Don't own character's that are already owned
Chapter 4
The promise
""beep beep beep""
"Ugh... ne... ah" a pale hand forced its way past the sheets, slamming down on the beeping machine.
Aquarium colored orbs peeked past half closed lashes. He took in a deep breath, letting it escape slowly. His face scrunched to the taste in his mouth. With a grunt he rolled over, facing away from the alarm clock on his night stand, and facing the other body that lie awake next to him. Chocolate eyes watched silently, peeking from the blue sheets that rose to just over his nose.
Blinking slowly,"hn..." Vincent's moan came low, yet harsh.
Riku replied with a grin,"Good morning."
Brown eyes continued to watch silently.
Riku frowned,"Can't we still be friends?"
Vincent let out a low sigh,"We'll always be friends." His voice was rough.
"Even though our relationship's so screwed up?" Riku moaned, rubbing at his sleepy eyes,"I don't mean to keep things bottled up." Riku was silent for a moment, his eyebrows drawn together,"Vincent, I'm not using you to escape." Hurt was well heard in his tone.
Vincent let his eyelids fall softly closed, his brows frowning,"Riku... I know you wouldn't ever use me." He opened his eyes, making contact with Riku"but you are escaping, through me."
"So your still saying I use you..." Riku's voice was low,"even if that's so, don't you use me then?"
Vincent slowly nodded, bringing his hand to the pillow,"Riku, I... I'm sorry"
Riku felt his eyes widen, he was taken back by the apology.
Vincent let out a sigh,"I didn't mean for this to happen..." He pulled the covers from his face,"for us to use each other, that way. I don't want things to be complicated."
"We talked about this already, that we weren't going to let things get complicated." Riku protested,"That we would only do this to satisfy each other, that way.""I know, no strings attached, but after sharing ourselves with each other..." Vincent sat up, his back against the bed frame.
Why is he acting like we're dating?"It's not like we had sex." Riku replied, sitting up, facing Vincent.
Vincent was silent, the only sound came from the hurt expression in his eyes as he screamed into Riku's aquarium ones.
"What?" Riku demanded, nervously.Why does he look so... hurt...
Vincent's eyes watered,"...I love you."
"I love you too!" Riku rushed, then suddenly his eyes widened, his mouth dropped,"...Vince...ent.."Oh god.
Vincent slowly shook his head,"No, I love you, from the first time I saw you, I loved you."
"Vincent... that's not.." Riku started to protest.
"Yuffie and I had no one else, but your father took us in." Vincent began.
"No!... he promised..." Riku was cut off.
"It doesn't matter that he'd promised to do it. He didn't know us, he didn't know her." Vincent half smiled"I remember feeling completely lost, confused, hurt... alone. I didn't know what to expect, then I saw you." Vincent moved a strand of brown hair from his face,"You sat there, expectingly, then you stood, walking nervously towards me. A soft, unsure smile spread across your face. You reached out to me, your arms spread, a look of guilt on your face. You were so honest, there was nothing you could've done. I took your offering, and I let you hold me." Vincent let a tear roll down his cheek,"It was nothing that I could ever imagine, I felt it. I knew you were important, I knew that I wanted to always be around you. I knew that I loved you."
Riku was silent.
"I wanted more then anything to hold you, to kiss you, to show you I love you. For you to feel it." Vincent frowned,"I was happy to have you like that, but it wasn't real, and it was wrong of me to do it. Feeling the way I do towards you." Vincent sighed, his frown turned to a flat line,"I just can't continue doing it anymore, it hurts to much, to know it isn't real. That you don't... love me." Vincent bowed his head, looking from Riku's eyes to the mangled sheets on his lap,"I'm sorry... for letting things get complicated."
Riku sat for a moment, in thought to everything Vincent said, his eyes searched curiously over the mangled sheets that covered them both. Complicated? How could he have not told me! Why didn't he tell me before we started this whole thing?
""beep beep beep""
"Ugh SHUTUP!" Riku yelled, as he slammed his hand down on the alarm clock once more.
He felt the other climb from the bed.
Riku shivered.All those times, every single one of them, he felt for me. He climbed from the bed, walking towards the dresser. Pulling from the dresser the clothes he desired, then walked towards the door, swinging it open, then slamming it shut behind him.
He walked to the bathroom, slamming the door closed.
How could he do it then? Give himself to me, knowing that it wasn't... real?He turned on the water to the shower, undressing from his night pants and long sleeve shirt.
I'm the one escaping? I'm the one living outside reality? He's been lying to himself the whole time!
Riku sighed, a frown placed heavy on his face. He stepped slowly into the shower.
It's not like that, Vincent isn't like that, he wouldn't use me like that. Though we both used each other like that.
He...
loves me.
How could I use someone who... loves me...
"Good morning"
"Good morning."Vincent greeted the silver haired man sitting at the table.
"Riku having one of his mornings?" The older man teased.
Vincent offered a nervous smile,"Are you hungry, I'll make you something?"
Sephiroth placed down the newspaper he held,"Thank you Vincent, but I'm fine, my coffee will do." With that he took a sip from the mug.
"What about you, I'll make you something if you'd like?" Sephiroth offered, scooting from the table.
"Oh, no it's ok," Vincent waved his hands,"I'll just make some toast."
"If you insist," Sephiroth shrugged, scooting back to the table,"how's school?"
Vincent pulled some bread from the fridge,"It's alright, still not getting into trouble."
Sephiroth smirked"I see, that's good, leaving that to Riku."He chuckled,"He certainly doesn't get is foul behavior from me."
"Certainly." A light smirk on his face.
"So tell me, what keeps you confined to these walls?" The older man carried a knowing tone in his voice.
Vincent shivered at the tone,"I... I don't like to go out much that's all."
"I know, guess that's how it happens, one son refuses to stay where he sleeps, and the other might as well be a piece of art on the wall." Sephiroth sighed,"Well that's ok, I love to know your safe at home."Vincent turned from the toaster, looking strangely towards the man,"Art on the wall?"
Sephiroth let out a laugh,"It's the only thing I could come up with."
Vincent nodded,"I see."
"It's nice of you to give your sister your room." Sephiroth grinned.
Vincent sighed,"Yeah, well..."
"Would you mind knocking on the bathroom door, if he takes anymore time we're leaving without him." Sephiroth cut in, glancing at his wrist watch.
Vincent
nodded, pulling the toast from the toaster, munching on it as he
walked from the kitchen. As he passed his room, he felt his body long
for the comfort his room provided for him. He came to the bathroom
door, standing for a moment, hesitant at first, not wanting to
disturb the other.
Vincent munched at his toast as he lightly tapped on the door.
If he needed me, I wouldn't pull away, if he needed me to hold him, to kiss him, I will. I'll love him until he finds no more use of me. I will do that, because there's nothing else out there for me. Everything I want I have right here, in this house. Riku, no matter where you go, you'll always come home, and I'll wait for you. Just like all the other times I've waited. You'll always find me, like I found you... expecting. Everything I want, everything I have is nothing at all. Until you find nothing in me, I'll continue to find nothing in you. No matter what it is you want, I'll do it. I'm sorry I've made things so complicated.
The bathroom door slowly opened, Riku stood, slouched slightly to the side,"I'm not going to school today."
Vincent frowned,"Riku..." His eyes met with Riku's aquarium ones,"What's.." he lifted his pale hand to Riku's bare shoulder.
Riku violently jerked from the touch, his eyes wide,"NO! Don't!" Riku protested, backing into the bathroom then slamming the door shut.
Vincent kept his stance for only a moment, his hand lingered on the white door. His pale fingers traced the wood to to golden knob that would allow him access.
"Boys! Any longer and I'll be late!"
At hearing Sephiroth's voice, Vincent allowed his fingers to drop from the door. Then with a soft sigh he turned and walked from the hall. He met eyes with Sephiroth who was standing at the door, his long white coat folded over his bent arm. Sephiroth raised a silver brow.
Vincent was quick to his inquiry,"Riku's not feeling well, he said he was going to stay home today." Vincent's voice came low, he rubbed at the side of his pants, letting the crumbs of bread fall from his hands.
Sephiroth only shrugged, then turned to walk out the front door. Vincent retrieved the books from the table, then followed the older man. He let his eyes fall to Sephiroth's long silver locks, they swayed gently, with each step he took. He could imagine Riku looking like Sephiroth at his age. If he continued to grow his hair out. He would look exactly like Sephiroth, when he was older.
Will you let me watch you grow?
"Vincent?"
Vincent looked up, as he opened the car door"Yes?"
When your older, will you still talk to me?
Sephiroth smiled, then crouched down to sit in the car,"Would you like to go to work with me?"
Vincent seated himself comfortably, buckling himself. He let his lips pierce in thought.Have I really made him that upset?
Sephiroth turned the engine, then waited for the gate to open,"I'll write you a note, of course."
Vincent shrugged,"Alright, just as long as I'm not in your way."
The silver haired man smiled, turning his head to the rear, making his way out of the drive way,"No, don't be ridiculous your never in the way. Actually..." he geared his Porche, going forward,"I thought maybe we could talk today."
Vincent nodded,"Of course..." He moved his books from his lap to the back seat.
"Yeah, think it's bout time for an update." Sephiroth flatly stated.Vincent nodded, looking out the window, watching them pass the street leading to his school.
"So, where's Riku then?"
Sora frowned, eyeing his peers in the cafeteria. He let a silent shrug answer Tidus, then he returned his attention back to his food.
"How do you not know?" Tidus almost sounded annoyed.
Sora finished his food in his mouth before answering,"Tidus, I'm not his keeper, I don't know!" Sora snapped, quickly taking another bite of his pizza.It's not like I know everything about Riku.
Tidus shoveled some rice in his mouth, not taking a query eye off Sora. After madly chomping at the rice, Tidus grinned,"Sorry, just was pretty sure you'd know." Tidus took another bite of rice.
Sora shrugged,"It's ok..."
I hardly know anything anymore. Especially about Riku.
"You alright?" The blonde's grin flattened.
"Yeah..." Sora frowned.
Tidus shifted in his seat, his eyes fell just behind where Sora was sitting.
Sora turned to find the source of the blonde's attention, Yuna. She stood a few feet from their table, holding the same silent stare Tidus held for her.
"You two look like your look'n at ghosts." He let his voice come just above a whisper.
Tidus shook his sight back to Sora,"Eh... What?"
"You've got it bad for her?" Sora commented, feeling a smirk cross his face.
"Sora..." The blonde shook his head, then softly rubbed at his hair.
Sora frowned"What?"
"I don't like her, Cloud..." Tidus began, he let a low sigh escape his lips.
Cloud! What about Cloud?"He use to go out with her!" Sora felt his eyes widen, his voice gave away his surprise.
Tidus gave Sora a puzzled look, then shook his head,"No... Cloud knew her older sister."
Sora nodded, letting his eyes fall to his pizza"Oh."
Tidus poked at the rice with his fork.
"Did they... date?" Sora questioned, looking from his pizza, seeing Tidus eyeing his rice thoughtfully.
"No, he loved her though." He stated flatly.
Loved?... Tifa.
"Speaking of Cloud, I heard you two have been hanging out," Tidus gave a half smile,"congratulations, usually he doesn't like my friends."
Sora raised a curious brow.
"Mostly Wakka, for obvious reasons." Tidus grinned wickedly.
Sora smiled,"For the alcohol."
Tidus nodded"Yeah... when he came home Friday we heard him yell'n at Wakka." He laughed,"At first I thought my dad came home, Your always here bringing your alcohol. What the hell is your problem? Don't you have drink'n buddies your own age!" Tidus impersonated Cloud, a grin on his face.
"Was he really upset?" Sora frowned.
Tidus shook his head,"No, he was just giving Wakka a hard time, he really doesn't care. Just as long as I do it in my house, and I'm safe. You know all that big brother stuff." Tidus chuckled,"Riku and I rushed out of my room, came fly'n down the stairs, just to make sure it was Cloud. Both of us were surprised to see the both of them laughing."
"They were laughing?" Sora took another bite of his pizza.
Tidus grinned,"Yeah, Cloud was teasing Wakka, saying how he was a bum. The only thing Wakka could come up with was, Yeah? Your mom's a bum! ya? " Tidus shrugged,"Actually it was just sad seeing Wakka so shit faced and resorting back to mamma jokes."
Sora giggled,"What did Cloud say?"
Tidus laughed,"You should've seen it, he just gave Wakka this pitiful expression. Then they started to laugh. Riku and I laughed with them. That's when Cloud noticed us, he became silent after that, back to the same o'le Cloud."
"Why?"
Tidus
shrugged,"Cloud probably doesn't want to be caught laughing? I don't know."
""Ring""
"Alright.." Tidus gathered his tray"I'll catch you later then."
"Later..." Sora gathered his belongings and headed for his next class.
It's not that I used him, I didn't know, how could I be accountable for something that I don't even know?
I should've known. How could he do this to me? How could he tell me that? It wasn't real, he can't get something from nothing.
Riku turned in his bed, finding himself looking towards the empty spot that held Vincent earlier.
When we first met, I thought he was younger then me. We were both eleven, but he was much smaller then me. He looked so fragile, I didn't know what to say, but I wanted him to know he could trust me. Vincent's eyes were all puffy, I stood walking towards him, I wasn't sure what to say, or do. So I just hugged him.
He let me hold him. He was much smaller then me, fitting perfectly in my arms.
I never thought it would be any different then the first time we held each other. It was complete perfect comfort. Just the two of us. We just wanted to help each other, no one asked any more out of each other.
How could you love someone, without taking it there? Being inside them completely, going as far as you could with each other. If you never taken it that far... how can you love them?
""tap tap""
Riku sighed,"Yeah?" I almost forgot Yuffie was here.
The silver haired teen turned in his bed, looking to the brown haired girl.
She smiled warmly, opening the door further, letting herself in the room,"Hungry?"
Riku pulled his body up to a sitting position,"Not really."
Yuffie gave a short smile,"You sick?"
Riku grinned,"No, just didn't feel like going to school."
Yuffie rolled her eyes,"What's up?"
Riku shrugged,"Not much."
"Well, are you alright?" She questioned impatiently.
Riku nodded, giving her a smile.
She shrugged,"Well ok."The brunette gave a light wave then walked from the room.
Riku sighed as he fell back against his bed,"This has to end... Vincent."
"Sorry, I thought I had less patients today." Sephiroth sighed, he sat on his black leather chair, near his computer.
"It's alright, they had appointments, I'm a walk in." I sat on a brown visitor chair, near his desk.
Sephiroth chuckled as he typed a few things on the keyboard, then with a click of the mouse his illuminated screen turned black.
"Ok, so.." He rolled his chair over to his desk, then stood,"Let's get to it." He walked towards the tan couch, sitting on it, he patted the cushioned seat next to him,"Come, sit with me."
I obeyed, leaving the chair I was firmly sitting in. With a soft thud I melted in the soft couch, he scooted away, giving space between us. I eyed the notebook he held.
"How are you feeling?" His voice held concern.
"Same as usual. Mediocre." Vincent smirked lightly.
"I see.." Sephiroth nodded, a smile on his lips,"How's school work?"
"Fine, I turn my assignments in on time." Vincent grinned, for he knew some where in the back of Sephiroth's mind he was cursing Riku.
"Is anybody picking on you?" Sephiroth moved his pen to scribble some words down on the notebook.
Picking on me?
"No, I go unnoticed."
"Unnoticed." Sephiroth repeated, unaffected by the word.
"So tell me, what's been running through your head lately?"
"Homework, home, movies, music... just typical teenage stuff." Vincent shrugged, also love.
"Tifa?"
Vincent frowned,"Always."
"Tell me about it." Sephiroth moved his pen against the paper.
Vincent gave a useless shrug"I don't know, she's always there in the back of my mind."
"Does she say anything?" His tone curious.
"No, I just feel her. She's peaceful." Vincent assured the other.
"Peaceful."
"It's almost as if she's got her arms around me. Holding me." Vincent ran his fingers on each of his shoulders, holding himself, then letting his hands drop,"She use to always tell me she'd protect me if I was ever in trouble."
"Are you in trouble?"
"No, I'm not in any kind of trouble..."Just sad, lonely, hurting.
"I feel her the strongest, when I'm feeling my worst."
"Why do you think that is?" Curiosity high in his tone.
"I don't know. I guess that's what I imagine needing protection from." Vincent traced his sight over the coffee table in front of them.
"From your feelings?"
Vincent let his sight fall from the table to the the floor,"I guess.."
"Tell my about Yuffie, how's your relationship with her?"
"I think it's built off a lot of understanding. I'm not really close to her, but we've been through a lot, so that's what ties us." Vincent trailed his sentence to a low end.
"Were you closer to Tifa?"
Vincent nodded.
"Do you think you'll ever be close to Yuffie, as you were with Tifa?"
"No, Tifa took care of me, she was... like a mother. Yuffie's just my sister."
"How do you feel about the accident?"
Vincent frowned,"How would anyone feel about that kind of thing? It's not fair! She didn't do anything to deserve that fate."
"Do you believe in destiny? In fate?"
Vincent looked into Sephiroth's blue eyes,"What kind of destiny is it that we have? To struggle through life, our parents died, leaving Tifa the bar they worked so hard to own? Then she dies. If destiny is real, then I don't have much to live before I die."
Sephiroth frowned,"Vincent..."
"No! I'm not going to listen to anymore of your speeches. It's not going to be alright!" His voice was quick and annoyed, though it still remained low and silent,"I think about death a lot as well, it's not that I want to die... it's just I can't help but think It's my families fate."
Sephiroth put a firm hand on Vincent's shoulder,"Your part of my family now. I don't want you to worry." He squeezed assuringly,"I'd rather you thought about better things, I would like to see you out with friends. That's what teenagers do. I know I've said countless times how I'm glad to know your safe at home, but I want you to try and go out." Sephiroth retrieved his hand,"Is that something you would want?"
"What I want..."Riku...
Sephiroth nodded.
Vincent let out a low sigh,"I know what I want, but I think it might be out of reach."He doesn't want me.
"I know the feeling of having something you desire, but also the feeling after it's gone."
He always leaves.
"I'm not sad when I have my desire in my grasp, but I'm not happy either. It's bittersweet."
An illusion of true happiness.
A soft sigh came from Sephiroth.
"I know.." Vincent continued,"I have so much to be grateful for, and I am." His chocolate eyes met Sephiroth's blue ones. He let his brows draw together,"You've been so kind to me, it's just that... I found something I don't have control over."
"With yourself, or something else?" Sephiroth's voice came soft, inquiring.
Vincent frowned,"I've been in control of myself for a long time, not getting involved with concerns that aren't mine, keeping my distance from people. Nothing bothers me, no one bothers me..."
Except him.
"I like it that way, being invisible. I don't bother with any of them at school, they don't interest me. I don't make small talk with strangers, there's no use." Vincent eyed his hands,"Why bother going to make friends, I don't need friends. I don't need to open myself to people who wouldn't understand, I've got what's most important to me already." He let out a soft sigh,"Through everything, through all that I disconcern myself with, I still found something I can't control." He ran a pale hand through his dark hair.
"Disconnecting yourself to the world isn't healthy either, even though you say you have everything already, there's always more that the world will reveal. There's so much out there Vincent, you just have to go and get it." The older man's tone filled with optimism.
I thought I said I didn't want to hear anymore of your speeches. Vincent frowned."It always leads to the same ending, you telling me to go find friends, to experience what's out there. While I sit here and refuse to."
Sephiroth sighed"I know, I know."
"Tifa promised me that she would protect me, that I wouldn't have to worry. That we were still a family." Vincent felt his eyes sting,"Family... what is it anyway? A Mother, Father and children? All living happily under one roof?"
"Your my family, I don't have to be your real Father to care and love you." Sephiroth assured.
"Is your families destiny any better?" Vincent was immediately taken back by what he had just said. He looked with his wide sorry eyes to Sephiroth,"I... I didn't mean to be so careless. I'm sorry."
Sephiroth lowered his pen,"No, don't be sorry. For my answer, I don't believe my life has already been planned out. I feel that I make my own decisions, and live with the consequences for my actions. I do not blame destiny for my mistakes, I'm not destined to fail, nor am I to win. The only thing I live by is the moment."
"..." Vincent began only to be silenced by his own pierced lips
"I can't dwell on yesterday, it's in the past." Sephiroth let his eyes drop from Vincent's brown ones,"There's been times in which I've been completely lost, that I've been depressed... felt complete hopelessness. But, from those times... I've moved on."
"Do you think I'm blaming destiny?" Vincent frowned,"I don't blame destiny for taking my parents, my sister. But I don't go looking for things to drown my sorrow."
Sephiroth shook his head,"It's not drowning sorrow... It's learning how to move on, to accept and cope."
"I've accepted it! I'm not happy about it but I've accepted it!" Vincent let his voice raise slightly.
"Alright, so then what keeps you from going out? Making new friends? Vincent your always alone..." Sadness lingered in Sephiroth's voice.
I'm
not alone, not when I have him.
Vincent
fidgeted, his eyes traced along the walls filled with all the
certificates, and plaques that were hung.
"How do you live by the moment?" Vincent's voice inquired lowly"How can you live life by the feelings of one moment to the next? What about everything that is left out of the moment?"
What if Riku wasn't there? Would I forget him... no.
Vincent continued, "Even if you were to make a decision wouldn't you need to think about it thoroughly? Wouldn't you need to think about the outcome of your choice?"Sephiroth stiffened,"Vincent... I.." he began, his pen halted in it's movement,"I meant... You have to live with the moments you are given..."
"Given?" Vincent eyed Sephiroth intensely,"I thought you didn't believe in destiny... in fate." He felt himself getting excited.
Sephiroth frowned.
Vincent felt chills from Sephiroth's sad expression. He immediately felt guilty for making the other frown.
"Vincent, I don't have all the answers. I try to live my life making choices I can live with. But there are those times in which I am faced with a consequence of my own doing. Those outcomes are far harder to deal with then an outcome I have no control over. My accountability for my own doings is what makes me stronger. I'm not saying make a decision without thought or reason, but rather make a decision you want to make, guided by your feelings. If your not passionate about the way you lead your life then the outcome will be dull, and you'll end up dwelling on the past."
Vincent's thoughts spriraled.
The choices I have made... are they passionate? Did I really want to tell Riku... knowing he does not feel the same?
I love you
Did I carelessly throw those three words out? I watched them fall untouched to the floor. What about our first kiss? Did I do it out of my own want... or did I do it because he needed it? I let things end up this way. This love I have for him is tainted with false expressions, he never loved me as he touched me, kissed me... hugged me.
No... it was right of me to tell him. I can't regret telling him. I didn't tell him because he needed to hear it, I told him because I needed to say it. I wanted to say it. I knew from the start of those three words, he would not have returned them. Not the way I've said them to him.
I love you too!
No Riku, you don't love me as I love you.
"I know the feeling of regretting a decision," Sephiroth continued,"It doesn't get easier, admitting to your faults, dealing with what you've chosen..." He let a sigh escape him,"However, you must not dwell, you have to move on, you have to live past it. The same goes for things you have no control over." Sephiroth reached over to Vincent, putting his hand lightly on Vincent's shoulder,"It's not for you to dwell over, you had no control over your sister's death."
Vincent felt his eyes sting"I know..."But it's still not fair, neither of them deserved to die, Tifa, Rinoa... Her.
They were going somewhere... where were they going? To see somebody...
I was home with Yuffie when they came to the door. Two police officers, there stoic expressions set firmly on their faces. We were taken to the hospital. At first I didn't know what to expect, why are we here? We were told to wait in the lobby. So we waited, Yuffie held her arms around herself, her eyes planted sorely on the blue carpet below us. I looked to anybody and everybody that walked hastily this way or that. I almost felt a cold chill as I saw a man walk up to me, his blue outfit, covered with blood, his silver hair tied back, through his bangs I saw his unsure eyes look over me, then to my sister.
I knew without him having to tell me. Tifa was dead.
He crouched down in front of us, a frown on his face.I'm sorry, but Tifa... didn't make it.
Yuffie
began to cry at the words, I continued to look deep into his eyes...
waiting for him to tell me she was fine.
Rinoa died at the accident site, Tifa was taken here, she fought hard but she died shortly after I began to work on her. She wasn't wearing her seat belt, she flew through the window.
Vincent remembered the words, bringing with them the feelings of first hearing them.
Dead, didn't make it, strong, fight, died, accident.I was able to help the other, she's stable now. She won't wake up for a while... her.
The police officers took us to the kids orphanage. We kept to ourselves, not talking with anyone. No one but the adults knew our names. Then one day the doctor came, in his hand he held a bag.
Come.. would you like to come with me? take care of you... have a son your age... play... It's going to be ok... I'll take care of you... I know... loosing a loved one... Come... son is... age... family... going to be alright... Riku... you... protect... I promise.
He filled the bag with the few clothes we could keep from our once home. Yuffie was the first to agree. I was unsure, scared and confused... he was talking but I didn't hear him. Then he knelt down to me and looked into my eyes.
Stable... promise... she's alright... sleeping... dreaming... Aeris.
Then he took my hand and we left.
I remember walking through the house, then seeing him. His arms wide open... waiting for me.
son... Riku... you... protect... promise.
"Vincent?" Sephiroth inquired.
He
looked from the floor to the navy blue eyes that watched him
curiously. Coming from his thoughts of the past, into the present, he noticed the concerned expression Sephiroth wore.
"Are you alright?" Sephiroth held his pen idly between his fingers.
"Why did you quit?" Vincent quickly asked.
"...Quit?" A silver brow rose.
Vincent nodded,"One day you just decided to become a psychiatrist?"
"Oh.." Sephiroth frowned.
Vincent nodded, things seemed a little clearer now."It's because you couldn't face the decisions you had to make being a surgeon. It's because it was either life, or death." His voice seemed distant yet firm.
Sephiroth's eyes widened, his pen dropped from his hand.
It's like his eyes suddenly opened, he could see Sephiroth so clearly, he could see the older man was afraid.
"I..." Sephiroth began,"I'm... still a doctor..." His tone was defensive.
Vincent frowned at hearing Sephiroth's quick protest,"A psychiatrist, that's a big leap from being a surgeon." His tone was harsh and quick.
All these times you've talked to me, guided me, all these times... you've just been...
"I'm right, aren't I? Instead of having the pain of living with those kind of outcomes, you chose not to do it anymore." Vincent stood from the tan couch. His eyes focused on Sephiroth's."You've been telling me everything all along, everything you've been trying to tell yourself! About regret, about living with our choices... you haven't coped, you haven't accepted!"
Sephiroth stood, rubbing at the wrinkles on his white coat,"Vincent, it's not..."
"Yes... Yes it is like that!" He pointed to the older man as he walked around the table, giving himself distance from the taller man.
"Vincent calm down..." Sephiroth held up both his hands in defense, his silver brows drew together.
"I'm calm, I'm not yelling, I'm not running!" Vincent's heart was fast in his chest.
"Why don't we talk about something else, this is about you, not me." Sephiroth explained,"Why don't you tell me what it is you can't control."
Vincent rubbed at his maroon shirt, almost as if he was searching for something. His hand ran quickly over his chest, he could feel his heart pounding hard against his chest.
Why am I getting this excited? Why is my heart rushing?
Riku... protect... you... promise.
"Vincent?" Sephiroth made an attempt to step closer.
"No! Don't!" Vincent protested.
"Tell me, say what it is your feeling." The older man pleaded.
"I... know... You could hide it from Riku, you could hide it from yourself, it's the same!"
"What's the same?" Sephiroth nervously inquired.
"You couldn't deal with it, that's why you quit..." Vincent could feel his eyes widen,"I can't believe I didn't see it tell now, it's so obvious..."
Sephiroth frowned, his frustration clear in his expression,"What's the same! What are you talking about?"
Vincent took a moment to collect himself, letting his heart beat slow down.
"Vincent?" The silver haired man stood across from him, his dark eyes pleading for an explanation.
Vincent
met the dark blue eyes, feeling his brows draw together, as a
frown came to his face.
He
let his voice come cool and low, just above a whisper, "You loved
her..."
Sora frowned, as he nervously walked towards the brunette placing her books in the locker. He clenched his fists nervously.
She shut the locker, turning from it, she jumped from surprise, seeing Sora stand closely in front of her.
"I'm sorry, didn't mean to scare you..." Sora began, his voice shook.
Her multi colored eyes fidgeted away from him to the floor,"What is it?"
Sora smiled,"um, I wanted to ask you something..."
She lifted her green and blue eyes to look into Sora's,"What?" Her voice was timid.
"Did your sister love Cloud?"
Her eyes widened,"What?"
Sora frowned, "Was she in love with him?"
"Why are you asking me this? Why are you bothering me?" Her voice was shaky,"What business is that of yours? Who do you think you are, asking me these things?"
Sora held out his hands,"Yuna... I'm sorry. I really didn't mean to get you so upset, I just..."
"Why does everyone think I would know? Nobody would understand, nobody will ever know!" She let a tear drop from her green eye.
"Yuna..." He put both his hands on her shoulders.
She wiggled from his hands, her brown eyebrows drew to a frown,"Sora, I never thought you could be so careless." A tear fell from her blue eye.
Sora was at a loss of words. He only stared helplessly at the girl in front of him, he had caused her to be this upset, all because he was... careless."Your right... I'm sorry... I just wanted to know..."
Yuna let her eyes drop from Sora, a soft sniffle came from her.
"I just thought you would know... If Tifa ever loved Cloud back..." His tone was pitiful, his eyes fell from Yuna to the floor.
"...What?" Her voice came as a whisper.
Sora shrugged,"Maybe Tifa told you..." He lifted his sight from the floor, to Yuna's puzzled expression.
"Why would.. Tifa.." Her mouth dropped open,"how could you..."
Sora's eyes widened,"What?"
"First your questions... then... you don't even know.." She took a step back from Sora,"Tifa's not my sister..."
"She's... not..." Sora frowned,"But I thought Cloud..."
Yuna slowly shook her head,"Don't... don't speak to me... don't... I can't believe you... I can't believe you..." She took another step back,"How could you..."
Sora took a step towards her, he hesitantly looked around empty halls."Yuna..."
"Don't!" She warned,"Sora just leave me alone!" Tears fell from her eyes. Then she turned from him, stepping fast away from him, until she broke into a run. Her pale pink dress flowed against her body, reaching back to where she was running from.
"What..." Sora stood, looking down the hallway,"happened."
TBC
This chapter was a bit hard for me to write. It took a lot, A LOT, of rewriting, and chop'n and fix'n. So that's why it took so long to post. Thank you for being patient. I do hope you enjoyed.
My reviewers:
Rali, Irishbrat, Dimonyo-anghel, Raeven, Anonymous...
Thank you so much for leaving reviews. Hopefully I still have the pleasure of you reading the fic.
-Clowyamma