Chapter 1:- Time doesn't heal every wound
"Good on ya' spiky!" Barret cheered, raising a bottle of wine he picked up from somewhere. Those who were holding a glass did the same.
"It wasn't just me. All of you helped. I couldn't have done it without you." Cloud said sheepishly while rubbing the back of his head.
"Watcha talkin' bout'? You did all the work!"
After the incidents with geostigma and Kadaj, all the Avalanche crew celebrating their victory over Sephiroth (again) as Cid flew the Sierra over the grassy plains below. Among the cheering group, one stood near a window, watching a herd of chocobos dashing across the grass, even though it was night and he couldn't see much. He was Vincent Valentine. He couldn't celebrate, not yet. For him, it seemed like his battle would never end. A beginning without an end, an end without a beginning. He had been fighting this battle for as long as he could remember. And yet no-one could help him, even though, after this long, he feared he was beginning to lose control. He needed to get away from Avalanche…before he did something he'd soon regret.
"You okay, Vincent?"
Vincent jumped slightly as he felt a hand press down on his shoulder. His crimson eyes met those of Cloud's. Cloud had a slight look of concern on his face. He had always known Vincent to very quiet and keeping to himself. But something seemed to be bothering him. Like something he had been keeping a secret from the group.
"Is it because Sephiroth was Lucrecia's son?" Cloud asked when Vincent didn't answer. Great. Another sin to add to his list of guilts. Through all of his thoughts, Vincent had somehow forgotten Sephiroth being the son of Lucrecia.
"………No…" Vincent answered after a moment. His gaze trailed to the metal floor of the Sierra. Cloud frowned. This wasn't like Vincent at all, even in his extremely monosyllabic moments. He leaned on the wall next to Vincent.
"Something's wrong…isn't there?" Cloud judged, more of a statement than a question. Vincent stayed silent, only his claw twitched. It was like he was resisting something. Cloud noticed this and decided to keep a close eye on him, just to be safe. But then, without saying anything, Vincent just walked away. Cloud hurried after him, he wanted answers.
"Vincent! What's wrong! Answer me!" Cloud called after him. The partying Avalanche crew stopped when they saw their distressed leader rush past them.
"Vincent!"
"Not…now…Cloud…!" Vincent literally growled through gritted teeth. He could feel his claw twitching ever so slightly.
"Just wait a second!" Cloud commanded, grabbing Vincent's war-torn cloak. Bad mistake. Cloud's sudden contact with Vincent in this mood seemed to trigger something. In a matter of mere seconds, Vincent whipped around and swiped at Cloud with his claw, making contact with his shoulder. Cloud fell to the floor; he looked up at Vincent with frightened eyes, into those menacing crimson ones. Vincent was making beast-like growls adding to the tension of the scene. Avalanche's celebration had officially stopped and all eyes were on the frozen two who remained in the hallway.
It took a few seconds for Vincent's senses to return. When they did, his eyes widened, realising what he had just done. Seeing Cloud staring up at him, eyes full of fear, and blood seeping from his shoulder.
"Cloud, I…" was all Vincent managed to say before he bolted to the stairs leading to the outer deck. Cloud picked himself up, despite his pain, and rushed after him.
"Vincent! Wait!"
Vincent ignored the voice the called him and kept running until he reached the outside, there, he had nowhere else to go. His eyes darted left and right, searching for a way out but there was none. Then the sound of footsteps came by his ears, and turning, he saw Cloud.
"What's gotten into you, Vincent?" Cloud asked, taking a step forward. Vincent took a step back in turn. His gaze looked downward. They were flying over a forest, and a very thick one at that. It was his only choice. He turned to Cloud.
"Please…don't follow me…" And with that he put his hand on the rail and swung himself over. Cloud felt his heart sink and his stomach churn. Was he nuts! Cloud dashed to the rail and looked overboard. Vincent was nowhere in sight. Without another thought he ran to the stairs, pushing through those who were coming up the, and into the control room. Cid had remained in the pilot's seat to drive the Sierra. He seemed quite content with flying aimlessly around and completely oblivious to the recent incidents.
"Land the Sierra!" Cloud commanded. Cid was shocked by both Cloud's instructions and his sudden appearance.
"What the f(k for!"
"Vincent jumped overboard! He could be hurt, we have to find him!"
"That crazy son of a b+(h!" Cid cursed, "Ya'll hang on, this is gonna be rough!"
It was rough. Cloud thought they were going to crash but they landed safely with a harsh "thud!" Cloud waited impatiently at the exit, waiting for Cid to open it and when he did Cloud rushed out without waiting for the rest of the crew.
Vincent staggered through the dense forest, cuts marking every inch of his skin. The fall had hurt…a lot! He was badly bruised and his dented metal arm gripped his broken human arm. But he did not care of his injuries or the pain they brought his mind was on one thing only…
What was happening to him?
Why had he lashed out at Cloud? Was he losing control of himself? Losing control of his never-ending battle?
Or…did he really want to hurt Cloud? To feel his hands ripping and tearing at Cloud's flesh, to taste his blood, to hear his screams, to-
"What am I thinking!" Vincent shouted, scaring away small near him. He broke out in a cold sweat. He was scared of himself, of the damage he could do. He didn't want to hurt anyone…did he?
His thoughts were interrupted by a voice calling his name. A voice he knew all too well. Instantly, he hid in some bushes near the person.
"Vincent!" Cloud repeated, unaware that he was being closely watched. Half of Vincent's mind was telling him to keep hidden and slowly sneak away. The other half, however, had other plans.
Cloud stopped and whipped around as he heard a low growl from behind him. Seeing nothing, he continued his search but stopped yet again as he heard another. As quick as a flash, a force appeared out of nowhere and pushed him to the ground. Regaining his senses, he looked up to a beast-like silhouette. He couldn't see the figure clearly, save for the glowing scarlet eyes, until the moonlight pressed against it.
"Vincent?"
"I told you not to follow me!" Vincent's voice was raspy and had a tinge of a beast growl to it. Cloud noticed he was injured, but at least he survived the fall.
"How did you survive the-"
"SILENCE!"
Vincent's movements were quick and agile, too quick to be human. Before Cloud had a chance to register, Vincent's claw had pierced into his chest and pinned him against a tree. Cloud gripped the cold, bronze metal, trying desperately to pry it off but Vincent only sunk his claws deeper.
"Vincent…" Cloud gasped, "This isn't you…you're being controlled…Chaos is trying to control you…"
Vincent was silent. Had Cloud gotten through to him? Obviously not. Vincent merely smirked. A grin of evil that sent shivers down Cloud's spine.
"That's where you're wrong." Vincent growled slowly and menacingly. He pulled Cloud off the tree, held him air born for a few seconds, and then slammed him into the ground. Cloud gasped for breath as blood spilled out of his wounds and stained his clothes.
"Those petty demons of mine have nothing to do with the state I'm in." Vincent added. Cloud regained his breath and gripped his chest tightly.
"Then what is it?"
"My urge to kill…my thirst for blood…I've been fighting them off for too long!"
Cloud managed to prop himself up on his elbows.
"But why, Vincent?" He asked.
Vincent glared at him, "Have you ever truly experienced pain, Cloud?"
Cloud thought for a moment. Did he mean mental pain or the kind where you stub your toe on a table leg?
"To have your life, your very soul, taken from, to watch the one person you love die in front of you, to have the bastard who killed her shoot you, the perform horrible experiments on you! What about sleeping and being trapped in a musty old coffin for 30 years, having nightmares each and every night and day about people fearing you, hearing their screams and calling you a monster, only to wake and realise that nightmare is reality! What about my arm, Cloud! People take one look at this…this…thing and run! Have you ever felt this pain, Cloud?" Vincent shouted. Cloud was stunned. He stared at Vincent and saw something glisten in his eyes.
"I…I didn't know…" Cloud stuttered, feeling a weakness in his heart.
"You wouldn't!"
Cloud could see that it pained Vincent to speak of his tormented past. Every scar on his body told a tale of torture. And yet no-one in Avalanche knew. As a leader, Cloud felt it was his duty to look out for his team-mates and help them with their trouble, now he felt he'd violated those duties.
"Hey! They're over here!" A voice called. Vincent's claw twitched again as he let a monstrous roar escape his throat, one that only a beast could make. Barret began shooting at Vincent's feet while Cid lunged at him with his spear.
"Back off ya' traitor!" Barret warned. Vincent was smart. He knew he couldn't take on the whole Avalanche crew by himself, especially when he was injured. Reluctantly, he retreated into a denser part of the forest.
"Hey! I ain't done wit' you yet!" Cid snarled, chasing after Vincent.
"Stop, Cid!" Cloud ordered. Cid obeyed but not without complaint.
"He was trying to kill you! You're just gonna let the bastard-"
Cloud put up a hand to silence him, "Leave him."
"Cloud! You're bleeding!" Tifa shrieked when she and the rest joined them.
"It's nothing." Cloud said dully, still phased by Vincent words. Tifa didn't believe him, but she knew there was no point arguing, that would just be a waste of time and breath.
"Let's get back to the Sierra." She said, helping Cloud to stand. Cloud trailed his gaze to the spot Vincent once stood. He couldn't believe what he had just heard, but it was true, all of it.
"Vincent…" He murmured, "…I'm sorry…"
