Disclaimer: Final Fantasy VII/VIII characters and names are the property of Square Enix. This story is written purely for entertainment and not profit.
Come Death and Destruction, Dearest I Remain
Chapter Six
Friends Are Rough Diamonds
Mortal Combat
It is because you were my friend,
I fought with you as the devil fights.
Whatever fortune God may send,
For once I set the world to rights.
And that was when I thrust you down,
And stabbed you twice and twice again,
Because you dared take off your crown,
And be a man like other men.
-Mary Coleridge
MeykoLove; Ignore religious references. Most poetry dating back to farther years will have mention of religion simply because of the times, as Christianity (hint; God) was the dominant faith for English poets.
"So, mind telling me your name?"
What's going on...Why are you alive again?
"Give my name to a total stranger—does that sound like a smart idea to you?"
This isn't right. You should be dead.
"Pff, what does it matter these days? People are killed for no apparent reason, regardless if the murderer was actually aware of their names or not. So there's no real harm in telling me who you are, is there?"
Wait, I remember this day...but it was so long ago. One of the chance encounters I had with you. Could this be a dream? Why would I recall it now?
"Actually, it depends more on who you are."
Could this be the second chance I have waited so long for? Yet, that would be nothing short of a miracle, and it is ludicrous to even pose ideas of such thoughts. This seems to be more like a perverted nightmare, the world about to flip on its axis.
And I'm scared to see where it leads. Will it show how much I twisted your life, until it was resolved in an unjustifiably sick, bloody and painful way? Tearing away all opportunity you had of surmounting the toiling misery. Even with odds positioned forcefully against you, you would have overcome them I am sure— had I not stolen your chance.
"Who I am? You mean you don't immediately recognize this handsome mug? Really? Ugh! I'm—!"
I don't want to see. I don't want to know how I stood for the devil's advocate, a grim reaper concealed in child's clothes as I slowly let you warm my heart, and I settled within yours, condemning you to death.
"Well, I guess I could tell you my first name, just so long as you promise not to call me by it."
The terror is so bad I can't even enjoy the sight of your face reanimated in life, smiling that stupid grin and taking pleasure in even the littlest things. A dog barking happily. Children playing in the street. A butterfly escaping the web of a spider. Flowers breaking through snow in spring. A bird escaping its cage. Even under the grim cloak Barrenville had bestowed upon its people, you managed to make it bright again and envision freedom. You always had your glass half full. And I do miss you...
"Uwah? Why? What's the point of telling me your name if I'm not even allowed to say it? Or is that just your redundant way of asking me to dub you a nickname? Or maybe it's a phase..."
I wish I could enter here, knowing what I do now, and drag my younger self away. Or tell you to leave me alone, because you would have if I had ordered you to. You constantly told me how you never wanted to frighten me. How you wouldn't force anything onto me.
"I do not want the entire neighbourhood finding out where I live because you may coincidentally see me and scream it to the world, that's why."
Even if I never gave you my name, would that have helped? Would you and she still be living and breathing and basking in the light of life, you with your small family and me with my slighter one? Or would I have had to die in order for them to survive?
"Oh, I guess that makes sense. I promise not to—so, who are you?"
She's gone. Along with you, your wife, even your son. I didn't even have the pleasure of meeting your spouse and boy. Yet...all of them... were wiped away... so that I could live.
"I'm Vincent."
And I can't even honour your name by living...
"Ooh, so close to Vladmir!"
...because more than anything I just want to be dead.
"And what's that supposed to mean?"
Am I truly so selfish and naive as to think I can join you so peacefully and easily?
"Nothing, eh-hum(Edward)."
I thought it'd be obvious Valentine...
"..."
...Youhave tosuffer.
Now I hear the screaming...
Now I feel the tears...
Now I see the blood...
The nightmare has begun.
Initially, the resulting argument had not gone well. Neither party had been particularly tactful while voices climbed, and it was by fear of injuring each other and the loving bond that was usually in place (under normal circumstances) that the disagreement did not escalate to a more physical level. Cloud had not meant to be so defensive, but when Reno began lecturing his stressing mind snapped, and the hurtful words spewed from his mouth.
Reno managed to restrain himself fairly well. He had never raised a hand against Cloud, ever, and would never hurt him in any way. Yet Reno definitely wanted to restrain him, hold him down and explain exactly how dangerous circumstances could be. His fists constantly clenched and unclenched, shaking violently throughout the entire ordeal. The redhead was furious, and Cloud knew why, brewing a feeling of resentment at Reno's paternalistic attitude. Cloud did not want to be protected or smothered like a credulous, frail child. The fair-haired male especially did not want to be compared to somebody else as the guise of a second chance.
"Do you have any idea what could have happened?" Reno demanded angrily, face twisted with fierce emotion. "He could have fucking killed you—or worse! Rape, mutilation, kidnapping—anything! His whole fucking—"
"Reno, stop!" Cloud ordered daringly, stepping forward as the taller male stepped back. They were a breath away from each other, arguing in the kitchen while Seifer and Leon watched Vincent.
Reno's eyes grew wide with fury. "Don't tell me to stop! Gaia, shit... you...he could have been faking—could still be faking Cloud!" Reno gestured wildly towards the door. "He's Valentine! Vincent fucking Valentine! You can't—" Reno pointed a trembling finger at Cloud's chest, Cloud's blue eyes following its path to his body before the man pulled away to run a hand through his hair. "You can't even begin to imagine the things he's done," the redhead's voice lowered as Reno tried to breathe and quieten his thumping heart. "You can't fathom what people like him do. How many kids go...down here, in Barrenville...the gangs are gods here, Cloud. They are the ones with the catbird seat. They control everything. They pull crap like this all the time...," Reno tapered off, turning away from Cloud swiftly, rubbing his face, body running with tremors of aggravation. "Hell-Hell, I-I..."
Cloud observed the scene carefully, calmer than his friend by nature. He approached Reno cautiously.
"Reno," Cloud said softly, flinching inwardly when the man stiffened. The blonde reached hesitantly to place a hand on his shoulder, relieved when he didn't shrug the limb off. "Reno, listen to me. I'm-I'm sorry, all right? I know it doesn't fix anything or solve any of your problems, but for what it's worth... I'm sorry," Cloud grasped Reno's shirtsleeve with his free hand, "I know I shouldn't have-well, done anything. I should have left him, should have actually sped up to get home faster, but-but I couldn't. I just...," a spiky blonde head came to lie against a broad back gently, "Reno I couldn't leave him there. I saw... when I saw him, I just..."
Cloud gripped his head in his hands, spinning away from Reno, frustrated. He couldn't piece together the complicated and erratic feelings that were emerging rapidly as he tried to justify his act of charity. The blue-eyed teen's ears were ringing with disputes and sympathies and degrading words flying about in the hollow of his skull. It was a challenge to focus with every part of him presenting a separate perspective on the scene, and Cloud just tried to clear his head in order to provide comfort for his elder friend.
Attempting to force silence unto his consciousness was a poor choice. As Cloud thought of nothing, he realized he had nothing to say, and thus re-entered the chaos to form a response. The overwhelming rush from doing so was even more painful than standing in the midst of confusion, and Cloud stumbled backwards into a chair, legs giving out. High-strung emotions shattered barriers of his memories, bringing to light the real, raw reason why Cloud failed to leave the nineteen-year-old there, alone and possibly dying, in the cold cruel world.
Reno had followed Cloud after he staggered away, and knelt before him as Cloud fisted his hair in his hands, elbows supporting his upper body upon his knees while his bright orbs wavered with pain. A gentle pressure on Cloud's wrist encouraged the boy to look up from his fragile sanctuary, eyes sorrow filled and brimming with hurt. "Reno, I saw me there. I saw somebody stripped and beaten by the madhouse we call real life, left alone with none to care. I saw the one separated from everybody, constantly isolated and never able to relate to any person because some wealthy, egotistical tycoon wants to suck every penny out of him by killing competition, for his own selfish Gaia-damned reasons. I saw the strongest man of Barrenville as a used, abused nineteen-year-old boy who will probably never get to experience life for himself because he had the same misfortune as the rest of us to be born in this Hellhole. And I thought," Cloud's azure orbs, once trained to the floor impassively, now stared to meet the redhead's, resolute, "Just how much I would have appreciated it if somebody was there when my dreamed nightmares realized themselves as actual nightmares. Somebody to hold back my hair as I puked from despair, somebody squeezing my hand to keep me sane and trying to comfort me through it all. I thought about how many people would have at least liked somebody to be with them while they died down here. And then I considered just how many people have been lost in Barrenville.
"My mother taken by disease, father overcome by corruption. Possible siblings beaten to death in my mother's womb. Friends raped and murdered by friends. Both groups people whom I have known for years. A friend dead in a suicide bombing, a cousin swallowing an overdose of sleeping pills. A neighbour, a little girl of nine, burned alive by some sicko after his girlfriend, finding her instead. I-I remember we used to play together, at the playground near my house..." The list stretches on, and these victims are only my friends and family. What about Reno's, Seifer's, Leon's? Men, who operate in the line of death, the world of money, sex and drugs, would know much more about relinquishing loved ones than I... "And I wanted to stop that, just once. Save somebody, just-just once, "Cloud's head dropped and his shoulders slumped. Through long blonde locks, he had blue eyes fixed blankly on pale hands, open and face up in front of him. Their twitching surface seemed empty and forlorn, as if waiting for something to drop from the sky as an answer to his struggles. "I have the ability, right? Don't I have that option? Isn't that why I try so hard to learn? I longed to protect somebody, save them, Reno. I wanted to play hero. It never occurred to me that I was really just trying to save myself. Trying to keep another person alive so I could re-in act how her death should have happened. Pretending it made up for not being there."
It is the same story with you. You study me as if I am a fragile, glass doll, breakable; susceptible to the evil whims of those that haunts these streets. All in all, it really is true. I would crack in a second if I faced any closer deaths, if I were to lose you or any of the others. If any were to threaten to lock me away from the light, for life, I would despair. I have always been sensitive, more aware of the destruction around me. I suppress tears at the sight of a snapped rose or a starving child. Pity fills me when I see animals trapped in cages, bleeding as cheap metal bars slice the limbs that wiggle out, reaching for freedom. Or a couple fighting in the streets.
Yet I know that the microscopic lens you place me under, the chains you attempt to place round my body, are all the result of a deep-seated dread. I know you are as delicate as I am normally when it comes to me. You are precarious, as if on a shaking bridge, when I walk out the door, or stay out late like today. Your heart pounds at the sight of a cut on my face, or a bruise on my wrist, because you find memories resurfacing that you do not want to see. Do not want to remember. You lurk in the fear that events will play out exactly like back then, the same scenes with the same lines of "I'm fine", "Don't worry", with the same wincing blue eyes and brushing backs of light blonde hair. That I will end up dead one day, just like her.
The fight ended there, as Reno decided to take a turn watching Vincent to cool off. A soft kiss pressed to his forehead, Reno rubbed his back soothingly even as his eyes held a bit of reproachfulness at Cloud's explanation. It did not, however, seem to be directed at Cloud, but rather something more distant, something condemnable. Cloud mused it might have to deal with the Planet and how it had dealt them this tormented fate. Reno hated to see any of his friends upset, and Cloud had been particularly devastated having to admit so much. It was a lot for Cloud to take in when he hadn't really understood any of it himself.
Leon and Seifer went to their apartment three doors down to pick up a few drinks, knowing Reno was in short supply and could use a couple beers. Cloud, proscribed from alcohol, composed himself by hiding away in Reno's room and reading through some worn textbooks, thankfully not bloodstained by Vincent.
Oddly enough, left alone, the tension in Cloud's body began to build. He may have convinced Reno to let his idiocy slide, but the fact of the matter was Cloud could not convince himself. He just knew his reasons were not good enough. He was a lost ball in high weeds, frantically searching for some way to end everything. Cloud had no idea where he stood, what he was doing or how to go about doing anything even if he came up with an idea.
Considering his past actions with a clear head, Cloud acknowledged the danger and complication behind the entire scenario. Vincent Valentine was a lackey, in a powerful, alien gang, who could easily exploit Cloud's naivety by murdering everyone in the apartment, or using one as advantage over the other, such as threatening Leon to control Seifer. Cloud had no doubt in his mind that the black-haired male would easily recognize the tall blonde, as Aviso ensured all of their members were familiar with every possible threat. Seifer's body remained undiscovered – it was enough cause for the paranoid group to be suspicious and teach his face to those they employed.
Vincent lived for his work. Lived for Aviso. So, what would he do?
'I do not know what gave you the impression that a killer would stop killing—ever. Do I look like that kind of person? I have claimed many lives. Do you know why? I take pleasure in it. Enjoy it. To be able to decide the fate and judgement of somebody else—what intoxicating power to hold! To be able to see the person as they died—not the mask they form for society's sake, but their true, inner cowardice or apathy or pathetic nature.
'You can tell a lot about a person at face value. Maybe not entirely accurate, but you can gather from a boring person that they are either naturally like that, or pretending to be. They have either enormous talent or none at all. They are aware of the world, or incompetent to it. They maintain that constant composure, and the only way to determine the two is to place them under a stressful situation. Offer them death, and see what bargains ensue. I play with my prey, like a cat with a mouse—actually, the Devil with a soul. The demon talks, right? Provides a chance for salvation. That is what I do—give them a way out, if they can convince me. No one has ever managed, although the results were rather...interesting, per say. A woman sold her daughter, but giving up kids was common. Some men gave up empires, the best one had to be... one I cannot tell you. Too young, eh, Cloud?'
'You're disgusting. Get away from me—umpf! Ah, hah, urg, s-stop!'
'Not when I'm having fun. What would be the appropriate phrase here? "A slice off a cut loaf is never missed"?'
'You r-really are a lowlife, ar-aren't you? And I'm still a virgin—ack! And plan to stay that way.'
'...'
'Why do you care so much anyway?'
'Care? About what?'
'Me. With a killer. You're one too, I'm in no more danger with somebody unfamiliar than with you, right? There's not much harm in hanging around him, right?'
'How did you figure that out?'
'You killed your sister. And most of your family, including the extended ones. And yet here I am.'
'It was for money.'
'You kill for money and pleasure—you just said so.'
'Yeah, but I only get pleasure out of taking pleasure in killing somebody if I am being paid to do it. Otherwise, there is no real fun. In addition, I will not kill you because you provide no cause and the sum presented would have to be suitable to the value I estimate you to be. In other words, a substantial amount of money. More than anyone would grant me for you, surely.
'How can that possibly make sense?'
'It does not need to. Every killer's logic has to be twisted in some way for him or her to do the deed. Even revenge is a form of tainted logic, the avenger working things in their favour.'
'That still doesn't answer my question. Oomph! What the fu—get OFF!'
'No, listen. You do not seem to understand, so I am helping you. Warning you. I kill, yes. I like doing it, yes. But, undeniably, no matter how odd or revolting or fanciful, I still have reasons. Every normal person, every a murderer, has them. For pleasure, yes. Under orders, yes. For profit, yes. These make up the majority of killers, whether believed insane or not, they still supply reason.
'Not him.
'He's not like that at all.
'He does not care.
'He does not give a fuck.
'For reason, for cause, for justification. He was brought up that way. He solely exists just to kill. He does not even have a goal in mind. If he was told, by anyone, to shoot a child in its carriage, he would do it. It is a primal instinct within him. Listen to orders and kill. Whatever and whoever necessary. I am told he gets these urges.
'Just to kill.
'Just to murder.
'Not for the adrenaline rush, bloodlust, a desire to witness another's pain. Just the act in itself. Killing.
'To slay just for the act of it? It is impossible, it is not a concept you can really grasp. Just kill for the kill? That's what I deem as insanity. Surpassing all human understanding. That is when you utter maniac. Psycho.
'Monster.
'Make no mistake, Cloud. If you get too close, if he takes notice of you, he will destroy you. The people he is not commanded to kill, the ones he wants, are ripped apart by his bare hands. Almost as if there is an animal inside him.
'Some form of chaos.
'The world tries to ignore the unexplained, the abstract. You should too.'
Chaos...
Some sort of disturbing entity lingered within Vincent, according to that man. A form of beast that spurred inhuman desires. The urge to kill.
That was according to him. Cloud never thought it accurate though—that supposition. It seemed a vague rumour. He might not have known Vincent, but he was positive he wasn't like that.
A maniac. A psycho. A monster.
Yet did he have a right to make his own hypothesis? To second guess based on his own fragile emotions? Indefinite components of the human mind, easily swayed?
Could he have truly brought home such a malevolent creature?
No, Reno had more contact with Aviso than he had. He would never allow Vincent inside if he were truly something so vicious and violent. True, Vincent could not be underestimated, but he was not something so...profound. So disconcerting...
...but...
...what if he had?
...what if he was wrong?
An hour later and lids fluttered open from an unexpected sleep. Cloud gazed around groggily, raising himself by his arms, to stare around the dark room. Constant tapping against the glass door alerted Cloud, along with a sudden flash and boom, and he slid off the bed, drawing back the curtain to see heavy rain. A muted clanging sound had his head snapping to the door, drinking in the screams and thumps. Moving sluggishly from sleep, Cloud padded lightly to the door and down the hall, head clearing as he walked.
Cloud stared a little nervously at the doorway of the kitchen, peering through the crack in the door, listening to the voices of Reno and Seifer speak at the dark wood table as Leon leaned against the fridge. He guessed the topic could quite possibly be him and his "friend", which made him anxious. He despised loud voices. They reminded him of earlier, more painful years.
Clearing his throat, Cloud sighed inwardly as he walked inside. He supposed a lecture would not be so terrible. It would show they cared about him, if they were worried for his well-being. Seifer and Leon gave Cloud the feeling of a caring parent (Leon) and a pushy elder brother (Seifer). This was why his biggest fear was disappointment; that they would look at him in disdain for making such poor decisions— bringing a practical stranger home.
Just as Cloud expected, the yelling stopped when he entered, but puzzlingly, not for the reasons he thought. There were no frowns showing troubled, perturbed minds or sudden questions flung his way, or even a hastily ended conversation. Merely curiosity for his well-being, and the ends of boisterous laughter.
Reno turned in his slightly standing position, concern flooding his face at the sight of the small blonde. He stood upright, pushing his chair back. "Hey, kiddo', you okay? We wake you up or somethin'? I know we're pretty loud—"
Cloud shook his head, calm disposition in place. "No, I'm fine," Cloud reassured him, feeling a familiar clenching at his heart. He hated already how he had caused them to panic over a single look in his direction. Each of them was wary, even Reno, though he had toned down considerably. His passive voice gave nothing away, though. "I woke up because of the storm."
"Oh, okay," Reno said, sitting back down. His cerulean orbs took in Cloud's body stance yet again, and Cloud inwardly flinched. The calculating eyes and pursued lips... Reno knew Cloud was edgy, seeing right through the composed front Cloud had in place. Two years, it seemed, had been more than enough time to figure him out. "Have a seat," the redhead gestured for Cloud to join them. Heeding his call, Cloud sat as casually as he habitually would, holding the seat edge gently with both hands between his legs, watching Reno just as intently as the redhead watched him. He registered Leon making to sit on Seifer's lap but otherwise kept his eyes on the cool blue next to him, thinking.
Their lives were all in conceivable jeopardy because of Cloud's selfish impulses. His mind railed against itself, tearing in two as arguments for different opinions arose, one supporting his charity and the other disgusted by his foolish endeavour. Cloud once again desired to be screamed at, yelled at, and punished for his idiocy, self-interest and over all waste of energy.
...You pathetic slug! You filthy, revolting, useless maggot. You're no fucking son of mine! You're just a stupid piece of shit your bitch of a mother likes to ogle over! Figures, since you're both the fucking same! Where in Hell do you get the nerve to drag a damned stray into this godforsaken house? Mangy little rat...
The blonde flinched internally at the memory, forcing it down along with the urge to vomit. He continued to sit as he beat back the suffocating, screeching images of his past, not noticing how the others took note of his long pause and glazed eyes. Worry sparked within all as they watched the turmoil brimming beneath gorgeous blue, the fact that Cloud was unresponsive to their stares making it worse.
The redhead spoke again, voice laced with concern. "Hey Blondie, how ya holding up there? Those crappy cells you call a brain dying on ya already?" Reno tried for light humour as he studied the young face before him. "I told you not to think, like, at all. Just like this bitch!" Reno jerked his thumb in Seifer's direction, wincing and scowling when the flaxen man easily snapped his jaw shut around the digit, releasing it fairly quickly after delivering damage.
"Ignore him, Princess. Just tell us what's wrong," Seifer said dully. "Obviously something's up, right?"
Barely any of Reno's speech actually reached Cloud's fogged mind, but the sound of the other blonde's voice was enough to disrupt his thoughts and bring him crashing back to the present. Of course, rationality and reason were the last elements to return to his scattered brain. So Cloud blurted out the last sentence wandering through his mind preceding his musings. "Why aren't you mad and upset with me dragging Vincent home?" Cloud demanded to the Almasy couple. His voice was soft and empty. Freezing once the words were out of his mouth, Cloud hastily tried to explain himself. "I-I mean, why are you so calm about this entire...so unaffected by everything? I just came home carrying an enemy, out cold, not only dangerous but powerful, and-and-and you're asking me if I was disturbed by your ranting?" The teen's fair hair drooped to cover his face as he arched his eyebrows uncharacteristically. "I don't get it—aren't you mad at me?"
"Yes and no," Seifer answered swiftly, cocky smile lingering, eyes understanding. "I was actually a bit surprised, to be honest. You usually don't wanna talk about stuff like this to me, Cloudy-boy." Seifer scratched his head and messed gold coloured strands. "I was thinking more along the lines of you barging in and telling us what happened and leaving it at that, not requesting an argument from us."
Cloud frowned. "I don't want to argue Seifer, just to understand. Vincent isn't some random friend I bring home drunk or high unannounced. He's actually a stran— a classmate," Cloud admitted nervously, watching the others faces. When there were no blatant looks of alarm, the spiky-haired male turned to Reno for elaboration.
"We kinda figured kiddo. Pretty-boy ain't got many friends, and none from a school. Anyone with him at Crescent are just bodyguards and 'gang-mates'; nobody knows who he talks to, Cloud, and you'd be on a hit list if you became too friendly. Tseng says Rhasphodos is on orders to keep Valentine alienated—good old piece of advice for ya, yo. Keep your trump cards hidden and up the sleeve, away from the rest. Keeps 'em in control, y'know? You stay alive and running longer."
Cloud started to speak again, questioning how this would affect Reno's status with his gang when he truly appreciated what the man had said. "Wait a minute—Tseng? As in—" Cloud gave Reno an unbelieving look. "As in your temporary—"
"Leader and reporting officer. Yeah yeah, Mr. Slanty-Eyes with the fancy-smancy titles," Reno waved his hand dismissively and rolled his eyes. "What's wrong with that?"
Pausing to sort through his thoughts, Seifer beat him to the punch before he could speak his question, accentuating his version with cruel words and insults to rile the feisty redhead. "Well, duh, shit-face. Cloud doesn't know about your fucking turd-faced group's alliance," Seifer said spitefully and nonchalantly, ignoring the murderous glare sent his way by Reno.
"Gee, thanks for bringing that to light, asshole," Reno said sarcastically, aiming a harsh kick at the taller man under the table.
Seifer merely moved his leg to avoid the hit, returning his attention to playing with Leon's hair.
"You're welcome, prick."
Both the blue-eyed teen and brown-haired man nearly rolled their eyes at the start of another pointless bout of insults between Reno and Seifer, sharing a glance and sigh instead. Cloud was sure he and Leon both would have chuckled had the conversation been less serious. Cloud cleared his throat and promptly asked, "So, Aviso and the Turks are in a truce?"
Reno responded after sticking his tongue out childishly to Seifer. "Pff, they've been in on forever now. Both keep reasonable terms with each other, and everything is fine as long as we stick to our own boundaries and hunting grounds, 'cept for certain circumstances. That's like when a target will run for another district and we'll give chase. But, yeah, they work together."
"Please tell me that means what I think it does," Cloud pleaded under his breath, as his thoughts spurred a possible solution shaking his head. "Does that mean you won't be punished for helping a rival because of Vincent?"
"Nope. No way! I mean, it'd be a bad idea to kill one of Aviso's most prized thugs and start a vicious gang war. Besides, the Turks would need to know of Vinnie's presence here in the first place. That'd be difficult to find out because my address is strictly confidential, and I'm not a potential traitor, so no spies are following me. Either one of us in this room," Reno made a circle with his finger, "Or Valentine himself would have to tip a member off."
"Oh," Cloud bit his lip. "Lucky coincidence," he murmured, processing the new information. The fact that Aviso and the Turks had formed a pact changed many things. For example, there was no worry of Reno having to kill Vincent, as was his common duty to the Turks; slaughter any enemy. This also applied to Vincent. The lives of his friends were safe for now. Everyone knew Vincent had a picture-perfect memory, and was drilled to remember the faces of adversaries and allies alike. Reno had a high place among the Turks, in the Special Ops force, and would be recognized.
The only real problem now was keeping him away from Seifer and Leon, just in case Vincent decided to expose or exploit them.
After that, Cloud had been allowed some time to sort through his thoughts again by preparing dinner with Seifer, realizing the married duet harboured no feelings of resentment toward him at all relieving Cloud greatly. Leon headed back to bed while Reno kept up an obdurate watch on Vincent. During the break, Cloud worked things to his advantage by asking his more pressing questions.
"Seifer, do you mind clearing some stuff up for me?" Cloud asked politely, glancing at the taller man out of the corner of his eye. Seifer was reading the label of a seasoning mixture whilst tapping his foot to the music blasting in his slim earphones, only one tucked into the alcove of his ear.
He turned at Cloud's voice, proffering his free ear with a head tilt. Seifer's eyes remained on the ingredients list as he responded, "Like what? Sexual education?" Cloud rolled his eyes at the blonde's crude yet nonchalant question. Seifer obviously knew he'd be the last person Cloud would turn to on the subject of intercourse and relationships, because within seconds of that hypothetical conversation, the azure-eyed boy would resemble a red, round vegetable.
"It's more serious and less personal, actually," Cloud replied dryly, checking the timer on the salmon he was preparing. Cloud looked down at his wristwatch, sliding over to the refrigerator fetching another varnish for his dish. "For me at least."
"Well, spit it out, Princess, before I wring it out of you," ordered the mako-eyed man, shrugging as he tipped the shaker over the saucepan. "Hate it when you and Lee drag things out."
Cloud scowled at the nickname. He hated the dubbings of cute, girly and immature names, such as "Princess" or "Chocobo", "Spiky", "Blondie", or "Kiddo". Despite being the youngest, he could easily pass for the most mature if not for his size and face. Reno appeared cocky. Leon appeared cold. Seifer appeared confident. Cloud appeared sweet. It boosted Reno's confidence of Cloud surviving solitary substantially. About a negative iota. Cloud grounded out his question with a distasteful edge to show how much he appreciated the title "Princess", "Why exactly are both you and Leon back so early from Costa del Sol?"
Seifer snorted at his tone then abandoned his pan atop the stove to wipe his hands on a rag. "Reno's B-Day is coming up quite soon, like, next week. Since Lee and I were bored after the first week—although the sex was a great main attraction, Leon put out a lot—we decided to come back in time to celebrate."
Giving a blank look at the sex comment, Cloud cleaned his own hands, "You have anything planned this late? His birthday's on Saturday," Cloud crossed his arms and leaned against the counter for support. Though the recipe he was creating was short and fairly simple, it was still tiring considering he had pulled an all-nighter that day finishing a project, then pushed himself to the extreme in the weight room during gym and lunch, on top of carrying home a man nearly twice his mass. A breather would be blissful.
Seifer remained silent, obviously sans plans for the big day judging by the red creeping up his neckline. He cursed suddenly at the fiercely sputtering sauce, lowering down the temperature and fanning the air to prevent fire alarms detecting the steam. "Fucking stove! Damn! Heats up too fast! Shit!" The older man buried his face into the crook of his elbow as he laboured. Cloud laughed superiorly at him moving to poke him in the side.
"Shaddup, Blondie," Seifer glared as he fought back the smoke. "Or I'll dunk your head into the pan and see how much you laugh then. You up for sizzled bitch?"
Cloud chuckled and poked him again. Seifer jested often about tying him to the wall or beating him with an iron stick, just to prove a point. Seifer did not like to feel embarrassed, naturally proud, but he refrained from physical contact even after promising injury. His past was still murky and obscure to the sixteen-year-old, but Cloud guessed it was generally painful, what with the sizable percentage of mako coursing through his body. Seifer was afraid to hurt people, not being fully aware of his own strength. The only person he shared touches with customarily was Leon, the brunet capable and comfortable with him. Reno was iffy, because the fiery-haired man occasionally felt moody and snapped at a single tip. Cloud was usually out of bounds. He presented himself as too delicate and too young. The brazen blonde restricted himself to restraining the smaller blonde or tickling him, nothing forceful like punching or even tripping. Cloud subtly tried to encourage more contact to show how he would not break and the elder could act more naturally, but it sometimes ended badly. Such as the time Seifer pushed Cloud and accidentally sent him flying down the hill they were hiking. Cloud actually blamed himself on that one because of his insubstantial body weight, but the other man rejected it.
The no-contact rule did have its usefulness. Like now, where Cloud jabbed Seifer in the stomach. "Move over, let me save dinner," Cloud jibed, not worried about a physical retort, such as the pinch he would get from Reno or the manhandling by Leon. The taller one grumbled, walking away indignantly. Cloud added more herbs and olive oil to the cooking, tasting the spicy substance. Deeming it edible the aqua-eyed boy added cooked spaghetti to the mix, stirring lazily. "What were you and Reno doing before I came in, Seifer? You were down to your jeans...?"
"Meh, just finishing playing strip poker. Reno beat me again and I was leaving to grab some things to bet in a different game when you stumbled in the door." Seifer braced himself by his elbow on the cupboards, leaning in behind Cloud. "Aw, you little brat—little know it all brat! You did fix it! Wow."
"Wasn't that difficult, Seifer. Just required some form of a brain—" Seifer growled warningly—"And some cooking know-how. You can actually eat the pasta now, unlike the slop you were making."
"Don't push you luck."
Cloud stuck out his tongue, the slight pink muscle darting between his lips teasingly. "I'm not, so don't be a baby and be grateful I'm helping." Seifer returned the tongue with one of his own, then absently worked on curling a piece of Cloud's chocobo shaped hair.
"Y'know, I think there's a lot more to this Valentine guy then there appears." Cloud stiffened, orbs wide, Seifer failing to see the tension leaking into his petite form. "I mean, obviously Aviso would pump him full of mako. That's a given. It is the primary drug of the Underground in these parts. But Vinnie doesn't have the normal side-effects, see?" Cloud's eyes stretched further.
He had not anticipated that Seifer would be so observant.
Of course, he should have expected the man to appreciate some of the finer details involved in mako. After all, Seifer had more experience with human experimentation. It made it easier for Cloud, nonetheless. He would not have to worry about alarming Seifer or working up to the discussion now. "What do you mean?" Cloud voiced it as innocently as possible.
Seifer scratched the back of his head with his hand, sighing. "His eyes don't have a mako tinge. There's nothing at all. That's the obvious part, though. There's a whole bunch of other stuff that is totally screwed up about him."
Cloud prompted, "Such as...?"
"I've seen him more than once, and I forget very little of what I see**. He's been involved with Aviso for a couple of years now, and I just noticed today that he's aging."
Blonde eyebrows arched unenthusiastically. "That's nothing surprising Seifer. Vincent's still a teenager, he has to grow." Cloud stirred several more times then snapped the heat off and shifted the spaghetti away.
"No, he shouldn't be. Those rich bastards at Aviso would have pumped Vinnie full of that shit once he signed up. Mako prohibits the aging process. It slows down deterioration on the inside and prevents the subject from growing old on the outside. Vincent's physical body has been altering based on age for all these years, and as far as I know, with mako that isn't possible. His height increases face angles out—in fact, if anything, it seems accelerated. He looks basically like a fully grown man in his late twenties when he's supposed to be younger than me."
Cloud agreed with that statement. At Crescent High Vincent had always managed to appear mature and guarded. His face held no pretence of youthful innocence that could be found on a teenager's face, even at the age of eighteen. Harsh reality couldn't possibly be the only attribute for the silent man's appearance. "That's true. He doesn't seem to have a set age, as in young or old, but he doesn't pass very well for a teenager, even one from the rougher rough side of Barrenville," Cloud tapped a digit against his chin thoughtfully, "But I'm certain he's eighteen. What other purpose would he have to attend school if not for education? He's not even a social type."
"Naw, you're right," Seifer nodded at him. "Leon pulled up his file a while back when we had a run in. He's definitely eighteen. The chemicals are just having odd reactions within his body. A sure weight fluctuation. You should not have been able to lift the guy, him being so tall and all. The drug boosts the density of bone mass, creating a heavier weight. Vinnie should have been too much for you to handle, so I decided to check his weight by lifting him," Seifer raised his hands defensively when Cloud's head shot around, alarmed, "Don't worry, I was very careful. No damage befell your perfect parcel. But he was a ton heavier. Literally, I struggled to raise him without my mako reserves***. That's a shock because you were able to, and the fact is, you're a heck of a lot scrawnier than me."
"So that means he gained more than a few pounds," Cloud concluded, shifting his weight to one foot and crossing his arms, curious, "In less than a few hours, he's put on over a hundred pounds, since you can handle a little over two hundred even if the mako isn't triggered."
"Damn straight. I don't work out for nothing, y'know, Princess," Seifer smirked smugly, flexing an arm. Then the man became serious again. "Maybe he was an actual subject, Cloud. Maybe they changed something else in his body... "
The blonde remained silent at Seifer's musings, the suggestion causing a sick feeling to grow in his chest and stir in his stomach as the other slouched away. The idea of some cynical and detached lunatic operating on Vincent's fair body was not impossible to picture, thus it was extremely disturbing. A recluse like Vincent would have to be traumatized to no end in order to develop such a bland and withdrawn personality. The Aviso member apparently knew too much of the world to risk a mortal weakness such as emotion. Cloud did not want to, but he pitied the raven-haired man. He couldn't fathom how difficult his life was. He knew enough about Vincent to understand the way the rest of his life was doomed to play out. It was a familiar tale in Barrenville and sadly all too common.
Vincent would remain alone. The difficulty of winning a true lover in Barrenville would increase astronomically with such a history and face. Finding a suitable partner was onerous enough, but what about Vincent's character? What about the severe paranoia blanketing the man since his instigation to Aviso? Not to mention the constant isolation removing his feelings.
Cloud shook his head lightly to clear it of such thoughts. The story was tragic, true, but it was none of his concern, and therefore (Cloud cringed at the coldness of this thought) unimportant.
Sure, Cloud had one fantasized (appropriately) about Vincent Valentine. Everyone in the school had at one point or another, out of love or hate, or sometimes both. Cloud was open about his sexual orientation, and all his friends knew he was gay. It was not an abnormality in Barrenville anymore. Perhaps a decade ago he would be pummelled around every corner by homophobes, but today Cloud would not be a target. Mostly everyone was bisexual because you settled for what you could get. In the end, it was not exactly positive, him being accepted, because it heightened chances of attackers assaulting him.
Had Vincent ever proposed an intimate relationship to Cloud, two years ago, he was certain he would have said yes. Unfortunately or fortunately, Cloud had abandoned the flock for an atypical reason, at least down here. He favoured focussing on his studies and friends, and having a boyfriend would conflict with those areas.
Besides, Vincent's inhospitable nature lacked a number of "suitable boyfriend" traits on Cloud's checklist, and even less on Reno's.
He amused himself mentally with the idea of bringing any guy home to meet Reno under romantic circumstances—it would be worse than the time Cloud stayed over at Axel's for a school project. He smiled at the thought of the man's false and crumbling smile as imaginary Cloud kissed his imaginary stud. The icing on the cake would be when the guy cupped Cloud's ass cheeks through his jeans.
That would be the point where the redhead's twitching eye exploded as he blew his top and threw the boyfriend out the window then dashed to get his car and run the man over a few times. The only excuse Reno would supply for his insane behaviour was "you were being violated" and "you were about to lose your virginity", and "the guy smoked weed around the corner anyway".
Seifer overheard the muffled snorts Cloud barely caught behind a shaking hand. He sat up from his slumped position at the table to raise a flaxen brow at the noises. "Are you choking?"
Cloud's hair bounced as he shook his head, snickering softly, "No, I was just thinking how Reno would react if I brought home a boyfriend and started making out like you and Leon," Cloud explained, nodding in approval as a grin spread over the blonde's face, though he seemed confused as to why he brought it up.
"Could you picture the look on his face if it was his boss or something?" Seifer suggested, chuckling. Seifer cleared his throat and put on an oblivious looking face, smiling stupidly. "Hey, Reno," Seifer imitated a very high voice, "This is, like, my new boyfriend, and he totally wanted to come have dinner. Isn't that right, Tsengy-poo?" Seifer practically screeched the last part, fluttering his eyes lids and making kissy faces, linking his fingers together over his heart. "You are just the most perfect guy ever! Come give me some love—OHM NOM NOM! Oh, oh, oh, yeah baby, right there, oh give it to me, oh! I'm your bitch honey!" Seifer started feeling up his neck and chest, the actions over exaggerated and lewd.
Cloud let the insults slide. Although he crinkled his nose at the idea of dating Tseng, the stuck up "corporate" directing Reno, Cloud thought the parody was funny, especially when Seifer threw Reno into the picture.
"Cloud, what the FUCK do you think you're doing?" the green-blue eyed man's voice was back to normal and incredulous, miming Reno, before switching back to Cloud, "Uh...Tseng? OH! Oh, shut up, betch, can't you see I am being fucked? Oh, yes!" Seifer stood up, placing a hand on his hip, the other poised and bent at his side, portraying a snobby version of Cloud as he tossed his short hair, "I'll, like, give you a blowjob later when Seifer and Leon go home, like I do every night when they're not around, 'kay baby?"
Cloud struggled to stop laughing, "Sh-Shut up! T-That's so not true!"
The elder male blew a raspberry, enjoying his dying audience. He put on a stern face for Reno. "What, only a blowjob? Oh, fine, screw me later if it makes you happy. I don't mind, I'm a total whore!" Seifer rolled his body, and Cloud sunk to the ground, leaning against the floor cupboards to stay up and holding his sides.
"G-Get lost, Seifer," Cloud gasped, wheezing.
"What, Tseng, you're spent already? Get lost, asshole, I'm not doing you anymore." Seifer slapped the air with a half squeal half grunt. "Reno, come here. I am so horny I'll—"
"What are you two doing?"
Seifer spun around, still in sissy/slut Cloud mode from his brief skit, snapping his fingers, hand on hip, and said in the same voice, jerking his head back and forth, "What's that, bitchface?"
Cloud erupted in glee at the expressions on Leon and Reno's faces, standing in the doorway, stunned and bewildered at the same time.
Author's Note: No, I'm not dead. I'm exhausted and staring murderously at this chapter, but I'm still alive. Extreme apologies for taking so much time to update. And it's not even that good of a chapter—nor is it complete. The chapter has been halved yet again because I take forever to type and end up writing too much. So now I have to write another interval chapter. So I'll just discuss CPs and Cloud's pendant and mako to clear some things up for you all, okay? If you have any questions, feel free to ask! I know it's confusing at some points, but the great thing about Fanfiction is you can contact the author through PMs or review!
*Cloud has panic attacks often if he lets his mind wander on a particular issue, mostly if he screws up and isn't punished, something he's used to. Why? Subscribe to the story and find out!*
**Seifer sees Vincent while picking Cloud up from school, or in the Underground.**
***Mako reacts to adrenaline, and accelerates the blood rate, body heat and strength of the person to a degree where it can be felt as soon as it's triggered.***
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