all stories are love stories
part 2
Xiao: Hmm. That which was originally going to be a one-part fic became a two part fic... and now it's going to be a three part fic. Anyway, enough from me, back to Vincent.
they say that what you mock will surely overtake youand you become a monster, so the monster will not break you
it's already gone too far
who said that if you go in hard you won't get hurt
"peace on earth"
u2
(~*~)
Vincent walked.
He probably could have called Leong or Takimoto's base, a public line wasn't likely to be tapped. But after these past few hours he had to be more than a little paranoid. Besides, it was only about a k and a half away, and he needed time to think.
So he walked.
His every instinct told him that Akira hadn't been lying, and his instincts were generally reliable. But if that was the case, she could be in serious trouble. There was no way she could hide the fact that she was the only one left alive out of a posse of at least seven. Any witnesses to the shootout at the bar might put two and two together.
Well, that was her problem, wasn't it? He hadn't done anything wrong, and he was even more likely to be rewarded when Takimoto heard about the morning's events. It was none of his concern.
So there was no need to remember her smile, or the casual flick of her hand through her hair, or the graceful way she moved. He didn't need to keep seeing those dark eyes in his mind, or hear her slightly Wutainese-accented voice begging him to run for his life. She could just get the fuck out of his head. She wasn't his responsibility.
He brushed a hand over his eyes, as though he could physically dispel the memories that plagued him, and turned off Main Street down a smaller avenue. He'd be at the base in fifteen minutes. He was the best assassin in this godforsaken excuse for a city and he wasn't going to let a few trivial personal issues affect his infamous professional attitude. With an effort, he pushed the image of Akira away and concentrated on keeping it there.
(~*~)
you're out of luck and the reason that you had to care
the traffic is stuck and you're not moving anywhere
you thought you'd found a friend to take you out of this place
someone you could lend a hand in return for grace
the sky falls and you feel like it's a beautiful day
"beautiful day"
u2
(~*~)
Takimoto's base was ostensibly just another slightly run-down old house that looked pretty much the same as the two on either side. Except that Vincent knew the dirty glass was bulletproof, and the "garage" was soundproofed and didn't hold cars. Guards posing as bystanders were posted up and down the street to check on anyone who might be getting too close. They knew Vincent, though, and let him pass with no more than a cursory glance.
Inside it was a different story. The furnishings were nicer than you generally saw in this part of Midgar, kind of an Old Junon style. The great man's personal team of hackers did business from the rooms to his right, keeping tabs on his enemies with bugs and satellites, but they weren't around much. Vincent had never been down the other end of the house near the garage. He'd heard stories, though. Glaring electric light and cold, bloodstained concrete. People who'd been taken in for "questioning" and not seen since. Weapons and other gear were stored upstairs, in the rooms near Takimoto's office- and a few choice items in the office itself, close to hand. Neat.
The stairs squeaked and groaned like hell unless you knew just how to walk on them. This was purely intentional, he suspected. But being naturally light on his feet, Vincent made his way up the stairs with the minimum of noise.
Voices from behind the closed door. Leong, perhaps? No, it didn't sound like him. Well, Vincent didn't claim to know all of Takimoto's many associates, and he wasn't about to be shot for overhearing something that didn't concern him. He'd wait downstairs.
As soon as he reached the ground floor, the voices became clearer. The heavy old door had been opened. He heard footsteps and Takimoto's familiar, smoke-thickened chuckle. Then a figure stepped out on to the landing.
Ryu?
Vincent stared. He and Leong had left Ryu for dead last night (had it only been last night?), but he seemed to be well and uninjured. He'd never had anything against Ryu, he quite liked the guy, but something made Vincent take two silent steps back until he was standing concealed in the doorway to one of the hackers' "offices".
"Well, you never can tell, eh?" Takimoto's voice seemed good-natured enough, but there was an undercurrent of steel behind it that made Vincent retreat further into the doorway. "It's the loyal ones that surprise you. And he seemed like such a sensible boy. Full of promise. If you hadn't called me this morning I would have asked him to stay on permanently."
Vincent's eyes narrowed.
"The girl was an excellent source of information, but she'll have to go too," Takimoto continued, as casually as if he was discussing the weather. "Amazing. Last night the world was at my feet, today I have Martinez breathing down my neck. And all because these two decided to pursue their affair in plain sight." He shook his head.
Ryu nodded, starting down the stairs. Vincent noticed that he did move rather awkwardly, holding his left arm stiff and leaning heavily on the banister with his right. "He did manage to get rid of most of the Lawmakers, though." He winced as the stairs creaked.
"Ah, but you've said it, Mr Asano. Most of them. Enough were left to put two and two together. A rookie Lawmaker meets a young gunman in a bar, greets him like an old friend, then later puts herself in danger for him, blows her own cover and gets several more of her friends killed- there were enough of them left to be suspicious. To investigate her background and find it a hasty fabrication. To ask some questions, and receive answers. Why, the young man works for Takimoto. Many of their members have recently been killed- in ambushes, by men working for Takimoto. So a great deal of information has recently been leaked- to Takimoto. An interesting coincidence, yes? In a situation like this, Mr Asano, one left is one too many."
Ryu shrugged. "So?"
"So Valentine dies," Takimoto said dismissively. "A shame, but there you are. Saito too, if she hasn't already been caught and questioned. I want them both before tonight."
"Consider it done-" Ryu winced again, and placed a hand over his chest.
"No, no, you should rest," Takimoto said heartily. "I'll have Damian and the others take care of it. You're a lucky man, Mr Asano, don't tempt fate again."
"I want to be there," Ryu said with sudden vehemence. "His carelessness got Mac and Harding killed. He's not going to walk free after that." He reached the bottom of the stairs.
"Thanks to you, Mr Asano, he won't."
Ryu grinned somewhat wolfishly. "Thankyou, sir." He left, closing the door behind him.
(~*~)
Vincent heard the door to Takimoto's office close also, and the man's voice behind it- he seemed to be talking on the phone, although his words were once more indistinct. He felt sick. The Lawmakers had drawn the right conclusion from the wrong information, and Vincent and Akira would have to pay the price. Takimoto would eliminate two unwanted agents, prevent the Lawmakers from getting more information and allow Ryu to have his revenge. A coldly logical man, was Takimoto.
Akira. . . Vincent felt a rush of confused emotion at the memory of her face. She had saved his life twice, and put her own in permanent danger. He didn't want to think about why she might have done it. But he knew what he had to do now.
Vincent turned and surveyed the office. The screens of three state-of-the-art PCs looked back at him. This was a place which Takimoto knew nobody but his employees could enter. A safe place for Takimoto's hackers to work- a place where you might store files, or personnel data. . .
It booted up fast. He brought up the search window and typed in "Valentine". One file was found. A photo of him, his name, current address, phone number. The car he drove (or more correctly, the car that was a bullet-ridden wreck in a back alley a few ks away). Height and weight. A bit about the Mamushi and Lee, though he'd never told anyone. Everything, even his goddamned shoe size, and he wasn't an official member.
Back to the search window. "Saito". He found nothing. He tried "Akira" and found no results. Had they already wiped the files, in case the Lawmakers hacked the system? But- he checked the cables- the machine wasn't linked to a network. Nobody could access it, unless they were here in this room. So why-?
Of course. Shaking his head at his own stupidity, he typed in "Arai".
She lived in an apartment block, like him, only hers was on the ground floor and a bit nicer than his. Sector 4, like she said. Picking up a pen, he scribbled the address on the back of his hand and shut the computer down. He would have left traces, of which documents he'd opened and what he'd done, but that couldn't be helped. For a moment he considered trashing the whole system, but dismissed the idea. They'd have some kind of backup, even if the stuff wasn't safeguarded, and this way nobody would know there was anything wrong until they checked.
Silently, he opened the door, checked up and down the street and hurried out of the house. One of the guards, a young blonde woman pushing a pram, smiled at him- oblivious to the fact that Takimoto wanted him dead. Sloppy planning, Ryu, he thought, smiling to himself. Not good enough.
In another ten minutes or so he was back on Main Street. It was busy now, people passed him by without a second glance. He noticed a bus heading down the street and ran for the bus stop. Apart from the slight curiosity value of a man running after a bus, nobody paid him any attention. He couldn't help wondering what they'd do, if they knew who he was- and who was after him.
The streets of Midgar passed him by in a blur, faceless people going about their lives, struggling to make ends meet. Rain had started to fall, and the skies were grey and dull with their burden of clouds. Rivulets of water streamed over the window, distorting Vincent's view of the passers-by. And, of course, making it quite impossible for them to see inside. He was anonymous, unremarkable. Safe. For now.
(~*~)
you're packing a suitcase for a place none of us has been
you could have flown away
a singing bird in an open cage
home. . . hard to know what it is
if you've never had one
"walk on"
u2
(~*~)
. . . have to leave the PHS behind. . .
The kettle whistled shrilly, bringing her out of her thoughts. Akira ignored it and continued packing.
. . .probably should buy some new stuff, cut my hair. I'm too well known around here. . .
She stuffed a black jacket into the small suitcase anyway.
. . .I don't know what's wrong with me. I've only met him once, not like he's my best friend. And they'll probably catch up with him sooner or later. If they haven't already. I should have just let Langton finish him and kept my head down. . .
Akira opened a drawer and shoved the false floor aside, revealing a compartment full of various weapons and ammunition. She began packing that too, absently clicking the kettle on again. She hated lukewarm coffee.
. . .So you've ruined your life for a man you hardly know, who's probably going to die soon anyway. And you with him. There were three or four others with Langton, they're bound to get suspicious. It's only a matter of time. . .
The doorbell sounded throughout the apartment.
Akira froze.
It rang again, longer and more insistently, and was followed by a few sharp raps on the front door. Akira slipped the Peacemaker from her inside pocket, drawing a small measure of comfort from its familiar weight, the cold metal against her skin. She walked quietly, cat-like, down the corridor, wondering distractedly how many of them there'd be, and how many she'd take out before they killed her. She'd give better than she got, she always had. She hadn't thought they'd bother to knock.
She stopped before she reached the door, taking a breath to steady herself, and raised the Peacemaker for what she assumed was the last time. There was a louder knock at the door, and the sound of a familiar voice calling her name.
Akira nearly dropped the gun.
"Valentine?"
(~*~)
He was pale, bloodstained, dripping wet and slightly out of breath. He was also alone. He stepped into the apartment without word or invitation, but stopped short when he saw the gun still pointed at his head.
"They're coming," he said flatly. "The Lawmakers saw you with me and figured you were working for Takimoto. He knows what happened and wants us both dead. If you want to stay alive, leave Midgar."
"I'd planned on that. . ." She holstered the Peacemaker and started to walk back towards the kitchen, making a follow-me motion with the other hand. "If they look into it, they'll be able to see who killed Langton."
Vincent nodded. "And you let me get away."
There was a question implied there, but she ignored it. "So now I have Takimoto on my ass too. Great."
Vincent slammed his hand down onto the bench. "Level with me, Saito. Why?"
"Why are you here?" she replied softly.
He looked away. "I'm repaying a debt."
"Is that right. Well, you could have been out of the city an hour ago. You're just putting your own life in danger. Again."
"So we're even," he said, quietly.
"I- "
The kettle whistled again.
"You, er, want a coffee?"
He shrugged. "Okay."
"I only have instant."
"I'm really past caring at the moment." He smiled. A small smile, but it was there. She found herself returning it.
(~*~)
"So where will you go?" Vincent asked, taking a swig of coffee.
Akira started to zip up her bag. "Probably wait until dark, then head for the coast and the docks. Maybe Costa del Sol, at least for a while. How about you?"
"I'm not going to leave Midgar."
She raised an eyebrow.
"I'm going to Shinra."
She stopped what she was doing and turned to face him, as if interested. "Shinra?"
"They protect their employees. Especially the Turks. If you mess with a Turk or a SOLDIER, you mess with the whole Shinra, Incorporated. I knew someone once- "
Vincent stopped. He'd been about to tell her about Lee, a secret he'd kept since her death. Lee, and her dreams of getting out of the slums onto the plate. She could have made it, if not in the Turks then definitely in SOLDIER. He vividly remembered her face, smiling as she talked enviously of their skill, their power, their money, the respect they commanded. She'd spoken about it the night before she died, repeating the words to herself as much as to him.
"Hey Lee- everything clear for tonight?"
"Sure it is, Vince, stop worrying already."
"Yeah, you're right. . ."
*a smile* "Why so uptight?"
"No reason."
"Lighten up, Vince. We'll be fine. We gotta be fine. We gotta get to Shinra, right?"
"Right."
"You and me, ya know? We're gonna be Turks. You're going to be the youngest ever to get in, thought about that? And I'm gonna be the first girl. They gotta take good care of us."
"Solen wants to be in SOLDIER."
"Really? He never told me that. . . hey, that means you're going to be telling him what to do all the time."
"Yeah, that'll happen."
"I reckon it will."
. . .
"Vince?"
"Yeah, what?"
"When we go tonight- you watch your back, okay?"
"I always do."
"I know."
. . .
"You too."
"Yeah, whatever."
. . .
Vincent felt like he owed it to her, to take his chance, since hers had never come.
Akira was looking at him expectantly. "You knew someone who what?"
Ah, what harm could it do. "Someone who used to want to work for Shinra."
"Any reason?"
"Money. Power. The usual."
"Ah, right."
" . . .And she was really big on honour, you know, honour and revenge. They all watch out for each other, the Turks. It's like a family."
"Yeah, I've heard something like that."
"So that's where I'm going."
"Takimoto has connections. It's true that once you're in, you're protected, but if Takimoto gets there before you and waves some gil around they'll happily hand him your head. On a platter."
"Not if he's dead."
He had her full attention now. "You won't just leave Midgar, I assume."
"No."
"Then that's the best solution."
"You mean- "
"We'll have to strike soon. Before he has a chance to go to Shinra, or before anyone finds us. Only employees know exactly how to find him, and that's made him careless. He's too sure of himself."
"The computers aren't even locked with passwords. He just assumes no-one will make it past the guards."
She grinned wolfishly. "Right. We have an advantage."
He raised an eyebrow. "You think so?"
"Security's important to him, but he's been a little too well protected for too long. He's getting careless, making mistakes. Whereas we have to cover our own tracks all the time, so we know how things work. Plus we know where he is, but he doesn't know exactly where we are, or that we'd be insane enough to go after him."
"So you're going to help."
"It's my life on the line as well as yours, Valentine. I got myself into this, and I have my own agenda. Don't go thinking you have to protect me."
"I wasn't."
She smiled again, the same smile that had caught his eye across a crowded room. "Good."
(~*~)
"So while everyone's out looking for us-"
"We do the last thing they expect us to do. Go back. We ice Takimoto and anyone else who gets in our way, trash the base and pick up a courtesy car while we're at it." Vincent looked around, noticing how dark it was. It was still early afternoon, but the sun cast only a weak ray of grey daylight through the haze of pollution and rain-streaked windows. Then again, he wasn't on the plate yet.
"Courtesy car." Akira laughed. "Then we backtrack a little, get on the train, and we're outta here."
He looked at her sharply. "We? Are we going together?"
Shit.
That had sounded wrong- too questioning, even pleading. He regretted the words, wanted to take them back the moment he'd said them. Like he was asking her permission to tag along. Hey, Akira, I'm afraid of the dark, I'm worried the monsters in the night might get me. I'll be too scared without you.
"Well, obviously, the logical answer is no," she replied coolly. "After all, two people together- easier to remember, harder to hide. It's impractical."
He looked away. Of course. It made sense, he'd been expecting that. He told himself he'd been expecting that. He knew she was right. Wasn't like he needed her, or anything. Or anyone.
Heh. Who are you fooling, Valentine? Not her. And definitely not yourself.
He hazarded a glance at Akira. Her eyes were still on his face, her expression vaguely self-deprecating. She opened her mouth, then closed it again, seemingly summoning the courage for-
"-But my answer is yes."
Vincent stared.
"Because I'm a sentimental idiot." She smiled wryly, and looked at the floor. "It's one of the few things I like about myself."
"Yeah, well," Vincent said softly, "it's one of the things I like about you too."
Akira looked up then, but still didn't meet his eyes. There was a silence, but not an uncomfortable one, broken only by the soft sound of rain against the glass.
She turned towards him, smile still on her lips, and Vincent was suddenly very conscious of just how close she was- just a few steps away, a distance which could be closed in a moment. A glow from the window behind him shone faintly on to her face, making it stand out from the shadows as if lit by an inner radiance.
Suddenly her gaze shifted, focused on a point behind him. The window. The light. The double beam of car headlights distorted by the streaked glass. The muted purr of engines slowing to a halt.
Her eyes widened slightly, holding his. She turned, fingers an inch above her gun. Men's voices outside, near the door, the clink of metal on metal. His own gun was drawn in an instant. She was picking up the bag she'd packed. For an instant he didn't understand. But he saw her dark eyes narrow as she swung the bag at the window, saw it arc brightly in the glow from the headlights, heard the crack of breaking glass loud in the silence. Not loud enough to drown out shouts from outside. He knew in the back of his mind that if they were careless enough to shout then there wasn't much time, but he still threw himself through the jagged hole even though his jacket tore on the shards of glass and he dropped and rolled, hard on the concrete, and he was on his feet and running but he couldn't see Akira and he looked over his shoulder, she was sprinting after him but bleeding and he turned to her, saw her eyes bright in the darkness, and suddenly everything was bright and yellow-hot and blaring with sound, glass panes cracking and metal buckling and pieces of stone carried through the air on the fierce wind and the noise of someone far away screaming until something knocked him off his feet, and he fell, and night fell and it was dark and quiet.
(~*~)
Not all quiet. The faint noise of rain penetrated his consciousness and he opened his eyes with difficulty. For a few heart-stopping seconds he couldn't remember who or where he was. He tried to raise a hand and found he couldn't, feeling another jolt of terror. Then reason took over. He'd been with Akira and they'd been running from some kind of explosion. The right side of his face stung like hell, his head was bleeding and he felt like he'd been beaten with a hammer, but nothing seemed broken. On the other hand, he couldn't move or see for shit, which suggested that he was trapped underneath something.
He tried to move his arm again, putting more force behind it, and felt something slide. He touched what felt like a section of wall. God, he was buried under the whole fucking building. Panic threatened to rise again and he fought it every way he knew how. He could still hear the rain. He couldn't be too far from the surface. He raised his hands, freeing them from between wood and plaster and sheared metal, snagging his skin on a shard of glass. Nothing. Not even enough room to move, to try and push himself out. Just a small, dark, airless space. . .
It was like being trapped in a coffin.
He clamped his right hand over his left, containing the urge to beat the hell out of whatever was above him in an attempt to free himself. Perhaps being crushed to death was a more pleasant alternative to suffocation, but he'd rather not find out the hard way. He struck out to the side, hearing the slide of dislodged debris. Something overhead tilted dangerously and he froze, mentally damning his carelessness.
But suddenly there was light, wan and grey, but there. He never thought he'd be so relieved to feel Midgar air on his skin. Water trickled into his eyes and he blinked. Then fully half of the wreckage was gone, sliding back with an unwilling screech, falling to the ground. Akira was standing over him.
Her hair was singed, her clothes blackened, she was bloodstained and muddy and soaked to the skin. Her face was blank, as though she was stunned. She slowly lifted a hand, extended it. Muscles protesting at the sudden movement, Vincent sat up and clasped it in his, wordlessly allowing her to help him to his feet.
A fresh breeze, surprisingly cool, stirred the dust on the ground between them, fanned the dying flames that still survived at the heart of the wreckage. Beads of light rain settled in his hair. He didn't notice. Everything was background to her, pale skin, soft dark eyes. Her hair was plastered to her head, strands of ebony curling slightly on her cheeks. Her clothes clung to her under her battered jacket, offering little protection from the wind.
He smiled. His voice was rough with smoke. "That's another one I owe you."
Akira took a short, shaky breath, smiling in return, relief and sadness and pain and sheer exhaustion written clear in the lines of her lips. In her eyes. The touch of her hand was cool against his. She stepped forward, closing the remaining distance between them. Her fingers shook slightly as they laced through his hair, drawing his lips to hers. He wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her closer, pressing her against him as if to transfer the warmth of his body to hers, protect her from the relentless rain. The drops fell heavier now, beating on the smoke-blackened concrete, washing ash and plaster dust from the rubble. Fucking Midgar weather.
Vincent pressed his face against her hair, folding his heavy coat around her and absently wondering what in hell they were going to do now. She had nothing but her gun and the clothes on her back, and there was no way he would risk going home. Both of them were tired, battered, cold, and generally in no state to take on Takimoto's posse. And Vincent doubted if there was anyone left in the city who'd be willing to-
He blinked. It was a slim chance. But it certainly beat no chance at all.
Leong.
(~*~)
in a little while, surely you'll be mine
in a little while i'll be there
in a little while, this hurt will hurt no more
i'll be home
when the night takes a deep breath
and the daylight has no air
if i crawl, if i come crawling home
will you be there
"in a little while"
u2
Xiao: Not being of a romantic disposition... this was hell to write. Yes. Part three is in the works. I'm serious, I really appreciate reviews... whether you liked it, loved it, or want to string me up by my ankles.
(~*~)