-1Title: Blooming Hearts
By: KuroSakura-chan
Summary: After much pestering by his friends Cloud and Aerith, Vincent goes on a blind date. Though he didn't think anything would come of it, he found that his date was actually interesting and had wanted to see him again. But what happens when his old boyfriend reappears, claiming to want Vincent back?
Category: Final Fantasy VII (with a few appearances from a few other FF games for professors)
Genre: Romance, drama,
Rating: M/NC-17
Couples: Sephiroth/Vincent, (past)?/Vincent, Cloud/Aerith,
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters who may appear in this fic. I do not own Malice Mizer or Gackt, either. But I do love Gackt! And so does Vince. At least, in this fic he does.
Warnings: Male on Male relationships. Don't like, don't read. If any of you even dare to flame me because this story contains yaoi, I will report you. Constructive criticism only, please. Other warnings to come, I'm sure! By the way, the characters are gonna be OOC. Ah, just so you all know, this is going to be done completely in Vincent's head. So, if things seem to jump around, that's because I'm doing this in…Oh hell, what was that term? At any rate, I'm doing this like how thoughts are in our heads. They jump around. A lot. Especially in my case. ;; TIFA BASHING!!!!
Kuro: Whelp, Final Fantasy VII is winning in my poll!
Vincent: (he winces)
Sephiroth: What? It just means she'll post one of the random ones she has started, but has yet to finish.
Vincent: Exactly. And she's an angst writer. I'm so screwed.
Kuro: Well, we all know that. But I'm thinking of posting a crossover instead of a straight Final Fantasy VII one.
Sephiroth: I don't like that one.
Kuro: Don't care. Actually, I'm gonna put on the crossover no matter what. Onto the fic!
"Hey! Vincent!" I turned to see Aerith waving at me from our normal lunch area by the large oak tree. Cloud was sitting with his back against the tree, Zack sitting beside him. And sitting beside Zack was…Sephiroth.
I almost turned around and walked right back into the building. Sure, Journalism is only a couple buildings down, but if I take my time and wander around aimlessly enough to elude my friends, I won't get there while Professor Laguna and Professor Kiros have their "alone time."
Snicker. "Is Vincent afraid of liking this guy?"
Of course Chaos would choose now to wake up. Maybe he did because of Materia Training…He always does get a little more active during a class where I am fighting or using Magic. Probably likes the feeling of the power coursing through me. Wouldn't surprise me much.
"So are you going over there or are you going to run far, far away? I can lend you my wings if you desire it."
'Shut up, Chaos.' I thought back at him, giving him a mental scowl. I ignored his laugh and walked over to the others.
"You, jerk, Vincent! You never told me that Seph was your date last night!" Aerith scowled playfully, letting herself fall back into Cloud's waiting arms and lap.
"You were sleeping." I responded calmly, despite my inner turmoil; caused both by Sephiroth's presence at lunch and because Chaos finds all of this quite funny and will not quiet down. I sat down, setting my bag down beside me. "Though, I'm not to be completely blamed in keeping it from you. Cloud was awake when I got home."
"You didn't have to tell her that!" Cloud yelped quietly as his girlfriend elbowed him in the gut. Zack laughed heartily and Sephiroth grinned.
"You didn't expect him to take all the blame, did you, Cloud?" Sephiroth questioned lightly. Ah, his voice is just as deep as I recall…
"Oooh, you're melting on the inside. You really like this guy, don't you?" And then I am snapped back to reality by Chaos. I'm getting tired of his commentary…And apparently, I missed something while dealing with my rambunctious daemon. The others are all staring at me as though expecting an answer.
"Sorry, what?"
"Are you ok, Vincent? You keep zoning out." Aerith asked, her motherly look of concern on her face.
I smiled softly. "I'm sorry, I just have a slight headache." I stood. "You know, I think I'll just head to Journalism now and clear my head, ok?"
"I'll escort him." Sephiroth stood in one fluid motion. Today he wore simple blue jeans and a white cotton t-shirt. His hair cascaded down his back, making a rippling effect in the autumn sun-
"Damn, look at his ass next, Vincent." And the moment is ruined by the number one moment killer: Chaos. He'll quiet down when I'm in class but outside of that, he's only really quiet if Aerith isn't in a playful mood. There's something about her that makes him quiet down. If only I knew what, I'd make sure it was around all the time. Especially when he's acting up the way he is today.
By the time I return to my surroundings, Sephiroth and I are walking away from the group. Another glare sent to Chaos for affecting my body while I was unaware, I adjusted my bag.
"So what's the real problem?" Sephiroth asked, still staring straight ahead, when we reached the first building of the school that's close to the tree. "You got really flustered when you saw me with your friends and it looked like you were going to run away. Of course, you then seemed to argue with yourself mentally and decided to come to the tree. Any explanations?" Now he turned to me.
I shook my head slightly. I couldn't tell him about Chaos. Father said that it would be a very, very bad idea to tell others about the daemon. Granted, Aerith knows, but then, her father was great friends with my own before the man died. It is a pity; Professor Gast was an amazing man. And he'd always sit and listen to me talk about Chaos when he came to visit. Though, now that I think about it, Sephiroth mentioned that he and Aerith shared their father…So maybe…
"Sephiroth, are you sure you've never heard of me before?" Sephiroth's eyes widened into a confused state. "Like, from your father, Professor Gast, or something?"
"Nope. Dad never mentioned you to me before. Wait-you knew my father?" Sephiroth's eyes were no longer widened, but they are still slightly confused.
"Yes. He and my father were old friends. I've known Aerith since we were children." I answered honestly. "I only asked because he told Aerith something very personal, and I just wanted to see if he'd told you too."
Sephiroth nodded slowly. "If he had, would it affect your answer if I asked you to the movies tomorrow night?"
I smiled. "Of course not. I'd be happy to go with you." We are standing outside the Journalism class room, the door being shut. I think that Professor Kiros is still inside with Professor Laguna.
Sephiroth smiled, that same smile that I found I like last night and that same smile that I put on his face during Art class. Damn.
"Then I will pick you up at 5? That way, we can get dinner before the movie." Sephiroth waited for my nod before turning to leave. He hesitated, then turned back around and placed a small kiss on my lips. I could feel my face heat up as he quickly pulled away and returned to his leaving. "I'll see you later, Vincent!"
I jumped as the door to my classroom opened and Professor Kiros stepped outside. He glanced at me then down at Sephiroth and turned to follow the other. "Mr. Crescent!" Sephiroth stopped, glancing back. "I would like to have a word with you, if I may." Sephiroth nodded and waited for the Professor to catch up to him before he started walking again. I am sorely tempted to use Chaos' extended hearing ability…
"Go ahead! I wanna hear what they're saying too!" And then he spoke up. I'm not doing anything he wants me to. He made me miss lunch…
…
I had forgotten that Aerith was taking Journalism too. How, I have no idea since we're best friends and we live together. Maybe Sephiroth is distracting me, just as my mother always said guys would…She was a very smart woman, but she died on an archaeological dig. Father was devastated and then tried to be mother, father, and best friend. Granted, his dating advice was more towards young men, but he was still horrible at being all of them. Not that I mind. I find that my relationship with my father is unique and unlike any other. I like that.
Anyway, back to Aerith being in Journalism too.
See, Professor Laguna has only one rule: That we right an article about whatever topic he assigns to us. And since today's alone time with Professor Kiros was a "special alone time," he has couples on the mind.
"OK, Aerith Gainsborough, I want you to write an article about a change in one of your friend's lives. Hopefully, it'll be a romance thing, but if not…" He shrugs. "Then that's that." He missed the evil smirk she sent my way after receiving her assignment.
I'm so doomed…
"Vincent Valentine," He paused. He always liked saying my last name because it reminded him of Professor Kiros. Aerith found out by just asking him one day. "you're in the classes going to the Forgotten City, correct?" I nodded slowly. Most of the class is. "And if I read your student information correctly, you're from Bone Village, right?"
Ok, maybe he was just distracted by sentimental things. I can see where he's going with this roundabout way of giving me my assignment. He wants me to write an article on how it feels to be back in my hometown.
"Are you trying to say that you want me to write about how it feels to be back in my hometown?"
Professor Laguna's face lit up. "Exactly! Well, that and how things have changed. You've got a two-page spot in the issue in two weeks to fill with that article." I sighed. I enjoy being able to have my articles published weekly, but he has got to realize that giving me articles that are to be two-pages long are going to drive me insane. But before I could say anything, he was off, giving Rufus ShinRa an architectural topic about the Forgotten City.
I hear Aerith snicker beside me and look over at her. She has her notepad out, meaning that she's completely in the mood to start on her article. Friggin' A…
"Shouldn't you find out your restrictions and your deadline, Aerith?" I suggested lightly, hoping to avoid any questions about my personal life. I know that she'll drag it all out of me soon, so I'm willing to find any way to deter her.
"Professor?"
"Yes, Aerith?" Professor Laguna turned from where he was telling Tseng to write an article about whatever wildlife we encounter while in the Forgotten City.
"What's my space limitations and my deadline?" Aerith asked politely.
"You're usual limitations and I'd like to have that article in the issue for next Friday." He answered. "That all?" At her nod, he turned back to his assignment giving.
Her usual limitations mean that she gets a full-page article. Wanting to publish this article next Friday means that I'll have to see an article about my life in the issue sold on my birthday. Dammit.
Aerith opened her mouth to pin me with questions before I could remove myself from her presence, but was cut off before she could make a sound.
"Congratulations, Gainsborough." Oh, I know that voice all too well. Tifa Lockheart. Hates Aerith, and inadvertently me, because of Cloud. I've had to change the locks on our house three times because she's somehow managed to get copies of our keys. I don't think I've ever heard of such a persistent stalker. I've seriously been tempted to allow Chaos to eat her or something.
Now normally, I don't care about what's going on in Cloud's love life. As long as Aerith is happy, things are good. Then Tifa showed up. She said that she loved him and was the only one right for him. This irks me because this insinuates that Aerith is not good enough for him. I've told Tifa flat out that I do not want to ever see her on my property again or I would have her arrested.
She's sat in jail twice now because I made good on my threat.
Cloud and Aerith currently have a restraining order going through the courts about her. Hopefully, it'll get through soon and we can finally be rid of this pest for good.
"Whatever for?" Aerith asked politely. She's always polite, but Tifa can push her over the edge quickly, so I had best stay alert to calm her down if need be. The girl may not look it, but she can kick serious ass. Though, fighting hand-to-hand with Tifa may not be in her best interest as Tifa is a martial artist, so she'd probably break out some Materia which could be worse than her just fighting the stalker-bitch.
"For your article, of course. I'm sure it's nice to be a favorite and get all those good topics and spaces." Tifa's voice took on a condescending tone. "I'd suspect that you'd slept with him if I didn't know that he was gay."
I stood and slammed my hands upon the table she was standing behind before Aerith could even move. Tifa had gone much too far this time-insinuating that Aerith was a whore. Both girls jumped slightly and Tifa's eyes were wide with shock. Most people have never seen me lose my cool and I could tell that I was the spectacle of the class now.
"How dare you say something like that to Aerith?" I stood to my full six feet, towering over the five-foot-four girl. "You're only jealous that your writing is nowhere near on par with hers and you almost never get published. Not only that, but just because she has Cloud and you don't drives you up the wall, doesn't it? Well, guess what. Cloud told me what he remembers of you from when you were children in Nibelheim. You tormented him, ignored him, and were an all-around bitch to him. And then you show up here, where he's in a comfortable relationship with a nice girl whom he truly loves, and say that you love him? Your actions state the exact opposite. Haven't you ever heard the saying "Let what you love go, and if it comes back to you, you can call it yours, but if it never returns, it was never yours"? Well why don't you?" Tifa's lips pursed when I mentioned her past with Cloud. It may've been a low blow, but she was seriously driving my sanity over a cliff with this persisting torment of Aerith.
"Are you trying to tell me to give up my love of Cloud, Valentine?" She set her hands on her hips, making sure to thrust out her breasts so that they could be seen better. "How about before you give other people advice on their love lives, you come clean about your own? Oh wait-" She cackled. "-you don't have one! That's because you're a freak, you know. There's no guys around this campus who'd want to sleep with a freak like you, and you know it." And there it was. The only attack she had in her entire arsenal of weapons. She knew about my sexual preference.
"What the hell are you talking about, Lockheart? Of course there's no one who wants to sleep with him. But that's not because he's a freak. It's because he deserves more than just someone who wants to bed him." That deep voice…Sephiroth?
The silver haired angel himself was standing in the doorway, frowning at Tifa. He stepped further into the classroom, holding out a note to Professor Laguna who took it, still staring wide-eyed at us. Sephiroth then made his way around the other students to stand behind Aerith and set his hands on her shoulders.
"But then, I guess you wouldn't know the difference between true beauty and freaks, judging by the fact that you called my sister a whore and you got those implants you call natural breasts." At Sephiroth's comment, she covered her breasts with her arms, gasping loudly. A few of the others in the room snickered. "I'm assuming you were one of those drama queens in high school who always have some guy hanging around. I guess being faced with the real world instead of just having to figure out a way to keep any competition from beating you out for prom queen was just too much. So you went looking for a guy who swore he'd take care of you if you'd just give him the chance and just happened to remember Cloud Strife. Too bad he has someone who'll do as much as she can to take care of herself and to take care of him that he won't even look at you anymore. Is that why you went and got those implants? To make them more noticeable? Well, it worked a little too well, since everyone noticed how quickly they grew so large. Everyone knows that those are fake." Tifa scowled slightly before running from the room, still holding her breasts.
Everyone was silent for a moment before Rufus started to clap. Slowly, everyone-even Professor Laguna-joined in the clapping, save me and Aerith.
"I was hoping someone'd put her in her place soon. She keeps giving me articles written about what Cloud Strife has been doing rather than what her topic was." Even I had to laugh at the professor's comment.
"Seph, what are you doing in here?" Aerith asked after a moment. The man shrugged.
"Professor Balthier wanted me to give Laguna a note. I walked in and heard her make that comment to you about sleeping with Laguna and I'm sure you can recall the rest after that." Sephiroth looked up at me. "Are you all right? That was a cruel comment that she made."
"I'm fine, thank you." Oh, how I wanted to kiss him for sticking up for us like that. But, we're in public and…And, oh, what the hell. I leaned forward and placed a kiss on his lips, a little softer than the one he gave to me earlier. "Thank you."
A/N: Whew! That's a little longer than I'm used to writing. Ok, preview:
At exactly five o'clock, I was in Sephiroth's sports car. He won't tell me where we're going to eat and it's kind of frustrating. So I decide on another tactic.
"What are we going to see?" I asked.
"Moonchild," He answered easily, grinning when I stared at him. I've been wanting to see this movie forever! My favorite music artist wrote it and is in it. Ah Gackt. "Aerith told me you liked Gackt."
There ya go! You'll see the results of the poll by whatever I post next Wednesday! Oh, and be on the lookout for "A Mess Not Easily Cleaned", my Final Fantasy VII/Harry Potter crossover!