Other Fan Fiction / Final Fantasy - All Series Fan Fiction ❯ Distorted Perception ❯ A Furry Friend ( Chapter 2 )

Chapter Two

A Furry Friend

 

As Vincent let his fingers play with the large cat's fur, he felt a vague feeling of calm wash over him. Red XIII knew Hojo like he did. Vincent wondered briefly if the animal had also deserved his confinement? Perhaps this was where his sense of calm suddenly came from, knowing that the warm creature beside him had gone through something like he had.

 

“Night Vince!” he heard the ninja call before she rolled to her feet and skipped to the girls' tent.

 

He didn't acknowledge her departure, but kept mindlessly stroking Red XIII's fur. If his hand slowed down or he felt himself drifting off, the wildcat would move its furry head, pushing against his fingers. As a result he would resume the pattern of twirling the soft fur.

 

Less than an hour later, both were nodding off, the warm fire crackling and popping every so often as a log shift. Vincent found himself too comfortable to move to the tent and instead opted for shifting onto his side and lying down. Though he kept his right hand feebly petting Red XIII, he used his other clawed hand as a pillow and rested his head.

 

Red XIII knew the moment Vincent had fallen asleep. The man's unclad hand fell motionless and his body seemed to curl up, allowing that thick red cloak to cover him in folds. Musing to himself, he watched the gunman for a short while before nodding off himself. He didn't understand the interest everyone else found in watching this man. Then again, he wasn't human and there were many things he could not relate to. Though if everyone was correct in their half-baked belief that Vincent was a vampire, then the gunman wasn't human either.

 

Bowing his head further under his high collar, Vincent's hair flopped forward over the headband and splayed across his arm. His pale face was nearly covered by the large cloak's high necking. But, to Red XIII he almost seemed to be like a small child huddling under a blanket, unconsciously taking measures of subtle securities.

 

Deciding it might not be so bad getting to know the gunman, Red XIII also closed his eyes, with his head on propped on his paws. Gently, so as not to disturb Vincent, he turned on his side, and closer to the supposed vampire's curled form. With a final shrug, his last thought was that perhaps everyone else liked Vincent because he smelled nice.

 

**

 

The fire was dying down, casting a soft glow across the two forms lying on the ground. Dawn was nearing, and Red XIII found himself waking to the sound of Vincent's barely audible whimpers and pleas. It would seem the gunman was having a nightmare. His concern was mild, until he distinctly heard him murmur, “I've done nothing. Please, Hojo, release me.” Another quiet whimper, almost a groan, “I'm sorry for my sins, please, end this.”

 

He wasn't sure whether or not he should rouse the pale gunman, or wait for the dreams to fade. As Vincent went still and fell silent again, he placed his head back down, though he kept his eyes on the pale face of the gunman. In sleep the man had shifted slightly, so that his hair now fell back and the collar dropped nearer his chin. It was a rare moment for the red-eyed warrior to be displayed so openly. He wondered what the others would give to be in his position, simply watching.

 

Cid was up and ready to go, always rising with the sun. Habitually, he waited for everyone else to wake up while he stoked the fire and fixed a cup of tea. Hunching over, to exit the low roofed tent, he pushed the door flaps back and walked outside to their small campground. Flicking a cigarette out of a half empty pack, he set the stoge between his lips while he searched for his liter.

 

Patting his jacket and pants down for that small contraption, he finally found it. Lighting up and taking a deep draft, he exhaled the first of his morning nicotine dose while stretching his back and cracking a few vertebrae. Giving a gruff sigh of contentment, he scratched his head and walked toward the nearly dead fire.

 

Usually Red XIII kept it going, whether with a simple flick of that fire tail to relight the dry wood, or throwing another piece on the pile. Now, he saw that the tiger creature was wagging his tail back and forth lazily with its lion-like head on the vampire's chest, watching the girly man's sleeping face.

 

Stopping dead in his tracks, Cid didn't snap out of his halting stare until he felt the cigarette slip from his lips. `Ow, fuck!' he cried silently, catching the wrong end of the bud.

 

What the hell was the pale pansy boy doing sleeping out here? And why the hell were Red and he all cuddly? Rolling his eyes, he decided to ignore it for the moment, at least until he had his morning tea.

 

As the pilot's water boiled, he sat down, unsure of himself. Somehow, it didn't feel right to be in front of the vampire's sleeping form. It felt like he was seeing something he shouldn't. But, as he peeked over, he realized it was a rare occasion to see that girly face uncovered.

 

Again, his cigarette burned without attention, as he went against his better instincts and stared at Vincent's sleeping face. Red seemed to be doing the same thing, as he moved his tail back and forth. This must have been what Cloud first saw when opening the coffin lid. No one else saw what was inside, until Vincent sat up and Cloud stepped back.

 

If Cid hadn't been a good three feet away from the two of them, he thought he might do something really stupid, like reach his hand out and touch Vincent's face. `What the fuck!' his mind cried again. Did he just have an urge to touch the girly man's face?

 

Shaking his head, he went about preparing his tea. Honestly, if he didn't find boiling the water, soaking the tea, and adding just the right amount of honey so tedious, he'd always make his own tea. As it was, Shera made his drinks for him, obviously not now though. He couldn't imagine what it'd be like bringing her along on this new endeavor.

 

Rubbing a weary face with calloused hands, he sighed again. It was getting harder each day to rise with the sun and actually be awake for it. But, he was stubborn and refused to quit his routine. He was afraid doing so would mean admitting to the only reason he could possibly think of for waking with more stiff joints and muscles each day. Cid was not getting old. For a man of his caliber, old was far off. No, he wasn't old. He was mildly aged.

 

What did it matter how many years he'd been on this planet? The way he saw things, each person had their own dream to fulfill, and his dream was just taking a few unexpected twists and turns, extending the journey. Besides, he was in better shape than just about every twenty-something-year-old out there, the exception being the people he now traveled with. And, that was considering he was something of a chain smoker and enjoyed a few more drinks than necessary.

 

Truly, Cid wasn't old, not in the respects that counted. He was young at heart, carrying a bright torch for all his childhood dreams. At thirty-two he didn't appear to be his actual age, not looking any older than twenty-five.

 

His tea had cooled down enough for him to take the first sip. Steam billowed from the hot liquid, visible in the slightly chilled morning air. Vincent would catch his death if he lay about so casually, in the dewy grass and cool air. It wasn't cold, but the chill was the kind that seeped right into the bone, creating shivers and pain for anyone who was unlucky enough to sport a bad hip. Not Cid of course, but still, even he couldn't wait for the sun to rise just a little higher and begin to warm the day up.

 

Savoring the warm and sweet liquid, Cid breathed contently, finally having his tea. It never failed to wake him and sooth his body.

 

“Hey, Red,” he called over, in little more than a whisper.

 

The tiger-like creature's tail ceased its swishing, and his head craned slightly to the side, waiting for a further response.

 

“The hell you two doin' out here? You there all damn night?” Cid asked, knowing the answer, but not assuming anything just yet. He also just wanted to make his disapproval apparent by sounding incredulous.

 

Very slowly, Red XIII gently moved away from Vincent, doing his best to keep all movement as undetectable as possible. It took him a minute to finally reach Cid, succeeding in not disturbing the raven-haired man, stretching pleasantly before sitting beside the blond haired pilot. “Yes, all night,” was his only reply.

 

Quirking a brow, Cid took another sip of his tea, asking the question with his sky blue eyes. `Why?'

 

“I always sleep out here, why are you surprised?” The tiger avoided the question half-heartedly, never too tired to play games.

 

“I meant, why is Mister Emotions sleeping out here?” he reiterated, now knowing he'd have to be direct and specific with the tiger that enjoyed being vague.

 

“He fell asleep out here, it can be quite comfortable by the fire you know,” Red XIII answered, as if people slept on the ground in the middle of nowhere all the time.

 

“Why didn't he join Cloud?” he questioned further.

 

Red replied immediately, knowing the reaction he would illicit and swishing his tail for that reason, “Why do you care so much?”

 

Huffing, Cid became a little defensive, though trying not to show it. Scoffing into his tea as he took another sip, he retorted, “I don't. I was just curious. What's it matter to me that you have a new pal to share the ground with?”

 

In truth, Red XIII wasn't ready to announce his intentions. He didn't really think anyone would understand. There was no ulterior motive, other than to befriend the newest member. As of yet, no one had tried very hard, being immediately put off by his cold personality. But, after one night of trying to become something more than just civil with the fellow fighter, he had been able to make drastic progress. And, after the man's nighttime whimpers, he knew that there was far more to Vincent Valentine than met the eye. He had a renewed vigor to become friends, hoping to find out what the gunman was hiding under that cloaked barrier.

 

But, telling everyone else his theories and intentions would do nothing to further him along. In fact, he knew that if Cid found out, the blunt pilot would go over and shake Vincent awake, blatantly calling out, `Red thinks you're a lost little boy looking for some human connection, that true?' So, for now, he'd keep them off the trail as long as possible.

 

Shortly after the pilot and the four legged member fell silent, Vincent began to stir. Shifting uneasily for a few moments, the raven-haired gunman abruptly sat up in a rush. His red eyes cast about, making sense of where he was and why. It wasn't like him to sleep so deeply, or long. Usually his sleep was fitful and plagued by nightmares, causing him to wake every half hour or so. But, last night was fairly blank, a first in all his time since meeting Hojo and not using Materia.

 

With a practiced movement, his head bobbed slightly, placing the red band further down his face, as he furrowed his chin behind the cloak's collar. It wouldn't do well to be out on display for everyone's disgust, especially when it was so early. That was no way to start a day.

 

Cid was drinking his usual daybreak tea, and Red XIII sat beside the blond pilot, casually mulling to himself.

 

Eventually, everyone woke up and staggered out of their tents. The only person, who seemed unaffected by the fact that yet another day had passed, thereby drawing them closer to the end, was Yuffie. She was as bubbly as ever.

 

Yuffie had been the last to rise, but apparently she needed no time to wake up, as she bound from the girl's tent, wide awake and ready to go. There seemed a hardened determination to her eyes, which had never been present before, not even in the midst of a battle. And, her aura seemed to be glowing, as if she'd just received the best news in the world, `Sephiroth was dead, the planet was saved, and everyone had finally realized that she wasn't steeling but just borrowing.'

 

While many of them ate, lightly discussing where they wanted to head next, Red XIII watched Yuffie. Something was coming. He just knew it. The girl didn't get that gleam in her eye for nothing. As he followed her motions from standing just outside their little circle, to scouring the premise, his eyes widened as he realized her intentions.

 

It happened all too quickly, for anyone to stop the young ninja. No one else saw it coming, especially not Vincent. The solemn man was once again bordering the outskirts of their band, silent and pensive. The next thing anybody knew, Yuffie had leapt her way towards him, obviously using speed to her advantage, and jumped at Vincent.

 

Her arms wrapped around his neck, as she dangled from him, attempting to crush him in a hug. In a singsong chipper voice, she greeted him, “Morning sunshine!”

 

`Oh my,' Red XIII thought, as he lay his face down and covered his eyes with a paw. It was too embarrassing to watch. The last thing he noticed was a visible blush creep to Vincent's cheeks.

 

Having lit another cigarette, Cid let it go to waste, as his jaw became slack with shock. The stoge fell into half full plate of sausage and eggs.

 

All conversation stopped. All eyes were focused on Yuffie. And once Vincent began to blush, they were trained on the gunman as well. As if frozen, no one dared to move. Was Yuffie insane? Did she have a death wish?

 

Tifa had to stifle her laughter when Yuffie starting swinging her feet, being several inches off the ground. `Oh god!' the longhaired brunette cried inwardly, wanting nothing more than to exclaim how cute that was and laugh her ass off. She was succeeding in keeping her amusement reigned in, until….

 

Yuffie squeezed her arms again, not liking Vincent's lack of response, “Hey, I said good morning,” she chastised, as if Vincent should be following some sort of routine they always did.

 

It was when Vincent's red eyes momentarily landed on Tifa's, as if begging for some answer, that the kickboxer fell back laughing. It was all she could do, to keep from choking as the laughter came in harsh convulsions while she simultaneously tried to stifle it.

 

Mildly blushing again, Vincent's mind raced for what he was supposed to do. What was with everyone lately, first Red XIII and now the ninja. So, he did the only thing he could think of, wondering if the young girl wanted what Red had last night. Raising his right arm, he awkwardly placed it on Yuffie's head, ruffling it slightly. “Morning,” he finally stammered out, more a question than a greeting.

 

There was a muffled thud, as Cloud fell from the makeshift seat he'd been on, landing on the ground. His shock was so great that he'd lost all thought and balance. Though, the less than pleasant meeting with the hard grass managed to bring the spiky haired leader back to his senses. Tifa was on her back laughing, while Aeris attempted to go back to her breakfast hiding a smile that kept creeping to her lips.

 

Releasing the grip around Vincent's neck, where her arms had altered his cloak, drawing the collar away and giving everyone a view of the man's face, Yuffie stood on her own feet again. Turning around, she bound over to the rest of the group, acting as though nothing unusual had happened.

 

Pinching the bridge of his nose, Cid sighed for at least the tenth time that morning. He had the sneaking suspicion that the ninja must have had some inane epiphany and was going to make a habit of clinging to the gunman. However, as odd and wrong as the picture seemed, Vincent standing rigid and unsure of himself with a young girl hugging him while blushing, it was nothing short of cute. And that was a hard thing to achieve in pilot's mind. Before Cid could realize what he found cute about it exactly, he brushed the feeling off.

 

“Cloud,” Aeris said, hoping to jolt the blond leader from his stupor, “Where are we going today?”

 

It took the spiky haired swordsman a moment to tear his eyes away from a blushing Vincent. He eagerly snatched the opportunity to focus on something else, not liking the odd feeling in his chest at seeing Yuffie all over Vincent. “We're headed to Nibelheilm. We need supplies and I think we could all use a little time before we charge off to Midgar. We can set our minds straight, get some rest and focus.”

 

“I think that's a good idea. I for one have a few loose ends I'd like to tie up,” Cid threw in.

 

“Hmm, yeah. I'd like to see Marlene before we head to Midgar,” Barret interjected, hoping he could take a side trip of his own.

 

Most everyone seemed to be in agreement, though Aeris remained silent, and Vincent just didn't seem to be a part of their little strategy meeting. Aeris was looking a little uneasy, and seemed to be debating whether or not to speak up. Before she could make her decision however, Vincent began to speak.

 

The fact that he chose to speak to them immediately grabbed everyone's undivided attention,

 

“Your pessimistic views trouble me,” the raven-haired gunman spoke curtly in a cold emotionless voice.

 

While Cloud furrowed his brows, not sure what the serious man was getting at, Aeris decided to finally speak up as well. “I have to agree with Vincent.”

 

Everyone turned to look at her in surprise, even Vincent.

 

The kindly Ancient continued, “If we all go off to say our final farewells, what does that say about our expectations for this battle? We're going to save the world, stop this meteor and Sephiroth… not die trying.”

 

Cloud held her gaze, thinking to himself while he stared at her. “You're right, but I think we must be realistic here. No regrets, means nothing can hold us back. I don't want anyone of us to be wishing they'd done something before getting as far as Midgar. We'll lose focus if we do.”

 

There was resolve in Cloud's eyes. He'd certainly matured in a short time period. While Aeris still didn't agree completely, Cloud had a point and he wasn't making this decision without cause. “Okay” she agreed smiling.

 

Cloud gave a nod, before turning his blue eyes to Vincent. His gaze was locked on the red eyes of the pale and silent man. Without words, he was asking for approval. As the leader he didn't want to do anything without everyone's support, and that included the newest addition.

 

Everyone else seemed to think the matter was settled, and went back to eating his or her breakfast. Tifa began to tease Yuffie about what she'd done, and question the motives behind it. Barret was talking to Red XIII, while Aeris listened as a passive part of their conversation. Cid, however, was subtly stealing glances back and forth between Cloud and Vincent, who were apparently having some sort of staring contest.

 

Vincent's brows furrowed ever so slightly, and with his collar out of place from Yuffie, Cloud could see the man's red lips press together. It looked like he was pouting, and for whatever reason the spiky haired fighter felt the urge to not just look from the corner of his eye, but to drop his gaze and watch every little gesture. Then again, there was a greater want to keep looking into those dark red eyes. Before he could become completely lost and forget what he was doing in the first place, Vincent gave an almost imperceptible nod.

 

Seeing the dark haired man's tacit approval, Cloud felt a grin come to his lips instinctively. The grin faded presently though, when he saw a soft tinge of color come to Vincent's cheeks and the gunman dropped his eyes. With the adjustment of his collar, Vincent walked off.

 

Cloud's grin faded, because after seeing the color on those pale cheeks, knowing he had caused some sort of emotion in the man, he felt something lurch within his chest. It hadn't been an unpleasant feeling, but considering it was one he sometimes felt when around Aeris, he knew he didn't want to be having it around Vincent.

 

Clenching his jaw, Cid watched the silent display between their leader and newest recruit. `What the fuck was that?' his mind yelled, angry at Cloud and Vincent all of a sudden. He watched Vincent stalk off, in the direction of a nearby stream.

 

The pilot didn't look away from the vampire's retreating back until the cloaked form was out of sight. Then he redirected his eyes to Cloud, narrowing them as he tried to read the expression on the blond boy's face. The kid looked confused, and kept unconsciously looking from Aeris to the direction Vincent had gone off to.

 

TBC….