Title: Chains of Rapture
Pairing: VincentxCloud, RenoxCloud, SephirothxCloud
Rating: R
Warnings: AU, OOC, angst, yaoi, non-con, self-mutilation, rape, abuse (physical/mental/emotional), language, violence
Summary: It's been three years since he saw those eyes and tasted those lips. Would life be kind enough to grant him this last chance?
Disclaimer: I do not own Final Fantasy VII, nor do I own any of the music mentioned within this story. I do, however, own any and all OC's, so if you wish to use them then please ask for permission first before hand. Thank you and enjoy!

Chapter 21

Fucking bastards, she thought as she strolled down the sidewalk, her combat boots thudding heavily on the concrete. Kei looked around her as she was only three blocks away from Trinkets and Spices. The evening air had begun to chill and she shivered unconsciously, her hands shoving themselves in her tight jean pockets.

She wore a thin puce colored shirt with long billowing sleeves, her signature dark jeans with matching shaded sheer material that cascaded around her black boots. Her silver hair was pulled up in its signature pony tail, the singular golden bullet swaying in her left ear.

She finally had gotten out of her bandages the week before, and for a kind of celebration she stayed out all night just wandering around the city. When she arrived home, the boys had given her a hard time since it was 'out of her nature' to do that sort of thing. Angrily, she told them that what she did on her own time was none of their business.

Of course, they were only looking out for their leader, but it still aggravated her. They have no right to be in my personal business when Jet gets to spend so much time with many women every night, she grumbled inwardly as another wave of anger surged through her chest.

Her crimson eyes looked upwards to the sky, seeing the sun had begun to set and the many dusk colors had been painted on it's canvas. Kei sighed heavily, her slender shoulders slouching as she continued to walk towards 'home'.

Peering around her through her signature bikers' sunglasses, she caught sight of something strange in the mouth of an alley she began to pass. Slowing her agitated strides to a halt, she peered at what looked like a body laying on the asphalt. Homeless? She thought, her interest piqued at the sight of blood on the drooping blond hair.

Cautiously, she walked towards the young man while sliding her hands out from her pockets. Flexing her fingers as if readying herself for some kind of assault, she crouched towards the figure. "Hey," she said softly, earning no response what so ever.

Her crimson eyes widened as largely as possible, heart pounding in her ears as fear and dread shot through her chest. A gasp emitted from her lips and all the saliva dried up in her mouth.

Oh my god...

oOo

The sun had set fully, reflecting the city lights through the large office window. Silence reigned throughout the small office that was seated on the top floor of an eleven story building. The white walls were bare except for the northern most that revealed blood spatter in an upward direction.

Vincent lowered his gun slowly to his side while reaching to the desk and picking up the file he was hired to obtain. He didn't bother flipping through the papers; it wasn't in his job description to pry in the business of his employers. He held no emotion on his pallid face as he wiped the blood from the barrel of his gun on the edge of his cloak, knowing that he should clean it before visiting the blond today.

At the thought of said younger male, he smiled softly while taking his exit through the open window he had used to enter. The smile faded when he remembered those awful wounds he had tended to, and the look in Cloud's eyes when he would return home with such marks. Those Mako blue eyes reminded him of a wounded animal, one that was about to give up it's life for the sake of the pain being over.

What could he be hiding? He thought as he jumped from rooftop to rooftop, eager to get home and changed. His mind rattled through different scenarios pertaining Cloud's position. Some kind of club? No, that's not right.

They can't be self-inflicted, he can't exactly bite himself on the chest...and I know he's not an assassin because I would have heard about a new one around.

Sephiroth? But he wouldn't willingly go back to him, would he?

A frown tugged on his lips before his phone vibrated in his pocket. Halting on top of a bank, he fished inside and brought it out. Not even bothering to look on the caller ID, he flipped it open and answered, "Valentine."

"Valentine, we have a problem." a female voice said on the border of panic into his ear.

Blinking a few times, he furrowed his brow in confusion. Who the hell was this? The only woman that would dare contact him...

"Kei, what do you need?"

"It's Cloud." Was all she said before going on to say what hospital the blond was residing in, and then silence.

Fear clutched at his heart and he narrowed his eyes in concentration. Taking off towards the hospital, he pushed aside the thoughts of getting changed and showered. His 'Little One' needed him, and that was all he thought of as he rushed into the emergency room doors, searching for the silver-haired assassin.

oOo

Ten minutes later, the ex-Turk found the young woman sitting in the waiting room on the other end of the hospital, one knee dragged up to her chest and her forehead resting on it. She looked utterly defeated, as if she just lost...no, now is not the time to think of that.

Sitting down next to her, he said softly, "Where is he?" Startled, Kei shot her head up, her ruby eyes red-rimmed from stress as they stared into Vincent's crimson ones. Taking in her ghostly pale face, he saw that she was scared and worried for the little blond. "He—He's in surgery. He lost a bit of blood, and probably broke a few ribs...they think one of them punctured his lung."

Vincent's heart leapt into his throat at this information. Crimson eyes widened a fraction before he could feel the blood draining from his face. "Where did you find him?"

Kei shook her head sadly, her eyes diverting to the floor before she let her leg fall to sit properly. "I was on my way back to work when I saw him laying in an alley way." Her voice was quiet and exhausted sounding to his ears and she shuddered, her arms hugging her stomach. He took notice that there was blood on her shirt, probably from holding onto Cloud. "Shiva, Valentine, he was almost dead when I found him. I have no idea how long he had been there!"

"Where are the boys?"

"Still at the shop."

"Did you call them?"

When he received a head shake, he suggested she do so and that he'd stay when they called for him. With a small nod, she stiffly walked outside to call her boys before they grew too worried. Closing his red eyes, Vincent leaned back into the chair and crossed his arms over his chest, heaving a silent sigh.

How had Cloud gotten so horribly beaten? Thinking back to the look in Cloud's eyes when he had first found the boy months ago, how lifeless they were...there had to be some kind of explanation! If only he knew more...

A minute or two passed and Kei was back in her place by Vincent, slouching forward with her head in her hands, one of them holding a silver flip-top cellphone. Opening his eyes, he watched Kei almost break down into pieces silently. Her shoulders bobbed with silent sobs as she tried her best not to show emotion in front of the ex-Turk.

He wanted to console the girl in some shape or form, but he knew she was competition. To treat her otherwise was against what he believed in, at least where his job was concerned. Crimson eyes stared to the floor once more, face lacking any emotion what so ever.

Despite his facial expressions, his heart betrayed him. Oh how he hoped the blond was alright.

oOo

Almost eight hours passed since Vincent had arrived and he was in a meditative state at this point. Jet, Joel, and Kane had shown up at least 6 hours before and despite the competitiveness they felt towards the ex-Turk, they helped support him in his time of worry.

Vincent's gaze wandered over to the quartet that he sat near, the sunrise not particularly welcoming in this situation. Kane had his arm wrapped around a sleeping Kei, her tear stained face pressed into his chest. When they had arrived, Kane had brought her a change of clothes and Vincent noted with faint interest that violet suited her.

Joel was curled up against Jet, sitting to Kane's right, passed out as well. Jet had his head resting on the younger man's, dozing in and out of consciousness. When his crimson eyes looked back towards Kane, he saw those cold blue eyes staring back at him. Not making a sound, Vincent turned his gaze away to the floor once more.

"He'll be alright," a soft low voice said, causing the ex-Turk to look up towards Kane, who had spoken soft enough so not to wake his comrades, but loud enough so Vincent would hear. "Cloud's a fighter. He may have been through a lot, but he doesn't just give up."

You didn't see those eyes, he thought dismally before nodding in assurance. The sound of heavy doors opening caused him to look up and saw a young woman with light brown hair and bright green eyes walking towards them. She was dressed in light pink scrubs, with a matching pink scarf tied around her head.

"Are you here for Cloud Strife?" Vincent rose to his feet with a nod, silent as ever. The woman smiled pleasantly, tilting her head to the side slightly as she did so. "My name is Doctor Aerith Gainsborough. I'm the doctor tending to Mr. Strife." Crimson eyes widened slightly before being replaced by a stoic mask. "I see," was all he said.

"Does he have any family?" With a shake of his head, Vincent furrowed his brow slightly, "I'm sorry, but I don't know where his parents are. He...lost them when he was young, and I'm not sure if they're dead."

"Alright," she said with her soft voice, "Are you a friend, then?" Vincent looked over his shoulder to see Kane had woken his other three companions before nodding, "We all are. Is he alright?"

0o0

Mm...cliffhangers! How they smite thee! :falls over: Anyways...don't hate me! It's moving along quite smoothly I think, so keep reading!!