Other Fan Fiction / Final Fantasy - All Series Fan Fiction ❯ Distorted Perception ❯ The Shocking Truth ( Chapter 5 )

Chapter Five

The Shocking Truth

 

Soft knocking on the cabin door stirred Cloud from his sleep. As his body recognized the foreign heat of a body pressed against him, his eyes shot open. Huddled against his chest, with one hand grasping his shirt, was Vincent. Cloud's arm was pillowing the sleeping man's head. Lying close, his elbow curled to grip a narrow shoulder. Silky hair was entwined between his fingers.

 

Looking at the relaxed and soft expression on Vincent's sleeping face, he'd say the gunman was rather enjoying the warmth of being held to his chest. Though, it may have just been hopeful thinking on Cloud's part.

 

`What am I doing?' the blond asked himself.

 

The soft knocking that had woken him up in the first place sounded again. It was hesitant and timid, so he knew exactly who it was. Besides, he didn't even think Cid would bother knocking, which was probably a good reason why Cloud shouldn't have asked Vincent to sleep with him.

 

Torn between a strong desire to keep still and stare at Vincent's sleeping face for the rest of the century and answering the door, Cloud delayed in reluctance. Even if Aeris had put the idea of harboring romantic feelings for the gunman in his head to begin with, he wasn't about to let her walk in and find the two of them entangled together in bed. She'd probably beat him with her quarterstaff and rant about how he was despicable to corrupt the shy beauty.

 

With disappointed longing, Cloud gently extracted himself from Vincent and the bed. Biting his lip he muttered quick words of pleading that he'd be able to shift away without waking the raven-haired beauty up.

 

It felt terribly cold stepping out of the bed. This wasn't the usual winter morning chill that came with leaving warm blankets behind. It was a chill from a loss and the desire for body heat. The desire very nearly made him bar the door and jump back beside Vincent.

 

Yawning, he scratched his spiky hair and walked across the room. Keeping with the attempt to not wake the sleeping man, Cloud quietly opened the door and peered out into the hallway.

 

As expected, his gaze shifted down a bit to find Aeris. He was surprised to see the state she was in. Still wearing her clothes from the day before, her dress looked wrinkled as though she'd fallen asleep in it. Her usually neatly tied hair was bound haphazardly. His concern peeked when he saw the dark circles under her bright eyes, which were less bright and more blood shot.

 

His instinctive response would have been to comment on her appearance, but after spending so much time with the women in their party he had learned a few things. Tifa was often very touchy about her looks.

 

“Aeris?” he spoke her name with worry.

 

Sniffing, the young woman rubbed a hand across her tired eyes. It had been quite a night. It hadn't taken her very long to find material pertaining to Vincent. In fact, many of Hojo's journals were solely dedicated to the documentation of all the madman's observations of the former Turk. Very quickly she had become disgusted with the scribbled lettering she read. As the hours droned on, she felt compelled to pick up where she had left off, even after suspending her search to deal with the gravity of it all. Crying silently, she'd finished all she could handle for the time being.

 

Unable to convey what she'd been doing through a painful look, she opened her mouth to speak. “I know about Vincent and what happened thirty years ago.” Tears formed in her sore eyes, threatening to spill over as she recalled a few of the pictures that had been placed between the pages.

 

Blue eyes sharpened as Cloud quickly turned his head back to his bed. A sigh escaped as he saw that the gothic beauty was still safely covered in his sheets and unmoved. “How did you….” Before he could ask how, he became more curious as to what she now knew, “What did you find out?”

 

Having followed Cloud's gaze, Aeris peeked her head further in and searched for what the blond had been looking at. Surely Vincent wasn't there. `Oh my,' she thought with surprise.

 

“Cloud, listen to me.” She looked into his Mako blue eyes urgently. “I realize what you may be feeling right now, but you need to stop.” Seeing the accusing look he gave her, she quickly explained, “I know what I said yesterday, and it still stands. But, you need to understand what he's been through before you can do anything. Please, tell me you haven't slept with him?”

 

“I did sleep with him, last night.” Seeing the stricken look on her face he wondered if they were talking about the same thing. “Wait, what do you mean?”

 

“Did you have sex with Vincent last night?” she asked bluntly. Though she was immensely amused at the blond's naïve nature, she wouldn't let on.

 

Blushing furiously, Cloud's eyes widened in surprise. Gulping, he stumbled over his embarrassment to fulfill his curiosity. “How could we have had sex? He's a guy.”

 

Structured eyebrows creased together as Aeris' mouth fell open. Closing her mouth quickly she bit her lip. She wondered if it was possible to survive the emotional roller coaster she'd been riding the past day. How was it possible for a twenty-one year old man to not know the basic concept of intercourse between either gender? Too many years spent training and too much focus on the war, she supposed. Still, even Yuffie would be fairly knowledgeable and the ninja was only sixteen.

 

Briefly, she wondered if she should be showing Cloud Hojo's journals at all if he seemed to know so little. But, he had to see. Besides, she would be there to explain it all. “Cloud, I think I should explain a few things to you later.” If the blond swordsman didn't know how to have sex with Vincent, then there was no question as to whether they had or hadn't.

 

“Meet me in my room in a fifteen minutes, okay? I have to shower and get dressed.” After a moment's debate she added, “Bring Vincent with you.” After all, the former Turk had the most right to see the files.

 

“Aeris, what's wrong? Have you been crying?” he eyed her seriously, forgetting about his previous embarrassment.

 

“Everything I need to show you is in my quarters. Just come there,” she replied before rushing off. If they were lucky, they could settle this before the morning dragged on and Cid questioned their absence. It wasn't that it was a secret, but it was far too personal and private for even the others to know. If Vincent told the others afterwards, then that was another matter. But, she already knew, and with Cloud's growing interest in their fair skinned companion, it was imperative he knew the delicate ground he'd be treading on.

 

Quietly, Cloud closed the door behind Aeris' vanishing form. His adrenaline was running in apprehension. There was a sad and painful gleam in her turquoise eyes that set him on edge.

 

His adrenaline pumped for different reasons as he turned back and faced Vincent's sleeping form. Was it possible to have sex with another man? He didn't see how. But even without an accurate idea, he still found the thought of having the gunman in such a way highly arousing.

 

Running a hand through his spiky hair, he sighed in delight. A night of peaceful sleep next to the pale being had certainly cleared his mind. While he was far from seeing how it was normal or acceptable, he recognized his feelings for what they were. He wanted Vincent. Plain and simple. All his drooling stares and consumed thoughts about the gunman were his desires. It was no different than if Vincent were a beautiful woman, except for his understanding of it all. But, sometimes he didn't have to understand his heart in order to follow it.

 

Kneeling on the bed, the mattress sunk beneath his weight. Hovering above the furled body, Cloud paused and relished in the rare view. The day before he wouldn't have dared to approach Vincent, even when they were sharing a tent. Now, he brashly straddled the slim figure and stared intently.

 

`Praise the Ancients!' his mind cried, `How can one person, a man no less, be so beautiful?'

 

With a tender curiosity, he sat back and moved to the side of the sleeping body. Reaching a hand out, he brushed his fingers across a pale cheek. It felt so soft and warm under his calloused tips. The dark haired creature before him stirred slightly. Not caring whether Vincent woke up or not, Cloud kept his hand in place. It was a thrilling new sense of freedom to take the liberty of doing exactly what he wanted to do. As his eyes focused on red lips his thumb brushed across them. Just then, dark lashes fluttered open to reveal crimson orbs staring at him in question.

 

Cloud could see Vincent's body tense suddenly, drawing away slightly. The blond leader could not take it any longer, as he saw the same unguarded look on the man's face as he had the moment he'd lifted the coffin lid. Smoothly entwining his fingers in that silken raven hair again, he leaned forward and pressed his mouth to Vincent's.

 

It started out simple with no further intentions. But at the touch of such soft lips, Cloud was having trouble not deepening the kiss. Vincent was more than a little surprised, but made no move to shove the blond off.

 

Wanting to taste the gunman, Cloud sucked on the Vincent's bottom lip. The surprised gasp this wrought from the other gave him the chance to move further and taste more. The introverted man was mildly responsive to his indulging intrusion. With a hesitant uncertainty, the pale beauty moved those red lips and silky wet tongue against his own. Cloud was lost. It was like nothing he'd ever experienced before. So warm and wet, it was intoxicating. He never wanted to stop.

 

It would have lasted until they'd both passed out from lack of air if Vincent hadn't managed to break away. Licking his lips, Cloud looked down at the flushed and panting man beneath him. Oh, how he wanted to do it again. But a reminding echo of Aeris' voice scolded him otherwise. If he couldn't have sex with Vincent, then he probably couldn't make out with the crimson-eyed man either.

 

“Good morning,” he greeted brightly.

 

“Is that how you would normally greet me in the morning?” Vincent asked, slightly breathless and a bit on guard from such strange new actions.

 

Taking on a serious tone, Cloud answered the slightly sarcastic question, “It could be.”

 

A dark eyebrow quirked in question while red eyes narrowed slightly. “Please, do not pity me.”

 

Pulling away slightly, Cloud never broke eye contact. “Pity you?”

 

“I appreciate your kindness, and it truly has consoled me. But, there is no need to push yourself,” Vincent elaborated.

 

A wary heat crept to the back of the spiky haired man's neck, as he furrowed his brows in thought. Vincent's meaning was unclear. Cloud feared that Aeris' words from before were in reference to whatever the gunman was talking about now. It was disheartening to not have the same response to such a heated and passionate exchange. He must have gotten ahead of himself if he'd thought that Vincent's lack of refusal meant his feelings were returned.

 

Afraid to deal with matters he knew nothing about, Cloud changed the topic. “Aeris has important information about Hojo. She wants us to meet her in her cabin in fifteen minutes.”

 

With eyes of pure crimson and narrowly visible pupils, Vincent shot forward and looked earnestly at Cloud. It was obvious he was ready to go that very moment.

 

**

 

It was surprising to see just how hard Aeris had been searching the night before. Cloud had known nothing of it and felt slightly guilty at having Aeris shoulder all the responsibility. Folders, journals, and papers were strewn about the dresser, bed, and small sitting table at the center of the room. So much reading material must have required her undivided attention for the entire night.

 

They could hear the water running in the bathroom. Aeris had said fifteen minutes, and after Cloud's enjoyable wakeup call for Vincent, they'd still arrived a few minutes early.

 

Seeing the apprehensive way those red eyes glanced at the various documents that were Hojo's, Cloud felt compelled to ask an important question. “Is it alright that I'm here with you?”

 

The gentle spirit of their leader kept the young man from being too blunt with his words. But, Vincent understood his meaning. Letting others know his sins was never something he'd planned on. The Ancient already knew, if the strewn about manner of all the papers was any indication. He supposed that if anyone was going to be allowed in on the private matter it should be the leader of this group he'd joined. Besides, the great lengths the blond went to try and be nice to him were admirable if only a little unnecessary.

 

Thinking the question over to himself while he surveyed the room, Vincent decided it would be for the best if the blond knew the truth. The tense pleading for assent in those bright eyes threw Vincent off guard. He didn't understand where such sincerity came from. It was over the top compared to the kind hearted looks of tolerance from everyone else. “It is fine,” he replied at length.

 

**

 

An hour later, Aeris sat propped up against the headboard of her bed. Weary from the night before, she intended to sleep after this meeting. She was biting her lip harshly and willing herself not to cry as she watched the fleeting expressions cross Vincent's face.

 

It was probably not the best way to go about it, but she could think of no better one. She had collected a decent sized stack of journals and medical papers that summed up the two years of extensive torture and experimenting Hojo had done on the gunman.

 

Vincent read over the files, confused and uncomprehending expressions marring his angelic features. Once the gunman was finished with one document, he'd move on to another one and Cloud would pick it up and follow the trail. Cloud's expressions and frequent outbursts were rather different in comparison to Vincent's reactions. The blond fighter would stand up with his eyes glued to the page before him, while he stalked in disbelief and muttered a string of dark curses.

 

The basic gist of Hojo's entire scheme had been mind alteration. Aeris cringed at the sick and twisted nature of the scientist. Hojo had set about embodying a human soul with the darkest and most painful feelings. The madman had made constant note of the progress he'd made. At varying points he'd mentioned the stubborn will of the Turk and how brainwashing was a tricky task. The main ideas that Hojo ingrained in Vincent's head were self-loathing and the understanding that the gunman was a terrible scar on the underbelly of the world. The files expressed in rather eloquent and disturbing terms the way in which Vincent viewed himself.

 

The part that Aeris had first began to cry at, was when Hojo started to express his desires for Vincent. At first it had been only evident in the frequent reference to the gunman's pleasing appearance. But, all too soon, somewhere around the eleventh month, Hojo had begun to describe his sexual escapades and raping of the imprisoned man.

 

The pictures of a bruised and battered Vincent sent Cloud over the edge at one point, and Aeris had to calm him down.

 

Eventually they all sat in silence, afraid to speak the wrong words.

 

Vincent spoke first, voicing his only concern in the matter. “I suppose I should be relieved that Sephiroth is not my son. I had been wondering how I was going to fight against him. Though he is still Lucrecia's child.”

 

Cloud's jaw dropped. He hadn't the slightest clue that Vincent had been under that assumption. Hojo's journal had only mentioned it briefly, and he hadn't thought much of it. Even so, such a matter bore little weight in comparison with the disturbing events contained within the many pages. It had been far worse than he could have ever imagined. The whole group had assumed that Vincent was naturally standoffish and suffering from a broken heart and lost love.

 

Never had it crossed Cloud's mind that beneath that cloak was a broken man with frighteningly distorted perception of himself and world around him. Hojo had conditioned Vincent to believe that he was being tortured and put through so much pain because he'd deserved it. Cloud didn't think it was possible to make someone believe anything when that person knew the truth. But, two years of drugs, pain, rape, torture, and constant reminders of untold sins was surely one way to do so.

 

“Vincent,” Aeris spoke cautiously, “Do you understand that you have done nothing wrong?”

 

Red eyes snapped up suddenly. A sardonic chuckle escaped him. “It would be too easy to repent by resolving that I'd done no wrong.”

 

“No, how can you say that?” she asked desperately. She had feared that even after reading Hojo's own sinister methods that he wouldn't see the truth. “Hojo lied to you. You haven't done anything wrong. It was his sick game.”

 

“I cannot waver in my repentance for a moment. I have done terrible things, and if I believe otherwise, then I have only committed yet another sin,” he replied solidly, slightly raising his narrow chin to show his firm belief.

 

“That's not right!” Cloud shouted, unable to accept any of it. Vincent's words were ridiculous, but they were spoken with serious belief. “You've done nothing wrong! Hojo made it all up!”

 

The ex-Soldier wanted to shout the obvious truth into the gunman's ear and make him believe it. With a halting stop, Cloud tensed. He'd just realized that his desire to make Vincent see the truth held a sickening similarity to Hojo's forceful instilment of lies.

 

“Vincent,” Aeris tried again, but was stopped when Cloud held a hand up to her.

 

Standing up, Cloud moved towards Vincent, who sat on the other end of the small table. It had been a rare moment of higher clarity for the blond. He often only felt this sure of himself when in battle. Perhaps this wasn't so different from a battle though.

 

Aeris watched in confusion, as Cloud's entire demeanor seemed to change. At that moment, he turned into the man that lead them into battle and decided what was best for their group.

 

Vincent sensed the change in Cloud and acted accordingly. He sat and waited for Cloud to speak.

 

No words were necessary for his next actions. Cloud braced his hands on either armrest of Vincent's chair and leaned down. With his face inches apart, Cloud looked fiercely into slightly widened red eyes. Without wavering in his stern and piercing gaze, Cloud brought their lips together. Slowly, the blond worked his way to eliciting a response. It didn't take long for him to build their sensual kiss into a bruising mashing of lips and tongues. Cloud explored Vincent's mouth without mercy, harshly driving the raven-haired man into consensual submission.

 

With regret and stern resolve, Cloud ended their kiss. Locking his eyes with Vincent's once more he spoke, “We won't tell you what to believe. We will hunt Hojo down and that bastard will tell you in his own words, the truth he has kept from you. Then you will see for yourself.”

 

Aeris was staring in shocked silence. She had dared not interrupt their intimate display for several reasons. One of those being Cloud had a serious determination about him that she was afraid to stop. And another was that watching them had brought a flush of embarrassed excitement to her face.

 

When Cloud spoke, a crashing reality came to her. They could sit here all day and reiterate the truth to Vincent over and over. But, in the end, Vincent had to find out for himself. Otherwise they would be using a similar, though far less sadistic and sick, way as Hojo.

 

Vincent would have to see Hojo again, if he was ever going to be freed.