He Wasn't Always Insane
Chapter 21

"I grew up in Nibelhiem," I finally answered. That's my hometown."

"Really? That's where Fair was born," came the dark response.

"'Fair?'"

"Zack Fair? He was born in Nibelhiem as well."

"You…know Zack? He didn't seem to know you when Marka spoke of you." I paused. Zack was from my own hometown? How had I never met him before? I'd lived there all of my life!

"I know him. He doesn't know me. Just like I knew you, before you ever walked in here." Once again I had shivers going up and down my spine like a radio wave with no dwindling. He had this voice that was so ominous, yet wise and all knowing at the same time.

"I understand there is much you need to know. I never expected you to go along with this—but per usual—Marka has a habit of picking out the best of them. You are aware that I cannot promise your safety?"

"Yes, I am. But I don't want to see anyone else suffer like I saw Sephiroth suffer."

"That's all I needed to hear, Strife." He paused and looked directly down to me. "At this point I cannot tell you much more than Marka has probably told you, but I will have him send for you when I can. I need to evaluate the playing field. Hojo is as unpredictable as any man can be, and I'm not ready to assume we're at the best spot to execute any plan."

"I understand." I nodded.

"Tell me, do you care about them—Zack, Reno, Sephiroth—enough to be doing this?"

"Yes, in a way I am, but at the same time I think I'm trying to prove something for myself. I can't imagine that there are other who suffer like that," I said referring to when Sephiroth received bad treatment from Hojo a few nights previous. "I don't want to imagine that I will end up in that very same position."

"Smart of you." There was a faint smirk on the man's pale lips and he closed his eyes, as if in thought. I can say for certain I had not expected much from a short visit such as this, but at least it proved to me that Vincent was a real figure. It may just be my paranoia talking, but something about the way Marka presents himself, as both trustworthy and at the same time he made me feel unsure, made me need confirmation. I was being heaped into someone's plans by sheer luck of the draw and if that was the case, then I was disposable in the Turk's eyes. Naturally it would make it much more easy to submit to working with them rather than against them. Besides, I didn't like Hojo.

"We need to go." Marka voice echoed in the small room. "I don't want to risk getting you caught."

"He's right. I'll speak with you another time, Cloud. Until then, please be careful." He said, stepping back into the shadows once more.

I nodded. I felt that no words were needed this time. Our trip was short, and there were so many questions needing of being answered. I was somewhat disappointed that I did not get to talk to him as much as I needed and it seemed almost too quickly done to be real. Of course, Hojo's phone-call wasted much of the possible time we could have had to speak. I sighed to myself. However, I knew that there would be time in the future. I just needed to keep myself in line until then.

"Oh and one more thing, Cloud." Vincent added quickly just before Marka and I were about to sneak out. I turned and looked at him; eye-to-eye contact successfully made. "Please take care of Sephiroth. He is in a great deal of peril and I don't want him to get himself in a place he won't recover from."

"I will." I promised. How sordid that promise was, now that I look back on it and sometimes I even wish I'd never made it. Making promises almost seems to be the stamp on the 'failed' favors box.

Marka pulled me out before anymore exchange of words could be made. Something about Vincent was so familiar. Something about him was alluring and at the same time intimidating. I wanted to stay and talk to him more; find out what happened to him. Yet, at the same time I wanted to leave and soak myself in hot water to get rid of the chills he gave me. It was and oddly strange combination and I think the only other person I'd seen that happen with was Sephiroth, before I got to know him better. My mind stirred at what would happen if the two ever met. They would be like puzzle pieces that just fit together. Like two pieces of one large two piece puzzle of a picture of twins. (Wow that was a very hard sentence to say…)

I felt compelled to stick close to Marka, as he had originally demanded. His heart was racing. I could hear it from behind, when I'd pressed myself flat against him in order to by pass the alarms that had apparently been set after Hojo made his exit to leave. He was a Turk, so I had no doubt that we would get out safe, but sometimes I wondered about many things when I was around him. I hadn't known him for long at all, but still. He was oddly motivated and unusually cunning, having gotten passed Hojo so well, which I'm sure a great deal of the Turks knew about. He also seemed so sure of himself. Maybe I was just unused to that but he made it so open and friendly, that I had to wonder what he was really up to.

He paused ahead of me and I ran into him. He cursed under his breath and haphazardly shoved me, and then himself, between two large lab tables, which of course we had to duck between.

"Shit, I didn't think he'd still be here." He whispered to me so quietly I almost didn't hear it.

"Sujuka, you're almost obsessive." Hojo muttered and from where I was I could see him, once again, with a phone. "No I don't expect any less from you. I know… Yes… I had suspected something like that from him…of course I'm not worried…You say that Rufus appeared? That is quite un-thought of."

"I wish I knew who he was talking about.…" Marka muttered close to my ear.

"Yes, for Gaia's sake, I showered just moments ago…When have a ever truly denied you?…That does not count, because I specifically told you I would do that…You're making me feel even older than I am Sujuka. I'll speak with you when you arrive. I must go check up on Valentine… No it's not an excuse. Go back to whatever you're doing before I feel so inclined to lock you out…same to you." He spoke before hanging up the phone in an irritated manner.

He walked just passed us once again and toward the room we'd just come from. He punched in the same codes and the door opened for him and her disappeared behind layers of heavy steel. I realized just then that if we had stayed any later he would have found us. That idea made my heart pound. It was strangely invigorating and stressful at the same time.

Marka pulled me quickly out of the room. Even though there was a thick plate of steel between Hojo and us, didn't mean that we couldn't get caught. A thought entered my mind at that moment. Wouldn't Hojo have cameras? Marka didn't seem to be very concerned about any such thing. I would have to ask him when we got back into the truck. In the meantime we were more focused on getting out.

Marka pushed me out a different exit than we'd come in, but all in all we ended up outside and only ten extra feet away from the truck. It was funny watching Marka try to climb into the truck. Not that he was short, well he was short, but it was the skirt that was making him have to pull himself up and slide in. It's strange how well a skirt suits him though. At that time I thought I'd never let myself get in women's clothing. Oh the fucking irony.

"Ready to roll, soldier?" He smirked looking out the back window after he cranked the engine. Surprisingly the engine was quiet, despite it being a hellish looking beast of machinery. I mean this thing must have outlived its brother models and evolved, it was so old. It was rusted on the hood, but other than that the paint was still intact, now beige when it should have been white; but all there, for the most part. I'd have been afraid to go into the back of the truck, because I'm sure it would have looked much akin to Reno's room. (And that's enough to scare me from anything.)

The truck rolled out of the lot and finally into the open road. Which I was so thankful for. Not getting caught was a happy moment. It would have sucked to have all these intricate plans and then get caught for something stupid. Such as: my impatience.

"Hey Marka, I'm sorry."

"For what, pipsqueak?"

"You're smaller than me," I coughed and quickly added: "For pushing you into that. We could have been caught and that was a bad idea on my part."

"Well, I won't deny that was a bad idea, but I need you to trust me. We're getting closer and closer to Hojo completing his research and that means we have to move fast. I work for ShinRa, yeah, but I don't trust the science department at all. Especially not Hojo."

"That makes sense."

"So yeah, I forgive you. I want a free lap dance out of you, however!" He winked at me and I could see it, even in the dark, due to the blue glow of his eyes. Blue?

"You know, if you keep this up you'll have everyone owing you sexual favors. One day you can just cash them all in and have a harem for a day."

"…That is a GREAT fucking idea!"

I shook my head, "You're crazy. Say Marka," I paused briefly, "why do your eyes glow blue, when everyone else's have a green glow?"

"Good question, eh? I'm not as much mako as others, that's all. It's complicated to the point where I don't have a fucking clue what they did to me."

"You're starting to sound more like Reno."

"I was the one who taught him what the word 'fuck' meant. So I guess that makes sense." He smirked in a proud kinda way, as he turned the wheel toward the little hangout place we had been before my sudden decision to go play visitor to Vincent. "Reno's a good kid, he just needs to get his head un-fucked and pay attention to what goes on around him some more and quit fawning at me. And you know," he chuckled, "I lost a bet to him and I owe him a lap dance, but he doesn't remember that. Heh, poor guy. He should have remembered something like that. Because unlike Sephiroth, I'll actually do it!"

"You're wicked!"

"Damn straight I am!" He chuckled and drove the truck up to the front of the building and put it in park.

"Well I don't know about 'straight'." I retorted opening the passenger door.

"Ouch, you got me there, Spiky. I can't help it. You try growing up in a male infested ShinRa and turning out straight! I will not lie for a second! Nothing turn me on more than a na-"

Sujuka's rich voice saved me from the rest of that sentence, "Marka for god's sake don't frighten the boy."

"Oh come on, it was a little harmless fun."

"Where did you guys go?" He asked with a certain amount of curiousness that sent off warning flags in my mind.

"Ah, no where serious. I just wanted to get him out of Sephiroth's arm length so when I ravished him, I wouldn't get in trouble."

"Sephiroth's practically psychic and you're practically transparent in your perverted motives…It wouldn't take him long to figure that out." The black haired man shook his head and snorted. He turned to walk back into the building.

"Hey!" Marka called, "You owe me a lap dance too!"

Sujuka paused and looked back at him with a slight blush on his tanned face, "You wish, little man." He shook his head and disappeared into the bar.

"Why does everyone have to comment on the shortness?" Marka pouted, "I mean, yeah I'm short, but I can still kick all of your Asses! Except Sephiroth…I wouldn't mind it if he beat me." He grinned with that far away look of a pervert.

I shook my head and grabbed his arm, "Come on pervo, let's go inside." He, thankfully, allowed me to drag him inside. In the time that we'd gone, nothing really changed. Everyone was still up and about. I could easily spot Pharallah and Sephiroth, seated at a table, drinking and talking. Sephiroth wasn't far from where I'd left him. He noticed me immediately. I guess it's hard to miss a short blonde, accompanied by an even shorter man with lavender hair and a ripped open skirt. He hailed us over and we fought through the newly formed crowd. Apparently people decided they wanted to dance more than before.

"Hey, lovely!" Marka called mindlessly hopping into Pharallah's lap.

"Ow, god, Marka, your knee…"

"Oh…Sorry!"

I shook my head and leaned against Sephiroth. He looked a little buzzed, but thankfully not sloshed up beyond all reason. I'm willing to bet that it was Pharallah who kept Sephiroth in check; since it seemed that he had a reputation for getting out of control when he drank too much. (Though it would have been funny to see that side of him.) He wrapped an arm around my waist and joined me in the shaking of the head motion that Marka seemed to inspire more often than not.

"So where are Reno and Zack?" I asked out of simple curiosity.

"Somewhere on that dance floor. God only knows. I think we failed in keeping Zack sober, because last I checked him he was acting smashed."

"I can only imagine the amusement of that one. So they're dancing now? I'm surprised. I didn't picture either of them into dancing to slow songs."

"Zack can't dance for shit, if it's any consolation. In fact, I think shit dances better."

"Oh I bet you can't dance better."

"You're damn right. Here's now it works: You and Reno can dance, shit can dance better than Zack and Zack can dance better than me. See how this goes? I'm below the ranking of Zack. Meaning there's not chance that I won't look like a dumb ass trying to maintain any rhythm and grace."

I ran my fingers through his hair, "Your confidence level is just so impressive."

"Isn't it though? So where did you go?" He looked up at me with curious eyes. I loved his eyes. They were so expressive, even when he normally had a stoic appearance.

"I can't tell you here. Once we get back I will. I promise."

"I'll hold you to it."

"I know you will."

A heavy hand clamped down on my shoulder, "Hey! Spiky came back!" I was a little startled, but Zack's voice is very recognizable and I was quickly calmed by it. Though I could hear and obvious slur. It was all too obvious he was a little sloshed as Sephiroth had said. I turned around to see he and Reno. Reno was huffing down another cigarette. He was down to an undershirt and his hair was pulled back now. He was soaking wet, and it looked like from either water or alcohol. Zack wasn't doing much better there. He was drenched with something. He was down to an undershirt too actually. I snorted aloud, though, when I looked down at random to see both of them missing shoes. God only knows how that happened.

"Yep, I came back. Did think you could get rid of me that quickly did you?"

"Oh I was hoping not!" Reno smirked with a slur in his voice. "I want to make sure I get another round of you before you disappear!"

"You are just the most charming person I've ever met, you know that?"

"Hell yes I know that!"

"So what's happened since I've been gone? Nothing too exciting right? I wouldn't want to miss out on any fun." I smiled coyly.

"Ah, not much. Zack got a little toasted, but that's what he gets for joining in a drinking game with Reno and Pharallah who can both drink like fish and not feel it until hours later. I still don't know how you do that, it's almost impressive. You missed it though. Reno took a face dive on the dance floor. Tripped on his own damn feet while he was dancing with Sujuka." Sephiroth explained.

"Hey! You try dancing with him and not getting distracted…He's got nice legs…"

"Well, at least you're true to your afflictions Reno."

Reno pouted, "What's that supposed to mean?"

"I'm sure you'll figure it out dear," The silver haired general teased. "As for me, I've been talking with Pharallah after Reno and Zack lost the drink game.

"Pharah cheated!"

"I did not!" the scientist called in defense of himself as he petted Marka, the mewling mess in the man's lap.

"Oh you did too!"

"You're just jealous that I can out drink you!"

"You can not!"

"Can too!"

"Can not!"

"Yes!"

"No!"

"Yes!"

"Yes!"

"No!"

"Yes! ….Hey wait!"

"Hah! Tricked at your own plot! And you thought that would work on me little man!"

"Hey! Technically it did work!" Reno whined.

"Yes, but you ruined it by continuing!"

"Damn you."

"Talk about maturity level here. ShinRa should feel stupid about hiring most of the people here." Sephiroth shook his head in dismay.

"Cheap labor. Next step, children in work mills." I said taking a swig from Sephiroth's glass. I didn't really care what it was. I was thirsty.

"You know that had alcohol in it right?"

"Heh, I hold my liquor better than you, so I'm not worried," I winked. What a night it had already been. Getting a little buzzed and maybe even drunk didn't sound so bad. After all I was in good company and it's said you shouldn't drink alone! "Bottoms up guys!"

"Here's to getting toasted!" Marka joined in, holding up his glass.

At least this way, I could have a few hours to not think about the ordeal going on behind everyone's back.

To be Continued…

Leo: I know, it's been a while, I've been really busy as of late with commissions over on deviantART and finishing off school, but now I've gotten a chance to finally get some shit done. This story is going to move a little faster now as far as the plot goes. Otherwise it'll never end. I know you may like that idea, but I have a sequel that's already five chapters done to get to.

Shameless plot space to advertise my role-playing forum: link: ocrp(DOT)co(DOT)nr