a secret part 2

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By Wingless Demon.
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All characters in this fiction are from Final Fantasy 7, an epic RPG by Square Soft. I did not create them, and therefore make no claims of ownership. This fiction is simply written for my own, and other’s, entertainment.

For Sakurachan (aka Sakura Shama), who endured all my monotonous conversation on ICQ. Thanks so much! :-)

Vincent’s face turned nearly as red as his eyes which were now nervously darting around the room. He could not possibly tell Cloud why he was so upset. The beautiful blond would certainly shove Vincent away in disgust if he knew his about his “secret admiration.”

The sympathetic, concerned smile on Cloud’s face had almost pushed Vincent into spilling forth all his thoughts and secrets, but he managed to stop himself from doing that much, and instead just sat silent staring nervously into Cloud’s eyes as the tint of red on his face darkened even further.

Cloud hid his puzzlement and maintained his re-assuring smile as best he could. It was almost amusing in a way to see Vincent at such a loss for words for once; he truly must have caught him at the worst moment possible. But the fact that the usually cold, and quiet vampire had tears on his face almost alarmed Cloud.

What could possibly have gone so wrong to rile Vincent so much? “He looks so stunned,” the blond warrior thought, looking deep into Vincent’s red eyes, “almost… nervous?”

The situation was becoming awkward, and Vincent fumbled nervously for an excuse.

“I… well you see… ummm…” Vincent began, still transfixed to Cloud’s face. “Oh god!” he screamed in his thoughts, “of all the times to be at a loss for words!”

Cloud noticed the blush on Vincent’s face spread further down his cheeks, turning most of the usually pale, smooth face a pleasant shade of light red. He took a moment to let himself admire Vincent’s flushed face; He had never seen a single blemish on the usually creamy white skin. Cloud’s imagination became carried away and he wondered just what the smooth, flushed skin would feel like under his fingertips, but he immediately forced the image away.

“What am I thinking?” Cloud thought, half surprised at the image his mind generated, “I need to help him! Something hurts me to… see him like this?!”

“You would not understand Cloud,” Vincent finally said in a shaky voice, breaking the awkward silence, “lets just say I am even more of a monster on the inside than I am on the outside.” More gray tears flooded from the vampire’s eyes, as he slumped his head down in shame, afraid to look at the one he had so hopelessly fallen for.

Cloud felt his heart sink in despair and his throat run dry. He felt so sorry for Vincent. What could possibly have driven Vincent to think so harshly of his self? What terrible secret weighed so heavily on this poor creature’s conscience?

Vincent felt two gloved I fingers gently push at the bottom of his chin, forcing him to look into Cloud’s eyes once again. His breath quickened at the unfamiliar, but not unwelcome touch. He could hardly believe that the blond warrior was touching him in such a gentle manner, and he found himself once again speechless under Cloud’s glowing blue eyes.

“Please,” Vincent whispered hoarsely, “please don’t touch me like that. You don’t know what you’re doing to me…”

Cloud found himself surprised at his own actions. He had just wanted to get Vincent’s attention, but he found it difficult for some reason to release the vampire’s face. He could see the sadness in Vincent’s ruby eyes as he unknowingly leaned closer, and it made him want to comfort the former Turk for some reason.

Vincent was losing control of himself. The object of his most heated fantasies was staring into his eyes and holding his face with such gentleness. Then it happened; Vincent’s body finally betrayed him, and he pressed forward to steal a taste of Cloud’s lips, causing the younger man’s eyes to shoot open in surprise.

All of Cloud’s limbs froze, and he sat completely still as the other man’s cool, soft lips gently brushed into his own. His mind nearly went blank when he felt the tip of Vincent’s tongue gently trace over his lower lip, sending an unfamiliar shiver up his spine. “Why am I letting him do this to me?” Cloud thought as Vincent’s lips finally withdrew from his.

Vincent slowly stood up, angry with himself for losing control of his body. Taking Cloud’s stunned silence as a grim sign, he slowly walked to the doorway and stopped. “I am sorry,” he said gravely as he looked back at Cloud, “now you know why I have distanced myself from you.” Without further delay Vincent stepped quietly through the doorway and shut the metallic door behind him before making his way towards the outer deck where he could be alone.

Cloud’s limbs were still frozen, and the former Turk’s departing words echoed over and over in his mind as he tried to make sense of them.

“Vincent,” he whispered in the silence of the room as he touched several gloved fingertips to his lips, “why?”

Vincent leaned over one of the many safety railings on the outer deck of the Highwind. Judging by the vast expanse of water below he figured that they were about half way to Costa Del Sol. The dark blue water of the ocean far below looked very calm and peaceful, almost inviting in a way.

“Would anyone even notice,” Vincent cursed out loud, “if I ended my pathetic existence right here? Would anyone really miss me?” More tears flowed from Vincent’s ruby eyes as he fell to his knees, completely overrun by his emotions. He could not rely on his long hair to hide his face as usual because it was flying about wildly in the wind, but he no longer cared. “I will be alone,” Vincent mumbled, “forever.”

Cloud stood behind Vincent watching silently as the vampire crumbled to his knees. His bright blue eyes began leaking tears of their own, unable to stand the sight of Vincent in such distress. He slowly walked to Vincent’s side and dropped to his knees in a similar manner. “Vincent” he whispered, extending one of his shaky, gloved hands and touching it to the other man’s pale cheek, “don’t cry…”

Vincent froze as Cloud’s fingers gently traced over the wet trail of tears on his cheek, nearly causing him to stop breathing. He remained still and offered no resistance when the blonde warrior’s hand moved to the back of his neck and slowly brought Vincent’s forehead to lean against his shoulder.

“Don’t be sad,” Cloud whispered softly, bringing his chin down to rest on top of Vincent’s head, “your not the only one with such a secret…”

End of part II… hope it was not to… “corny” I had to rewrite most of it about 3 times before I was satisfied.