A/N: I never intended to write a second chapter, but I'm insanely happy at the moment, so, as a result, this plopped into my head. I asked Yoshimara, she said it's actually not a bad idea, so I posted it. Tell me what you think: Ruins or improves it the first chapter? In other words leave or remove it?
I have to thank Mitts for pointing out some things, so I could correct them before posting. It's a pity our 'boys' couldn't be here too, isn't it?
Disclaimer: Anything recognizable to the Final Fantasy VII series and its associated parts belongs to Square Enix and affiliated companies.
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Vincent stares at his still dripping hand. A dream? It must have been a...
Then he looks at his golden claw and runs a finger along the black braid, which is wrapped around his wrist. It's still there - it can't be. Did I really meet him?
Someone slowly opens the heavy wooden door and he hears footsteps approaching him from behind. Then he feels a hand on his shoulder.
"Vincent? Is everything alright?"
Vincent almost smiles. Cloud, of course. How many times have we met here? Trying to be near someone we lost, finding solace at least in each other's company. - Should I tell him? Will he believe me? I can't believe it myself, but I promised him to say 'Hello' to Cloud anyway, so...
"I've just returned from Venice."
"Venice? Never heard of..."
"Venice - an ancient city, some kind of labyrinth of winding paths and canals Gaia knows wherever or whenever." And sometimes smelling as terrible as the slums of Midgar did.
"Wherever or whenever?"
Vincent sighs.
"Maybe you better sit down and I'll tell you a story, which I clearly wouldn't believe you, if you'd tell me."
Cloud looks at him for a while and eventually sits down.
"I'll listen."
"As you know, when I feel empty and lost I come to the church to be with Zack. He is near here, and although I never really touched him I can feel him when I'm here and I'm better.- But not this time. This time I sat by the pool and I realized, that I never was with him, only in my dreams. He died without knowing me, there's nothing real to remember, everything is only made up by my mind. It was agonizing. Then my eyes were drawn towards the water surface and I saw a petal falling into the water, slowly circling on the surface, almost teasing me and I tried to grab it. When I put my hand into the water next I found myself on the roof-top of a sole church tower in Venice."
"On a roof-top of a church tower in - Venice?"
Vincent sighs and rubs his eyes. Cloud has never seen him so tired and he feels instantly sorry for interrupting him.
"Yeah, sorry Vincent, go on."
"It was perfectly alright sitting on that roof-top, as when I'd done that a hundred times before. That was until I looked down straight into striking purple eyes - Zack's eyes."
"Zack's eyes?"
"I would recognize them always and everywhere, you know how I love those eyes, I..."
Vincent lowers his eyes to the water surface, rubs his temples and forehead, and then runs a hand through his long black hair.
Only then Cloud notices that Vincent isn't wearing his trademark red headband. Comforting, he places a hand on his friend's shoulder.
"It's alright Vincent, take your time."
For a while Vincent sits in front of the pool, head bent down, unconsciously stroking the black braid around his left wrist.
"I followed her..
"Her?"
"Her. I followed her through the whole city, the woman with Zack's eyes, Zack's hair, Zack's lips "and with a little smile on his face, "sometimes Zack's behaviour, and - Zack's soul."
Then he tells Cloud of his meeting with her at the monument and finally on the roof-top.
"I think she was scared and confused but she never denied being him. - She also remembered how he died..."
"Oh..."
"She said he loves you Cloud, you're his brother and he wanted nothing more than to protect you and...
"Oh Gaia, Vincent no - please..."
"I know, - I know", he puts his arm around Cloud's shoulders," but I had to tell you, because he wanted me to say 'Hello' to you."
Both men are lost in their own thoughts for quite a while.
"They said they love me."
"They?"
"Yes, she and Zack. She said in their dreams they started to love me like I did in my dreams and they still do. The Dreamer's love. But now there is someone real, who lives, and breathes and loves me. Someone with Zack's soul."
"Why didn't you stay?"
"I couldn't. It was not right. I think it was only meant as an assurance that there is someone real and therefore there is still hope as long as there is love."
"There is not always hope, although there is love."
"Until recently, I would have said the same, but now I think everything seems possible. If a Dreamer's love can come true, then nothing is inevitable, there will be a way for you to be with him."
"But it didn't come true, you're not with Zack."
"No, I am not. But I know he lives, and he loves me and somehow I know I will meet him again.
They keep silence for a while, mulling over what has been said, appending answering thoughts.
"Where do you have your headband by the way?"
"I gave it to Zack, and he gave me his braid in return. I wrapped it around my wrist and it's still there. There is hope after all Cloud, for Zack and me and - for you and - Sephiroth."
There is another long pause, while Vincent softly traces the lines of the braid again as, at some point, two crystal clear drops appear. Unconsciously he takes one of the drops with the tip of his finger, balancing it there for a while and eventually licks it off . It tastes of salt.
And then Vincent realizes what just happened. He is - crying?
"Have I just tasted -his tears...?" When I imagine touching his hair, trace along his cheek with my finger, or even kissing his lips...can I comfort him? Are we connected by some kind of - bond?
He slowly touches the braid with the backside of his index finger, then, after a slight hesitation, he lifts his left arm and kisses the welling tears away. It actually feels like kissing his hair...And it feels as if somebody touches my hair, my face...
When Cloud sees his friend sitting there cross legged, with a soft smile on his lips, murmuring inaudible words while touching the braid wrapped around his wrist, he smiles sadly. There maybe hope for them, but not for us. And he feels even more lost and hurt, it's almost unbearable.
There is no hope for the one who killed the love of his life. - The saviour of the planet - hah I need to get drunk, really seriously drunk. And he silently leaves the church for Tifa's bar, although he knows, in fact with his amount of Mako in his blood, there is no chance for him getting seriously drunk.
When Vincent arrives at Tifa's bar, Cloud is already gone. He settles himself into the next bar stool, and when he looks into Tifa's eyes he feels the guilt creeping up on him. He shouldn't have indulged in his connection with Zack, even though new established, while Cloud was still around suffering. To confront his already deeply hurt and lonesome friend with his private way out of loneliness must have been devastating, although, as he knows Cloud, he would be happy for him. But as always - nothing for Cloud...
*
It had been two weeks, since Cloud disappeared. Only a few people know that he went back in time, but everybody who knows it, hopes truly deeply that he finally gets everything he ever wanted. Zack and Aeris alive, but above all, his love alive and sane.
Minor changings occurred. Some people behaving different, nothing tangible but those, who know, notice it anyway.
Vincent is at Tifa's bar again settled into his usual bar stool, when the door opens and Tifa looks slightly frowning at a dark haired girl lingering at the entrance as if she is looking for someone. Suddenly Vincent feels small arms around his waist, when he looks down he recognizes his red headband wrapped around the right wrist.
"Zack?"
"Vincent..."
He turns and looks into a pale face with Zack's purple eyes and draws it closer, holding it into his chest, stroking black spikes.
"Love, w-what are you doing here? How did you come here?"
"I-I don't know, I sat on that pew in Aeris church, and well I-I knew where to go to ask for you, Tifa's bar - Seventh Heaven, isn't it?"
"Yeah, that's right." He pulls away for a moment, "But why are you here?"
She pushes her face deep into Vincent's chest and asks almost inaudible "Can we go somewhere else, somewhere - outside?", and as after briefly thinking about it, "To the Forgotten Capital?"
"The Forgotten Capital?" She nods in his chest.
"It's already dark outside, so we could use Cloud's bike without too many people may notice. You'll stay with Tifa meanwhile, alright?
"Alright."
He looks at Tifa, "Tifa, can she stay anywhere upstairs, till I come and get her?"
"She can stay in Cloud's room, if she wants."
"Thank you,"and Vincent disappears in a red blur.
Tifa looks to Zack, "Come on, I show you the way. What is your name by the way, Vincent never told me."
"Zack."
"No, I mean..."
"There is no other name anymore, only Zack."
She opens the door to Cloud's room, "Oh... Well, I'll call you when Vincent is back then - Zack."
Vincent arrives at the bar's back entrance and calls Tifa with his cell phone. "I'm at the back entrance, can you tell her to come down here please?"
After a few moments the door opens and she steps outside, smiling shyly.
"Ready?" She nods and hops behind Vincent, wrapping her arms tightly around his waist, hiding her face into his long black hair.
"Ready."
When they arrive at the Forgotten Capital they dismount Cloud's bike and Vincent takes Zack's hand. Together they walk to the water silently.
"I had to come here; it has drawn me to this place. Something is happening Vincent, it's like the fate's changing. I-I don't know my other name anymore. - I-I'm afraid and at the same time I'm a-almost euphoric..."
Vincent slightly hesitates," Maybe it's because Cloud went back in time, to hopefully prevent you from dying, Niebelheim from happening and with that him from killing Sephiroth three times. - Probably he's making any difference already..."
It takes her a few moments to sink in, and then she chuckles. "Always thinking big trying to make the impossible come true, that's our - no - for ever his Cloud..."
A small smile tugs at Vincent's lips and he wraps his arms around Zack's waist. Zack leans his forehead against Vincent's chest and they stay silent for quite a while.
"Vincent - it may sound strange, but I feel I have to leave - her body, enter this planet's Lifestream again, to be with Cloud back in time maybe helping him making a difference."
For one moment Vincent holds her even tighter, then he sighs.
"I'll be back my love, I promise - I love you..."
He pulls back a little and looks into those striking purple eyes he loves so much, they smile at him lovingly then becoming slowly more and more green and finally the body gets limp in his arms, he hears one more deep breathing and then - nothing more...
Carrying her light body he walks into the water, looks into her calm face one last time and leaves her body floating in the water. He turns, not looking back and smiles. He promised me...
Hold tenderly that which you cherish, for it is precious and a tight grip may crush it. Do not let fear of dropping it cause you to hold it too tightly: the chances are, it's holding you, too.
- Bob Alberti -