Running With Monsters
Chapter Seven
Okay, for starters, I just want to say hello! I feel like I haven't said anything for a while, and I'm feeling lonely :'( Anyways, Thanks to ya'll for reading this far! I think that the story is getting kinda dark, which I like, but I think this is going to be a mostly informative chapter. Oh, and I just want to say that Hojo DID re-attach Vincent's boots. I'm just to lazy to go back and re-write! :P I want to warn you though, I really have nothing planned, and I'm really just letting it write itself. Good luck!
Cloud stopped his bike miles outside the dark shadow of Midgar as twilight began to settle itself on the barren land. The thundering roar of Fenrir quieted to a soft growl as Cloud swung his legs onto the dusty ground, rolling his shoulders and neck. He'd spent hours tracking Chaos out to the plains, mainly going off the frightened testimony of people he'd found on the street and interrogated. Only a few stayed to chat, most just ran off babbling about a "Red-eyed demon".
Cloud looked around him, studying the landscape. The rolling plains had long since re-grown the sparse foliage it housed now, the grass still weak and fragile. He bent down to caress the broken greenery, crushed by a large clawed foot. His eyes narrowed as he reached around and shut Fenrir down completely.
Cloud scanned the horizon again, this time really drinking it in. The distance between him and the cliffs of a canyon was obvious, but the red rock stood out in the setting sun. The rippling breeze shook the grass, making it sway back and forth gently. Cloud's gaze settled on a small rock outcropping barely five-hundred yards from his current position. He nodded to himself, and started walking.
The five-hundred yards felt infinitely longer once the storms blew in. Cloud's bare skin on his arms and face was battered by needle-thin raindrops, stinging and pounding the bruises he'd acquired of late. The insistent wind pushed against him, urging him back to the relative safety of the indoors, but Cloud pushed his way to a small cave in one of the larger rocks.
Cloud shouldered his way into the small opening, for once happy he was a little shorter than average. He did have some trouble when Tsurgi got stuck in the opening though. He bounced back against the rock as it wedged itself in, grunting with surprise. As he wrestled with the sword, he managed to catch a small glimpse of a shadow flitting across the dark walls. His bright eyes widened in surprise as he struggled even harder against the rock that held him captive.
"Who's there?" He demanded, trying not to let a little desperation creep into his shout. He was completely powerless until he managed to get free, and he knew it. The desperation was replaced by a aching concern as someone fell away from the wall and onto the floor, sprawled in unconsciousness.
"Vincent?"
After Cloud had somehow managed to remove himself from the entrance, he knelt down beside the gunslinger's still form. His stump of an arm had been cauterized and was healing nicely already, but the man still looked ghostly. Cloud arranged the man as comfortably as possible, and then searched the rest of the cave. All he managed to find was Vincent's red cloak, which he laid over the man's shivering body. He shook his head as he looked outside at the torrent that seemed to surge with renewed vigor. He sighed as he resigned himself to a long, wet stay in the cave.
Hours passed, and Cloud somehow managed to catch some sleep, leaning against the cold wall of the cave. He started awake as something interrupted his sleep, to discover he'd ended up curled on the floor. He struggled upright as the noise that had woken him repeated. He looked around as the⦠growling? continued. His eyes fell on the struggling form of Vincent as his friend convulsed and growled. Cloud felt helpless as Vincent let out a soft moan that echoed with agony as his crimson eyes cracked open.
"Vincent? It's Cloud." Cloud sat forward on his heels as the gunslinger turned his head to face him.
"Water" He mouthed, and Cloud immediately reached to his oversized belt, pulling out a bottle of water. He opened it and placed it in Vincent's outstretched hand. The hand surged forward, grabbing the bottle and closing on it, pulling it away with surprising strength. Vincent lifted the bottle to his mouth and swallowed its entire contents in one go. He threw the bottle to the corner and struggled to sit up.
Cloud rushed to Vincent's side, helping his friend sit up against the wall of the cave.
"Where are we?" Vincent asked, his deep voice harsh and scratchy.
"A cave, a couple dozen miles from Midgar." Cloud answered. Vincent opened his mouth to speak again, but subsided into a fit of hacking coughs that made Cloud reach to him in concern. Vincent pushed Cloud's hand away and shook his head weakly.
"What happened?"
Cloud told Vincent all that had happened since the other man's capture. From meeting with Rufus to his search for the gunslinger. Vincent only nodded and frowned.
"Another Vincent?" He asked, once Cloud had finished his story. The blond nodded slowly.
"Yeah. Painfully obvious he wasn't you, but still nasty." Cloud studied the older man's reaction and was slightly surprised when he just sighed and nodded slightly. Cloud tilted his head to the side a little.
"The Phoenix Gang. That's their name. They practice an ancient art of magic centered around human sacrifices." Cloud leaned back a little in disgust as Vincent continued.
"The real Rufus and Reno were with me, and Shinra seemed to know a lot. He told me that the higher members who'd perfected the art had the ability to change appearances, enabling them to look like anyone they choose." Vincent's dark gaze settled on Cloud.
"We need to get back to Midgar. As quickly as possible." He looked out at the downpour and his head fell a little. "After the storm. I don't think I can move well at the moment." He looked back at Cloud, who was slightly shocked at the man's confession. Vincent's harsh gaze seemed to weaken as he stared at Cloud. His head fell again.
"Do you have anything to eat?" He asked. Cloud's mouth fell open. Vincent, in all the time they'd know each other, had never eaten with anyone else. Cloud had started to believe the man didn't eat. He nodded and reached into a sack on his belt, pulling out a small bag of jerky, two granola bars, and a bruised apple. He put the pile in Vincent's lap, hesitating, but continuing when the gunman made no move to stop him. Vincent seemed to stare at the pile of food in his lap, and then Cloud jumped a little as his hand shot out and seized the bag of jerky.
Fumbling with the plastic tie, Vincent held the bag in his one hand, which was shaking slightly. He finally got the tie undone, and his hand fished inside the bag, pulling out one of the larger pieces. He held it to his mouth and ripped off a chunk of it, chewing with a haste Cloud didn't think possible.
All the food was gone within minutes. The wrappers were in a neat little pile beside Vincent, who was chewing on the last piece of jerky before swallowing. Cloud had watched the entire spectacle, barely moving as the ex-Turk devoured the meal. Vincent didn't look up as he shifted in place, turning his head away from the swordsman.
"Thank you, but that won't hold me for long. We need to get back to Midgar." Cloud stared harder. He could only say what was on his mind though.
"Wow." Cloud regretted the word as Vincent turned his head back to face him, crimson eyes burning slightly.
"Wow?" The man repeated, raising an eyebrow. Cloud seemed to shrink slightly as he rubbed the back of his neck, embarrassed.
"Well, it's just that I've never really seen you actually eat, or drink, or really even sleep." Vincent's glare softened a bit.
"I usually don't need to. One good meal a week is usually all I need." Cloud raised an eyebrow of his own. Vincent looked at the blonde's expression and sighed.
"Chaos. It takes a lot of energy to keep it going, and it takes my own." Cloud face fell as he looked away from Vincent.
"Vincent, what happened back there, in the hospital?" Cloud could actually see Vincent stiffen and clench his teeth.
"Forgive me. I'm afraid that hospitals of any type seem to trigger a rather violent response I can't quite control. I can't yet discern the difference from a lab and a cot quite yet." Vincent's eyes narrowed and Cloud saw him tense even more as his right hand subconsciously clutched his left forearm.
"No, it's okay Vincent. I didn't quite realize what would happen once you woke." Cloud stood and looked down at the gunslinger, who continued to stare blankly at the floor. He looked towards the entrance, and a small grin emerged on his features.
"The rain's stopped. I'll get Fenrir and come back." Vincent nodded his thanks and slumped back against the wall. Cloud cast one last worried glance at him before sliding through the doorway and ran to his bike.
