Chapter 7

"You should really try it again. I think you made a little progress." Reeve stated over his half empty coffee mug. Vincent scowled.

'If that was your idea of progress.' Vincent looked down at the counter and sighed. If he ever wanted to attempt to return to anything resembling the life he once knew, he had to gain control over his transformations. It seemed logical enough to begin with reining in Galian beast.

"I think you could use a little distraction for once." Tifa offered from the couch.

"Anything you had in mind?" Reeve asked, leaning slightly over the counter.

Tifa held up a DVD movie. "I'm thinking maybe a movie."

Reeve smiled. "That sounds great. How about it, Vincent?"

The gunman felt both pairs of eyes settle on him. Fighting the desire to slide down under the furniture, he merely shrugged. "I does not matter much to me." He was left to himself as Reeve and Tifa talked about the movie to be viewed. Vincent struggled to recall the last time he had seen a movie. It then became clear that last time he had seen a movie was a theatre a good six months before was assigned his job at Nibelheim. Then again the last time he recalled a movie, it was on a large black tape. It seemed now that movies were on these small round shiny disks. 'Perhaps it will be nice to have a little visual distraction for once.'

The small clock on the desk read four in the morning in a bright blue glowing numbers. Vincent's eyes drifted back up at the ceiling and found little comfort in it. Every time he closed his eyes he saw the scene repeat itself in its full gore glory. 'Why did they have to agree on a bad horror movie, especially a werewolf movie?' What bothered him was that when the young man turned into the wolf, he was trapped on a moving underground train and all the while tearing people into pieces with the scene ending abruptly after blood splattered on the window. 'Why not a good comedy, action film or even a romantic piece, just as long there is a lot of "scenes".'

Vincent agonized over the concept that a very simpler thing could happen to him if he panicked while enclosed on a moving train or bus. 'The last thing I need is something else to atone for.'

Tifa and Reeve discussed her plans of heading back to the seventh sector to begin rebuilding now that she had her permits and the loans lined up to work. Tifa mentioned to Reeve that she would remain in close contact with both him and Vincent. Reeve could not help but commend her for the compassion and diligence she had toward her friends. But he had to wonder why she still put up with Cloud's issues.

Caith Sith suddenly came speeding down the hallway taking sanctuary behind Tifa's leg.

Vincent stood at the end of the hallway looked at Reeve and Tifa. Reeve blinked and set his mug down.

"Are you okay? You look like death, well, at least more so then normal."

Vincent only glared at Reeve as to say, "Eat it and die."

Tifa tilted her head in concern. "You look like you didn't sleep. Is the beast thing still bothering you, Vincent?"

He leaned against the wall and crossed his arms. "I have to try again."

Tifa gave him a puzzled expression. "Try again? Oh, do you mean transforming into beast?"

Vincent fought a snarl. 'No, I thought I would try to bake a cake.' But knew better to be smart mouth to Tifa. He had seen what happened after Cloud said a similar stupid remark. "Of course, Tifa."

She blinked. "Oh." She turned away and looked at the remains of her breakfast. "Good luck and don't try to eat Reeve. I need him"

"Thank you." Vincent grumbled.

Reeve took shelter behind the breakfast counter as Vincent transformed in Galian beast. Cait Sith stood by as emergency distraction of beast decided he did not like Reeve. It was not before Vincent's tall frame was replaced the hulking canine body. Reeve leaned over the counter trying to gain a better view of the miniature behemoth.

The beast sniffed the air smelling the various odors. 'Yeah, that was Tifa and there are kitties...' Vincent stopped as the beast turned his attention once seeing Reeve move.

'Reeve is not food.' Vincent prodded the primitive, urge driven animal. 'If I keep the concepts simple, beast will go for it.'

'Yeah, Reeve is good. Reeve is food.' Vincent cursed realizing his faux pas. 'No, Reeve gives food. Oh boy, we're hungry.' The beast snuffled the floor and licked up something from the floor. Vincent winced in disgust. Dissatisfied with the mystery morsel, Galian beast made his way into the kitchen smelling the lingering odors of cooked sausage and butter. The beast gave Reeve a brief sniff before heading straight to where Reeve kept his garbage can. Reeve gave a sigh of relief and stopped short as beast pulled the can over and began snuffling through the contents. Vincent fought with beast trying to stop him from eating the discarded foodstuffs.

Knowing that Vincent would be less then thrilled about the current situation quickly struggled what to do. His eyes settled on the refrigerator. Recalling there was a package of lunchmeat, Reeve slowly inched his way around the beast only earning a warning growl from beast before the tore open the bacon paper, licking with growing zeal. Slowly opening the door, Reeve reached inside and removed the package. The crinkling of plastic caught Beast's attention. His ears swiveled around and then looked up. Smelling the meat, the canine readied himself to pounce the food.

Seeing this, Reeve chucked the package toward an open place in the middle of the floor. The beast leapt over the breakfast counter and caught the packed in his jaws.

'Reeve! Why didn't you just open the package? No don't eat the plastic...' Vincent shuddered as the beast inhaled both the meat and plastic. 'I hate to think what this is going to do the system.' Galian beast almost grinned after receiving the meat offering. 'Well, I can't change back now even if I wanted to do. I am afraid what that plastic would do to me. I think it would involve another visit to the doctor and a yet another wacky explanation for why I ate that much plastic... Perhaps I should just let run it's course.' Vincent thought was beast scratched at his ear. 'Then again, beast is not house trained.' He winced at what Galian beast could possibly do. 'I can't do that to Reeve.'

Vincent struggled to think of a quick plan before he lost what little control he had over the primal drive of the animal in which he inhabited. 'Grass! Cats eat grass. But I know Reeve does not have anything like that here.' Beast flopped down on the rug near the television and began to scratch his back against the floor. After a moment of self-indulgent rubbing, the beast laid still on the floor.

During the brief moment, Vincent caught sight of a green plant on a side table. 'Yeah, you see that plant. Eat plant. Plant good.' The beast lay down for a moment as his stomach gurgled angrily. It was quickly become apparent the plastic was already having conflicts. Finally after Vincent prodding enough, the beast walked over to the plant and began eating at the leaves.

Reeve came around and found Galian eating on of this plant. Hacking and cough, beast spat some of the partially chewed plant on the floor. 'Thanks Vincent, that was very disgusting. I hope that is the end of that.' Then suddenly he realized why beast was eating on the plant. His cats gnawed on the leaves only to vomit elsewhere a short time later. 'Is he doing what I think he's doing?'

Reeve shuddered at the idea. Beast stopped eating the plant and approached Reeve, giving yet another brief sniff.

'Yes, that is Reeve. He gives food. 'Vincent reassured. 'Now let's go to room with big white water bowl.' The beast looked around the room. Vincent felt beast's focus was beginning to wander away from the idea of giant water bowl. Vincent knew time was limited and he rather trying to maintain what little shred of dignity he had left. Finally beast was persuaded and began walking toward the bathroom. 'Okay, so we are thirsty. Good, go in there, oh god, don't drink out of that!' The beast lowered his head into the toilet and began to lap up the water.

Hearing the lapping sound, Reeve did not follow beast into the bathroom.

After a few minutes, the beast moved away from the toilet. 'Look, something smells strange in the tub.' Vincent suggested. Taking the lead, Galian slowly plodded over to the tub and placed his front legs inside as he sniffed at shampoo bottles. 'Yes, the bottles smell funny. And that is soap...' Vincent stopped as beast decided to chew on it. 'No, don't eat the soap bar...' However, beast had already began to consume the bar and then swallowed. Vincent shuddered. 'I can't believe you ate that. No biscuit for you.'

The beast looked around suddenly interested in obtaining a biscuit. 'No you don't. You stay here. Look, the shiny thing in the tub is really interesting.' Vincent was suddenly cut off as the beast began to cough and gag. The plant had done its work. After making a series of gross sounds, the beast finally vomited the contents of his stomach down on the tub floor. Vincent lacked the true motivation to pay attention to what had happened until another urge came to his attention. Vincent quickly became horrified as Galian beast lowered his head and began to sniff the liquid of the partial digested mess. 'No, no you are not going to do that!' Just when he thought beast would lick at it, he found himself back in human form only inches away from the beast puke.

Recoiling, Vincent fell back on his butt. Overwhelmed by the sight and horrid smell, Vincent suddenly found himself hanging over the toilet. Reeve appeared in the bathroom doorway.

"You okay?" He sniffed the air and stepped back. 'My word Vincent, that is foul.'

Vincent did not have the energy to give a snippy response. He instead remained slumped against the side. Reeve looked at the thrashed tub and bathroom and shook his head.

"Can I get you anything? Mouthwash, breath mints?"

Vincent sat up and leaned against the side of the tub. "No."

Reeve nodded and left Vincent alone in the bathroom. Forcing himself to his feet, Vincent went over to the sink and began to brush his teeth and tongue, futilely remove the bad mixture of soap and bile. 'That was almost as bad as the time they let me eat the ochu. Friends do not let friends eat ochus.' He paused in mid-brushing. 'Then again, who would stop beast?' Vincent bent over the bathroom sink and rinsed his mouth out.

Reeve knelt down and began trying to clean up the mess Galian beast had left behind. 'These are just things, they can be replaced.' He gave a brief look over a broken pot and tossed in into the trashcan. 'One cannot easily replace good friends either' Reeve took a long look at the torn up carpet. 'I need to get new friends.' He could easily just kick Vincent out and let the man figure it out on his own. However Reeve knew as soon as he did that, there would be something about a massacre on the 6 o'clock news. Vincent needed somewhere safe to get everything straightened out. 'I am such a sucker.'

Hearing movement in the kitchen, Reeve stood up still holding a small dustpan and hand broom to find Vincent pulling a mug from the cabinet and one of the drink packets. Cait Sith walked past Reeve.

The cat doll tiptoed around the corner and watched as Vincent looked over the paper cup before he placed it as he had seen Reeve do. While the machine hummed to life, Vincent stood quiet for a moment before opening another cabinet and removed a clean bottle half-filled with a clear liquid.

"Whatcha doin'?"

Vincent did not pause in his motion and pour a cap full of the liquid into his mug before replacing the bottle in its former place. He then slid the mug under the spout in time to catch the hot mint tea.

"I am going to sit down and have my goddamn tea." Vincent's tone was still flat, but there was a hint of a smile to his face. For a moment, he was amused despite still feeling queasy.

"But what about the stuff you poured in there?"

Vincent picked up his drink and attempted to ignore the doll as he made his way from the kitchen and into the living room. Reeve looked up from the couch.

"Feeling better?"

Vincent shrugged. "I feel like I puked twice." He sat down in the wide arm recliner while he held the warm mug between his hands. The sat in silence for a moment before Reeve sighed and came to his feet.

"I need to leave for a while and take care of some delayed work. I will be back late. You know where the food is. Just make sure that everything is one piece." Reeve advised half in jest and half in seriousness. Vincent nodded and turned his attention to the large glass pane window that displayed the darkening cityscape of Midgar. After hearing the jingle of keys and with his coat swooshing, Reeve left Vincent in the solitude of the apartment.

'The sunset is nice. It's been a while since I took the time to enjoy it.' Vincent allowed himself to relax with his drink. The last time he had taken the time was back with her in Nibelheim. Instead of feeling sorrow, he felt a brief flicker of happiness. He did not question it or push it away instead he let it be.