(no subject)
Jan. 1st, 2012 04:01 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
rapacityinblueTitle: Hero
Fandom: Final Fantasy VII, Advent Children
Spoilers: Oblique references to the entire plot of AC.
Rating: G.
Summary: What happened between Cloud and Vincent's meeting in the woods and the next morning by the memorial? Sometimes the hero isn't the first one into battle.
Word Count: 602
Notes: Written for 30anthems @ lj (now defunct). Prompt 25: "Hero". 3/30
A voicemail. Nearly two years without communication, and then a voicemail. “Meet at Tifa's 7th Heaven.” Over the phone, Cloud sounded young – so much so that it took Reeve several replays before he realized who it was. “11 PM. Don't be late.”
Reeve gave a wry snort into his whiskey glass, watching the amber liquid roll in response. The bottle in his hand was nearly empty, and it had been half-full when Johnny had left it there at closing, recognizing that the leader of the WRO wasn't going to be leaving any time soon. “Just make sure it's locked when you go,” the bartender had said as he flicked off the lights, leaving Reeve in the sickly pink spill from the “Johnny's Heaven” sign.
“I'm not used to having to hunt you down,” came the voice from behind him. Reeve closed his eyes against it, wondering if the savior of the world had always been so young. “Come to think of it, any of you. You're always underfoot when I'm trying to get something done, even Vincent.”
“I thought it was a mistake,” Reeve said, taking another sip from his glass. He didn't need Cloud to tell him something was wrong. Children growing sick and disappearing, and lights moving along roads no one remembered.
“A mistake?” Reeve could hear the blonde's voice rising in anger and disbelief. “I called for your help!”
But Reeve hadn't realized the full truth until Vincent had come to him earlier in the night and told what he'd seen in the forest. That had been just hours after the WRO had mobilized, the people of Edge furious at the loss of their youth.
“I didn't say I thought you made a mistake,” Reeve said finally. When had restoration become a synonym for battle? “I thought it was a mistake for me to come.” He fought against the impulse to cry, kick, scream – it wasn't supposed to be like this! “Does AVALANCHE really need the assistance of the 'Greatest Traitor'?” That one had been on the front page that morning, an editorial demanding a response to the missing children.
Reeve felt the stool turn beneath him before he even realized Cloud had moved, and he found himself leaning back to regain his personal space. Strong arms, braced against the bar, denied any hope of escape. “Weren't you one of the companions who fought against Sephiroth two years ago?” Cloud demanded, leaning forward. Reeve leaned further back, but Cloud pressed on. “Didn't you tell me you wanted to make yourself proud of your life?”
After a moment without response, the blond moved back. “I have to take Marlene somewhere safe. The others are at the bar.”
He turned then and left the half-trench he wore flowing out behind him. Reeve looked up, watching his advance on the door. “Cloud.” The man stopped. “Why are you doing this?”
The other man's gaze moved to the window and through it, and he did not turn. “I told Vincent I wanted to find my atonement.” Suddenly, Reeve realized he was being watched by reflection in the window's darkened glass. “I thought you might want to find yours.”
Reeve shivered, but raised his eyes to meet the distorted mako glaze. The cold was gone from Cloud's face when he said, “You have two hours. It's your choice.” And then he was gone, out the door.
Reeve sighed, sitting heavily, and reached once more for his glass. But his hand stopped, and on impulse he stood again; moved behind the bar to see if its proprietor kept any coffee there.
Fandom: Final Fantasy VII, Advent Children
Spoilers: Oblique references to the entire plot of AC.
Rating: G.
Summary: What happened between Cloud and Vincent's meeting in the woods and the next morning by the memorial? Sometimes the hero isn't the first one into battle.
Word Count: 602
Notes: Written for 30anthems @ lj (now defunct). Prompt 25: "Hero". 3/30
A voicemail. Nearly two years without communication, and then a voicemail. “Meet at Tifa's 7th Heaven.” Over the phone, Cloud sounded young – so much so that it took Reeve several replays before he realized who it was. “11 PM. Don't be late.”
Reeve gave a wry snort into his whiskey glass, watching the amber liquid roll in response. The bottle in his hand was nearly empty, and it had been half-full when Johnny had left it there at closing, recognizing that the leader of the WRO wasn't going to be leaving any time soon. “Just make sure it's locked when you go,” the bartender had said as he flicked off the lights, leaving Reeve in the sickly pink spill from the “Johnny's Heaven” sign.
“I'm not used to having to hunt you down,” came the voice from behind him. Reeve closed his eyes against it, wondering if the savior of the world had always been so young. “Come to think of it, any of you. You're always underfoot when I'm trying to get something done, even Vincent.”
“I thought it was a mistake,” Reeve said, taking another sip from his glass. He didn't need Cloud to tell him something was wrong. Children growing sick and disappearing, and lights moving along roads no one remembered.
“A mistake?” Reeve could hear the blonde's voice rising in anger and disbelief. “I called for your help!”
But Reeve hadn't realized the full truth until Vincent had come to him earlier in the night and told what he'd seen in the forest. That had been just hours after the WRO had mobilized, the people of Edge furious at the loss of their youth.
“I didn't say I thought you made a mistake,” Reeve said finally. When had restoration become a synonym for battle? “I thought it was a mistake for me to come.” He fought against the impulse to cry, kick, scream – it wasn't supposed to be like this! “Does AVALANCHE really need the assistance of the 'Greatest Traitor'?” That one had been on the front page that morning, an editorial demanding a response to the missing children.
Reeve felt the stool turn beneath him before he even realized Cloud had moved, and he found himself leaning back to regain his personal space. Strong arms, braced against the bar, denied any hope of escape. “Weren't you one of the companions who fought against Sephiroth two years ago?” Cloud demanded, leaning forward. Reeve leaned further back, but Cloud pressed on. “Didn't you tell me you wanted to make yourself proud of your life?”
After a moment without response, the blond moved back. “I have to take Marlene somewhere safe. The others are at the bar.”
He turned then and left the half-trench he wore flowing out behind him. Reeve looked up, watching his advance on the door. “Cloud.” The man stopped. “Why are you doing this?”
The other man's gaze moved to the window and through it, and he did not turn. “I told Vincent I wanted to find my atonement.” Suddenly, Reeve realized he was being watched by reflection in the window's darkened glass. “I thought you might want to find yours.”
Reeve shivered, but raised his eyes to meet the distorted mako glaze. The cold was gone from Cloud's face when he said, “You have two hours. It's your choice.” And then he was gone, out the door.
Reeve sighed, sitting heavily, and reached once more for his glass. But his hand stopped, and on impulse he stood again; moved behind the bar to see if its proprietor kept any coffee there.