Deadly Addiction

Chapter 2:


Awareness began to filter into the Cloud's body and mind once more. A low groan left his lips as pain greeted him, the activities from the previous night letting itself be known. The blonde began to shift but then stopped, dark blue eyes immediately opening. He stared at the IV that had been fished into his arm, then glanced around the hospital bed and the white room he was in before his eyes stopped on a figure seemingly sleeping in a chair.

Cloud blinked and then rubbed at his eyes, not believing who was sitting there. "Vi...Vincent..?"

Crimson eyes slowly opened at hearing the familiar, yet scratchy voice calling his name. He pushed himself out of his chair and then moved to the small cooler in the corner. Cold water filled the cup half way before he moved to the bedside and sat carefully next to Cloud's waist. "Drink slowly...” He said in his quiet tone, putting the cup to his lips. "How are you feeling?"

Cloud blinked but grabbed the cup he was offered. Slowly he drank at the cool water and was thankful to have it, his throat rather dry. The cup was set in his lap where his hands rest as blue eyes looked back at Vincent. "Like shit to put it bluntly... What are you doing here Vincent? Why am I in the hospital?" The memories of the night before were lost to him at the moment though he knew something happened from all the aches and pains his body felt.

The crimson eyed man looked towards the window and out into the dark night for a moment, gathering his thoughts before his rich voice poured from his lips. "Cloud...Yuffie and I have been searching for you since you disappeared." He said somberly. "After the first year, Tifa, Barret and Cid had to give up the search but with Reeve's help, Yuffie and I continued to search. We were worried about you and Yuffie misses you...you and Reeve were the closes thing she had to brothers.

"I was visiting Midgar, looking for you once again...I turned the corner and there you were...it shocked me." He reached up and pushed the raven strands away from his eyes. "Then you collapsed...you were bleeding and were having other problems that were life threatening so I picked you up and brought you here.

"Cloud...what has happened to you? I know about your addiction and the glow in your eyes tells me what you have been taking...Yuffie is the only one that knows that you're here so you don't have to worry about facing anyone right now." He said quietly.

Cloud gritted his teeth as his head fell forwards, long blonde locks hiding his pale face and glowing eyes. Fingers turned into a fist and the paper cup crumbled in his hand. The memories of the night before flooded his mind; the glow that ran through his veins, the rape, the thought that he had actually been there to save him. Then he realized that he had now been found and his secrets couldn't be contained. He couldn't hide away from the world like he had been, like he had wanted.

"I lost the will to live," he said faintly and slowly.

Vincent could sympathize with the blonde man. Though the circumstances were very different, he knew what it was like to lose the will to live. He had even allowed himself to be confined within a dank basement inside a coffin for thirty years.

"Cloud...I do know what its like. It is very hard but what you're doing is not the answer. I didn't care back then, but now I see that you cannot bear the pain alone. You have to depend on your friends to help you through times like these. Yuffie is the one who made me see this for if she hadn't been there, I would have locked myself within my coffin once again."

He felt for the blonde as tears slowly slipped down to the sheets. "Cloud...is it because of Sephiroth that you left us?" He asked.

"I don't have friends... and even if I did they wouldn't accept me... They would want answers they wouldn't like...” he whispered out. The cup was let go and it rolled down the sheet and off the bed, landing on the cold floor. "I don't have anyone to fall back on Vincent and I don't want to be a bother to you both...” More tears fell onto the sheet, the blonde not able to look at the ebony-haired man next to him.

Vincent shook his head. "You do have friends. If you didn't, do you really think that Yuffie and I would have continued to search for you for four years? If Yuffie didn't care about you, why was she upset when we couldn't find you to attend our wedding?" Vincent asked placed his organic hand on Cloud's shoulder.

"Cloud, you are the only one who truly cared about my son and wasn't just glad that he was gone. Besides myself, Yuffie and Reeve, you are the only one who saw past the Jenova. I consider you to be more than a comrade for that reason and more...and I thank you." He said and clasped the blonde’s shoulder once more.

Teary blue eyes looked over at Vincent, seeing what he said was true. The emotions he tried so hard to bury welled up in his heart and was unable to be suppressed. Not only because of Vincent's words and knowledge that he was accepted but just the simple thought of the silver-haired man that had stolen his heart so long ago.

Without realizing what he was doing, he turned into the arm and clutched onto the older man's shirt. Tears spilled faster down his cheeks and he couldn't help the choked sobs that were let out. All physical pain was forgotten and replaced with the pain he had been trying to stop for the past four years.

The crimson-eyed man was a bit surprised by Cloud's sudden movement with his injuries, but wrapped his arm around the blonde and let him cry. He had done this many times with his little shinobi, and knew that Cloud needed this right now.

"Cloud, he wouldn't want you to be doing this to yourself. You are going to kill yourself if you keep this up and I don't want that, Yuffie doesn't want it and I am positive that Sephiroth would not want this either."

"I know... but what else can I do Vincent? No one needs a hero... a broken hero at that... I'm not needed anywhere... and I'm nothing without him..." he whimpered out, clutching to the older man's shirt further. The tears had stilled along with his sobs but the pain was just as strong as before, clawing at his broken heart.

"We will get you back on your feet. You can stay with us in Wutai and I know that your skills could be of use to us." He said quietly rubbing the man's back.

"First and more importantly, we need to get the drugs out of your system and you need to heal. The doctors have plans to detox you under sedation so you will not experience the withdrawal and you will need to heal...you had a lot of damage done to your body." The raven-haired man held the blonde for a few moments, allowing his sobs to slow. "Cloud, I want to help you. Will you come back to Wutai with me?" He asked. "I can understand if you don't want to go to Wutai yet, but there is another option available."

Wutai was out of the question. Not only because he knew people would recognize him and it was too crowded but also because of him. Sephiroth had once told the young blonde then that he wanted to take him to the grand nation. He wanted to show Cloud the beauty that he saw even after its fall because of Shinra.

"What's the other option?" he said quietly, not ready to withdrawal from the comfort just yet.

He continued to rub Cloud's back just as he had done with his wife so many times. Now days, it was like second nature to him. "Yuffie and I have had the Shinra Mansion completely refurbished. We could always stay there and depending on what you want to do, we would be happy to have you stay with us in Wutai or you could stay at the mansion. Either way, I won't leave you until I'm sure that you're okay."

"The mansion..." he said softly, finally pulling back from the gunman. A faint, weak smile was given to Vincent the only way he could show his appreciate for the time being. Cloud laid back down on the bed and pulled the sheets up close against himself, feeling suddenly cold and sleepy again.

"You won't tell anyone else will you? Right now... I can't deal with anyone else. I would rather have everyone think I am still missing instead of knowing that I was found." Dark, glowing blue eyes stared up at him, already knowing the answer but wanting to confirm it. If there was one person he could trust, it would be Vincent Valentine.
"I swear to you Cloud that no one else will know of what happen. Yuffie already knows and will give you her full support because she loves you, and I will simply tell Reeve that you were injured and leave it at that." He said. "He needs to know so he can call off his alert on you..."

Vincent stood and pulled the blanket over the exhausted man. "No one else will be informed that you have been found. You need this time to yourself to heal and I will not have everyone bombarding you with questions of your whereabouts. Rest now. There's something that I have to do but I'll be back before you awaken."

Cloud nodded and curled up into the blanket, pulling it so only the top of his head and nose could be seen. "Thank you Vincent... for everything," he whispered out before a yawn. Tired blue eyes closed and soon after he drifted to sleep. The exhaustion was still set heavy in his small body and needed much more rest from the abuse it had taken over the years.

"No need to thank me...” He said to his sleeping friend before leaving the room. He moved to the elevator and left the hospital. As he stood outside, the raven-haired man closed his eyes and allowed his cool air to caress his face.

'Chaos...I think that it's about time we took care of the men that did this to him...’ He called to the demon and felt a wave of elation come from the entity.

'About time you let me out! You've been so boring lately....' The demon grumbled as he extended his senses, using the scent that he had picked up on to track the men. He walked over to a nearby alley and allowed the demon to take over his body. A grin traced Vincent's lips as the demon took off in his master's form appearing as a black and crimson blur to the few people who were on the streets at the predawn hour.

o-o

Chaos came to a stop outside a building within the slums and took a whiff of the air once more. He knew he was in the right place and he couldn't detect anyone but the two men who had raped the former Avalanche leader. A chuckle escaped his lips as he brought his foot up, destroying the door with one powerful kick.

"What the fuck!" The two men yelled as one went for his gun, but it was too late. Chaos had the man pinned to the wall by his throat and Death penalty was pointed at the head of the other man, causing him to freeze.

"Who...the hell...are you?" The man croaked around the hand that was wrapped around his throat.

Vincent pushed Chaos to the side enough to allow them both to exact punishment on these men. "That doesn't matter." He said, his eyes glowing fiercely. "If you had kept your little cocks in your pants, you wouldn't be in this situation right now."

The gunman easily tossed the man he had been holding across the room, sending him crashing into the wall. A growl escaped his lips as he rushed forward and landed a blow to the man's stomach causing him to fall to the ground, grunting in pain. "You think that’s bad, just think of the pain you caused the man you raped." Vincent allowed Chaos to take over fully.

Screams and cries of pain filled the room as they received what they deserved for their disgusting actions.

o-o

Vincent watched as the police cuffed the men and carried them off to the hospital. He had gotten the location of the mako source they were using and had destroyed it so that no one would be able to access the pool anymore. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the man that he had called inter the room with Reno and Rude at his side. Vincent walked over to the three men and nodded to the former Turks before locking his eyes on Reeves. "We need to talk."

Reeve only nodded, already knowing the former Turk and friend needed to talk. By now he was use to getting calls from Vincent Valentine and more than not they were important. "Let's talk somewhere more private," he said, leading the gunman out of the small house and towards the Black Mercedes. The four slipped easily into the car and headed towards his home since it was closer and actually a bit more private he thought.

The Mercedes stopped not far from the edges of the 'slums'. A small house was tucked between two other larger homes. Black fence surrounded the entire area and a key code was needed to enter the small yet cozy home. Cameras were hidden throughout the entire yard, front and back, being put at all angles so nothing would be missed though looking as if they weren't there.

Reeve slipped out of the car and waited for Vincent to climb out as well before shutting the door. The code was entered and soon the four were headed down a stone path that led to his house. He opened the door and let everyone in before following suit and locking the door after him. Everyone was led down the hall and into a well-decorated, cozy living room. Reno and Rude plopped down on the leather couch while Vincent took up the chair. Reeve had disappeared into the small kitchen he had before coming back with some drinks.

"What is it that you needed to talk with me about Vincent?" he asked, trying not to get his nerves going.

He nodded in thanks for the glass of what he knew to be water. The gunman rarely drank alcohol other than a little wine or sake with his meals. Vincent took a sip of the cool liquid before meeting the eyes of the three men in the room. "What I am about to tell you, stays between us. I ask that you don't ask any questions as to where or why once you hear what I need to inform you of." His face remained impassive, but his eyes clearly showed relief and a bit of worry for their once lost friend.

"I have located Cloud. He is in the hospital and will remain there until the doctor clears him to leave. The two men that were being arrested injured him badly. I found him while I was coming back to the vehicle you lent me. He collapsed and I rushed him to the hospital.

"I spoke with him tonight and we both believe it is best that no one else know that he has been found. He needs some time to himself and is not ready to face the others just yet."

The glass Reeve had been holding stilled upon his lips for a second before being sipped at. Though curiosity and the urge to know exactly where he was at clung to his mind, he pushed it back. For now he just let relief settle in his chest glad to know that the blonde was fine. It was a nice feeling to know after all the years of searching that he was indeed alive and it hadn't all been in vain.

"It's good to hear that he is still alive. I would love to know where he was at and to finally announce that we found him after the years but I respect his wishes not to be known just yet," Reeve said with a pleased sigh, giving a smile to the gunman. "If there is anything he needs, just let me know Vincent and I will happily see what I can do for him."

"Besides us, Yuffie is the only one who knows that he has been found. I will be taking him to Nibelheim once he is released so he can heal. The closest Avalanche member is Cid and he rarely ventures to Nibelheim.

"When Cloud awakens once more, I will ask him if it will you can come see him. He knows that I have come to talk to you and he knows he can trust you." Vincent said in his normal quiet tone.

Reeve nodded. "Nibelheim would be a good place for him to rest up. Still a small town and if Cloud wanted to get some fresh air, I'm sure that no one would notice him," he said softly, taking another sip at his own water.

"Again if Cloud or the two of you need anything at all, just let me know. I want to help as much as possible." At Vincent's nod, he finished off his water before standing up. He led the gunman to the door and they said their farewells, Reno going along with the gunman to take him back to retrieve the car he had been lent.

After the two had left, he let out a deep sigh. "Sir?" Rude asked quietly.

"I'm fine Rude. When Reno comes back, go on home and get some rest. I'm going to go place a few calls and end the search," Reeve replied, giving the bald man a weary smile. Then he disappeared down the hall and into his own room, taking care of the all the phone calls before falling asleep with his mind reeling of the news.

Vincent watched as Reno headed back to Reeve's estate before climbing into the SUV. He pulled out of the emergency room lot where he had parked earlier and turned onto the empty street. It was now 5:30 and if he hurried, he could get back to his hotel and get cleaned up, then return to the hospital before rush hour started.

Within ten minutes of leaving the hospital, he pulled into a parking spot in the lot of the hotel. Vincent swiftly made his way up to his floor before removing his key card and sliding it into the lock. Crimson eyes scanned the large room carefully, looking for any signs of intrusion, but found none. The door was locked behind him before he removed his boots and hung his cloak on the rack. He entered the bathroom, closing the door with a quiet 'click.'

Vincent gazed in the mirror and suddenly felt tired. He felt badly for what Cloud had gone through, but at least he had gotten payback on the men who had assaulted him. From what he had heard from Reno on the way over, those men were going to prison for a long time.

The crimson bandanna was removed form his head, allowing the raven tresses to fall pass his shoulder. A brief half smile traced his lips. He remembered shortly after he and Yuffie had become man and wife, the way she had threatened him if he ever even thought to cut his hair. Who would have though that such a little shinobi could be so persuasive?

He let out a small chuckle as he easily undid the buttons of his shirt one handed, shrugging out of it and letting it drop to the floor. Pants and boxers quickly followed before he stepped into the shower and turned on the spray. Jets of water cascaded over his smooth pale flesh as he grabbed the bar of soap, running it over the taut muscles of his abdomen and chest.

As he washed away the grim of his recent activities, his mind began to wander. 'Cloud...I wish that he could be here for you right now.' He thought knowing how much the blonde needed and wanted his silver haired son to be with him once more.

'Sephiroth, did you know how much you mean him? Did you feel the same pain I felt at seeing his eyes?'

Cloud's usually vibrant blue eyes had dulled significantly after the battle in the Northern Crater despite the mako that made his eyes glow. He knew that Cloud was torturing himself for what he had to do to the Silver haired general, but before he had a chance to talk to the blonde about it, Cloud had already disappeared.

As Vincent rinsed the soap from his hair and body, he couldn't help but to wonder if Cloud would ever be the same man he knew before Sephiroth's defeat. He was unsure of how much the man was going to heal, but he was sure of one thing. No matter what Cloud did in the future, he would always have four friends that would be there for him and not judge him for what had happened. They would be his rock when he needed them.

o-o

Cloud's mind suddenly became alert, jerking the blonde from the sleep. The feeling that someone was looming over him was too much to ignore and created paranoia in him. Without warning, he jerked his arm up and grabbed tight onto the person's throat. A gasping noise was made but he didn't let go, the paranoia set in his brain driving his actions. He slowly began to squeeze on the throat and ignored the fingers that were digging into his hand.

However his release instantly let go and hearing his name called, firm and deep. Blue eyes immediately opened and he felt his heart sink in his chest. A nurse was holding onto the railing on his bed gasping for breath, bruises slowly starting to form on the flesh of her throat. Then he looked over to the taller form that was helping her, to the man that had called his name. He met with the dark claret eyes and felt his heart sink further, realizing exactly what he just did.

"Vincent...I..." he trailed off, turning his head to look the other way.

The gunman reached into his pocket and removed a green orb, casting a quick cure spell on her to stop the bruise that was forming. The nurse looked up and apologized for sneaking up on the injured man and startling him before making a hasty retreat.

Vincent moved over to the bedside and placed his hand on Clouds' shoulder. "It was an accident, Cloud. Don't punish yourself for your body's natural response." Inwardly, he was impressed that even in his injured and emaciated state, Cloud's small from still held power within it.

However, plain as day, he could see that the sudden burst of strength had taxed his friend by the slump of the blonde’s form as he looked away. "I spoke to Reeve. He's very glad that you're safe and says that if you need anything while we're here or in Nibelheim, to let him know. He has vowed not to tell anyone about your status. As far as he knows, you're still missing.

"As far as your assailants go, you do not have to worry about them. They have received their punishment for what they did to you." He said in a deadly tone as his crimson eyes seemed to glow a bit brighter.

Cloud faintly smiled at Vincent's words. The blonde easily picked up on the meaning hidden behind his words. Vincent had taken care of Alex and Lloyd personally and he knew that those two wouldn't come after him again if they were still alive. The gunman had been a Turk once before and he knew what the job entailed.

"Vincent... can you make sure that I don't do that again? I don't want to hurt anyone over this..." he asked quietly, his head still turned away.

"Cloud, look at me." He said and watched as the blonde slowly turned his head, but Vincent could tell that he was looking just below his eyes. "I will stay with you, but as I said, it was an accident. When you are released and we return to Nibelheim, we will work on your physical health. You need to regain your strength and get back to your normal weight."

He was about to speak once more, but there was a soft knock at the door before the doctor entered. "Good morning." He said and watched as the two men nodded in greeting.

"Well today, I want to start you on our specialized detox program Mr. Strife. What will happen is you will be placed in a medically induced coma while we filter the toxins from your blood. You will be fed through a tube and a machine will breathe for you. You will not experience any withdrawal symptoms and to you, it will simply feel like you've had good nights sleep.

"This will also help you as far as your injuries go. They will be able to heal and when you awaken, you should feel little or now pain from the stitches. If you do, you can take a mild pain reliever and you'll be fine.

"When you return to Nibelheim, you will need to go on a high calorie diet to help you regain the weight and muscle mass that you've lost." The doctor placed the chart down and looked Cloud in the eye. "Will you consent to the treatment?"

"I consent," he said faintly. Cloud looked up at the doctor for a moment before staring back down at his lap. He never would have thought he would be in this position. Not once before the entire Meteor incident had he thought of turning to drugs for his way out of things. The old Cloud would have just shrugged it off and kept living. 'But now look at me...' he thought to himself.

Vincent could tell that the blonde felt disgusted with himself over what had happened. The raven haired man placed a supportive hand on Cloud's shoulder briefly before signing where the doctor indicated, taking on responsibility for any medical decisions that Cloud wouldn't be able to make for himself in case of emergency.

The doctor excused himself to get the equipment and staff that would be needed for the detox. They sat in silence for a few moments before Vincent looked towards the ceiling. "Cloud, even the best of us fall. You will recover. That is one thing I am sure of." He said and saw the blonde give a small nod.

The doctor re-entered the room with his staff and Vincent met his eyes once more. "I will be here when you awaken, you have my word." Vincent said and stepped back, watching as the two doctors and various nurses hooked the blonde up to various devices and monitors. He moved to Cloud's side as he saw the doctor prepare the sedative.

The gunman placed his hand on Cloud's shoulder as the drug that would send him into the comatose sleep. He watched as the swordsman's eyes closed slowly as he fell into a deep sleep.

He promptly moved away from the bed to the window and looked at the city below as they inserted Cloud's breathing and feeding tubes and turned on the machine that would filter his blood.

"We're done Mr. Valentine." The nurse said and watched as the gunman nodded. Vincent moved to the seat he had occupied as the hospital staff left the room. Hopefully this would give his friend a new start and a chance to heal from the wounds that he had suffered, both emotionally and physically.

o-o Author’s Notes o-o

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