I HOLD NO CLAIM TO ANY OF THE ORIGINAL FINAL FANTASY 7 CHARACTERS! NOTHING! :(
Chapter One
Sea of Flames
The song blared through the hotel room, covering the sound of the woman in the shower. Music normally calmed her down but the song playing just made everything all worse.
~It isn't a crime to want
A little space to breathe
But you will be fine
The sun again will shine on you
Whatever you do~
It made her think of the man she loved; yeah, like he wasn't on her mind all day every day. She had promised to give him time but this…this was just ridiculous. How could he say what he did and then just disappear again, leaving her behind like he had before?
~Take your sweet, sweet time
I will be here when you change your mind
Take your sweet, sweet time
I will be here for you baby
Anytime~
She had been expecting something at least, to let her know that he was still okay. That he was still there but she had received nothing. Not a visit…
~I'm feeling you pull away
'cause letting go isn't easy for me
But you'll never fly
With someone else's wings, I know
Wherever you go~
Not a call…
~Take your sweet, sweet time
I will be here when you change your mind
Take your sweet, sweet time
I will be here for you baby
Anytime~
Not even a letter.
~Take your sweet, sweet time
I will be here when you change your mind
Take your sweet, sweet time
I will be here for you baby
Anytime~
It was tearing her apart. Was this how Jeanne felt when Cloud had left them behind before Kadaj and Karina attacked? Was this how Jeanne felt after Zack died, or Cloud after Aerith? Could it even be seen as the same?
~I will never stand in your way
Wherever your heart may lead you
I will love you the same
And I will be your comfort every day
Do you hear the words I say?~
It wasn't fair for him to do this to her. She didn't know if she could handle this any longer.
She didn't want to …
~Take your sweet, sweet time
I will be here when you change your mind
Take your sweet, sweet time
I will be here for you baby
Anytime~
Claire Strife lifted her head at the sound of her phone ringing on the counter. Her brother. Stepping out and reaching the phone she paused for a moment, staring at herself in the mirror. At the age of 24 now she was still 5'8' in height. Her long blond hair was now cut to her shoulders.
"Claire," Cloud's voice spread a warmth through his sister's body, dragging her away from her silence.
"Hey, Cloud. How's your trip?"
"What's wrong?" He ignored her question and gave his own.
She turned from the mirror and reached for the radio, turning it off. "What are you talking about?"
"Twins, remember? I always know when you're troubled or upset."
"You're on your vacation, Cloud. You and Jeanne shouldn't be worry about me; that's what vacations are for."
"Nonsense," Cloud told his sister. "Tell me, what's bothering you."
With a small smile, Claire gazed out the window to look over the moon above Kalm. She was here by invitation of Reeve Tuesti for the celebration of the destruction to Meteorfall three years ago. She was just about to leave to join in with the festivities. "It's…nothing, Cloud. I swear."
Cloud was silent for a few moments. "Vincent again, huh?"
"Nothing gets past big brother, does it?" She shook her head.
"Look, Claire, it's been three years…and he's returned to wherever it is that he always goes, even after the attack we had from Kadaj and Karina. After the event at the wedding he should have stayed with you but it seems-"
"I know," Claire hung her head. "I'm just not what he wants…WHO he wants." The image of that woman…Lucrecia, appeared in her mind again from the events at that cave years ago when Sienna had killed her, locking her away in crystal.
"Claire, I-"
"Cloud, how did…after Aerith died how did you and Jeanne end up together?" Claire knew that her brother didn't like to talk about her but…
"That's…that's something that the two of you will have to talk about."
"But, Cloud-"
"I don't know how to explain it, Claire." Cloud sounded exasperated.
"Well try, please!"
"Feelings are not something that you can explain, Claire," another voice joined the conversation from Cloud's side. Jeanne. "You'll only know them when you find them yourself. Vincent knows how you feel and after the events of Tifa and Zeke's wedding you were told that he felt something too. It's now his choice to choose between you or someone that he won't ever get back. And I believe that after nearly a year of no contact he has made his choice. Leave him behind, Claire," Jeanne told her. "At least for now. You can't keep yourself cooped up for a man that might never see you the way you see him. Wasting away, waiting on him is foolish. Now, if he comes to you before you find another man that you fall for then that's a different story and if our emo-vampire does that, then I would suggest that you make his beg for forgiveness!"
Claire couldn't help but let out a laugh at that. She could just imagine the firm look on Jeanne's face she shot Cloud as she spoke. Oh yes, this ex-SOLDIER had done everything except make her brother get on his hands and knees and beg her for forgiveness for the way he acted for two years before the events at Edge. "Thanks, guys," She felt better now, knowing that Jeanne was right. "I appreciate it."
"No problem," Cloud told his sister. "You know the two of us are here if you ever need to talk."
"I know. Don't forget, it's going to be our birthday soon, so be sure to bring me something special back, got it?"
Cloud laughed. "Of course and the same goes to you."
"I've already bought yours," Claire grinned. "And it's gonna drop your jaw to the floor."
The festival was a lot of fun as Claire walked through the city, talking and cheering with the others around the streets as music was played and fireworks went off in the sky. Dances and the smell of food wafted through the city. Claire was hoping to see Reeve or someone else she knew around here but she was still having fun without them.
A missile, out of nowhere it seems, landed in the church nearby and made everything freeze. Helicopters soon joined and dropped cargo containers and what appeared to be soldiers in the town square. When the soldiers landed they drew out guns and began to rain fire down onto the people while they ran. Clare was frozen in place for a moment before she grabbed her sword. After the events in Edge a year ago she refused to go anywhere without her blade again. But of course, knowing her luck, she had left the blade in the hotel because she was going to be walking around in a festival. Why did this always happen to her? Both her blade and her gun were in her room and there was no time for her to go and get them. She had to do something and now.
With a growl at the sight of one of the soldiers shoving a child into one of their containers, Claire ran at him, her fists pulled back before punching him in the face and jumping onto the back of another. She ripped the gun out of the man's hand and began to fire, bringing all the attention to her as some of the townspeople got away. She caught most of the attention but everyone was drawn to the helicopter as it shot into the hotel. She pulled a face at the thought of her sword and gun when, luckily, she saw the shining blade fly off towards the east. The gun had to be with it. She went to go running after them when she caught sight of a man that flew out of the fire of the hotel. Her mouth wanted to drop open. It couldn't be.
Those red eyes. That long black hair. The tattered, red cloak. Vincent Valentine. What were the odds of both of them being here at the same time?
The sight of him filled Claire with joy and she went to call out to him but Jeanne's words kept her silent. Jeanne was right. If Vincent wanted to talk to Claire he was going to have to step forward. She wasn't going to be chasing after him any longer.
Hurrying out of the town square, she headed off towards where she saw her weapons fly off. Soon a group of civilians had gathered around her to stay safe since she had a gun and for a while, everything was good until the ammo ran out.
"Dammit," She grumbled, smacking it. "Don't do this to me now. Not when I need you the most!" In frustration, she then flung it away, hitting one of the man/beast monsters in the head with it. It growled.
Claire heard one of the children behind her whimper and she balled up her fists. Time for that Martial Arts Tifa had shown her to come in handy. And it did. It kept the beasts at bay and one of her kicks landed in his face and sent the beast flying.
"Ha! Try that again, beastman! I dare ya!" She was still worried as hell, though. There were a lot more and they were turning to her and the ones she was protecting. More ran at her and she set her face to fight until gunshots rang through the air, knocking all the attackers down. Before she had a chance to look at the gunman the children that she had been with jumped into her arms, crying.
"Now, now, guys," Claire smiled. "Everything's all right." After she had everyone calmed down again she finally turned her eyes to their savior.
The man held the appearance of late 20's with long, silky black hair and crimson eyes as he stood about six feet in height. There was a red band on his head with his hair falling over it. He wore a tattered red cape, held in place over his shoulders and his lower face by several buckles. Beneath the cape he wore everything else in black from his neck to his feet with several more straps and buckles. There was a gun and a holster on his right leg and pointed, gold sabatons on his feet. On his left arm was a golden gauntlet with claw-like fingers. The ex-Turk just stared at her in silence.
Tearing her gaze away, Claire moved to the stray guns of the enemy before turning back to the men behind her. "Here," She handed them the two guns. "Take these and get these people inside a building and hide. It'll be a lot safer inside." The men nodded before herding the group inside a near building and locking the door behind them.
"Are you not going with them?" Vincent's deep voice sent a tingling feeling through her skin but she refused to acknowledge it as she sighed.
"I have…more important things to do." Claire referred to the rest of the city's mayhem and Vincent nodded in agreement.
"Then you might want these." He told her.
Claire turned back to him and couldn't help the smile that broke out across her face. In his left hand was Jeanne's sword, her gun and holster still wrapped around it. She grabbed them instantly, almost like a greedy, little kid. "What I wouldn't pay to know the thoughts that went through your head when you found these." She turned her back to him, missing the small smile on his face as she pulled the holster on and placed the blade across her back.
"What are you doing here, Claire?" Vincent asked her.
She glanced at him. "I was here for the festival. Reeve invited me to celebrate it with him but business came up and he couldn't." She pulled her hair out of her face, getting a serious feel about her. "And what are you here for? I doubt you were here for the celebration."
Vincent shook his head. "Reeve asked me to meet him here."
"He did, huh?" She asked herself before turning to walk down to the large wooden doors that led back into the town square. Vincent took a few steps after her before he could stop himself and followed her through the doors. The square was completely empty now…until that large aircraft, a Dragonfly, decided to pop up and began to fire at them. The bullets were easy to dodge.
"Think you can handle this?" Vincent asked her, grabbing Cerberus.
"After all the crap that we've been through I'm sure I'll be fine." The beginning was quite easy. The just dodged bullets and fired their own until a troop of the enemy, dressed in black with the glowing blue stripes running down their bodies, jumped down to face them. Claire switched her gun out for her sword. "I'll handle these guys. You take care of the helicopter."
Vincent nodded and jumped onto one of the buildings to resume his attack on the Dragonfly. None of it took very long. Claire was done with the troops in time to see Vincent roll onto a building to dodge the helicopter's missiles before it flew off. Poking her head after the smoke clear she found Vincent standing up and brushing dust off of his coat. She calmly told herself to do as Jeanne said.
"You all right?" She asked him.
"I'm fine."
"Good. Let's go." She told him, heading up the stairs. It was harder being so cold to him but she forced herself to stick to it.
They weren't attacked as they traveled through the building but when they reached the top floor the wall to the right burst in. A large man, muscular with long, pale blue hair and dressed with those glowing blue stripes, walked in. This 9'5' man made Barret look like a freakin' teddy bear and Claire couldn't help but let her eyes grow wide. Right behind him was a young teen with short, copper hair in matching clothes.
"The Protomateria," The young girl was the one to speak. Claire's eyebrows rose as her eyes began to glow an orange color. "Tell us where it is."
~Protomateria?~ Claire titled her head. ~Where have I heard that before?~ Vincent placed himself between Claire and the newcomers as they both remained silent, waiting for the others to move first.
"Hail Weiss." The Large man grinned. He was echoed by the troops that had filed in after them. They pointed their guns at Vincent and Claire but they didn't last seconds when Claire pulled out Jeanne's sword again. The large man smirked and took a step towards her. "Challenge accepted." Vincent got ready to move but before any of them could the young girl seemed to lose her strength and fainted to the floor.
"This way!" A voice called from the hall and footsteps could be heard.
The large man paused for a moment and then smirked. "Luck is on your side." He commented as he picked the girl up.
"I'm sorry," She whispered.
The man paused again and turned back to face Vincent and Claire. "I am Azul. We will meet again." And he was gone by the time the door to their left burst open. Several moved in the room but the one that caught Claire's attention was the man in dark blue with medium brown hair and a beard.
"Reeve!" She grinned at the man as she engulfed him in a hug. "It's so good to see you again!"
The man laughed. "Same to you, Claire." He glanced over her shoulder. "Vincent. Are you two all right?'
"Of course," Claire grinned, pulling back as Vincent nodded.
"Reeve, nice to see you again. Not a very interesting outfit, though."
Claire gave a giggle as Reeve laughed. "It took me a while to decide which costume I'd put on for today." He answered and then he turned serious. "But enough of the small talk. Who were the soldiers that just left?"
"I have no idea," Claire shook her head. "But they were with the ones that attacked the city."
"The large one called himself Azul." Vincent added.
Reeve's mouth almost dropped open. "Azul the Cerulean? Of the Tsviets!"
"It seems that you've heard of him." Claire cupped her chin in her hand as she thought. ~Why did that name…Weiss…seem to familiar?~
"That can only mean…" Reeve continued.
"Commissioner!" a WRO member cried out and Reeve turned. There were more of the enemy troop moving around the city.
"We'll discuss this later," Reeve told them. "The WRO troops have arrived and commenced rescue operations. We could use both of your help."
Claire nodded happily and Reeve went to leave, but-
"Reeve," Vincent called out and the man turned back. "I don't know what you are up to, but I want absolutely no part of it."
The man looked surprised and hurt. "But…you fought alongside us three years ago! And last year too! We need your help once mo-" The man was cut off by a troop that had snuck up behind and shot him.
"Reeve!" Claire cried out. Vincent's eyes went wide and he pulled out his gun and shot the soldier before kneeling beside them. Vincent tried to pick him up and roll him over but his arms and head rolled off.
It was just a robot! Claire sighed in relief as Cait Sith rolled out of the body. Vincent glared at it.
"Ah!" The white cat cried. "That was a close one! Never was good at fighting!" Vincent sighed as the two of them watched him talk. "Luckily I come out wearing 'Reeve'!" The cat then looked up at Vincent. "You're really not a bad bloke are you, Vincent? You pretend not to care, but you always come through in the end."
Vincent sighed. "All right, what do you want us to do?"
Claire lifted her head as he said 'us'. It hurt. It hurt a lot, knowing that he planned on moving around with her again for a little longer.
"Let's run those lads outta town! I'll leave the method up two you two. When you've tidied things up, meet me at the Square in front of the east church."
Vincent stood to his feet and held a hand down to help Claire up. If the situation would have been different, she would have took it but stood up on her own and placed her hands on her hips as she stared down at the white cat.
"You better be prepared, 'cause the next time I see you , Reeve, I'm going to beat you for scaring me like that!"
Cait Sith chuckled. "Sure thing, Lassie. Just make sure that you're in one piece when you do it!" He gave Claire a thumbs-up as Vincent jumped out of the window. She returned the gesture and followed the silent man.
Claire landed on her feet and put her hands in her pockets. They were in the city square again. "All right. Well, I'll see you later, I guess." She told him as she began to walk away.
Vincent stared after her for a few moments. She was leaving? He had been expecting her to follow him around like she had done before Meteorfall. "You're leaving?" He called after her.
"Yep." She didn't look back at him. "These last few months, ever since the wedding, I've realized that I can take care of myself. If you need me, give me a call. You know my number, though I doubt you'd call."
Vincent watched her leave the square. He had been expecting her comments like that but they stung worse than he thought they would. He deserved that, especially after the kisses he had given her at Tifa and Zeke's wedding. It was a strange feeling, him wanting to ask her to stay with him while fighting through the city but he turned his back instead, traveling down another street.
Both Claire and Vincent traveled through the city, saving people, learning things, and not seeing the other. They learned that WRO stood for World Regenesis Order, though Claire made a comment on how World Restoration Order would sound better.
Where Claire finally reached the east church, Vincent was already there, fighting that helicopter again. She watched as he took it down in his Limit Break, Galian Beast. That brought back many memories as it was Claire that could calm Vincent down when he went through his Limit Break during their journey.
As Vincent turned back to normal as he landed on the ground, Claire applauded and walked closer to him. "Not bad," She commented.
"You didn't find the need to help?" He asked her.
"It looked like you had everything under control." More of the attacking troop appeared their guns pointing at the two of them. "There's 12 of them, and two of us. Can you take six by yourself?" Claire asked, pulling her gun out. She didn't wait for an answer and went to run forward but a truck pulled up in front of her, unloading WRO troops poured out. Reeve, with his own gun, followed them. Reeve and Vincent nodded at eachother as Claire joined the WRO members and their shooting. Vincent followed suit.
After everything was back in order, Vincent and Claire sat on top of some crates in silence, waiting for Reeve to come and talk to them. Vincent had opened his mouth to say several things but decided against it, just staring at the blonde woman as she played with her phone. Something had changed about her over the year. Yes, she had cut her hair but there was something else. The way she held herself. It was something that he couldn't place. Her clothes were now black jeans and boots with a long-sleeved, dark blue top with the images of a fire burning across it from her left hip. Her sword was now on her hip with 2 belts and her gun and there was a thin, silver chain hanging around her neck. He recognized that outfit from their journey together before Meteorfall. He also recognized that emblem of a three-headed dog hanging on that chain on her neck. Vincent had given her that on the night before the final battle. She might have been mad at him but if she was still wearing that after all this time…
"Good work, you two," Reeve praised, grabbing their attention. "The enemy is retreating. It seems they have finally begun their withdrawal from Kalm."
"Good." Vincent replied. Claire nodded in agreement.
"However, we still require your assistance." Reeve looked at Claire with an apologetic look on his face. "I'm sorry. This was supposed to be an evening of relief for you but not anymore."
"It's all right, Reeve," Claire waved it aside. "You know me and my fighting."
"Yes, but that's not what I'm talking about." He gave a sigh and hung his head a bit. "I've just received word that…reports are that Edge is under attack." Vincent watched in silence as a look of horror spread across the woman's face.
"What do you mean that it's under attack?" She demanded, jumping to her feet.
"The troops here have also attacked Edge. We lost contact while the attack happened." He gave her a serious look. "Are Cloud and the others still there?"
"No," Claire shook her head. "Tifa took Denzel and Matt with her to join Zeke at the dig site and Cloud and Jeanne are on vacation at Rocket Town with Cid and Renee. Rufus and the Turks all went to the mountains on some kind of mission."
"What about Marlene?"
"Barret took her with him for a little while," Claire told him, shaking her head. "Dammit, if they had been there…"
"If they were there then they would have chased the enemy out with their tail between their legs, but they weren't, which is why I'm asking for the two of you to go."
"Oh hell yeah!" Claire growled, clenching a fist. "I swear if those idiots even laid a finger on my damn house-" She paused and looked at the older man with a sly grin. "Hey, Reeve, do you remember what next Thursday is?"
"Umm, August 19?" Reeve guessed.
Claire face-palmed. "Come on, Reeve! I expected Vincent not to know but not you! It's my birthday! Cloud and I turn 25 this year! How can you not remember? I even sent you a letter about the party we're supposed to have!" Vincent looked surprised.
"Oh, yes. I remember reading that. Don't worry, Claire." The man laughed. "I haven't forgotten about it. I already have your present ready for you."
Claire clapped her hands together happily. "Good. Then I'm here for you after the events at Edge, too." Vincent frowned and Claire caught it. "I would have sent you an invitation as well but I hadn't seen you in so long that I wasn't sure if you'd remember who I was."
Vincent scowled. That comment hurt more than her other had. "Claire-" But the woman walked away, calling to some of the WRO members, offering help. Vincent sighed.
"It's not like you didn't see it coming," Reeve commented. "And, no offense, but I would have called her or wrote to her or something. It would have been better than just no contact at all. Especially after she caught Tifa's bouquet."
Vincent closed his eyes and sighed as he remembered the look that the blonde woman had given him when she had caught the flowers before Tifa and Zeke left for their honeymoon. "I know."
"Get it all situated while you're in Edge, got it?" Reeve told him before walking away himself.
Vincent closed his eyes and sat back down on the crate again. ~I'll try~
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