Honey and Clove; Smoke and Steel

This oneshot was my very first experience with FFVII fanfiction. I figure because my other two stories have done so well, I might as well post this too. Enjoy!!

Honey and Clove; Smoke and Steel


Another lonely sunset slowly seeped inside Willow's empty heart. Hollow eyes watched as the giant orb of fire sank smoothly into the waiting waters of the cold ocean.

Cold like her soul.

There had been doubt there behind those flame-colored eyes...or was she just seeing things? Willow wasn't sure anymore.

With two words he had snatched away her warmth like the ungiving sea extinguished the stubborned flames of the sun. As the orange rays disappeared behind a shining horizon, their last conversation echoed in her mind.


{Flashback}

The celebration of Deepground's defeat and the return of Vincent Valentine was a joyful occasion, and it sparked courage in the young Wutaian girl's heart.

"Vincent, can we talk?" Willow asked, tugging him away from the noisy crowd. Vincent turned away from the parade and looked down at her curiously.

"Sure, let's get coffee and find somewhere a little less...colorful." He ushered her into the Dancing Buddha and paid for both coffees-despite Willow's insistence to pay for herself-and led the way to the outskirts of town.

"What's wrong?" Vincent asked, seeing Willow's worried expression.

"I, uh, I don't know where to start..." Willow paused to glare at Vincent, his obvious amusement at her distress irritating. "We've known each other for a long time, Vincey. You've saved my klutzy behind more than once, and I've tried to be there for you, even though you make me stay behind when there's a crisis. You've taught me a lot in the three years I've known you."

"Willow, are you drunk?" Vincent asked, concerned.

"Wha-?! No! Just listen, okay?" She took a deep breath. "I know you think that I stay with you because I felt I owed a debt. That's only partly true." She stepped closer, Violet eyes and lilac hair glittering like diamonds in the dim glow of the streetlamps. They were touching now. Every breath brought their bodies together. Willow stood on her toes, her lips bare inches away from his.

"I love you, Vincent Valentine."


{End flashback}

Four months had passed since that night.

Willow shivered as a harsh gust of wind blew her knee-length hair back until it whipped and swirled around her.

"Where are you, Vincent?" she whispered to the choppy sea.

Crashing waves were her only answer as the wind picked up and the clouds began to dump icy rain onto the broken young woman on the shoreline. Twinkling stars peeked down from behind black storm clouds as the Wutaian girl slowly made her way back to town.


(Flashback}

"I love you, Vincent Valentine." Her soft lips met his a scant second after her declaration.

Vincent stood in shock as full lips parted against his own. Before he had a chance to think about why this wasn't such a good idea, he softly responded, wrapping his arms lightly around her slim waist. His lips parted and his tongue darted out to taste the woman so passionately clinging to him.

Honey and clove; Smoke and steel.

The kiss deepened as Willow placed her hands on his broad shoulders. She let her tongue brush against his in a fleeting touch that sent a jolt of electricity down her spine and to her toes.

The sudden shock of Willow's tongue against his brought him out of his daze. He abruptly pulled away.

"Vincent..." Willow whispered, her voice thick with desperation.

"I'm sorry." Without another word, he turned back to the darkness, leaving Willow to her deafening solitude.

{End flashback}

Now back inside her studio apartment, Willow stripped down to her bra and panties, leaving her sopping clothes in a pile on the floor. Yawning, she climbed into bed and closed her eyes. Within minutes, she was asleep.

/Running...she was running through the Sleeping Forest.; An Uze* was right on her tail, flinging poisoned barbs and spitting toxic fumes.

She smelled water...A stream was close by. Her legs ached and her lungs burned, but still she ran. The open space she ran in ended, replaced by beautiful glowing white trees.

The stream! There it is! She leapt across the wide body of water, not registering until it was too late that there was someone in her direct path. They both toppled to the ground. The man growled and rolled on top of her, left hand raised to slice her with a wicked gold gauntlet.

"Huh? Sorry, I uh..." she heard herself say. The man eyed her for a split second, and then apparently decided that she was harmless, as he stood and helped her to her feet. Violet eyes stared into confused crimson, suddenly wide with surprise when she screamed and fell against him.

A long purple barb stuck clear through her shoulder; poison and blood dripping from the curled tip. The angry Uze on the other side of the stream flung another barb, only to have it knocked away by a flash of gold metal.

"An...a-a-antidote..." Willow whimpered, the poison spreading quickly through her already tired body.

THe man drew an antidote from his belt and began pouring it on her shoulder.

"N-no! The Uze! Th-throw it o-on him!"

He looked confused, but did as she said, watching in fascination as the dark purple goo that was the Uze dissolved into a steaming puddle of slime.

He lifted Willow off the ground and carried her to the water's edge, lying her down and pouring water on her shoulder, washing away the blood and inky substance.

Willow moaned weakly at the cold water, her eyes sliding shut.

"No...no, miss..." said a husky baritone voice. "Don't sleep. Open your eyes." He shook her and slapped her face a few times. Her eyes fluttered open. "That's right...that a girl...come on, you can't sleep or the poison will kill you. I'd give you another antidote, but I don't have one."

"I'm s-s-sorry...it's just so...so hard." she began drifting off again and he jerked her awake, hard. She opened her eyes again.

"That's alright, just keep talking. What's your name and what are you doing here?"

"I'm Willow...Willow Cera...I'm on a p-pilgrimage...to learn and grow through...experience...and...travel..." her voice drifted slowly as she finally could not keep her eyes open.

"Well this is quite the experience, Willow. I'm Vincent Valentine. Keep talking, now. I'll get you to a town."

Warmth flooded her senses as he lifted her gently and cradled her close to him, wrapping his cloak around her shivering body./


Willow awoke with a gasp when she felt warmth begin to physically flow through her body. This was NOT a part of her dream.

She tried to sit up only then realizing that she was pinned to the mattress. She whimpered and struggled against the tall, slim figure above her. The intruder pinned her wrists down level with her head.

"Shh...Willow...Stop! It's me!" The smooth, rich voice penetrated her fear and she lay still in shock.

"Vincent?" she asked timidly, looking up at last and seeing glowin crimson eyes staring down at her. He straddled her hips.

Willow was so overjoyed that he was actually back, she began to cry. He sat on his heels and pulled her to a sitting position, crushing her body to his in a desperately apologetic embrace.

"I'm sorry, Willow, I'm so sorry... I lied to you-and myself. I love you too..I'm sorry...I was just so-" She cut him off by pressing her finger to his trembling lips.

"I don't care why...I love you and you're back now!" she pressed her cheek to his chest, crying until she couldn't cry anymore.

While she had cried, Vincent had switched around until Willow was cradled in his lap. She yawned and snuggled against him.

"Go to sleep, Willow. We'll talk tomorrow." Vincent said.

"So you'll still be here in the morning?" she asked, shyly.

"Yes. And every morning after that." He lay her down and stretched out on top of her. He kissed her forehead, then the bridge of her nose. He braced himself on his elbows.

"Willow?"

"Yes, Vincey?" she answered sleepily.

"Can I kiss you?" he whispered, his voice laced with dark promise.

Willow sighed. "Please." she answered.

Vincent slowly lowered his lips to hers, his thumbs rubbing the hinged of her jaw.

Honey and clove; Smoke and steel.

He sucked her bottom lip into his mouth and rubbed his tongue against it. Willow let out a soft moan.

Sleep was forgotten when Willow pulled away, unbuckling Vincent's cloak and pushing it from his shoulders. Then she rained hot kisses down the center of his throat, then up his jawline.

"Vincent..." she whispered between nibbling kisses, "Please...will you make love you me?"

"Willow..."Vincent whispered back, "Are you sure?"

"Yes. Absolutely. Please, Vincent, take me?"

He nodded and sat back, sliding his hands behind Willow to unclasp her bra. Her perfect breasts fell into place, nipples rosy and taut.

Refusing to be the passive lover, Willow reached up and began to fumble with the clasps on Vincent's shirt.

Some buckles did this, and some buckles did that, and some did absolutely nothing at all. Sighing in frustration, she gave up and turned her attention to removing his headband. That done, she turned to his gauntlet, sliding her fingers up to the pointed tips, unbuckling as she went, finally sliding the piece off and laying it gently on her nightstand.

Vincent removed his shirt and pants, tossing them to a remote corner of the room.

He was a patchwork of scars. Jagged lines ran in criss-crossing patterns down his torso and arms and legs.

He was the most beautiful thing Willow had ever seen. She lifted her hips when she felt his still-gloved hands tugging at her panties.

Vincent's gloves came next, his fingers tracing Willow's features just as soon as they were free.

"Vincent..." Willow sighed.

"Willow..." Was her answer just as his lips pressed against hers again. It was a slow kiss, filled with passion. Willow shuddered when she felt Vincent's hands slide down her neck to her breasts, his mouth following the path. She moaned when his hot lips closed around a pink nipple, his hand sculpting and molding her other breast. She gasped when his tongue flicked against her. She arched her back and whimpered when he began to suckle. Her hand trailed around his hip and grasped his member, already half erect. Vincent groaned and pressed against her. He was instantly so hard it hurt; her innocent touch was so arousing.

"Please, Vincent!" Willow begged, "I've waited for years! Please don't make me wait anymore!"

Vincent propped himself up on his elbow and smiled warmly at her, weaving his hand between then and pressing his thumb to her swollen nub. He slipped a finger inside her.

"Yes..." she hissed, pushing against him.

Vincent moaned at the tight, wet heat surrounding his fingers. She was more than ready for him. He positioned himself at her entrance and began to push forward.

"This will hurt, Willow." He gave her little time to think about his warning. He thrust forward, burying himself inside her.

She cried out and clung to him. He stayed still for a moment to allow her to adjust to him.

"Are you alright?" he asked after a minute.

"Yes, Vincent," she said, "Please...move..."

He was never the kind of man to have to be told twice. He pulled back and slid forward again, slowly. Willow moaned and wrapped her legs around his hips.

"Willow..." her name was a prayer into the stormy night as Vincent dove in for a searing kiss, and all willpower was lost. His lips never left hers as his hips jerked forward. She moved with him, staring into fire eyes.

Her body began to tingle when he slid his mouth down her neck, nipping and sucking. She shivered and began trembling when she felt a delicious ache build in her stomach. The sensations of her building climax were overwhelming. It frightened her.

"Vincent!" she cried.

"Shh...its okay, " he panted, "let it happen." His own climax was mere seconds away, he could feel it preparing to crash over him like waves against the jagged cliffs of Junon. "I love you, Willow...come with me..."

Hearing his words rocketed her over the edge. Her walls tightened impossibly tight around him, forcing a powerful orgasm to flood his senses.

His harsh growl as he jerked once more mingled with her choked whimpered.

He shuddered and collapsed against her, gasping fro breath.

"Are you okay, Willow?" he asked after the storm had passed. She didn't answer.

"Willow?" he rose and looked down at her. Her deep, even breathing told him she had fallen asleep. He smiled and placed a soft kiss on her swollen lips, then rolled off of her and pulled her into his arms, letting the scent of their lovemaking coax him to slumber.

Honey and clove; Smoke and steel.


~end~


*An Uze is a creature made entirely of gooey slime. They fling poisoned barbs and spit poisoned gases. They can only be killed by dousing them with an antidote to neutralize the poison, or by crossing water, as it will cause their bodies to melt away.