en Face de L'Obscurité

“en Face de L'Obscurité“

Chapter 2

An hour after Zack left for the reactor, a man approaches the mansion. Blond hair was wavy and a bit messy, a set of goggles kept his bangs from his face. Wore a typical pilot's outfit and he smokes a cigarette. His smoking habit has slow down some but yet to stop. Blue eyes on his hesitation as he gives a token knock before enter.

Cid was never one to be shy at a friend's house, rude or not. "Anyone home?"

Vincent pokes his head round the door, covered in dust and holding a cloth. He smiles slightly and waves to his friend, stepping out fully and inviting him in. “How have you been Cid?” he inquires cheerfully, happy to see his favorite comrade in battle.

Cid cocks his head and wanders over to brush the dust off, "I'm good. Tired as hell but good. " Shera gave birth to twins and the two children tend to keep them busy when Cid is at home to help out. "You cleaning? Wow... what's the occasion?"

Vincent looks down at himself and smiles a little before looking back to Cid again. “I've got company at the moment, he's out right now though, off up the reactor.” Vincent replied, walking inside and offering Cid a seat. “Tea?” he inquires, pondering why he's even asking.

Cid, "Hell, I never pass up tea!" He grins as he makes his way to the kitchen to set up the water for some tea... " Who's the guest away?"

Vincent pulls out a tea cup and fills up the kettle, plugging it in and turning to again face Cid, leaning back against the kitchen counter and scanning the room with his crimson eyes, which seem brighter than before. “A Mr Zachary. Only Cloud's old friend Zack who's supposedly dead.” Vincent replied, looking to Cid now and smiling slightly. “Weird huh?” he inquires, taking an easier tone.

Cid's eyes widen some, "Wait... the Zackery Bleys, same guy who Cloud pretended to be, is still alive? Damn that is freaky shit. Then again... World thought Sephiroth was dead and he proved us wrong once, right?" referring to when they found out Sephiroth was alive and had to stop him from using meteor against the world. " Those fucking Soldiers are a pain in the ass to kill anyway."

Vincent laughs lightly and nods in agreement. “He's a nice enough kid. Good cook.” he adds as an after thought, pouring hot water into a cup and adding a tea bag. “How's life treating ya?”

Cid, "The twins are so damn exhausting... Oh wanna see pictures of them!?" Pulls out his pictuof Aof Ariel and Caine. had some new ones. Both kids had hair color of Shera but Cid's eyes. Caine took more after Cid also. Not identical. Cid just starts jabbering about some of what they did. The kids are very smart for their age.

Vincent smiles a little, looking at the pictures and listening quietly, thinking about how vile it would be to have children as he nods at Cid.

Cid, "They’re my lil angels... gets me right here" Fist over his heart with a smile of satisfaction. "I tell you, they’re hard to keep up with but worth it!": Then he looks at Vincent, "You seem a bit extra happy."

Vincent smiles a little and shrugs in reply. “So do you. I never thought you'd be the type to be a Daddy to be honest Cid. You seem so flighty and keen to do what you want.”

Cid pauses a moment before replying, "Kids change ya, Vincent. I am starting to enjoy staying at home and not going to and fro more and more these days. I guess I must be approaching my salad years" he laughs, "Sometimes... when you have a good thing going for you, ya gotta grab onto it and enjoy it while it lasts in this world." He drinks his tea.

Meanwhile, Zack has made it to the reactor. Outside was a bit worn by the wind and weather that happens this high up. Wanders inside along the catwalk, down the chain, and through the door where the main chamber was. All was still and dusty. Chambers now empty. Top of the stairs where Jenova was once. Yet something tells him, he is not alone. Zack felt something odd... Like something was trying to reach into him. Into his body and mind. Leans on a cold mental pod as he feels dizzy. What was this? Child of Jenova.... What was that? Some creature enter the chamber. For a second they remind him of something he can’t put a finger on. Without thinking he attacks them, cutting them down like an angel of death was his skill so smooth and flawless. Bodies lay about him as he snaps back to his own self. Blood on his clothes and on his sword from the creatures. He can only remember feeling weird. That is when Zack makes his way back to the mansion. After he has left, a faint chuckle echoes the chamber itself.

Cid, "Anything you want shipped in to ya Vincent? I can get you some nice Saki.... Wutai is the only place that makes it decent.. *%$#@ if I know why.." inceincent shrugs a little and smiles. “Some decent Saki would be good. I haven't had any in years.” he pauses a moment, pondering about how Zack's doing for seemingly no reason. He brushes it aside, deciding he's being paranoid, which isn't that surprising an occurrence.

Cid, "Then next time I come, I'll bring ya a case of the stuff... " Stands up and yawns, giving his back a stretch, "I gotta head home.. Maybe might sneak a nap after I land." He laughs a bit, "You call or visit, man... Ya know have to like never leave town. So later man!" and Cid proceeds back to his plane again. The man didn't always stay that long.

Vincent nods a little and waves goodbye to the other man, still pondering over if Zack's okay. He feels oddly protective of the other man, he seems naive to him, like he's the type who'd need to be rescued alot. He walks through to the living room and seats himself, guessing he should stop worrying as Zack will be gone a while, he looks around his now clean house and grins slightly at his work.

It is around three thirty when Zack comes along the path towards the mansion. He hardly noticed the blood on him as he steps inside the mansion itself. It was starting to look lot nicer now. "Wow.... Ummm I'm back!"

Vincent practically runs to the door, skidding to a halt infront of Zack and smiling slightly. His smile fades however when he notices Zack's bleeding and he restrains himself quickly from fussing, a habit he acquired from Cid's tendency to get injured often. “What happened?”

Zack, "Oh.. man I got blood on my last clean outfit! " Sighs, " Most of this isn't mine... except the shallow stuff.. " That seem to look more and more closed.

Vincent nods a little sighsighs in relief. “Don't worry, I can get that out.” he replies simply, moving back to let him in, asking no more questions about the state of his clothing.

Zack got his stuff from the chocobo... “Umm anything I can wear? I want to take a quick bath before I cook supper. and.. I need a bath. whew.. I am rank!"

Vincent laughs lightly and shrugs a little. “I probably have something shoved somewhere in the back of a closet. The bathroom's upstairs, second door on the right. My room's the one next door, just have a look through my closet and see if anything takes ya fancy, I don't mind.”

Zack smiles with relief, "You are a great man.. " Goes upstairs to raid the closet. Finds there isn't much a variation in clothes but finds something that comes close enough to his size and takes a shower. Water feels so good on his skin. Stands in the shower just enjoying the warmth and how much of a comfort it gives. For a second swears he hears something in his head. cold shiver goes through him. "God, I must be losing it.... " goes to soaping himself up.

Vincent walks back through into the sitting room, falling down on the couch. He suddenly senses Hojo nearby, though it's more Chaos' warning than his own. He ignores it though, as he has learnt to over the years, just staring vacantly into space and almost desperately wanting Zack to hurry up. Hojo scares him deeply.

Zack gets out of the shower and dresses himself. The clothes here a bit long and a bit tight in the shoulders. He brushes tangles from his hair hea heads on down. Stops at the top of the stairs, "Yo... what do you wanna have for supper?" That odd voice in his head, whispers darkly.... grabs the hand rail to keep from tumbling down the stairs. Unaware he mutters ‘leave me be.’

Vincent sighs softly and calls back “I don't know” he hurries Zack stumbling a little on the stairs and pauses a moment. “You alright?” he calls nervously, standing up from his seat and crossing the floor space slowly.

Zack, a bit shaky, "Yeah... " makes his way down the stairs a with more care now. The voice was gone now and left him scared. Very scared. "I'm fine.. just a dizzy spell." Scared and wondering if he is snapping like Sephiroth did.

Vincent doesn't believe Zack somehow, and steps closer to him, looking him in the eye intensely. “Are you sure?” he asks softly, making sure not to crowd him too much and give him respectful space, not forgetting his manners even now

Zack nods, "Yeah..., "And changhe she subject quickly, " Lets see what we can make for supper. I was thinking a noodle dish. Or unless you want something with rice?" Heads for the kitchen.

Vincent sighs a little and shrugs slightly, walking after him. “Both are good for me.” he replies, wanting to ask him yet again if he's okay, but not wanting to see prying, he lets it go.

Zack, "I'll make noodle dish! Now time to watch the master at work.... " Winks at Vincent and starts cooking up a storm. yes he was an excellent cooking taking what Vincent had and making someone that could get in him a job in a fine restaurant... presents the food on the cleanest, nicest dishes, "Oh, the mansion looks alot better. Smells nicer too."

Vincent grins a little and nods. “Thank you. And you cook very well.” he adds, taking a bite out of his food and grinning some.

Zack, "I give all credit to my mother.. and the fact one has to be creative in the army." Sits down to enjoy his food, which he does eat alot of with his metabolism, he needed to. "Enjoys the taste of food aside rations he eats while traveling.

Foot accidentally brushes against Vincent's calf as he seems not totally sit still while sitting. Vincent tenses a little, but says nothing. He eats his food slowly, contemplating things as he munches thoughtfully, staring into space at nothing really.

Zack, "Something on your mind?"

Vincent shrugs a little. “Not really. Just thinking about things. This is very good.”

Zack, "I know.. I shall entertain us with a story!" As he starts doing dishes he starts talking about his childhood. Father was a carpenter, mother was a housewife who was an excellent cook. Their family not rich but getting by. Stuff he did as a kid like crashing into some barb wire fence and almost lost an eye.


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