Well, welcome to my first ever FFVII story! EVER! So… I may not have all my facts right, so correct me! Please! This is kinda just writing itself…

And I DO have Barret's and Cid's song written. Message me enough and I might put it up! I don't own nothing, so on with the copyrighted material!

more or less…

The story is mine…

right?

*fights of lawyers*

MINNNNEEEEE!

Running With Monsters

Chapter Two

Vincent had absolutely no idea how Tifa had learnt his birthday was the same day as Marlene's. He himself hadn't celebrated since the experiments, it wasn't like he was getting any older anyways, but the celebration continued, to his slight dismay, unhindered by his reluctance. Cloud somehow managed to tie him to a chair, and force feed him cake while singing, but he didn't really fight back. Let them have their fun. He thought.

He didn't think anyone would be able to eat the simple red cake Tifa had made after Marlene's three-tiered one, but, somehow, it was gone within 10 minutes. Vincent actually smiled a little when Marlene went to bed, Tifa got out the drinks, and Barret and Cid were leading a rousing song of "The Exploits of Ms. Cloud"

Vincent may not have been there for that particular adventure, but Cloud's blush and look of sadistic anger was enough to tell him it was a story worth knowing. They all eventually ended up sitting around the bar, with a drink in hand, talking. Vincent looked at all his happy friends and a pang hit him. They were getting older. Yuffie was now Queen of Wutai (although she really didn't act it… ever.), Barret was dating a nice lady, Cid had thought about settling down with his "girl" in somewhere other than his ship, and even Red had grown, in size mainly.

But as Vincent looked down at his claw, he was hit with the sharp reality that they'd be dead and gone, while he was forever stuck like this. He wasn't cowardly enough to try suicide, so where did that leave him?

"Vincent?" Tifa asked. He looked up. They were all staring at him curiously.

"Yeah?" He answered, putting a little more expression than usual into his voice.

"I just asked; how old are you?" She answered, smiling. "You haven't changed a bit since we first met." Her face fell as he frowned and looked down. He didn't say anything for a while.

"I'm not really sure." He barely whispered it, but Tifa heard just fine. They all did. Yuffie gasped a little, but that was the only reaction. Cloud and the other just stared at Vincent, not quite believing him.

"Well, let's not worry about that right now. We're supposed to be having a party!" Yuffie shouted, a little forcibly. Cloud nodded and stood. He started to walk towards the bar when a loud rap sounded at the door. They all turned to look at it, not quite sure they'd heard anything. It sounded again, this time a little louder. Cloud cautiously walked towards the door, and Vincent put his hand on the butt of his gun, Cerberus.

Cloud unlatched the top lock and slowly opened the door. Then he swung it open and stood there, anger clear on his face.

"Rufus Shinra. What a surprise." Cloud said as the man rolled in. Still not fully recovered, Rufus remained in the wheelchair. Cloud nodded at the two Turks, Reno and Rude, who were flanking the President. Vincent narrowed his eyes and started pulling out his gun. Something wasn't quite right.

"So, are we having fun? Looks like quite a party." Rufus said uninterestedly, looking around the bar with a detached look.

"What do you want?" Cloud asked, leaning against the bar. Shinra sighed.

"I'm sorry to say that someone here is going to have to come with us. There have been multiple reports of the attack and murder of W.R.O. soldiers recently, and we've just got a positive I.D. on the attacker." Cloud and everyone else gasped, except for Vincent, who just narrowed his eyes. Rufus sighed, and turned his chair towards Vincent, whose eyes widened in surprise.

"I am sorry about this. You've been so helpful. But we're going to have to take you in." And with that, the entire bar lit up. Squads of W.R.O. soldiers stood outside, hiding behind armored trucks, and no less than four helicopters flew into sight, spotlights shining down on them. The group turned to Vincent, mouths hanging open in shock. Vincent re-holstered his gun. He'd have to do this the right way. He looked at Shinra.

"And exactly what did I supposedly do?" Rufus looked into Vincent's burning crimson eyes and cleared his throat, obviously intimidated.

"We have eye-witness reports from over thirty people that say they saw you, or someone like you, jumping from a building a slaughtering over twenty W.R.O. members with your… uh… bare hands." Vincent glared at the man even harder.

"Exactly what do you want?" Cloud asked, stepping up next to Vincent. Vincent looked over at the blond, eyebrow raised.

"Well, we are going to take Vincent to the Midgar prison. If he cooperates, we shouldn't have a problem. If not…" He left the threat hanging as a nervous Reno help up his baton, trying to look intimidating. Of course, he and everyone else knew that Vincent could wipe them all out, easy, but they still had a job to do.

"Fine." Vincent said, and walked out of the bar, with Shinra, the Turks, and the gang following him. Rufus wheeled up a ramp into the nearest truck.

"Reno?" He asked, then pointed to Vincent.

"Right." Reno and Rude walked towards Vincent, who was still slightly standing by the bar door. Reno rubbed the back of his head.

"Sorry about this. I'm gonna need your gun… and is there anything you can do about…" He gestured to Vincent's gauntlet. Vincent glared at Reno, and handed over Cerberus. Then folded his arms and continued to glare at the Turk.

"Right... sorry." Then Reno ran forward, aiming his baton at Vincent's head. Vincent ducked the blow easily, but felt a sharp sting in the side of his neck. He stood still, and reached up to it, pulling out a rather large blow dart, the vial inside empty. He could feel the tranquilizer pumping through his body, and fell to his knees. Cloud started yelling at Shinra, and, as he collapsed, he saw Tifa running towards him.