Final Fantasy - All Series Fan Fiction ❯ Lunatic Pandora ❯ Shadows in the Background ( Chapter 4 )

Chapter Four: Shadows in the Background

One-Winged Angel: Don't own, don't sue. Square owns this all.

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“A level of despair is reached, where people are willing to die to punish their tormentors.” - William Kammeraad

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“So, how's it goin' Cid? Any luck with fixin' that damned piece of sheet metal?” Barret's voice held a gruff tone of amusement as the pilot trekked back into the gate of the town, his rough face stained with dark splotches of grease and oil from his short inspection on the Highwind, the flight goggles that normally sat atop his head proudly dropping lazily to one side, the ever present pack of cigarettes tucked behind her ear. A low growl greeted the taller of the two, Cid glaring up at the darker-skinned man with a threatening look of annoyance at the comment. Wiping his hands futilely on an already stained cloth the engineer continued his path forward, his azure blue eyes shooting Barret another glare as the man joined him in his walk.

“She ain't just a piece of `sheet metal' dumb ass. She's our only ticket outta this freezin' hell hole!” The deep laugh from the man caused another growl to slide from the blonde's throat, the once ashen-colored napkin finding its way into his back pocket once more. “It's gonna take me a long time with these shitty supplies. This place's got nothin' to work with…” Groaning he tilted his head back, eyes squinting against the sunlight that barely shone through the sheets of dark gray skies as he peered around the gloom in anger.

“Fuck. This'll take a damned long time to fix then…” Nodding in acknowledgement another small hiss slide from the shorter figure's pursed lips, his face loosening just barely as he lowered his eyes from the sky to the warm shelter of the town's only inn.

“Where's the brat at? Haven't seen him since we got inside this damned place this mornin'.” A shrug answered his questions, the larger man shaking his head at the inquiry as he thought back.

“Dunno. He ran off afta a while an' I haven't seen `im since.”

“Seems just like the kid…” A laugh shook his chest at the thought of his light haired companion, the man cramming his hands into his pockets as they headed closer towards the inn, the warm crevices of cloth aiding in adding heat to his chilled fingertips. “It's too damned cold here… How'd the kid stand growin' up in a freezin' place like this anyway?”

“Cid! Barret! Hurry up, Tifa cooked some dinner for us, it smells really good!” The mane of black hair poking out from the doorway ahead of them had a bright smile; Yuffie's face flushed a light pink from the warmth of the fire-heated corridor behind her. “I think you'll like it Cid, there's lots to drink too.” Disappearing back inside of the room the kunoichi left the door open for the two, Cid happily grabbing it's handle and dashing into the room. The heated air was thick and heavy, the scent of a fire filling his senses as the pilot walked hurriedly into the building and dashed over towards the gleaming heat source, his hands swiftly finding their way above the flames.

“Are you cold Cid?” The gentle mocking voice caused him to glance to the side unenthusiastically, his sapphire eyes narrowing into a false glare at the pale face beside him, long, silken tresses of hair spilling delicately, not to mention incredibly beautifully, about the crimson form like a black ocean. Shaking off the second half of the notion the man gave a shudder, be it from the other at his side or the icy air, he couldn't tell, his head nodding promptly.

“Dammit it's FREEZIN' out there! You go mess around with icy metal for a good three hours an' I'll ask you if your cold or not!” Laughing inwardly Vincent grabbed the man's arm, ignoring the teasing comment and dragging him back towards the door past the check in desk of the inn, the man sitting at the chair there shaking his head in kindhearted amusement to the way the pilot had acted. Opening the wooden portal he stepped inside, Cid close behind, the demon man leading him over towards the chairs that lined the bar at the back. The pilot glanced about the small room, his face lighting with enjoyment at the spectacle.

Another fire shone brightly in the far corner of the area, its heat spilling through the room in waves of comforting warmth, Red XIII curled like a cat before the flames with his muzzle held on his paws in a deep slumber. Yuffie had inserted herself onto the stool closest to the fire, her feet outstretched in a childish manner as she strove to tear the heat from the blaze and warm her frozen toes, her head tilted back as she spoke to Tifa behind the bar. Cloud could be seen sitting at the far end of the bar, away from the younger girl, his face held in his hands as he obviously waited for the demon's return, a mug of a spiraling liquid placed before him and at the stool to his right. The room appeared considerably welcoming, warm and comforting unlike the rest of the small town of Nibelheim, it's dark tile floors and large stone fireplace an added touch to the strong oak accessories lining the walls and scattered along the floor. Chairs, stools and tables sat about the bar area, a wide beam seeping onto Cid's face uncontrollably at his short glance about the room.

“Damn… Just like Rocket Town! This I can live with!” Pulling away from the other he paced towards the stool beside Vincent's, the pilot letting his arms fall onto the wooden frame with a loud thud as he beamed cheerfully over towards Tifa, his eyes lit to a bright sky blue. “So, whaddya got? I'll take anything right now miss.” His joking tone of voice was greeted by a sharp glare, the dark pools of doe brown staring sharply at his form and smashing the cheerful air his words had left.

“Cid, stop it. This is no time to be playing around.” Turning her head away she reached beneath the bar, her hands fumbling over the bottles and assorted containers that littered the small shelves that rest there, the woman withdrawing a large container of some clear liquid. Grabbing a glass she began to pour his drink, the pilot shooting her a glower of his own in the process.

“I'm sorry miss, I guess not all of us wanna sit around and mope our whole fuckin' life.” He hissed the words at her as she placed the mug before him, his hand clasping the crystal handle and lifting the container to his face, the man taking a large drink of the alcoholic beverage. Placing it before him again he glanced at her angered expression, a wide smirk springing onto his features. “Come on, you have to live a little. Don't be so uptight all the time.” The woman's venomous glare remained, her eyes narrowed to dark slits towards his form, their depths seeming to be lit with a fire of rage at the older of the two.

“Drop it you two. I'm trying to have a good drink right now and you're ruining it.” Cloud's voice drifted between them as if to split the two apart, the blonde's head tilted to the side slightly as he glanced nonchalantly over towards the bickering duo, a scowl on his face. “It's really annoying,” He paused, staring directly at Tifa this time, the other exempt from his bitter gaze, “having to listen to you bitch all the time.”

“Come on guys, let's all just get along for a while! Tifa, why don't you go get that dinner that you promised us, all right? I can smell it… It smells nice! Come on…” The cheerful voice of the female ninja interrupted the three, Yuffie's feigned smile beaming at the trio as she leaned over the side of the wooden bar, her elbows propped beside the engineer as she stared desperately between them. Gawd, bunch o' old stiffs… Nodding in compliance the ebony-haired woman paced from the room and through a separate door that had gone unnoticed by most in the back, the gentle scent of some kind of food spiraling out towards them in curls of steam.

“Whatever…” Shifting his weight forward the elder man took another gulp of the drink, a smile replacing the bitter look that had just moments before adorned his face at the taste, his eyes bright and full of life once more. “Heh. Where've ya been all day kid? `Haven't seen you around here lately.”

“You've been messing around with your toy the entire time, did you really think I'd stand there and watch you scream at that damned piece of shit?” Cloud's voice dripped with sarcasm, a grin sliding onto his features at the rough expression on the other's face, his eyes narrowed to glare at the man.

“What'd ya say?”

“Damned.Piece.Of.Shit.” A laugh exploded from the elder's chest as he reached over the empty chair between the two - Vincent having previously left to watch out the small window beside the fire - his arm latching around Cloud's neck and pulling his head to his chest. Ruffling the mane of spiky sunlight hair he let another chuckle slip from his throat as his victim snatched at his arms, forcefully trying to pry the man off and free himself from the grasp, his legs and arms flailing around at the action.

“You'd better take that back brat or I ain't lettin' you go.” Giving another persistent shove the man glanced up at him, eyes narrowed once more, the scarf that hung from the pilot's neck falling in front of his face and marring the path of his stare.

“Gah, Cid, all right, I take it back. It's the most beautiful thing I've ever seen before, I swear!” He squirmed against the grasp again, “Let me go dammit!” Once more a laugh shook the taller man's chest, his grip remaining on Cloud despite the youth's attempt at persuading the other to free him again, the orbs of glowing sapphire staring intently up at his form.

“Ya gotta correct that sentence now. I ain't lettin' ya go until ya say Vin's the most beautiful thing you've ever seen before.” A yelp from the other side of the room alerted Cloud that the mentioned person had heard the slight comment, the youngest of the three straining to peer around Cid's arm and catch a glimpse at the demon. The pilot's head was tilted to the side, his eyes holding a gleam of hidden laughter as he watched the black-haired man hide his face beneath the folds of his cloak's cuff, his back swiftly turning to the two.

“Fine… `Vin's the most beautiful thing I've ever seen before. The Highwind's just a piece of shit.'” A curse erupted from the man as he shoved him back into his seat, a lighthearted laugh taking over the leader of the party as he watched his previous captor pout into the mug before him, obviously defeated at his own game, another large drink being taken of the liquid. “Ha, I win. One point lovely youth, zero points old man.” Hissing under his breath the man mumbled about the `lovely youth' as said person reached for his own drink, his gloved hands sliding around the handle and pulling it from the table. “So… when's the food gonna be ready? I'm starving…”

“I think it's been done Cloud; you probably pissed her off so bad she's poisoning it in there, with a touch of love just for you an' the old man.” The chirping voice of the youngest party member caused Cid to let out a deep growl, the man now adding to his feverous mumbles comments about being referred to as `old man' by the cheerful kunoichi, the black-haired teen giving off a malicious chuckle at the grumbles. “Hey, chill out geezer, I didn't mean it, I swear.”

“Go make yer fuckin' self useful and go check on the fuckin' food.”

“Ohh, the old man's got an attitude tonight. Might not want to piss him off too bad guys, he might eat you. `Specially you Vinnie; I'd really run if I were you after that last comment there.” The ninja ducked as a small stick of wood from beside fireplace was sent flying her way - courtesy of Vincent - the playful youth giggling loudly to herself as she hunched low to the tiled floor, avoiding any further flying objects from either man. “All right, all right, I'm leavin.' Gawd, don't piss yourselves…” Straightening herself out fully she paced into the back room, a small burst of steam from the even more heated room spiraling around her form as she paced into the kitchen, the voices of both her and Tifa immediately starting up as soon as she walked into the room.

“Dammit… Girl pisses me off sometimes…”

“Cid, who the hell doesn't piss you off?” Shrugging to Cloud's question the ex-Shinra pilot took a final drink from his mug, the man getting to his feet to reach over the polished wood counter for the entire bottle of the unknown beverage.

“Don't know what the fuck it is, but it tastes good.” Chuckling to himself he poured another glass, lifting the bottle in an offering manner to Cloud, the other blonde shaking his head in refusal. “Whatever…”

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“Dinner is served!” The loud crash created from Yuffie flinging open the door sounded moments after she entered the room, the young female making her way out into the bar corridor with her arms loaded with trays of steaming food. Warmth seemed to radiate from each separate dish; the girl closely followed by Tifa, whom carried a plate of her own, a small mound of humid food placed on the white ceramic dish that she held on her hand. “Here ya guys go! Just for you, special Wutain recipe and all! Tifa made it, of course (seeing as how I can't cook worth shit), but I bet you it's just as great as the stuff we have!” Cloud cringed at the all too perky voice, the young woman reminding him of one of the annoying storekeepers he had to encounter - and nearly strangle - during his latest trip to the once prestigious ninja village.

“Yuffie, just sit the damn food down so we can eat and get to bed. I'm tired, hungry, pissy and in need of a really, really long hot shower.” Mock hissing at the man she placed the dish of rice, noodles and teriyaki chicken before him, her tongue sticking out to further harass the poor leader as he reached for the offered chopsticks in frustration. Brushing off his cold stare she paced over towards the largest member, a serving piled with the same food dishes being offered to Barret in her smirking manner.

“I hate Wutain food; I'll go find somethin' else ta eat!” Pushing away the chair he had been sitting on the leader of AVALANCHE stormed out the door, slamming the wooden portal behind him before Yuffie could even have an opportunity to yell at the considerably taller man for his insult.

“Fiiine, someone's PMSing today.” Laughing stupidly at her own joke she continued to pace about the room, offering plates to the remaining party members, several low groans sliding from Cloud as he was violently reminded of some of the waitresses he had to deal with in Midgar during his short stay. “Here ya go Vin, I bet you've never had this kind of food made from my recipe, have you?” The demonic man glanced at the plate passively, his eyes narrowing slightly in a grimace towards the exotic foods, a brief nod of his head signaling that he felt similar to Barret.

“For one, my name is Vincent. Not Vin, not Vinnie - Vincent.” He hissed the words as a regular routine, the man used to saying the same phrase over and over to the blonde pilot sitting at the opposite side of the room, said person letting out a chuckle as he heard the statement. “For another, I really don't care for… that kind of food.”

“Come on, have you ever tried it?” Shaking his head he mentally groaned, the headache that he could predict from her nuisance already rising at the bridge of his nose and between his eyes, the drinks he had early not aiding the dull throbbing.

“Will it make you shut up?” Nodding enthusiastically she forced the tray into his arms, shoving the man down into the nearest chair and handing him the same wooden eating utensils that she had given Cloud.

“Yup. As long as you eat it.”

“Fine.” Reaching for the chopsticks he snapped them in half from habit, having watched another in the Turks that had a love of Wutai's different food styles use the small objects this way, the man staring absently at his plate before trying some indifferently.

“All right, everybody served, drinks out… Dig in I say!” Placing herself beside Tifa the two girls engaged instantly into their own private conversation, the rest of the room eating in a soft buzz of noise.

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The darkness of the early nighttime cast an eerie glow about the small town center as the man pace from the well lit inn, full from the small dinner he had had, the well that signified the middle of Nibelheim illuminated in a shimmering outline from the lights of the towering buildings about it. Gentle footsteps fell on the frozen dirt earth as Vincent paced over towards said monument, his eyes sheltered by a veil of dark ebony tresses, the man never letting his gaze leave the object he was heading towards. A buzzing lingered in his mind from the events of earlier as he leapt swiftly onto the edge of the wooden frame, the demon man placing himself on the border with his legs hanging limply over the side, his feet dangling as helplessly as he felt. What is going on here? There's obviously something wrong with him, with this place, but what is it…? Giving a gentle shake of his head he leaned back on his human palm, the cursed metal claw that handicapped his left arm being raised slowly to his eyelevel, a bitter glare at the golden form drilling into the appendage as if he could make it disappear by merely willing it so.

Another movement of his head snapped him out of his darker thoughts, the arm he had been watching like a vile parasite falling useless to his side with a sharp thud against the hard wood. Garnet jewels peered up through the dark sky, the orbs squinting against the ominous gray clouds in a futile effort to see the stars he knew lingered overhead, his experience with the town alerting him that it truly had become night, despite the time of only around six or seven. Short days and long-nights; that's all Nibelheim really was about. A gray sky that never yielded and chill pockets followed by a burst of what inhabitants considered “warm” air was the never changing atmosphere of the town.

A distant sound from the inn caught the man's attention as he peered toward the building, eyes narrowed in an effort to make out who the dark form belonged to, the figure slowly making there way over towards the well and it's occupant. Swiftly the vampiric man stood, unwilling to spend his time speaking with whomever the member of their small party may be, his feet scuffing against the wood as he began his retreat. Sighing the separate form stopped before the towering wooden object, spheres of azure blue catching the slight glance from the garnet eyes above them.

“Dammit Vin, I just wanted to talk to ya. You don't have to leave the second I come out here.” The sound of the recognizable gruff voice caused the other to falter, his feet stopping right before the opposite ledge of the well as his new companion climbed up beside him, hands placed on his hips in his natural manner. “What're you doin' out here anyway? It's cold, boring, dark… and ya can't see the sky…” Turning away Vincent once more placed himself on the well in his previous position, a gentle tug towards the pilot's hand dragging the man down beside him on the ancient timber form.

“You need the sky, don't you?” Cid absently nodded to the question, his sky blue eyes set firmly on the dreary soot colored atmosphere above them, a low growl sliding from his chest at the sight. Releasing the sky from his glare he turned his attention once more to his demon friend, a look of questioning now on his face.

“You never answered my question. What're ya doing out here?” Leaning closer to the man he frowned lightly, peering around the frame of silken black tresses that circled his preternatural, pale face. “And why the hell such a long face sleepy? Cheer up a little.”

“I don't see you being the cheeriest of us all.” A low groan slide from his throat at the comment, his eyes narrowing kindly as his hand cupped the perfectly formed chin before him. Tugging the vampire man's gaze to his the engineer ran his thumb softly over each curve of the other's lower face, a startled expression leaping onto his features at the gentle caress of his bottom lip. “Cid…”

“If you think I'm so damned angsty like the rest of you, why don't you try to cheer me up?” A shudder ran down the cloaked figure at their closeness, the other man's lips lingering so near to his that he could feel each warm breath against them, could taste the lingering spice of alcohol.

“Cid… You're drunk.” He said the small phrase as if it could pull the other away, making the awkward moment disappear and force the flipping of his stomach to stop. Shaking his head lightly in the other's grasp he leaned against his will towards the touch, the inches between them closing off as Cid's mouth clamped lightly over his, the startled gasp that had been caught in his throat muffled by the supple lips against his. Wide, ruby eyes started against the tan eyelids before them, a look of complete and utter astonishment on his features at the gentle kiss that held him captive at the moment. Squirming uncomfortably in the grasp a quiver shot down the demon's spine, the smallest of movements snapping the man back into his senses.

Pulling away a low curse slipped from Cid's chest, his eyes diverting from the other's to peer in shame down towards the ground below them, his hand falling slowly from the soft skin and landing on his own lap gently. “Dammit Vin, I'm sorry…” He mentally kicked himself for his stupidity, his gloved hand working it's way to his eyes and pressing firmly against them as if he could make the moment vanish and take back what he had just done. “I just… I wasn't thinking straight.”

“Cid… Shut up. You're making my head hurt even more than it already does…” The tone of his voice was set low and sharp, digging into the other man in a brutal hiss towards the stammering words, Vincent's human hand cradling his forehead in an effort to clear his mind. Raising his eyes slowly he peered over towards the startled orbs of sapphire that rest on his form, the look of hurt and dejection poorly covered in the other's state.

“… Sorry.” A low growl answered his apology as the black-haired demon leaned forward, his hand grasping the back of Cid's head in a forceful manner and tugging the man's line of sight to his pale face once more, the blonde's mouth opening dumbly in an effort to give some form of explanation for his actions. No sound came from his chest, the vampiric man's thin lips crushing harshly against his and blocking the noise from making its presence known in the icy night air. Thin fingers made their way to his rough chin from the back of his skull, their slender forms grasping his jaw forcefully and tugging ever so slightly, the slightly shorter man's mouth opening to the warmth pressed tightly to his flesh without conscious thought. “Vin-!” Once more his words vanished before they could be spoken, Vincent's damp tongue forcing deep into every crevice of the warm cavity, the sharp tang of alcohol and the man's cigarette's destroying any sense that he may have had in the situation.

Cold metal encased the pilot's broad hips, the icy chill of the metallic arm biting through his vest and pants, the grip holding him in place with a firm, unyielding grasp; the cage of the inhuman grip trapping him motionless. Hesitantly he felt his eyelids drop, the blurred vision he already carried blocked out by the thin, sun-kissed skin, a gentle groan sliding from his throat as he hastily returned the bruising kiss, his own tongue slipping over Vincent's in his effort to reverse the one-sidedness of their kiss. A final, fading groan burst from the blonde's chest as they separated once more, both of their breaths coming in short, icy puffs, the particles of chilled air twisting in a thin fog about the duo's faces.

Cold air swept over his heated face in stinging waves as he released his companion from his grip, the arm that bound his waist remaining as Vincent glanced hazily at the figure, a sharp contrast visible on his features between the deep red of his blush and his moonlight colored flesh. As if finally realizing what he was doing he withdrew his arm, releasing his captive from his grasp hastily, the demon scooting farther away and allowing his body to drop delicately to the hard earth below. “… It's late. We should head to bed.” As if in an effort to flee from the scenario he sped away, his feet carrying him in a quickened pace towards the warmth of the inn they were inhabiting for the time being, the door slamming shut shortly behind him.

“Dammit…” The pilot whispered the words silently to himself shortly after the portal to the warm inn closed behind the fleeting dark angel, a gloved hand slowly running through his light blonde hair in contemplation to the issue at hand. A gentle shake of his head confirmed how lost he was in the position, the man following suit of his companion, his body falling with a louder thud from lack of grace and inhuman capabilities as he landed on his feet upon the dark terrain. “Shit… Shit shit shit… What the fuck was that all about? I could have swore last night he was just sayin' the exact opposite of what just happened…” Musing to himself loudly he staggered in a blurred haze induced from the drinks and the lingering longing he felt from their kiss, his mind fuzzy as he made his way into the hotel and up the wooden stairs to the lodgings above. “Dammit… I just need to sleep this fuckin' headache off and then I'll think on all this…” Pacing into the single bedroom he peered with half lidded azure eyes about the area, a satisfied grunt becoming vocalized as he spotted the soft sheets lining the three beds. Oblivious to the figure at the back of the room he fell onto the mattress, the pilot instantly snoring, half passing out, half falling asleep from exhaustion.

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Everyone else seemed to be sound asleep as the lone figure made their way through the thick oblivion that had long since lingered on the small town, the darkness appearing thicker over Nibelheim than anywhere else the man had visited during his journey for revenge. Without thought he paced lacking a purpose into the center of his once beloved hometown, bitter thoughts at the place now stinging at his mind and at the buildings that surrounded him. Shaking his mane of spiky blonde hair he wandered aimlessly towards the back of the town, up the small pathway between the store and his once household, his eyes drifting over towards the looming form of the largest building in the minute village. He could remember everything about that damned building clearly, could remember the way that he had sat for days waiting for the silver haired general in the basement to show some sign that he truly was all right. He jerked forward towards the building as if some invisible cord were wrapped around his feet and hands, the wires serving to drag him helplessly towards the towering form that he so hated, his mind numbed as he found his hands resting on the handle to the entrance.

“You always let people control you. Don't you know how to do anything on your own?” Once more the voice from the other day sprang clear and crisp in his thoughts, breaking through any other ideas the man may have had at the moment, the taunting, oh so familiar tone letting off a deep chuckle.

Shut up… He raised a hand to his head, his arm feeling weighed down with some invisible pressure as he did so, the limb heavy as he ran his gloved fingers through his hair.

“Master wishes to see you once more Cloud. He says that he longs for your presence.”

Shut the fuck up! Viciously he dug his fingers into his skull as the words persisted, the feeling of helplessness that he experienced in the Northern Crater all that time ago returning as he walked without thought into the large mansion.

“My my, what colorful language we've developed. I believe we have your nuisance pilot friend to thank for that. I should kill him now.”

Don't go near them! Peering around at his surroundings he found himself standing absently in the center of the opening hall, his feet poised towards the stairs that led to the upper level - that leading to the basement that he loathed so much. A low laugh responded to his mental shout, the voice seeming to deteriorate into merely echoes to leave Cloud standing alone in the dark silence of the manor, his eyes wide and dazed from surprise at his position. Shaking off the feeling of being controlled he turned weakly towards the door as if in an effort to leave, the blonde-haired man making his way over towards the large wooden portal swiftly.

The sound of footsteps behind him broke the dead silence, causing his hand to halt directly before the doorknob, his heart skipping a beat at the too close sound of pounding feet against stairs. Spiraling on his heel swiftly he glanced towards the stairway, his mako glowing eyes widening as he took in the tall form that lingered at the top step, emerald spheres watching him contently, black clothing as translucent as the image that had been portrayed in the inn's window earlier that day. Sputtering in surprise he staggered forward, his throat dry and unable to make any sound as he darted clumsily up the stairs and towards the form, his voice finally deciding to work at the last minute. “Seph… Sephiroth!”

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One-Winged Angel: Ah, chapter four. >_> Not much to say except thanks to all reviewers of this fic. Chapter five up as soon as possible, I swear. I'm trying… really I am…