Love Stream

We're moving!

Thu, 13 Nov 2008 13:17:02 GMT

Well, not completely. But this journal is now basically becoming only an archive thing and all further active writing will happen at words_by_storm. Don't worry, though, all links here will still be working. I just won't post anything new here.

Divine Secret Angel

Sat, 05 Apr 2008 15:42:28 GMT

Title: Divine Secret Angel
Author:rocks_not_dead aka xchristabelx
Rating: NC-17
Characters/Pairings: Vincent/Sephiroth
Warnings: Explicit sex, gun kink, uke Sephiroth (in case some people don't like that)
Notes: Written for ff_love
Summary: Vincent has a secret, a naughty secret.

Vincent had a secret. A secret that was currently terribly bored, sitting in the ex-Turks less than stylish flat in Kalm. It was dark and all there was nothing more than a bed, a small table and a TV in the living room and a small kitchen and an even smaller bathroom making up the rest of the place.

Sephiroth scowled. He knew they had to keep it a secret that he wasn’t dead until he and Vincent had come up with a plan to break the news to the rest of the world, but this just sucked. Especially since Vincent was at the WRO headquarters a lot of the time because apparently it was impossible for the gunman to turn down any request Reeve posed. Sephiroth’s scowl deepened. He really, really hoped that there hadn’t ever been any kind of relationship between Reeve and Vincent or he might just have to kill the Commissioner.

Bright green cat-eyes wandered to the long sword standing in the corner of the living room next to where a gun lay on the bed. A small smile appeared on Sephiroth’s face. Such a strange couple. He and Vincent made such a strange couple. But even more strangely, it worked out. But then again they were strange people.

Wandering over to where Vincent’s gun lay, Sephiroth picked up the weapon and stroked the barrel fondly. A low chuckle announced an amusing thought passing through the former General’s mind. Vincent never did want him to play with his gun. Not when Vincent wasn’t around to supervise, anyway. Which was ridiculous, really, since Sephiroth was perfectly capable of handling the weapon to his best knowledge, even though he was more comfortable with using a sword.

Recalling the last night, though, Sephiroth was sure that Vincent hadn’t minded him stroking his barrel at all and Sephiroth knew that they were both very adept at using their swords.

The smirk widened, memories running rampant and clothes were shed. Although Sephiroth was wearing his full leather outfit and his coat, it took only a few seconds to get rid of the garments, making them pool at his feet. A single black wing was released from a nearly imperceptible crevice in his back.

Now completely nude, Sephiroth took up the gun once more and examined it closely, stroking and fondling it. Closing his eyes he let his thoughts wander back to Vincent. The ex-Turk was just like this gun. Dark, sleek, hard and lethal and in all that incredibly beautiful. The gun fell from the former General’s hands and soon these hands wandered to his crotch to run along a member that was no less lethal than his Masamune, so Sephiroth liked to say.

Sephiroth moaned, stroking himself with a strong grip while his other hand groped for the gun once more. Sometimes when Vincent wasn’t there, touching something that belonged to him created a connection strong enough for Sephiroth to feel the gunman in his mind and body. Damn, the feeling was hot and Vincent’s name spilled from the General’s lips in a strained moan as his grip on his cock tightened.

A sudden warm breath against his neck made Sephiroth stop in his ministrations, green eyes widening as he slowly turned his head only to come face to face with crimson. Crimson eyes, a crimson headband and a crimson cloak. His dream come true was back.

“Vincent,” Sephiroth breathed in wonder. He hadn’t even heard the gunman come back, being so caught up in his fantasies.
“I thought I’d told you not to play with my gun when I’m not home,” Vincent shot back, his deep voice almost turning it into a growl, but the half-smirk on his lips betrayed that he wasn’t annoyed in the least.
“I was bored,” Sephiroth teased while unclasping Vincent’s cloak to send it the same way the General’s own clothes had gone.
“So you decided to get undressed, “ Vincent observed, both his hands wandering to the silver-haired man’s hips. The contrast of the warmth of Vincent’s leather-gloved hand and the metallic coolness of his claw made Sephiroth moan wantonly. Vincent immediately dove in for a deep kiss once he saw and opportunity to delve into the cavern of the other man’s mouth. His hand ran along the edge of Sephiroth’s wing, sending shivers down the former General’s spine and eliciting another moan.

“You’ve been a very naughty angel,” Vincent growled into Sephiroth’s ear, breaking the kiss. “I know,” Sephiroth breathed seductively, letting his arms slide around the gunman’s waist. “You can punish me. Take me hard and rough.”

Now it was Vincent’s turn to moan. Sephiroth’s words went straight to his cock which was still uncomfortably encased in way too much leather. Sephiroth saw this as a chance to tease his lover and took a small step forward so that one of his legs was wedged between Vincent’s, pressing against the ex-Turk’s erection. Vincent tried to suppress a moan, but didn’t quite succeed. “You’re wearing way too much,” Sephiroth teased, but in the same instant began to undress Vincent, divesting him of all the cumbersome leather, his boots and his headband.

The moment Vincent was completely undressed he grabbed Sephiroth’s hips again and spun the General around to face the bed. “Hard and rough, yes,” Vincent growled into Sephiroth’s neck where he bit down on the flesh none too gently. Sephiroth’s breath hitched. “Oooh, yes, mark me,” he moaned, letting his head fall forward to give Vincent better access. Vincent continued to bestow more nips and bites upon the General’s neck and shoulders while he reached around to the bed to pick up the gun. Sephiroth’s eyes widened and then half-closed in anticipation. Oh, yes. They had done this before and it had been divine.

“Oh, Gods, yes.” Sephiroth already got incredibly hard just thinking of what was to come. “Someone’s happy,” Vincent remarked, reaching around Sephiroth’s waist to cup the General’s erection in his claw, eliciting a small hiss from Sephiroth. The metal against his cock felt incredible and it was all he could do not to buck into the touch.

This claw was lethal and so was the game he was about to submit himself to, but Sephiroth loved danger, lived it and breathed it. Divine danger and insanity.
Keeping a firm grip on Sephiroth’s cock, Vincent flipped the gun around in his hand with one practiced movement so that the barrel was pointing backwards. “If you want it, open your mouth,” he ordered the former General. Sephiroth moaned and obeyed. Taking a small step forward so that Sephiroth’s back was resting against Vincent’s bare chest, Vincent placed the barrel of the gun between Sephiroth’s lips which immediately closed around the object and began to suck, wetting it generously. It was a gamble, an insane game, because Sephiroth had no idea whether the gun was loaded or not, but he trusted Vincent not to pull the trigger by accident. Vincent was too good at what he did. The metallic taste mixed with the slight taste of gunpowder was strangely arousing, but soon Vincent pulled the weapon from Sephiroth’s mouth.

“Bend down,” Vincent ordered and Sephiroth obeyed, supporting himself on the bed with both arms while his backside was bared mercilessly to the gunman standing behind him. Vincent bent down to place a few kisses at the nape of Sephiroth’s neck and then, giving the General’s cock a few firm strokes, placed the gun’s barrel at his entrance. Sephiroth tensed slightly at the feeling of the cold metal pressing against his most private spot, but didn’t have much time to think as Vincent began to push forward, making the tip of the gun slip past the tight ring of muscle. Sephiroth let go of a strangled moan he had tried to hold back, but it wasn’t possible. The feeling of having a gun enter his body was so strange, so perverted in a sense, but it felt incredibly good. Once Vincent knew Sephiroth must have adjusted to the sensation he moved the gun forward more, pulling it out slightly following every advance only to thrust it in even deeper afterwards. Sephiroth was meanwhile loosing his mind all over again, moaning and panting, gripping the bed sheets as he was torn between thrusting back to meet the barrel of the gun and thrusting forwards to gain some much needed friction. “More, Vincent, please,” the silver-haired man moaned, sweat beginning to bead on his forehead, his breath coming in shorter gasps. Vincent didn’t need to be told twice. Every sound the General made, every pleading moan and gasp made Vincent loose control, made him want to rip out the gun and impale Sephiroth himself, but he executed a last effort of restraint and drove the gun home a few more times, aiming for Sephiroth’s prostate. By the sound of the loud gasping moans and pleas coming from the General, Vincent had found the sweet spot as well.

“Gods, Vincent,” Sephiroth screamed when the sensations became too much and he was all too close to loosing control. “Take me.”
Vincent immediately ceased his movements and swiftly extracted the gun from Sephiroth, dropping it to the floor. Vincent leaned forward slightly, and positioned his member against Sephiroth’s opening, before pushing in hard and fast. Both men groaned loudly at the excruciating first contact. Sephiroth was still so tight and the heat threatened to drive Vincent insane if he didn’t move so he began to pull out and thrust back inside, building a steady rhythm. Sephiroth gasped and grunted, his eyes shut as if to protect himself from the overload of sensations, but that was impossible the way Vincent managed to hit his prostate confidently with each thrust.

“Gods, please,” Sephiroth pleaded between gasps. The coil in his stomach was tightening, the maddening pressure rising, but he wasn’t quite ready yet. Vincent himself was nearing the end of his restraint and as his thrusts became faster, but irregular, almost desperate he wrapped his hand around Sephiroth’s cock and stroked the other man in time with his thrusts.

Sephiroth’s eyes flew wide open at the contact and he suddenly found it hard to breath as the coiling pressure in his abdomen tightened impossibly before exploding into a whirlwind of sensations and pleasure, rendering him temporarily blinded and light-headed so that Vincent had to wrap an arm around Sephiroth’s waist for support as the former General spurted cum into Vincent’s hand and onto the bed.

Vincent himself was by then desperate for release and a few more savage thrusts sent him over the edge, spilling his seed deep inside Sephiroth accompanied by a guttural moan. Both men collapsed onto the bed, spent and panting, their racing hearts all they could hear for a few moments.

Later, lying in Vincent’s arms, Sephiroth reached for the gun once more, toying with it and putting it back down. “Is it loaded,” he asked, turning drowsy green eyes to look at Vincent’s face. Vincent just chuckled lowly and shrugged. Some secrets were best kept.

A/N: Please review.

Her Days, Vincent/Reno

Tue, 11 Sep 2007 22:26:35 GMT

Title: Her Days
Author: xchristabelx
Rating: PG-13
Pairing: Vincent/Reno
Warnings: Some cussing, not betaed.
Summary: The times in which Vincent mourns Lucretia, told in Reno@s point of view.

Her Days

I know when you think of her, when her memory won't let you go until I make you forget.

The TV is on, it always is, because you have come to hate the silence. Hell, I sure can't blame you. But usually you watch the news. When I'm really bored we actually discuss some of the topics on there, but usually I manage to distract you. But on those days, her days, you just sit there and stare. You don't say a word as you watch the news or afterwards, you just stare blankly at the screen. Or you watch a movie you've seen so many times that even I know it by heart. Gone With The Wind still sucks, though. Sorry. I tell you that and you don't even shoot me your usual glare. Your eyes are still fixed on the screen while you think of her.

In the evenening I come home with bags of fast food. Hot, dripping with fat and unhealthy, but hey, I deserve as much after that ambush today didn't kill me. I would usually tell you about the case and how I kicked bad-ass, but you've got enough on your mind already, I know, so I just drop a bag of burgers and fries on the coffee table and encourage you to eat. And now I should be shocked, because you actually do. No wrinkled nose, no reminding me of how unhealthy that stuff is, but you just say thanks and eat it, albeit mechanically. Aw, man, come on. This is something you've gotta taste. I just sigh and shake my head, plopping down on the couch next to you to watch the news in silence.

I thought you hate the silence, damn it. But a few hours later you've still not said a bloody word. It's late and the boss wants me in early tomorrow on bodyguard duty. I tell you I'm going to bed, ask you to join me soon. And you just nod, your eyes flickering from the screen to mine for just a second. But my eyes, they're fucking pleading with you and don't deny it, 'cause I know you can read me like a bloody open book. Well, I'm going to bed, then.

Hours later I wake up and the bed's still cold on your side. I know where you are. Sitting infront of the TV. I usually never damn that bloody awesome invention, but during these nights I do as I find you watching that bloody awful movie. I stand in the doorway and sigh, defeated.
"Vincent, come to bed, please?" I try to keep the whining in my voice to a minimum, but hell, if I do I sound fucking pleading and I don't do that. Not vocally. You startle from your rigid position and turn to me, your gaze as if you're seeing me for the first time. I snort, trying to lighten the mood for both our sakes.
"You gonna be that way when I'm gone?" I ask with a wink, but my heart's going through some kind of painful motion. Hell, I know you had these days before, I sat through them with you at the time and we were fine. But then again, we weren't together then. Now it just bloody hurts to see you moping over her death.

Your beautyful eyes widen for a second before you lower your gaze. Aw, damn. Can't ever keep my big mouth shut, can I?
"I'm sorry." you mumble. I sigh again, sadly."Nah, I am. I didn't mean to..." I can't finish that, because yeah, it's exactly what I meant to say, but I didn't mean to make you apologise. Maybe, on another day, in a new light, we can work this out. Now I just want to sleep, with you.

I silently patter over to where you're sitting, my feet bare and in only my black silk boxers. I know you like those. Grabbing your hand, I sit down in your lap, switching the TV off with the remote control in my other hand. "Come to bed...?" I ask softly and I know my eyes are pleading as I kiss you softly. I need to sleep and you need to forget her and see me.

A/N: Please review.

mako_reactor: #12: White // Cloud Strife/Vincent Valentine

Fri, 04 May 2007 21:19:32 GMT

Title: Clouds?
Canon: anywhere
Theme + Number: #12: White
Claim: Cloud Strife and Vincent Valentine
Characters/Pairings included: Cloud Strife/Vincent Valentine
Rating: T (PG-13)
Warnings: mentions of nudity. (non-graphic)
Summary: Vincent makes an amusing discovery.
Spoilers: none
Author's note: Senseless humour, funny. No angst for once. XD.

Clouds?

Languidly stretched out on Cloud’s bed, Vincent waited for his blond lover to join him, watching Cloud while he undressed. Vincent was already completely unclothed and impatient, the way Cloud deliberately took his precious time about undressing, a small smirk on his face, not helping at all.

The ex-SOLDIER managed to undress down to his boxers before he was sure he had heard a snicker. Mako-blue eyes rose to meet Vincent’s crimson ones with an irritated “What?” to accompany them. Mirth was clearly written on Vincent’s face as the ex-Turk’s eyes stared directly at Cloud’s crotch, or so he thought. In truth, though, Vincent was looking at Cloud’s boxers with barely suppressed amusement.

“Clouds, Cloud?” Vincent’s voice had a very amused edge to it. “And stars?”
Cloud glared at his lover and huffed, a small blush tingeing his cheeks. “They were a present.” He muttered and made to rid himself of the embarrassing piece of clothing as fast as possible. Vincent just chuckled, but the sound was cut short by a very naked Cloud pouncing on him, effectively sealing their lips in a kiss.

A/N: Reviews are clouds and stars. :)

mako_reactor: Cloud Strife/Vincent Valentine, # 91: Yesterday

Sun, 22 Apr 2007 19:28:12 GMT

Title: Stories
Canon: anywhere
Theme + Number: #91: Yesterday
Claim: Cloud Strife and Vincent Valentine
Characters/Pairings included: Cloud Strife/Vincent Valentine
Rating: K
Warnings: none
Summary: Perspectives change.
Spoilers: none
Author's note: Weird.

Stories

When he was a Turk and even before that Vincent used to enjoy reading horror stories. He was never sure why. A friend had called it morbid curiosity. This curiosity, however, was taken from Vincent together with the life he knew when Hojo used him in his experiments, making Vincent a horror story of his own.

Cloud used to love hearing stories told about war from the veterans in SOLDIER. They always sounded glorious and heroic, because one did not tell a young man, still nearly a boy, about the horror and pain war involved. It was something Cloud had to learn the hard way, on his own and his own experience of war changed Cloud’s opinion forever.

Vincent used to hate romance novels with a passion. They were always sappy; they always had a happy ending. Apparently it was imperative that a true romance novel went that way. And Vincent hated them; because they had the happy ending he would never have and contained the sentence he would never hear more than a few times: “I love you.”
Bust since he and Cloud had become a couple, Vincent found that suddenly romance novels weren’t that bad after all.

Cloud hated the dark mysterious heroes from the books Tifa always read, with a passion. Those men were always dark and handsome, always got the girl, always saved the day and were ALWAYS overly angst-ridden. Cloud could never understand what the girls saw in them. But then he met Vincent and suddenly Cloud found that he was just like those girls, an avid spectator of the dark hero’s adventures and he was reading Vincent’s adventure, the story of his own dark, mysterious, handsome hero.

A/N: Reviews are love.

mako_reactor: Cloud Strife/Vincent Valentine #01: Starting out

Sat, 21 Apr 2007 19:15:01 GMT

Title: Yours
Canon: Post AC or something, maybe?
Theme + Number: #01: Starting out
Claim: Cloud Strife and Vincent Valentine
Characters/Pairings included: Cloud Strife/Vincent Valentine
Rating: M (R) to be safe
Warnings: none, really
Summary: A scene that happens before Vincent's and Cloud's first time
Spoilers: none
Author's note: Came out of nowhere. I felt like writing something cute.

Yours

Their lips came crashing against each other with a bruising passion, tongues battling for dominance for far longer than they could comfortably stay in that position without breaking apart for breath.

“Maybe we should take this to my room.” Cloud finally gasped, breaking the kiss to regain some much-needed breath. The upstairs hall of the 7th Heaven really wasn’t the best and most private place for what they were doing, especially with Marlene and Denzel around the house.

Vincent nodded in breathless agreement and followed as Cloud grabbed his hand and pulled him to a small room with a comfortable looking bed. There was of course more to the room, but for the two men the bed was the most important item at that moment and the moment they had entered the room Vincent had Cloud pinned to the closed door in another breath-taking kiss, grinding their bodies and growing erections together.

Whilst Vincent allowed only a small grunt to escape him, although his tight leather trousers were beginning to feel uncomfortably confining, Cloud moaned openly, giving Vincent the opportunity to slide his tongue even further down the blond man’s throat.

Cloud couldn’t have been more aroused. He wanted Vincent and he wanted him right now on the bed, writhing and in ecstasy. It was with satisfaction Cloud noted that Vincent was already lacking his cloak. The blond ex-SOLDIER’s hands were about to make fast work of the buttons on Vincent’s soft black shirt when the gunman stopped his lover, taking an near imperceptible step back and looking embarrassed.

Vincent never actually blushed or looked genuinely uncomfortable, but Cloud had learned to read those beautiful crimson eyes like a book of secrets. Cloud sighed silently, but smiled.
“It’s ok.” He said lowly, his voice smooth and soothing. “We don’t have to do it just yet.”

Vincent instantly looked guilty and shook his head slightly. “No… I… want to do it.” He tried to explain and it seemed as if suddenly all his usual confidence and bad-ass attitude were leaking away like water down a drain. Cloud pressed a soft encouraging kiss to Vincent’s lips. “What is it?” he asked quietly.

The gunman looked away this time, because he knew Cloud could read him. “It’s… my scars…” he explained, his voice barely above a whisper. Cloud frowned for a moment and then moved to Vincent to kiss the doubt away. “Vincent, do you trust me?” he mumbled against the gunman’s lips.

“I trust you, Cloud.” Vincent breathed and let their lips touch the slightest bit.
“Then trust me that I would never turn from you.” Cloud reassured with confidence which he hoped would transfer to Vincent if only a little bit.

“Do you trust me?” Vincent asked uncertainly.
Cloud smiled fondly at his lover. “I trust you, Vincent. I’m yours, so take me.”

A/N: Please review.

100 Advent Children icons made for 10x10variated

Sat, 14 Apr 2007 21:32:17 GMT

Here are 100 icons I made for the 10x10variated challenge where I claimed the Final Fantasy: Advent Children movie.

If you plan to use any of these icons, please comment and credit xchristabelx.

Teasers:

Use only the original images, changing the color only and nothing else. Color each icon differently.

001. 002. 003. 004. 005.
006. 007. 008. 009. 010.

Every icon must have readable text on it.

011. 012. 013. 014. 015.
016. 017. 018. 019. 020.

Use a texture on every icon. A different texture must be used on each one.

021. 022. 023. 024. 025.
026. 027. 028. 029. 030.

Every icon must include a stock image.

031. 032. 033. 034. 035.
036. 037. 038. 039. 040.

Rotate the images.

041. 042. 043. 044. 045.
046. 047. 048. 049. 050.

Images must be black and white.

051. 052. 053. 054. 055.
056. 057. 058. 059. 060.

On each icon, use one effect feature from the Effects menu in your Photoshop or Paintshop.

061. 062. 063. 064. 065.
066. 067. 068. 069. 070.

Every icon must be less than 100x100 pixels.

071. 072. 073. 074. 075.
076. 077. 078. 079. 080.

Every icon must use one popular icon trend that is hot at the time.

081. 082. 083. 084. 085.
086. 087. 088. 089. 090.

Free for all! Do whatever you want.

091. 092. 093. 094. 095.
096. 097. 098. 099. 100.

5drunkfics table: FFVII: Cid/Vincent

Mon, 09 Apr 2007 10:47:49 GMT

5drunkfics: pick your poison
Author: xchristabelx
Fandom: Final Fantasy VII
Claim:Vincent Valentine/Cid Highwind

tipsy

drunk

forget

confessions

mistakes

0/5

FF VII // Vincent/Reno // R-NC-17

Sat, 31 Mar 2007 23:21:41 GMT

Title: No Fury Like The One's Who Loves You
Author/Artist: xchristabelx
Rating: hard R to NC-17
Characters/Pairings: Vincent/Reno
Word count: 1987
Warnings: rape, angst, violence
Summary: When the worst happens to Reno he finds himself drawn to Vincent for help.
Sequel to Cracked Surface. You'll need to read that so you can understand this story.

No Fury Like The One's Who Loves You

Reno was used to his big mouth getting him into a lot of trouble, but the predicament he found himself in just then surpassed anything he had ever imagined. Pressed face first against the wall of the dirtiest hell-hole even he had ever seen – and he had seen a lot, mind you – Reno found himself unable to move, as a man three times his weight and remarkably taller than himself had his arm pressed against the Turk’s neck to keep him firmly and painfully in place while the other hand unceremoniously ripped open the red-head’s white shirt and pulled down his trousers.

The young Turk struggled against the iron hold with all his might, but to no avail at all. The brute was just too strong and too bulky to be pushed away and Reno had left his EMR behind to seem less suspicious.

Everything had been going so well recently, he should have known it wouldn’t last, Reno thought, tears springing to his eyes as he felt the enormous man’s breath against his neck, his erection pressing against the red-head’s entrance. No warning, no lubrication and the guy was large in every sense. Reno just knew this was going to hurt like hell. But he really didn’t mind the physical pain as much as the emotional awareness of what was happening to him.

Since his last encounter with Vincent, Reno hadn’t slept with a single person. He had taken the gunman’s words to heart more than he had ever imagined he would. After all, they had never been more than acquaintances. But for some reason the ex-Turk managed to provide Reno with a sense of security and clear guidance every time he was near him. What Vincent had done and said during their last meeting had puzzled the red-head to no end and he still couldn’t grasp the reason for it, but he just couldn’t find it in himself to disobey the other man.

One thing, though, Reno hadn’t done. He had not gone to Vincent for help when the president had given him the next job to obtain information from a man who was an on-and-off informant of ShinRa, a man the red-headed Turk had slept with before to make him surrender said information. Reno had wanted to do accomplish the task without help, trying out a mixture of threats and persuasion, but the brute would have nothing of that. There was only one kind of persuasion he would accept and since the Turk was obviously unwilling to cooperate, the criminal had decided to take what he wanted.

Reno cursed himself inwardly, as he felt the man’s enormous member push inside him, causing no little amount of pain, but the Turk refused to cry out. If he had only at least told Vincent where he was going, maybe this wouldn’t be happening. Tears of pain and humiliation began to stream down the red-head’s cheeks. He felt so dirty that moment and lower than he had ever been before.

A loud bang suddenly resounded from outside and then several more shortly after. Then shouts of rage and agony could be heard as well as loud engines revving up. Apparently there was a gang feud going on in this area. But all those realisations were pushed to the back of Reno’s mind in one instance of self-preserving clarity. The large man standing behind the Turk had become distracted by what was going on outside, because the sounds of gunfire were coming ever nearer. Reno saw this moment, just this one instance as his only chance to escape and so he turned around with incredible speed and rammed his knee into the brute’s groin full force.

The man cursed loudly und doubled over in pain, shouting obscenities at Reno that were completely lost on the Turk as he quickly pulled up his trousers and began to run. Out of the door and across the street where the shootout went on. The red-head occasionally had to dodge some bullets, but he was soon clear of the feuding gangs and running at full speed, adrenaline coursing through his body.

Reno could soon feel the adrenaline-high fading, though and being replaced by the gravity of the situation he had just escaped. The colour slowly drained from his face and he was overcome by intense nausea which caused him to retch violently onto the sidewalk of the deserted street he had wound up in.

After having stopped dry-heaving when nothing more would leave his stomach, Reno continued walking, his entire body shaking badly. He knew he needed to go somewhere. That guy had yelled after the Turk that he would come after him and Reno was certain that the brute was pissed off enough to go through with his pursuit. The mere thought nearly made Reno’s knees buckle with fear, but he pressed on, going to the only place he could think of going at that moment.

He red-headed Turk soon found himself standing on the second floor of an old run-down apartment building in front of a scruffy wooden door which had a dull-golden number 17 nailed to it. His body almost working mechanically now, Reno knocked on the door twice and then waited, unseeing eyes staring at the dirty floor.

The door creaked open after a few moments, and Vincent appeared, raising an eyebrow in surprise at seeing Reno standing there, staring at the ground. It hadn’t yet registered in the young Turk’s confused mind that Vincent was staring at him with a look of concern appearing on his features as he took in Reno’s dishevelled appearance, the ripped shirt and trousers and the bruises that had begun to show on the red-head’s face.

“Reno, what happened?” the ex-Turk asked, a slight urgency tinting his usually calm voice.
It was only then that Reno looked up at Vincent, eyes wide and shining. Then the young Turk practically flung himself at Vincent and began to sob uncontrollably, clinging to the gunman’s shirt as if his life depended on the support.

Vincent’s crimson eyes widened for a moment before his senses kicked in and he pulled the distraught red-head fully inside the flat, closing the door behind them. There was nothing more in the room than a chair, a bed, a small table and a TV. That was really all Vincent’s apartment consisted of, except for a small kitchen and a bathroom.

The dark-haired man led Reno to the bed where he sat them both down. Reno was still crying and shaking uncontrollably so Vincent slowly brought his leather-gloved hand up to rub small circles on the red-head’s back while he spoke calming words or reassurance.

It took a long time for Reno to calm down enough to stop the flow of tears, although he was still hiccoughing from time to time. Leaning against Vincent, almost being embraced by the gunman who was still rubbing the red-head’s back, Reno became completely still and quiet, his body as well as his mind aching and exhausted.

“Reno, what happened?” Vincent asked again after a while, his voice calm and quiet so that he wouldn’t upset Reno any more than he already was. The young Turk took a deep breath and began to tell Vincent what had occurred earlier that night. He began shaking again, fresh tears springing to his cerulean eyes.

Vincent immediately pulled Reno close again and held him, trying to calm the younger man, telling him that everything would be alright. Reno was crying again, though not as hard as he had been before.
“I’m so dirty.” The red-head choked, his tears soaking into the material of Vincent’s shirt.
“You’re not.” The gunman wanted so much to convince Reno. “It wasn’t your fault. Not ever.”
“But I – “ Reno couldn’t say any more than that, because Vincent’s lips had descended on his softly, effectively swallowing any further words. The gunman broke the kiss soon, but didn’t move away from Reno, their foreheads still resting together. “It was not you, Reno. He is the problem. You did nothing to ever deserve what that criminal did to you.” Vincent’s crimson eyes were staring intently into the young Turk’s, as if strengthening every word and meaning he was trying to convey. “Do you understand that?”

Reno nodded mutely. He understood and he wanted to believe Vincent’s words so badly. Resting his head on Vincent’s shoulder, Reno murmured “I understand.” As some more tears leaked from the corners of his eyes. The ex-Turk’s arms came up to wrap around the red-head’s body securely as he pulled him into a closer embrace and a more comfortable position on the bed. “Sleep now.” Vincent advised softly. Reno soon gave in to the exhaustion and fell prey to a light fitful sleep.

Vincent seemed completely calm and unchanged on the outside, but inside his mind and heart an anger more intense than anything he had felt in a long time was boiling. He would see to it that the man who had violated Reno would meet his end by either Vincent’s gun or his hands.

Reno had barely been asleep properly when a crash resounded from outside the door. He immediately jumped up from the bed, looking at Vincent with crystal clear fear written in his expression.

Someone was now hammering against the door, trying to break it down in earnest. “I know you’re in there, bitch.” A man’s rough voice yelled.
“He’s here.” Reno breathed, feeling as if his blood was freezing in his veins. Vincent simply laid a hand on Reno’s shoulder and gave it a reassuring squeeze before going to the table where the Cerberus, his trusted three-barrelled gun was lying.

That idiot obviously has no idea whose door he has come knocking at, or more likely come to knock down, Vincent thought as he swiftly loaded the gun and readied it. This would be the end of that bastard. Weapon ready to fire, Vincent purposefully strode to the door, opening it with his gun arm outstretched.

The man standing outside had barely enough time to look confused at the gunman opening the door before Vincent pulled the trigger and three bullets ripped right through the brute’s chest, making him fall over backwards, dead.

Reno had watched the whole scene with a mixture of fear, confusion and mild horror. During the whole display Vincent’s expression hadn’t changed once. It had always been an unreadable ivory mask.

Securing the gun, Vincent laid it back to where it belonged.
“Fuck.” Reno exclaimed shakily, his eyes travelling from Vincent to the dead body and back to Vincent.
Vincent let out a silent breath of annoyance. “Indeed. Now I will have to get rid of his corpse.”

Vincent’s eyes had met Reno’s by now and although his expression still hadn’t changed, the red-head knew that the ex-Turk was only trying to lighten the mood. Reno gave a small shaky grin in response. But Vincent was right. The body had to go and the red-head had absolutely no desire to see that ugly face any longer.

“I need a shower.” Reno decided his voice slightly hoarse and sounding tired. Vincent nodded in understanding and showed Reno to the bathroom, giving him some towels and a change of clothes. They were black of course and carried Vincent’s scent; Reno noticed later on which brought the night’s first genuine smile onto his face.

Vincent produced two keys from one of his pockets and handed one to Reno. “Lock the door from the inside, if it makes you feel safer. But remember to remove the key from the lock or I won’t be able to get in.” Vincent took a glance back at the corpse lying in his living room. He really did have to get rid of it right now.
“I’ll be back soon.” The ex-Turk assured, and began to go about removing the dead body, while Reno took a scalding hot shower.

A/N: Reviews are love. Also thanks to all of you who reviewed Cracked Surface.

ff_love: Reno/ Rude // Living Sin Part II

Sat, 17 Mar 2007 22:31:21 GMT

Title: Living Sin Part II - Gluttony
Author: xchristabelx
Rating: PG-13
Characters/Pairings: Reno/Rude
Warnings: Drinking and my attempt to give Reno some depth, meaning slight angst.
Notes: Second part of my little story. Next chapter will have a higher rating
Summary: Living with Reno was living sin.

x-posted to: renorude, renobsession, ukereno, turkcoffee, ffvii_yaoi, acyaoi

Previous parts:
Part I

Part II - Gluttony

Rude wasn’t surprised by Reno’s suggestion. Drinking had always been the younger Turk’s solution to anything, especially pain, be it bodily or emotional. Most injuries were forgotten after a night of hard drinking, first pushed aside by the hangover that would follow and afterwards there would always be something more important, more interesting to do.

Emotional pain was a completely different issue. Rude remembered with a cold lump of ice settling in his stomach the day Reno had gotten word that his sister was dead, killed in a fight by the man who had claimed to love her. Reno hadn’t seemed to react at all at first at the time. Not until after he had put some bullets through the heart of the bastard who had killed his beloved Ranjah. After that the red-head had spent days just sitting in his apartment, drinking himself silly. Rude had stayed with him the whole time, feeling he needed to be there, although he and Reno had only been partners for a few months. Besides, none of the other Turks had been sure that Reno could be left alone in the state he had been in. Then, from one day to the other, Reno had caught his fall, picking himself up and going on with life, although he was obviously still grieving. But the red-head was and had always been a fighter.

Rude pushed the depressing trip down memory lane from his mind fairly quickly as Reno had begun to get dressed in the fresh clothes that had been laid out for him. “So, you coming?” he asked his partner with a toss of the head towards the door.

The bald Turk sighed silently. “You just lost a lot of blood, Reno. You should be resting.”
Reno rolled his eyes. “Oh, please. I’m fine.” He insisted. “Yanno if you don’t come I’m gonna go alone.”

That was enough to tell Rude that he’d better accompany his partner, because he knew that Reno was being serious and that if he left Reno to get drunk alone the night would most likely end in complete chaos and in the worst case more injuries for his partner and others. Shrugging his shoulders, Rude agreed. “Fine.”

The two Turks went to the bar that was their regular hangout. They usually only went there Friday nights after work, but that day was just one of those exceptions that sometimes popped up, mostly when one of them had had a bad day, though it was mostly Reno’s harassing days that brought them there.

They sat down at the table they always occupied and ordered their drinks, Rude asking for what he always drank and Reno ordering something that had a violently green colour and should have sported a sign ‘highly intoxicating’.

The evening began to melt into night and by the time Rude had ordered his second drink he had lost count of how many Reno had had. The red-haired Turk had spent most of the night first complaining about everything that had gone wrong during his mission and once Reno had become too intoxicated to remember what else had pissed him off he began to recount how he had fought and killed his opponent, conveniently leaving out he part where he got stabbed, leaving Rude sure that a lot of his partner’s story was exaggerated.

That was always how a drunken Reno acted, but not the entire time, because there was a point of intoxication that would render the younger Turk quiet and staring around the room with unfocused eyes as if he had never been there before.

That moment had come now and Rude knew that it was his cue to get the red-head home.
“What ya doin’?” Reno slurred, eyeing Rude as the bald Turk got up from his seat.
“I’m taking you home.” was all the older man answered before making his way to the counter to pay for their drinks. Once he got back to the table he helped Reno up who was by now incapable of standing up on his own let alone walk to the car.

“Don’ wanna go home.” Reno whined into Rude’s shoulder which he was leaning on heavily on the way to Rude’s stylish black sports car. “Home’s empty.”
A small needle stabbed at Rude’s heart at hearing his young partner utter those words. It was widely known that Reno had difficulties being alone, seeking others’ company in situations in which other people would prefer to be on their own. But when drunk, Reno’s fear of being alone was just so much worse and those were the only times that he would admit to it.

“I’ll stay with you.” The bald Turk promised, trying to persuade his partner to get into the car while Reno was desperately attempting to pull Rude back towards the bar and failing miserably. Just as Rude thought that Reno had given up on going back, Reno managed to pull from the grip his partner had on his wrist, stumbling drunkenly, his legs refusing to cooperate. The red-head would have landed flat on the ground if Rude hadn’t managed to grab him by the waist and pull him back up on his feet just in time. Reno just leaned against Rude’s strong chest comfortably and the older Turk shoved him into the car before anything else could happen.

They passed the car ride to Reno’s flat in comfortable silence, the red-head only speaking once, saying “Thanks for catching me… again.” before he returned to observing the dark landscape with drunken interest. He never saw the small near imperceptible smile that tugged at Rude’s lips.

Having arrived at Reno’s flat, Rude helped him out of the car and practically dragged him inside the building. Thankfully there was an elevator, because Rude would not have been happy with having to drag his partner who was a dead weigh clinging to his arm, up six floors.

“’member ya promised to stay.” Reno reminded the bald Turk while he was unsuccessfully trying to unlock the door of his apartment. Rude wordlessly took the key from the red-head and unlocked the door for him, pushing Reno inside. “I know. I’ll stay.”

Rude had hardly had the chance to utter those words and close the door behind them before Reno turned to him and pushed him back against the wall, engaging him in a deep kiss.

A/N: Reviews are L.O.V.E.

ff_love: Reno/Rude Living Sin Part I

Fri, 16 Mar 2007 23:05:12 GMT

Title: Living Sin Part I - Pride and Wrath
Author: xchristabelx
Rating: PG-13
Characters/Pairings: Reno/Rude
Warnings: Well, some swearing. It's Reno after all.
Notes: Part one of a small series. Definitely gonna end up with a higher rating.
Summary: Living with Reno was living sin.

Further parts:
Part II

x-posted to: renorude, renobsession, ukereno, turkcoffee, ffvii_yaoi, acyaoi

Part I

“Fuck. Today sucks.” Reno muttered, pressing a hand to the bleeding stab wound on his left side. Glaring at the corpse on the floor which had three of the Turk’s bullets in its chest, Reno stepped over the dead man to where the shreds of the jacket of his uniform lay discarded. Reno slid the remainder of the garment back on and was satisfied to see that it covered his injured side. It wouldn’t do to have anyone fuss over it. Reno would go home that night, bandage it and get drunk of his ass. It would be fine and forgotten in the morning.

At least he’d kicked the fucking guy’s ass, Reno thought as he made his way back to his bike which was parked a few blocks away. Had he really pursued that guy that far? Well, apparently so.

By the time Reno had arrived at his vehicle of choice, his mood wasn’t getting any better and he fervently wished he’d taken a company car or the chopper as the wound in his side began to throb harshly and was merrily bleeding along, staining his white shirt.

After an hour and a half or so the red-haired Turk had finally arrived back at headquarters. He’d had to stop twice on the way because his injury was becoming increasingly painful and Reno was beginning to feel light-headed and then dizzy from the blood-loss.

Reno stormed into the ShinRa building as if nothing was wrong. At the moment he was just pissed off that the job had been more difficult than he’d expected and because he was in pain and he just wanted to get out and get drunk. He huffily reported back to first the president and then to Tseng and was just about to call it a day at work when Rude suddenly stood before him, blocking his way.

The moment Rude had seen Reno stomp angrily to their boss’ office after coming back from one of the rare missions he went on alone, the bald Turk knew that something was wrong with his partner. The way Reno was clutching at his side while he thought no one saw him was a dead give-away already. Rude sighed. ‘I can’t leave you alone for a minute, can I.’ he thought to himself and went to position himself infront of Tseng’s office waiting for Reno to come out.

“Yo, Rude.” Reno acknowledged his friend and partner upon leaving the office and made to brush past him, but he was stopped by Rude’s strong hand grabbing his wrist. Not saying anything, Rude gave Reno the once-over, taking in the tired hazy eyes and the complexion which was too pale, even for Reno and the trembling in his partners’ body. Not fooled by Reno’s cool attitude, the bald Turk pushed back the left side of Reno’s ruined jacket and winced when he saw the large blood stain that was seeping into the otherwise white uniform shirt. Rude sighed. “I really can’t leave you alone.”

Reno had watched all that Rude was doing as well as the other’s scrutiny with forced apathy, because his body was refusing to cooperate any longer, making his vision go blurry and his head throb from blood-loss. “I’m fine, Rude. Really.” Were the younger Turk’s feeble words before he slumped forward and passed out in his partner’s arms.

When Reno came to a few hours later he was lying on a hard bed in the clinically white sick-room of the ShinRa headquarters. Rude was leaning against the wall across from the bed, his arms crossed while he regarded Reno through his dark shades.

Reno turned his head slowly, still feeling a little strange and grinned at Rude. “Yo, partner. Wanna go out for a drink? I could really use one.”

A/N: Please review.

mako_reactor: Cloud Strife/Vincent Valentine #30: Hand

Tue, 06 Mar 2007 20:47:11 GMT

Title: Hands
Canon: any time
Theme + Number: #30: Hand
Claim: Cloud Strife and Vincent Valentine
Characters/Pairings included: Cloud Strife/Vincent Valentine
Rating: T to M (PG-13 to R)
Warnings: deep thoughts during sex
Summary: Vincent’s hands were the second most striking contrast of his body.
Spoilers: none
Author's note: inspired by this picture: http://www.aquamarine.nu/vincent/images/gallery/docfmv018.jpg

Hands

Vincent could never understand what Cloud saw in him. For so long it had been an unthinkable thing to the ex-Turk that anyone could ever be interested in him again, physically or in any other way. But then Cloud Strife had to come along and turn Vincent’s world upside-down all over again. No matter how that sounded, though, Vincent was never annoyed by the fact that Cloud seemed to adore him unconditionally.

Right at that moment Cloud was busy adoring every inch of Vincent’s chest with kisses and nips and licks while Vincent was thinking thoughts that were soon driven from his mind completely as his blond lover began sucking on a darkened nipple which rose up to the touches, becoming incredibly sensitive.

Cloud had no idea why Vincent was so self-conscious about his looks. Yes, of course the ex-Turk had some very nasty scars, but to Cloud they were beautiful, making his lover even more unique. And Vincent’s metal gauntlet. Cloud knew that it was one of the worst things for Vincent, but the blond ex-SOLDIER believed firmly that it only added to Vincent’s coolness and good looks. And damn was it a good instrument during sex, thought Cloud as Vincent lightly raked his clawed hand down his lover’s back, making Cloud moan with pleasure.

Vincent’s hands were the second most striking contrast of his body, the first being the difference of day and night between the man’s pale skin and ebony hair. But Vincent’s hands were special to Cloud, more special than Vincent could ever know or comprehend.

While Vincent’s artificial left hand was designed as a weapon, vicious and deadly to it’s foes, but ever so enticing and maddening to Cloud when it raked over his body, mindful not to cut skin, but still with just enough pressure to cause slight red welts to arise which were more pleasurable than painful, Vincent’s right hand was incredibly delicate beneath the black leather glove that usually hid it.

This hand was now devoid of any such cover, long pale fingers running through Cloud’s spiky blond hair which was a lot softer than it looked and Vincent loved the feeling of spun gold running between his fingers.

The hands of a pianist, Cloud thought, and made a mental note to ask Vincent if he actually played the piano. But he would do that later, because for now he was way too distracted by the beauty that was his dark-haired lover. Gently taking hold of Vincent’s lithe wrist, Cloud placed his lover’s hand against his lips and kissed the open palm, his eyes never leaving Vincent’ as he gently drew one digit into his mouth to suck on it suggestively.

Vincent let out an aroused groan inspired by Cloud’s ministrations. He’d had no idea that his hand and his fingers could be so sensitive and he didn’t mind, because Cloud was driving him insane with the allusion to more intimate actions and suddenly it didn’t matter anymore why Cloud found Vincent fascinating, because they had each other and neither could keep their hands from the other for very long.

A/N: Reviews are love. ;)

ff_love: FF VII//Vincent/Reno//R - NC-17

Sat, 03 Mar 2007 23:17:59 GMT

Title: Cracked Surface
Author/Artist: xchristabelx
Final Fantasy part: VII
Rating: hard R to NC-17
Characters/Pairings: Vincent/Reno
Word count: 1297
Warnings: questionable consent, slash, sex in a public place
Summary: Every Turk has his own way of getting information from people.

Cracked Surface

“Well, you know how it works, Valentine.” Reno breathed against Vincent’s ear seductively. “I…”
Vincent didn’t need for Reno to finish that sentence. “I let you fuck me and you give me the information I need.” It had been like that each of the four times they’d done it this way now.

Every Turk had his own way of getting information from people. Vincent knew that for a fact, having been a Turk himself so long ago. Some used violence and fear as leverage, others were so gifted with words that they managed to wheedle the desired knowledge from people by simply talking to and deceiving them. Those who used neither of those options chose at times to use their beauty and bodies to bargain with and Reno was one of them.

It was by far one of the most self-destructive and degrading methods to be found, often leaving the people who used them emotionally empty and feeling dirty. Those were the wretched poor souls that usually lost all belief in love with passing time. Now, preparing for the act in a cold and dark deserted alley way, Vincent was certain that he could perceive the beginnings of this emotional decay in the red-head, in the way Reno moved mechanically and the complete lack of emotion in the Turk’s voice and eyes which had all but lost the sparkle they had once held.

Of course Vincent knew that Turks were always trained not to let any emotions show, but it was in Reno’s unguarded moments, namely in the moments of his climax that Vincent knew how expressive the younger Turk’s eyes could be and in those moments Vincent saw the pain and helplessness, feelings that he himself had become so accustomed to a long time ago and had only recently begun to replace by lighter emotions.

It was a desolate situation they found themselves in now, Reno facing the wall while Vincent stood behind him, loosening the many straps on his leather trousers. Vincent knew with a certainty that Reno had been doing this a lot and for a long time in exchange for information, but he was different from the other ‘business partners’, or so he hoped, because he was intent on making it pleasurable for the red-head as well.

Once, during their second encounter Vincent had attempted to ask Reno why he was going about the matter this way. His question was deflected and disarmed with a perfectly level “A Turk’s reasons are his own, you should know that, Valentine.” Vincent often asked himself whether it had been the right thing to even start responding to Reno’s demands, but at the time Vincent hadn’t known that the young Turk did this on a regular basis and though he was ashamed to admit it, Vincent had thought that maybe at least a small amount of attraction had played a part in the deal. Now Vincent knew that he had been mistaken and had devised a plan of his own as he was working towards getting Reno to trust him enough to let Vincent turn the tables and Vincent thought that maybe he was already close to achieving that goal.

Mindful of not hurting Reno with his metal gauntlet, Vincent slowly opened the Turk’s shirt while placing open-mouthed hot kisses along the back of the man’s pale neck. He then took off the leather glove of his right hand and let the now free hand trail up and down Reno’s torso, working rosy nipples to sensitive hardened nubs. Reno gave no obvious reaction, but Vincent cloud feel the Turk’s breathing speed up a little, letting the ex-Turk know that the other was not unfazed by those ministrations.

With his hand that wasn’t busy running over the perfect planes of Reno’s chest, Vincent removed the leather strip that held the red-heads hair back so it could flow freely and flutter in the light breeze. It was intoxicating for Vincent to bury his face in those long crimson tresses while his tongue licked a hot wet trail up the side of Reno’s neck, ending up pushing the long hair aside so he could nibble seductively at a pierced earlobe.

This at least elicited a small shudder from the otherwise stoic Turk and Vincent took this reaction as encouragement to continue what he was doing, letting his hand trail down to massage Reno’s beginning erection to full hardness through the dark blue trousers of the Turk-uniform. Reno’s low moans could soon be heard, although it was obvious that the red-head was trying to hold them back.

Suddenly he twisted his head and half his body around sharply to glare at Vincent. “Fuck, Valentine, what’re you playin’ at?” Reno snapped, his voice rough with a mix of barely suppressed emotions. “Get this the fuck over with.”

Staring into the turmoil in the young Turk’s eyes the moment came when Vincent decided on an entirely new plan of action, because he just couldn’t bring himself to go along with this twisted game this time and he swore to himself he never would again.

Reno was about to snap at the ex-Turk again, but Vincent leaned forward and captured the man’s lips in a gentle but firm kiss effectively silencing any further words. While doing so, Vincent’s hand had managed to undo the zip of Reno’s trousers. No underwear, he noted briefly, just as it had been at their last encounters.

Vincent gently guided out Reno’s erection and began stroking the now free and fully hard member in long firm strokes while still kissing the red-head. The ex-Turk’s arm to which the golden gauntlet was attached wrapped around Reno’s waist to hold him up when the pleasure of Vincent’s ministrations became too strong.

Reno was soon moaning and writhing, thrusting into Vincent’s hand while Vincent paid more attention to the Turk’s long pale throat with kisses and nips soothed by slow searing licks. Reno was trembling in Vincent’s half-embrace and becoming less coherent with each of Vincent’s strokes.

Soon Reno came, spurting pearly white cum against the wall and over Vincent’s hand. He hadn’t cried out when he came. Only his spine had stiffened and a low moan, almost a sob had escaped Reno’s lips as his head fell limply backwards against Vincent’s shoulder.

Once Reno had managed to regain some control over his body he noticed that Vincent was helping him to dress again. The red-head pushed Vincent’s hand away harshly and continued the task himself, rage bubbling inside him as he rounded on the ex-Turk who was busy with fastening the clasps of his clothes once more.

“What the fuck was that supposed to be?!” Reno yelled, his eyes blazing. “That wasn’t our deal. It wasn’t even…” Reno could no longer speak because Vincent had once again pushed him back against the wall and sealed their lips, leaving the Turk speechless.

“The man lives in room 310. He will be there until next Monday. His secretary leaves at seven every night after a meeting.” Vincent told Reno the information the Turk had wanted. “We’re following my rules now.” The dark-haired man continued, gently kissing Reno again to seem a little less menacing. “No more selling your body for information. If you need something, come to me and I will give it to you freely or find out what you need.”

A last kiss to Reno’s lips and Vincent was gone, sweeping into the shadows and through the night. Reno watched him leave until the dark shape in the distance was gone and his eyesight was blurred by the tears streaking down his cheeks. Reno slid down the wall and let the tears fall freely for the first time ever, wondering about what Vincent had offered and why he had done this.

A/N: So, this turned out quite different than I'd intended it to and I'm not sure about it myself.. Ah, well. Tell me what you think. :)

ff_love: ficlet for the prompt 'dawn'

Sat, 03 Feb 2007 15:37:19 GMT

Title: A Tale Of Shattered Walls
Author/Artist: xchristabelx
Final Fantasy part: VII
Rating: PG to PG-13
Characters/Pairings: Vincent Valentine/Cloud Strife
Word count: 830
Warnings: Um... sap?
Summary: Nothing seems so bad anymore when you're with the one you love.

A Tale Of Shattered Walls

Cloud could feel the bed moving beside him before it was still again. Moments later he heard the rustle of heavy fabric on the other side of the room by the chair that stood in the corner. He sighed inwardly, sadly. He couldn’t feel any warmth of sunlight on his face yet, and by that Cloud gathered that the sun hadn’t risen yet. But Vincent, who had spent the night next to Cloud after hours of passionate love-making, was leaving already. Again.

They had been together, doing this for months now. They would meet, spend the evening together in comfortable companionship, sometimes even affection and then they would make love, slow and loving at first, but rough and passionate once their arousal had risen to unbearable peaks. But come dawn, Vincent would always be gone, leaving Cloud with a painful longing and the shadow of the night before. Vincent didn’t know that Cloud was awake sometimes when he left. The dark-haired man obviously assumed his lover would still be asleep so early in the morning.

Cloud had never tried to stop Vincent. At first he hadn’t minded his lover leaving every morning. But as their relationship, although Cloud was wondering if one could really refer to it in such a manner, progressed, it became painful for Cloud to know that Vincent wouldn’t be there with him when he woke up. That they wouldn’t be sharing the shower and having breakfast together. But Cloud knew not to push Vincent into rushing anything. He had found that out the hard way after an attempt at a first night together had gone terribly wrong ending with Vincent fleeing Cloud’s flat in a rush. But they had overcome the problems. Vincent was no longer too worried about Cloud seeing his scars and Cloud had finally overcome his self-inflicted loneliness. But now as he heard Vincent moving about the room in hunt of his clothes, Cloud felt a stab of pain in his heart and tears pricking at the corners of his eyes.

He couldn’t do this anymore. Pushing or rushing things be damned, but Cloud couldn’t bear the thought of opening up to someone just to be left alone again. In a flash, Cloud was out of bed and had his arms wrapped around Vincent’s still naked waist in the semi-darkness of the room.

“Don’t go.” Cloud mumbled into the mass of Vincent’s long hair. “Stay. Just this once.” Vincent closed his eyes and cursed silently, heaving a small sigh. Since when had Cloud been awake? He shook his head sadly. “I can’t.” Vincent’s words lacked all emotion, although inside his heart was breaking. Gently he pried Cloud’s arms from his waist. Cloud made an angry sound and went back to the bed, sitting on the edge with tears in his eyes.

Vincent could feel his resolve to leave crumble like the wall that he had built around his heart for so long had crumbled beneath Cloud’s loving. And now he was the one causing Cloud pain. Again. Somehow, no matter how Vincent tried, he always seemed to be causing those that he loved pain. He would cause the pain and he would lose them. He couldn’t protect them either, not even from himself. It was those feelings that had caused Vincent to lock himself away for thirty years and it were the same feelings that were instilling an incredible fear in his heart. But Vincent knew that he couldn’t afford to lose Cloud as well. He knew that he would not be able to go on if he did.

“Why? Why won’t you stay?” Cloud’s words shook Vincent from his thoughts. “Do I mean so little to you?” Cloud sounded angry and Vincent could tell that his lover was holding back tears that were threatening to fall. A physical pain shot through Vincent’s heart. He had done it again, he had hurt the one he loved.

Vincent was on the bed at Cloud’s side with two long strides. His human hand reached up to turn Cloud’s face towards him for a long deep kiss. “You mean everything to me, Cloud.” Vincent murmured against the blond man’s lips.
“Then stay.” Came Cloud’s equally muffled response. Nodding slowly in consent, Vincent gently pushed Cloud back to lie on the bed again.

Later on, as the sun was rising they lay together, Vincent’s face buried in the crook of Cloud’s neck. “Cloud, I–“ Vincent still felt the need to explain himself, but Cloud quickly silenced him with a kiss. “I know.” The blond man reassured. Vincent returned the kiss softly and settled back down, his head resting on Cloud’s shoulder. “I’m scared.” He voiced quietly against Cloud’s soft skin.
“I know.” Cloud replied. “So am I, but it’s not as bad with you here.”
An actual smile threatened to break Vincent’s usually passive face in agreement and the two of them spent a few more hours just lying there in the security of each others’ arms.

A/N: I hope you liked. Please review.

mako_reactor: Cloud Strife and Vincent Valentine #26 Wutai

Fri, 05 Jan 2007 21:46:37 GMT

Title: Getting The Message?
Canon: some time post Advent Children
Theme + Number: #26: Wutai
Claim: Cloud Strife and Vincent Valentine
Characters/Pairings included: mentions (messages) of Tifa, Yuffie and Cid
Rating: K (G)
Warnings: Possible things that can't be canon. Sorry, but I'm really new to the fandom
Summary: Yuffie is throwing a party and Vincent is reluctant to come to it, so Cloud gets sent to persuade him.
Spoilers: none

Getting The Message?

"You have one new message."

The red light on Cloud’s answerphone was blinking when he came home from work that night. Pressing the play button on the device while passing it on his way to the kitchen Cloud listened to the message he had received while he was rummaging for a can of beer in his messily stocked fridge.

“Hey, Cloud, it’s Tifa. I just wanted to remind you that we’re leaving for Wutai in two days time to visit Yuffie. The big party, remember? Anyway, we’re all meeting at the bar and Cid is going to come collect us there. See you then, bye, Cloud.”

The answerphone gave a final beep and was silent thereafter. How could Tifa think that he could forget about that party, Cloud asked himself. Yuffie had been going on about it for nearly six months now and had randomly called all her friends multiple times during that period to remind them of the big event, the getting-back-together-party, as she called it.

Beer can in hand, Cloud flopped down on his worn comfortable couch and switched on the news channel on TV. He had barely finished off the last dregs of his drink and was beginning to plan what his options for dinner were when the phone rang shrilly, disturbing Cloud's musings of pizza or burgers.

Sighing, Cloud got up from his slouching position and trudged to the phone.
“Hello?” he asked, holding the receiver to his ear.
“Hi, Cloud. It’s Yuffie.” Came the younger girl’s voice from the other end of the line.
“Hey, Yuffie. So, still up for that big party?” Cloud asked. The answer was what he had expected, Yuffie telling him about all the great preparations and how much fun it was going to be with much excitement.

“But Cloud,” she said, “that’s exactly why I’m calling you, the party that is, or not the party but… oh, anyway. You know Vincent has a phone now?”
Cloud listened to Yuffie’s rambling with a frown, trying to discern what the actual message was that she was trying to convey.
“Yeah, I know.” Cloud replied to the girl’s seemingly random question. “It’s what we all wanted so that we can contact him.”
“Yes, that’s it.” Yuffie confirmed loudly.
“And I did and I asked him if he’d come to the party and he said he didn’t feel like it. I tried to persuade him, but he still didn’t budge, so we hung up eventually. I called Vincent again a few days later with the same outcome and then again just yesterday. He still doesn’t feel like it. Honestly, does he think all that sitting in his flat and brooding is doing him any good? And now he refuses to answer the phone all together.” Yuffie huffed in annoyance over her introverted friend’s behaviour.
“Anyway, Cloud, can you please drive by his place on your way out to the meeting and get him out of there?” the Wutaian’s voice was nearing a whine now.
“I miss him like I miss all of you and I really want him there. Please Cloud?” pleaded Yuffie’s now overly sweet voice.
Cloud sighed. “Ok, Yuffie. I’ll go and see him… and yes, I’ll get him to come.”
“YAY!” Cloud could practically hear Yuffie bouncing on the spot. “I’ll see you at the party then.”
“Bye. See you there.” Cloud said goodbye and hung up the phone. Sighing, he thought that he’d better leave a little early, because now he would have to take a detour to Kalm and it would surely take some time to get Vincent to come with him.

*****

Cloud arrived at Vincent’s flat in Kalm the next evening. He was hoping to be at the meeting point on time the next day, preferably together with Vincent.

Scanning the doorbell panel of the small run-down apartment block his friend was living in, Cloud noted that Vincent’s name was missing.
“Trust Vincent Valentine to keep his existence secret.” Cloud thought, shaking his head and pushing through the door that led inside the building.

Vincent’s flat was on the third floor and Cloud climbed the stair case noting that it was nearly completely quiet in the building, making him wonder if most of the flats weren’t actually uninhabited.

Eventually Cloud found Vincent’s apartment and knocked on the door. There was no reply so Cloud knocked again. Again there came no sign of life from the other side of the door. Suddenly triggering on to the thought that Vincent was a very careful person and probably wouldn’t open up just because someone came knocking on his door, Cloud decided to call out to him.

“Vincent, it’s Cloud. Open up.” That finally did the trick and Vincent appeared behind the opening door, clothed as always, but missing his red cloak.
Vincent stared at Cloud for a moment, unblinking. “Cloud… is something wrong?” he asked, leading Cloud into the apartment.

Vincent’s flat consisted of only one larger room which contained the living area and a bed and a door led to a bathroom, another one gave way to a small kitchen. Cloud stood there, taking in his surroundings until Vincent’s deep quiet voice got his attention.
“What brings you here?” the gunman asked.

Cloud’s eyes snapped back to look at his friend. “Oh, yeah, right. Yuffie called me last night.” Cloud explained with a grin and watched in amusement as Vincent barely managed to suppress an aggravated groan.
“Oh, yes.” Cloud chuckled. “She wants me to make sure that you come to the party.”
“I don’t feel like it.” Vincent cut off anything else that the other man attempted to say.
Cloud rolled his eyes. “You never feel like being at a party, Vincent. But this is Yuffie’s party and she wants you to be there and so do all of us. You are our friend, whether you want to accept it or not.”

Vincent looked away for a moment. He hated it when his friends used the guilt-trip-method on him, although deep down he couldn’t deny that Cloud’s words touched his heart in a way that very few things could these days. And now that Cloud was giving him this pleading look with those big blue eyes of his and was standing there, arms crossed over his chest, Vincent couldn’t possibly say no.
“Fine, you win.” He sighed. “Let me just get some things."

Cloud mentally did a little victory-jig as he watched his friend pack a few belongings and soon they were ready to go. As he left the apartment with Vincent and waited for the gunman to lock the door, Cloud noticed that he had a message on his mobile phone. He pressed a few buttons and listened to it.

Turning to Vincent with a smirk, Cloud turned on the loudspeaker and replayed the message so that his friend could hear it.

“Hey, Cloud, it’s Cid. Guess you’re on your way to the meeting by now. Tell the others I’ll be a bit late. I couldn’t get stuff here organised the way I wanted. And Spiky, make sure you get our resident vampire here as well.”

A/N: Thanks for reading to the end of this. lol Nah, really, I've been writing fanfic for four years now, but I'm new to the Final Fantasy fandom and also still lacking a lot of canon information. So if there is anything that can't possibly be canon and is totally absurd, please tell me.

Fic Recommendations

Thu, 04 Jan 2007 21:08:27 GMT

Here are the links to some fics I can highly recommend reading.

Warning: Most of the recs will be slash (male/male relationship).

Cloud/Reno

The Day Reno Gave Up
by aphelion-orion (found on www.fanfiction.net)
Rating: PG-13
Pairing: Reno/Cloud
My comment: It's really funny. Not a serious fic, but quite cute and adorable.

Tale Of Two Turks: Part I, Part II, Part III
by _sexorcist_ (found on renocloud)
Rating: PG-13
Pairing: light Reno/Cloud
My comment: It starts out as a cute and funny Cloud/Reno, but evolves into the very well-told and interesting story on how and why Reno got those two red marks on his cheeks. It's funny, serious, exciting and very well written.

mako_reactor prompts: Cloud Strife and Vincent Valentine

Thu, 04 Jan 2007 21:02:07 GMT

Prompt table for mako_reactor, claim: Cloud Strife and Vincent Valentine

1. Starting out	2. Journey	3. Flowers	4. Church	5. Hot	6. Cold	7. Life	8. Death	9. Planet	10. Sacrifice
11. Black	12. White	13. Water	14. Ice	15. Fire	16. Electricity	17. Virus/Poison	18. Fever	19. Meteor	20. Holy
21. Materia	22. Chocobo	23. Shinra	24. Rocket	25. Midgar	26. Wutai	27. Cosmo Canyon	28. Gold Saucer	29. Costa del Sol	30. Hand
31. Back turned	32. A friend in need	33. Smile	34. Joke	35. Hole	36. Missing	37. Snow	38. Bright	39. Dark	40. All the way
41. Weapons	42. Fit	43. Nerves	44. Holding on	45. Never mind	46. Magical	47. Wishes	48. Gently	49. Stars	50. Airship
51. Limit	52. Never	53. On and on	54. Me and you	55. Logic	56. Ties	57. Random	58. Fighting	59. Selfish reasons	60. Rock
61. Hard headed	62. Bang	63. Quick	64. Fall	65. Help	66. Sweet	67. Insult to injury	68. Honesty	69. Loyalty	70. Lesson
71. Tingle	72. Conversation	73. Prayer	74. Effort	75. Party	76. Empty	77. Music	78. Big	79. Small	80. Crazy
81. Unsettling	82. Shiver	83. Whispers	84. Red	85. Mistake	86. Nearly there	87. Second	88. Kiss	89. Regrets	90. After
91. Yesterday	92. Unhealthy	93. Tiny	94. Puzzle	95. Escape	96. Sticky situation	97. Once more	98. Twice over	99. Peace	100. The end

First post

Thu, 04 Jan 2007 18:44:51 GMT

This is the first post. Duh!

Anyway, I am xchristabelx and this journal will contain all my Final Fantasy related stuff such as fanfics, iconage, squees, rants, vids (some time), just anything FF related.