He finally spotted a door that had Cid's name written at the top, along with a small pair of wings coming out of the capital letters of his name. The rest of the door was completely taken over by his roommate, pictures and phrases and words dominating the entire thing.
Vincent steeled himself and walked forward, knocking on the door softly. He waited while there were some noises from inside and finally the door opened, the blaring of the television very clear. The person standing in it wasn't Cid, however. This young man had bright red hair, held back with a different kind of goggles then Cid's, and deep scars underneath his eyes.
"What d'you want?"
Vincent paused, not sure how to react, unconsciously moving his arm behind his back, even though it wasn't clearly visible to begin with. "Um...I'm looking for Highwind..."
The red-haired male made a derisive noise and turned around. "Hey, someone's here for you."
"Really?" There was a scrambling from inside and Cid replaced the previous answerer. He was still dressed the same, although he looked more tired then he had before. The shock on his face was clear. "Vin? What the @#%$?"
Vincent felt even more awkward now then he had before. He took the paper with his flesh hand and held it out. "I...I came to give you this...you left it in my room..."
Cid took the paper slowly, and the happiness that flashed across his face when he saw what it was was painfully clear. "Alright! Can't #$^#in' believe I forgot this..."
The TV behind him turned up a few notches and Cid looked very awkward as he stepped out of the room and closed the door. "Look, Vin, I don't want to be a selfish #$#% but...can we go back t'your room?"
"Why?" Vincent's voice was quite and nervousness he was feeling before had lessened somewhat with the sound Cid's familiar voice. Cid rubbed the back of his head and looked awkward again.
"Just 'cause...c'mon, let's go, the guys here are #$^#s anyway..." Cid began walking, and Vincent followed him quietly.
"Alright...Cloud left anyway, so it's alright..." Vincent looked back at the room. Cid stopped abruptly and turned.
"Oh @$@%, almost forgot!" He headed back to his room, pulling out his key from his pants and opening the door.
Cid darted in and out again amazingly quickly, something shoved into his pocket. He closed the door and returned to Vincent.
They resumed walking. Cid apparently felt uncomfortable about the silence and began talking. "So Cloud's the name of your roommate?"
"Yes..." Vincent nodded slightly, again staying close to the wall. Cid walked directly down the center of the hallway, his hands in his pockets, slouching terribly. "He's gone a lot of the time..."
"Lucky." Cid remarked offhandedly. "Know when he's comin' back?"
Vincent shook his head. "I don't know what he does, but he usually doesn't come back until I'm asleep...we have classes tomorrow, so he has to be back at some point..."
"Right, when's your class?" They began walking down the stairs.
"...Sometime in the midday, really...I think after twelve..."
"Great, so's mine!" Cid smiled brightly. "Maybe we have the same class!"
"What's yours...?" Vincent didn't want to volunteer information first, it wasn't something that agreed with him. Cid looked thoughtful for a few seconds.
"I forget right now, but I got my schedule in my pocket somewhere, it's no big deal." He smiled again. "Keep everythin' in these pockets, I love these things."
Vincent smiled gently as they walked outside. "Yes, I can tell."
Cid paused and held his foot out, staring at the ragged remains of the bottoms of his pants and laughed. "Yeah, I really beat the #$^# out of stuff like this. Used to drive my parents #$^#in' nuts."
"I could guess." Vincent continued walking, watching as Cid sped up slightly to walk alongside him. "Whenever my clothing got in bad shape, they threw it out or had it repaired...so I never really had clothing with rips in it like yours..."
Cid laughed quietly for a few seconds, then smiled. "Most of it isn't jus' me wearin' it anyway, I rip 'em up on purpose. I like doin' stuff like that, it's weird."
Cid paused awkwardly after what he said, apparently debating whether or not he should have said that. Vincent nodded, not wanting to frighten him away. "Right, I know what you mean...that kind of desire to destroy something..."
Vincent had never admitted to anyone that he felt that way and paused in much the same way that Cid had, feeling embarassed. When he looked back at him, Cid was staring at him in wonder. "#$^#, I didn't know other people wanted t'do that. I thought it was jus' another reason I was #^#$ed up."
"You know..." Vincent turned as they approached his dorm. "You look down on yourself a surprising amount..."
"Yeah, I know. @$@# if I tell anyone tho'." Cid opened the door and walked into the dorm, waiting for Vincent to follow. "Enough people #$%#in' angst without me addin' to it."
"Is that why you never..." Vincent thought about what he was going to say, then decided against it. Cid seemed to be able to tell.
"What?"
"...you know that I don't think to highly of myself..." Vincent touched his metal arm through the cloth softly. "That's why I don't talk to people, but you seem really open to me...is it that...you hide how you feel...?"
Cid paused for a moment, staring at Vincent with various expressions, then shrugged carelessly, laughing in a way that Vincent could tell was covering how he felt. "#$^#, everyone does, Vin. I'm not the only one."
Vincent could tell that he was making Cid uncomfortable and decided to change the subject as he unlocked his door. "...Who's your roommate?"
"Ah, his name's Reno. Real #%#^, that one." Cid crawled back onto Vincent's bed and moved instantly into the corner. "Ain't got any sense of personal space."
"What do you mean?" Vincent sat next to Cid in the corner, taking the remote with him.
"He throws his stuff all over th' room, it's a #$^$in' pain." Cid's response seemed almost automatic. Vincent turned on the television, somewhat bothered by how he kept catching glimpses of how Cid really felt about things, then getting thrown off course. Cid reached into his pocket.
"What did you bring with you, anyway...?"
"I managed to get someone to get me some @#$%in' liquor..." Cid pulled a bottle from one of his seemingly bottomless pockets. "#$^#in' cost me tons, tho', but..." he shrugged. "I can't really do anything about it."
Vincent nodded. He could sense by how sensitive Cid was about his smoking, how he had gone to the window and extinguished his cigarette shortly after and how he wasn't smoking now, that he was aware of how his addictions could hurt or annoy other people. He must have trusted Vincent greatly to want to drink in front of him...Cid didn't seem to talk about his addictions at all.
Vincent changed the channel. "I understand."
Cid smirked and uncapped the bottle. "I thought you would."
Vincent changed the channel again as Cid took a drink from the bottle. He paused before speaking again. "Should warn you tho', I saw some pretty stupid #$^# when I'm drunk, an' do even stupider #$%#."
"It's alright." Vincent wasn't sure of what else to say. He couldn't very well stop him, and he didn't want to push him away. Cid was trusting him here, and he didn't want to break that trust. He could tell by how desperatly Cid seemed to be hanging around him that having a friend like him was something that he wasn't used to. "I don't mind."
"Right." Cid raised the bottle to his lips again, gently taking the remote from Vincent's hands instead of forcefully as he had done before. "Thanks."
"Your welcome." was the only response that Vincent could think of.
The night went by as quickly as it had before. Cid was quiet at first, but after a while he began to talk, and as he did he didn't stop. He talked about anything that seemed to cross his mind while he watched the TV, and as the night wore on he changed channels faster and faster. He also flicked off the light at one point, and told Vincent it was because he didn't want him to see how much he had drunk. Vincent assumed it was because he thought that he would tell him to stop, but as it was Vincent was just sitting and listening, something that he was used to doing and had gotten very good at.
Cid rambled on and on about anything he saw on the TV that captured his attention or bothered him. He talked about the flat characters he saw in shows, how he would change the plot to do this or that, how he wanted a certain thing he saw in a commercial and how other commercials really bothered him, and how sometimes changing channels was soothing in itself, even if he liked the show. He felt like he had to constantly be changing channels to make sure that he wasn't missing something. The more that he talked, the more that he began to talk about himself and how he thought without hiding behind metaphors or TV shows. Vincent listened as Cid talked about how he felt alone a lot of the time, about how he felt like he could never fit in with anyone else, about he felt like his universe was trite and stupid, or that he could never really write for a living. He talked about how he wanted to fly, to just fly away from everything, and just give up on the world itself sometimes, because it seemed to hate him so much. Through all of this, Vincent stayed quiet and listened. Through all of it Cid began to lean on him rather heavily, his hand not even in the air anymore as he changed channels, his voice listing.
"Y'prolly hate me now, don't you, Vin...?" Cid's voice was soft as he leaned his head against his shoulder. "I'm such a stupid #$^# when I drink...'s a bad habit..."
"I don't hate you, Highwind." It took some effort to make his throat work again, and Vincent wondered just how long it had been since he had spoken. "You haven't done anything wrong at all."
"#$^# I haven't..." Cid gestured at to the obviously empty bottle by his side. "I'm #$^#in' smashed..."
Vincent wasn't sure of what else to do and, seeing that the blonde looked somewhat shaken, he rubbed his back softly. "There's nothing wrong with that. Nothing that I can see, anyway."
Cid paused for a minute and put the remote down quietly. He then turned and hugged Vincent fiercely, hiding his face in his chest. Vincent stared at him in surprise, not sure of how to respond.
"'M scared, Vin...'m #$^#in' scared an' too god#$^# #$^#in' lonely..."
Vincent rubbed his back gently again, not sure of how else to react. "It's alright, Highwind. I'll be here for you, if you want me to be."
Cid seemed to have drifted off into sleep, his tight hold loosening as he didn't respond. Vincent took the remote from where Cid had left it and turned the volume down on the TV, changing the channel again. He watched a sitcom without laughing, waiting for Cid to wake up or say something. Eventually he became concerned and shook his shoulder gently.
"Highwind, it's getting late...don't you want to go back to your room...?"
Cid mumbled sleepily. "Don' wan'a...'e's mean t'me...wan' stay here..."
Vincent's mind instantly told him in several dozen ways how this would be a bad idea. However, he didn't listen. "Alright, if that's what you want. You can stay with me."
Cid mumbled something unintelligible and seemed to drift off again. Vincent changed the channel again, then looked at the empty bottle, listing to one side. He picked it up with one hand and put behind some of his books, where he could get rid of it later. Cid jerked sharply at his movement and clutched the fabric of his shirt tightly.
"What are y'doin', are y'movin', what the #$%#...what are y'doin..."
"Shh." Vincent moved his arm back to where it had been before, which calmed him down a bit. "I'm not going anywhere, I was just moving the bottle, that's all..."
"#$^#, 'm sorry, #$#^, 'm a #$^#in' #$^#%@, never should'a done this t'you..." Cid was mumbling to himself now, repeating certain words. It was reminscient of how he rambled while watching the television. Vincent put his hand back on his shoulder.
"It's okay, Highwind, nothing's wrong. It's fine."
Cid stopped mumbling slowly and stopped talking entirely, apparently going back to sleep. Vincent leaned back against the wall, wondering what he was going to do. He didn't want to leave Cid alone or make him go back to his room if he didn't really want to, but he couldn't just let him stay in his room...
Could he...?
Vincent gently shook Cid awake again. "Highwind, I'm going to go change, alright? I'll be back soon."
Cid clutched his shirt tightly. "Don' go, don' go, don' go..."
Vincent gently detached his hands from his shirt. "It's alright, I'm not going anywhere. I'll be a few feet away and I'll come back, alright? Nothing is going to happen."
Cid didn't replace his hands, but he curled up tightly instead, not saying anything. Vincent moved off the bed and walked to the dresser, picking out his sleeping clothes. His mind was screaming at him to stop, to tell him to go away, to do SOMEthing that didn't involve the blond staying, but he didn't listen. He changed clothes quietly and returned to the bed, finding that Cid had gravitated to the corner and was still curled up tightly. He moved the covers, causing him to start and roll towards him.
"Are you alright?" Vincent pulled the sheets from underneath him, causing Cid to move in confusion, not sure of what was going on. "See, I'm back, nothing happened."
As soon as Vincent had settled, Cid had immediately replaced himself, holding onto Vincent tightly and desperatly. "#$%#, I was #$^#in' scared y'wouldn't come back at all, #$^# Vin, jesus..."
"It's alright, see? I didn't go anywhere." Vincent patted his head, trying to think of a way to calm him down. "I'm fine."
"#$#@in' scared t'death..." Cid mumbled, holding onto him more tightly then ever. The warmth that Cid was generating was considerable, and Vincent could feel it through his clothes very easily. Vincent pulled the blankets over both of them.
"Just go to sleep, Highwind. Everything will be fine, I promise."
"'Kay..." Cid's voice was very soft. "If y'say so..."
Vincent woke to the rays of sunlight warming his face. Still feeling tired, he threw his left arm over his eyes, ignoring the shock of metal, and tried to turn away, only to find something blocking him. Mildly confused, he moved his arm and looked down at his chest, finding a bed of soft blonde spikes. It only took a moment for the entire evening to come rushing back to him. He pushed himself up with his free arm, holding Cid down gently so as not to disturb him. He leaned against the wall and watched Cid breathe quietly, still clinging to him tightly. He wondered for a moment how he must feel. Did he feel sick? Was he alright...?
Would he regret his actions...?
"You know, the next time you want to have people stay in the room, could you please tell me in advance?"
Vincent turned his head sharply to see Cloud staring at him, his arms crossed and an indecipherable look on his face. Shock kept him from saying anything, so Cloud simply turned and picked up his bag from the floor, opening the door and leaving without a word.
Vincent wasn't quite aware of what had just happened for a while, and the true meaning of what had happened finally hit him, causing him to sigh deeply and put a free hand to his head. Cid stirred slightly and looked up at him, looking confused.
"What the #$^#...?"
"I'm afraid we're in for a bit of trouble, Highwind..." Vincent's voice was soft.
"How the #$%# did I..." Cid looked around, then withdrew his arms sharply from around Vincent's middle, backing against a wall. "Oh #$^$! I'm sorry, jesus @#%$in' christ..."
"No, no, it's alright, it's okay." Vincent tried to placate Cid, who was holding his head in what seemed to be pain. "Are you alright?"
Cid made a pained noise. "#$^#, my head hurts..."
Vincent got out of bed and moved across the room, shuttin the blinds. On the way back he chanced a look at the desk clock and found they had only a few minutes before their class began. Not wanting to panic Cid, he moved to his dresser and began to pick out what he would wear for the day.
"#@$^, #$^@, #$^@..." Cid dragged himself out from under the blankets, holding his head in both hands. "What did I do, Vin? I don't remember anythin', #^#@, tell me I didn't do anythin' stupid..."
Vincent sighed slightly, realizing that most of last night would only belong to him. He quietly gestured for Cid to turn away, which he did quietly, while he changed into a black t-shirt and a different pair of black jeans.
"You didn't do anything, Highwind...you talked a lot, and you fell asleep. That's all." Vincent changed quickly and walked back to where Cid was staring fixedly at the wall.
"Did I say some stupid #$^%? I know I must've, #$^#, I'm sorry..."
"No, it's alright. You didn't say anything bad at all." Vincent sat on the chair near his desk. "Nothing happened."
"#$^@...I #^$#in' curled up to you, what about that?" Cid looked at Vincent, and he looked extremely pained. Vincent was surprised to the extent which Cid seemed to be reacting to what had happened. "#$^#, I hate it when I do this, I #$^#in' hate this..."
"Highwind, would I have let you if it bothered me? It's okay. But at the moment, there's a more pressing concern..."
"What?"
"We still have to go to class."
Cid stared at him for a few seconds, then clenched his fists. "#$^#! #$^#, I can't go like this, #$^#..."
Cid looked down at his rumpled and stained clothes. "#$^#..."
"Here, you can borrow some of mine if you want, I should have some that will fit you..." Vincent headed back to his dresser. "You can give them back later, we don't have time to go back to your room..."
"What about my bag?" Cid slid onto the floor, holding his head. "#$^#, my head hurts..."
"You can borrow some of my paper, it's nothing." Vincent pulled out a dark grey shirt and yet another pair of black jeans. He turned to Cid, holding them out. "Sorry, these are the lightest things I have..."
"#$^@..." Cid took them and headed towards a corner of the room. Vincent turned and faced a wall, trying to catch Cid's angry mumbling.
"It'll be okay, Highwind. Nothing happened, no harm done."
"@#$@ Vin, I hate it when I do this to people..." Cid tapped Vincent's shoulder, causing him to jump. The clothes seemed to list slightly off Cid's smaller frame, but other then that they seemed to fit. Cid looked around the room, then finally brushed his hands over his head rapidly, causing the spikes to flatten and flare out in a somewhat more tame way. "I #$^#in' hate bein' so #$^#in' clingy...y'wouldn't believe how many times it's #^#%ed me over..."
"Look, it's alright." Vincent put his hands on Cid's shoulders. "Everyone has to cling to someone sometime. There's nothing wrong with that."
Cid held out a piece of paper to Vincent, who took it quietly. He scanned it, then handed it back to him. "And I guess we do have the same class. I think we'll be able to make it in time."
Vincent opened the door, letting Cid walk out first, and let it click behind him. When he turned, Cid was glaring at someone in the hallway who was staring at him.
"What the #$^# you lookin' at?"
The other person walked away, not saying anything, and Cid made an angry noise. He began walking, Vincent following along behind him.
They walked in silence for a while, then Vincent leaned closer to Cid. "Have you noticed something, Highwind?"
"What?" Cid seemed extremely irritable with everyone.
"Everyone is staring at us..."
"That's #$^#in' great for them, then." Cid flipped off one of those that Vincent was talking about, causing them to turn away quickly. "#$^#in' nosy @#$%@s."
"I just find it strange..." Vincent brushed back his hair, wishing he had brought his headband with him. His hair just refused to be controlled otherwise.
They made it to class only a few minutes late, but the professor had already begun talking. Vincent had always been hesitant to enter classes that had already begun, but Cid seemed to have no such reservations. He opened the door and walked right in as if nothing seemed to bother him, Vincent trailing behind him.
There was an palpable pause as the two made their way to two empty seats near the back of the room. All eyes seemed to be on the two as they sat down, Cid flopping in his chair almost angrily and Vincent putting down his bag softly. The professor coughed and looked at the two of them.
"And you are...?"
"Vincent Valentine."
"Cid Highwind." Cid added something under his breath that Vincent couldn't catch, but could guess wasn't flattering.
"Well...I'll excuse your tardiness today, but I don't want this to be repeated."
The two nodded, Cid's arms crossed.
"For those who missed it..." He looked at the two in the back. "My name is Professor Hojo."
Cid and Vincent didn't react. After a short pause, the professor resumed speaking, and class continued on.
It was only a few minutes in before Cid leaned close to Vincent and whispered to him. "#$^#, my head hurts like a #$^#in' #$^@#. #$^@in' hangover."
Vincent kept his eyes on his paper at all times, even when others were speaking to him, and he was sketching something lightly. He hadn't had much time to think of what to draw or how, so the sketch at the moment could become anything. The concern in his whispered response was evident. "I'm not sure what to do...we should probably go get something for you to eat after this...that would help, wouldn't it...?"
"I guess...but my stomach's #$^#in' beatin' the #$^# out've me right now."
Vincent chanced a glance upwards to see if anyone was noticing their conversation. "Highwind, they're staring at us again."
Cid made an angry noise under his breath. "#$^#ers."
"It's probably because you're dressed like me."
Cid started slightly, then looked at himself. "Woah, forgot about that."
Vincent smiled slightly, his sketch taking form as two people sleeping together. "It's probably nothing."
"Well, @$%@ this class." Cid rested his arms on the table, his head soon following suit. "I'm goin' to get some sleep to get my head to #$^#in' shut up. Tell me if I miss anythin' important."
"Alright." Vincent responded quietly, working on darkening the outlines of his sketch. It wasn't anyone that he knew, but the position was very familiar. He smiled slightly as the drone of Prof. Hojo seemed very far away. Thinking back to last night, to Cid's frightened voice talking about how lonely he was, he realized that he had finally found a true friend. That was something that was going to take some getting used to.
"Cid!"
Vincent started sharply as he heard the blonde's name called and nudged him. Cid jerked upwards in surprise, looking back and forth in confusion.
"Cid, are you paying attention?"
"#$^# yeah." Cid responded without thinking, then put a hand to his head in what seemed to be pain. There seemed to be a slight giggle from the rest of the class. Vincent tried to remember what Hojo had been talking about before he had been startled out of his drawing reverie. He could only remember vague concepts, but he was sure he could fill in the rest.
"Very nicely put." Hojo's sarcasm was clear. "So tell me, what do you think about the ninth treatise on love?"
Vincent thought hard as Cid scratched his head, trying to stall for time. "#$^#, um..."
"Highwind, it's shallow." Vincent tried to whisper without looking as if he was. "Shallow and contrived."
Cid seemed to hear him, but didn't show it. "It was shallow. Shallow and contrived."
"So then tell me, Cid, what is your idea of love?"
Everyone stared at him now, apparently interested in his answer. Cid paused again, scratching his head.
"Well...I guess love is acceptance, really. No matter what #^#@ the other person does, or who they are, or any of that #$^#...I think it's really just acceptin' who they are. I think that's really love..."
Cid had turned his eyes down, not sure of how else to act. Vincent felt like the eyes were boring holes in him, they were staring so hard.
"So, Cid, you think love is love, no matter what?"
The more answers were demanded of him, the less inclined Cid was to answer them. Vincent didn't envy the headache he must have at the moment. Cid kept his eyes down, playing with some of the remaining spikes as he tried to think of something to say.
"@#$%, I guess so...I don't know..."
Prof. Hojo stared at him, as if considering asking him another question, then turned back to the board, underlining something he had written down there. He continued speaking, and Cid slouched down in his chair holding his head. Vincent turned to him in concern.
"Are you alright...?"
"#$^#, can't deal with this right now, Vin, what a pain in the #$^..." Cid slumped back down over his desk, his head back on his arms. "#$^#..."
Vincent patted his back softly. "Don't worry about it, it'll be alright."
"Vincent!"
Vincent turned to the front silently, his hand automatically returning to his paper. He inclined his head slightly to show that he had heard him, and Hojo seemed to imitate him in a mocking way. "Why don't you come up here?"
Vincent didn't trust this, but he put his pencil down. He sighed as he remembered the other times he had been asked up to the front by teachers and resigned himself to the upcoming humiliation. He touched Cid's arm before he went in a silent farewell, not sure if he was awake to hear what was happening, and headed up.
He stood in front of the class, hiding his arm behind his back as he usually did. Prof. Hojo stared at him critically, and Vincent waited for the question that would be turned against him if he answered truthfully.
"Tell me, Vincent..." Hojo crossed his arms. "Do you agree with nine's theory that love transpasses all physical boundaries?"
Vincent moved his other arm behind his back, taking hold of his metallic arm, feeling extremely awkward. "I suppose, although I don't believe it really applies in nine's case-"
Prof. Hojo cut him off. "Do you believe, Vincent, that love is a worthwhile investment of one's time?"
Vincent felt more and more awkward as he could feel people staring at him. He hated people staring at him. "I don't think you can choose who you love or when you love...therefore, it's pointless to argue that it's not a good investment of your time because it's not something you control..."
"So love is beyond control?"
Vincent wasn't sure if he even believed what he was saying, faced with the cold tone in Hojo's voice and the continued staring of the other students. He sighed slightly. "I believe so, yes..."
"And love is beyond physical limits or boundaries?"
Vincent rubbed his flesh arm with his metal one, feeling the edges of his claws scrape across his skin. "I believe so, yes..."
"Do you believe that people will even love a monster?"
Vincent paused for a while, his eyes turned to the ground. He fidgeted slightly, his hair drifting over his shoulder.
"As previously stated, physical limitations have no bearing..."
Hojo crossed his arms and seemed to look at the class. Vincent couldn't even bear to look at his face, it seemed so superior and cold. "So, say, even if someone had some kind of...physical deformity..."
Vincent's claw seemed to contract against his will against his arm, and he inhaled sharply as he knew he broke skin unintentionally.
"Someone could still love them...?" Prof. Hojo turned towards him, a sadistic smirk on his face. "Someone could still love them, despite their deformity and perhaps their very being...?"
Vincent tried to make his claw unclench, but it was a reflex that refused to let go under the tension he was in. He looked upwards slightly and caught Cid's eyes from the back. He was watching. He could sense the fury emanating from his gaze, the frustration. Prof. Hojo took this in with some quiet movements of his eyes and smirked again.
"Perhaps even if they were...say...the same sex...? Would love still be possible?"
Vincent's claw clenched tighter against his arm. He knew he was being led on, he knew there was no right way to answer this question. He lowered his eyes back to the ground, hearing the rest of the class talking amongst themselves. He could still feel their eyes on him. He let his hair fall forward, masking his face.
"I...I guess..."
"I didn't hear you, I'm sorry." Vincent was taken aback by the sheer malice and amusement that seemed to blend in the professors tone. "Could you please repeat that, louder? So that we can all hear you? After all, it's important to stand behind what you believe."
The class seemed to snicker slightly, and Vincent forced himself to look up, trying to find something he could stare at that wouldn't be incriminating. His gaze glanced back at Cid, who seemed to almost be crouching in his chair, glaring at Hojo venemously. He tried to move his eyes away again, but he knew that this time Hojo wasn't the only one who caught the stare. He turned his eyes to the window, the whispers increasing as he tried to stop the heat from rising to his face.
"Yes...I think it's possible..."
"Do you really?" Prof. Hojo turned to the board and began writing something. Vincent didn't want to turn around, to reveal that he had caused his own arm to bleed because of tension. "You think that love can transverse everything, including physical appearance and sex?"
Vincent's claw was digging in deeper, and he was beginning to feel the stinging going up his arm. The eyes continued to stare at him. "Yes..."
"So tell me one more thing, Vincent, before you return to your seat..." Hojo returned to stand next to Vincent, his arms crossed and the smirk back on his face. "Do you think that people who are in love begin to resemble one another?"
He knew that there was no right answer again, not even if he lied. A dull noise came from the back of the room, and he looked up to find Cid had punched the wall rather hard and seemed to be snarling to himself. Hojo glanced in that direction momentarily, then returned his gaze to Vincent, the acidic tone back in his voice. "What do you think?"
Vincent remained silent, not wanting to answer, but knowing that silence was no less incriminating. Prof. Hojo took the opportunity. "Begin to act alike, talk alike...even...say...dress alike...? What do you think, Vincent? We all want your opinion."
Vincent's claw was causing his other arm to go numb. He tried to force it free, but he couldn't make it let go. He didn't want to be asked to be repeated again, so he made sure that his answer was clear, although he didn't want to give it. "I...I would suppose so..."
Prof. Hojo clapped twice, then gestured to the back of the room with his thin hand. "You may sit down, Vincent. You've said more then enough."
Vincent could still feel the eyes staring at him as he walked back up to his seat, wishing that he had been able to control himself. He could feel something sliding down his arm, he knew he was bleeding. His claw refused to let go until he was sitting down, and he stared at it underneath the desk, the tips shining red. He wanted to put his hands to his head, but he didn't want to get blood in his hair...
Cid was just cursing under his breath when Vincent sat down, but as soon as he saw his arm, he hissed sharply. "#$^#in' Christ, Vin, what the #$^# did you do?"