Haunted by the Past- The Road to Recovery
Cloud stared down at the sleeping form of his love, silent tears welling in his eyes. Vincent had been hurt so badly, treating so cruelly… and Sephiroth had won. Vincent couldn't stand to be touched, even by Cloud; it sent his body into instantaneous defense mode, and it was hard to talk him out of it. Cloud had only had the incident occur once, when Vincent had first woken up. After that he had avoided the gunman as much as possible. Vincent probably didn't even know where Chaos was, much less that he was inside Cloud. The demon had been subdued of late, resting inside the body of yet another monosyllabic angst bucket. Those types were getting boring. And he didn't even have anyone else to talk to.
So Cloud had made a decision. He was leaving. He would go to the Nibel Mountains so he and Chaos could separate, and he would leave. Vincent didn't need Cloud around making him edgy. This was the first time in a week that the gunman had even slept, and the sight broke Cloud's heart. He silently laid a folded paper on the pillow, gently kissed Vincent's cheek, and walked out of the room. Chaos was shifting uneasily inside of him, and Cloud knew the demon was contemplating his next words.
I don't know if that's wise.
'I don't care. He doesn't need me around making life hard for him.'
He's going to go angst again when you leave, and then the woe is me will start up again. If I have to lock him in the coffin again, I will never forgive you.
Cloud stopped dead. 'What do you mean, 'again'?'
I mean that it was me and Galien who locked Valentine in the coffin the first time. He was going to kill himself when human female died, and we didn't feel like finding another host. We told him it was Hojo, to keep things going well between us.
'You don't think he'll try to do that again, do you?'
Hmm…I don't know. But if he does, H.M, Galein , Death and I are hosting in you.
'Death…? Death Gigas! Can he keep Vincent from being rash?'
Probably. But like I said, this isn't wise.
'But it's for the best.'
Take your word for it.
(Weep no more sad fountains, why need you flow so fast? Doth not the snowy mountains heaven's sun doth quickly waste? Rest you then. )
Chaos' leavetaking was short and relatively painless, and Cloud was not sorry to be rid of him. His body and mind were weary, and he still had a long way to go before he could sleep. He could make it to Kalm in a day's time, and stay at 7th heaven for a time. Tifa would probably let him stay for a few days. Until he got his strength up. Nanaki had promised him a home and work in Cosmo Canyon, where his skill with understanding Mako would be needed. He would stay there for as long as he needed to. Maybe one day he would see Vincent again, but….Maybe. Maybe.
A/N: Two chapters in almost as many minutes! I'm on a roll!