Final Fantasy - All Series Fan Fiction ❯ Shattered Ice Redux ❯ Strained Associations ( Chapter 8 )

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Chapter Eight: Strained Associations

Cid Highwind discovered that he hated the snow, not in any general terms either. He absolutely abhorred it. The snow was cold and wet and stuck to anything it touched. Somehow, it managed to flit its icy way through any layer of clothing that he wore, making him shiver uncontrollably, and he couldn’t breathe with the air so damn cold.

The further north they trekked, the heavier it fell, blanketing everything in boring layers. He had taken to wearing his goggles to block out some of the glare, up until the point they froze to his face. After Cloud and Reeve had painstakingly worked to remove the things from his skin, he suffered with the blinding, rather than risk having goggle-face again.

Shivering visibly, the grumpy pilot complained loudly to them. “I hate the fucking snow.”

An exhausted and slightly annoyed sigh was his first response. “We know, Cid; you have already told us several times,” Reeve said wearily. The executive wasn’t faring much better, but he kept his complaints to himself. He wasn’t used to such exertions, but he dealt with it, knowing that making a fuss would get him nowhere. His own steps lagged as they sagged in the thick snow, and he could hardly feel his toes. However, he kept his mouth shut. If only Cid could learn from his example.

“Look,” Cloud went on with great irritation, gesturing ahead of them. “See those lights ahead of us? It’s a town! We can find shelter there.”

But his words were ignored as the pilot blustered on, “I can’t even see the others behind us. Don’t ya think that we should? I mean there ain’t nothing out there but flat snow!!” Cid added in for good measure.

The ex-SOLDIER exhaled noisily. “They’re fine,” he insisted, resisting the urge to lop off Cid’s head with his sword. “I’m trusting that Nanaki will keep everyone in line.”

Cid mumbled something under his breath about overgrown cats with know-it-all complexes but didn’t say anything else. He again hunched over, trying to block out the biting wind. Reeve was having the same trouble, shivering continuously and looking at the white land with dread. None of their party was really dressed for winter weather, and the pilot didn’t understand why Cloud seemed so at ease. He was wearing less than any of them! He couldn’t even imagine what Yuffie was going through.

The Captain glared miserably at the utter whiteness around him. Did he forget to mention how much he hated the snow?

He bowed down his head against the raging wind and trudged forward, following Cloud’s tracks in the snow. He swore to all things sacred that if those damn bouncing bunnies attacked again, he was going to skin them and use their pelts for a blanket.

“Shit,” Cloud cursed quietly, interrupting the pilot’s thoughts.

With a questioning glance, Cid looked up and was surprised to find that they had arrived at the town sooner than expected. It wasn’t much of a place; he could only see five or six buildings, but there could have been more behind all the *&%$ trees. He recognized a few important establishments: the inn, weapons shop, items shop, but all in all, it didn’t look very entertaining. Of course, everything was covered in snow.

“Icicle Inn,” Reeve said, glancing at the sign. He attempted to smile, only to discover his lips were frozen in place.

Cloud groaned as he looked around, noting several snowboarders. “A tourist town.” The blond abhorred tourist towns. More often than not, the service was shitty, rates were higher than necessary, and everything was sold out. It would be hell trying to restock. His only consolation was that no one tended to ask unnecessary questions.

“So?” the pilot asked incredulously. “Who the hell cares? Let’s just find somewhere to get warm!”

Cid pushed past the two and moved quickly towards the first building he saw, not bothering to check and see what it was. He vaguely registered a sign with a sword on it but couldn’t be sure. He just wanted to be inside where it was warm. Reeve and Cloud exchanged a glance. It wasn’t unusual for Cid to be gruff but he seemed, even grumpier than was normal.

“Gotten rather irritating, hasn’t he?” Reeve remarked, finally managing to regain some movement in his facial muscles. He shook out his shoulders, stretching the cramped muscles from the long trek across the icy wasteland. The monsters were a bitch and the snow incredibly deep. While he sympathized with the pilot’s complaints, he had more pride than to actually whine aloud.

Cloud slid his sword into its sheath since there was no need for him to haul it around now that they were in the relative safety of the town. “That man is as changeable in his moods as of a pregnant woman. And twice as volatile,” he added.

“Though not quite as dangerous.” Reeve grinned, clearly amused. He glanced at Cloud, who caught his look. The two burst into laughter at the idea of a pregnant Cid.

When the laughter died, Cloud turned to regard his companion with a serious look, instantly sobering up the former executive. “I don’t get it,” he commented, eyeing Reeve. “You don’t seem vicious enough to work for a company like ShinRa. Why did you spy and betray us?”

Reeve winced at the reminder of his misdeeds and ducked his head. He knew that it would come up eventually and had just been waiting for the moment.

“They threatened someone important to me.” He left it at that, hoping that Cloud wouldn’t push for names.
“What?” Cloud questioned, very surprised. “Your wife?”

“Something like that,” the former executive responded, hedging his way around the query. He had the feeling if he revealed his significant other, they would have an even lower opinion of him then they did already.

Cloud tilted his head in thought. “What the hell were you doing working for ShinRa, anyways?”

Reeve pushed his hands further into his coat pocket as he lifted his head to regard the overcast sky. “I’m surprised that more people aren’t aware of my exact purpose in the company. I was Head of the Urban Development Department.”

The blond raised a brow. “What exactly does that entail?”

“I originally designed Midgar, but I certainly never intended for it to become what it has. ShinRa has this uncanny ability of twisting everything to suit its own purposes.” He sighed. “It was supposed to be a haven, a place for the common man. I only stayed with ShinRa because I hoped that I could do some good, salvage what was left of my dreams.”

Cloud scowled. “Fuckin’ ShinRa. They excel in crushing dreams.” He was slightly surprised, however, to hear that the man standing in front of him had designed the city. He expected it to be someone more corrupt and evil.

Reeve made a noncommittal noise in his throat. “Even now, I can’t say why I decided to turn my back on them in the end, save that I trust my companion can handle his own safety. I was already in a helicopter on my way out of Midgar when I offered to do the puzzles in the Temple of the Ancients. I knew it was only a matter of time before ShinRa issued the order for my arrest. They didn’t disappoint.”

“Do you know anything about their well-being?” Cloud asked. He had caught the slip when Reeve said “he” but didn’t comment on it. Whoever Reeve was concealing was obviously someone that meant a lot to him. Besides, the swordsman wasn’t about to start speculation. For all he knew, Reeve could have meant a brother, father, cousin, a son perhaps, or even a best friend. They knew next to nothing about his personal life.

The other man shook his head. “I can only hope that ShinRa considered my job already done when I betrayed them and aren’t going to try anything. Next to everything else that’s going on, my imprisonment is low on their priority list. I don’t know if I should count that as a blessing or take it as an affront.” The tips of his mouth quirked

Cloud shrugged, gaze falling on the door that Cid had disappeared into, his mind already contemplating the warmth within. “Considering our position, it’s a blessing. We don’t need anymore confrontations with ShinRa.”

Reeve nodded before falling silent. He was contemplating something, hedging on his next words. He didn’t know if it was too early or if it would even be accepted, but he wanted Cloud to know and for the rest of them to understand. He shifted uncomfortably in the snow, shivering slightly when wet flakes dribbled inside his collar.

“Cloud--"

But he was cut off before he could even speak, as if the blond already knew what he was going to say. “Shall we follow the Captain then?” Cloud questioned, his gaze meeting Reeve’s.

The former executive was speechless for a moment, his mouth slowly closing as he nodded. “Sure, I’m not about to freeze to death out here, not while Highwind is all warm and cozy inside,” Reeve remarked, running a hand through his frost-covered beard.

Shrugging, Cloud walked towards the building, his companion close on his heels. A single, rather irritating chime announced their presence as the two entered, and almost immediately, they recognized it as a weapons shop. Who could mistake the swords that lined the walls?

Pleasant incense wafted to their noses as warmth from the fire heated their bodies. All in all it was almost like holiday cheer, despite the circumstances, but a loud and gruff voice rose above the instrumental music playing in the background, shattering the atmosphere and immediately drawing their attentions to the counter. Twin grins appeared on their faces even as the former executive shook his head.

“What the hell? 26,000? That’s fuckin’ ridiculous!” Cid was yelling at the man behind the counter, obviously arguing over the price of a shining, new spear that was sitting between them. It was a beautiful weapon, vaguely resembling a hand-axe attached to a large spear, but nevertheless, it did not seem worth the price that the pilot was sputtering over.

The weapons owner shook his head as he puffed slightly on a pipe dangling from his lips. “I’m sorry, but that is the price. I will go no lower,” the balding, heavyset man responded.

Reeve and Cloud surveyed at the situation for a moment before the ex-executive elbowed the blond in the side and pointed at a sign on the wall. It was bright and boldly lettered, easily proclaiming the policy of the shop. Cloud snickered when he realized what it said. Cid was never going to live that down, not if he had anything to say about it. A strange amusement washed over the two, overriding their irritation of earlier.

“&%$##@!!!” The pilot cursed, turning on his heels and storming past the two men. “Fucking tourist town jacking up the price on every #%$ fucking $%#@%$ thing!!” His boots clomped loudly on the wooden floor, dislodging caked snow with every step. He was red with annoyance, but at least, he wasn’t so pale anymore.

“What’s the matter, Cid? Don’t have enough?” Cloud teased before the older blond could get out the door.

Cid paused to throw a heated glare over his shoulder as his hand tightened on the metal door knob. “Shut up, you spiky-haired %$�!!” the pilot growled as he threw open the door and stormed outside. It slammed shut behind him with enough force to rattle the weapons on display on the walls.

Reeve and Cloud shared another series of chuckles, even as they followed the enraged man out of the store, albeit at a much more sedate pace. They would come back later to get what they needed. The weapons seller didn’t seem perturbed by any of his customer’s strange behavior. He merely sat back on his stool, puffing his pipe as he contemplated the many mysteries of the universe.

“Honestly, Cid, I would have lent you the money,” Reeve joked as he came out the door, sniggering behind his hand. “Oof!” He promptly ran into the pilot’s back.

Cid had stopped just outside the door. “Shh!” he hissed as he reached for his spear slowly, fingering the materia in the slots. His gaze seemed to be locked on something that the ex-executive could not see.

“What is it?” Cloud asked softly as he stepped up beside the pilot. He took in a few children standing near the town sign, giggling to each other, but the area was generally quiet. The snow had stopped falling for once, and the fading light of the evening had caused all of the street lamps to come on. His senses were on high alert, and his only consolation was that he had yet to hear voices, meaning Sephiroth was nowhere near. Then, his eyes fell on what had caused Cid to pause, his fingers unconsciously flexing towards his sword.

Elena, newest member of the Turks, and two ShinRa soldiers were standing at the far end of the town, looking out at the path that led beyond. The blonde seemed distinctly out of place in her tailored suit, speaking quietly into some sort of electronic transmitter. She and her lackeys had yet to notice that their quarry had already entered the town, or perhaps she just didn’t care.

“I’ll bet all of my gil that that Turk bitch knows where Tifa is,” Cid growled, angry eyes already locked on his target.

“What little of it there is,” Reeve commented dryly, flashing Cid a bright smile. His face had strangely twitched at the word Turk, but neither of his companions had noticed. “Let’s get her!” he announced, spreading his fingers to show the knives he already had prepared for throwing.

Cloud nodded his head in agreement, and the three advanced to where the female Turk and her back up were standing. Taking up their typical battle stances, weapons at the ready, they prepared to fight, but Elena beat them to it.

“We knew you were coming this way,” the woman said before she turned around. It didn’t surprise them in the least that she knew they were there. She was a Turk, after all.

“Where’s Tifa?” Cloud growled, making a threatening motion with his sword. One of the soldiers gulped noticeably, already appearing to shake in his boots. He did not seem comforted by the sight of the large sword.

“Who?” Elena cocked up one eyebrow. Her eyes slid from Cloud to Cid and finally landed on Reeve. A shadow crossed her face, but it passed too quickly to be discernable.

“You took her earlier, and I want to know where,” the swordsman insisted. He raised his blade in a gesture of dominance. “Don’t make me hurt you.”

Elena smirked, tossing her golden hair. “Oh, please, as if you were any threat to me. I have my orders.”

“Just another brainless twit,” Cid commented under his breath, twirling his spear expertly around his fingers.

“If you say so,” Elena scoffed, her voice taking on an angry tone as she clenched her fists. “I will make you bleed!” she yelled, taking a vicious step forward.

That was her first and last mistake.

Some careless child had left their snowboard on the ground, and Elena quite foolishly didn’t bother to check her footing. One step forward, and her ShinRa-issued boots landed solidly on the abandoned toy. It slid beneath her feet with ease, skating across the snow encrusted ground and throwing her off balance. Waving her arms wildly as the snowboard began to coast down the long, sloped hill, Elena fought to slow her rapid descent. Cloud’s group watched in horrified amusement as she went cascading down the hill, terror etched into her features.

“Boss!!” the two soldiers screamed, eyes widened in surprise. They ran after their commander, hoping to catch her before she slid off a cliff or something.

Cid snickered. “I say, she is rather graceful, isn’t she?” He dropped his fighting stance, depositing his spear back into his harness with a slight twirl and immediately reaching for a cigarette.

Cloud just shook his head and turned back towards the interior of Icicle. “I think that I am ready for sleep now.”

Reeve couldn’t help himself, letting out a chuckle. “Is it always like this? I couldn’t tell when I was just piloting an empty shell.”

Cid groaned as headed for what they hoped was the inn. “No, my friend, it is much worse.”

The ex-SOLDIER shook his head. “Just another day in the life of a political terrorist,” he commented as he pushed open the doors to the rather extravagant hotel, and he welcomed the warm breath of air that ghosted across his face. Tourist towns always did have the best places to stay, despite the annoyance involved.

The three entered, eyes quickly scanning the common room for more Turks and soldiers, but there were none. Instead, to their surprise, the rest of the crew was already there. Vincent, Nanaki, Barret, and Yuffie were sitting at the table nearest to the fire, warming up, and talking quietly. Well, the others were sitting and chatting, Vincent was leaning against a wall looking bored and contemplative. Nothing out of the ordinary there.

“Yo, Cloud, ya’ll took long enough to get here,” Barret commented, clapping his friend on the back as they took a seat. The friendly gesture had more strength behind it than the older man intended and knocked the slighter Cloud forward. He attempted a weak smile in return, his brains feeling addled from the blow.

“We ran into Elena,” the blond said in an effort to explain. “She tried to tell me that she knew nothing of Tifa.”

“Why didn’t ya pound the truth out of her?” Yuffie asked, fingering her shuriken lovingly.

Cid roared with laughter. “Damn bitch slipped on a snowboard and took an unscheduled flight.”

Yuffie beamed, picturing the neatly dressed Turk flying down the hill on a snowboard. She could hardly contain her giggles.

“Besides that,” Cloud interrupted, “did you go ahead and get us rooms?”

Barret nodded and shifted. “We could only get three.”

Vincent sighed, immediately knowing where this was going. “So again we have to share, designate who has to room with whom.” It went unspoken that he found this a tedious task, though he had the feeling already how it was to turn out, not that he hadn’t been sharing rooms with Cid since the incident. Still, things were rather awkward, and despite his enjoyment of silence, Cid being quiet irked him because it was unnatural.

Everyone around the table turned to look at their companions, weighing options in their minds.

Yuffie’s eyes widened with realization. “Say… not that I’m complaining, but… I’m like the only girl here.” The men exchanged glances and realized that the little ninja was absolutely correct.

Cloud scratched his head, seemingly unable to deal with that concept. “Then you’re the lucky one that doesn’t have to share a room.”

Yuffie laughed quietly. “Well, I don’t mind Nanaki, but the rest of you boys are going to have to figure out the rest.” Her hand came up to her face, and she stifled a long yawn.

It was that moment that everyone remembered how long it had been since they had actually had any rest. Wordlessly, Barret handed over the key to the smallest room. Yuffie gave him her brightest smile as she bounded off towards the stairs humming a little tune to the words “Materia Materia.” Yet, her movements belied her fatigue, slightly less jaunty than usual.

“That just leaves the rest of us,” Barret muttered quietly.

Vincent sighed and rolled his eyes. The idiots were making a big deal out of nothing. He had thought by now they would have gotten over their fear of him, but it appeared some things would never change. Nevertheless, he remained quiet, preferring to let them make fools of themselves without his input.

“Why don’t we just leave things the way they were before and let Reeve choose where he wants to sleep?” Nanaki suggested, ever the calm and decisive diplomat.

“Works for me, ‘cause otherwise I don’t give a damn!” Cid said, yawning. He stretched and reached for the spear that he had propped up next to his chair. “I been dreaming of a warm, soft bed,” he murmured as he stood, holding out his hand expectantly.

Barret smirked as he tossed the pilot a key. “Beauty sleep would do you a lot of good.”

Cid caught it deftly, swirling the small brass ring around on finger. “We’re a fine lot of insomniacs then,” he countered with a serious grin. Whistling to himself, he left the table heading for the rooms upstairs and appearing to have completely forgotten his anger from earlier.

Barret was flustered, unable to think of a sufficient comeback. He wracked his brain even as the pilot moved further away.

“He got you good,” Cloud teased, trying to hide his laughter behind a hand.

The older man frowned, thinking deeply. “Eh, shuddup!”

Reeve snickered. He found Cid’s insult to be rather amusing. Then, he remembered something that had happened earlier that day, involving a spear and some money. Leaning over, he whispered into Barret’s ear, quietly so that none of the others could hear him. He was only glad that rather than shrinking away from him and threatening violence, the larger man actually listened to him.

Barret’s face lit up with amusement, and he laughed out loud. Reeve smirked smugly and leaned back into his chair, and Barret stood up quickly, chair skittering out behind him with a sinister smile on his face as he went chasing after Cid, the perfect come back on the tip of his tongue.

“What did you tell him?” Nanaki asked, flicking his tail languidly. The fire-wolf was reclined on the floor, comfortably stretched out without a care in the world. He didn’t appear to mind the strange looks the other patrons of the establishment were giving them for their overly large and vocal “pet.”

Reeve smiled. “I told him about a certain pilot, who was too broke to afford a certain rather lovely spear in the weapons shop.”

“Yeah.” Cloud chortled then, instantly understanding. “Great and illustrious pilot Highwind, storming out of the weapons shop because the man wouldn’t lower the price.”

The ex-executive snickered again. “Think we should have told him about the sign?”

Cloud shook his head. “Nah. It would have made him feel stupid.”

Nanaki looked between the two of them curiously. “What sign?”

The humans burst out laughing yet again. “That particular weapons dealer only accepts icigil (1),” Reeve said through his chuckles.

“If Cid had been paying attention instead of being all hard-headed, he would have known that he could afford the damn thing,” Cloud finished.

Nanaki then understood the joke, allowing himself a smile.

Vincent shook his head since it really wasn’t that amusing. “Children, every single one of you,” he commented under his breath, but it was loud enough that every one could hear him. He was only vaguely listening to the current conversation, more affected by the strange rustling and murmuring of the demons within his mind. They were more active than usual, and it worried him.

The blond snorted. “You don’t have a comedic bone in your body,” he accused the former Turk, but Vincent ignored him.

The last of Reeve’s chuckles faded as he glanced between the two men. There was an unresolved tension there, one that he didn’t quite understand, not so much that the two had actually come to physical blows, but their verbal sparring was a near constant. For every suggestion that Cloud made, Vincent had a rebuttal. For every denial that the gunman claimed, the blond had an accusation. It was a never ending circle, and eventually, it would either have to break or fold, one way or the other.

“We can’t all gain our amusement from Captain Highwind’s misfortune,” Reeve inserted smoothly. “He cannot help the pride or the obstinacy.”

Cloud shrugged, one finger tracing the rim of his drink that he had yet to consume. Apparently, Barret had taken the liberty to order them all something, but it was not to their leader’s taste. Come to think of it, the drink that the ex-executive had before him wasn’t really to his flavor either.

“Cid is a rather interesting character,” the lion-wolf remarked from the floor, tail remarkably managing to not set anything aflame. Cloud released a small snort of laughter at that, shaking his head at the older blond’s fate to be discussed in his absence.

Managing to conceal a rather lengthy yawn, Reeve stood. “I’m rather tired,” he admitted as three pairs of eyes turned in his direction. “I think I’ll go to bed as well.”

“Sleep in our room. It really doesn’t matter to me.” Their leader shrugged his shoulders in an attempt at nonchalance, which failed when the devious simper made its appearance. “If you listen hard enough, you might be able to follow the sound of Barret’s snores.”

“Unless he gets confused by Cid’s,” Vincent muttered under his breath. He hadn’t intended it to be a joke but the others took it that way all the same. At the sound of their laughter, he bit back a sigh and settled more comfortably against the wall, crossing his arms over his chest.

Shaking off the last of his chuckles, Reeve turned from the table. All in all, he was pleased with how the day had gone. Slowly but surely, he was regaining their fragile trust. He only hoped that in the future, he would not be faced with another situation where he would have to choose. It was a difficult path that he had picked, but he knew there was no other way.

Nanaki flickered mirth-filled eyes towards Vincent, taking in the hint of a smile that ghosted on the lips of the ex-Turk. “You know, I believe that is the first time I heard you call Cid anything but Highwind, Vincent,” he commented, golden gaze carefully regarding the gunman with nothing less than abject interest.

Vincent’s eyes immediately shifted to the fire-wolf, who sat on the floor next to Cloud. “Is that supposed to mean something?” he asked, voice trying to sound nonchalant. He tried to mold his face back into the quiet, cold stare that he had perfected.

“It does now.” The fire-lion smirked, giving the gunman a knowing look. The two locked eyes, seemingly having a contest of will and wit.

Cloud’s gaze darted between the two, confusion clearly etched into his features. “Did I miss something?”

Vincent did not answer, only looked at Nanaki intently,. The lion-wolf seemed to believe he knew so much, from his insinuative talk earlier to his comments now. But he knew nothing.

“No,” Nanaki answered, shaking his head. “It has been a long day; I think I am going to rest also.” He roused himself off the floor, stretching lazily, much like a cat would. His tail whipped through the air behind him, twitching in contest to his emotions.

Cloud waved his hand at the lion-wolf. “If you insist,” he responded in a casual tone, but truthfully, he was paying close attention to the interaction between his companions. “I’m not one to say otherwise.”

Nanaki nodded and loped towards the stairs but stopped before he began to climb. He turned his head back towards the two remaining party members, Cloud at the table and Vincent against the wall.

“Pride was your first fall and soon to be the second,” he said clearly yet enigmatically. “Make no mistake about that.” Without waiting for his response, the fire-lion bounded up the stairs, heading for the room Yuffie had taken for herself. He knew that the ninja wouldn’t mind if he curled up on the floor.

“What the hell was that about?” Cloud questioned, turning his attentions to the man before him, and he idly tapped one finger on the table.

Vincent stared thoughtfully at the bottom of the steps where Nanaki had stood, fury flashing across his face. Was he angry that the fire-wolf had spoken to him in such a way or irate because Nanaki was right?

Pride had indeed caused his failure to protect Lucrecia, but was it conceit that destroyed the tentative friendship between he and Cid? Had he pushed the pilot away out of some deference to his arrogance rather than because of his self-imposed guilt?

Within him, the demons hissed and cackled, deriding their host’s internal thoughts. They believed him to be a weak fool, cursing his humanity and his sympathy, especially for the deceased Lucrecia. They were stirring more than usual, something he had noticed belatedly. It caused him to frown in recognition, and something strange shivered up his spine, a barely noticeable warning. But for what?

Cloud interrupted his mental tangent, eyebrows lowered with irritation. “What are you hiding, Vincent?”

The gunman’s constant rebuttal of his leadership irked him, not to mention the lingering doubts into Vincent’s faithfulness. One did not spend thirty years in the company of Hojo and come out completely unscathed.

Take himself for instance. He could barely function, mind wavering between sanity and voices that didn’t belong to him. Sephiroth could cause him to do something he would regret at any moment, and it stood to show that Vincent might not have his own freedom either. He wouldn’t put it past Hojo to have some sort of control over him.

“Nothing, Strife,” the gunman hissed, turning a poisonous glare on his companion, the one he was forced to call leader. Inside, his demons called Cloud other things, but Vincent ignored them. “Or do you also believe me to be a spy?”

Cloud sighed heavily, leaning back in his chair. “You act so damn secretive. We don’t know jackshit about you. You could stand to fill us in, you know.”

Vincent snorted in barely restrained exasperation. “And give you more weapons against me?” he questioned, one eyebrow twitching. There was a prickle, another shiver and a strange rumbling of power, and he blinked as he attempted to change the subject and calm his rising ire.

“Besides, you know as much as I, which I gather is not much.”

Cloud frowned. “I absolutely hate fucking liars, Vincent.”

“I have not lied,” the former Turk responded, narrowing his eyes in anger. Of all the things he had done in his past, he knew lying was not one of his faults. He had murdered, stolen, destroyed, but he did not lie.

“Then, why do you claim you know nothing? When we met, you talked of Hojo and Sephiroth and made vague references to some girl named Lucrecia. You also mutter incoherent sentences about your sins and atonement, and hell, it sounds to me like you know everything!” Cloud accused, his voice rising.

Vincent stared at him, trying to determine whether or not he was going to dignify that with an answer.

“Dammit, Vincent!” Cloud spat angrily, slamming his fist on the table. The glasses rattled with the impact, one not surviving and crashing to the floor. The other patrons in the bar area turned their attentions towards them, taking in their furious expressions. Some were beginning to feel a little uneasy, inching their way towards the door, their drinks forgotten. They did not want to be caught in the middle of what was beginning to look like a lover’s spat.

“You wanted to be a part of this!” Cloud growled. “I’m not backing down this time!” His gaze never wavered, mako eyes unnaturally bright in the dimness of the smoky interior.

“It’s none of your business,” the ex-Turk answered coldly, nostrils flaring.

Cloud snarled and jumped to his feet, this time slamming both his palms on the table. “It became my business when my friends started disappearing, and you sneak off for some unknown reason that very same night!”

“You would dare to follow me?” Vincent practically snarled in response, a cold fury surging through his body. His flesh hand clenched at his side as the demons within him chortled with glee, encouraging him and feeding his anger. They whispered plans, murmured of blood and recompense, but most of all, they hungered for destruction. In the face of Cloud’s lack of respect, Vincent was finding it harder to ignore them.

“I said it before, and I’ll say it again, Valentine. I do not fear you,” Cloud responded with equal coldness, jabbing a finger in his direction. “I want some damn answers from you, and I want them NOW!” He sliced a hand through the air, his demand final.

Vincent stared at Cloud, his hand starting to twitch at his side, near where his gun was. The demons, the voices in his head were getting louder, telling him to shoot the arrogant brat and get it over with. They were drowning out his conscience, making him desire nothing but their calls for battle and blood, rivers of it never ceasing.

“No,” he declared sharply, almost having to force it out.

Within him, a war was raging. He spoke not only to Cloud, more to the reprehensible demons within him. He sneered at the blond before he whirled on his heels and stomped towards the stairs. He couldn’t be around the man any longer, or he might do something that couldn’t be erased. Cloud’s idiocy tended to invoke an urge to kill in him stronger than many of the others.

“Don’t you walk away from me,” the ex-SOLDIER shouted, anger evident in his voice.

The other man ignored him, finding it increasingly difficult to quiet the angry and blood-thirsty mutterings within him. Distance… he needed distance, but the damn fool wouldn’t let him be. He just had to be in control, had to know everything. Striding forward, Cloud latched onto Vincent’s shoulders, intending to force the gunman to talk to him.

In one precise and fluid motion, Vincent drew his Silver Rifle and half-turned, pointing it directly at Cloud’s temple… so near that the barrel pressed to pale skin. His right eye twitched, and he closed both briefly before turning to glare at the blond.

“Do not push me,” he growled. “It is getting harder to drown them out. And I can’t say what I will do.”

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(1) I created icigil, which is basically Icicle currency. Two icigil = one gil.

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