"I know you can hear me, Vincent."
Time turned back thirty-two years for Vincent.
Back to that night in Shinra Mansion.
Back to that goddamn lab table…
…No!
The smell of blood and chemicals assaulted him. His blood…so much of his blood…all over his Turk uniform…
…This isn't real!
Feel so weak…
"I don't have much time before Chaos 'summons' you, so look the part."
Hojo.
…I'm dreaming!
He remembered: Rude insisted on recovering their strength before the tests, setting up an infirmary room for Yuffie and himself to sleep. Yuffie however, refused to do so or give Vincent any peace unless he did the same. And after much protest, he relented…asleep before his head hit the pillow as Yuffie snored away on her own bed…
So began the nightmares…
"Don't advertise. Now hold still…this will sting a bit…
Vincent stared at the hacksaw Hojo raised with a smirk. Glinting wickedly in the meager light.
Sank it's teeth into his wounded left arm as if alive.
Hojo giggled as Vincent screamed. "Don't feel like a *&^%ing dream does it Pretty boy?!"
"What the hell are you doing?"
"This little time warp is just a friendly reminder I'm always here." Hojo tossed the arm over his shoulder. "But this is just the calm before the Shitstorm, so don't get lazy, Valentine…
"Why…can't…you give a straight answer…"
"For our protection." Vincent felt cold fingers probe into his wounds, clawing the bullets out. "If I just told you everything, you'd drop your guard. You drop your guard and they will find me, kill me for real and that'll ^%$& up both our weekends."
Vincent's vision began to spin and blacken…
"Look gift horses in their mouths before they bite you on the ass, Valentine." Hojo sounded so far away. "Especially whatever nuggets of info you discover along the way."
His last words chased Vincent into the darkness.
"Especially from those you trust the most."
##
Premium Spirit Productions Presents
In association with Square Pictures
OBSIDIAN
A Final Fantasy VII fanfiction by Sentora
Final Fantasy and its characters belong to Square. Just borrowing them for this crazy fic. The new ones belong to me, so ask nicely if ya wanna use 'em ok?
##
Chapter 4: And now for something twisted…
*Well…It's different.*
No images of torture awaited Vincent as he 'woke'. No specter of Hojo.
It was a nightclub this time.
Death Gigas polishing glasses at the bar. Serving drinks to a wasted Cait Sith and Red 13 trying to outdrink each other. Hellmasker carving away at a huge block of ice, the head and shoulders of a Sephiroth statue now visible. The Gaian Beast playing poker with Rufus Shinra and the entire Shinra staff, who like every one else in the room, were dressed in colorful Zoot suits and Fedoras or flashy cocktail dresses. He even recognized his comrades, either dancing out on the floor or gambling at the Roulette wheel and Blackjack tables.
*Heh, Cloud was right, Barret does look like a bear wearing a marshmallow whenever wearing white.*
Even his clothes were different, the red suit and black dress shirt surprisingly comfortable. The red fedora wasn't so bad either.
And on the stage sat…himself. From his days as a Turk, parked behind a white piano that Vincent itched to play.
Chaos.
Yuffie was sprawled shamelessly across the piano top, staring adoringly at Chaos as he played; wearing in a scanty red number that would have killed Godo several times over if he saw it.
He nearly threw himself at his doppelganger, but found himself frozen by a stop spell.
Chaos slicked back his short hair and cracked his fingers. Wearing the biggest shit eating grin in the world and stroking Yuffie along her back and neck as he spoke the intro to one of his songs…
(INTRO)
It was written in the stars
long before the oceans flowed
That we would become a
modern Juliet and Romeo....
His fingers danced across the keys with ease, milking a bittersweet melody that arrested everyone's attention. Vincent simmered with anger to hear that bastard using his words, his damn own voice to seduce 'Yuffie' and mock him…a haunting alto he hadn't heard in years…Since Lucrecia…
(Chaos/Vincent)
Thought I learned
My lesson by now
Even swore to god
I would never fall again
Yet even though
I knew better
I looked into your eyes
and Let you take me for a spin
Right back down
That lonely heartbreak road
Even though your smile, your laugh
Warms this heart grown cold.
Didn't I learn from my past?
Deep down I know it won't last
Yet you still want the task
Well I just gotta ask...
(Chorus)
If I'm only dreaming
Then Never let me wake
If I 'm wide awake
Then Never let me sleep
You're asking for a promise
I'm not sure that I can keep
though the thought of losing you
Is more than my heart can take
I still can't believe
Just how hard for you I fell
Loving you's like touching heaven
Yet I feel so lost in hell...
Just like Batman and Robin
we fight side by side...
yet after all this time
I still call you a child
But I'm not fooling anyone
and you're on to me,
The way that you torture me
I'm not sure I'll survive!
gets harder every day
to push you away
no matter what I say
with fire you still wish to play!
(Chorus)
If there's one lesson
the hard way I've learned
playing with fire...
all you get is burned!
More monster than man
Never knowing peace
No happy endings here
This aint beauty and the beast!
I still can't believe
Just how hard for you I fell
Loving you's like touching heaven
Yet I feel so lost in hell...
(Fading with the music)
Damn my conflicted heart...
The spellbound look in her eyes cut Vincent to his heart, just as Chaos' knowing smile did. Sure it was just an illusion, but the old wound of Lucrecia bled all the same.
Reminding him why he couldn't allow himself to accept his feelings for Yuffie…
Chaos shifted to his true form, wearing a Turk uniform tailored to his enormous bulk.
The Stop spell faded.
"Welcome Valentine!" He made a sweeping guesture. "I thought we could use a change of scenery, since your mind's more of a mess than usual. "
Vincent stalked over and glared Chaos in the eyes. Ignored the scandalous amount of leg Yuffie showed as she winked seductively and blew a kiss. With an effort.
"You must be running out of ideas if you stoop to parlor tricks."
Chaos sniffed. "Y'see Yuffie? He never appreciates my hard work. Just because I'm a cold blooded killer doesn't mean I DON'T HAVE FEELINGS!" He punctuated the last by nearly crushing the keys beneath his claws.
Yuffie scratched behind his ears comfortingly. Chaos purred.
Vincent rolled his eyes. This was getting old. "I won't let you distract me, not after what I've just found."
"Oh...That you may be a daddy?" Chaos nearly choked with restrained laughter. "That's really cute. Kinda of late for ballgames and man to man talks though…"
Vincent's eyes narrowed.
"…and you fight over the same woman! And I thought Hojo was father of the year!" This time the beast did laugh, everyone joining him. Even Yuffie, which took all of Vincent's willpower not to draw and shoot the purple bastard between the eyes to shut him up.
Chaos managed to get himself under control, smiling complacently as the laughter faded. "Do yourself a favor, Valentine. End this foolish quest. Return to Wutai and enjoy your worthless life." The smile turned wicked. "What little remains that is…"
Vincent's anger evaporated at this. "What did you say, demon?"
"You're a bright boy, Valentine." Chaos played 'Moonlight Sonata' with surprising skill. Smiling at Vincent. "Do the math: You're losing control of us. Just found out that you're even less human than you thought. Now the Espers show up? You tell me…"
Hellmasker giggled insanely.
"TheytheytheytheygonnagetchaVinVin!" The nearly completed statue of Sephiroth turned and sneered as the maniac cackled. "Gonnagonnagonnagonnachoppayaup!"
"As little brother so eloquently said…" Chaos continued to play. "The Espers are gunning for you, Valentine. They know our mistress is awakening the Jenova within you. Soon Vincent Valentine will be no more, and they're gonna play friends until they have you both and kill you."
"You expect me to believe you?" Vincent snarled.
"Then trust those Turk instincts you've been neglecting lately." Chaos snorted. "Even Yuffie smells the bullshit on their breath. What makes you think Reno's isn't a pet project of theirs to hunt you down?" He chuckled nastily. "Hell…when you really think about it…they're the ones who really *&^%ed your life up, considering that they created Jenova…How can you trust them?"
It was a disturbing thought. Even worse, it made a twisted sort of sense.
"I never said I did, Chaos." Vincent said calmly. "But I trust you even less."
"Not that I care, Valentine." Chaos retorted. "But you know I speak the truth."
Vincent smirked. "Try again, Barney. Your teeth get darker the more you lie through them."
"I'm not used to this smartass you're becoming, Valentine. Yuffie should be proud."
He ran his tongue across her cheek and lips in a beastly kiss, Vincent's eyes glowing as she giggled.
"And you repay her by denying your attraction to her. I wonder," He grinned salaciously. "Where was such restraint when Lucrecia was concerned?"
"Leave her out of this."
"Chivalry, How annoying." Chaos held up the music sheets. "Don't tell me you're content to just admire the girl from a distance, writing such…inspired music. Guess I have to remind you what a lady-killer we were." The grin turned viscous. "Rather tired of leftovers as usual…"
The camel's back broke. Vincent drawing and firing…
Chaos standing and lifting Yuffie by the neck in one smooth motion to take the bullet in her chest. Threw her at the already charging Vincent.
"I didn't mean literally, asshole!"
Vincent sidestepped the body and leapt to meet Chaos in midair…managing to shove Death Penalty through that grin and down his throat before the beast's muscular tail slammed him to the ground. Almost grinned even as Chaos smashed the Piano on him as well.
"Temper…Temper…" he rasped.
The other patrons didn't even blink the whole time. An excited Shera scored at the Roulette table.
Chaos managed to pull the weapon out with an effort, spitting out teeth and snapping his jaw back into place. Pinned Vincent with a foot.
"You're only pissing away what little time's left, Valentine." Chaos's broken grin horrible to behold. "You can't fight the Jenova within you, and we grow stronger by the minute…"
"Why…can't you ever…just get to the point…"
"The 'point' is that I'm the manifestation of your true self, Valentine. Given life and form by the Jenova within you. And when your awakening is complete, you'll change from this ugly, whining sack of flesh to the inner beauty that is me…for the final time…"
All of Chaos' mind games and taunts…none truly frightened Vincent as much that did…
Yuffie…
"A second chance, Valentine. My thanks for the wonderful hospitality you provided us all these years. A second chance to live your life instead of running from it. We'll slack off on the mind games, slow the process... Let ya enjoy a few years with dear sweet tasty Yuffie-chan. What do you say, Valentine?"
Vincent looked Chaos in the eye.
What was Yuffie's favorite expression again? Oh yes…
Raised the ring, middle, and index fingers of his claw.
"Read between the lines, bitch."
Chaos responded with a kick to his head…the world fading away once more…
##
"Welcome back."
Not again…
He was strapped to that damned table again, his arm 'repaired.' unidentifiable fluids pumped into him by strange devices that crawled over him. Floated about monitoring his vitals.
Hojo straddled an office chair, filing his nails.
It gave one the impression of a psychologist's office…from hell…
*Cetran Technology he plundered from the ship?* Vincent pondered. *The same used to create Jenova perhaps?*
"That went rather well." Hojo remarked. "You've finally given me something to work with."
Vincent looked at Hojo with an effort: The wildfire that crawled through his veins was as agonizing as he remembered, Every cell screaming in protest of Jenova's invasion before he finally passed out…
"She was always a clever, resourceful bitch. Should have known she'd find a way to pay me back for thirty-two years ago. But to use you…that really pisses me off."
Even to Vincent's feverish mind, it made no sense. "…You can't be talking about Jenova…You worshiped that headless freakshow…"
A vein throbbed in Hojo's forehead. "Not as much as you did, pretty boy."
"…The hell you mean?"
"That would be telling."
Vincent's curse became a scream as Hojo snapped his fingers, increasing the dosage. He fought to stay concious…
"And I resent the term Worshipped." Hojo rattled on. "You humans never comprehend what we had. Together we could have brought this pathetic world to its knees. But you know how fickle women can be. Saw someone a little easier on the eyes and tossed me out on my ass. But no one screws over Lucius Mephistopheles Hojo. I made her pay, even though it cost me dearly."
His voice softened.
"My son…my sanity…my life…"
Then he grinned hugely.
"Do it all again to see the look on that bitch's face."
Animated with a strange glee, Hojo pushed off the wall…rolling over to look Vincent in the eyes.
"You've got all the clues pretty boy." He snickered. "So as Yuffie so rightfully said, get your head out your ass, and figure out which one of us is telling you the truth. Should be easy for a ravishing Turk like you." He ruffled Vincent's hair playfully. "Won't be long before Jenova undoes all my hard work and that simply won't do."
Footsteps caught his attention, Vincent turning his head with an effort to see someone standing in the chamber doors…His vision clearing just enough to recognize those violet eyes and auburn locks…
Lucrecia.
*I had been unconscious through most of the operation…had she interrupted Hojo…?*
Hojo tugged hard on his hair, looming over him.
"Haven't you learned to stay out of lover's spats by now?"
Hojo bounced his head off the table…
##
And Vincent woke.
He lay there for some time, just staring at the ceiling.
"Look gift horses in their mouths before they bite you on the ass, Valentine..."
"Especially from those you trust the most...."
"Do yourself a favor, Valentine. End this foolish quest. Return to Wutai and enjoy your worthless life.
What little remains that is…"
"Do the math: You're losing control of us. Just found out that you're even less human than you thought. Now the Espers show up? You tell me…"
"They know our mistress is awakening the Jenova within you. Soon Vincent Valentine will be no more, and they're gonna play friends until they have you both and kill you…"
"And when your awakening is complete, you'll change from this ugly, whining sack of flesh to the inner beauty that is me…for the final time…"
"Not as much as you did, pretty boy…"
This was insane! Losing control of Chaos, Hojo in my head and Reno…What next?
"Especially from those you trust the most..."
And what did that mean? Vincent didn't trust that four-eyed bastard further than he could stand the sight of him, but his instincts warned him to take heed of his advice. But who?
Even Chaos had warned him of the Espers…
Vincent bit back a growl of frustration, closing his eyes.
Now was not the time to ponder such things. He was exhausted, not thinking clearly if those bastards in his head could affect him so. He needed rest.
In the next bed over, Yuffie mumbled something in her sleep before rolling over. Vincent allowed himself to steal a glance. Shamelessly admire how innocent and carefree she appeared.
If it was true…if he was to become Chaos forever…he was a threat to her and Wutai's future.
That was his last thought as sleep claimed him once more…dreamless and silent…
TBC!
Author's notes:
I thought I'd try something different for this one, find a way to slip one of my songs in there as well as have a true dialogue between Chaos and Vincent than their usual sniping back and forth. I admit, Michael Jackson's 'Smooth Criminal.' Video inspired the nightclub setting. Couldn't resist the image of Vincent and the gang dressed as Gangsters. Almost had the Gaian beast mimicking Michael with the FF7 crew while Chaos and Vincent chatted. *_* But that would have been too weird for even me. I also shamelessly burrowed the 'read between the lines' reply from striker's Mall madness. Sorry, but the image was too much to resist. Go read it guys, it's funny as hell.
I am very tempted do a parody songfic of it starring Vincent however. Unless some brave soul out there would like to do some outtakes for Obsidian and use the idea. Contact me if you're interested.
Next chapter things will pick up again. The blood test results are revealed, Yuffie digs into her newfound heritage, Yuffie's 'love life' gets more complicated, more surprises are discovered and Vincent may actually see Lucrecia!
Before I go, I have a request: Can someone please help me finalize a voice for Hojo? Still leaning toward Wayne Pygram (Scorpius from Farscape.) Maybe Kevin Bacon (Sebastion from Hollow man.) I will even take new suggestions! Contact me at Sentora@hotmail.com
Seeya guys soon!