"Puppy Love"

"Puppy Love"

VI

Final Fantasy Crisis Core Fan Fiction

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Yeah, I know already, I'm incredibly cruel. I've made you wait for so long for this chapter.

I've made a connection to the original game. xDD I've decided to include this simple little line somewhere in the beginning of this chapter. If you find it, you get a cyber cookie and pat on the back.

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Zack had found his way to one of the spare rooms in the dark, looming mansion north of Nibleheim. The mansion where he had rescued Vincent from. His heart was broken and his soul tattered. His mind kept drifting back to his sleeping beauty. How he had first found him, lying inside a coffin, looking so beautiful, like a precious stone. He was like a dark ruby, or garnet.

And just like a stone, Vincent was cold and cruel.

Sitting on the edge of the bed, not paying any mind to the squeaking springs, Zack's blue eyes stared down at the floor, lost in his own world of torment and despair. He hadn't felt this horrible since Angeal… no, he wouldn't think of that.

Lying back, he closed his eyes, trying to think of happier times in his life. His mind drifted aloft, back to his time in the church with Aerith. She was always optimistic and just so cute.

He gave a wry smile, finally realizing how much he missed her. But, Vincent was different. Things were different. What was he going to do now? He still liked Vincent and wanted to help him, but he couldn't get close to the gunman without a feeling of sympathy and anxiety washing over him.

"Zack?" A small voice called out from downstairs.

Zack sat up, legs criss-crossing. "Cloud?"

That voice had to be Cloud's. "Oh, here you are." The blond poked his head through the door, after hearing Zack's voice echoing from upstairs to where he was. He had a shy smile on his face, sky blue eyes always hiding something. He was mysterious in his own little, cute, shy way.

"What's up?" Zack forced a smile.

"I saw you leave the Inn in a sort of rush." Cloud admitted. "Did something happen?" He wasn't about to mention the little time he spent with Vincent, even though it was painfully important at this point.

"Nope!" Zack grinned, keeping up his optimistic look about him. "Nothing's wrong!"

Cloud saw through it. Even if the blond was dense at times, Zack was forcing a smile that came so naturally. He had watched the soldier so often in his line of work, and never before had he seen the dark haired man look so… depressed.

His own eyes clouding over, the blond walked further into the room and sat down beside him, keeping his head bowed slightly. "Is it about Vincent?"

A bit surprised Cloud would know something, even if it was vague, Zack stared at him, his smile finally disappearing. He curled up into the fetal position, head resting on his knees, and arms circling around those curled legs. His broad shoulders gave a shudder as he attempted to hold back tears of agony and distress.

Unsure of what to do, Cloud just sat there, watching Zack, feeling a pang of sadness wash over him. He wanted to comfort Zack, but was unsure of how to go about it.

Finally deciding to try a simple hug, Cloud got on his knees and crawled behind Zack. His arms wrapped around the other and he rested his head on the back of Zack's. The dark haired man didn't recoil away, but leaned back into the blond, tears rolling down his cheeks.

"I don't know what to do anymore." Zack admitted, choking on his own words. "I just don't know."

Cloud nuzzled his cheek into Zack's hair, to show he was listening and wanted Zack to continue.

"I want… I want to help Vincent, but I can't. I don't know how…!" Zack sobbed silently. He hated this. He hated being so sad and crying, especially in front of Cloud. Cloud looked up to him – Zack was a hero to Cloud. He didn't want to be weak. "I just… don't know how…"

"Have you tried talking to him?" Cloud asked simply, his hold not relinquishing.

"I can't talk to him. Not after finding out what he's been saying behind my back!" Zack sniffled and used his arm to wipe his runny nose.

"What did he say?"

"He said… he said that… bad… things… bad things about Angeal…" Zack could hardly speak. His sobs grew to a gentle pitch and he leaned forward, wanting to hide.

Cloud reached forward and took Zack's chin, forcing the weeping individual to look at him. Perhaps… perhaps this was the only way to calm him down. Swallowing hard, hesitating for only a second, Cloud pecked Zack on the lips.

Zack was frozen. Eventually, his own mind registered what had happened and he began to accept it. Perhaps this was the best way to forget.

Leaning into Cloud's lips, he returned the kiss a bit more fervently, making the blond take in a deep breath.

This was what Cloud wanted. He wanted to be with Zack so much, the thought of being away pained him. This kiss warmed his heart incredibly. He loved Zack and wanted him to be happy, to stop crying. He wanted to comfort him, but didn't know how to. That, in itself, was his own, personal Hell.

Vincent's eyes fluttered open. It was dark, save for the small sliver of light the moon leaked through the window. He shifted away from the sickeningly warm body behind him. He curled into the fetal position, his red wine colored eyes staring into nothingness.

He had given in. Allowed Sephiroth to violate his body. He belonged to the silver haired general now, and there was no one to save him. His prince had left him stranded, deceived by the lies the serpent fooled him with.

Sitting up, raven hair falling over his shoulders, Vincent glanced back at his captor. Sephiroth was asleep, needing a good rest after what had just happened.

His stomach churned at the memories.

Slipping out of bed, he quickly pulled on his clothes, feeling heavy, as though chains clung onto his spirit. He felt tied down, trapped. Would he never be free?

No. He was nothing but a beautiful raven locked in a silver cage, the veil drawn over the bars. Blinded and hidden away from the world, never to be seen in the light of day again. Forever a prisoner of the night.

Once dressed, Vincent walked over to the door and unlocked it. He drifted past the wooden frame, like a ghost, bound to the earth due to a terrible sin. The world felt different. The very air he breathed strained his lungs.

He was outside, his lithe frame working against the midnight air, all heat leaving his body. He wanted to escape. He wanted to sleep away these terrible nightmares.

Tears lingering on the corners of his eyes, he walked into the mansion, the start of all this trouble. If it weren't for Hojo, he and Lucrecia could've lived a happy life together. But, it wasn't just Hojo that drove them apart. It was Shinra, the Turks. Everything was working against their love.

A soft shuddering forced him to stop on the stairs. Hand clutching the hand rail, he glanced to his left. Was someone in the house?

Silently, he made his way up the rest of the stairs and headed down the left corridor. The sounds were coming from a guest room.

He stopped in mid-step. What if whoever was in this room was doing something he did not want to see? Would it be better to leave it as it is and walk away?

Heart pounding heavily in his chest, Vincent peeked in through the crack in the door. What he saw was Zack lying sprawled across Cloud, mouths mashing in a sloppy, and almost painful kiss.

Zack had already moved on, it seemed. His prince had found another princess. He turned to leave, finding his feet wouldn't move. Body shifting slightly, he hit his shoulder against the door and forcing it to open up. The floor creaked beneath his feet.

Startled, the two on the bed looked up, both eyes widened with fear and shock.

An awkward silence fell between the three men.

"Vincent…" Zack moved to get up, but it was too late.

Vincent fled the scene. He ran down the hall and into the room with the moveable wall. He practically flew down the spiral, wooden steps, and bolted for the room with the coffins. He had enough of this. He wanted to escape this retched nightmare.

"Vincent!"

He paused, hands clutching onto the rim of his coffin. Turning sharply, he glared at his pursuer, tears streaming down his cheeks. "What do you want!?"

"Vincent, I-"

"Get away from me!"

"Please, just listen to me-" Zack reached out a hand to take Vincent's shoulder, but the taller wouldn't allow it. Snarling, canines proving to be getting sharper, he swiped his claw at the soldier. "What you saw – i-it didn't mean anything!"

"You liar!" Vincent was trembling with rage and sorrow. "You liar, liar!"

Zack furrowed his brows and, despite Vincent's rage, grabbed the man and pulled him into a strong hug. He wouldn't let go, no matter what. The gunman let out a ferocious growl, like an animal. His physique was starting to change, emotions forcing his body to change into something of a monster. He dug his newly developed fangs into the tender area between the neck and the shoulder, forcing the soldier to grunt in pain.

No matter what, he wouldn't let Vincent go.

After a while of struggling and hurtful names, Vincent started to calm down. Soon, he was nothing but a beautiful man crying into Zack's bitten shoulder. "I hate you…" He choked, eyes shut tightly as he clung onto Zack tightly. "I hate you…"

"I know…" Zack's hold was still strong, stubbornly refusing to release his princess. He wouldn't, not when he was in this state of emotional discontent. "Hate me all you want. I deserve it. You shouldn't have seen that."

"I thought… I thought I was your princess…?" Vincent whimpered, shuddering violently.

"I thought you hated being called a princess?" Zack asked teasingly sweet.

"I don't…" Vincent sniffled, voice low and pathetic, like a child's. "I like being your princess… I like being weak, for once… for once… I feel protected… I want… I want to be your princess, Zack… Everything… everything Sephiroth told you was a lie… I didn't say anything about you…"

Zack's eyes rippled with affection. His hold on Vincent only tightened, bringing him closer into his chest. "You swear…?"

"Yes…" Vincent hiccupped, his body shaking with the repercussion.

"Vincent… is there something else you'd like to tell me?" Zack nuzzled Vincent's cheek with his nose lovingly.

"I don't know if I can…" Vincent was content being in Zack's strong hold. He felt like a woman needing protection, and he liked it. He had thought not looking masculine was clearly against the law, as he was raised to believe, but now… now he was okay with it.

As long as it was with Zack and no one else.

"You can tell me anything." Zack cooed into the other's ear softly. "I won't get mad or anything."

Vincent hesitated, then said in a whisper, "After you left… Sephiroth took advantage of me… He… he touched me…"

Zack's face darkened. Sephiroth raped Vincent? Was that why he lied to him? He wanted Vincent all to himself, and in order to do that, he got rid of the only obstacle. It was a low, dirty trick that he thought Sephiroth was incapable of performing. It looked like he was wrong in his assumptions.

"It'll be alright, Vincent. I'm here now." Zack stroked Vincent's long, beautiful raven hair, tantalizing the scalp with his nails. Vincent sighed softly, his tears drying up. He felt so tired. Tired and warm. Except this warmth was welcome; the warmth that he longed for.

Picking Vincent up tenderly, Zack lay them both inside the coffin and spooned his princess, a serious look on his face. He'd have to have a talk with Sephiroth about this in the morning.

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Sobs

I was crying so hard when writing this. I hope you all like it. We're coming to the closing of our little story. Please give me your comments about this!

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