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Walking Out on Destiny	By : HarliqueenNight Category: Final Fantasy VII > Yaoi - Male/Male Views: 2575 -:- Recommendations : 1 -:- Currently Reading : 1
Disclaimer: Final Fantasy VII and all things associated are owned by Square Enix and Testuya Nomura respectively. I own nothing save for the characters and places created for the sake of this fan fiction and recieve no profit in the creation of this fanfiction.

Chapter List
- 9
- 10
- 11
A/N: I have heard the pleas of my fans and have come to the conclusion that all of you are screaming for! "BITCH GOTTA GO!" LOL. I love you guys, just be patient. Lucrecia will get hers for it is already written but for every bad guy gone there has to be someone we love gone too so you have to be careful how fast you kill those baddies.
Walking Out On Destiny
Episode 8: Grounded in Paradise: Wine and Sherry
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Vincent browsed the shelves for something cooler for Tseng to wear so that the boy wouldn't have a heat stroke. He hoped leaving the two of them alone would do them some good. He wasn't stupid; he'd seen the fast healing bruise on Sephiroth's face when he had picked them up the other day. He just hopped that was as close as they would get to a sibling fist fight and that they would become nothing like the fist fights he got into with Veld. Though neither was ever sent to the hospital, Vincent used to kick Veld's ass when they were teenagers, but Veld tended to always come back. Vincent smiled to himself. He was getting old, reminiscing like this. He continued to pick out a good pile of clothing that would last the week and went to the checkout line. When it became his turn, the clerk, a young girl in a bikini and a floral wrap, kept staring at him in awe. She batted her eyelashes at him as she rung up his purchase.
"2500 gil, sir," she cooed in a flirty voice.
Vincent fought not to roll his eyes as he dug around his jacket for his wallet. His brows furrowed when his hand wrapped around nothing. "Dammit…"
"I'll take care of the charge."
Vincent blinked as Hojo's hand flew smoothly by his face and handed a ShinRa issued bank card to the girl. She charged it and handed it back with a warm smile.
"Have a nice day, sirs."
Vincent grabbed his bag and ignored the scientist who followed him out. Hojo adjusted his glasses and dangled the gunman's wallet in his face. Vincent stopped and looked at it. He snatched it and continued walking, shoving the thing into his pocket. He paused in his step when it fell out of his pocket. Hojo picked it up again with a condescending smile. Vincent narrowed his eyes again and looked at his jacket pocket to find a large tear in it. He looked at the older man with a sigh and snatched the wallet again, putting it in his good pocket.
"That's a sign that you're wearing old clothing," Hojo said following the gunman. "I guess it's not every day that you dress in anything less than business casual. Why might that be, Turk?"
"Valentine."
"Ah yes, I have permission to address you as a human being."
"What do you want?" Vincent said never turning around.
Hojo shrugged in his hunched position. "A thank you would be kind enough, and perhaps compensation for the trouble you've caused."
"I have no reason to compensate you since what happened last night was your wife's fault!" Vincent snapped turning on the doctor. He found the man was closer to his back than he should've been.
Hojo's dark eyes were very visible through his glasses this close. They held a dark amusement and Vincent almost reached for his gun. "I meant…for the gil I just spent."
Vincent had the decency to feel embarrassed. "Oh…you'll have to wait until I reach a teller." With that he began to walk away hoping to not have to continue this unwanted contact.
"I have something much simpler than that to request," he said putting a cigarette between his lips. "A way that all debts be paid."
"What the hell do you want, Hojo?"
Hojo smirked. "My pretty diva has shunned me for the rest of our vacation. My world is in shambles and the only thing I can think to have at this point is a good seat at a dark bar. Have a drink with an old man, Valentine. One shunned lover to another."
"It's too earlier to be shit-faced, and I have a job to do later today."
"I never said when, did i?" he replied as if he were talking to a child.
"No," Vincent murmured. "You didn't. Fine, when?"
"Tonight, while the kittens are asleep."
Vincent furrowed his brows. "What are you playing at, Hojo? Your wife cried rape and now you're asking said rapist out for a drink?"
"Simple, I would like to discuss your sleeping habits. Or have you forgotten?"
"…no, I haven't forgotten."
"Then what better way to discuss troubling things than over a glass or two of fine liquor." He handed him a card with the name and location of the bar. "See you at nine-thirty for a nightcap. If you wear something more your style, I will be more inclined to let your debt go. Refine yourself sometime, Valentine. You are certainly not average."
With that the eccentric doctor walked away without giving Vincent his say in the matter. Vincent looked at the card and then at the man's retreating form. "Great, as if I need one more creeper vying for my attention."
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Angeal watched Genesis ghost his fingers over rack items with less enthusiasm than he'd ever seen. His ever changing eyes were almost slate as he gave longing sighs. The older boy tilted his head at the depressed air radiating from his companion and placed a gentle hand on Genesis's shoulder.
"Whats on your mind, G?"
Genesis shook his head immediately with a forced smile. "Nothing! Nothing at all, just thinking about Sephiroth."
"Sephiroth?" Angeal smiled knowingly. "You're still thinking about what you did last night?"
Genesis actually blushed. "No! I mean…Oh Angie I don't know what to do. I want you! You're supposed to be my first, but, goddess, every time Sephiroth touches me I just…I lose it! His smell, his taste, the way his arms feel around me make me want to give everything up right there!"
Angeal laughed. "You're adorable, ginger brat."
"What the hell does that mean? I'm pouring my soul out to you here and you're making fun of me!"
"Calm down. This is why I didn't want to do anything until I was sure you wouldn't regret it."
"Wait what? Why would I regret being with you?"
"Don't you get it? You like Sephiroth. Sephiroth is someone new, someone you didn't have in your face for years and you're reacting how you should. You're infatuated."
"Well of course I am, that's obvious. But what does that have to do with us, Angie?"
"You want to sleep with him don't you?" Angeal asked softly.
"I believe I've already answered that particular…" he trailed off when he saw the saddened expression on Angeal's face. "Oh, Angie, that's not how it is at all! You think that because I feel attracted to Sephiroth I'm going to give you up?"
"Genesis, you can't have us both. I don't think things work that way."
"Well why not?" he exclaimed and Angeal shushed him as people began to stare. The redhead swatted at him. "No, you tell me why I can't love you and love Sephiroth too?"
Angeal blinked. "You mean…despite what you say, you still really want me as well?"
Genesis looked up at the older boy and touched his cheek gently. "Angeal," he gently cooed. "You are and always will be my love, even if I do feel for someone else. I never wanted anyone else but you."
"But you would be sad if I said I wanted you to myself. If I said you couldn't do anything with Sephiroth anymore."
Genesis lowered his eyes. "Yes, I would be. But I'd stop anyway, just because you asked me to."
"Genesis, we've been friends since we were kids," he pulled the redhead into his embrace. "I'd never make you do anything you didn't want to. Making you happy is what comes first."
"Angeal-"
"And if what you want is Sephiroth before me, then that's fine."
"But-"
"I won't be jealous or anything like that. I mean, he's my friend too."
"But Angeal…don't you want him too?"
Angeal made a surprised sound. The other customers were glaring at them now for disturbing their peace. Angeal apologized and led Genesis out the store. Once outside, Genesis huffed and put his hands on his hips.
"There are most definitely better ways to have a discussion, Angie! We could've talked about this over raspberry ice since we're out in this infernal heat!"
"What did you mean in there?"
"Oh you're fooling no body, honey. You obviously like Sephiroth as much as I do and I'm alright with that. I love having my cake and eating it too. The question is…will Seph want us like we want him."
Angeal groaned. "I can't believe we're even talking about this! Things like that don't work; I mean hell you're both younger than me and barely able to drink."
"We've done more disturbing things together in the past and age never seemed to matter."
"But, Gen, that's because it's you. I trust you. We've only known Seph for what? A week?"
"Which makes it all the more special," he said cheerfully. "The fact that we can connect like this and we barely know each other should be a sign of something big. The goddess has drawn us all together for a reason and I'll be damned if I don't find a way to enjoy it."
Angeal sighed. "You and all that goddess talk. It still doesn't mean we should all be kissing cousins and crap like that."
"No, it doesn't, but who's to say we can't be? You know you want to, Angie. I've seen the way you cast small glances at him. Those quick disrobing stares you give when you think no one's looking, the way your hands always linger on him whenever we touch. I know you, Angie. You want him as much as I do."
"Genesis, that's not-"
Genesis pressed him against the side of the building, still taunting him. "You have to see it, Angie. When you push back that starlight he calls hair, his face is the gift of the goddess. His mouth is sweet, like the apples back home, and when he comes," he leaned as close to Angeal's ear as his tiptoes would allow. "Oh Angie, when he comes, it's like watching heaven open up. He's beautiful. Don't you want to see that too?"
Angeal felt weak in the knees. Genesis always had a knack for crumbling his defenses. Whether it was that wicked tongue, those lush lips, or that sultry voice, Angeal always fell to pieces and would do anything the teen asked him. He wet his lips and nodded dumbly. Genesis smiled and backed off.
"Good then! I don't feel so guilty. Let's plot then!" he practically sashayed off down the street leaving Angeal looking a bit stupid.
"What the heck did I just agree to?"
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It was almost four when Vincent came in quickly putting grocery bags down and directing the bellhop to place the clothing bags on the couch. Sephiroth looked up from his spot on the couch and shook Tseng who had taken a nap to recuperate. He gently moved Tseng from his relaxed spot against his side and got up to help Vincent while the other boy rubbed sleep from his eyes.
"I'm running behind, I want you to put these away and let Tseng go through his clothes. Make sure this place is clean when I come back and everything is in its right place."
Sephiroth grumbled. "I could be on the beach right now."
"What was that?"
"Nothin' Vince," Sephiroth said with an innocent smile as he put away the food. "Just thinking how amazing you are!"
Vincent shook his head and went over to Tseng. "You're feeling better?"
"Better than I was," Tseng said sleepily.
"You continue to drink plenty of water, and if you want you can go to the beach when evening sets in. The evenings aren't as punishing."
Tseng nodded and glanced at Sephiroth who was muttering irritably. "I think I stay. Seph has promised..flicks?"
"Oh, then that's fine." Vincent ruffled his hair and went to his room. "I'm not sure when I'll be back so make sure you both eat. Sephiroth, you're only allowed to go out and get something with eat and you will take Tseng with you. Don't do anything dumb."
"Jeez, slip up one time!"
"One time too many," Vincent shut his door.
Sephiroth growled. He had only been in the suite for a few hours but was fast developing cabin fever. Vincent was starting to piss him off with this whole grounded thing. Tseng slid off the couch and went over to help him put away things.
"Let me help."
"Why are you being so nice?" Sephiroth asked suspiciously.
"I have not reason to be mean."
"Its 'no reason' and I guess you don't."
Vincent immerged in full uniform, his hair pulled back in a tight pony tail and his tie missing. It was too hot to have the suit completely closed up. He zipped up his blazer and snatched his room key and wallet from the counter. "I will see you both tonight. Try not to set the place on fire."
Tseng nodded while Sephiroth stuck his tongue out at him. Once Tseng he was sure he was gone, he looked at Sephiroth with mischievous dark gray eyes. "The cat is away."
"So, what?"
"You want go to beach, let's go to beach," Tseng said simply. He left a stunned Sephiroth in the kitchen to go change into shorts and a shirt.
"Wait, you aren't serious? Vincent said to stay here."
"And you don't want that. We go for hour and be back before he is."
Sephiroth smirked at his surrogate brother. "We could get into a lot of trouble, Tseng. What if we get caught?"
Tseng came out slipping his shirt over his head. "I never am caught."
"…alright then, let's go."
Tseng made sure he had the room key and snatched his own debit card that had been left with his clothing. Sephiroth followed him out making sure Vincent was nowhere in sight. They walked through the lobby acting as natural as they could; Tseng even bought a bottle of water for the heat outside. Together, Tseng and Sephiroth stepped out on main street and followed the signs hoping to get to the beach. They stumbled across a seaboard where small carnival games where held. Tseng was confused by the flashing lights and random shouting as they passed by the shooting games. One of the announcers called out to them.
"Hey there, step right up test your shot! You look like a good shot, with those eyes, sir!"
Sephiroth looked at Tseng who shrugged and they both came over to the booth. The gentlemen held up a large black prize animal. "Everyone who shoots four stars or better gets a Black Queen Coeurl! Wanna test your luck?"
Sephiroth was about to say no when he caught Tseng touching the stuffed animal curiously. He bit his lip and dug around his pocket for the bit of cash he had left from his last allowance. "How much?"
"Only 5 gil per round. You get six bullets in one of these," he held up a harmless replica of a standard issue ShinRa marksmen rifle. "You gotta hit these stars in the middle. One star gets ya nothing, two stars gets ya a pocket plush, three stars get you the third shelf, and four and up get you our Black Coeurl's here."
Sephiroth counted the wadded up gil notes. He had ten, enough to make two attempts. He nodded to himself and handed the man five of them. The man took them with a grin and shouted into the mike. "Alright ladies and gentlemen, we got a would-be sniper here ready to test his luck! Give 'em a good show kid!"
Sephiroth picked up the rifle while Tseng took a stool and watched him. He loaded the dull bullets into it like he'd watched Vincent do with his rifles after cleaning them. Vincent had taken him to the Turk shooting gallery once and he found he could blow people to hell with a rifle while he couldn't hit the broad side of a barn. He just hoped that without Vincent here to adjust his sight, he could do it still. He stood up straight and took a few deep breaths before positioning it at his shoulder.
"Do you know how to use a gun?" Tseng asked skeptically.
"Do you want the damn thing or not?"
Tseng bit his lip. "I could live without it."
"Shut up," Sephiroth said taking aim. "You're still a kid and you deserve a kid thing…or something!"
"You are strange person."
Sephiroth scoffed and spied down the barrel of the gun. He closed his eye and on his exhale he squeezed the trigger six times in rapid succession. The toothpick fell out of the Carni's mouth and he looked at Sephiroth with wide eyes. Tseng's jaw also dropped and he slipped off the stool and went to peek down the gallery line so that he could see the result. The man took the six pieces of paper and examined them. He blinked a few times before looking at Sephiroth in amazement. He snatched two prizes and pushed them into Sephiroth's hands.
"We have a winner folks. Shot perfect center on all six stars! And there's more where that came from, care to come up and test your aim against this silver devil."
Sephiroth took the two prizes and handed one to Tseng who could barely wrap his arm around them. "There you go."
"What do I do with it?"
"Sleep with it for all I care. Just be happy you got it!"
Tseng hugged the animal indignantly and fought against the smile that was trying to bloom on his face. "Thank you."
"You're welcome, though I dunno what to do with the other one."
"Give it to loud one," Tseng suggested huffing.
"Nah, G prefers red or pur…Tseng you okay?" he asked with concern.
"Yes, I am fine. The sun set soon, I will make it. Besides, we reach beach. See?"
Sephiroth blinked at the gorgeous white sand that glowed almost red in the setting sun like dust made out of rubies. The waves that moved against the shore were tipped golden by the dying rays and the sky was a dusty rose. Everything appeared to be glowing and all that remained in the evening sun were lovers watching it set. Sephiroth smiled and took off his shoes, stepping onto the soft sand excitedly. Tseng arched his brow in confusion.
"What are you doing?"
"Take your shoes off. Come on, I know a way to get you cooled off."
Tseng didn't argue, he slipped off his sneakers and followed Sephiroth onto the sand trustingly. Sephiroth led him to the water and forced him to let the clean waters wash over his feet. Tseng jumped a bit and fell into Sephiroth who held him steady. He took Tseng's prize from him and sat both of them on the beach away from the water. Then he picked Tseng up and took him further into the water kicking and screaming.
"Ah! Put me down! Put me down!"
"I have no clue what you're saying!" Sephiroth spouted, dropping the boy into the water. It wasn't deep, just enough for him not to hit the bottom painfully.
Tseng came up sputtering, the water to his waist. He let out a long string of Wutain and stomped back the shore. Sephiroth laughed. "Oh come on, don't you know how to have fun."
Tseng kept his back turned and murmured under his breath and Sephiroth saw a strange glow coming from the boy. Before he could realize what it was, Tseng whipped around and a sudden wave hit him in the face knocking him into the surf. He came up coughing. Tseng stood their juggling a small sphere of colored materia in his hand. Sephiroth growled and splashed the boy.
"You cheat! Using Materia!"
Tseng ran from the spray of water. Sephiroth chased after him. "Get back here ya little jerk!"
"No!"
"Boo to you too!" As the sunset, they ran down the shore not even remembering where they had left their shoes or the prizes.
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Vincent finished whipping the blood off his gun and proceeded to change his gloves. He looked down at the dead Don and his wife. The dark skinned child was tranquilized in the corner and would be found in the morning. They had been sitting together eating dinner when he had broken in silently and put them down. The wife was a gorgeous thirty-something with twisted locks pulled into a pony tail while her husband, the Don that had crossed them was a tall imposing man who kept his hair faded almost bald. These sorts of things always left a bad taste in his mouth. They had been a pretty good looking family and to punish them for their father's backdoor dealings against ShinRa had been a damned shame. He'd put the kid to sleep first hoping that he wouldn't have to take on another traumatized victim. After all, he was only thirteen and wouldn't remember a thing thanks to the mixture. It didn't feel right to live the kid lying in his parent's blood and conscious won over Vincent once again. He picked up the kid, finding a cloth to clean all the blood off. The boy stirred but did not wake. Vincent took him out of the place and took the long humid walk to one of the churches. He left the boy on the step and knocked on the door, hoping the night watcher would still be there. If not, they would find the boy in the morning. He quickly made his getaway. The way he set it up, they would deem it a murder suicide and the existence of the boy would be forgotten in the midst of ShinRa dealings. He hoped the boy grew up outside of the violence, but he was a Don's son, and Costa de Sol Dons were chosen by blood. The ability to be such was always in the blood. Still, perhaps he could be in the violence without ever crossing his path again.
"Good luck," he whispered to the night air.
He made his way back to the hotel to check on his own little family. It was almost nine o' clock when he opened the door to the first suite. He saw Angeal and Genesis still awake, going through shopping bags and eating delivered sea food. He smiled and waved at him and they wished him goodnight. When had he adopted those two? Hell if he knew, but he knew they were his now as well. He went to his own suite wondering where Sephiroth was if the other two were in that room. He opened the door and went inside. Tossing the bloody blazer aside he placed the gloves in a Ziploc bag so that he could destroy the evidence later. He unbuttoned his shirt as he went to his bed room to find a pleasant surprise along the way. Sephiroth lay on the couch in a pair of pajama pants and a t-shirt with Tseng lying atop him practically swimming in one of the hotel robes. Their hair was wet most likely from a good shower and they slept peacefully. Vincent paused and watched them for a moment. This perfectly peaceful scene was the reason he continued to do what he did without ever cracking. He closed his eyes and smiled a bit before taking out his phone and taking a quick picture. He didn't know why he did it, other than the urge to hold this scene close to him forever. He would keep it no matter what phone he got. With a contented sigh he went to his room and chuckled a bit when he found the stuffed animals resting on his bed looking cute. They had disobeyed him and told on themselves; he couldn't even be mad. He sat down on the bed and began to take off his shoes when he finally took in the time. It was nine-fifteen.
"Hojo..." he breathed. If Vincent weren't such an honest Turk, he would've let the bastard wait, but he did owe the man money. He'd rather just pay it than spend an evening in the company of that sociopath. In fact, he continued to take off his clothes until he heard his cell phone ring. He sighed and picked it up.
"Valentine."
"Ah, I assumed you hadn't somehow find rest. After your dealings tonight, I wouldn't consider you human if you had gone to bed peacefully."
Vincent mentally cursed. "What is it, Hojo?"
"I believe you owe me a drink. It isn't polite to stand a friend up."
"You aren't what I would call a friend."
"True, but you have a promise to keep. I expect it to be kept. I'll give you a little time to get cleaned up. See you in an hour." Hojo hung up before Vincent could say anything.
"Son of a bitch," Vincent said tiredly. "I had to vacation in the place where there's no last call." He glanced at the clock. "Not like I was getting to sleep anyway."
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Hojo shooed away the waiter when he asked if he'd like another. He'd only been nursing his first glass of Sherry and refused to drink more until his scheduled companion arrived. Young women recognized him as a famous ShinRa intellect and threw themselves at him through slipping dress straps and flirty words. He ignored them all; they reminded him too much of Lucrecia when they had first met. Her girly way of batting her eyelashes at him even though they both knew he was too old for her. He nearly ten years older than the little girl and yet he fell for her still anyhow. A moment of weakness for young supple flesh had given him a headache more often than he needed. His love for Lucrecia was a bitter one but still a strong one. All those beautiful creatures who asked for a one night dream with a famous name. Why couldn't he luck out and marry someone like the powerful Lady ShinRa. He could've handled being her husband and playing second string to her career because she had ambition that didn't destroy other people's lives and was just as fiercely loyal as he was. Alas, she was his friend, and she was not here to take the edge off with her snappy remarks about Lucrecia.
"Professor Hojo, sir?" He turned to look at the classy waitress who lowered her head apologetically. "Sorry to disturb your evening but you asked to be informed when your guest arrived and he has. Shall I lead him over?"
"Yes, my dear, that would be very kind of you. Also, could you bring a bottle of wine for him as well and place it on my tab."
She nodded with a polite smile and left him. It took a moment before the Turk came into his sight freshly scrubbed and hair shinning under the dim lighting. He'd left it down, draped around his shoulders like a curtain of night and a thin golden chain was around his neck and a golden watch on his own. He hadn't expected Vincent to bring nice clothing on this trip, but it was his vacation after all. He'd heard that Vincent, like his wife, liked to play at night when the bloodshed stopped. The difference was that Vincent hurt no one but himself in these trysts and as unhealthy as it was, Hojo believed it was better than how his wife handled her affairs. Hojo held up his glass of sherry as Vincent approached. He compared its red glowing color to the eyes that looked around warily as he was led to the table. Those crimson orbs fell on him and he lowered the glass with a pleased smirk on his face.
"You made it and only an hour late," he took a sip of his drink. "I thought that Turks knew how to be prompt."
"If the only reason you called me here was to make fun of me, then I can pay you at a later date," Vincent said tiredly.
"Kill me with gentility. Have a seat."
Vincent took a seat in the soft plush booth. It was a bit dark in the night club and he couldn't see very well. He didn't like that at all. He kept his right hand close to his gun as he accepted the glass of wine poured by the waitress. She left the bottle on the table and bid them good evening. Hojo lit a cigarette and offered him one but he held his hand up and took out his own. He lit it and inhaled.
"Those will eventually kill you, Valentine," Hojo said blowing out smoke.
"I doubt I will die before you."
Hojo smiled. "These are about as unhealthy as a carrot. They are a special sort of thing I cooked up myself. I don't like to smoke tobacco."
"What do you want, Hojo?"
"I simply wanted company and yours was the only one I could tolerate even though last I saw you, you were on top of my wife."
"I didn't do anything to her," Vincent snapped.
"I know," he replied simply. "You were drugged. I believe that you would never do a thing to Lucrecia; you are too noble a soul for that."
"Then what is it?"
"I've been observing you for a while, yet, have not taken a clear opportunity to forgive you for sleeping with her."
"Never pegged you as the type to hold grudges," Vincent muttered, drinking the wine that had been left. "I'm too tired to deal with any enigmatic conversations you may want to have."
"Then I will be blunt. I wanted to kill you when I learned that you had been between her legs more times than I had the entire time we had been seeing each other. I wanted to kill you when you attempted to come between us and the Jenova Project, as if you had any right to poke your nose in with your limited scientific knowledge. But amazingly, I didn't begrudge you taking Sephiroth away from us."
Vincent looked at him in confusion. "Why are you bringing this up?"
"I called you out to warn you about the Jenova cells my wife and I have tested on ourselves," he flicked embers into the tray. "Sephiroth was born with them so I believe he is immune. He showed no signs of this madness yet."
"Madness?"
"Yes, the sudden change in demeanor and behavior of my beloved wife. She was always a selfish woman but her means of getting her desires have never been so crass, so underhanded. Sometimes I hear her, speaking to herself as if no one else is there."
Vincent gave a sorrowful gaze. "So, all those things she said on the ship…"
"What things?"
"She…no," Vincent shook his head. "I don't want to talk about it."
Hojo flicked away his ashes. "Valentine, there is nothing my wife has done that I have not known about, you realize. It's only recently that she has begun this violent streak of nonsensical plots. I fear those cells are reacting badly and it has something to do with her separation from Sephiroth."
"You're trying to tell me she's been going through fifteen years of post-partum depression," Vincent asked skeptically.
"I'm saying that the Jenova cells in her system are calling out to be part of the 'source.' Sephiroth is a perfected result of the Jenova Project, and because my wife and I are flawed beings it is no wonder they the cells are screaming to be a part of that perfection."
"You don't seem to be affect by them. You've done nothing."
"Who's to say I won't?" Hojo asked removing his glasses. "I want you take a good look at what I've been hiding behind these spectacles of mine. I haven't needed them since I began injecting myself with the first strands of Jenova cells."
Vincent squint his eyes trying to see what was different about Hojo's normally bottomless pits he called eyes. He didn't really see anything other than that the man had not aged a day since he'd married Lucrecia. His skin was smooth and showed no real flaws upon it to say he was well into his fifties. His hair was in its normal sloppy pony tail and only allowed a few strands of his bangs to obstruct his face. Vincent leaned a bit closer finally noticing something strange about the movement of Hojo's eyes in the dim light. Faster than he'd ever seen the man move, Hojo snatched his forearm and pulled him closer in what would look like a lover's embrace on to outsiders. He smirked when he felt the barrel of Vincent's gun pressed to his diaphragm and was satisfied that he hadn't caught the gunman off guard. He held Vincent's jaw in a vice like grip so that their eyes were forced to meet and for a moment the gunman feared for his life. He'd never known Hojo or anyone to have such controlled strength hidden in their body. The scientist had always looked frail and haunted the halls of lab like a weary wraith. To have him this close and squeezing his arm as if he'd snap it made Vincent anxious to pull the trigger. Hell, he should've but what stopped his finger from squeezing the trigger were those eyes. When he focused on them, and at this angle he had to, he could see the unnatural slit that had developed their just like Sephiroth's eyes. The slit dilated before him and hints of Sephiroth's beautiful jade green began to spread into the irises. Like staring into a snake's eyes, he found he was unable to move. His body no longer fought back and the gun slipped from his fingertips onto the booth seat. The only thing he had real control over was just his eyes and they darted back and forth between the now green pools that had captured him.
"Wha…what have you done?"
"This is proof of how dangerous my wife and I are now," he said calmly, never releasing his grip on Vincent. "You have no idea what she could do if she chose to and the worst part about it is, she wouldn't mean it. I know what she can do to you because I've had the desire myself to do that same. Jealousy of you spurs me to snap this arm like a twig and ruin this beautiful face that swayed my wife beyond all repair."
Vincent trembled and grimaced at the sudden pressure applied to his jaw and arm, his fingers flexing in hopes of being able to retrieve the gun. It was no use, his strength was still failing him.
"But," the pressure ceased. "what keeps me from killing you is watching you. Watching you care for my son, the son of a man you hate. Watching you treat Lucrecia with respect though every bone in your body screams to kill her as silently as you killed that family tonight. Watching you take in so many even though you claim that as a Turk you can't afford to care for anyone. Watching you be the man you are has become my greatest restraint from ending your life, Valentine."
"Let…me…go…" Vincent managed to say.
Hojo smirked and leaned closer to Vincent so that their noses were touching. "I'm a very bad man, Valentine. My wife is even worse because she is a woman. But where she tries to trap you in clever schemes, I can trap you here and now and do away with you. I think it's time you take that Turk perception and turn it on yourself. You've allowed far too many things to go by without your notice. Question why you only sleep a few hours each night or worse never at all! Question why it took your little Wutain boy to replace everything in your house! Question how you tend to get home safely on nights when you barely know your own name! Question the people around you Valentine, the people you trust. Then question why I know of the intimate details of your life. Question why I know you keep your mother's shrine near the bed and go to it each morning asking her what to do. Question why I know that you pretend to sleep whenever your lovers leave so that you don't have to talk to them! Question why you've found fumbling through these trysts the only way for you to find peace."
Vincent didn't know it had happened until it already hit Hojo's hand. A tear had slid out his eye not out of sadness or any type of emotional epiphany. No, this man and his wife had been watching him closely and could've harmed him, Sephiroth, or Tseng at any time since they had been with them. Their interest in doing away with him could've gotten any one of them killed. They had friends in ShinRa despite his connections to the Turks. They could've hurt any one of them whenever they were ready and he hadn't known a thing. He was angry…and he was afraid. Hojo actually made him fear for his life.
"So, you Turks really are human," Hojo wiped it away with his thumb. "There is that self blame I see in you again. I'm not doing this to threaten you. I'm trying to help you in the only way I know how."
"Why?" he strained out.
"Because despite popular belief, there's still something human in this mad mind of mine," he whispered, his eyes returning to their cold obsidian. They seemed softer now. "That something has developed a certain obsessed fondness for you, Valentine. That something is not ready to kill you just yet. But when it is…you won't be able to escape me like you can my clumsy Lucrecia."
"Then do it now!" Vincent coaxed. "Do it now while everyone here is looking."
Hojo chuckled and let the gunman go. Vincent fell back against the booth seat and quickly grabbed his gun as soon as the feeling came back. He held it shakily, pointing it at Hojo's head. The scientist took another sip of his sherry.
"We've established that I'm more than capable of taking that gun away from you. Now please, drink with me. Don't let this spoil the evening when the night is still young."
Vincent knew that if you raised a gun to someone be ready to shoot it. His constitution was more than shaken so he lowered the gun, knowing he couldn't pull the trigger right now. He lowered it slowly, keeping his eye on Hojo who paid him no more attention than the man on the moon. He holstered it and took the glass, downing what was left in it quickly.
"Pace yourself, Vincent. We have all night."
l
Cid nearly killed Vincent when the man quietly snuck into his room at the hotel. It was four in the morning, he was in a good whiskey induced sleep, and suddenly he heard his lock being picked and the door creaking open. He was going to kill whoever decided to sneak in. When he saw it was Vincent, he'd cursed at him wondering what the hell he thought he was doing. The gunman had not answered. Instead he stripped off his shirt and slipped into bed next to him. He smelled of expensive wine, cigarettes, and blood forcing Cid to silence his questions. Vincent had curled into his bare chest, his own still covered in his undershirt. He nestled his face into the crook of the pilot's neck, not giving him any room to refuse. Not that Cid ever did. He wrapped an arm around the gunman and settled back down glad that the gunman had the decency to close the door back. He turned so that he was better situated and wrapped his other arm around Vincent's waist, his head resting on top of silken hair.
"I'm tired…" was all Vincent whispered.
"Yer always tired," Cid muttered closing his eyes.
A/N: okay I think I got one more part of Grounded in Paradise I'm editing. After that, one more chapter then time skip. Or is it two more? Bah, depends on where that one chapter goes. _ bear with me! This is the fastest I've ever been through a story and trying to keep it smooth is a bit difficult. I kinda wrote Grounded in Paradise as one big ass chapter and am dividing it and fixing it. Don't worry the Vincent angst will get better later. At least he's not thinking he should be dead or he's committed a sin. However, he wouldn't be Vincent if he didn't blame himself a little.
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Walking Out on Destiny