In Which We Find Our Immortality
Chapter 6: Fates Changing
Vincent awoke early, as he often did. The fresh sunlight shone harshly through the blinds over his window. He sighed, pulling himself out of bed to change. His mind flickered back to the events of the night before.
Collin must be concerned, he thought, being careful not to catch the hem of his shirt on his claw as he dressed. After all that. Does he suspect? If it were up to me, I would have told him long ago. This is all too much of a shock.
But Cid had always insisted that Collin not be told of his origins. The truth, as they knew it, was not entirely complete, and would only leave more unanswered questions. However, Collin's appearance was not mere coincidence—that much they knew. There were times that the boy's actions spooked even the former Turk. His uncertainty and shyness may have come from Cloud, and his thoughtfulness from his mother; but his movements, his skill, even the pigments in his eyes and skin indicated the presence of someone else. Sephiroth's influence was inside him.
Vincent checked his reflection. He used to not care about such things, even as he'd been flattered many times by the women he worked with. He wondered if vanity drove his motives, or if he was really checking his face for a change. Maybe one wrinkle, or a single gray hair….
Forty-six years. Any man would have dreamt for so many years to be subtracted from their lives, existing in perpetual youth. Vincent couldn't tell if it was a blessing or a curse to be seventy-three and look only twenty-seven. Or rather, to look thirty. His aging had not stopped completely; he could tell that, if only a bit, his body was changing. And though he longed for the day when he might join humanity's march of time, for now he was thankful. He had so many sins to atone for.
On his way downstairs Vincent paused at Collin's door. The night before he'd detected some movement in the room, and it concerned him. Just to check, he reached to enter.
The knob turned before he could lay a hand on it. Cloud opened the door. His face was still, but not as tortured as it had once appeared. Vincent stared, startled by his presence there. Elation gradually replaced his bewilderment. "Cloud," he stuttered. "Did you…?"
"I didn't need to," Cloud replied quietly. A burden had been lifted from his eyes. "He knows." Without an explanation he stepped past Vincent and moved to the stairs.
Vincent stared after him, then smiled. I guess I didn't have to worry about it after all. But…. He turned toward the open room once more.
Collin was awake, pulling on a white T-shirt, then a denim short-sleeved jacket over it. He glanced briefly at the door; the look caused Vincent's worries to return. Collin's expression was blank, fit to match Cloud's own, but without the same relief. The boy's eyes were serious and calm, and quite unlike his usual demeanor. They were too quiet, resembling a pair Vincent knew too well.
"Collin, are you okay?" Vincent asked, watching the boy carefully.
"Fine," he replied. "Are you?"
The man was taken aback by the unexpected response. "Yes. But—"
"I'm going to breakfast." Collin retrieved his sunglasses and slipped past before he could protest. He followed Cloud downstairs.
Vincent frowned at the boy's behavior. He'd know Collin for ten years, and he hardly ever resorted to this kind of emotionless detachment. It was a defense mechanism he only used when he was very upset.
By the time Vincent reached the kitchen Shera and Marlene were already awake and preparing a breakfast of pancakes and sausage. Collin was waiting patiently at the table. Cloud stood leaning against the living room entrance; his eyes were distant, lost in some reprieve. The dark-haired man elected to let him be, for now.
Shera set out plates for everyone—except for her daughters, who wouldn't be expected to wake until later that morning, it being Saturday. Vincent joined the family, though he was too consumed with watching Collin to eat much. They meal seemed normal enough until Cid descended the stairs and took his seat.
"Good morning, Cid," Collin greeted, not lifting his gaze.
Cid paused, staring across the table at him. He silently demanded an explanation from his wife, who was similarly baffled. "Good morning, Collin," he replied after a moment. Happy Birthday." He glared sharply at Cloud, but the blonde wasn't paying attention.
The boy raised his head at last, looking quite calm and collected. "Why didn't you tell me that Cloud Strife was my father?" he asked deliberately. "And don't blame Cloud. I figured it out myself."
Cid made a growling nose in the back of his mouth. "It was something you didn't need to know."
"Didn't need to know," Collin repeated. "I didn't need to know who my real father was?"
"Honey, we never meant to hurt you," Shera intervened. She glanced at Vincent.
He took over, as the boy had always listened to and respected him. "Collin, Cloud may be your father, but he isn't capable of taking care of you anymore. We took you in when your mother died. Cloud agreed it was the right thing."
"Did he tell you to lie to me?" Collin questioned. Still his tone had yet to take on any not of anger. "I just found out that I'm not the same person I thought I was. Men have lost their minds over less."
Vincent stiffened in his chair; from the corner of his eye he saw Cid give a similar reaction. He gazed at the boy in alarm. The parallel to Sephiroth nearly caused both men to panic, as fi expecting some outburst. But Collin was still, his eyes glowing with subtle defiance.
His eyes…glowing?
Everyone at the table was staring at him in shock. The boy's emerald eyes were shining like a thread of the Lifestream itself. A moment later they were normal once more, leaving them to wonder if the light had even existed at all. Vincent looked to see Cloud's reaction: he merely appeared attentive and thoughtful.
"None of you get it," Collin was saying. "I'm not stupid—I can see that he needs help. Why won't you help him? You treat him no better than an animal."
"You don't know him as well as we do," Cloud retorted, frustration raising his voice. "There's nothing we can do. Even if we tried, I can't trust him, and neither can you." When a look of painful recognition marred Collin's face, he nodded. "You've seen him. You know what I mean."
In the silence that followed Collin's manner gradually melted from cold stone in anger. "You…you don't get it," he persisted stubbornly. "I'm not a monster. I can show him that—I can help him."
"Damn stubborn…" Cid grumbled. "Can't you get that I'm saving your damn life? You may not be a monster, but he is, and I'm not going to stand by and watch you get yourself killed!"
Vincent cringed, moved to speak but unable to. Marlene looked similarly distraught; she wanted to defend Cloud, but she wasn't brave enough to stand up to Cid's temper.
Collin pushed out of his chair, and though his volume could never rival his adoptive father's, the intensity was just as strong. "You're such an idiot!" he shouted. "Why? What makes him so awful? Why can't you try, when—"
Cid stood up so quickly that his chair toppled backwards, and his fist on the table rattled all their dishes. "Because he f—king killed your mother!"
The words were a mistake ever before they'd left his mouth. Collin's eyes went wide, and he stumbled backwards as if struck. Vincent was no better. His body had flushed suddenly with heat. The declaration surprised even him—Cid had never spoken of such an occurrence. Tifa Lockheart had been slain by a Dragon during the Kalm Raid. He must have misspoken….
Cloud was moving. Vincent thrust his own worries aside when he saw the threat in the blonde's piercing focus; the anger in those eyes was terrifying even to him. Cloud drew his fist back, clearly intending Cid as his target. Vincent interfered just as the arm swung, snatching the flying wrist with his claw.
The momentum was tremendous. The fist kept coming, uncaring as the metal digits tore long gashes down Cloud's forearm. Vincent did what instinct instructed—he stepped into the blow, knowing he would have better success defending it than Cid.
The impact was with greater force than he'd anticipated, striking pain along his chest that didn't seem possible. He knew immediately that something had broken. The next instant he collided with Cid, sending both men crashing to the floor.
Something had gone terribly wrong. Collin had been able to feel it ever since he'd awoken to find Cloud asleep next to his bed. They'd said not a word to each other even after the truths uncovered that night. But something was different inside, and it frightened him.
He watched as Cid and Vincent both fell to the ground. He hadn't wanted this. He'd always been good about solving problems and discussing things logically, but that morning had been different. At first he'd felt calm—unnaturally so. The truth boiled within him violently yet remained unexpressed, until his anger had taken over. And then the shock, the disbelief of Cid's words had shocked him into a new awareness in which he saw the vagaries I his actions.
Shera screamed. Collin finally was able to register the scene in his mind: Vincent was on his back, groaning in pain and spitting blood. Shera and Marlene tended to him as Cid eyed their attacker warily. By now his three sisters were awake and at the top of the stairs, too afraid to come down.
And Cloud. His eyes were blazing with rage, drowning out any pain from his bleeding arm. When Collin met his gaze his blood ran cold. He knew eyes like that, and it rose such horror inside him that he fled. Like a terrified animal he threw open the front door and ran, not caring where he could go, as long as it him away from that man and the eyes from his dream.
Tess dug two gil from her pocket and shoved it into the school vending machine. "Diet or regular," she mused aloud, tapping her foot. "Diet, or regular…."
"Regular," a voice piped up from behind her. It was Alex Tennyson, one of the upper-classmen from her drama class. He was a tall boy with wavy, dark red hair and hazel eyes. All year he'd helped her with her pieces, and would be managing the set for her performance that afternoon. He was one of her best friends.
"Why's that?" Tess grinned and pressed in her selection. She chose a regular soda.
"You'll need all the energy you can get. I mean, this is the biggest, most important performance of your life, right?" He flashed her a wide grin.
She elbowed him before bending to retrieve her drink. "Cut it out, Alex. Aren't I nervous enough already?"
"Nervous? You? Never." Alex purchased his own drink: a cherry flavored cola, as usual. "But the buzz is you're trying to impress someone in the audience tonight."
Tess laughed, though already the red tint in her cheeks was giving her away. "Maybe I am."
"And? Who?" When she attempted to sweep past him he persisted. "C'mon; as your elder, I insist on knowing these things."
She giggled, growing embarrassed. Rather than divulge her secret, however, she settled with a less personal—yet no less exciting—answer. "Cloud Strife's coming."
"What!?" Alex nearly shouted. "You—you mean, the real one? The Cloud Strife is coming here?"
"Uh-huh." Tess couldn't help but laugh at his face. "That's pretty good acting," she remarked. "Use that sometime."
Alex gaped. "But—you—how?"
"I met him," she explained, as if it were the most natural thing n the world. "On Wednesday. He said he'd come."
"Tess, that is—" He broke off suddenly, his face falling out of excitement. "What a sec. He's coming to see your SOLDIER piece?"
"Yeah. So?"
"Well, don't you think that's a little…." Alex frowned, his tone utterly serious. "I mean, you're basically de-bunking everything we believe about the world's most notorious villain, whom he killed. That's like telling me that jocks are really people who are misunderstood. He's gonna be pissed."
Tess paused, realizing what he was saying. Recalling their incident at the diner, she admitted that she couldn't predict Cloud's reaction to her views. He hadn't taken kindly to her and Collin studying his photograph.
"I think it'll be okay," Tess answered after some consideration. "After all, he agreed to come. I'm sure—"
"Hey Tess!" Rajiel Morel, Tess's best friend, came running from down the hall. She stopped in front of the pair, taking a moment to catch her breath and sweep black hair from her richly toned face. "I saw…your friend Collin…on the…elementary school playground," she huffed. "I think…he's really upset."
"Collin is?" Tess repeated. The mention of his name made her heart flutter a bit. Alex must have noticed, as he nudged her and snickered. She shoved him annoyedly. "What happened?"
"I don't know. Come on—I'll show you."
Rajiel led them to the playground of South Webber Elementary, which was just across from the High School. Collin was there, rocking slowly on one of the swings. The chains creaked despairingly with the gentle movement. Tess felt her heart clamp at the sight. "Thanks, Rajiel. Will you guys wait here?" Her friends nodded, standing back as she approached.
Collin didn't notice anyone was there until the swing beside him creaked, indicating Tess's presence. "Collin?" She asked quietly. "What happened?"
Collin stopped swinging, licking his dry lips. "It's…Cloud, he said after a moment. He waited until his throat loosened before speaking again. You can trust Tess. She's your friend, isn't she? "He's…my father."
Tess gasped—exactly the reaction he'd been expecting. He thought that she would start gushing, pouncing for answers that she could use someday for a piece, but she didn't. She stayed respectfully silent. And when he looked, he found her to be sympathetic. She was waiting.
But Collin didn't know what to say. His lips wavered dumbly, unable to form any words. He was choking on emotions too thick to voice. How could he possibly expect her to understand the things he'd learned?
"It must be shocking," she said once it was obvious that he would not speak.
"Yeah." He laughed weakly. "Shocking."
"Are…you okay?"
Collin gulped, closing his eyes. He couldn't tell her everything, not yet, but there was one question in his mind stronger than the others that demanded his attention. "Tess," he asked shakily. "Do you…know what happened to…The Devoted One?"
Tess was quick to comprehend his intentions. Thankfully, she didn't comment. "She was killed in Kalm years ago," she replied softly. Her felt her hand slip around his, and he held it tightly. "In a Dragon Raid, so I've heard."
That's what everyone says. But…what if Dad was right? Could…I forgive him? He sighed, filled with too many concerns. All he wanted to do now as ignore it all, to calm down and straighten himself out. "Thanks, Tess," he said, opening his eyes once more. "I'm sorry about this."
Tess started, as if drawn suddenly from a train of thought. She was gazing at him strangely. "Oh, no problem. You think you'll be okay? Do you want me to take you home?"
"No." Collin decided not to worry about Tess's expression for now, either. After all, knowing that she was talking to Cloud Strife's son probably delighted her to now end, and was the reason for any odd look she gave him. She was entitled to it. "I…should call, though, and tell everyone that I'm all right."
She smiled at him; that look warmed him, stealing away at least some of his distress. "You can hang out here for a while. We're setting everything up for tonight, and there's a lot to do. Nothing clears your mind like manual labor."
He made an effort to chuckle. "Sure, Tess. Thanks." He stood and she with him; both realized that they were still holding hands. Reluctantly they let go. "I'll be there in a minute."
"Good. You're a math guy, right? Alex could use some help with the lighting." Tess indicated the tall junior at the edge of the playground with her friend Rajiel. "Just come find us in the auditorium, okay?"
"Okay." Collin frowned. He hadn't known there were other people around—especially an upperclassman. He must have looked like a fool. "I'll see you later." He gave her a quick smile before heading off to find a phone booth.
Tess sighed, waiting until Collin was out of sight before allowing a disturbed look to cross her face. She pulled an envelope out of her back pocket and removed the picture inside. It was a photograph her father had taken of Sephiroth during a parade in the old Junon, over two decades ago. She had kept it with her all the night before for good luck. Its quality was better than the newspaper clippings in her scrapbook, as it was a close up of the SOLDIER's face in profile. The distant, almost lonely look in his eye had inspired her to do this piece.
But she wasn't looking to her picture now for courage or as a reminder. She'd never seen Collin in profile until now, preventing her from noticing the resemblance before. It was uncanny, and even a bit frightening.
"Tess?" Alex and Rajiel came up behind her, their faces curious. "What was that about?" the former asked. "Is he okay?"
"Hm? Oh, yes. He's okay." Tess replaced the picture in her pocket and smiled at them. "He's just having some family trouble, so he's gonna hand out here for a while. You guys don't mind, do you?"
Alex shrugged, and Rajiel replied, "Of course he can, as long as he helps out. You've got us working too hard as it is."
Her friend laughed. "Sorry. But don't worry—he'll help out. Now let's get back—there's lots to do!"
When Vincent awoke for the second time that day he found himself in a strange bed. The harsh rectangular lights cause his eyes to squint, and a familiar, sharp odor tainted his senses; he was in a hospital. Cloud punched me he remembered, gingerly probing his chest. His fingers met cloth bandages. Beneath them his flesh was quickly repairing itself. He must have broken my collar bone. I wonder how long I've been out…?
The door opened, and in stepped Marlene. She smiled to see him awake. "I told the doctors you wouldn't be out for long." She took a seat on his right. "They had to give you nearly triple the dose of anesthetic to keep you under during the operation."
"How bad was I?" He didn't remember much after being hit.
"A broken collar bone and two fractured ribs." Her smile was a bit rueful. "But, as usual, you're healing is amazing the doctors. They didn't even give you stitches."
Vincent nodded absently, as the familiar setting was making him nervous. "What about Cloud? And Collin?"
"I just got a call from Shera," Marlene began to explain. "Cloud's still at the house; he's calmed down, and Shera convinced Cid that it was better if they keep an eye on him." She sighed. "He shouldn't have said that about…."
"Yes." He could see that Marlene had been just as shaken by Cid's declaration as any of them. When he looked harder, he could see that she had been crying, despite her best efforts to hide it. Marlene had known Tifa ever since she was a toddler, and loved her as a mother. More than that, hinting at Tifa's cruel end also raised the possibility of Cloud's involvement in Barret's death, which had occurred at the same time under similar circumstances. Her love for Tifa and Barret, and her wanting to trust Cloud despite his faults, was probably tearing her apart.
"We'll demand an explanation later," Vincent said, taking the woman's hand. "There's no use mulling over it now. What about Collin?"
Marlene nodded, composing herself. "He called a while ago. He's with Tess, setting up for the performance this afternoon. I think it'll be good for him to keep his mind occupied." She frowned, remembering her promise to the girl. "We both told Tess we'd come, but I don't now if the doctors will like the idea much. Even if you do heal quickly."
"I'll be fine in a few hours," he assured. "And I did promise three times. Besides, it's important that Cid goes, and if I'm not there he'll never let me forget it. More than anything, Collin needs our support now." He smiled, and she smiled back. "I'll worry about the doctors. Until then, you look tired yourself. Get some rest, and we'll worry about helping Cloud later."
"And we will help him," Marlene said deftly. "Collin was right, you know. We have to find some way."
Vincent gave his whole-hearted agreement, then insisted that Marlene find herself a place to eat and relax. She obeyed reluctantly. She had always been a very smart, practical girl, which also meant she picked up on everything. She'd managed to take her father's death, four years after Meteor, very well. She'd even been able to comprehend and believe that she'd never been Barret's real daughter in the first place.
I should ask her to talk to Collin. She understands what he must be going through. She's a good girl, and is determined to bring Collin and his father back together. Surly, she can help them.
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