Lean On Me (FF7)

37

THIS CHAPTER MIGHT BE A LITTLE CREEPY.... I'VE BEEN WANTING TO DO IT FOR A WHILE THOUGH.

~Vincent's POV~

It's still dark outside when I wake up. I blink blankly at the ceiling, wide awake suddenly, but I don't know why. Tifa remains asleep a couple inches away from me, curled up into a little ball with the slightest of smiles on her lips. I almost smile done at her, but then I hear a clang. Not loud, but very soft, as if something just barely brushed it. I can feel my heart hammering in my chest rapidly as I gently set my feet onto the ground and reach over to the bedside table for my loaded weapon. We can't even sleep at night without our weapons by our sides. Then I peek around our divider hesitantly. This feels like a horror movie, where the main character hears a noise and their stupid enough to go check it out. I hate that! Oh wait...

Stepping outside the room barefoot, I pad across the metal floors and down the halls slowly, pointing my gun in all directions and trying to see through the pitch black darkness. I feel like I'm watching my self from a distance thinking "What's he gonna do next?" in anticipation, my heart fluttering with the fear that tries to count down the seconds until something jumps out of nowhere and kills me. Part of me tells me to turn, run, and lock the bunk room door tight. The other part urges me to keep going, press forward, protect the others, protect Tifa. So slowly I press on, fear clogging my throat and making it hard to breath at a normal pace. Is this what full blown fear feels like? Why am I so afraid? Oh wait... Cid had to insist we watch that horror movie last night, which happened to take place on an airship. Thanks, Gramps.

Suddenly, I here a loud clang and someone swearing loudly. I freeze, my breath caught in my esophagus. It sounds like the person stumbles and then scrambles to their feet. Forcing myself to move, I hold my gun out in front of me and continue towards the sound. A shape, darkened against the blackness, whips it's head around and I guess sees me. I freeze again. Why is there a stranger on the ship? I watch the figure in fear as it limps towards the wall, dragging something behind it that scrapes along the floor. Then the lights flick on and I wince, still pointing my weapon.

"Cloud?" I say the same time he says "Vince?"

"What are you doing up?" I drop my hand and run my hands through my hair, trying not to laugh at my nervousness.

"I heard something," he laughs. "But IG guess it was just you." My face falls.

"I thought I heard something too," I frown, glancing at his fusion swords. Why was he limping?

"But who was it then...?" he looks at me, eyes wide. Something is off about him, but I can't place my finger on it.

"I don't know," I shake my head. "Let's go find out."

"Maybe it's Yuffie getting a midnight snack?"

"Wouldn't you know then?" I raise an eyebrow.

"Why would I know?"

"Because you sleep in the same bed?" I shoot him a confused look. He doesn't answer for a short but barely noticeable moment.

"So?"

"So you're a light sleeper and that bed creaking would've woken you up." I say, getting bolder by the minute. There's something way, way off.

"How would you know?" he glares at me.

"Because I'm your friend," I point my gun out at him. "Rather, I'm friends with Cloud."

"How very clever," Cloud's image flickers like TV static. Then he's Kadaj, smirking at me. "Just not clever enough," he knocks the weapon out of my hand and twists my arm behind my back. I cringe and he kicks the backs of my knees, forcing me down. I try to fight away, but since Kadaj represents the strength and spirit of Sephiroth, he is much stronger than me and manages to tie both my hands up behind my back. I struggle to pull them free, but the rough ropes dig into my wrists.