House Arrest

Disclaimer:

All Final Fantasy VII related characters and ideas are copyright to Square-Enix, and only them. Any other characters are copyright to the author.

Chapter Ten – Complicated Affairs

Those eyes, she thought, were going to be the death of her sanity. The way those dark red wine orbs just bore into her own icy blue pools, piercing her very soul. It took great strain to swallow past the lump that suddenly took residence in her throat. Though he didn't really say it verbatim, he thought her beautiful. Not once in her entire life had the simplicity of a man's gaze make her heart quiver. Riley was deaf to the music and blind to the people around her. The only thing she could hear or see was Vincent Valentine. Though he was currently teasing her, his voice was soft, just as the thumb being brushed across her cheek was gentle. How did it come to this? Two months ago, she was ready to turn him in at the first chance. Now, picturing him gone was unthinkable. Though she had been denying it for awhile, she had to come to terms with the fact that she was more than interested in Vincent.

Vincent grew more anxious with her silence, and for the first time in years, he had no idea how to proceed. Uncertainty held him back, and Cid's warnings echoed in the back of his mind. Lucrecia was something like a fantasy, but this...it felt so right just simply grazing her skin. Neither of them had realized they both stopped swaying to the music, simply standing in the middle of the dance floor. For the longest time, they just stared at each other. The silence between them was sweet but maddening. He leaned forward slightly but stopped himself. Unable to go through with it, knowing the consequences, he backed off. He could see the disappointment she tried to hide, and the feeling was mutual. Despite that, in the end, he would leave her. God knew he wanted to stay, but if he truly cared, he would leave her in peace.

Clearing his throat, he said, "I...hope you'll forgive me."

The statement had thrown her off. One moment, he looked like he was going to kiss her but stops, and now he's asking for forgiveness? What brought this on? "What are you talking about?"

He hesitated, opening his mouth to speak, but the words seemed lost on him. Regardless, Riley had a vague idea what he meant, recalling her conversation with Grimoire earlier, though she couldn't be certain that was the reason. Vincent just rubbed his hands down her arms, Riley barely catching the glimmer of sadness on his visage before it went neutral.

"Your skin is getting cold," he said softly, removing his blazer, tossing it over her shoulders. "Can't have you catching a cold." A cold was the least of Riley's concerns.

Getting back to Grimoire's apartment, Vincent turned to Riley in the hallway. "I'll take the couch."

Grimoire feigned interest in their exchange while Riley didn't even speak or protest. She turned to Grimoire with a forced smile. "Goodnight, Grimoire."

"Goodnight, dear. Sleep well."

Once she went into Vincent's old room, shutting the door with a barely audible click, Grimoire turned to Vincent with that knowing look. His son merely scoffed, "Don't give me that look."

"I'm already giving you the look, boy. What happened? And don't tell me you panicked."

Vincent glared for a few seconds before walking towards the living room, waving off his father. "You wouldn't understand."

"Wouldn't understand?! Vincent, this is the exact same response you gave me all those years ago when you decided to join the ranks."

Trying to ignore him, Vincent lied on the couch. Seeing that his father wouldn't relent, he said, "I tried to give you a reason, but you never listened. I doubt you would listen now."

"A lot of time has passed...try me."

Grimoire sat in his leather chair and waited patiently for a whole five minutes while Vincent merely lied there trying to ignore him. It didn't work. "It no longer applies."

"Fine, then explain why your would-be girlfriend is upset."

"It's complicated. She started out as a hostage, now we're friends, and if we keep getting along, we may end up doing something we'll both regret later."

His father scoffed. "You really are a fool." Vincent turned his gaze to him. "If you don't do something that shows her how much you care and something happens to her, you'll regret that even more." Vincent went to say something but his father merely cut in. "You're afraid of your own feelings because you've experienced loss before and don't wish to feel that heartache again. So you shut yourself off from something you clearly want. You're going to have to man-up, son, because that's life. Life is pain and happiness. You're just going to have to accept that fact."

His son sighed, rubbing his face in frustration. "What would you have me do? Tell her how I feel only to leave her later, breaking her heart in the process? Is that what you want? I don't think even I'm so cruel as to do that!"

"It's better than her believing that you never loved her at all."

Shot through the heart from the statement, Vincent stared wide-eyed and closemouthed. "Jesus..." He sat up then, resting his face in his hands. How could he have been so blind? Even if he left...at least she would know. Would she wait for him? It was clear how they both felt about one another.

Grimoire watched as Vincent got up. Though he knew the answer already, he asked, "Where are you going?"

"Where do you think?" Vincent sniped.

Grimoire smirked. Oh, he was sogood at pushing his son. Standing in the hallway, hesitation kept Vincent from knocking on his bedroom door. Finally going through with it, he waited after rapping gently. There was no answer for a long time and he was about to knock again before Riley answered. She was dressed in flannel pyjama bottoms and a simple tank top, hair down now.

"Vincent?" she asked in confusion. "What's wrong?"

He opened his mouth, but nothing came out for a long time. Clearing his throat, he started over. "Can I come in?"

Arching her brow, she stepped aside warily. As he walked in, she asked, "What's this about?"

He closed the door, finger tapping lightly on the door as if determined how to go about this. Slowly, he asked, "Where do you stand, in terms of...us?"

She blinked. "What?" He only stared at her. Riley returned his gaze before deciphering his true question. Feeling that nervousness in the pit of her stomach, she hesitantly said, "I...want you." There, she said it. God, why didshe say that?! As if backing out, she sought to remedy her statement with by saying, "To stick around."

Before she could say it though, he was already on her, knocking the breath out of her when his mouth came upon hers, backing her into the dresser. The shock of it had made her panic for a moment, but the way he moved those lips over hers was more than enough to calm her. This was a god damn dream. It had to be. Hell of a good one though.

After another moment, he finally pulled away, staring hard into her eyes. "Now you know."

"Know what?" she asked, slightly dazed. "What I've been missing?"

He chuckled then sobered, running a hand down her cheek. "I haven't felt this way in a long time. Riley...you should know that once I've finished what I set out to do, I have to leave for your sake. One day they'll catch me and you may be branded of being an accomplice. I won't let that happen to you."

Riley swallowed hard, knowing he meant well. "I see."

"I just...wanted you to know this so you wouldn't think that I abandoned you to save my own skin."

She nodded. "I know." Suddenly she slapped him, shocking him. "That's for being a jerk and just in case!"

"Just in case for what?" he asked, bewildered.

"For when you leave," she replied softly. "I won't be able to hit you then."

He scoffed, rubbing the side of his face. "You're stronger than you appear. My face stings."

"Aw, muffin," she coddled sarcastically.

Soothingly, she grabbed his head and kissed his cheek. The gesture was so sweet that he stared at her meaningfully before going in for another kiss, taking his time to explore the taste of her lips. Riley stood almost rigid but relaxed, but the rigidness came back when he pushed her back further against the dresser, the edge digging into her spine. She yipped slightly in pain and Vincent backed off, whispering his apology. Arms wrapped around her back, he resumed the task of tasting her lips, his tongue begging for entrance, which she granted as she wrapped her arms around his neck. Her mouth tasted of toothpaste while his still tasted of red wine.

Having a good idea of where this was going, without releasing her, one arm reached out, slapping at the wall, looking for the light switch. Eventually succeeding at turning off the light, he backed up towards the bed, releasing her mouth long enough to sit on the edge, pulling her along with him to have her emit a squeak of surprise and sitting on his lap. Eager mouths found one another as Riley's hands framed both sides of his face and one of his reached up to slide his fingers through her hair. The next thing she did made him pause in secret delight. Her own fingers ran through his hair, lightly massaging his scalp to the point it made him completely relaxed.

She giggled softly. "Sleepy?"

"Damn you, what's with those fingers of yours?"

"I've always been good at putting those under my touch straight to sleep."

"You're not getting out of this, woman."

"I don't know what you're talking about," she denied casually, then shrieked when he suddenly flipped her onto the bed beneath him. She blinked. "Well then."

Vincent reached up to brush aside a strand of hair. "I'm not usually this eager."

"You were in jail a few years. I get it."

He leaned down, kissing her again, this time more slowly as he slid a hand up her tank, feeling her skin that made his own tingle in excitement and anticipation. Before his hand could venture further though, her hand grabbed his wrist. Damn, they were going too fast too soon. He damn well knew this, but his recently reawakened hormones clouded his judgement. He raised his eyes to hers.

She looked uncertain, but her eyes had darkened from the growing heat. She could barely breathe out, "Isn't it weird for us to be doing this here?"

"It's a bedroom. Sex is a bedroom activity. Did I mention that it's my bedroom?"

"Exactly. I mean, your dad..."

He smiled. "Do you have any idea how many times my father has chided me this evening?" She shook her head. "I think he's determined to have you turned into his daughter-in-law." She gaped and he stopped her protests by kissing her again, whispering against her lips. "Besides, I won't give you the time to feel embarrassed. Just shut up and let me make love to you."

His quiet demand actually sent flutters through her, her face heating up. Slowly, she released his wrist, and his hand slid to cup her breast, kissing her once more before his lips trailed along her jawline and down her neck, nipping at her skin so gently, that it was almost torture. Unable to take much more, or at least unwilling to, she began pushing off his blazer and undoing his shirt. It wasn't the first time she had seen his bare torso, but it never failed to marvel her how perfect he was. He tossed away both upper-wear before proceeding to slip his thumbs beneath the waistband of her PJ's, sliding them off her legs effortlessly, only to be surprised by a pair of black lace panties.

"Funny, you didn't strike me as a...lingerie-type," he commented casually.

"I can be girly," she declared, clearly embarrassed.

Instead of saying how well aware he was of that fact, he undid his belt, throwing it aside to join the others on the floor. His mouth devoured hers, overwhelming her sense of touch and taste. God, he smelled good, she thought while inhaling the scent that always made her feel secure. Him, just him. Hands ran up the side of her leg, over her hip, and under her shirt, teasing the breast beneath the fabric as his other hand grabbed her hair, pulling her head back gently so that he could drink in the scent and taste of her skin on her throat, nipping and kissing, his tiny scruff tickling her in a way that merely felt...amazing, she decided.

Before they went any further, Riley had a panicking thought. The tone she had stopped Vincent dead. "We don't have birth control."

That fact was enough to put Vincent in a panic of his own. Pregnancy was not something they could possibly deal with. Burying his face into the bed beside her head, he groaned in frustration. Sex was not on the menu tonight. Normally, a man with his personality and control would not be one to cry, but when you're anticipating sex, the frustration is too much. So close, yet so far. Desperate, he leapt to a nightstand, pulling out a drawer. Finding condoms, he checked the dates as Riley sat up.

The way he growled in disapproval bubbled a laugh out of Riley. God knew she understood his feelings. "Anything?"

"Expired," he muttered, teeth grinding. He went to the opposite table, finding nothing there. "Dammit. This isn't happening!"

Riley talked about his father hearing? Well, it's even worse to even consider asking him if he had any condoms. He doubt that his old man would have been able to provide anyway. He dropped his head in his hands, groaning once more. Riley slid up behind him, wrapping her arms around his shoulders.

"Foreplay is still an option," she suggested.

"If I continue, I won't be able to stop at foreplay," he mumbled. Sighing, he turned to face her, just kissing her more tenderly this time. "Sorry."

She only smiled. "We'll live." He stroked her face, kissing her head before getting up. "Where are you going?"

"I need a cold shower. Get some sleep."

"Okay," she said softly as he grabbed a towel as he left the room.

Showered, dressed and calm, Vincent took a peek into his room, checking on Riley, finding her fast asleep. He sat on the bed, watching her sleep for awhile, pondering what had nearly happened. Not wanting to be unprepared for next time, he quietly left the room, put on his shoes and jacket, and grabbed the apartment keys. As he stepped out of the building, he looked both ways, attempting to recall where the nearest convenience store was.

It was a ten minute walk before he finally found one, stepping inside a 24-hour convenience. The middle-eastern clerk nodded his head politely in greeting, Vincent returning the gesture. Finding the condoms was a simple task, debating between the different kinds was another. Making his decision, he got a couple of other things, purchasing the items and leaving the store once more. It seemed too quiet, especially in New York. There were hardly any cars, and no students or pedestrians of any kind around.

Eyes narrowed, he went the opposite direction of the apartment. Something didn't feel right. He had this feeling of dread before. Unfortunately, he had left unarmed, his weapons at the apartment. The slightest sound made, and he knew. Sighing, he set aside the bag of items on the first bench he came across. He inhaled deeply and exhaled slowly. Suddenly, he swung his leg back, knocking back what looked like some stealth agent in fitting gear equipped with silenced pistols and daggers.

"I was wondering when Hojo would find me."

Grabbing the agent's head, he pulled then hit it against the brick wall, snatching the pistol as they fell. When he turned around, he saw about twenty more, rifles raised, laser precision pointing at him. Sighing, he shook his head. Before he could initiate his counter-attack, his eyes landed on who was possibly the team leader. Clad in the black stealth suit, military boots, and a long black duster jacket, the white-haired man, currently in a single braid, walked forward. Their eyes locked, and Vincent's sense of dread worsened.

A/N: And that's the tenth chapter. For those who are unaware, I've written a first chapter for the Little Red Riding Hood category, so please take a chance to look at that. It'll explain my absence and other important stuff. Now, I'm sure some of you were expecting me to keep you hanging, and in a way, you guessed right since Vincent and Riley were unable to convict such a naughty crime. **MUWAHAHA** Anyway, I admit, I was blushing throughout writing the scene and was even debating leaving it out, but considering this story is planned to be less than twenty chapters, I decided to leave it in there. Next story update will be for Rhapsody of Chaos, and I warn you all...it'll be an extremely sad chapter. I'm ashamed that I'm even going to go through with it. (I have to reread the whole thing though **nooo**)

I appreciate any reviews, and thank you for reading.