Disclaimer: Not mine.
A/N: Welcome to Chapter Four, Dear Readers. This chapter is proving exceptionally vexing to write, and I don't know why. I hope your holidays were good!
Time To Change
Chapter Four: Dinner Guest?
Vincent took in the scene before him with determined stoicism. Sephiroth, the Nightmare himself, was sitting on his sofa with Cloud. Two other men were ensconced in the armchairs, and all four were staring at him now. Cloud looked on in dawning horror, blue eyes finally open and clashing with red. Vincent understood his concern, truly; but now was not the time.
"We'll discuss this later, Cloud," he intoned as he entered, moving to the kitchen to make tea, which Yuffie handed over to him without complaint.
"I brought your favorite tea, Cloud! Didn't you say Sephiroth liked it, too?" Yuffie said excitedly, while Cloud just nodded dumbly at her.
"What have you been doing while I was gone?" Vincent inquired.
"Oh, umm.. you know, just clearing the mansion a bit," Cloud replied.
Vincent turned so fast his red cape flared out behind him, causing Genesis and Yuffie to both snicker. Cloud, knowing the warning signs of an impending 'Vincent Blowup', cringed a bit towards the Silver General.
"I told you. I told you! How could you be so stupid, Cloud? You're not strong enough for the Sahagins! What if you died while nobody was here to keep track of you? Or worse!" the ex-Turk hissed.
Genesis goggled and turned to Angeal. "What's worse than death?" he asked lowly.
Both Vincent and Cloud, still staring at each other, answered him. "Hojo." To which Sephiroth twitched and the other Firsts frowned.
"What does Hojo have to do with anything?" Angeal asked.
"Nothing yet," the ninja answered, shooting Looks at her two friends, which went ignored.
"Think about what he did to Lucrecia after Sephiroth was born, Cloud. Think! You know what that man is capable of. You are aware of the lengths he'll go to to get what he wants and to keep what he has; what he'll do to stop any interference," Vincent continued.
Sephiroth couldn't help himself. So he asked, "Who's Lucrecia?"
"Your mother," Cloud said absently, watching Vincent. "He's not here, Vincent. If he was in town, I would know and I wouldn't go anywhere near the mansion."
"You did before," the dark haired man gave a pointed look in Sephiroth's direction.
"I did, but I didn't know he was here, then. And once he left, I only went back for you. Now I can train there, and gain experience. I know to stay away from the lower levels, and only go where the Dorky Faces and Jerseys are. I'm not helpless, you know. And I had my PHS on me, my cure, potions and ethers. You know I can handle this, Vincent." Cloud shook his head and made his way to the tea, which Yuffie had prepared while her friends were having their stand off.
"Excuse me," Sephiroth growled, "but could one of you explain how this Lucrecia is my mother? My mother's name was Jenova."
Cloud gestured to Vincent to take this one, as he knew more about all of it, and being that the ex-Turk was the Turk protection for Project Jenova, his words would carry more weight. With an inscrutable look towards the blond, Vincent nodded. Genesis, having enough of the whole tension thing, got up and made his way to Cloud's side. Leaning against the counter, watching his friends talk to this Vincent about Sephiroth's parentage, he sighed.
"Is it always like this around here?" he asked, to which the blond shook his head.
"Pretty quiet, normally."
"All this upheaval, just for us? I'm flattered, really, but you didn't need to," Genesis smirked. He was mildly surprised when a soft, pleasant laugh reached his ears, covered by a higher, tinkling giggle.
"My pleasure," Cloud demurred, amused. He was holding his teacup, leaning casually next to the crimson First when Yuffie jabbed him with her elbow. Glancing at her, he followed her gaze. It took a moment of staring, but then he caught it. A gesture or a look; the shape of an eye or mouth. His teacup shattered on the tiles, hot liquid flying up along with shards of porcelain. Cloud gaped and slowly shook his head, denying what he saw. He pulled up a picture of Hojo in his mind's eye and compared that to his friend, and was convinced.
"Cloud?" Sephiroth asked, worried for his young friend. "Is something wrong?"
The blond ignored the question except for a wave as he blinked, focusing his gaze on ruby orbs. "Vincent. I think–" he cut off as first Sephiroth's PHS rang, followed by Angeal's, then Genesis'. He scrunched his nose in confusion when all three ignored theirs only for his to ring. As far as he knew, the only people who had his number were there in the room with him. He snatched it up and answered with a bemused voice.
"Hello?"
"Cloud."
"What do you want?" he asked, ignoring the sharp looks from the four other men, all of whom could hear the entire conversation.
"Is he there?"
"Which one?"
"Sephiroth, of course." A sigh could be heard as it drifted across the line. "It wouldn't do for the Company to lose him."
"Is this an official inquiry?"
"It is."
"Where are you?"
"Gongaga."
"Officially, he's trekking his way across the continent, showing ShinRa's power."
"I see." There was a thoughtful pause, and then, "Unofficially?"
"Unofficially, dinner's in two hours."
It didn't take that long for the Turk to show, although Cloud was being peppered with questions that made the time seemingly go infinitely slower. So it was with relief that the blond answered the knock on the door, finding the future Turk Leader, hair shorter and up. With a nod, he held the door open and watched his comrade's face as the man took in who all was in the house. When Tseng had said he was in Gongaga of all places, Cloud's hopes soared; they shattered when the man showed up alone. The Turk seemed to understand as he shook his head slightly. Vincent was the first to speak up.
"Tseng."
"Vincent. I should have expected you," Tseng replied, then turned to the small female. "And Yuffie. You are someone that one never expects."
Yuffie giggled and grinned widely at the man. "Haven't lost your touch, eh?"
"Tseng," Sephiroth said sharply, "what brings you here?"
Tseng let only a brief hint of a smile cross his face as he answered. "Dinner."
A/N: I'm still not completely satisfied with how this went, but YaoiWolf tells me it's good for her, so I hope you liked it!
27 December 2011
Chapter Word Count: 1107
