Twisted Around

"I beat you!"

Cloud looked triumphantly over at Vincent.

Vincent looked down at his cards. Tossing them onto the table, he smirked. "For the first and last time."

"Hey! I'm not that bad!" At the look on Vincent's face, Cloud admitted, "...Alright, maybe I am. But still!"

Vincent's smirk grew and Cloud said. "Hey! Chaos helped you, didn't he?"

Vincent could only smile. Cloud sulked. "He did."

/Only a little./ Chaos needled.

/.../

Cloud stood. "I think that's enough for tonight. I've lost enough for one night."

Vincent laughed and put away the cards. "There's always tomorrow. Maybe you's like to play against Chaos without me helping."

/I would lose! How could I act superior when I can't even win a game of cards?/ Chaos said in horror.

Cloud yawned. "I'm so tired!"

"Shower before you get in the bed."

"Why? I didn't go anywhere." Again. Gaia, had it really been three days since he had run off? Luckily he had not seen Chaos since then.

"...Good point. I'm sure you would be fine skipping it."

Cloud sat on the bed. He yawned again before murmuring. "I'll change, though."

He reached over to the dressers and pulled out clean boxers. He unashamedly stripped to nothing and slid on the boxers.

/I think he shoulda kept them off./ Chaos purred.

/Not with you in my head./

/Damn./

/My thoughts exactly./

Cloud pulled back the covers. He began to crawl in when he stopped. "Vincent?" he asked slowly.

"Yes, Cloud?"

"What is this?"

Vincent walked over and looked to where Cloud's hand lay.

A splattering of blood? Where did that come from?

/It was not entirely me./ Chaos said.

"Vince?" Cloud looked up. fear almost in his eyes. "Are you okay?"

Vincent said. "I think Chaos has something to do with this."

/Blame me, then. You helped./

/Helped what exactly?/

/Look at him./

Vincent said. /What..?/

/Just do it!/

Vincent looked at Cloud. "Cloud, please...turn around."

While he gave him a 'why?' look, Cloud slowly turned in a circle.

"Stop." Vincent commanded.

Cloud stopped, his back to Vincent. "Vinnie? What's wrong?"

Vincent reached forward and placed a hand against Cloud's back. The blond winced.

"What is this from?"

Cloud blushed. "It-it's nothing."

"What is it, Cloud?"

Cloud hastily turned. "I told you! It's nothing..."

Vincent pleaded. "Please don;t hide from me, Cloud."

Cloud sighed. "Vin, this is from your gauntlet."

"What?"

"I heard Chaos's voice talking through you. he was... I don't know, stranger than usual. He talked of mates and blood. Then you were clawing at me... Don't worry about it."

"Mates?" Vincent asked.

"Yeah."

/Mates?!/

/You must admit he would be the perfect mate./

/Chaos, one in the mating pair usually ends up dead./

/It won't happen. I will be gentle. Besides, you'll be here./

/I'm not so sure this is a good idea.../

/Oh, come on! You want him, but I mention mating, and-/

/I want him, Chaos. That is the problem. I want him. For myself. Not for you./

Cloud stepped back as mist enveloped Vincent. "Vincent!"

Chaos said. "You don't desire to be my mate?"

"What!" Cloud gasped.

"I said, you don't desire to be my mate?"

"Chaos, I am a man. You are a... demon."

"What of it? That is the most common pairing."

Cloud slowly breathed. "Chaos, there is another reason."

"You can't mate when you love another."



_-T.B.C.-

Cloud...you dummy. Now what're you gonna do? you turned down Chaos... I wonder why.