Birds of Prey

Title: Birds of Prey
Author: Lchan
Rating: NC17
Pairing: Cloud/Kadaj
Comments: ;_; Now things get sad. You see? This is what the movies sad ending influanced me to do! .____. Just read on and see what I am talking about.
Disclaimer: Final Fantasy Seven: Advent Children and Final Fantasy belongs too SquareEnix. None of these characters are mine.














Chapter Ten: Absolution.




















Crickets chirping somewhere, where ever they could find that wasn't entirely devoid of life, a gentle mist of dusk rising and falling every now and then as the wind tossed it about in small pockets, dancing nearly, twisting into obscure forms and reflecting the gentle glow of candles lit for the streets. Small fiends lingered about, clawing at the earth and making the tiniest of bored caws now and then, startling the flock of Chocobo's that nested not too far away, warking quietly in response.




Dusk had finally fallen; Vincents time of day settling over Rocket Town, yet he had risen far before that. Death Penalty was holsted at his narrow waist and clanked with a deadly sound every other step, bullets in the pocket jingling almost musically. He flexed his metallic and long, golden fingers, glancing back morbidly when a sound caught him in mild alert.




Cid had awoken, finally, laying spread on his stomach on the couch, where Vincent had left him half an hour ago. His smoky blue eyes were watching him, nearly lovely with the candles that Woman had lit, some time in the coarse of the evening, and he was nude spare for the tattered blanket rising up to his waist and moving with the smooth curve of his back.




Vincent’s blood thirsty eyes narrowed, like some carnivorious beast delayed from a kill, the metal the claws tinkering against the brass door knob. Cid flexed minumually; truly Vincent’s equal in the way that not much managed to ease past him.




" Where are you going? " He asked simply, placing his stubbled chin in his palm, “ Don’t tell me its where I think it is, because your not leaving –this- fucking early in the morning. “




" Kadaj. " His deep voice practically purred against the otherwise silence of the room, gripping the knob," He has Cloud, most likely with dire intentions. If he has not already done away with him, then he most certainly will soon. “




" I doubt that. " Cid murmured, closing his eyes for a moment and squeezing them tight to clear his fuzzy vision; usually, he didn’t have the worlds –best- vision after just waking up. Once, he made the mistake of driving the Air Ship right after taking a nice long nap, and…well. Not good.




Vincent’s eyebrows rose and disappeared into his shadowy black hair, created the finest of lines to crease the otherwise ageless skin there, "Oh? And why not, Cid? "




" Because, " Cid made a funny expression, stroking his chin and folding his lower lip over his upper lip, in a would-be thoughtful way, then almost like he was gagging for a moment, " Cloud likes the little bastard, though I don’t exactly see why he would. "




This was met with a blank stare tinged with annoyance; finally, some kind of emotion to begin the day! Cid could almost see the corner of his mouth twitch under the collar“... What? "




" Cloud -likes- him. " Cid gave him a very pointed look, causing a couple loose pieces of blond hair to tumble into his eyes.




Again, the same expression. Vincent was looking increasingly lost, as ironic as it seemed to be at the moment. " ... What do you mean by 'like'? "




" Fuck! Do I have to get up and compose it in a song for you? " Cid smacked his own forehead and pretended to flop against the couch, sprawling his limbs across his limply and almost sending the blanket off the rest of his body, instead gracing it with a rather rude chill, " Damn it! Cloud loves the little shit head. How many ways do I need to spell it out for you?. "




Vincent’s right eye twitched. " Brain washed? "




" I don’t know, but the two of them were beating on each other the entire time they were here. " Cid recovered slightly, " They were acting funny around each other, ya know... tension maybe. They stormed out of here like a pack of Chocobo's in mating season when they heard you were coming. "




" Still. " Vincent opened the door, " Kadaj is Sephiroth’s clone. He has the influence to waver what people think, espeically Cloud and the Jenova cells inside of him. "


“ That doesn’t mean he wont go off on a limb, though. “


“ it doesn’t mean he’ll do what you said, either. “


“ Damnit! He’s not hurting anything! Why cant you just let them go? “


“ Are you defending them? “


“ Of coarse not! “


Vincent sighed, “ Kadaj did a lot of damage, Cid. He Summoned Bahamut to wreak havoc on the people, brainwashed the children, and tried to bring back Sephiroth! Do you want him to get away with that? “



" Yeah yeah. " Cid sighed, finally giving in to him and blocking the dim light with the bend of his strong arm, " Just hurry up, alright? And don’t do that much damage, got it? "




Nodding, expressionless as ever, Vincent disappeared out the door and soared into the gathering night that practically flocked about him, absorbing into him the very smell and sound of the even, the feel and the chilling darkness racing the light.


















Cloud was no where to be seen that morning.


Kadaj blinked awake, suddenly feeling more human than ever with gentle, milky and dusty sunlight peering through the window at him. Urgh, and the room looked even worse in daylight, because the walls were coated with some kind of film that looked like it could have simply been pulled away in flakes.


Grimacing at this all, he rose to a slight pain in his backside that made his legs stiff. Not only that, but he had to wobble all the way to the bathroom and take a shower the that absolutely disgusting place. It was welcoming regardless, and he wallowed in it for as long as he could; when the hot water ran out and started clotting in the shower head.


He finally emerged from the Inn, shaking his silvery hair dry and peering around suspiciously. Again… no Cloud anywhere. Its not as thought the Teen was actually –worrying- about the Blond… but curousity did get the best of him. Though, a clank on the side of the Inn did ease him a little.


“ Fixing your money-pit? “ Kadaj purred, weaving his lean arms together and resting against the rusty side panels. Cloud looked up at him, legs sprawled out at a funny angle before Fenrir, gloves removed and set somewhere non-obscuring, little smudges of oil and dirt everywhere; even his cheeks.


“ I want to get moving. “ Cloud said, looking up at him with the hints of a smile, “ Before Vincent catches up with us and blasts you into the Promised Land. “


Kadaj blinked, “ –Is- there a Promised Land? “


“ I’m not telling. “ Cloud sighed and leaned back against the old wood siding, wiping his hands in the dirt, “ So how did you sleep? “


“ … Well enough. “ Kadaj said, lingering a little closer to the seated Blond, the bright green Mako eyes looking down at him fondly. “ What about you? “


“ I didn’t think you would ask me that. “ Cloud closed his eyes and sighed oftly, again, with the touches of a smile feeling awkward on himself somehow. It felt… strange. Being his happy, “ I slept better than I have in the past seven years. Thanks to you. “


“ I don’t see how I could have helped… I seemed to cause you mountains of stress. “


“ You did, for a little while. When you were stabbing me and trying to bring back the great General. “ Cloud stood and dusted off his pants, grimacing a little bit when he found a tiny little hole near the bottom where his shoe must’ve caught it, “ I think it might work now. “


“ Hmm. “ Cloud mounted the bike and twisted the egnition, met with a choking, gurgling sound, “ I don’t think you’re a very good mechanic. “


“ Just wait. “ Cloud twisted it again, letting it rest, and turning it a third time. Smoke expelled from the back and shot out at the Teen, making him recoil quickly, coughing. The engine beneath him clicked and roared into life, causing Cloud to make a loud sound of joy.


“ Yes! “ Cloud looked back at Kadaj who was illuminated by sunlight pouring through the dry tree’s there, holding his nose and giving the Blond a thumbs up. Cloud was about to say something along the lines of ‘ lets go ‘ when something sharp tore through the air, practically shattering the sound barrier and cutting across Kadaj’s shoulder. Whatever fleeting happiness had seared through Cloud was now replaced with a sudden fear when Kadaj stumbled in shock.


“ Get on now! “ Cloud yelled, practically yanking the Teen over the back when he was close enough. He fell awkwardly across the seat and didn’t have enough time to fix himself before Cloud took off, practically from zero – to – twenty-five in less than a couple of seconds.


“ What the fuck? “ Kadaj screamed, holding his arm painfully while blood coarsed down the intricate leather and fluttering away with the wind. Cloud tore out of the town, almost not hearing him.


“ Its not in his nature! “ Cloud yelled back, “ For Vincent to be out in –fucking- daylight! He hates it when people actually see him! “


“ Well he’s –fucking- out now, isn’t he? “ There was another blast that practically whizzed right by Clouds ear. It provoked a scarcely timid noise from Kadaj, who had now gone to gripping his waist tightly and burying his head into the back of his shoulder, breathing hard against the sweater.


“ Damn it… “ Cloud glanced into the rear-view mirror and saw a blur of red leaping across the ground behind them, moving fluidly, almost like a simple piece of fabric fluttering in the wind.


“ I told you! “ Kadaj said after the third shot, that bounced off the back side of Fenrir, probably denting the beautiful paint-job, “ I told you that he was going to kill me. You wouldn’t believe me. “


“ I wont let that happen! Cloud clenched his jaw and gripped one of the Teen’s sleekly clad leather hands, his own bare. Resolutely, the loss of his gloves burned him, but the greater loss of Kadaj would be much sorer. Almost unknowingly, he laced his slim fingers with the Youths and held tightly, “ I promise you! I can talk him out of it! “


“ You wont. “ Kadaj’s grip was like iron, “ Just stop, please! Otherwise the both of us will be killed by your carelessness alone! “ He yelled, panicking now when Vincent got –very- close, yet didn’t fire. He must have been in the process of loading the monsterous gun, and hadn’t even noticed how close he’d come.


“ Hold on. “ With one hand, Cloud turned the bike at a hard corner, making Vincent ski across the ground until his entire form was clouded in dust. Cloud took the chance to push the engine harder and faster, daring Vincent to show him his real speed; something that most of the times remained hidden.


“ Its over. “ Kadaj whispered and took his free hand from the Blonds waist and forced him to turn his head, taking his eyes off the barren land and making the entire bike shift precariously now that his concentration had been shattered. “ Mother told me to accept my fates. “


And then he kissed him. Soft and sweet, almost… gentle. Light… something that Cloud woudn’t have expected when the teen first initiated a kiss, rather than the other way around. It was fleeting, and Clouud realized with gathering horror, when another shot left Vincents barrel and Kadaj lurched with the force of the impact, not breaking the kiss until he needed to draw in a breath. His words were breathy, the pain gathering in his eyes and laying there, awaiting to be shed, “ … love you. “


Kadaj, after that, slipped from the bike and tumbled along the ground. Cloud didn’t know what happened next, but Fenrir was skidding along the ground somewhere, his arm throbbing where it must’ve been broken from impact, racing along the ground and attempting not to be taken over by a sudden fainting spell that threatened the corners of his vision.


He came to his knee’s beside Kadaj, and cradled him into his arms, tiny spasms quaking his body and blood pouring from the gaping wound Death Penalty had left there. He was still breathing; faintly and desperately, yet his eyes were staring upwards, mouth open as if to speak.


“ I… “ He paused, those beautiful eyes flickering over to him for a moment, sliing back to the blank sky above, perfectly blue like Clouds eyes, “ All I wanted at first… was just my mother. And then… now, you. “


A tear of pain eased its way from Kadaj’s eye, rolling back into his silvery hair. Cloud watched, mortified for a moment, then raised a shaking hand to wipe away at the droplets leaking down his smooth cheeks, “ Don’t die… I-I’ll get you something… please. “


His voice was weak. Kadaj heaved a deep breathe, staring, blank and pointless, and hardly had time to expel it before his body begun to turn into small fragments of golden light, coasting up toward the sky until even the Teens body warmth no longer existed in Clouds arms. They all tinkered like broken glass in the emptiness of silence, fading away as they reached toward the heavens until the smallest one finally eased away, twinkling out of view, leaving the Blond alone spare the approaching presense.


Cloud had curled his legs to his chest and combed his hands, then arms through his hair, the blood coating them from his arm staining his hair and weighing it down. He was silent at first, then choked the first sob.


“ Cloud. “ Vincent’s deep voice sounded, his human hand extending to him. “ You’ve been through a lot… come back with me to Midgar. Tifa is waiting. “


“ You killed him. “ Cloud whispered toward his lap, knowing the ex-Turks keen ears would pick up on it, “ H-how could you, after all you’ve known… “


“ What do you mean? “ Something was hinting in Vincent’s voice now… regret? Cloud damn well hoped it was. He hoped it was –killing- him on the inside now, and much as it was himself.


“ –I- loved him, “ Cloud choked, the words nearly too difficult to bear, “ And, you killed him. “


Vincent appeared floored, and retreated his hand, “ Everyone in Midgar is convinced that Kadaj had brainwashed you, like Sephiroth did years ago… “


“ Well he –wasn’t fucking Sephiroth. “ Cloud was suddenly on his feet, feeling dizzy and sick at the same time. Nothing had ever hurt him this badly before, “ Why does everyone I –fucking- love need to –FUCKING- die? Is it part of saving the world TWICE? “


“ Calm down. “ Vincent was retreating, not with the likelihood that Cloud would hurt him. He didn’t want to hurt Cloud.


“ Get the HELL away from me. “ Cloud wavered on the spot, increasing darkness rolling over him like a storm, “ He was just here! He was just fucking here… “


“ Calm down. “ Vincents words echoed in his mind when his body suddenly went lax, caving in around him. He wanted to –die- right now, “ Everything will be alright. “





Upon the wounded, sick or weak,

Birds of prey often circle the land,

Killing and breeding and stalking their meals,

But whenever a Bird of Prey mates,

Life, a mutual bond, exists eternally.



The End.

OMFG I know. I’m horrible. ;_; it was very abrupt, ne. I’ll be posting an epilogue so you all can find out what happens to Cloud after this.