  - it seems that when you are lost, you find me. PG-13 for blood and non-decript violence. Cloud cursed as he stumbled off the Chocobo. Riding one of those damned things from Kalm to Nibelham is not a suggested thing, apparently. He really hadn't wanted to return to this place, it held bad memories for him, but he had promised Tifa, and really, he was curious as to what had happened to Vincent. This time around, he didn't bother to speak to any of the townsfolk, instead heading straight toward the Mansion.
If he was truthful, he didn't know where Vincent was, really, he just hoped that the man had returned to linger in the halls and under floor boards of this place. Personally, the whole house gave him the chills, always had. The people quickly developed a "don't-look,don't-tell" attitude when they saw him, so he ignored them, opening the gate to the large worn down building, leaving the ocean Chocobo in the yard to do as it pleased. He made his way over to the door, and plugged his nose as he pushed against the door, dust showering him as he had expected. He screwed his eyes shut until he was certain most of it settled, then moved on into the house. The floor board creaked and the supports groaned as monsters moved about, watching him.
He shivered, wondering how such a place could have become so overrun with creepy-crawlies as he picked his way up rotted stairs. He kept one hand ready to snag for his sword, but they left him alone, perhaps sensing the power that sometimes oozed of him when he wasn't paying attention. Now, lets see... if he remembered correctly ... The door swum upen, and the world swam. For a moment, he was standing near teh doorway, and some with long silver hair was standing in front of the secret passage. He snapped from the spell, and headed down the stair with determination.
He had to dodge the YinYangs more than once, unwilling to fight the damned annoying things without the help of at least one party memeber. When he finally reached that door the the coffin room, he found himself hovering outside, hand on it. No, that wasn't right. Confused, he turned, continuing toward the library. Once inside, he found Vincent. The man was standing in front of those two glass chambers, the gold metallic claw on the one Cloud once resided in, the other hand poking through a break, fingures gently rubbing the scratch-marks left inside of Zax's.
There was aqua, light all around, a feeling of weightlessness. And then, distorted, the wavering visage of a dark haired man, large brown eyes filled with determination and pain. Cloud jerked, as if snapping back awake, and the image faded. Vincent's metal hand tapped lightly against the glass twice, and then he turned. "Yes? " His eyes were expressionless, an unnatureal shade of red.
He had tucked the claw back under his cloak as he often did, his human hand on the table beside then, almost looking to carefully suport the entire weight of the man. He was still wearing the clothing he had when they were a group, though Cloud really couldn't say anything since he was also. Cloud let his eyes leave the dark man in front of him, roaming over the books that scattered the floor, studying every broken container. And the hallway. A man with silver hair stood in that hallway, a book held tightly between trembling hands, he paced, eyes roving over the words, the beginings of a scowl on hsi forehead. "Tifa called the group.
" He tossed the book aside, snatching another from the shelf. This one he also flipped through quickly, eyes flashing aqua as he looked over the words, scowl deeping. The scene seemed to melt, and there were stacks of books on the floor, the man with his back to them, tensing. "She wanted us to live together. The whole group. " The Scene swirl dizzyingly, and Cloud had to screw his eyes shut and grit his teeth to avoid reacting.
When he opened his eyes, everything was normal. He swung his gaze back to Vincent. "we couldn't find a way to contact you, so she sent me. " It was best not to lie or decieve. Come clean. He still couldn't quiet look at Tifa after he figured out his past and realized she'd lied to him.
Red eyes bore into his for a moment, then Vincent dipped his head once. Cloud knew him well enough that he knew this to mean that Vincent had consented. "Is there anything you need to pack? " "No. " Cloud turned, starting back up the tunnel. For a man walking in metal boots on stone, it was serprisingly quiet, and the got through the tunnel without any of the mosnters reallizing they were there.
When Cloud steped on the first step, the world tilted. "Wait! " He turned, looking down the hallway. From the darkness, there was a flicker of red, and Vincent came to a stop in front of them, eyes wide and demanding. "I'll join your group. " Tifa tensed beside him, Red's tail lashing forward to shine more light on the mysterious man.
"Alright. " Cloud said quietly. Then the world spun, and he blinked hard before Vincent swam back into focus. He hadn't changed at all. The same smooth face and emotionless stare. Cloud quietly turned back, even though he was sure Vincent wouldn't ask simply because that was the way the man was.
Some time during the trip as they were making their way up the stairs, Vincent moved ahead of him. Cloud did not mind, becuase he was tired and sore, and the longer he was in the town, the longer the hullcinations were. He was even losing enough focus that he was responding to them, as he had earlier whilst remembering Vincent joining their group. As they were picking their way down the rotted stair case -- Outside there was just the beginings of a comotion. It had awoken him from his nap on the chair just outside the secret door. With a feeling of dread, he started down the stiars and-- They gave out on him.
His leg plunged through the rotted wood, and he started to fall foward, eyes wide with shock. There was a sharp pain in his right arm, but he ignored it as his hands found perchaus, desperately grabbing and wrapping his arms around wahatever it happened to be. When the world jarred to a stop, his eyes were tightly closed, readt for a painful impact even though only his leg had gone through. His heart was hammering in his ears, adrinaline pounding through his veins. Whatever his cheek was pressed against was warm. He craked open one eye and then both, seeing golden metal dug into his arm, crimson blood slowly leaking out, large droplets leaveing one or two splatters on the floor.
From there he was able to understand that he had his arms wrapped tightly around the man's waist, and it was his stomach that Cloud had his cheek against. He unwond one arms, bracing himself as he carefully extracted his leg from the hole it had created. Once free, he paused, waiting for Vincent to retract his claws so he could let go of the man, but he never moved. "I can not. " Vincent said. "At this angle, I would only cause more damage.
" Cloud tilted his head until he could look up at the man. He dare not more for the exact same reason. Cure Materia could only do so much. An idea leaked into his skull, and e could feel the being tinges of pink in his face. "We need to get off the stairs. " he said carefully.
"Then we can fix this. " There was a moment of relative quiet, except for the monsters stirring. They were getting bolder with the smell of blood. "Do no move your claw. " Cloud gritted out, waited the second necessicary for Vincent to ready himself, and then lunged forward, his free arm neatly swiping the man off his feet. Right where they had just been, a gigantic ax swung.
It would have killed them both. Cloud's mind was working overdrive to keep his double-weighted feet on places that could hold it, Vincent's startlement showed only in the hand that grabbed the back of Cloud's shirt and twisted, his feet twining behind the other man's back, legs tight around his waist to avoid slipping off his hips. This retreat and obvious hinderment was enough to encourage the beast to swarm, and a new wave of adrinaline flooded the blond, keeping him able to react before thinking, barely able to dodge all the attacks. He tried not to react when sudden nauxious fumes filled the air, and right before he was sure to be sick, Vincent shifted and the red cloak's neck slid over Cloud's mouth. It suddenly made sense why he had such apparel. Against his chest, Vincent because coughing harshly, but the blound didn't even have time to feel guilty about stealing the man's protection.
They neared the door, and Cloud turned his shoulder into it, the rotting wood giving way under the combined force. He stumbled on the steps, the sunlight blinding, and just barely managed to keep them from falling, which would only have intensified the damage already done to his arm. As it was, he fell to his knees injured arm keeping Vincent against his chest as his other arm caught them. The dark man was wraked with a coughing fit, and Cloud was forced to admire his contentration. The claw had yet to move, even thoug all the exertion had jerked his arm around and caused worse damage anyway. Vincent uncurled from him, hand going to cover his mouth, legs sprawling outside Cloud's knees.
The blound carefully uncurled the metal claw from his arm, biting his lip with pain as the flesh ripped some more, causing a new flow of blood to start. He sat back on his heels, grasping the wound tightly with one hand, the world swming with pain. Whenever he moved, the pain came in quick harsh jabs, and the rest of the time, it was a harsh burning. The Chocobo had warked in alarm and came running over, and Cloud searched through the pack quickly. He found some bandages, but knew it'd take him too long to deal with them, so instead he tied a messy knot above the wound to lessen blood loss, fighting back a whimper of pain. He turned back to the man still sprawled on the ground, eyes shut as he coughed hard enough to cause his whole frame to shake.
Cloud unbuckled his hindersome sword, letting it fall as it may, crawling back over to the dark haired man. He had nothing in his pack to help with the nausioua that he knew Vincent was experiencing, so he settled for what his mother did the few time he got too close to the mansion. He manuvered Vincent onto his side so that the coughing wouldn't shake him as much, rubbing small circles on the man's back. It didn't really help physically, but it did offer suport. It was a long while before the force of the coughing lessened, and by this time, Cloud was drowsy and his pants leg had a rather large marroon stain where his arm had been resting. He had stopped rubbing, instead patting, and now he just had his hand on Vincent's shoulder.
Thankfully, the pain had melting into an ache, and now he was numb all over. The world spun. His eyes pricked as he dragged himself over to the body. There was so much ... so much! Hot tears leaked down his face as he stared numbly. It was all red, red and marroon as the color leaked into the dirt.
There was so much! He couldn't even hear the footsteps of the men as they walked away anymore. A hand went out to grasp the sword, and he set it in his lap. So much! Red was everywhere, it stained him in speakles, and he tried to wash it off in tears-- He jerked back into awareness with a sob. He looked around blurrily, unable to quiet tell where he was at anymore.
Where was he? He felt light, too light. What was going on? His eyes felt tired, and it seemed too bright, there was too much falseness in the air. He scrubbed at his face, trying to rid himself of the wetness, and whimpered at the pain that shot through his arm. Bwildered and in pain, the world blurring, he gave up, and darkness took him.
*.*. * 
