Vincent Comes Home

I decided to do this chapter from Cloud's point of view, because I really liked doing it the last time and Maron thinks it's neat. (yay!) In deciding to do this, I'll be revealing a couple things that I hadn't actually planned to until later. But if I do anything from Cloud's point of view after this point, it would be too confusing. So, I'll make that sacrifice and, in the end, I think it's going to work out better.

I like ramen a whole freakin' lot.


Cloud blinked.

And this was saying quite a bit, as his eyes had been sitting to open air for the last hour. Cloud screwed his eyes shut, letting moisture soak them. He coughed. When he opened his eyes again he found himself sitting on a small bed in a little room made of wood. His sword and Materia were sitting on a small writing desk, along with his armor. His leathery half-cloak was lying, neatly folded, over the back of a stout wooden chair.

He swallowed. His tongue felt thick and dry. His breaths came in pants. Picking up a glass of water by the bedside, he tried to swallow it all in one go but his hands were trembling so badly he nearly dropped it.

Desperate to get a hold of himself, Cloud pushed himself off the bed and stumbled to an open door, inside of which he could see a bathroom. He stumbled to the sink and fumbled with the knobs. After what seemed like ages, he managed to turn the cold water on. Leaning on the porcelain basin on his elbows, he cupped his hands under the water and then splashed it on his face. He looked into the mirror.

Sephiroth stared back.

With a shout of terror, Cloud shoved himself away from the sink. He stumbled backwards, hitting the floor. Scrambling wildly, he flew to his writing desk and picked up his sword.

No. No. No. I killed you. You’re dead.

He crept, barefoot and shirtless, towards the bathroom door. Peeking around the corner, he looked into the mirror again.

His own reflection stared back at him. There were dark circles under his eyes and his face was drawn and pale. Breathing hard, Cloud approached the mirror, dropping his sword to the ground. He gripped the basin of the sink and stared hard into the glass.

Just me. Only me. It couldn’t be him. He’s dead.

“Cloud.”

Cloud whipped around. Sephiroth was standing, cool as you please, in his room. Cloud sucked in breath between his teeth. “Get away from me! You’re dead! I killed you!”

Sephiroth only smiled.

Piercing shrieks and whistles rammed themselves into Cloud’s ears. He winced. Sephiroth took a step towards him. Cloud dropped immediately, picking up his sword. “You’re not real.”

But I am.

Cloud froze. “No.”

Yes.

Cloud turned back to the mirror. In the reflection, Sephiroth was not in the room. But when Cloud looked over his shoulder, Sephiroth was, indeed, there, smiling. Cloud turned around and stared hard at his reflection.

He noticed the scabbing. They looked like burns. One on his face, and all over his throat and his upper arms. “What…”

They managed to get it off of you. I am weak.

Cloud could feel his hands trembling against the icy cold sink.

You and I, we’re one now. My hold on you is weak, but it will be the first stepping stone. I will make you strong.

“No,” Cloud murmured, shaking his head. “No. I don’t want it.”

You are filled with me. You have no choice.

No. This was all a bad dream. No. He turned about, but Sephiroth was gone. Swallowing hard, Cloud touched the wall and stumbled back to his bed. “Tifa?” he whispered to the darkness. Suddenly, Cloud realized he had no idea where he was. He just remembered descending into the Crater.

With Tifa.

Where was Tifa?

The woman is no longer of concern to you.

“Shut up,” Cloud told it. No. Don’t acknowledge it. It’s just a dream.

A dream? You have been sensitive to my call since you murdered Sephiroth. But it never brought you here. How lucky the woman thought to take you to the Crater. Thinking that, perhaps, in her own pathetic way, it might save you.

“Clooooooooouuuuuuuuuuud….”

He turned again. Aeris was standing on the other side of his bed. With a gapping hole in her stomach, blood streaming from her mouth.

Cloud jerked away, stumbling backwards into the wall. “No!” his voice was rising to a shout. “No! You’re not real! No!”

“Cloooooooooooouuuuuuuud….”

“Tifa?” he whispered to the darkness, sinking down to the floor.

“Cloud?”

She was standing there then, looking concerned. “Cloud?”

“No! Get away!” he shouted, burying his head in his knees.

“Cloooooooooooouuuuuuuud….” Aeris was still there, covered in blood. She was staring at him from the other side of the bed, smiling, blood gushing between her teeth.

“No…no…,” Cloud looped his arms around his knees, shaking so badly he couldn’t even look up when Tifa laid her hand on his shoulder.

“Cloud…what’s wrong?” She touched his face. He flinched, jerking upwards to stare at her.

“Tifa…?” His voice was low and husky.

Are you so certain?

“Yeah, Cloud. It’s me.” She brushed a thumb over the mark on his cheek.

He came up on his knees. “Tifa.” He grabbed her tightly, folding her into his arms and crushing her against him. He put his face in her soft, sweet-smelling, brown hair. “Tifa.”

He glanced up. Aeris was gone.

You got her killed, boy.

Cloud tried to ignore it. He hugged Tifa as hard as he could, breathing hard. “Tifa.”

“Cloud,” she said, sounding fearful. “Are you all right?”

“Yeah, Tifa. Yeah.” He pulled away and smiled at her.

Her eyes went wide. “Cloud…?” He could hear the hopefulness in her voice.

“Yeah?”

“You…are you all right?”

You will be. Give in.

Cloud felt his vision waver. He raised his trembling hands to her. “No. I’m not.”

She took his hands, gasping at the icy coldness of them. “I heard you shouting.”

“I saw….something…,” His hands shook horribly when he thought about it. “I saw something that…wasn’t there.”

Oh, I’m here. Ha.

“What did you see?”

Cloud tried to still his hands. He took a deep breath, not daring to glance over at his bed or in the bathroom. “Aeris…and…Sephiroth…”

Tifa paled visibly. She gripped his hands tighter. “Cloud. I’m going to make this right if it’s the last thing I do. The Crater…something has happened to you…but…”

“But I’m not all right.” There was a catch in his voice, as if he might cry. But he said it bravely.

Give in and you’ll be fine.

“I’m going to beg Cid to give one last chance. To take me to the Forgotten City.”

NO!

Cloud gasped with the pain the suddenly rocketed through his skull.

“What? What is it?”

You go to the Forgotten City and you will die, boy. You will die. And then no one will be able to save you. You’ll die slowly and painfully. And so will they! I’ll make certain of it!

“It’s nothing.”

She will NOT take you to the City. Tell her, boy. She WILL NOT take you to the City.

“You…you will…”

Do it!

No.

“Cloud?”

Cloud looked at her. “That’s a good plan, Tifa. The Forgotten City.”

Tifa nodded, her eyes swimming with tears. “Cloud? You know I love you, right? I’d do anything for you. And no matter what happens—I’ll never give up on you.”

She will take you to your death. And hers. And the rest of your friends. Your death. Only I care. Give in to me. You will not die. Neither will she.

Be silent…

You cannot silence me.

True. He could not. But he was finding himself abruptly feeling more normal than he had in ages. Normal…when he had this...essence of Jenova or whatever inside of him. It almost made him want to laugh at the cruel irony of it all.

“Tifa. That means more to me than…anything else you could say.”

Joy blossomed over her face, and the most beautiful smile he’d ever seen lifted her features.

“When we get home, I’m gonna finish your table, Tifa.”

“Oh Cloud! And here I told you all that and thought you wouldn’t even hear me! Cloud!” She laughed wildly. “I can’t believe it! When we go to the City, you’ll be all right, right?”

You will die, you fool!

Cloud smiled and kept the sadness out of his face. “Yes, Tifa. I had a dream.” The lie came easily.

“So did I!”

Not expecting that, Cloud cocked his head to the side. The presence within him went silent, seeming to take interest. “What did you dream about?”

“The Forgotten City. And you were flying up in the beam of white light. You were so peaceful. You’d been healed and everything.”

Your death. The Holy One has shown her your death. A pity she didn’t show the woman hers. Or the rest of your company should they go there.

“Then it’ll be all right.”

I will kill all of you.

Tifa breathed a sigh of relief. “I can’t wait to tell the others!”

Cloud squeezed her hands. “Best not. Just let it be a surprise for them.”

They’ll be surprised all right.

Tifa seemed puzzled for a moment but then she was smiling again. “Would you like something to eat? I’ll bet you’re hungry. How about a bath? Or a shower? Would you like a drink? I’ll bet I could—“

“Tifa,” Cloud said softly. He could feel that thing eating at him. It tired him out. But he ignored it. “Tifa, I just…want to stay here. With you.”

She paused and smiled warmly. “Really?” She asked him, breathlessly.

“Yeah,” he said, softly, nodding. The first time and the last time.

Last times for all of you. I refuse to let you go to your death.

He reached up one icy cold hand and touched Tifa’s cheek. She leaned into it.

The girl lies to you. She kissed the Dark One.

Cloud sat straight up, he stared at Tifa. “You kissed Vincent?”

She jerked back from him, eyes wide. “What?!”

Cloud shook his head, getting a hold of himself.

You think I lie, boy? Ha. She’ll trick you. She’s going to get you killed.

“I’m sorry,” Cloud said. “I don’t know why I said that. Sometimes I think I hear things.”

He heard wry chuckles.

Tifa was staring at the floor. “I…I did kiss Vincent. But innocently. It didn’t mean anything. I was crying and he gave me a hug and told me everything would be okay. So I kissed him on the cheek. And…and then he…he kissed me back. On the cheek. But I think…he…kind of has a thing for me…”

More than that.

Cloud nodded. It seemed odd, Vincent having feelings like those. And for Tifa? He smiled. “Just so long as it’s one-sided, I suppose.”

She smiled, a little guilty. “Vincent is a wonderful person. He’s very kind behind his…intimidating nature. But…you know…,” she smiled shyly at him, ducking her head.

She loves me.

She doesn’t love you. She’ll kill you. And then I’ll kill her.

Cloud nodded at Tifa. He moved his hand up to her jaw, cupping it with his fingers. He pulled her to him and kissed her on the mouth. He heard her gasp. He shifted on his knees, standing up. He still couldn’t quite look over to the bathroom door or beyond his bed but he managed to pull Tifa to her feet.

“Should I--?” Tifa began.

“No,” answered Cloud. Whatever she was going to ask, it didn’t matter to him. “Just stay with me.” He pulled her over to his bed. “Sit.” He walked around the other side of the bed, carefully keeping his eyes on the lamp. He turned it off. Then he walked back over to Tifa.

Moonlight peered in the half-closed curtain. He could see how stiffly she sat. He took a very deep, silent breath. Better this way than have her in misery. Give her happiness for a time.

You seem to forget. Once you are dead. I will kill her.

I’m not going to die that way.

Not if you give in to me.

He ignored the thing, feeling it scrape into his brain. This must have been what it felt like when it took over Sephiroth. He sat down next to Tifa. “I’m sorry,” he said. “I can’t take back what I’ve done. Or the mistakes I’ve made. After tonight, I may not be myself anymore. But for right now, I know who I am. And I know who you are. And I know how…I…I feel.”

Tifa nodded, clearly not understanding, but taking his word for it. He smiled sadly, glad for the darkness to hide it. He laid his hands on her shoulders and pulled her into him, kissing her again.

She leaned into him willingly, almost eagerly, tickling her hands up his body to rest on his throat.

He pushed hands down her sides to rest on her hips. She moved closer to him, her lips traveling off his mouth to his jawline and his throat. He let her, leaning back to the sensations. He hooked his thumbs under her shirt and pulled her farther onto the bed. He laid next to her on his pillow. She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him close. “I’m so glad you’re going to be okay.”

Cloud smiled miserably. “Yeah…me too, Tifa.” He pulled back and bumped his nose against hers. Don’t think about that now…

Give in, came the order, sudden and harsh.

Cloud closed his eyes, refocusing. He opened them again and put all his concentration into Tifa. He kissed her, hard. He slipped his hands under her shirt. She gasped at his icy cold flesh but didn’t stop him as he got on his knees over her. He kissed her lips, then her jaw, and then moved down to her throat, concentrating solely on the tiny, hardly audible moans that came from her. He moved his hands hard up her ribs. Taking the hint, Tifa moved her arms, letting him lift her shirt right off.

He threw it to the side, scooping his arms under her and leaning down so he could feel her warm skin. She put her fingers into his coarse hair, kissing his forehead. He pulled upwards a little so he could continue. He kissed her collarbone, bringing his hand up to rest on the plain white bra she wore. He slipped his cool fingers under it and found her nipple. He squeezed, teasing it and bringing it to attention. She pressed into him, sighing. Leaning back slightly on his knees, he moved both hands to her front and unhooked the bra. He slid it out from under her and then resumed, placing both hands on her breasts. Kissing her collarbone, he moved down lower, placing his lips on her chest, taking a nipple into his mouth and sucking on it.

He felt a wave of exhaustion crest over him. He screwed his eyes shut, waiting for it to pass. He could ignore it for now, but not for long.

Not for long is correct. Give in. Make it easier on yourself.

He pushed his concentration on Tifa, sucking harder. Kissing more quickly and moving to her other breast. He slipped one hand down her flat stomach to her knee and tickled her. She laughed quietly, moving against him. She brought her hands to waistline of his pants and he froze when she plunged her hands inside.

She touched him.

He sighed, closing his eyes and placing forehead on her shoulder. It took both hands to keep him steady on the mattress. He breathed in more quickly now as he felt her fingers dance around him, touching softly, rubbing with her fingertips. He reacted quickly, tensing up. She pulled her hands away and forced his pants off. He kicked them away, sitting up and moving his fingers to her fighting skirt and shorts. In quick order, working together, they had both off and anything else that needed to be removed.

Cloud slipped his hands over her rough, fair skin. Her smooth hips, her dipping waist and her buxom chest inviting him to touch and feel. All the while, he kissed her. First her lips, then her throat, and her breasts, sometimes going back to one or the other. She seemed to enjoy the throat the most. She would arch her back, tilt her head to one side and give a little moan, moving against him. So he worked at her throat, kissing and nipping, sucking, and he moved his hands anywhere he could reach. When he touched the sensitive skin between her legs, she tensed up, breathing in sharply.

I will not let you forget. You will be mine.

Cloud did his very best to ignore the thing. He moved his fingers over her skin. He put all his focus and concentration into her moans and sighs. He had to…else…it would take him away.

I will take you anyway. Why prolong the inevitable?

Because I want to give her this.

She will hate you later.

…I know.

He slipped his fingers further, moving deeper and faster. She moved against him, arching her back, pushing her hips against his.

“Cloud…”

She was close.

He felt another wave of exhaustion come over him. He shuddered, riding it out and then resumed touching her. She reached her fingers down and wrapped them around him. He groaned.

“Cloud…” she said, more urgently, more breathlessly.

He didn’t really want to cut it short. He had hoped to prolong this encounter but…Tifa had waited for so long. And so had he.

And when you sleep, your mind will be mine.

Not if I fight you.

Good luck.

He took away the attention he had given to the Jenova-thing and plunged into Tifa. She jerked underneath him, crying out. He stilled until she was ready and then began to move, thrusting into her slowly. He felt her fingers, warm, slipping to his hips, as if to move him faster. She tried to quicken the pace herself, moving faster against him. Cloud felt himself go cross-eyed at the wave of heat that came over him. But he resolved, grabbing her hips and slowing her down. She moaned. Her hands went desperately to his hair, meshing her fingers into it. He groaned again. She was filling up his eyes, his mind, his thoughts. Everything was centered around Tifa.

“Cloud,” she whispered, in a near whimper. “Cloud…”

He couldn’t stand hearing her say his name that way. He let go, moving faster and faster. With a sigh of relief, she quickened. They moved roughly against each other, faster and faster until with a gasp, Tifa came. Cloud did the same just two thrusts later. He saw stars.

They were silent for a few moments, panting for breath.

“Are you all right, Tifa?”

She gave a weak chuckle. “Yeah, you? You’re not in pain, are you?”

I will show you pain.

When Cloud focused on Tifa, she was covered in blood. Her teeth were knocked out, her gums mashed and gooey. Her eyes had burst, replaced by gray slime. Half of her skull was gone, showing the remains of a gray, jelly-like mass that must have been brain.

Blood was everywhere. All over her. All over him. All over the bed. All over the room.

Cloud choked on his breath.

“Cloud? Cloud?” said the mashed mouth of the corpse. “Are you all right?”

He shut his eyes tight. Tifa. She was right there. There was no corpse.

There will be, when I’m through with her.

He opened his eyes, mastering himself. Tifa was there. No corpse. No blood. “I’m fine. Sorry. I’ll explain it in the morning. Get some rest.”

Another wave of exhaustion…and another…and another…

Cloud laid down next to her and slept.


When he opened his eyes the next morning he stared at the ceiling, uncertain if they were his eyes—

Or mine? Unfortunately, not yet. But when you get up, you’re going to get rid of that Alexander Materia in your sword. It calls to you and blocks me.

You must be very weak.

Not for long.

Unease crept into Cloud. He turned on his side. Tifa was still there, without her clothes and looking very peaceful. He put his hand on her shoulder, realizing he had gone icy cold again. “Tifa?”

She yawned, blinking blearily. She opened her eyes to take him in. She smiled.

For a second, he saw the corpse. Cloud shook his head.

“Good morning,” she said.

And Cloud felt as if a bowling ball had dropped into his stomach. She looked so happy…but he had to do what needed to be done. Before—

Before you get rid of Alexander and I take you away.

Cloud smiled at her, stroking her chin. “I have to tell you something, Tifa.”

Tifa came awake now, losing her smile. “What is it?”

Cloud smiled sadly. “We need to find Cid as soon as possible and get to the City.”

NO! You will not!

Cloud faltered, struggling for control of himself. “That thing in the Crater is inside my body, Tifa.”

Tifa stared at him. “I dreamed that—“

“Yes, that I would be all right if I went to the City. There is Holy there. It can d-d—“

You will tell her nothing.

“Bring me Alexander!” he ordered. Tifa looked puzzled but got up, wrapping a sheet around her. She retrieved the Summon from his sword and brought it to him. Instantly, pain slammed into him.

TAKE THAT AWAY!

Tifa caught his shoulders. “Cloud, what’s happening to you?!”

Cloud breathed deeply, willing the pain away. It didn’t work. His head felt as if it would explode. He could hear the call of Alexander as he held it. “Holy will destroy it. Jenova. In the C-C-C-“ his teeth were chattering as if he were freezing. “The C-City.”

Tifa nodded. “Okay…I’ll…I’ll go find, Cid.”

Cloud nodded. She started to get up, dressing furiously. “Tifa,” he said softly, swallowing the lump in his throat.

She stopped and turned around, adjusting her shirt.

“You’ll…you should stay away from me until we get there.”

“I won’t do that.”

“If it takes me over, I’ll end up killing you. And I could never forgive myself for that.”

“Cloud, I—“

“You have to listen to me, Tifa. Trust me. Okay?”

Give Alexander to her.

Cloud’s hand was sweaty around the red orb. “And, t-t-take this with you. It hurts…”

“Are you sure…?”

“Take it,” he snapped, letting it fall from his trembling fingers onto the mussed blanket.

Excellent. Good boy.

He grimaced but Tifa came and took Alexander in her hand. “Cloud…”

He breathed hard. “Go find Cid. Hurry, Tifa. Sooner the better.”

I’m going to make you kill that little bitch. As soon as she goes to sleep. You’re going to kill her.

Cloud wrapped his arms around himself as Tifa shut the door. He got up and gathered his clothes, putting them on, trembling horribly again. The pain from Alexander started to recede.

When he was fully clothed, Cloud sat on his chair, staring at his sword and remaining Materia.

You will not go to the City. I will not allow it. You will die. And so will they.

They will not.

But I can guarantee that you will.

Cloud stared at the floor. “I know.”


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