Deadly Addiction

Chapter 4:

A deep groan and a shuffle of blankets indicated that the blonde had enough sleep and was waking up. Blue eyes fluttered open and he looked around the room, noticing that he was back in his own room. Cloud then rolled over to face Vincent whom was sitting next to the bed, reading a book. He blinked a few times, not remembering anything that happened between when he collapsed when they were training and now.

Cloud began to open his mouth to ask but stopped, suddenly remembering most of what happened. 'I can't believe I did that...' he thought to himself, curling back up in the blankets. 'How could I have been so stupid...'


Vincent looked up when he felt the blonde’s gaze upon him. He placed the black ribbon back into the book and set it on the nightstand as the Cloud curled up. He moved to sit on the bed and placed his hand on Cloud’s shoulder.

“Cloud…tell me.” He said simply, not wanting the young man to have another thing to think about on his chest.

"..I'm sorry Vincent," came Cloud’s muffled reply from under the blankets. The top of his head poked out, blue eyes staring up at the gunman before adverting themselves elsewhere. The blonde just couldn't keep his eyes met with the deep claret eyes.

The gunman tilted his head to the side slightly in confusion before understanding the reason behind Cloud’s apology. “Do not apologize. It wasn’t your fault and I took no offense.”

He gave the man’s shoulder a gentle squeeze and met the blue eyes peeking from beneath the blanket. “I told you that I would be here for you during your recovery and I don’t go back on my word. Besides, if I took offense or felt uncomfortable, I would have extricated myself.” Vincent said honestly.

“How are you feeling now? You collapsed after our sparring session. From now on, you will not overdo it. We will take it slow until you are strong enough.”

The blanket was pulled down away from his face, no longer feeling so bothered by what he did. "Better. My muscles feel sore but nothing I can't deal with. It's nice to know that I still have most my skill stored away in my head. I don't know what I'd do if I lost that too," he murmured, letting out a faint yawn afterwards.

Vincent stood and straightened his spine, easing the slight discomfort from sitting in the chair. “Well, it is almost time for dinner. If you are feeling up to it, I was thinking that we could go to the Overlook for dinner.”

"It'd be nice to get out of the mansion again. I'm not one who likes to be cooped up," he replied, giving a faint smile to the gunman. At seeing Vincent nod and then leave, he stretched out his sore limbs before curling back up into the blankets. Letting out a deep, he pulled the warmth away from himself and welcome the slight chill that was set in his room.

Another stretch before he finally pushed himself off the comfortable bed. The blonde padded over to his dresser and rummaged through it, finding a pair of black sweat pants and a long-sleeved blue turtleneck. It was slipped onto his lithe frame along with a pair of clean boxers and socks. Then he padded over to the bathroom, wanting to freshen up a little.

Cloud looked at himself in the mirror and couldn't help but let out a sigh. The exhaustion that caused him to collapse and take a nap could still be seen under his eyes, despite the sleep. He also noticed that he was a bit paler than usual and he truly didn't care for it.

Turning on the water, he quickly splashed his face with the icy water. He then dried his face and made an attempt to get his unruly hair into some semblance of order. However he gave up after a few seconds and pulled back his longer hair into a ponytail behind his head, settling for that. Exiting the bathroom, he stopped once in his bedroom wandering if he should bring the small knife he had with him. The thought was quickly pushed aside though, remembering the incident at the hospital.

Quickly he went down the stairs and headed towards the front door. His boots were pulled and tied onto his feet securely and then he waited for the gunman.

Vincent removed the crimson fabric from his hair before pulling his hair into a low ponytail. The black clad gunman grabbed his cloak and fastened it before venturing down the stairs to where Cloud was already waiting.

He checked to make sure his wallet was in his pockets before slipping on his boots. “Ready?” He asked the swordsman and got a slightly enthusiastic nod from the blonde, making a small smile trace his lips beneath the collar of his cloak.

They walked side by side through the mountain village. While it was till the quite town it was all those years ago, it had expanded a bit. Their numbers were still lower than Gongaga and Rocket Town, but that was the way the citizens liked it. Small apartment buildings, double and single family homes had sprung up around the square, giving the town an inviting feel to it.

They soon arrived at the Overlook and were greeted the owner. “Good Evening Lord Valentine.” She said and after receiving a scolding look from the crimson-eyed man, she smiled and shook her head. “You know I do it just to mess with ya.”

“I hear enough of that in Wutai…I come here to escape that.” Vincent replied as he removed his cloak.

“I know, I know.” The Wutain woman said before turning to the blonde and smiling. “Hello Mr. Strife. I’ve heard a lot about you from Yuffie!”

“Cloud, this is Mariko. Despite her personality, she is harmless.”

“Aww, you’re mean.” She pouted before bowing slightly to the swordsman. “Nice to meet you. Come on, I’ll get you two seated.”

She led them through the quiet restaurant to the table that Vincent and Yuffie usually sat and placing their menus before them. “Go ahead and look it over and someone will be over in a few minutes to take your order.

Vincent nodded his thanks before glancing over the top of his menu to his friend. “Order whatever you want Cloud.”

Cloud nodded though he knew he wouldn't get much to eat. For one, he wasn't going to use all of Vincent's money and two he actually wasn't all that hungry. The blonde skimmed down the menu and settled on having a side salad, a small bowl of miso soup, and a small bowl of beef and rice. Happy with his decision, he placed his menu down and gave the gunman a small smile while waiting for a waiter/waitress to take their orders.

Only a few minutes passed between his deciding and when someone came out to take their orders. "I'd like the side salad, small bowl of miso soup, and a small order of beef and rice."

Vincent nodded in approval of his friends order and took a sip of his water before placing his order. “I will have the beef and broccoli stir fry over white rice and the miso soup.”

“And for your drinks Mr. Valentine?” the waitress asked politely.

“Warm sake please.” He said and watched as she nodded and walked to the back.

Soon the young waitress returned with their meals and placed them before the two men. Vincent nodded in thanks before pouring himself and Cloud a small cup of sake.

“Enjoy gentlemen.” She said with a smile and left the table.

o-o

Cloud stared at the sake for a moment, remembering the alcohol addiction he once had but then pushed that aside. The small cup was picked up and he took a small gulp from it. A smile touched at his lips for a moment feeling the all too familiar fuzzy feeling in his cheeks for a few seconds. Then the feeling was gone and he set the cup back down.

The blonde first started with his salad, enjoying the foreign dressing that was purely Wutainese. The salad was quickly eaten and then he moved onto his miso soup, also enjoying the taste that was only affiliated with proud nation. "Thank for you this Vincent."

The corner of the gunman’s lip upturned slightly as crimson met sapphire. “You’re welcome. I’m glad to do this for you Cloud.” He said with a smile. He knew that the swordsman was worried about the alcohol, but he would not allow Cloud to overdo it.

The detox had completely cleared his system of the toxins and the need and crave that went along with it, however, it left him overly sensitive to the smallest amounts of the ‘glow’ that had become his drug of choice. There was no way that he would allow his friend to be consumed by the addiction again, therefore, a bit of sake with his meal wouldn’t hurt him.

“Cloud, is there anything you wish to do before we return to the mansion?” He asked quietly.

"Could we walk around town a bit? I haven't gotten a chance to really see everything that has been done to the place," he replied, taking another sip of the alcoholic beverage. The chopsticks they were given were picked up and somehow he managed to eat quite well with the Wutainese tools. For some reason he remember when Yuffie had taught them all how to use them correctly.

After Cloud had his sake, Vincent ordered them both more tea. They both finished the excellent meal before Vincent paid the waitress and left a generous tip before saying goodbye to the owner and leaving the restaurant.

o-o

Their walk took them past the old well, through the newer apartments and homes within the town, and in front of the homes that had been created by Shinra to be an exact copy of the ones they grew up in.

"Yuffie and I have made sure your home was watched over. Tifa has been unsure as to what she will do with hers, but hasn't returned to Nibelheim in years. I think that a part of her does not want to let go of her only tie to her childhood."

Cloud nodded, listening to the older man as they walked through the town. They stopped when they reached his own house that seemed to be untouched. The blonde looked back to Vincent, asking if it would be fine for him to venture inside. At his nod, he walked up the small pathway to the door. He moved off the matt that was surprisingly still there, picking up the spare key that fought all the years.

"Surprised it's still here," he mumbled to himself, placing the mat back. Sticking the key in the knob, he turned it hearing an old creak that he wasn't surprised by. The door was pushed open and he flicked on the light switch right next to the door as he stepped in. Blue eyes glanced around the empty home, memories from his childhood springing to life in his head.

"...It really has been a long time.." he muttered to himself, stepping further into the small home.

Vincent watched quietly as Cloud moved over to one of the beds and ran his finger's over the homemade quilt that covered it. "Your mother's bed? He asked and got a small nod in reply.

"We thought it'd be best that you decided on what to do with your home. Yuffie knew that we would find you one day, and she wanted you to be able to come home to something from your past."

"I want some else to be able to live in it. The past for me now is just a jumble of memories that do nothing for me. Most the memories I do have aren't the best. I would rather have the house my mother and myself lived in be used so people can put good memories in the house," he replied, turning to look at Vincent.

"I know my mom would want it this way. She was always wanting me to just be happy." Fingers ran over the quilt once more before he moved away from it. Blue eyes scanned over the small home once more. Then without any hesitation, he walked out of the small home. The key was tucked into his pocket for the time being so he could give it to whoever wanted to live in the house. He heard the gunman lock and close the door after him.

"I'm ready to head home unless you have anywhere you want to go."

Vincent draped the quilts over his golden arm as he moved to the glowing blue of his friends. "There is nowhere that I wish to go." He said in his normal quiet tone. "I know of a woman who needs a place to stay. One of Mariko's waitresses was just abandoned by her husband. The place where they are staying now is too expensive and I believe that she would gratefully accept your home if it was offered."

He and Yuffie had been in the restaurant less than a month ago when passing through on their way back to Wutai. They had heard the woman's plight and felt badly for her so they helped as much as they could. The woman's name was Amara and though she accepted the help, she felt badly for needing it. This way, she would have a home to call her own that didn't drain her money away from the necessities for her daughter.

"Then she can have it. Ironic how she is in the same situation my mother was in," he replied, giving a faint smile. It gave his heart a bit of relief to be able to help someone out just by giving something to someone that he didn't need. In a way, it was like he was repaying the gunman and ninja for helping him through the mess he had gotten himself in. Without either one of them, he was sure he would be dead in a ditch somewhere.

Shaking his head of those thoughts, he walked with Vincent back to the Mansion. Shoes and coat were slipped off at the door and he headed into the living room. The fireplace was lit before he curled up on one end of the black couch, a blanket being grabbed and wrapped around himself. Cloud enjoyed simple things like this now for a reason he didn't know. It just gave him a peace of mind and he could relax doing something so little.


Vincent placed the quilts that were once on the bed in Cloud's childhood home, on the vacant chair so that he would have something from his childhood with him. It wasn't the original, but from what Tifa had once told them, Shinra had replicated everything so precisely, even the words and handwriting in her old diary was the same and the tear on the dress of an old doll was there.

The gunman walked down the hallway and went down the stairs before heading into the kitchen. He grabbed two mugs and went about making a special herbal blend of Wutain teas meant to relax the body and ease you into sleep. He ventured into the living room and gave a small smile when he saw Cloud curled up on the couch. He could tell that getting out had done the man good; he seemed more relaxed and at ease though the sadness was still present in his eyes.

"Here...it will help you sleep." Vincent said and placed the mug on the table before taking his seat on the other end of the couch.

Nodding, he took the cup and sipped at the herbal tea. The blanket was pulled tighter around himself and he continued to sip at the tea, watching the flames flicker in the fire place. While he stared, a question popped into his head.

"Vincent... How much have I missed since I've been 'gone'?" He was curious on how the rest of his comrades faired after the whole ordeal. Inwardly he hoped they all were able to get on with their lives and be happy.

"Hmm..." He took a sip of his tea and leaned back into the couch cushion. "Barret and Elmyra are raising Marlene in Corel. She's ten now and form what I hear, she is doing quite well. From what Yuffie has told me, Barret and Elmyra have been talking about having a child.

"Cid and Shera were married three months after meteor and he now has three daughters. They still live in Rocket and if I recall, Shera is expecting their fourth child.

Vincent stood and moved over to a table and removed a photo album before returning to the couch and placing he white book on his lap. "Red is doing well as the guardian of Cosmo. Tifa...she lives in Kalm and has a bar there. She is doing well also."

"Yuffie and I were married in Wutai three years ago." He opened the photo album and placed it on the blonde's lap. "These are copies of the our wedding photos...we keep one here and one at our home in Wutai." He said.

"I'm glad to hear that everyone is doing well. I would want it that way. I just hope that I haven't caused trouble because of my disappearance." He said, regret lacing his voice. The cup was set down on the table and he shifted so his legs weren't folded beneath him.

Cloud slowly looked through the album, a soft smile on his lips at seeing how happy everyone looked in the pictures. It was one of the many things he knew he had missed out on. But he knew it was probably for the best that he hadn't been there. By then, he already had himself entangled deeply into alcohol, drugs and sex. He didn't want to ruin the happiness that was clearly there.

Stopping on the last page, he ran his finger over an envelope that was trapped beneath the plastic. It had his name upon it but also had a big red bold 'return to sender, resident no longer at location' on it. The smile disappeared and let out a sigh.

"I'm sorry that I missed out on your wedding, Vincent... I think it was for the best though... I would have only ruined a day that's meant to be happy," he whispered out, slowly closing the white book on his lap.

"Cloud that is not true. Yuffie and I both would have loved to have you at our wedding. Don't ever think that we would have not wanted you to be there." He said in a firm yet gentle tone.

"Yuffie was hoping that you would be found before we married, but after searching for a year, we needed to set the date to comply with Wutain tradition. Do not feel bad. Yuffie is simply happy at knowing that you're okay. She is going to come and spend some time with you in a few weeks. She needs a break from Wutai for a few days and really wants to spend it with you."

"It will be nice to see her again. I truly have missed everyone," he replied quietly, setting the book back on the table. Cloud grabbed the tea and decided to gulp it all down. After it was all swallowed, he set the cup back down and curled up back in the corner. His head rested against the back of the couch, slightly tilted as he stared at the fire.

Pulling the blanket tight around himself again, he felt his eyes grow heavy and fall halfway. The tea was already working and he was actually quite thankful for it. Sleep seemed very nice at the moment. Hell sleep always seemed nice to him after the detox. The blonde tended to sleep as much as possible surprisingly not bothering the gunman.

"...Give me a month or two to really straighten up... and I'll let everyone see me again.... I... just don't want everyone to see their ‘great leader’ so low. I'm sure I would break most of their hearts for having sunk so low to drugs because I couldn't deal with the pain... But I just didn't have anything else going for me... I didn't have a purpose and everything that I had once lived for was gone..." he murmured out.

"...Life just lost all meaning..." Tears spilled from his partially closed blue eyes though Cloud didn't seem to really notice. "Sephiroth was really all I had left and he disappeared too... Everything just disappears..." Blue eyes closed and his arms brought the blanket even tighter around himself, almost painfully to point of biting into his skin. More tears spilled down his pale cheeks but he knew he couldn't stop them, the hole in his heart open again.

"You can take all the time you need. If it is a month you need, you will have it. If its a year, then its a year. Yuffie, myself, Reeve and the Turks will make sure that you have the time you need to heal. No one will know about you until you're ready." He said quietly and watched as the blonde leaned against him.

A few minutes later, the blonde had slipped into a deep slumber, thanks to the tea. Vincent also felt slumber calling to him and decided that it was time to head to sleep.

Effortlessly, he picked up the wrapped up man and carried him up the staircase. Judging by the grip Cloud had on his shirt, it was clear that he didn't want to be alone. He looked at the door leading to Cloud's room, then the one leading to his own before heading to his own room. He walked over to his large bed, and placed the swordsman down on it.

Cloud tensed in his sleep at being laid down, but Vincent shook his head. "Relax Cloud, I won't leave." He said and watched the younger man's sleepy blue eyes open.

Vincent helped Cloud out of his pants and shirt, leaving him clad in a white undershirt, socks and boxers. Vincent quickly changed his clothes, slipping into his black silk pajama bottoms and climbing into the bed. He turned out the lamp and pulled the blanket over them both only to have the blonde move in closer.

Crimson eyes closed as he held the smaller man close to his chest. "Sleep well Cloud." He said quietly and closed his glowing eyes.

o-o-Author's Notes-o-o

About damn time that this site is up and running again...I guess :) I'm happy to finally get this chapter out and have ben able to edit and break down the chapters and now I can post them.

We would really love to see some reviews for this chapter. I might post the next chapter in the next couple days. There are 2 more chapters after this one that I've finished editing so please review! We really want to see what you're liking and what your not.

Angel and Ezzy
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