I don't own FF7 or anything...blinks, then sobs Leave me be! Vincent/Cloud because I feel like it. Don't like don't read. The ANGST!!!! THE ANGST!!!

Chapter 3

I opened my eyes, wincing as the light made my eyes sting. I hissed and shut my eyes again, turning my face away as much as I could.

"Stupid" I muttered, sitting up properly. I froze, praying that I wasn't in a hospital, and then relaxing when I remembered that Kalm didn't even HAVE a hospital. I slowly opened my eyes again, glaring at the open curtains in the window.

"Stupid" I repeated, whimpering quietly as a sickening pain ran down my spine. I sighed, and passed out.

I first became aware of someone else in the room, when I came round. I opened my eyes slightly, attempting to focus on the blur of black and red at the corner of my vision.

"Hey" I whispered. He raised his head and half-smiled at me, though I could tell he was annoyed.

"How do you feel?" He asked, straightening up slightly.

"How do I look?" He tilted his head on one side, looking at me consideringly.

"Like shit" I would have laughed at his blunt reply, if everything hadn't hurt so much. 'So like Vincent'.

"That's how I feel then" I replied. I managed to focus on him at last, helped by the small light on the table. Somebody had shut the curtains, for which I was grateful.

"Why?" He asked, voice quiet by still audible. I frowned at him, trying to work out what he was talking about.

"You know why. Hojo and his desire to play God"

"Why have you given up hope?" He sounded...desperate, almost. It was a tone I rarely heard in Vincent's voice, because he always knew what to do.

"There was none to begin with. I might as well resign myself to what will ultimately happen" I grabbed my shoulders, shaking me lightly.

"You can at least try" He snapped. As I watched, frustration reared up in usually professionally blank eyes. His voice had risen too.

"If you want me to" I smiled at him "For you, I'll try" He smiled back, a genuine one, though it wasn't completely unguarded. He hadn't opened up completely yet.

"You better" He murmured, voice back to its normal quiet baritone. He leaned forward, and I allowed my eyes to flicker half shut. As out lips met, I moaned slightly. I wrapped my arms around his neck, and he pulled away. He raised his eyebrows and smirked. Where he doesn't smile very often, he can and does smirk. A lot.

"You seem to have recovered quickly" He mused. I fluttered my eyelashes at him.

"Especially for you, my beloved gunman" I smiled at him. He nodded slightly, gave me another chaste kiss and stood.

"You best get changed" He padded silently to the door then tossed over his shoulder "They want to speak to you about something"

"Vincent..." He turned at my whisper, waiting for me to finish "Thank you". He nodded quietly and slipped out of the door. After he had left I smiled broadly, amazed that someone like Vincent would want anything to do with me.

As I got out of the bed, I realised that the only things I was wearing were boxers. I searched the room for a minute, until I discovered a neatly folded uniform, with a note on top. I read it, barely recognising the curly handwriting.

'Cloud, I thought you might be needing this, so I got it washed. Tifa'

I smiled, making a mental note to thank Tifa later. She may be annoying some of the time, but her intentions were good. I slipped on the uniform, wondering when I was going to stop wearing it, since I wasn't nor would ever be a SOLDIER, even if I had the mind of one. Shaking the thought off, I grabbed my sword and pushed the door open, descending the stairs to where the others were waiting.

They smiled at me when I entered, though a couple of them glanced uncertainly at each other. I leaned in the door frame, waiting for them to speak.

"Cloud, we thought that...we could try to find some files...and figure this out..." Tifa scuffed her foot on the ground, peering up at him through her dark hair.

"You wanted to go back to Nibelheim" I finished for her. They all nodded. I found their fear slightly amusing, but it hurt at the same time.

"We're too stubborn to let you die on us with a fight, Spike" Cid grumbled, lighting up another cigarette.

"You should have known we wouldn't" Yuffie piped up. The Wutaian princess' ever-cheery attitude not wavering for a second.

"Damn right" Barret growled, thumping his fist on the counter, making the innkeeper jump. I smiled, not being able to suppress it. I should have known better. I've never seen these people let up more than once for all the time I've been with them. I was reminded again that I wouldn't find a more tough, spirited and loyal group of people anywhere.

"Fine" I said, holding my hands up in defeat, meeting Vincent's eyes "To Nibelheim it is then"