Storm Clouds

Chapter 11: Rekindled

Cloud felt his cheeks warm from embarrassment of his rash behaviors. No matter what, I'm always that impatient rookie to him. Yet, somehow Cloud liked his unnecessary comments. They always kept Vincent from getting bored of him. Or so he thought.

"So how is your life here? In…" Vincent still thought this land to be called Ovia but while he slept it changed to Guinness.

"Guinness" Cloud filled in the blank thought of Vincent's sentence. "Well it's a damn long story. Too long to retell it when I'm not suppose to be here." Cloud began to walk out of the room with Vincent following.

"Yes. I agree. Then where shall you tell me your story." Vincent closed the door.

"Who says I'm going to tell it to you!" Cloud laughed. It was awkward though. It's been a long time since he laughed. Vincent noticed the awkwardness in Cloud's expression.

"But I do have a place in mind where we can talk."

Shelby's Bar measured to Cloud's expectations. It wasn't his favorite but it was the cleanest and oldest. So he hoped it would at least measure to Vincent's expectations. The two claimed seats at the bar.

"Why were you in Tuesas? You're new job I suppose." Vincent was the first to begin the conversation.

"No. Actually I was looking for one."

"What is your job?" Vincent asked.

"Well…" Cloud was trying to figure out which occupation he should tell Vincent. Both were not nearly the best jobs but one was better then the other. "I'm a wandering assassin. There are many large companies such as Tuesas that's dirty and with so many gang wars going on there's a long line of those who wants to kill others without doing it themselves. But lately this is the cold season."

"Cold Season?" Vincent repeated.

"Yah. When the police bring in the new recruits their numbers are back up again and crime is low for winter and early spring. No one seems to not wanting to kill anyone this time of the year." Cloud's voice seemed dismal.

"It's fascinating that you use the context of murdering people so calmly. The Cloud I knew would nev—''

"Well that Cloud is dead!" Cloud snapped. "Got himself nicked by a building and buried 6… feet… deep!" He was tearing pieces of his napkin and once he noticed the mess he made, he calmly swiped them off the counter.

"Then who am I speaking with if Cloud is dead. Because if I'm not mistaken, no one alive should have those memorizing blue eyes." Vincent added.

"You think my eyes are memorizing." Cloud stared Vincent fully in the eye but casually Vincent broke it off.

"Don't tip toe around the question. Who are you now!" Vincent drank from his glass of whisky.

"I don't know." Cloud still stared at him. "Who do you want me to be?"

"Well at least tell me what the name you're under is. You can't have escaped Tifa with the same name." Cloud laughed.

"Gabriel Peeress." Vincent nodded his head.

"Named after an arc-angel. Not really the perfect match when you're occupation is killing people."

"I was killing people when you first knew me. What's different now?" Cloud was getting annoyed with Vincent's constant comments on his life. Vincent was at a loss. It was true, what is the difference?

"Well then I guess you are the arc-angel. Rid the world of her evil and disgusted." He was mocking Cloud. The blonde looked down at his torn napkin.

"You never told me what you've been doing all this time." Cloud thought of giving Vincent a taste of his medicine but was thrown back by the gunman's innocent honesty.

"I've been looking for you…For a while I've been in you're home town. Hoping you might have come back. But I forgot that those at you're age are still afraid to face their faults."

"What!" Cloud didn't understand what Vincent meant by that and assumed it was an insult in some way.

"I meant to say that…Many people, especially younger people, have a hard time facing what they've turned their back on in the beginning."

"I've never turned my back on my home town."

"You've never came back after Zack."

"That's different!" Cloud barked.

"Really, I thought it matched perfectly with my analysis." Cloud wanted to say something cruel, but this was Vincent. He would just calmly say something back more civilized.

"Oh, go fuck yourself Vincent!"

"I have nothing against masturbation Cloud but even when I was alive I never practiced it." Vincent was smiling—on the inside of course.

"No you wouldn't would you." Vincent knew what Cloud was directing to and just sipped his drink while holding back his quick tongue. Cloud didn't want to fight with Vincent on such a little matter so he changed course.

"So…Where are you staying in Guinness?" Cloud tried to act casual about the question.

"I have a place to go to Cloud, don't worry."

"I wasn't worried I was just wondering!" The more and more the conversation went on Cloud was sounding like the bratty kid he knew he would become when with Vincent.

"Well you don't have to wonder anymore because I'm not taking you home with me." He paid the bartender for the drinks.

"What!"

"I know what you're getting at Cloud. Trust me I was the same, maybe that's why even now I still love you. But don't confuse me with those tramps you can go to sleep with for the night before crashing at your place." Cloud was speechless of Vincent's remarks.

"I'll see you again soon Gabriel." He left the bar with the heat of Cloud's eyes on him until he was gone.

Fucking ass hole he is! I forgot how vain he was, thinking I was hitting on him to go home with. Cloud grabbed a toothpick to play with. But he was right. The blonde smiled. In the back of my mind I was thinking about rolling in the sheets with him. At least for old time's sake.

Vincent opened the door to his suite in the hotel he stayed at. Without Cloud. There was nothing much to do in the room but crash on the bed. He hated watching TV, there were no books, he doesn't eat anymore and drinking he only does when necessary. Latch by latch he opened his red cloak that draped over his form and tossed his red bandanna to the side.

I can't go to sleep now. He thought while sitting on the bed. Not with him on my mind.

Scarlet eyes darted to the cell phone on the dresser table. That's why I'm here. Vincent walked over to the dresser and picked up the phone. I'm here to call her when I see him. Tifa would be relived and at peace when she hears the news finally. But Vincent did something shocking. He hid the phone in one of the drawers of the dresser. But she won't mind if there was a couple days of delay. I haven't spent time with Cloud alone in 2 years. A week would be splendid.

"MR. PEERESS!" The landlord screamed. Cloud thought he was reading those papers but it was him that was out smarted. That little bugger only did that for pretend.

"Yes sir! How may I help you?" Cloud sweetly said.

"Don't give me that sweeten face! You're late! Today is the due date!"

"But sir this—''

"I don't care! Get you're belongings and get out of my building!" After saying that, he shuffled his paper straight and continued actually reading. Cloud was paralyzed. He had no energy to move because that would mean he is officially kicked out.

"But sir, can you at least give me another week! Business is getting tough and—''

"Kid I have nothing against you! But now you should start getting the idea that the world doesn't wait on you with its hand out. Take this as an experience to grow from." He buried his face in his paper again. "You have an hour to clear out unless I call the cops."

The assassin gave up and dragged his feet up the stairs. Only the fear of not being wimpy kept him from crying. Where am I going to go! I have no one here to take me in…

Cloud opened the door into his apartment and began picking up personal things. His weapons, some pictures, a magazine and his faithful alarm clock. He didn't own much but at least he had space to put them in. Now he doesn't anymore. He only has what he's holding and Ferir outside. Reno wouldn't. Anyway he would think I'm a weak woman trying to beg for his forgiveness to get inside. And that would mean I was wrong and he was right. Too embarrassing…

Cloud walked down stairs lazily. He could feel his knees buckle underneath him. Vincent! He said he didn't want to take me home. The blonde walked out of the building but not forgetting to catch a last glimpse of his favorite hobo sleeping on the couch. But I only need a month at least. Just enough to get my bearings back! I still haven't hit Tusas yet.

Vincent was just about to go to bed until he heard a knock at the door. 11:45! Who would want me now! He only had time to grab his cloak to shield his scarred hand. Other then that he was just in his boxers and nothing much. Once he pulled on his overcoat Vincent opened the door.

"Cloud!" Cloud stood there with a cardboard box of stuff which seemed to belong to him.

"The land lord kicked me out." He murmured. His aqua blue eyes glistened heavily as if coating with tears but none fell. "Please, can I stay here for a while?"

Vincent walked back to allow Cloud in. "I knew somehow you would end up here." He scoffed.

PLEASE REIVEW!