Heyya Minna!
It's finally finished!
….This chapter anyway…-_- beta version -_-;
I wholeheartedly apologize for long wait. Between real life frell ups and writer's block I've been through the wringer. And as always, thank you all for your wonderful comments! It was the kick in the ass I needed to get in gear…
I guess I should also should apologize ahead of time to all Aeris fans, Aeris/Cloud fans…aw hell, definitely the Aeris/Sephiroth fans as well…I wanted to try something different and original and this came out…
Oh well, hope you all enjoy the story
P.S. If anyone got art to request for stories or whatever, or want check out the original works of me and my friend and partner Soujirow, you can find him here at http://www.geocities.com/souljirow/main.html And if you also interested in other fan fiction I've written, check here, as well as read one of the best RK stories on the net, especially if you love angst, A Rurouni for your thoughts
http://www.angelfire.com/anime/Information/tears.html
Here we go!
Lucrecia's waterfall was eerily silent as Terminus entered, ignoring the chilly water soaking him to the bone.
No…not ignored. That meant he could actually feel anything, emotional or sensory, with this poor excuse of a body. The numbness…the detachment suffered from controlling his body as if by remote would have driven a lesser man insane.
But if there was anything his former life taught him, it was to adapt to anything. Even death.
He stopped short of the writhing mass of purple 'flesh' slowly expanding in the center of the floor, mimicking an expression of disgust as he watched it contort and expand erratically, as if trying to decide if it should consume the room or not.
For all of her power, Lucrecia/Jenova couldn't maintain her shape while 'speaking' to her countless cells thriving within their unsuspecting hosts, seeing and hearing all that they did. More than once he was tempted to strike when she was in such a vulnerable state, but he knew better than to take the bait…cause killing the bitch couldn't be that easy.
"My Mission was successful, Lucrecia. They suspect nothing."
The mass shook violently and contracted itself into a vaguely humanoid shape, Terminus glimpsing her true form in all it's hideous glory before she settled into the alluring shape of Lucrecia.
"See how easier it is when you cooperate, my dear Terminus?" She slithered up to him, Terminus jerking from her touch as she attempt to caress his cheek. Laughed. "If only you would accept my gifts and allow yourself to fully heal, enjoy all I have to offer…"
"I would find hell more preferable to even a second in your embrace, Lucrecia."
She laughed again. "How long are you going to hold a grudge against me for killing you? Lighten up, you're one step closer to the grave you desire." She pulled a syringe-like device out of her pocket. "I was equally successful in retrieving the Sephiroth cloning data from the failure. Now we can proceed with the final act…"
But Terminus had tuned out his 'master' the moment she started speaking. Freedom was within his grasp and yet he almost hated himself for what he would have to do: Damn one of his former comrades to hell he would be escaping.
Almost. He'd lost the ability to feel remorse long before he was murdered. Came with the job.
May the planet have mercy on your soul, Reno…I have none to give…
##
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 5: Humor, heart to hearts and hard liquor.
"So this is a business call. Finally gave up on my poor misguided soul?"
"You don't get off that easy with me. I still think there's some good in you...once I dig past all the bullshit."
Sephiroth's laugh never failed send shivers down her spine. Sometimes the wrong kind…
"Suicidal and delusional. You and Cloud would have made a wonderful couple if the better woman hadn't won."
"What's wrong, Sephy? Afraid to talk about mommy?"
"On the contrary...I enjoy talking about mother. Like her sense of irony...of Justice..." A salacious smile. "Molding me in the image of the man partially responsible for her rebirth. It must be difficult for you to see my resemblance to Angelus, now that Desdemona's a part of you again."
"...I admit it does...until I remember how ill equipped he was where it counted."
"My, the sacrificial lamb has teeth today! Should I show you how much that arouses me?"
"I'm wasting my time...it's not like you would know anything anyway..."
"Yes...I wouldn't know anything about Mother's return from the grave...about the Espers or Valentine's identity crisis..."
"..."
"I wonder...how far will you go to finish this, hmm?"
A warning sounded in her head. Then again, she was already past the point of sanity just stepping into the 'Basement'…
"A night of pleasure in exchange for information?" He circled like a vulture. "The part of you that is Desdemona wouldn't mind…"
He made the mistake of raking his hand down her back and not immediately stepping back, managing a chuckle even as he shrank back clutching his groin. "Then again, she still seems upset."
"Touch me again and I'll…"
"You'll what?" He taunted. She glared at him hatefully, even as she knew something else flickered behind the anger. And he knew it, the bastard. "Denial is such a waste of our time, don't you think?"
"This..This conversation is a waste of time!" She needed to leave. NOW. Being near him was too damn uncomfortable no matter how much part of her wanted it…She loved Zack, not this murdering psychotic…!
She had turned and taken two angry steps…when the 'forest' abruptly faded…and became the Reactor 5 core. Mildly surprised, she watched the scene unfold before her eyes as their ghosts reenacted the event perfectly…
"All this time and none of you ever wondered…" Sephiroth commented as he leaned against the railing, watching his younger self marching up the walkway. "…Why sever Mother's head and return five years later for the body?"
Aeris stared at him.
"Then again, why question the actions of the obviously insane right? Mother knew you wouldn't…" Sephiroth was enjoying himself. "Even though Cloud delayed our plans by casting me into the Mako, Mother escaped to assimilate her surrogate while her body remained to observe Hojo's progress!"
"Her surrogate?"
"You know how anal Hojo was. He insisted on having more than one specimens in case he screwed up, so he experimented with creating genetic twins of Jenova out of humans. His only successes were Vincent and Lucrecia, my so called mother. Dying while giving birth, Lucrecia later revived and escaped her 'tomb' into Midgar. Simple as that."
"That's pretty thin, Sephiroth." Aeris said skeptically. "What about the flaw Hojo designed into Lucrecia? She wouldn't have lasted thirty hours much less thirty years!"
"Why ask questions you already know the answers to?" Aeris' eyes narrowed, Sephiroth smiled wider. "Yes…dear little Reno and Elena. The 'medicine' they'd been stealing all that time…was actually the same Jenovian DNA Hojo used to inject Lucy with! This continued a few years until Jenova located her, faking her death again to help orchestrate Meteor and her contingency plan now in effect…"
"There's more to this than you're letting on, isn't it?" Aeris said in frustration. "It can't be that simple!"
"Of course there are some choice morsels I've neglected to mention." He stood and admired 'himself' like he would before a mirror. "But that information comes at a price I've yet to decide upon."
One step forward, two steps back. How frustrating. "I'm not even sure if you know the truth, much less if I can trust you."
"True." Sephiroth predictably rose to the bait, the 'reactor' faded into the woods again with a gesture. "But better the devil you know than the one you don't, eh?"
The smugness dimmed in his eyes ever so briefly, and Aeris saw a flash of the man her former self had fallen for. It both sickened and intrigued her.
"Tell you what: I'll give you a hint, just to make things more interesting. Fair?"
"I'm listening."
"Someone in your little family hasn't been quite honest with all of you. In fact, he…or she…stands to lose everything the deeper you dig into this. Take care who you trust, dear Aeris. Take care."
Aeris betrayed no emotion to Sephiroth's comment, despite how they boiled within her.
He turned his back to her, clasping his hands behind him. From the cryptic tone his voice adopted, she couldn't help but ponder the expression he was trying to hide.
"Now I have a question for you, if you don't mind."
Her mind screamed at her to run while she could. But her heart…her stupid bleeding heart…
"…Go ahead."
"…You admitted that you felt an attraction to Cloud because of his resemblance to Zack. I can't help but wonder…if it was actually the part of me within him you longed for?"
The question nearly shattered what little defenses she had left, sending her into a mental tailspin. Planet! Why of all things he asks me that?!!
Worse of all…the answer alluded her. Taunted her inability to answer.
"You don't have to answer now." He said with surprising warmth. "Just…Just think about it. And do return."
She looked at him, seeing him in a new light…part of her screaming in betrayal…part of her…
"T-Thank you." She managed, and calmly walked out of the basement. A walk that became a run before she…did something she'd regret.
And Sephiroth turned and watched her leave. And Smiled.
##
Shera Highwind's call to Reeve came at midnight, a bad sign if there ever was one. And as he expected, it was worse than he feared: Tifa in labor and Cloud badly injured…
…attacked by something claiming to be Jenova.
As she requested, he alerted his top scientists and doctors to prep for their arrival to exam the couple. No telling what that freak had done to them. He knew not to worry about the labor, as a former midwife Shera had insisted on delivering her friends' baby upon learning they were expecting and was in charge of the situation as always.
Reeve smirked, remembering Cid saying he thanks the planet every day for his 'nerdy little wife.'
Cid Highwind also broke several world records for intercontinental travel that night in the rebuilt Highwind, a feat that took mere mortals a lifetime. He wasn't too happy about it either, and let everyone assembled in the office know when he burst in looking like a miniature thundercloud.
"Don't you give me that *&^%ing look!" Cid thundered, Vincent stoically bearing the verbal assault in silence. "Stupid &^%$ing vampire with a skull thicker than the *&^%ing hull, cause of your dumb ass mine is flying in this ass poor weather instead of parked in bed like it should be!" He pinned a smirking Yuffie with a glare. "I know the brat doesn't have much sense but you know better damnit!!"
Of course, Cid was more worried than angry really. Tifa's call had obviously scared years off him, and it didn't help matters when Reeve filled him in on the situation on the way over. He hadn't taken that too well either…
"And what the hell are they here for?!!" Cid glared venomously at the lounging Reno, who ignored him as he tried to get some sleep against the wall. Probably would have succeeded if Elena hadn't kept elbowing him. "You'd go to *&^%ing Turks before us with this?!"
"As I explained, I had good reason to." Thankfully, Ramuh insisted on attending Cloud's examination, so they could talk freely. "I thought it was wiser…"
"Wiser my ass!"
"Arguing won't change things." Elena said quietly.
Cid growled in the back of his throat but made a visible attempt to calm down. "Hell of a time to try quit smoking." Yuffie stifled a chuckle at this, coughing innocently as Cid glared. "So now what?"
"…I think we should go with the original plan." Cid's face darkened so Vincent quickly added. "Cloud and Tifa will remain here while he recovers and you'll inform Barret and Red to the situation and lock down Cosmo Canyon and Corel just in case." Cid grunted. "Second, I want you and Shera to work on something with Reeve that may give us an edge. He'll give you the details."
Yuffie scowled at this. "Aeris said to trust them."
"I know, Yuffie…But I'd rather be sure."
"That would be a first." She said under her breath. Vincent heard but kept silent, the barest flicker of guilt in his eyes.
"It's still a bullshit plan, Vince." the old pilot grumbled.
"It's all we got right now."
"That's supposed to make me feel better?"
"Just shut up Cid!" Everyone shouted.
Cid muttered a few curses under his breath as he pouted.
With that minor crisis out of the way, and a long labor to wait out, Vincent went to the source of his problems for some answers…back to the 'nightclub'…
"CHAOS!"
"No need to yell."
Livid, he overturned the table, cards flying everywhere. Rufus and the other players protested…but quickly quiet when he pointed Death Penalty at them.
"You knew all along, didn't you?!"
Chaos rolled his eyes, holding up his cards. "Can't you wait to bitch at me? I'm on a streak here…"
Death Penalty barked and Chaos stared at the stump where his claw once was.
"You shot me! Little ungrateful bitch shot me!"
Vincent released the spent shell, cocked and fired again, this time taking a horn off.
"Sonuva-!" Chaos yelped. "Damn PMSy vampire!"
"Didn't you?" Vincent hissed.
Chaos moved his other hand over his stump as if performing a card trick, the limb restored. "So I did. Not like you could've have done anything."
"Why? Revenge?"
Chaos snorted. "Please. Haven't you learned by now?" Plucked a martini out the air. "Everything the mistress does has a purpose, but never what the purpose seems to be."
"I have no time for riddles, Chaos."
"Only cause you're too stubborn to see you'd already have…" Chaos tapped his skull. "…all the answers already if you just listen."
Vincent's eyes narrowed.
"Never."
"Then you don't really care about dear Yuffie after all." Chaos hit him where it hurt. "You could end this now before she gets hurt, and all you lose is a bit of control over us…"
This wasn't the first time he'd heard this song: Tap into the Jenova within for knowledge, in exchange for pieces of his remaining humanity. The first time was to find 'Lucrecia' two years ago at the waterfall. The second was to find and kill Hojo…
"You'll even be able to find Jenova before she uses what she's taken…"
Taken…
Suddenly Vincent grinned. Even Chaos shivered.
"I'll think about it." And he was gone.
Chaos sipped his martini and tossed it snickering.
"Nice kid, but sharp as a nut sac…"
Vincent had 'returned' just in time to see a tired but smiling Shera walk in, introducing them to the newest member of the 'family': Zakaeris Evelynn Strife. Informed everyone that Tifa was just fine, the girls squealing as they dashed over to see the precious bundle she carried.
"She's has her fathers eyes!"
"Thank god she doesn't have his hair…"
Vincent has almost managed to 'escape' when…
"Don't you wanna see her, Fangs?"
Damn you, Reno…
Before he knew it, He found himself holding Zakaeris clumsily as Yuffie tucked her in. "No no, adjust your arm like this and…"
He didn't really hear her…mesmerized by the uncanny blue eyes staring at him so innocently. Slowly, he pictured her hair darker, eyes steel gray instead of blue…
"Zakaeris…" He murmured, inwardly embarrassed at his thoughts. Even after last night, his thoughts were straying where they should not. "…A name to be proud of."
She didn't miss the wistful tone, so deeply buried anyone else would have missed it. Almost forgot she was supposed to be angry with him. "Heh heh, she looks good on you…" She teased with a smile. "Grandpa Vinnie…"
Vincent couldn't help but smirk in reply, enjoying the rare warmth he felt. "Leave my age out of this..."
Then Vincent realized the warmth he felt wasn't just on the inside…but on the outside as well. And spreading.
"Kid's got more sense than her parents." Reno remarked with a straight face.
##
"Your cape is Dry clean right?"
"Shove it and that Moogle of yours where the sun don't shine, Reeve."
Laughter. Even Cloud managed a smile. Rude/Ramuh rolled his eyes.
*Humans…*
The girls were fussing over Tifa and Zakaeris while the four of them visited Cloud. The young swordsman looked a step above hammered shit but would pull through: The worst he'd suffered was a concussion, several strange puncture marks and an abnormal fever, the tests confirming what Vincent suspected.
"Jenova cell count below normal, almost life threatening." Reeve raised an eyebrow at the report. "Like she was taking samples from a lab rat. But why Cloud?"
"Not revenge…" Cloud coughed. "…taking back…what wasn't mine to…keep."
"Why not suck off the walking Mood swing here? "Reno remarked acidly, jerking a thumb at Vincent. "What's so special 'bout some mind*&^%ed Sephy wannbe?"
Everybody stared at him.
"Out of the mouth of idiots." Vincent remarked caustically. Reno gave him the finger.
"Are you suggesting that Jenova is attempting to resurrect Sephiroth?"
Now came the tricky part: Convincing Ramuh that Cloud was no threat.
"That's what she wants us to think." Vincent explained. "Any spawn she would make could never equal the original, and Cloud wasn't a true clone of Sephiroth anyway."
Stretching the truth a bit but Ramuh seemed to buy it.
"Just trying to…what is the human term…Yank our chain?" Ramuh stroked his chin. "Make me think Cloud is more important than he really is?"
"Not to mention Avalanche is even more useless without him."
"Just how many times we kicked your bony ass, Reno?" Cid retorted.
"Don't get too cocky old man…" Reno grinned. "The smell helped."
Vincent, Cloud and Ramuh sweatdropped as Cid and Reno grabbed hold and stretched each other faces. Reeve just laughed.
"If what you say is true, then we'd better concentrate on finding her instead of her motives. I'll leave that to you while I tend to Yuffie's request…"
"What request?"
The smile Ramuh showed Vincent was almost sinister.
"She has requested an audience with our lord and master, and he wishes to meet tomorrow at Wutai." The smile widened knowingly. "I wonder why she didn't mention it to you?"
"Because he's a lovesick arsehole." Chaos taunted in his mind. "Can't make up his mind if his life depended on it…"
"It doesn't matter." Vincent grunted in a tone that said it did. Ramuh's smirk vanished instantly.
"She also forgot to tell you I was bringing her." Cid cut in. "*&^%ing brat can't remember anything not tattooed on your ass Vincent…"
"I resent that." Vincent nodded his thanks to Cid, the gruff old pilot winking.
Ramuh cleared his throat, mildly annoyed that his fun was ruined. "If you'll excuse me then, I have other matters to attend to…" And was gone.
Rude caught his breath, looking at Vincent.
"How about the rest of it now that he's gone, Vincent…"
"Jenova Cells store and record all changes to the host…as well as adapt and evolve from traumatic or near death experiences." He held up his claw as an example. "After destroying Sephiroth, Cloud's may have the potential to surpass him in strength. Ramuh would kill him if he knew…as well as Zakaeris."
"He could *&^%ing try, ya mean." Cid muttered.
"Just try?"
Vincent inwardly smirked as Cid and Reno started brawling again.
Once again the fate of the world rests in the hands of a bunch of misfits…someone upstairs had a sick sense of humor alright…
##
Northern Crater was a pale shadow of it's former reputation…still a hideous scar on the planet, but the darkness that had bled and corrupted the winterscape was gone, purified by the Eruption of Lifestream and two years of healing.
It mattered not to the silent figure standing at it's edge.
It's existence was more than enough.
The few remaining monsters not yet purged stayed out of sight of those hatefully glowing blue eyes, remembering how their kin were torn apart in seconds last time. Instead they merely watched he/she stand there. Mutter to itself until it began to scream at the heaven in rage, energy crackling off it's body and striking the landscape randomly.
They understood a few of the words: Deceiver. Murderer. Spoiled brat.
…Vengeance.
##
"Damn brat….insisting on flying at the ass crack of *&^%ing dawn on 3 *&^%ing hours sleep…"
A very disgruntled Ramuh watched Cid sprawling back in his chair, literally flying the Highwind with his purple socked feet curled around the wheel like a primate's.
"Mr. Highwind…" The Esper wished he'd remained within Rude to take this trip instead of manifesting a body, so the Turk would be feeling motion sick instead of him…
"Looking piss yellow there, Old man…" He deliberately looked away from the view screen to smirk at the Esper. "Y'Ok?"
"I'm…Fine…Thank you."
"K, Sparky." Cid lit a cig and stood up, scratching himself as he walked over to the minifridge in the cabin…seemingly obvious to the Highwind plummeting like a rock. "Brewsky?"
Ramuh's impressive 'whiskers' actually curled as he shook his head frantically.
"Cool, cool." He plopped back into his seat and regained control with ease, the power climb nearly flattening the Esper to the floor and made his insides wobble as The airship balanced out. Cid simply popped the lid off his beer, took a long swig and unleashed a belch that Ramuh felt to the core.
"MR. HIGHWIND!" Apparently that had been the last straw, Cid grinned inwardly. "I would appreciate it very much if you took the welfare of your passengers seriously!"
"That a fact?" With a speed the Esper didn't know the man possessed Cid detached and tossed the steering wheel of the Highwind at him, Ramuh staring incredulously as he caught it. "You drive then."
The Esper's response was to faint dead away.
Cid chuckled maniacally as he readjusted the autopilot settings. "An airsick thunder god…heard it &^%$ing all now…"
Shera had entered just as the Esper keeled over, sighing ruefully as she stepped over his prone body and picked up the control stick.
"He had it coming." Cid said defensively.
"Of course, dear"
Cid mock scowled at the not quite scolding/teasing tone in her voice. Time with Tifa and Yuffie had certainly rubbed off on her. "The brat still painting the lower decks?"
"I gave her something to sleep instead." She leaned over to reattach the control, Cid making a show of checking her out as she did and earning a mock glare as she sat down in the co-pilot's chair. "Even your goofing off won't disturb her."
"Goofin' off…" He said indignantly.
Shera smiled for a moment before sighing.
"You're worried about them…not cause of Jenova…"
Cid grumbled something under his breath about nosy wives that Shera pointedly ignored.
"While back, you need surgery to tear Yuffie away from Vince. Now she's looking for any excuse to get away from him and he's acting like a damn vampire again. That blue assed bitch's *&^%ed up all our hard work!"
Shera raised an eyebrow. "Our hard work?"
"Damn straight…Can't have him…well…" He looked sheepish. "Acting like an ass to a girl who cares for him…Like I did for years…"
Shera blushed.
Cid sobered with a scowl. "Plus I've seen how that little bastard Reno's been eyeing her before. Don't want her falling for his bullshit on the rebound-what are you smirking at?"
Shera giggled. "You sound like you're her father."
Cid snorted.
"Don't get any ideas, woman…I rather she'd be stealin' Vinnie's drawers than everything else."
"Of course dear."
##
Yuffie whimpered in her sleep…lost once more in the Kiragi…
Elena staring up in terror at the huge, bestial shadow looming over her…
"I don't care if it's a trap! Now let go!"
Terminus kneeling over and picking up a bloodied Reno by the shirt…
Lucrecia laughing…
"So it begins…"
Her own voice screaming Vincent's name…
Junon's entire naval fleet opening fire upon the Junon branch of Bannon Enterprises…
Vincent on his hands and knees…surrounded by four large shadows with glowing eyes…
The last was enough to half awaken her...swimming through a haze of tranquilizer and motion sickness.
It had been the worst one so far…if only she could make any sense of it…
And as if granting her request her vision blurred…
…Acrid smoke scalding her lungs and the intense heat unbearable as she watched it burn.
…Watched Wutai burn…
Several bodies littered the streets, unconscious or dead she could not tell…
…A dark figure…
….Glint of gold…
….stalking toward her…
….flutter of wings…or a cape…
…Eyes boring into hers…
…bright as freshly shed blood…
…Raising it's left hand…
…metal clicked against metal…
A deafening roar.
…Darkness.
Icy claws seized Yuffie's heart in realization, the horrible vision vanishing without a trace.
Wutai's destruction…at one man's hands…
"It's impossible!" She clutched at the sheets. "I won't believe it!"
"Your responsibility is to Wutai, Yuffie…"
"It's not written in stone yet! I can change it!"
"Even your childish crush can't save him."
"I will change it!"
If it was the sleeping drought or exhaustion from the Dreamsense she didn't care…a thankfully dreamless sleep soon claimed her.
"I…will…"
##
"Break me shake me misdirect me…it's all the same to MEEEEEEE!"
Late that morning found Vincent in hell.
"You look at me but you don't see…understand I'm a Sinner!"
Baby supplies. The one thing Reeve didn't have tucked away in that tower of his. Reno volunteered out of boredom, dragging Elena along 'before she ruined her eyes' and Vincent only followed to make sure Tifa actually got what was on the list.
Was he ever paying for that mistake: One, Reno drove like a bat out of hell and hit every pothole and bump on purpose, relishing the sound of Vincent's head thumping the roof every time. Second and worse of all, he was fond of singing to the screaming radio. Badly.
"Wake me shake me misdirect me it's all the same to me!"
"CancancanikillhimPLEASE!" Hellmasker screamed. Death Gigas growled.
Reno leaned his head out the window and screamed at passerby. "RAISE YOUR HANDS IF YOU'RE A SINNER!"
"NO." Vincent placed his hands over his ears. Then over his head as he thumped the roof again.
"Sorry bout that."
He glared at the grinning Turk. "No you're not."
The grin widened as he hit another bump. "True."
Vincent growled low in his throat.
"Can you stop acting like a ass for five minutes?"
Reno scowled at Elena in the back. "Oh, defendin' tall dark and gruesome now?"
"Maybe I'm tired of getting sprayed in your pissing contest!"
"What's that supposed to mean?"
She pointed ahead. "Truck."
Reno turned and barely swerved back into the proper lane in time to miss the oncoming truck. "Answer my question!"
She looked out the window. "Figure it out if you're so smart."
Reno muttered under his breath as he swung into the parking lot of the store. Vincent couldn't get out quick enough, but he did pause long enough to open the door for Elena.
"Thank you Vincent." She simpered. "Nice to see some men haven't forgotten manners."
*Oh no you didn't…*
"Well duh," Reno snickered. "That's how he gets women to show their necks to him."
Elena sniffed and looped and arm around a surprised Vincent and led him in.
Reno's jaw dropped.
"I taught you well, Vinnie boy."
*Shut up, Chaos.*
Still…He could'nt help a smirk from crossing his face.
They were quite an unlikely trio, a cheerful blonde humming to herself as she pushed a cart, seemingly unaware of the two scary looking men trailing along behind her and firing off death glares at anyone looking their way. Needless to say, the customers stayed the hell out of their way and mothers pulled their children away to the other side.
"Oh! How cute!" Elena held up a pink set of Jammies to them. "What you think?"
"They're…nice."
"Not as trendy as a cape and steel boots, eh?" Reno muttered only for Vincent to hear, who ignored him with an effort. He playfully lifted up two of what appeared to be clear tubes with suction tips and pumps to his eyes. "What's this Elle?"
Elena's eyes widened and she flushed red.. "Those are breast pumps, Reno!"
"Really?" Reno looked at them and laughed, holding them on his chest. "Tifa definitely wouldn't need these then…"
She blinked. Then smacked him upside his head. "That's not funny, Reno!" But she was chuckling silently and smiling. "I'm going to the ladies' room, you guys get the rest and check out ok?"
Reno kept the smile until she was out of sight…Then glared at Vincent.
"What the &^%$ you think you're doing?"
"…Shopping." Vincent deadpanned.
"Elena's not on the list Arsehole!" Reno shot back.
"Excuse me?"
"Don't play innocent!" He batted his eyes and took a feminine pose, raising his voice to an imitation of Elena's that had more people staring. "Thank you Vincent! Nice to see some men haven't forgotten manners!" His glare returned as he grabbed him by the shirt. "Don't you be trying that &^^$ing Brat Pitt wannabe charm on her, trying to use her to get back at me!"
Vincent calmly grabbed Reno's wrist with his claw. "Unlike you I don't sink to such childish games. But I'm wondering why you'd even care if I did?"
"Nice one!" *Thank you.*
"Elena can do better than you, vampire."
"But you call it jealousy when I say the same about you and Yuffie."
The smile that crossed Reno's face was nasty. "Cause I see an old bastard stringing along a girl in love with him 'case his old bed warmer comes back!"
Vincent did an excellent imitation of Chaos' grin. "Listen to the river calling the lake wet."
Reno's eyes narrowed as he let go. Grabbed a container of Baby food and scooped out a large amount. Flicked it on Vincent's shirt and wrote in it with his finger. "F…U…C…"
Elena sighed as the panicked horde stampeded past her as she exited the bath, sighing to herself.
"I knew it…."
If she hadn't been angry, the scene would have been hilarious: Baby food was flung everywhere, the floor looking like a nasty finger-painting. And in the middle the chaos was the two, completely covered in the stuff and beating each other with Diaper bags…
"So the prince of darkness can get mad after all!"
Vincent answered by kicking his legs from under him and smothering him with diapers.
"RENOOOOOO!!!!!!"
She actually shattered the few remaining Baby food containers remaining.
Reno and Vincent cringed as she angrily stalked/slid toward them. "I…I apologize for my behavior, Elena…" Vincent looked ashamed. "I…don't know what came over me."
"I know it's not your fault Vincent…" An acidic glare at Reno. "Renoyld Alphonse Tartarean! Can't you stop acting like a three year old and leave Vincent alone!"
In an Out of character moment, Reno simply stood up and stalked off. Slid and fell on his butt.
Needless to say the rest of the trip was uneventful…until they got to Reeve's…
"Daaammmnnnn…" Cait remarked as they brought the supplies in. "What happened to you?!"
"Sit on it and spin gear head!" Elena snapped as she stalked off. "*&^hole!"
Said &^%hole flicked a clump of applesauce from his hair in Cait's face as he stalked off in the opposite direction. "Wench!"
Rude raised an eyebrow and silently went after Elena, leaving a staring Reeve and Tifa while Cait sputtered and wiped his face. Vincent merely set down his bags, announced he was taking a shower and walked past.
Tifa caught up with him in the hall, surprisingly mobile in the wheelchair she was temporarily confined to since she refused to lie in bed all day. "You ok, Vincent?" Zakaeris cooed as her mother shifted her hold, as if she was concerned as well.
Vincent stopped and sighed, keeping his back to her. "Just not used to losing my temper so easily, Tifa...I'll be fine."
His tone begged her to drop it. But ever the maternal one of their little family she gently prodded on.
"Well…I'm here if you ever want to talk about it. Help if I can."
Silence. Tifa made as to turn when…
"Maybe I shouldn't interfere...if he makes her happy."
She knew it: Few things could rattle Vincent emotionally, Yuffie being the at the top of the list. Not to mention Reeve and Cid's earlier bitching and snarling about Stupid Blue Assed Bitches and Reno keeping his hands off Yuffie if he had a brain….
"She didn't look happy when I last saw her." Tifa said bluntly.
"That was my fault. A misunderstanding." Vincent sighed again. "Maybe one for the better."
Tifa crept closer and took his human hand in hers. "If it was, why do you feel so sad?"
Vincent turned and faced her in surprise.
"You're the most practical and logical person I've ever met, Vincent. You never make a decision unless you're completely sure. Why change now?"
Zakaeris reached up her chubby little hands at him, Tifa lifting her to him to hold. Vincent did so, not as reluctant as he wanted her to think.
"My feelings aren't important, Tifa."
"Still haven't answered my question."
"She has you there, Vinnie boy."
*Bite me.*
"…Don't think I can Tifa." He handed her Zakaeris and started toward his room.
Paused.
"….At least not now."
Tifa couldn't help but smile at the last.
Although their rivalry for Cloud's affections was friendly…although she had come to love Aeris like a sister and mourned her loss…she remembered the constant heartache and nights spent crying yourself to sleep thinking you were second best.
Damned if she'd let Yuffie suffer through that. Not when all Vincent needed was a little push-or a dropkick in the ass-to realize the truth.
She nuzzled Zakaeris playfully. "Wanna help, shortstuff?"
She answered with a gurgle…Tifa wondering if she really did just wink at her.
##
That evening.
"Stop fidgeting. Stand straighter. And for Leviathan's sake smile!"
Yuffie scratched her butt, hunched over and smiled goofily with her tongue lolling.
Ramuh raised an eyebrow. Lord Godo groaned. "May you be blessed with sons, Highwind-san..."
Shera chuckled silently behind her Kimono sleeve.
Thankfully Godo understood the need for secrecy, Yuffie didn't have it in her to deal with that damn stiff ceremonial stuff. Actually she didn't feel up to dealing with anything at the moment, but getting some answers was more important than…it was just more important. She was glad Shera had insisted on staying while Cid went to Corel and Cosmo to see this Leviathan herself, at least someone would be at her side, come what may.
She wouldn't think about Vincent or Reno…Damn too late.
The change in the air of the Pagoda was subtle at first…Yuffie straightening up as reality bent and literally parted to create a swirling portal…
And out stepped the most intimidating Wutainese she'd ever seen!
He wasn't exceptionally tall or thickly muscled. His dress was traditional Wutainese, dark blue and trimmed with white. Just barely over six feet, his body lean and wiry. Hawkish features that would have been handsome if not for the perpetual scowl. It was the way those amber eyes stared right through you as they flickered over you…stealing into your soul in an instant and devouring your secrets.
The man was more 'Vincenty' than Vincent.
He was followed by a statuesque woman who towered over him, her pale skin seeming to shimmer and glow, the room temperature noticeably dropping a bit. She idly tossed her impressive mane of dark blue, the jewelry woven within the intricate braid clinking musically. Like the man, she radiated power, though not as harsh and unyielding. Almost soothing.
"I present to you, Lord Masashi Godo and Lady Kisaragi Yuffie and Comrade in arms Shera Highwind…" Ramuh intoned in traditional greeting. "Heir to He Who Fathered Us, the Grandsire Bahamut, and She who holds dominion over Ice and snow, Lord Leviathan and Lady Shiva."
Leviathan raked that fearsome glance over her. Measured her. Yuffie gulped.
"There is no need for formality between us, old friend and son in law." His voice was the opposite of Ramuh's: Quiet instead of booming, sharp instead of even tempered. A voice that told you with every careful syllable not to *&^% with it's owner. "And I am pleased to finally meet you, Granddaughter."
Yuffie didn't get a chance to reply, finding her face squashed to Shiva's impressive Bosom as the Ice Esper glomped her close and swung her off her feet.
"Oh aren't you the cutest thing!" She squealed giddily. "Thank god you took after your mother instead of your crusty old father!"
Ooooookay….
Shera sweat dropped. Godo, Ramuh and Leviathan seemed oblivious…or used to this.
With little effort at all she pounced on Godo and Shera and pulled them all into the hug of no escape. Yuffie winced as something popped in her back. "Godo you old dog! You haven't gotten any prettier! Come on everybody give me some love now!"
Leviathan coughed, Shiva releasing them and smiling sheepishly. "Oh I'm such a goof when it comes to formality! It's just that I'm so glad to finally see my granddaughter I can just snow! Not to mention do this!" She reached out and grabbed a resigned looking Godo in headlock and noogied him fiercely. "I owe you from the last time you skuzzy old goat! Say I give new meaning to 'snowflake' now ya Pervert!"
"She'll be awhile." Leviathan said calmly as he led a staring Yuffie away. "Why don't you show me how much Wutai has changed…"
"My lord." Ramuh interjected with a bow. "I apologize for leaving abruptly…"
"…But you have matters of importance to which you must attend." Yuffie noticed the flicker of regret that passed in the Water god's eyes, as well as an unidentifiable something in Ramuh's. "You have no need to ask my permission to go old friend."
Ramuh bowed again and vanished…Leaving Yuffie to ponder what that was all about.
##
Fwap….Fwap…
They were all hard at work. At least, most of them were: Elena and Rude were deciphering the Weapon data while Reeve was downstairs overseeing repairs to his prized specimens. In the other corner of the room, Vincent, Cloud and Tifa were overlooking several books on Geography for prime locations of Jenova's hideout, guessing from what few clues they had…
And Reno was…flicking cards into a hat. And at Vincent.
Fwap…Fwap…
Vincent had just sat there, not even flinching or changing expression as fewer cards wound up in the hat than bouncing off his head.
Fwap…Fwap…Fwap….
Reno increasing in speed and accuracy as time passed…
Fwapfwapfwapfwapfwap….
Pulling another deck out of nowhere when finished with one and continuing…
Fwapfawapfwapfwapfwap…
And four hours…seven card decks later…
Fwapfwapfwapfwapfwap….
Chaos, his three brothers and even Hojo screaming for blood in his mind…
Fwapfwapfwapfwapfwapfwapfwapfwapfwapfwapfwapfwapfwap….
…Did Vincent wind up and chuck the thirty pound book like a major leaguer with frightening speed…The thunder crack of it smashing into Reno's face nearly deafening. Watch with a very out of character smirk as the book slowly slid off Reno's stunned face to reveal his poleaxed expression.
Picked up another book and continued as nothing happened.
Four voices chorused "thank you" in his head.
Scowling, Elena handed a twenty to a smirking Rude.
Reno rubbed his nose with a chuckle.
"How in the seven hells did you ever become a Turk, Reno? You're rude, sloppy and careless…We'd shot you ourselves back in my time."
"Holy shit, that was a speech!"
Vincent closed his book and glared at him.
"Then again," Reno taunted. "This isn't really about me being a Turk, is it?"
"Of course not….It's about everything I can't stand about you…"
"Not just jealous?"
The glare from hell actually intensified.
Reno kicked his feet up on the table and scratched himself.
"Cause I swear…every time I try to wrap my head around the thought that you could be my father…I feel like I got to take a three day shit just ta wipe it out my mind!"
Vincent, who seemed to be ignoring him and focusing on the book again, twitched.
"*&^%!, what the hell could Yuffie or any woman see in a tightass…"
Twitch.
"…look like Scarecrow on crack…"
Twitch…TWITCH…
"…can't decide if he's a *^%$ing Spawn or Blade wannabe…"
TwitchtwitchtwitchtwitchtwitchTWITCHTWITCHTWITCHTWITCH……
"..Who gets…"
TWWWWWIIIIIIIIIIITTTTTTTTTTTCCCCCCCCCCCHHHHHHHHHHHHH….
"…ON MY &^%$ING NERVES!"
RRRRRRRRRIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP!
The geo book was now in two separate pieces.
Brimstone flavored the long growl/sigh that escaped him.
"Stand."
Reno blinked.
Vincent slowly stood and placed hand and claw upon the table, locking eyes with Reno.
"Vincent Valentine. Former rank of Captain 1st class. Challenge issued to STAND."
Reno grinned ferally. Lazily stood and mimicked him.
"Renoyld Tartarean. Captain. Challenge to STAND accepted."
Elena nearly dropped the laptop. Rude raised an eyebrow. Calmly paged Reeve.
"Reeve, we have a STAND in progress, you know what to do."
His reply was incoherent and filled with sounds of frenzied movement.
Tifa was about to give both a piece of her mind when Cloud calmly shifted his hold on Zakaeris to one hand and gently caught hers. "Stay outta it Tiff…Turk stuff."
"But…"
"It's a tradition began since the birth of the organization." Rude explained. Elena closed her laptop with an annoyed sigh. "If two or more members have a disagreement, they settle it by standing up and challenging each other to drink the other under the table while staring each other down. A test of strength and willpower."
"Obviously a man came up with this." Tifa snorted.
Elena couldn't help but snicker as Rude shrugged.
Two of Reeve's assistants stepped in, placing shot glasses, large bottles of Diesel, Bourbon, and every hard drink Tifa could remember on the table between the men. "Reeve's not coming?" Elena asked in amusement.
"His words, ma'am, and I quote: Hell no! Not after last time."
Tifa raised an eyebrow at her snickering. "Bad?"
"Last time it was Tseng and Reno…and it wasn't pretty."
Cloud snickered.
Reno started with the bourbon. Raised his glass and smirked at the older man. "Last chance old man."
Vincent answered by opening the diesel and downing a shot without blinking. Slammed it down on the table.
Cloud whistled. "I think Midgar's champion Lush has met his match."
Rude raised the twenty he'd taken from Elena. "….I'll take that bet."
##
"Wutai has progressed much under your efforts, Granddaughter."
"…Thank you."
"You seem distracted."
*Nothing gets past you does it?*
"Not much, Granddaughter."
Yuffie's expression was priceless.
Leviathan chuckled. "Perhaps it would help if I answered some of your questions…"
Of the many swirling around her head, one above all demanded attention.
"Where were you when Wutai truly needed you?! When mother and father needed you?!!"
Leviathan sighed. He'd expected this one and still found it hard to answer as he paused near a bench.
"Here, sit with me." Yuffie reluctantly did so, Leviathan looking as uncomfortable as she felt.
"Yuffie…" His amber eyes flickered. "This is something that your father and I had decided to wait for until you were ready for it. Especially when you're already distracted…"
She snorted. "I am ready…have no choice but to be ready…"
Leviathan sighed. *God she sounded just like her mother then…*
"Son in law didn't tell you everything about the Shinra/Wutai war: We did fight, Shiva, Ramuh, myself and few others, posing as humans. Only Godo and your mother knew our true identity."
Yuffie had a flash of when she was a child, a younger looking Leviathan holding her on his knee, making small animals of ice in his palm. Running around her mother and a pale woman that could only be Shiva.
And, she suddenly smirked, pulling on a very disgruntled Ramuh's whiskers.
"I see you're starting to remember."
"Wait a minute. I thought Espers used Avatars because you can't manifest bodies and use your full power?"
"That is true…unless we 'cheat' a little." He raised a palm and with a grunt, a chunk of greenish blue crystal with a red core appeared. "As Ramuh explained, When our physical body perishes, all that remains is shards of Magite. Each of those shards, all that remain of us, are located safely within the planet's core. However, we can safely remove our shards and manifest a body around it if necessary, but you can see the risk in such a thing."
Yuffie swallowed. Shatter the shard and…
With another grunt the Shard vanished into his palm, Yuffie watching it travel up his arm and into his body.
"We were Wutai's secret weapon, each of us worth a 100 soldiers on the field with our powers, evening the odds against Shinra's superior numbers and technology. Had the war progressed normally, we could have stopped Shinra's rise to power there…"
The amber eyes glittered ferally, his anger almost physically choking Yuffie by just sitting close to him.
"Our one chance to end the war with a preemptive strike that would have crippled the Shinra war machine," He hissed, reigning in his temper. "And someone betrayed us to that bastard Sephiroth…"
"Betrayed?!"
Another growl escaped Leviathan. "We never discovered the traitor, but he or she did their dirty work well: Sephiroth hit each of our groups by surprise and scattered us, we Espers attacked with something resembling Magitek weaponry that crippled our powers. And your mother…"
Another memory assaulted Yuffie: Her mother carrying her to the secret passage in the Pagoda, told to be quiet and hide…
"Your mother was to remain behind during the strike to protect the capital, insisting that we should concentrate our full strength on the strike." The anger in his eyes was subdued now, flavored with guilt. "And she would have easily handled the Jenova spawned assassin sent to kill her…had she not been poisoned earlier by our betrayer…"
Yuffie's world suddenly spun, Leviathan catching her before she slid to the pavement in a heap. His suddenly cold touch kept her from fainting.
Poisoned…
Only when he was sure she wouldn't pass out did Leviathan continue. "We'd never had known of this treachery had not Sephiroth had said what he said when Godo surrendered…
"…I was not responsible for the dishonorable attack on Lady Kisaragi, Lord Godo…she deserved a warrior's death…at my hand alone…"
Yuffie finished for him, not quite remembering how she'd heard them but knew their meaning had always eluded her…until now.
Mother…
"Why did father lie to me about Mother's death?! What are you protecting me from?!"
Yuffie thought it was impossible to looker grimmer than Vincent at his worst. Somehow Leviathan managed.
"We never found the traitor…but I've never forget the smell of her Jenova spawned killer left on her body. A smell I've never located…until on Ramuh after he returned to make a report…"
Didn't take a genius to figure out this plot.
"How can you Espers be so smart and still be so dumb?!!"
*Definitely like her mother.*
"Vincent was locked away in that musty old tomb during the war and you know it! How could you even suggest that he killed my mother?!"
But even as she said this another memory surfaced of that night…a glimpse of red as mother ran with her…
No way never…presumptuous little shit…
"There were reports of something flying from the Pagoda after the attack." He pressed gently. "The wounds were made by some very powerful with claws. I know you are…attached to him but he is a suspect."
Yuffie growled low in her throat not unlike an animal. He also caught something close to 'Bite me'
Nothing worse than a teenager in love. He still had scars from her mother over Godo.
"We'll discuss this another time. Is there anything else you'd wish to discuss?"
She relented a little.
"…Is the Kiragi always accurate?"
He stoked his chin thoughtfully. "I'm not quite sure myself, granddaughter. The Kiragi has always manifested itself in different ways in each of my grandchildren. Your mother for instance, it guided her in battle alongside your father. In the end, it depends on the inheritor."
"Mother used it in battle while fighting with father?"
"Yes…" He chuckled. "The stories I can tell you about your mother…"
And they talked as they traveled back to the pagoda. And as Yuffie finally relaxed and shared some stories of her own, Leviathan couldn't help but ponder on particular thought.
"This Vincent must be quite a character to capture her heart so."
##
"CHUG! CHUG! CHUG! CHUG! CHUG! CHUG!-"
Vincent and Reno practically inhaled another bottle each and slammed it down to keep glaring. Two more to join the ten or fifteen now littering the floor.
"Notsh soo bad fer an old man!"
"I guesh dere's sumding U can doo!"
Tifa had left a while ago to put Zakaeris to bed, commenting on not wanting her daughter to catch the stupidity going around. By now, Most of the employees filled the room now, chanting and cheering on their champions while Elena and Rude cheerfully took their money after each bet.
"Holy shit." Cloud grinned. "I've seen it all now."
"Thought he'd cheat with that freaky metabolism of his." Rude commented as Elena giggled and counted her money. "This must really be personal…"
Neither combatant was even aware of their audience however. Hell, it was hard enough focusing on the other. Not like that was stopping either one however.
Vincent mourned his irreparably shot to hell reputation a moment then took another shot. Grinned.
"When oar luse, Turkey…" Vincent said so only they could hear. "ya still ain't getting'in Yuffie's pants…"
"Wat, ya gots da key two dem? Eye'll jus dakes dem off ya win ya pass out!"
"Kiss mi pale white vampire ass, little shite!"
"Whoa! Kiss Lu wit dat mouf?"
"Blew Ole man Shinra wit yers or used dat wussy stick?"
"Yer one two talk 'bout suckin'!"
"As yer mom ken tell ya many stories bout!"
Somewhere in the fog clouding his mind Vincent knew he hadn't really said that.
But the bottles and insults kept stacking up and the world became more and more hazy…
…and without any warning or preamble…Reno put down his current bottle unfinished…Looked calmly at Vincent and gave him the finger.
"*&^% you."
And with a smile keeled over.
A hush fell over the crowd.
"Tiiiiimmmmmmmbbbbeeeerrrrrrrrrr!" Cloud and Cait crowed.
Rude's jaw dropped, muttered several curses as he handed over a hundred Gil to a giggling Elena.
It was as if Vincent was controlling his body from far away…nothing at all like he remembered how being drunk was like. 'Watched' himself raise his hands like a prize fighter as the crowd cheered or booed him. "Youse been a good cruowd, zhank youse and good nigsh." and staggered toward the door.
"Yo, Vincent…" Cloud came out of nowhere it seemed. "You alright?"
Vincent flashed a smile. "Peachy." and staggered off into the hall toward his room…
…his walk immediately straightening and the effects of his stupor fading a bit…but still unable to control his body…
*The hell?!!*
"Once again, thinking with your balls gets your ass in a sling Turk."
Now what…
"While engaging in the time honored tradition of males to drink themselves into a coma…" Hojo said acidly. "You forgot something rather important."
Hellmasker and Gaian sniggered in the back of his mind, and then he knew before Hojo delighted in telling him…
"Alcohol inhibits mental and motor functions…especially those necessary for me to restrain your better halves."
Vincent watched his body stop before a mirror and grin at it. Chaos' trademark grin.
"You never told me of this!"
"Oh, that's right, I didn't" Hojo chuckled nastily. "Must of slipped my mind."
"Keep your panties on, Vinnie. We're just going to borrow you awhile and give the condemned man, that's you, one last good time." All four of them grinned 'innocently' "We promise not to kill anybody."
And Vincent screamed like a girl in his prison, but no one heard.
##
Night blanketed Cosmo Canyon in starfire and midnight. A silence ethereal.
One that would not last.
Below the lazily hovering Highwind, a seemingly insignificant cliff face over looking the canyon entrance began to slightly rumble. Crack and split under several small but effectively placed Seismic charges until a small but deep hole was produced in it's center.
A dark teeming wave of something began spilling out….spilling out toward Cosmo Canyon…
The Gi had returned to world above.
And Terminus stood across from his handiwork and watched expressionlessly .
##
'WAHOOO!"
The Lamborghini Diablo wasn't built for airborne flight. So it was quite a feat for Chaos to manage a hang time of nearly two minutes off the hill before touching down on textbook 180 degree turn into the next lane, causing yet another Multi-car fender bender. What little existed to be called Junon highway patrol lost several more units, Chaos flashing the mirror a peace sign.
"TEN POINTS!"
"NonononononononNINE! YouyouyouyoumissedONE!" Gaian and Gigas growled agreement.
*At least I'll be a well dressed corpse* Vincent noted as he looked at the red Armani and black collarless dress shirt stolen from Reeve's closet. The bastards had even reverted him back to his days before Hojo's dirty work, Chaos commenting on how long hair was 'so last meteor' but kept the red eyes for 'character'. And why stop with the suit when you can steal one of his cars too?
Screaming guitars dueled as the radio was switched on, Chaos head banging. "I! STAND ALONE! INSIDE I! STAND ALONE!"
*And singing Godsmack's I stand alone, ha ha very *&^%ing funny…*
"Thought you'd like that one, Vincent." Hojo commented.
At least he could strangle Hojo in here, which he was doing now. "How much longer till I can regain control?!"
"Considering the amount of alcohol you inhaled, probably seven or eight hours. So sit back and enjoy the ride."
Vincent felt like crying, so he snapped Hojo's arm instead.
Said ride had blown into 'Gone in sixty seconds', the remains of Junon Highway Patrol attempting to run them down or cut them off…Chaos outmaneuvering them all with the driving skills he learned…from movies…
"I thought you wasn't going to kill anyone?!!" Vincent screamed as Chaos pulled another 180 and headed straight at the cops…
At the last minute they swerved out of the way, Chaos using a Satan Impact as a ramp, getting away cleanly as the inept cops created another pileup atop each other. Stood and wagged his butt at them as he drove off.
"They'll live!"
"I was talking about me!"
Hojo sniggered gleefully.
##
"Um, Mr. Bannon?"
"Yes?"
"This is Garage Security informing you that ummm…we seemed to have misplaced your car."
"….."
"Well actually, we know who has your car…he gave us a note before he did something weird with his eyes to us. Made us do as he asked."
"……"
"Dear Reevey, I borrowed some threads and your car, nice taste by the way, going to take Vincent out on the town, sighed: Chaos and Co."
"…….."
"P.S. Yes Reeve, Vinnie getting drunk granted his other halves temporary control but they promise to behave and I'm keeping them from getting violent. Signed: Hojo."
"……"
"Sir?"
"…..Thank you, Gentlemen."
Click.
Reeve clicked off his cell phone and pocketed it slowly as it finally sunk in. Turned to his assistants.
"Could you please contact Rude for me? Oh, and bring any booze left…I'll need it."
##
For the umpteenth time that hour, Vincent kicked himself.
Tiring of attempted Vehicular homicide, his captors had dragged his body into a dance club they spotted. Immediately proceeded to make his life more miserable in the worst way possible:
"My name may not be Fred Flintstone, but I can make your bed rock!"
*SLAP*
"HeehehehehehehehehehehehGOODONE!"
At least he'd lost feeling in his cheeks a long time ago.
"My turn." Chaos targeted their next victim with a disarming smile. "Have you ever kissed a rabbit between the ears?" Pulled his pockets inside out. "Would you like to?"
*PUNCH*
*Gonna feel that in the morning….*
Hellmasker walked him into the next one's chest. "If they weren't sooo large, it wouldn't have happened."
*SNAP*
"I'd like to get between your legs and eat my way straight to your heart…"
*WHACK!*
"Hey baby, Wanna play lion? OK. You go kneel right there and I'll throw you my meat."
*PUNCH!*
"Hey, baby, Wanna lock crotches and swap gravy?"
*CRUNCH!*
"I had your sister last year, she sucked. Wanna defend your family honor?"
*SPLASH!*
"NOW, BITCH!"
*CRACK*
"The only reason I would kick you out of bed would be to *&^% you on the floor."
*SLAP!*
"Oh, you're a bird watcher.…" *UNZIP* "Well, would you take this for a swallow?
*BOOT!*
"You might not be the best looking girl here, but beauty is only a light switch away."
*SLAPSLAPSLAPSLAP!*
"My ex-girlfriend used to call me Goldfinger."
*SMACK!*
Chaos whistled. Vincent glared at Hojo. "Well it's true." He added with a smirk.
Vincent repressed a shudder at that image and proceeded to strangle Hojo again.
And then Gaian started barking joyfully, Chaos turning to the object of his attention…and grinned wickedly.
"Hello beautiful…."
"Haven't you humiliated me enough?" Vincent couldn't help but shudder. Abuse was one thing, this was just inhuman….
Each of them looked at each other, actually considering.
"ofofofofoffofoCOURSENOT!"
Thus was Vincent forced to perform in the most unholy of human inventions: Karaoke.
"DIG THROUGH THE DITCHES
AND BURN THROUGH THE WITCHES
AND SLAM IN THE BACK OF MY-DRAG-U-LAAAA!"
If that wasn't enough, they actually took turns with each song, manipulating his appearance and voice to match the original singers…the crowd eating it up…
COME MILADY! COMECOMEMILADY!
YA MY BUTTERFLY, SUGA BABY!
"I'm happy! I'm feeling glad!
I got sunshine…in a bag…
I'm useless…but not for long…
The future…is coming now…is coming now…
Especially on Gaian's turn…actually-what was the word Yuffie used once-Tweaking and street dancing for the crowd like he was on speed or something…actually challenging other dancers to come up on the stage…
(Gaian)
"BREATHE THE PRESSURE!
COME PLAY THE GAME I'LL TEST YA!
(Hellmasker)
Psychosomaticaddictinsane!
(Gaian)
"BREATHE THE PRESSURE!
COME PLAY THE GAME I'LL TEST YA!
(Hellmasker)
Psycho…somatic…addict insane!
(Gaian)
Coooommmmee plaaaaaayyyy my gaaaaaaaammmmmmmmeeee!
(Hellmasker)
Inhaleinhaleyourdavictim!
(Gaian)
Coooommmmee plaaaaaayyyy my gaaaaaaaammmmmmmmeeee!
(Hellmasker)
ExhaleEXHALE!!!
Then on the opposite end of the spectrum was Gigas…Vincent not sure who was worst with his head banging and adding his own sound effects.
TRANSFORMERS! MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE!
TRANSFORMERS! ROBOTS IN DISGUISE!
AUTOBOTS WAGE THE BAT-TLE TO
DES-TROY DA EV-IL FOR-CES OF DA DECEPTICONS!
And every time Vincent thought it could get no worse…
(Chaos)
It's all about the he said she said bullshit!
Think better quit before you slip
Or you'll be leaving wit a fat lip!
It's all about the he said she said bullshit
Think you better quit, talking dat shit!
So come and get it!
….it did.
He was halfway through "Play that funky music" when his saviors found him…and down to his boxers. Rude raised an eyebrow. Cait fell off his Mog. Cloud laughed uncontrollably. Elena blushed and stared.
"Man…" Cait recovered, recording it all for future blackmail. "Yuffie will shit a brick when she hears about this…"
Hearing that name was enough to snap Elena out of it, the blonde filing away one last look for 'later' and focused her talent on him. Ordered his body to metabolize the remaining alcohol and restore Vincent's control as Chaos' voice echoed in her mind.
*Spoilsport…Just like sister Siren…*
They managed to rip his boxers off as they bid the crowd a Full Monty good night…and slumped to the stage floor.
"partypartypartypartyOVERDUDE….."
Vincent was barely aware of being slung over Rude's shoulder and dumped in the backseat of Reeve's van, lying in a miserable heap as they drove back to Reeve's.
"Good thing you left a trail of wrecked cars or we'd of never found you." Cait remarked. "We'd of missed your performance."
"Oh leave him alone." Elena tenderly cradled his head in her lap. "And from what I saw, you have nothing to be embarrassed about at all, Vincent…" she slyly winked. "Nothing…at…all…"
Cait snickered as Vincent reddened.
Vincent enjoyed blessed silence for awhile…and then of all people, Rude started humming and tapping his fingers as everybody stared at him. Then Cloud's foot started tapping as well, Cait unconsciously bobbing his head to the rhythm as he grinned widely…and all of a sudden…
(Rude, Cloud, Cait and Elena.)
Hey…do it now…yeah hey
Yeah, I was a boogie singer…
playin' in a rock & roll band
I never had no problems, yeah…burnin' down the one night stands
And everything around me, yeah…got to start to feelin' so low
And I decided quickly [yes, I did]…to disco down and check out the show
Yeah, they were dancin' and singin' and movin' to the groovin'
And just when it hit me somebody turned around and shouted
Play that funky music white boy
Play that funky music right
Play that funky music white boy
Lay down that boogie and play that funky music till you die…
(hey,hey) till you die…
yeah, yeah….
Vincent groaned and covered his face in misery.
"I'm trying…I'm really trying to…"
End of Chapter 6.
Author's notes.
*Shrinks under glare from several readers.*
I know I know…all that wait for this? I had trouble for the longest on this one, but the next one will come much quicker cause I'm finally at the fun part! Wahoo! Two chapters away from the grand finale! I hope you guys can stay patient with me!
Cast additions:
Hojo: Tim Curry. I owe you one Yuko Hoon. I'd just seen IT and Legend the day I read your comment and he clicked perfectly as a cross between Pennywise and Darkness for Hojo's voice. For those of you who have no clue as to who I'm talking about, step away from the computer and go rent these two movies, now.
Sephiroth: Man he was a tough bastard to cast, but I settled on Gerald Butler after watching Dracula 2000 while taking a break from this. Why? Watch the scene where he explains his origins. Now picture him with white hair acting out the scene where Sephy found his 'Mother', Same voice and actions. Scary huh?
Leviathan: Only one Asian actor could pull off this version of the water god in my head: Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa. He has the practice with this kind of role, as we all saw when he brought MK bad ass Shang Tsung to life.
Seeya next Chapter!