Running with Monsters
Chapter One
"Gah!" Vincent Valentine gasped as he woke and sat up, clutching his left arm. The Bio-mechanical arm that had replaced his old one about thirty-five years ago twitched, and Vincent winced. It hadn't ached this much for a good four months, and he had no idea why it was starting to now. He looked around his little room. He'd left the desolate basement of Shinra Manor with Cloud and his group five years ago, and hadn't gone back. The room he currently occupied was in the town of Kalm, where he'd first encountered Deepground two years ago.
His little apartment rested on the top floor of the 5-floor building, and he liked it that way. It was out of the way, but not high enough that the turmoil of everyday Kalm life intruded on his own.
Vincent swung his legs out of bed and onto the floor. Both his feet, also bio-mechanized, were forever stuck in golden, pointy, and rather cumbersome boots. He didn't sigh, but just frowned. He stood made his way into the small washroom across the even smaller hallway.
Vincent took off his black pajama pants and stepped into the shower. A cold stream of water bit into his bare skin as he turned the knob, and a quick wash and shampoo of his long black hair were rushed as he tried to avoid prolonged exposure.
As he stepped out of the icy current and wrapped a towel around his waste, Vincent caught sight of himself in the mirror. He hadn't changed a single day since Hojo's experiments all those years ago. He looked into his own crimson eyes, then gazed down at the golden gauntlet that the mad scientist had grafted onto him, replacing his own flesh and blood.
His frown deepened as he glared at the claw. Then he just sighed and went back to his room. He put on his usual attire, a tough-looking black suit, and strapped his holster onto his belt. He stopped himself from grimacing as his pointy boots threatened to poke holes in his pants as they caught, but he got them through. He swung his crimson cloak over his shoulders, the mantle falling to nearly his elbows as he buckled it over his chin and down to about half-way down his chest.
He ran his right hand through his hair as he put the red bandana around his head. There. Now he was presentable. His normal day attire was known throughout Gaia, and he wore it, not proudly, he'd never admit to that, but with dignity. And it got people out of his way very effectively.
He had, in no way, advertised the events concerning Chaos and Omega, not even his 'friends' knew the whole story, but somehow, every single person in Kalm, and everywhere else knew, to some degree, that he'd been the hero in that one. Of course no one knew that he had been the flying demon that had struck the final blow to Omega, but they all seemed to know that they were connected somehow. This annoyed Vincent to no end. Chaos' mind not be there anymore, but, unfortunately, Vincent still retained his ability to transform into the winged beast, along with the Galian Beast. His two other forms though, well, he didn't exactly know what had happened to them. Just as well. Two down, two to go.
Vincent's musings were interrupted by a vibrating on his bedside table. He sighed. Getting a phone was useful only when he need something. Now, it was just annoying. He picked up the offending device and looked at the front panel.
STRIFE
He flipped it open.
"Yeah?" Vincent could hear laughing and Cid swearing over the line.
"Vincent." Cloud's soft voice was hard to hear over the phone, but Vincent could make it out just fine.
"Yeah?" He repeated, almost sighing. He heard Cloud chuckle over the ruckus in the background.
"Are you coming today? It's Marlene's birthday, and she really wishes you'd be there..." Cloud trailed off, not quite asking him to come, but putting in out there.
"Give me an hour. I'll be there." Vincent said, and then closed the phone. He sat on his bed, slightly sinking in the soft chocobo down comforter. Yuffie had complained that he had no nice things, and insisted on getting it for him. When she'd dropped it off however, he'd noticed a few materia missing… He'd pay her back for that someday. He'd kept the cushion though. He found it a much nicer alternative to the hard box spring he'd planned on sleeping on.
Vincent rested his chin on his hands, wondering what to get a small girl for her birthday. He refused to be seen buying a small doll, or something embarrassing like that. And he didn't really have anything he could give away that'd be suitable for a small child. Then an idea hit him and he nearly smiled. Perfect.
Vincent walked down the long street to a single garage he kept at the end of the complex. He fit a key into the door and swung it open and silently slipped inside. Then, with a roar, the garage opened and a flash of crimson shot out, riding a sleek black motorcycle. Vincent pushed the 'close' button with his thumb, and the garage slid shut. He revved the engine and sped towards the city limits, heading to Midgar.
The bike roared as Vincent flew over the desolate ground outside the city, gliding over the bumps and curves, wind rushing past as another roar joined the bike's. Vincent looked to his left, and saw a large manned wolf running alongside him. He grinned slightly and nodded towards Red XII, who nodded back and roared again, speeding up. Vincent grabbed the gas harder, and shot forward, keeping even with Red. Midgar was looming over them before Vincent began slowing. Red panted beside him as he parked in a small lot just inside the city limits. Red smiled.
"Marlene's birthday?" He asked in a clipped, sophisticated tongue. Vincent nodded.
"Wonderful. I hope we're not too late." The wolf walked beside Vincent as he made his way towards Tifa's bar, 7th Heaven. They skirted the ruins of sector 7, which was being repaired by the W.R.O., but it would take a while before it was livable again.
Red looked up at Vincent as they walked. The enigmatic man was one of those mysteries that Red was aching to uncover, but a little afraid to. Red and the rest still barely knew anything about Vincent, even after the events with Deepground.
Vincent looked down to see Red staring at him, and the wolf turned away quickly, staring straight ahead. The duo continued walking down the road in this manor, attracting stares and loud whispers as they passed others on the road. They finally arrived at 7th Heaven about half-an-hour after Vincent had parked, and they remained in front of it, staring up. Red's jaw dropped, and Vincent's expression turned mildly surprised. The entire outside of the bar had been all but coated in pink ribbon, white streamers, and balloons of both colors. The door cracked open without their noticing, and a little scream of joy sounded as Yuffie ran out a grabbed Red in a crushing hug. His eyes popped as he looked at the young ninja. Yuffie let go of Red and almost grabbed Vincent, until she saw the expression on his face that said, clearly, If you try, I will destroy you. She just grimaced and waved instead.
Vincent and Red followed Yuffie inside, where they were bombarded by even more painfully pink decorations, Along with a chorus of shouts from everyone. Tifa was by the bar, putting the final touched on a pink cake, Barret was running around, blindfolded, with Marlene on his shoulders, with a pin and tail in his normal hand. Cid was at the bar, cheering them on, while Yuffie walked over to Cait Sith and Reeve, who were in the corner with a chess board. Cloud was sitting close to them, a look of confused incredulity on his face as he tried to contemplate how a robot could be beating the person who controlled it that badly.
Red walked over to the chess board, dodging Barret as he went. He sat by Cloud and watched the robot and human duke it out over chess.
Vincent wanted to just drop off the gift, then get out of there, but Tifa spotted him skulking in the corner.
"Vincent!" Tifa rushed over and, ignoring his look, which was less threatening than he gave Yuffie, but scary non-the-less, hugged him around his waist. Vincent looked over her head to see Cid and Cloud sniggering. He glared at them too, and they both shut up, but kept the ridiculous grins on their faces. Tifa released Vincent as Barret came tripping by, giggling like a little girl.
"Whoa! Look Out!" Barret yelled as Marlene laughed in pure euphoria. Vincent leaned back as the pin came within inches of his face, retreated as Barret advanced towards him, led by Marlene pulling on his ears. The pin got closer to his face the next time, forcing him to duck. He slipped under Barret's outstretched arm, grabbing Marlene from his shoulders as the large man slammed into the wall and fell on his rear. Marlene squealed with an excitement not quite fitting her seven year old self, and hugged Vincent. He managed to hold back a glare.
"Happy Birthday." He said, sounding almost excited. Marlene squeezed him again, and then rushed over to Barret, who was rubbing his head and grumbling. She started tickling his ribs, and he let out a loud laugh and swung her by her arms into a stool by the bar.
The party progressed from there. The cake was eaten; even Vincent had a small slice when Marlene insisted. They all played games. Vincent wandered around awkwardly when Cloud pulled his bandana over his eyes and shoved a pin into his hand. It ended up in the wall opposite from the chocobo picture, and everyone laughed when Marlene's was the only one actually on the picture.
Then came presents. Tifa gave Marlene a pink dress that would look very nice on her small form. Yuffie had actually caved and given the girl a small materia, much to everyone's surprise, that grew flowers on command, which Marlene enjoyed extremely. It was a simple enough materia that Marlene could master, with some practice.
Cid gave her a book about planes and how amazing they are… everyone groaned at that one. Red gave her a reed flute that sounded like wind rustling branches when she blew it. Cait Sith read her fortune, proclaiming that she'd have a long happy life with friends she could count on. Everyone but Vincent blushed a little at that. Reeve gave her a "Honorary W.R.O." badge, which she put on with pride.
Cloud walked forward and placed his hands on Marlene's shoulders, looking into her eyes. He smiled, and pulled out a little pink phone.
"When ever you need me, just press 7 and send. I'll answer." He stood and returned to his seat. Marlene smiled and nodded, pocketing the device. Barret Whooped and picked her up.
"You'll never guess what I got you!" He yelled and took off up the stairs, with the rest of the guests trailing along. When they caught up, Barret had his hand over Marlene's eyes and was leading her into her room. She gasped when he removed his hand.
A giant, white, stuffed toy chocobo was sitting in the middle of the room, a pink ribbon around its neck. Marlene ran to it and hugged it, squeezing as hard as she could.
"Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Everyone!" She yelled as she released the stuffed bird and turned to face them. They all smiled. Even Vincent… a little.
Vincent stepped forward, and the room fell silent. He knelt on one knee, and held out his left, gauntleted hand. The fist was closed, and everyone looked at it in curiosity.
"Before I give you this, you should know something. Are you ready?" He asked. Marlene nodded.
"Alright. This was my sisters. A long time ago. So it's important to me. I want you to take care of it for me. Can you do that?" Marlene's surprised look vanished, replaced by a fierce look of determination. Cloud's whispered "He had a sister?" didn't go unnoticed by Vincent, and everyone else, but he just ignored it and opened his claw.
A small, golden materia glowed softly in the middle of his palm, twinkling in the light. Marlene's eyes followed a small spark that escaped into the air and fizzled. Yuffie's shocked gasp made Vincent turn around and look at her, raising an eyebrow.
"That's not… that can't be… is it?" She looked at him, her expression incredulous. He just nodded and turned back to Marlene.
"This is Statolith. The only one of her kind. This summons is completely mastered, and she's very easy to handle. She's the light goddess. Do you think you can handle her?" Marlene's eager face nodded, and Vincent nodded back and placed the orb in her outstretched hand. The summons glowed a little brighter as Marlene slid the materia into a single slot in her necklace.
Vincent stood, and nodded. Turning around, he saw the group's hastily covered surprised expressions as he made his way past them.
"I should be heading back." He said as they made their way back to the bar.
"Wait." Tifa grabbed his human arm, and he paused, halfway out the door. He looked at her, mildly surprised.
"It's your birthday too. Remember, silly?" Vincent couldn't stop his eyebrows from shooting up as he looked over her at the rest, who were all smiling smugly. He looked down at Tifa, who wore an evil grin.
"Come on!" And with surprising strength, she pulled him back in the door and shut out the oncoming darkness.