held feelings for the little Wallace girl.

"Denzel." He started, "If you fear for Marlene's safety, why don't you talk with her about it?" He said to Denzel, who was standing there dumb struck. "But as it sounds you care for her more than you lead on to."

Denzel dropped his books and began to flail, "Uncle Vincent, please don't tell her or Mister Wallace!" He said almost looking in fear as he spoke Barret's name, "Mister Wallace would have my neck!"

Vincent sighed; phobia of the man was common. He heard a noise and he looked over. Yuffie. Vincent stood and pushed Denzel into a chair, "Wait here."

He walked over to Yuffie and she grabbed him by the collar and dragged him into the hallway. "What speech are you using?"

Vincent blinked, "Why?"

"Marlene is having trouble. She's jealous of this girl…that might be Denzel's crush."

"Her name?" Vincent said skeptically, he knew it was the same rumor it was with Denzel…but Yuffie believing it? He could not fathom.

All right. Maybe he could.

"Marilyn Darlice."

Vincent sighed.

"Yuffie."

"…I mean, she likes him…"

"Yuffie."

"Like a load….like love…"

"Yuffie."

"…It's like you and me Vinnie…"

"Yuffie…"

"They are so cute…plea-" Vincent placed his hand over her mouth. He sighed and raised a finger to her.

"I am going to speak. Alright?" She nodded, "I heard something of the same type from Denzel. Marlene liked a boy named Denim Light." She began to talk.

It sounded like this: "Mmmp….mmmmp! THEN…mmmp!"

Vincent blinked and translated the muffled, 'Denim Light! That's stupid! Wait! I have an idea. Let's tell them and THEN…we can get them together!'. Vincent sighed.

"I'm going to let go of you…go get Marlene and we can figure this out…alright….?" Yuffie nodded and he pulled his hand away.

She smiled, "Thanks Vinnie…" She turned away and then skipped down the hallway. Vincent watched her and then turned back to the room and walked back in to find Denzel with his ear up against the wall.

"What are you doing?"

He shushed the older man, "I'm being stealthy."

Vincent blinked, sighed, and sat back down on the couch. "It doesn't work when you get caught."

Denzel sighed and backed away from the wall and landed head first in his chair. Vincent silently wondered it the boy suffered brain cell damage from doing that too many times.

"So what did you and Aunt Yuffie talk about?"

Vincent glowered at the nosy boy, "Our wedding at Gold Saucer, two weeks ago…" He said in a flat tone as the girls walked in.

"What the hell?!" Yuffie shouted. "Did you just crack a joke?"

"You know I do not posses a sense of humor." He said as she walked over and sat down next to him. Marlene and Denzel looked at each other. They were confused.

Marlene sat down next to Denzel and smiled painfully, "Hey Denz!"

"Hey Mar." He said shyly. Vincent looked at Yuffie who squealed.

"Yuffie…shush…" Vincent warned. "Denzel…tell her,"

Denzel glared. "Well could you two leave. You are mucking up the air."

Vincent glared at him and continued to sit there. Yuffie looped an arm through one of his crossed arms and smiled at the two.

Denzel sighed and took one of Marlene's hands, "Mar, I…feel really dumb…when we where out at the park and lined up for Telephone I heard that you liked this Denim Light…I got mad…don't date him please..."

"Denzel? Who is Denim and why are you so upset? You like that Marilyn Darlice girl…"

"Who?" He asked, "I like you…"

Vincent frowned; it was like one of those old movies that Yuffie watched.

He disliked those movies.

"Denzel...?"

Then he felt Yuffie tug on his arm and he looked down at her. She smiled.

He smiled back.

And some how…

He was able to tune out the two children in front of them.

Somehow.

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A/N:

It's been so long. But School is a pain, and I'm moving, plus I have a new part time job, my sister was injured in a weird mailbox accident (Do not ASK), I'm engaged, and still this story is done...but the school (St. Vincent's) has a new web-blocker so we'll see....

Anyways. I think Marlene and Denzel are around Fourteen-Thirteen so...I'm sure it's mildly acceptable and cute none the less. :)

I do have something that might be upsetting for the Yuffietine Shippers. I have joined Viva La Reefie and have fallen madly in love with the ship. I'll be taking a short break from the ship.

Like? Read? Review!

Sera