Angelic Intervention
by RikugouPairings: Vincent+Cloud
Rating: PG-13Warning: Shounen-ai, MAJOR spoilers for DISC 2, a bit of angst.
Disclaimer: Final Fantasy VII belongs to Squaresoft. I'm just using the characters for some fun. The story line is mine however.
The forest loomed up before them. Cloud stopped for a moment. Vincent and Red XIII patiently waited for him to gather his wits about him. All of them knew that once they reached the end of the forest, there would be a big change in all of them. The feeling was mutual for the blonde haired warrior. However, he was more sensitive to the fact that it would be a very bad change for him. Something terrible was going to happen and he was helpless to do anything about it.
Steeling himself, he clutched the Lunar Harp harder and stepped forward into the Sleeping Forest. Playing the simple tune one of the workers had taught him at Bone Village, he vaguely heard his teammates gasp in surprise as the forest seemed to light up around him.
Once through, the scenery changed abruptly to rocky slopes and treacherous monsters in the surrounding area. Thankfully, they had trained long and hard before arriving so the beasts were not much of a problem. Soon they reached the City of the Ancients, its weird structures standing out against its dark surroundings. Somewhere within that city, Aeris was trying to stop Sephiroth and most likely risking her life for nothing.
Finding an abandoned house, they settled down for the night. Cloud and Vincent took the beds and Red XIII contentedly settled down on a thick fur rug on the floor.
---
The night sky sparkled and glittered. He breathed in deeply, the cold, crisp air invigorating him. He could not seem to fall asleep. Cloud sat down at the front steps of their temporary shelter and savored a moment in which he did not need to wear his heavy armor and sword.
His thoughts turned towards Aeris and wondered why she would go off on her own so suddenly. They were a team right?
Cloud shivered slightly as he recalled his dream. He did not tell any of the others, especially Tifa. He had a feeling it would make her feel worse than she already did. He smiled weakly as he recalled the jealousy that flashed in her eyes when she met Aeris for the first time. Blondes are not all air heads like the stereotype says. He was more perceptive than most people thought.
He could not think of her that way. From the time he was a child to now, he had always seen her as a younger sister. No more, no less. She expected too much from him. He had always known she had a crush on him but chose to play oblivious in the hopes that she would eventually give up. Unfortunately, she still had feelings for him and he could not bear to crush her heart at the risk of losing a best friend.
The blonde heard a sound of footsteps coming from the inside and tensed. A soothing tenor calmed his nerves. "Shouldn't you be sleeping?"
"Can't," he shrugged.
Vincent stepped out and sat down beside him. He had shed his customary red cape, gloves and bandanna, leaving him entirely in black clothes. Unlike himself, he had his weapon, Supershot ST, at his side. "Why not? Worried about Aeris?" he asked.
Glancing at the ebony haired man, Cloud pondered about the reason why the normally silent ex-Turk would talk to him. "Why are you suddenly so talkative?"
"I usually have nothing to say," he said, pushing frustratingly long bangs out of his eyes. Grumbling mildly about how he should have left his bandana on his head, Vincent looked at the young man next to him and said, "So what's bothering you?"
Sighing, Cloud ran his fingers through his blonde spikes. His companion calmly awaited his response. Looking at the older man again, he finally gave in. "It was a dream I had."
"We all have disconcerting dreams once in a while," Vincent added, stretching his arms.
"I know but this one was different somehow, more real, more vivid. Do you even understand what I'm trying to say?" he asked, his tone showing his frustration.
"I am very aware of your situation. I have found myself having such dreams myself although mine are more like visions of the future than anything else."
"Can you really see it?" Cloud brightened.
"It comes and goes. It's never around when I want and it hits me at the most inopportune moments. One such time was during my youth as a Turk. I had just charmed a young lady and being the hormonally driven person I was then, was trying to get her into my bed. Vision hit me just as I picked up a flute of red wine. Spilled it all over the woman and she stomped off, trying to get the stain out. Heard that she left right after she realized it could not get out," he chuckled. Cloud laughed weakly.
"There really isn't anything wrong with me. I guess I'm just a bit nervous about tomorrow," he reluctantly said.
"Don't worry yourself to death. It would do none of us, most of all you, any good if you don't get any sleep," the raven haired man yawned. Standing up, he dusted off his clothes. "See you in the morning."
"Good night," he sighed. Turning, Cloud whispered Vincent's name.
The sharpshooter stopped and cocked his head to the side, "Yes?"
"Thanks," he mumbled.
Vincent gave him one of his rare smiles and said, "Anytime, kid."
"Hey! I'm just six years younger than you!" he protested.
"It's more than enough to be considered your elder," he smirked before walking to the bedroom, hearing Cloud's indignant sputtering behind him.
---
Imagine this if you will. A magnificent crystalline city lies before you. Aeris, the last of the Ancients, is in the middle of the city, completely silent and locked in prayer. Her long brown locks are blown softly by an invisible wind. There is a feeling of holiness surrounding her.
A trio of would-be heroes run in, their unanimous leader seeming to lose control of his senses. A compelling voice whispers in his ear that he must kill the female Ancient. He struggles to regain his dominion over his own body and appears to be winning the struggle when an unwelcome presence appears. He is the epitome of masculine beauty. Long silver hair frame an angular face marred only by a viscious sneer and emotionless mako green eyes.
Having seen that he was not successful in using his puppet in doing his own job, he is more than happy to do his own dirty work. Aeris slips to the floor and her White Materia falls to the waters below.
The tall man disappears for the Promise Land and leaves a little gift in the form of a Jenova creature.
There was no time to waste for sorrow so the three champions jumped straight into action, defeating it within several minutes.
Moments later, the swordsman finally realizes that Aeris was dead. With numb senses, he walks to the unmoving form. Falling to his knees beside the too still body, his mind recalls the joyful day he spent with her at the Gold Saucer. The exuberance she exuded as cheered for him during a chocobo race. Her happy face when she saw he won a stuffed mog for her. The serene smile that appeared on her face as they looked out the window of the ferris wheel car when they stopped at the top.
'Don't give up so soon Cloud!' she winked.
'I'll stick by you no matter what you say blondie,' she said stubbornly.
'Will you buy a flower?' she asked, holding up a vibrant colored bud.
His thoughts whirled around each other as he brushed his fingers over her eyes, closing them forever.
Holding his tears, he laid her slender fingered hands over the gaping wound on her stomach. With a heavy heart, he carries her quickly cooling body to the lake outside. Not noticing his friends nearby, he walks into the lake to the edge of the underwater ledge. Looking at the unmoving face, a gentle smile touching her lips even in death, for one last time, he lowers her into the clear waters.
Mako blue eyes see the brown locks of Aeris' hair fanning around her as her body disappeared even further into the water.
Turning away, he bids her farewell and joins his friends.
---
Cloud woke up with a ragged gasp, looking around frantically for someone clad in pink to prove that he had dreamed up the past day and that they had found her. All he saw was a lean form in black sleeping peacefully on the bed next to him and a curled up body on the thick fur rug in the room.
He covered his mouth to stifle the sobs he could feel was about to come out and curled himself deeper within the confines of the warm blankets. 'This is not the time to worry about that! Get rid of the threat first and then mourn. You're a fighter not some cry baby! Pick up the pieces and put yourself back together. You've faced a similar situation before so you can do it again.'
The blonde continued to scold himself harshly until he fell into a fitful sleep.
---
//He stood in front of Aeris, admiring her peaceful form kneeling on the floor in prayer. His hand twitched and before he realized what he was doing, he had unsheathed Apocalypse. Cloud's mind recoiled in horror as his body took on a mind of its own and raised the blade in a two-handed grip over his head.
He heard himself laughing maniacally and swiftly lower his sword, spearing the brunette.
Turquoise eyes stared up at him, glassy with pain and betrayal.//
cloud...
//Suddenly, Cloud regained control over his limbs, hands still clutching his sword.
"Monster," spat the slowly dying Aeris.
"No! I didn't--"
"I was this world's last hope for survival and this is how you treat me," she said. Her breath rattled in her chest as her life's blood pooled around her.
"Sephiroth..." He swiftly pulled his sword out, her body falling forward.
"He had nothing to do with this. I loved you," she whispered acidly. Her eyes clouded over and her body stilled.
She was dead.
"I'm..." Cloud let go of Apocalypse, its bloody edge clattering on the hard ground.
His friends ran into the room and saw him standing over Aeris' unmoving body.
"You killed her!" Red XIII roared, going into an attack position.//
Cloud...
//"I knew it was wrong to trust you after you gave Sephiroth the Black Materia," Vincent growled, taking out his gun and aiming the barrel at him.
"No. I-It was a mistake. Sephiroth--"
"I doubt your words Strife. I don't see him anywhere. What did he do? Hold your hand as you killed the last true Ancient in existence?" Vincent told him.//
CLOUD...
//"I-I didn't mean to do so!" he cried.
"You are nothing but a cold blooded murderer," Red XIII responded. "Prepare to meet your death!"//
CLOUD!
//Suddenly, there was nothing but darkness around him. He breathing quickened as his eyes darted back and forth, searching for any hidden enemies.
A hand brushed his cheek and he whirled in that direction but saw no one.
"Nervous that the boogie man might get you?" purred a seductive voice.
Cloud tried to punch the source of the sound but hit nothing but air, he stumbled forward.
He put every sense on alert but could not feel anything strange.
A steel-like vise wrapped themselves around his waist and locked his arms to his side.
"I'm getting tired of this game. If you wish to find me, head north past the snow fields. I'll be waiting," he said before disappearing. A blast of cold followed in his wake and he descended into unconsciousness.//
---
The blonde sat up in bed quicker than a bullet when freezing cold water splashed over him. A hand rested on his shoulder and he looked up into a concerned face. "Are you all right? You wouldn't wake up after I called your name several times," Vincent said.
"Yeah, I'm fine," he answered. Cloud ran a hand through his ragged bangs and swung his legs off the bed. "Let's get going," he said as he briskly put on his armor and walked out.
Vincent stared after him with worried eyes.
---
Outside, Cloud stood squinting at the bright sun. It almost seemed like a sin that the bright orb in the sky would still shine so brilliantly after Aeris' death. Pushing such thoughts to the back of his mind, he turned to his friends.
"Sephiroth destroyed my hometown five years ago, killed Aeris and is now trying to destroy the Planet. I'll never forgive him for this. I know where he's heading. We don't want him to get a big lead over us so let's go," he said with determination.
Red XIII and Vincent nodded in agreement.
"Let's make him regret he ever met any of us!"
---
It took them the better part of the day to get out of the Corral Valley Cave and then the rest of it by the time they reached Icicle Inn. Drained, tired and cold, they got rooms at the local inn.
Vincent insisted that they get two rooms. Raising an eyebrow at the suggestion, Cloud paid for two rooms with no questions as to why the ex-Turk would want so many rooms. Red XIII did not say a word and went straight to his room to collapse onto the bed, leaving the two of them more or less alone.
Reaching their room and sitting on one of the beds, Cloud asked him why he wanted two rooms when it was cheaper for one. Not that they were low on money or anything. They had plenty from fighting monsters but still!
"I had a premonition that concerned you. That's all. I will not say anything more on the subject. I'm tired, you're tired and we have a long day ahead of us," he answered, taking off his cape and bandanna.
Seeing that he was not going to elaborate further on his mysterious words, Cloud shrugged and began to take off his armor, gloves and the heavy sword on his back. Kicking off his boots, he turned down the covers and settled down for a good night's sleep.
---
"AERIS!" he shouted in terror. He panted as if he had just ran a 10-mile marathon and climbed an entire range of the Nibelheim Mountains. Cloud sat up slowly and tiredly rubbed his face.
Closing his eyes, he could still see Aeris' death and his inability to save her from his nemesis. If only he was stronger! Or mentally sound! Breathing heavily, he chastised himself. There was no point in pondering 'if only's. She was dead and nothing could bring her back. His breath hitched in his chest as a flood of tears came forth. Shoulders shaking, he wrapped his arms around his legs and buried his face to quiet his sobs.
'I'm not strong enough. I'll never be strong enough to defeat Sephiroth! Who am I kidding? I'm just a useless person fighting in a useless struggle against a god-like being,' he thought solemnly.
He glanced up sharply when he was pulled up against a warm chest. Vincent.
"Go away," he said, pushing away weakly. "I'm fine."
"No you're not. I know that you're still blaming yourself for her death. I doubt that Aeris would want you like this Cloud. She would want you to get on with your life and prevent Sephiroth from destroying this Planet. If you don't believe me, I will personally go straight into the Lifestream and bring her spirit here to tell you so," Vincent said, shaking him.
"I'm useless! Can't you see that?" Cloud cried.
Vincent turned him around and grabbed his chin. "Do you dare to defile her memory like this? If you do, I might as well shoot myself and get it over with. I didn't follow you because you're a worthless fighter. I fought at your side because I knew that you were not useless and that you would become something great. I did not intend to leave anytime soon and do not want a reason to do so either. Do you hear me!"
"But it's so hard and I'm so tired of all the deaths," he said dejectedly, letting his head fall forward onto Vincent's shoulder.
---
The ebony haired man looked at the blonde head in surprise but automatically wound his arms around the slightly shaking body. He sighed and laid his cheek on the soft golden strands of hair.
His premonition had shown Cloud wallowing in his sorrow alone and he, knowing that the warrior often blamed himself for things entirely out of his hands, wanted to comfort him. Vincent berated himself. He held a flame for the energetic ex-SOLDIER but had seen him chasing after the beautiful Ancient. Seeing the strong person Cloud was falling into such a pit of sorrow hurt him deeply. There was no more Aeris to comfort him anymore and he had seen that Tifa would be no good as well. Besides, she wasn't here.
But did he want to admit his feelings for Cloud seeing as his previous love had fallen so hard? Lucrecia would not want him to be alone for the rest of his life nor would Aeris want the swordsman to feel sorry himself for his life as well.
/Of course not!/
Vincent looked up in shock and looked around for the source. Cloud was too deep in his sadness to notice the tensing of his body. A translucent green spiral rose up in the middle of the room and Aeris stepped out of it. Her usual pink clothes were now all white and a pair of shimmering silver wings flapped gently in the chamber. She crossed her arms and looked at him with an annoyed look.
/*sigh* Would you just kiss the boy and show him how you feel already?/
Aeris?!
/I'm honored that you still remember me!/
But you're dead!
/Er, well, actually I am. But do you want to hear this or not?/
The raven haired man nodded numbly.
The specter visibly sighed and put a hand to her forehead as if she had a headache. Her eyes looked up at him sharply and in a serious mental voice said, /I do not want Cloud to be sad and alone for the rest of his life. You care about him and that's what he requires right now. His destiny will lead him down many treacherous paths and he needs someone at his side./
Tifa would be a better...
Aeris shook her head with a sad smile. /He doesn't like her that way. Please take care of him for me. Take that as you will. If you don't,/ here she held up a finger, /I'll come back from the Lifestream and make sure that you do follow my advice!/
Then the moment was gone and Aeris' presence disappeared.
'Now, do I follow her advice or ignore it?' he asked himself, absently rubbing Cloud's back with soothing motions.
Vincent pushed Cloud back and saw the blonde rubbing away tear tracks. He gave him a smile and a reluctant one broke out over the other's face. Tilting the almost pretty face upwards, he slowly brought his own forward, giving the swordsman plenty of time to back off. When he did not and his eyes slid close, Vincent brushed his lips against the petal soft ones of the smaller man.
A small sound escaped from Cloud's throat and a pair of arms around his neck pulled him closer.
They fed on each other's mouths with a fierceness that surprised them both.
When Vincent pulled away, Cloud stared at him with wide eyes. He brought a hand up to touch his lips in shock.
"Why?" the sword bearing fighter asked.
"I care about you Cloud. Right now you need someone to be there for you. If you do not wish to accept it, I will still be at your side and we shall never mention this again," Vincent said.
Cloud whimpered and threw himself into his arms. "Don't leave me," he cried, tucking his head under Vincent's chin.
He smiled and smoothed down the spiky hair. "Never."
They spent several moments in that position before Vincent laid Cloud onto the bed. "As I said before, we have a long day ahead of us. We should get some sleep," he said, trying to pry the wiry arms around his waist off.
"Please, stay. Keep the nightmares away," Cloud pleaded.
"If you want..."
"I want it. Stay. I need someone with me," he told him.
"Sure," Vincent stated as he pulled the covers over both of them. He settled the both of them into a comfortable position and closed his eyes contentedly. 'Never thought I would be doing this,' he thought to himself. 'But then again, I never thought I would wake up after being put into that coffin.'
"Thank you," Cloud whispered before immediately falling asleep.
"Anytime..."
-END-
Comments? Criticisms? Definitions?
--Rikugou
Finished: 04.09.01