Storm Clouds

Chapter 13: Messages Do Their Worst

"Vincent!" Tifa spoke softly into her phone. She called Vincent again but knew it wouldn't do any good. She's already on message and he didn't catch the call after the 7th ring.

"Vincent its Tifa. It's been about 2 weeks that you've been gone, are you okay? Are you lost?" Nothing answered back at her. "I'm thinking about coming up to Guinness to help you out. Probably this Friday. Call me back when you get this message."

Cloud woke up in the arms of the couch and nothing else. Now where the fuck is that bitch! Cloud couldn't admit it but he hated when his lovers left him before he left them. Christ, I'm cold! Where's the heater in this place. Cloud didn't find a button to raise the heat but he did find the switch to turn on the fireplace. Nice! He said to himself. Maybe Vince is getting dress in his room.

Cloud climbed the stairs up to the second landing where it revealed two doors to the personal bedroom and bathroom. But when he looked into the bedroom he found it was empty. He better be getting me something because this is wack! And what's that beeping I keep hearing.

Cloud found that the source was coming from the dresser draws which led him to open them. Ohh. Nice cell phone. But wait a tick! Vincent hates electricity why would he have a cell? He noticed that an incoming call was making it ring so he thought of doing a bit of role playing. He flipped the phone on and spoke into it.

I better sound like proper Vincent. "Elllllo!" Cloud answered in an overly dramatic deep voice. "Tis Vincent."

"Vincent are you okay? You sound weird." Cloud froze with his mouth dropped. "Anyway, have you found Cloud yet!" Tifa! What is she calling Vince for? "Found Cloud?" Was that why he's been here! So he can find me for Tifa's sake! "Vincent; you there?"

For some reason Cloud suddenly loathed the sound of Tifa's voice. He hung up on her. That bitch! Even when we were kids she always followed me to where ever I went. Never gave me the time of day to be by myself. Now she's pulling this! Cloud was trying to find a way in his mind to bring this up to Vincent. Yet none came. He couldn't help but be angry. She can't even accept that I'm dead and she has Vincent looking for me! Vincent! Why won't she just let go! Stubborn twit!

Then Cloud's thought evolved to more sinister accusations. Then that would explain why he slept with me so quickly. Usually it took more then that to bed him but just as he said our love making wasn't normal. He's using that to get me to come back! He thinks I that much of a dog to follow him back to Tifa where I'll probably get slapped first by faking my death. Everyone will hate me! For what I did to them, leaving them. Just like what Reno said!

"Did anyone call?" Cloud turned around and saw Vincent, fully dressed and standing outside the doorway.

"Since when did you own a cell?" That could have came out nicer Cloud. Vincent just shrugged the answer with a motion of his shoulders. He went over and snatched the cell out of Cloud's hands.

"I brought dinner. Chinese take out. You still like Sweet-n-Sour, right?" Vincent began massaging Cloud's shoulders.

"Yah. Let me get dress." Cloud noticed that he only had a blanket he found laying on top of him when he awoken. He went downstairs and left Vincent with suspicion. Vincent looked at the phone and noticed no changes made. Good. He thought. He knows now.

Once Cloud got down stairs he began searching for his clothes which were scattered all over the carpeting. Vincent came down after; noticing the negative aura about Cloud. However he kept his mouth shut about it.

Cloud dropped the blanket to the floor with only his skin to wear. The blonde grabbed his boxers then his pants, ending it off with his shirt.

"Looks like life on the dirty side has made you risqué also." Cloud paid no attention to him nor even looked at him. "Is something the matter Cloud?"

The blonde only glanced at him before nodding his head 'no'. Vincent frowned. Maybe I should explain. Right before he opened his mouth Cloud skipped him.

"I have to go for another appointment today. So I won't be joining you for Chinese." He grabbed his jacket and some things from the box he brought with him. "Don't wait up." And then he was gone; leaving Vincent standing in the middle of the room looking mystified of what happened just now.

What did he learn while I was gone? There were no messages on the phone! I know he learned that I was sent here to look for him but does he know by whom? He can't have known now! Tifa and I made sure that we would take all the precautions of trying to get Cloud back on his own accord not hers!

Just to check Vincent went over to his phone and searched through the recently called list. Tifa, 4:00 pm! That was while I was gone, and he picked it up!

Fucking asshole thinks I'm too dumb to notice these things! I thought it was very unlike him to even come out and 'check on Reeves' like he said! He scoffed to himself. It was freezing out but Cloud shown no signs of coldness in his frozen stance. The assassin perched himself on top of the building across from where his target would be standing in 3 mins. But he was already prepared for the shot before then. He secured his sniper rifle in position and had his eye aimed on the exact place where he would shoot. All he needed was the one he was to get.

However his mind was not where it should have been. Cloud kept on rummaging through how much he was disgusted with those that disappointed him. I don't need him! I can find my own place once I get that money from Dewitt. While he was still pondering on his past his mako eyes caught the movement behind the door. His target was coming out, locking up the place.

Cloud stood up straighter and locked the gun in position. He checked to make sure a silencer was on the gun then went back to aiming for the correct place. Come on! He whined inside. Hurry up! Cloud was getting excited yet kept firm control over the trigger finger. It was then his target came out, oblivious that he was going to die right where he stood. But once his face came in contact with Cloud his heart stopped.

"Be careful with those!"

The old man who sold Cloud his bullets for the last 11 months was his target and Cloud's heart was torn. Not him! Cloud begged. What threat could he have been to Tusas! He's just an old grandfather! A regular salesman, nothing amount but to a fly next to Tusas.

"I gave him a warning or two but the old man is stubborn. Can you handle it?"

The blond grit his teeth and clenched his jaw tight. Just do it Cloud! Its too late now, his life will still be gone even if I let him another night to live through. You really need the money! But Cloud couldn't do it. He felt too deep for this man and his sympathy was so strong.

His mind raced franticlly. A memory reappeared itself from the depths of his mind where he was in the exact same position. He was only 16 when it happened and with Zack by his side.

"Zack are you sure this is the one?" Cloud couldn't hit the young woman who was sitting down reading the newspaper.

"Yes! She's the traitor between the rebels and Shinra! For weeks she has been infiltrating private plans of our new mako trading routes for them to rob us!" Zack's words had no affect on them. This was still a girl, a girl he was friends with when he first started here.

"Do it Cloud!...NOW!"

The old man didn't fell a thing really. The bullet was through the head but it killed Cloud to see him fall to the floor. It only took a moment of pause before a pool of blood made its way behind his face. Cloud didn't cry but another pound of guilt rested on his shoulders. Thanks Zack. He thought to himself.

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