A Change: Chapter 1- Landing

Chapter One- Landing


His mind was a fury of thoughts. The haunting whispers in the back of his mind taunting him, whispering dangerous words into his head.

They reminded him of his past.

His pain.

His loneliness.

Something pulled at his heart, trying dragging him into a pool of self-hatred, self-loathing. The voices snarled at the though of his happiness, sneer and ripping his mind apart.

Their voices had been growing louder over the past few weeks, one voice louder then the rest. Chaos; the demon of destruction and pain. He craved to be released. Craved the blood he knew would come should he get out.

Vincent Valentine shook his head, his dark hair shifting across his face, hiding pale skin. The more he thought about it, the more Chaos taunted him.

So much for the protomateria.

Crimson eyes shifted their glaze across the sky as the Highwind sailed through the clouds, currently heading to Cosmo Canyon. A call from Nanaki had informed him that a new breed of monsters had been spotted in one of the many caves near the edges of the cliffs. The small village had been in an uproar about the whole situation.

Therefore, at the request of both Nanaki and Bugenhagen, the lion’s grandfather, Cloud, Yuffie, Cid and himself were flying from Midgar to investigate the strange sightings.

Vincent shifted his position against the wall, crossing his left leg over his right, arms crossing across his chest. His head tipped down, a look of thought crossing over his features. Nanaki had said the sightings had described the creatures as having dark blue fur, silver eyes and long saber like teeth as their sizes varied from Nanaki’s to 3x the size.

To him they sounded like over sized dogs with issues.

The sound of light and uneasy steps brought him out of his thoughts, and he raised his eyes from the floor to the search the owner of the sounds. Crimson eyes landed on the form of Yuffie, who looked as if she was going to fall over. The girls face was a pale green and she was stumbling around like a drunk, catching the wall when it was near.

Vincent raised a dark brow.

Yuffie tenderly made her way over to the dark haired man, grabbing his arm when she tripped to stop herself from hitting the floor.

”Urg…I hate flying.” She mumbled.

”It is necessary, I assure you.” Vincent replied. The Wutai girl crouched down next to him, putting her head between her knees and took several deep breathes before sitting against the wall with her arms over her knees.

”I don’t care; the fur ball owes me materia for this-” A frown crossed her face as the ship made a small lurch. Her stomach continued to flip as she started talking again. “Why is it every time I’m on this flying hunk of metal, there’s always some sort of turbulence? Like come on! Give a girl a break!”

”If you hate flying so much, why did you come?” he asked, looking down at the small girl, dark brow raised.

Jumping to her feet, Yuffie gestured to herself. ”Pft, like me, the great Yuffie Kisaragi, would turn down a chance at finding and steeling materia!”

”Is materia the only thing you think about?”

The girl paused a minute then giggled. “Pretty much!”

Vincent rolled his eyes, pushing away from the wall and heading toward the cockpit. Yuffie was quick to follow, walking beside him while managing to keep up with the long legged man.

”So Vinny, you seem to be in a chatty mood today, any reason why?”

”For one, do not call me ‘Vinny’ and I have no need to explain myself.” Mentally sighing, Vincent hoped that the girl would leave him be soon. The girl could be more annoying then Reeves robotic cat, Cait Sith. All she talked about was the different types materia and fighting styles there were, but mostly materia. She was a nice girl under the annoying layers, but damn, she drove him crazy sometimes. His head was starting to hurt from both the voices and her rambling. Speaking of rambling…

”Yuffie” he called.

”-and you never seem to wanna get any sun either-“

”Yuffie…” again.

”-always wearing dark clothes, you would think you where a vampire. Are you? Do you have a reflection and can you-“

A bit louder now. ”Yuffie!”

Brown eyes turned to his, a cheery grin set on her face. ”Yes?”

”Barret left a box of materia in the cargo bay last week. Go steel it.”

In addition, with a cheer and thanks, the girl was off. Forgetting her airsickness and her pervious sentence while she was at it. With a sigh, Vincent relaxed some, continuing towards the cockpit. Now his head felt like tiny hammers were trying chiseling out bits of his skull. Not the most pleasant feeling.

That and the nagging housewife like voice that entered his mind with every thought.

’You can’t avoid me forever Valentine…’ hissed a dark voice.

So much for relaxing…and as for the hammers, they soon turned into malts. Damn.

’No, but I can try.’ He hissed back.

’Try as you may, I will only get strong and will some day soon take over…’ Chaos sneered, an image Vincent mentally received in his minds eye. Glowing yellow eyes narrowed and fang peaked out from pale lips.

”I highly doubt that…” the whisper fell from his lips, almost to faint for himself to hear.

Vincent rounded a corner and came face to face with bright blue eyes. Shocked, Vincent took a step back, looking at the person he had nearly ran over. Spiky blond hair, light tanned skin, giant sword strapped to his back.

Cloud.

”Oh, Vincent. I didn’t see you there.” The blond shifted back so that he wasn’t so up close and personal with the darker man.

”That makes two of us. Apologies.” Vincent step past the ex-SOILDIER, hoping to continue on his way, but lady luck was not on his side today… and again. Damn.

”Say Vincent, have you had time to think about those creatures?” Cloud stepped up beside the taller man; intending to follow him back the way he had just came. Vincent continued to walk, thoughts tumbling through his head.

”Yes. I have. Nanaki said that they appeared to be larger then himself, and he has a hunch mako is involved.” A frown worked his lips.

”Hmm…could be, but as far as I know, there’s no mako pools within 10 miles of the canyon. Could they be from somewhere else?”

”It is a possibility.”

The two of them rounded the last turn, coming to the door the lead to the cockpit. The door slid open as they stepped in, immediately hearing the rough voice of the captain, yelling at some poor member of the crew.

”Get y’er goddamn ass in gear! Were fuckin 10 minutes from Cosmo Canyon not 30 you dumb ass!”

”Y-yes Sir!”

”Get the fuck outta here and go do somethin’ somewhere else! Go!”

”Yes Sir!”

The two watched as a tiny brown-haired man ran past them, red faced and embarrassed.

Vincent’s glaze shifted to the pilot.

Smoke wavered from the blond’s mouth as he viciously inhaled large amounts of his cigarette. His gloved hand rested on his hips, a boot tapping against the floor as blue eyes narrowed at the remaining crew that dared to stare at him.

”The fuck are ya’ll lookin’ at?! Get back to fuckin’ work!”

The crew scrambled, all going back to their posts. Some were even shaking.

With a frustrated sigh, Cid turned to go back to the wheel, only to realize that he had watchers. Cloud was the first to open his mouth and comment.

”Nice house-wife impersonation Cid. Get that a lot from the wife?”

A devious smirk worked his lips as Cid’s face burned red.

”Fuck you Spikes! Shera ain’t my goddamn wife you dumb ass!” Cid’s fists clinched at his sides, leather squeaking from the pressure. The cigarette that he had been smoking was now down to the filter from his aggressive puffs at the thing. Damn that kid he though.

”So, what the hell ya want that ya came up here for. Better not have fucked somethin up! Or I’ll ring your fuckin neck!”

Vincent simply raised his brow, which the gesture was unfortunately caught by Cid.

”What?! You find something fuckin’ amusing Vince? What am I, some personal fuckin’ clown for you all?!”

”Cid.” Vincent clipped.

”What?!”

”Fly the plane... we are dropping.”

Cid made the move to comment back, but when the ship dropped down more, he stormed up to the wheel after having pushed the scared crewman away. The airship soon evened out and Cid found himself reaching for another stick, but his hand brushed against his hair, the pack missing.

“Dammit! Where the fuck is it?!”

Cloud rolled his eyes. Vincent just stood there, looking bored.

”Captian! We’re right over Cosmo!” shouted a random crew member.

”So much for a damn smoke. Fine!” Flipping a few switches, Cid slowly took them down. The air ship hovered over the edge of the canyon, dust stirring and floating over the machine. Slowly, the ship touched down.

The door to the cockpit opened as Yuffie came running threw, a grin etched across her face. Also carrying an arm full of assorted material.

”Finally! Land!” With a ‘yippy’, she was off running towards the cargo bay.

Cid groaned. “Why the fuck did she have’ta come?”

Cloud turned to leave. “She wanted to. Plus, there may be a chance where she might be some use.”

Cid was right behind him, with Vincent walking last.

“That’s ain’t a reason for the brat to still come!”

”Mr. Valentine!”

Vincent paused as the two blonds exited the door, their arguing being heard down the hallway.

Vincent turned his head back.

”Yes?”