A Friend in Need

Vincent was working when it happened. Reeve had needed someone who understood paperwork and all the details that went along with it. He also needed someone he could trust. Vincent, more than a little intrigued by what could be hidden in the vast ShinRa Archive, volunteered. Of course, none of it was computerized. It had to be typed manually into the WRO's system, organized into the new database. So the vast library of files was shipped from it's home in Nibelheim to Vincent's apartment and the gunman began work. Normally he would have asked Cloud's permission to move it all, but after the third non-stop month of Cloud's search to bring Aeris back to life, Vincent decided that whatever relationship he'd had with blond was no gone. He'd found his own apartment, completely stocked Cloud's refrigerator with four months of frozen meals (he'd made them all from scratch, not trusting the new packaged frozen food) and left.

Now he sat in the small office adjacent to the kitchen, carefully transcribing the information from his current sheath of papers. It was the work order for the building of ShinRa Manor, and Vincent had made himself a copy the blue prints of it for "safekeeping". He was just about to go into the kitchen and brew more of the Wutian tea that Yuffie had sent him when the power went out. It wasn't an uncommon thing in Midgar during a storm, but tonight the star was clear. Frowning, Vincent stalked toward the fuse box…and froze. Pain radiated upwards through his body, started from right between his shoulder blades. He knew that pain, better than he knew anything. He'd dealt with it for thirty years.

'Chaos?'

Hey Mortal, been awhile. I'm starved. You think anyone will miss a couple of people from Midgar? It's got so many.

'You left! I know you left! Leave me alone!'

Ah, come on. Don't talk to me like that. You know you missed me.

'I said go away, damn it…'

Vincent stopped as he felt Chaos' being rush forward. Wings sprouted from his back as the demon tore the room apart in his quest to escape the building. Thankfully the darkness of the entire city hid him as Chaos flew out past the city. He was planning on feasting his hunger with a few of the homeless outside the city, but within moments Vincent had regained control. In the desolate flat lands between Midgar and Kalm they crashed they crashed, Vincent wrenching control back. Desperately he snatched his phone from its handy place safe in the folds of his cloak. Desperately he hit the speed dial for Cloud's number, praying to whatever deity might be listening that the blond would pick up. Even if Cloud couldn't help, it would help immensely to have another voice besides Chaos to listen.

"Hello."

"Cloud, something's happened! I...Chaos is...and I can't…"

"You've reached me. Just… leave a message." The tone seemed almost mocking, but that may have been a biased opinion.

Vincent tried to stammer something, anything, but then Chaos came back full force, raring and fanning his wings in rage. It only lasted a few seconds, and Vincent hastily disconnected the call. There was no one else! He couldn't endure it on his own. Planet he needed someone who knew what was going on… Nanaki! Vincent scrambled for his phone again, searching frantically through his saved numbers until he found the sage's number. He would understand, knowing so much about the life stream. He knew it would still be terribly late in Cosmo Canyon, and he could only hope that the cat would answer at this time of night.

"Vincent! I was just about to call you!" Nanaki sounded wide awake. "There's been a huge influx in the life stream. I needed to know, are you suffering any side effects from…"

"Chaos…back…can't control…No! Stop!" The last part came out as a scream, the gunman enduring Chaos' attacks again. Both demon and human were tiring, and the former was about ready to give up and feed later. Humans could be so stubborn sometimes.

"Chaos!? Hang on Vincent, don't let it control you. Speak to me, Vincent. I know you can fight this battle, Vincent Valentine."

Nanaki knew what he was doing. The repetitiveness of his name had a calming affect on the gunman. He was able to focus on those two words, and pull his consciousness toward them. Vincent Valentine. I am that person. Vincent Valentine…Vincent Valentine. Vincent…

Vincent lost track of how long he lay there, bone tired and only half conscious. It wasn't until calloused hands lifted him gently by the shoulders that he perceived others in the area.

"Shit, Vince." Cid Highwind breathed eyes wide. "Wha' that fuckin' demon do to ya?"

Vincent could only whimper quietly as new wounds and old wounds shifted. He didn't know where Cid was taking him, and he didn't care. Chaos was back, and Vincent was a monster again.