Down The Barrel
"Keep the gun up. Steady it against the tripod. Good, now find the cross hairs in the scope and put them just to the left of your target. Good, now you've compensated for the wind. Remember, which everyway the wind's blowing, point your barrel a little nit the opposite way. Good. Now, when you think you've got it, fire."
Cloud pulled the trigger, watching with satisfaction as a hole appeared dead center on the target. After Vincent had healed the blond had asked the gunman to teach him to shoot both Death Penalty and Cerberus. The ex-Turk had agreed, and lesson began a week later. Now, a year after deep Ground was vanquished, Cloud was still learning. He enjoyed working with fire arms, and enjoyed spending the extra time with Vincent. The two warriors had formed a close bond during the Meteor crisis, and it only grew tighter. Vincent had been Cloud's best man when he married Aeris, and Cloud had been the first one to meet Lucretcia when she was released of the grotto. The Valentines (for Lucretcia had said yes!) were more than happy to be godparents to Aeris' coming child. Two of many, for all of AVALANCHE shared the honor. And while Lucretcia understandably didn't want more children, and Vincent was unable to, but their house was a haven for the children of their friends.
"Hey Vincent?"
"Yes Cloud?"
"Where'd you learn to shoot like that?"
"Veld, my superior in the Turks and a good friend."
"So he was a crack fire shot too?"
"Never missed."
"Vincent?"
"Yes, Cloud."
"How…how often did you need to use your sniper skills."
"Every other mission."
"Did you…."
"Vincent! You are so dead!"
"Yuffie, when did you get here!"
"You stole my materia!"
"It was my materia first, highness."
"Vinny, you're being mean! Lu, your husband's being mean!"
"Vincent Damascus Valentine!"
As Vincent, host of four deadly demons and sharp shooter on all fire arms imaginable, ran from his laughingly angry wife, Cloud grinned. Despite everything that had happened, everything turned out fine. Vincent was happy, Lucretcia was happy, Yuffie was happy, Cloud and family was happy, and there was no need to look down a barrel to see that.
