BOOYAH!! Another chapter, and not an ownable character in sight.
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Sunlight shone through the window, waking Cloud from his slumber. He fell onto his stomach, with a loud groan, feeling next to him for the gunman. He breathed hard, lifting his head to look where his hand was. "Vincent?" He inquired drowsily, eyes not fully wanting to open. "Where'd you go?"
Cloud slid out of bed, pulling on his pants, and started checking the rooms. He soon found his lover in the den. He was sitting on the sill of the bay window. His legs were pulled up, loosely against the wall in front of him, left arm hanging over the side. The dawn light glinted golden off of the long black strands, hanging over his gentle face, which was tilted slightly… he was asleep.
Cloud couldn't help the small smile that spread across his face. Even tho he wasn't too happy that Vincent wasn't sleeping with him. He knelt over next to him, brushing the hair from his eyes. Vincent groaned, head titling a bit, his eyes clenching tightly. Cloud just sighed, sliding an arm under the gunman's arm, around his back, the other looping beneath his knees. He carried Vincent in his arms, who held tightly to him, face buried in his lover's neck. Vincent shivered slightly, causing Cloud to pull him tighter. He groaned again, fingers gripping the blonde strands.
Cloud carried Vincent into their bedroom, and laid him gently down on the bed. Vincent writhed slightly against the soft mattress, his lips falling open. His face reddened and tears formed in the corners of his eyes as he gripped tightly to Cloud's hand. Cloud sighed, stroking the other hand across the ex-Turk's face.
Vincent seemed to be plagued by these nightmares far more than he was.
He leaned forward, placing a kiss to his forehead, next to his lips. Cloud's phone vibrated, startling Vincent awake. Cloud couldn't help but laugh at him. "It's just my phone, hon. Didn't mean to wake you." He kissed him, pulling the phone out and flipped it open.
Vincent yawned, watching Cloud answer it. He had moved closer to the door, so he couldn't hear too much of what he was saying, but Cloud did glance back at him at one point. He was seemingly on edge about something, soon saying he'd be there as soon as possible, and hung up.
Turning, with a smile, Cloud made his way over, sitting on the bed. He stroked Vincent's hair. "I have to make some deliveries. I'll try to get back as soon as I can, but it'll most likely be late." His hand stopped on the side of his face. "Are you going to be ok?"
Vincent touched his hand, a smile teasing his lips. "I'll be fine. Just be careful, out there."
Cloud couldn't help but smile, leaning over to kiss his angel. "Stop worrying about me, and get some rest. You look exhausted."
xXx
Vincent sat in the armchair, in front of the fireplace, completely ignoring the blonde swordsman's advice. Despite his best efforts, he was beginning to doze off when he heard the door close behind him.
That was odd. It's only been a couple hours. Cloud shouldn't be back this soon.
He turned, nearly rolling his eyes at the knowledge that it was none other than – Cid.
"Hi there." The pilot beamed brightly.
"What are you doing here, Cid?
"What?" He threw his arms up. "Ya looked like crap yesterday. Just thought I'd come see how you were doin."
Vincent stood, walking over. "You shouldn't be here. Cloud's mad, as it is."
"Pfft. I ain't scared of him. Don't care how mad he gets."
Vincent grabbed Cid's arms, to pull him off his high hoarse. "But I do. Cid, I don't like when Cloud's angry. You really shouldn't come by here anymore. Not even when Cloud's away."
Cid's eyes fell silent - pained – as he took Vincent's hands. "Where's he now?"
"He's making a delivery." He answered quickly enough, but there was still that split second of hesitation.
A moment of doubt.
Vincent began to realize that Cid was still holding his hands, and jerked them away, walking back to the chair. "Just go, Cid."
"Do you love him?"
The ex-Turk whirled around. "Will you stop asking that!"
Cid shook his head. "I can't."
"Why not?"
"Because you never give me a straight answer."
Vincent's face flushed. He didn't avoid the question, that much. It just seemed like such an obvious answer. "Of course I do."
"Then why aren't you happy?"
Vincent's eyes sprang open. He couldn't believe Cid would say such a thing. "I am happy."
Cid walked closer, kinda giving him the creeps. He had such a chillingly serious look, in his eyes. "I'm not sure I believe you."
Vincent backed into the chair, moving around to the other side. "What's not to believe?"
Cid grasped Vincent's wrist, pulling him to lean over the chair. "Do you honestly trust that Cloud's making a delivery?"
Vincent just stared at him, hoping his thoughts were wrong. "I do."
Those blue eyes searched his expression, and he soon released his arm. "Then, call him."
Vincent's hands dropped into the seat. He glanced up at Cid. "What?"
Cid folded his arms. "He has his phone on him, right?"
Vincent, slowly, pushed himself up. "Well, yea, but I can't just call him up out of the blue."
"Just say, you have to talk to him."
."I can't."
"I just need to see something." He flopped down, on the couch. "What are you afraid of?"
The gunman scowled. "Fine. If it'll get you to shut up." Vincent made his way to the end table, lifting the receiver. He hesitated, slightly, before dialing Cloud's cell, and placed it to his ear.
Vincent waited for a few seconds, then hung up. He stared at the phone, maybe waiting for it to ring.
"What happened?"
Vincent shook his head. "His phone's cut off."
Cid stood, walking over. "Why would his phone be cut off?"
"He always cuts it off, on deliveries."
"Then, why didn't you mention it earlier?"
"I didn't think about it."
The slight sob, in his voice, caused Cid to drop his hands down on Vincent's shoulders. "Vincent. There's something I have to tell you."
"I don't want to hear it."
"But Vince-"
Vincent smacked his hands off, turning to him. "I said, 'I don't want to hear it'! Get out, Cid!"
Cid jumped back, in alarm. "Vincent, just listen to me."
"I SAID OUT!!" He pointed sharply to the door. "YOU'VE DONE NOTHING, BUT CAUSE PROBLEMS, FOR ME!! JUST GET OUT, AND STAY THE HELL AWAY FROM ME!!"
The pilot held up his hands, in defeat. "Alright. I'm going, but I'm never gonna desert you." He opened the door to leave, and Vincent slammed it closed, behind him.
The gunman fell against the door, his hand covering his eyes. It proceeded to slide down his face, along with his tears, his body following all the way to the ground. The ex-Turk sat, huddled, in front of the Oak door, continuing to cry harder.
Why was this happening?
What did he do to deserve this?
xXx
It was well past midnight when Cloud made it home. Vincent was curled up, in the chair, wrapped in a quilted comforter. The firelight glinted off his already flame kissed eyes.
"You didn't have to wait up, for me." The swordsman kissed the top of his lover's head, causing him to look at him.
Cloud nudged Vincent's knees down, sitting in his lap. "But, since you're up, what's for dinner?"
Vincent's head fell. "I didn't make dinner."
"Oh… that's odd. Well, don't worry about it." He threw his arms around his neck, and kissed him. "I'm gonna shower off, then I'll make dinner. How's that?" He kissed him again, slipping off to head for the bathroom.
Vincent watched him, curling his legs back into the chair. "Cloud?"
Cloud stopped, spinning around. "Yea?"
He paused. Not sure if he really should ask.
If he really wanted to know the answer.
They say, ignorance is bliss, but now that he had Cloud's attention, there was no way out of it.
"Why was your phone turned off?"
The reaction, in Cloud's eyes, was nearly enough to confirm his fears, but let's give him the benefit of the doubt.
"You tried to call?"
"I just needed to talk to you."
"Oh. Well, I always turn it off, when I make contact with a client." He walked closer. "It couldn't have been off for more than an hour. You should've tried again, Hon." Cloud perched on the chair arm. "What did you need to talk about?"
The ex-Turk just shook his head, smiling up at him. "It doesn't matter, now. Go ahead and clean up."
Cloud was happy to see such a serene smile, on his lover's face, and kissed him, darting off to the shower.
xXx
Cloud spent a little extra time, than usual. Basking in his relief.
"That was close. Vincent really is an angel. He doesn't deserve to be put through this." He sighed. "Maybe I should just stop this, now." His head fell against the wall, in front of him. "But, there's no way I could choose. Vincent offers that soft nurturing love, which just gives me a sense of being. A reason to exist. But I can only get that raw animalistic passion from Reno. Neither can give provide what the other can, and I wouldn't want them to. Each offers such a unique trait. Opposites, of my desire. Forcing me to lust for two men, when a normal guy would be satisfied with just one. I can't do this forever, but which one will I lose?"
After pondering this predicament a bit longer, he switched off the water, toweling himself off.
Cloud wrapped the towel around his waist, heading into the Den. He expected Vincent to be in the armchair, but he wasn't. His brows furrowed in confusion. "Vincent?"
He checked the kitchen, thinking maybe he went ahead and started dinner.
No sign of him.
Perhaps, he went on to bed?
Cloud rushed into the bedroom. The lights were on.
All of Vincent's guns were gone, from the wall.
The swordsman's heart sank… so were his cloths.
An overturned picture, next to the bed, caught his eye. Cloud made his way over, picking it up. There was a small note, wedged into the broken frame:
'I did call back.'
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AN: YES! Vincent decided for you, jerk!! Fyi: Cid really stopped by to see if Cloud had run off again. If he did, then he was going to tell Vincent. OH NO HE WAS CHEATING ON HIM!! Who didn't see that coming. But honestly… who knew it was Reno. Really, he's the only option. Cloud can't pair with anyone else, except Zack and Sephy... and they're erm… dead. I suppose Tifa, but she wouldn't do that to Vincent. Any others would just be too much of a stretch. I hate doing that to Reno tho TT-TT maybe I'll write a spin-off of this, from his perspective
(i tried to do the final line in a different font, but it won't let me do that, apparently. i also wish it'd let me change the colors... that's be cool)
