I'm baaaaack! Yes, I'm a bad girl for not posting sooner, and I have no excuse. Just so you know in advance, Reno hates getting hurt. He is entirely free of scars, even after his life on the streets. He is terribly proud of it. Got it? Great. Review, and then go vote in my poll!
Cloud was curled in a chair when Zack returned, waiting for news of Vincent
Cloud was curled in a chair when Zack returned, waiting for news of Vincent. He hadn't been allowed to go with him, but Zack, as current head of the harem, could and did.
"Is he going to be okay?" he asked.
"He'll be fine. No lasting damage, but they want to keep him for a couple of days," Zack sighed. He ran his hands through his hair, visibly agitated. "Cloud?"
"Yeah?"
"Would you come with me, please?"
Cloud nodded, and followed Zack back out of the harem wing. After everything that had happened in the last couple of weeks, he didn't question how the older slave had the audacity to leave without permission. He stayed quiet as they climbed several flights of stairs, finally coming out onto a balcony high enough to give them a view of the south and east sides of the compound.
"Nice view," Cloud said hesitantly.
"What did you do to Vincent?" Zack asked.
"What?"
"Do you know what he told the medics, when he could breath again?"
Cloud shook his head.
"He said he'd taken the Ipecac to lose weight. I know that's a lie, Cloud. Know why?"
"No."
Zack whirled, grabbing Cloud and pinning him to the balcony rail.
"He's underweight. He's always been underweight. He and Seph and I don't have to work to keep our figures, because the Mako keeps us fit. Vincent's a smart guy- why would he be trying to lose weight at all, let alone with something as dangerous as Syrup of Ipecac? The only logical explanation is that someone else gave it to him, and he's covering for them. And even if he was that desperate to lose weight, he wouldn't overdose that badly."
"What are you saying?"
"What I'm saying," Zack growled, pushing Cloud until he was bent backwards over the rail. "Is that I don't believe him, and I don't believe you. Know what makes me a good SOLDIER?"
"N-no."
"I get hunches. And they've never been wrong. I think you spiked Vincent's dinner, Cloud. I don't know why you did, but it was you. I want a confession. Now."
Cloud struggled, trying to get out from under Zack. He didn't get anywhere. Zack was taller than him, and much stronger, even without the Mako enhancements. All he succeeded at doing was making his shirt ride up between his back and the cold metal of the rail Zack had him pinned to.
"But I-"
"Don't lie to me. I'm here because of lies. I wound up in SOLDIER because of lies. I left home because of lies. My mother killed herself because of lies. I hate liars, Cloud. They're right up there with spoiled little boys who have to have everything, and men who think their every whim should be catered to on my list of people I despise."
Rufus and Sephiroth. Best friend or not, Zack hated Sephiroth for getting him into the harem and ruining any chance he had at a normal life.
"I'm sorry," Cloud whispered.
"What?"
"I'm sorry. He…he made me do it." It was a poor excuse. A child's excuse. But entirely true.
Zack eased his grip, giving Cloud a look that clearly said he wasn't sure if he ought to believe what he was hearing or not.
"Who made you do it?" he asked. "Seph?"
Cloud shook his head.
"Chaos."
Zack snorted.
"Chaos is a story. My mother used to tell me stories about him, to make me do things. A bogey-man can't tell you to do anything."
A story? Cloud had never heard of Chaos before he'd shown himself.
"He can, I swear, Zack. He wants out."
"Out of what?"
Zack pushed against Cloud again, bending him nearly double over the rail. There was a whole lot of cold, open air between Cloud's head and the ground. If he fell, there'd just be a little greasy spot on the concrete.
"O-out of Vincent. He's trapped inside him. Hojo put him there, before Tseng bought him."
"And he asked you to poison Vincent?"
"N-no."
"Then why did you?"
"It was the only thing I could think of," Cloud whimpered. "Let go, Zack, it hurts."
"Not until you explain."
Haltingly, Cloud related the entire story, how Chaos had freed himself while Vincent was sick, how he'd told Cloud everything about how he'd come to his present state, what he'd wanted in return for telling Cloud. How Cloud had considered his options and decided poison was the way to go. How Vincent knew Chaos had gotten loose, and now knew Cloud was in cahoots with Chaos, though not whether it was or wasn't voluntary. How Cloud had chosen the Ipecac because it wasn't fatal, and he hadn't wanted to hurt Vincent but had overdosed him in an attempt to ensure he was dosed properly. When he was finished, he went limp in Zack's grip, exhausted by the stress of the day, and waited to see what the ex-SOLDIER would do.
"Is that the truth?" Zack asked, his voice hardly more than a whisper.
Cloud nodded.
"If I haul you over this railing and hang you by one foot over the drop, you'd say the same thing?"
"I'd probably scream," Cloud muttered. "But yes."
Zack backed up slowly, allowing Cloud to slide down the railing.
"And he told you to let him out?"
Cloud nodded. Zack sighed heavily and sat down beside Cloud, bringing his knees up so he could rest his forehead against them.
"Damn," he breathed. "I knew Vincent was different, but…"
"Yeah."
They sat in silence for a few minutes, backs to the railing, listening to the quiet bustle of the city they were in the middle of. Finally, Zack stood up, dusted himself off, and offered a hand to help Cloud up.
"Let me know if I can help you with him, okay? I'll do whatever I can."
Cloud took Zack's hand, momentarily speechless. Zack pulled him up easily, then clapped him on the back. Cloud could feel the controlled power in it and knew that Zack could have sent him flying just as easily as Sephiroth.
"C'mon, let's get back before someone misses us. Just holler if you need me."
"Alright."
They ran into Tseng on the way back. He stopped when he saw then, hands on hips.
"Don't wander off without telling someone, Zack," he said firmly. "Reno and Evyn have been looking all over for you two."
"Sorry. It was important."
"I'm sure."
"Really."
"Concerning Vincent?"
Cloud and Zack exchanged looks.
"That's what I thought. Come up with an alibi and get back inside. If I catch you outside without permission again, you're both in trouble. Understood?"
"Yes," Cloud said softly. Zack saluted. Tseng nodded and left.
"What did he mean, come up with an alibi?" Cloud asked, when Tseng was gone.
"You don't want Reno knowing why we were out, do you? He won't take the news well."
"Oh. Right."
They made it halfway to the baths before Reno caught them
"And where have you been?" he asked.
"Um…out?" Cloud said.
"I know that- we've been looking everywhere for-"
Zack slid his arm around Cloud's waist and pulled him close. Reno stared, then gave Zack a withering look.
"Since when do you take anyone out of our wing for a little fun?" he complained. "And since when do you sleep with anyone other than Rufus and Tseng?"
Zack said nothing, just pulled Cloud past Reno and down the hall.
Zack left Cloud alone in his room. Cloud stripped off his day-clothes and threw them angrily at the hamper near the door, then began pacing. Stupid. What had he been thinking? He could have killed Vincent. Furthermore, how could he have told Zack? He didn't need to drag more people into the mess he was in, and now Zack was well on his way to being as hopelessly entangled as Cloud was.
Why had he accepted so easily? Most people would have never believed that a monster lived under the skin of someone as gentle and quiet as Vincent, but Zack had just thought about it and accepted it. Did he really believe?
"You look stressed."
Cloud jumped and looked around the semi-darkness of the room, searching for the voice. On the bed.
"What are you doing in here?"
Reno gave him an upside-down smile. He was lying on his back on Vincent's bed, his head hanging off the edge, ponytail trailing on the floor.
"Just thought I'd stop by and see how you were, after going out with Zack. I know he didn't go all the way with you, and I wanna know what's up."
"How would you know?"
"You looked scared. He looked confused. Both of you were fully dressed, un-rumpled, totally dry, and there was no intimacy in the way he was holding you."
"That still-"
"I know what Zack looks like after he's had a good lay, and I know you've got to be good if Rufus keeps coming back for more. Zack looked more like he'd just seen a ghost," Reno drawled. "I'm good at seeing things. Always have been."
"Seeing things is right," Cloud sniffed, dropping onto his own bed and picking up his comb. "You're imagining this."
"Am I?" Reno asked, rolling onto his stomach and sliding fluidly off the bed. "You never struck me as a liar, so I guess I should believe you."
"Exactly," Cloud murmured, ignoring the redhead. Before he could register the extra weight on his bed, Reno had plucked the comb fro his hand and was pressed up against his back, one arm loosely wrapped around his waist. "Reno? What are you doing?"
"Just trying out what Zack got a taste of," Reno purred. "If I'm supposed to believe you, then it's only fair that you share with me."
"Reno, get off!"
Reno ignored him and pulled him close, leaning to the side so he could bite at Cloud's collarbone. Why hadn't he gotten dressed as soon as he'd seen Reno?
"Please," he complained.
"I don't wanna," Reno told him, putting the comb down and getting his other arm around Cloud. "I think you're hot, Cloud, and I have since you got here. Play with me?"
"Play?" Cloud repeated.
"Yeah, play. I like to have fun in bed. Whaddaya say?"
"No." Cloud fought against Reno's grip. "I don't want to 'play', I want to sleep. Get away from me."
Reno laughed and tightened his grip, nuzzling behind Cloud's ear.
"What'll you give me if I do?"
His words, while playful, reminded Cloud of Chaos's demand for payment after telling Vincent's story. Cloud shuddered, unsettled by the parallel he'd accidentally drawn.
"I won't report you."
"Report me," Reno snickered. "I haven't done anything."
"You want to," Cloud retorted.
"You bet. But that won't do. I want something with substance. Maybe a promise, hmm? I can always come back another night."
"I said no."
"And I don't care. I'm tired of seeing you with everyone but me, Cloud. I've been good. I've waited until you settled in. I've kept my hands to myself. I've let you get through all that shit with Sephiroth. And now I'm tired of waiting."
He pulled Cloud onto his side, leaning over him with his hands on either side of Cloud, easily in control.
"I'll be gentle," he promised. "Unless you like it rough. I'm flexible."
"I don't doubt it," Cloud growled, writhing in an attempt to get a reasonable grip on the blankets under him. It took a minute, but by rolling onto his back, he was able to dig his heels into the mattress and buck. He caught Reno entirely by surprise, and the redhead went flying off the bed. He hit the corner of Vincent's desk with a yelp.
"What the hell?" he screeched, his hands going to his head and back.
"I-I'm sorry," Cloud whispered, surprised at himself. "Are you okay?"
"No. I'm…hey, I'm bleeding!"
If the sheer volume of Reno's yelling was anything to go by, he wasn't seriously injured anywhere except his pride. Still, blood was enough of a reason to get off the bed, flick the main lights on, and approach Reno with care. Sure enough, there was wet red slicking Reno's fingers and more staining his hair.
"Hold still," Cloud said softly, stepping closer with his hands held out in a peaceful gesture. Reno glared at him but didn't say anything. "Let me see." He bent to examine the back of Reno's head, careful where he let his fingers touch.
There was a long cut in his scalp, but nothing serious. Being a head wound, it just bled profusely. Wiping the blood off his hand on his leg and making a mental note to go wash up before bed, Cloud checked Reno's back next. It looked like he'd managed to hit the corner of the desk with his head and his back, missing the back of his neck only because of the curve of his skull and shoulders. There was a little blood and a lot of angry red scrapes marring his pale skin.
"You'll be fine," Cloud promised. "But you should wash your-" Reno stood up quickly, shoving him out of the way with a bloody hand.
"I know what I should do," he hissed, stalking over to the door and yanking it open. "You can't keep me away forever."
The door slammed behind him. Cloud sighed, picked himself, and grabbed his pajamas. Between the blood he'd smeared on his leg and the handprint on his chest, now he really needed a shower.
