Wow...my first story. But not actually. Weird...yeah, well, this story is actually by Anna, the most awesomest story writer in the world (and yes, awesomest is a word. Don't try to deny it.) Eventually - hopefully soon - I will have a fanfic of my own up, but no guarantees. And yes, there may be more stories by Anna, but I'll tell you if they are. By her, I mean. Maybe. I'm just gonna stop and let you read...cheers...

Disclaimer: I do not own Cloud, as much as I wish I did. Or Vincent. Please excuse me while I go cry...

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Cloud was an artist. He supposed maybe it was that his interest that made him meet Leon. He was sitting on the cliff that overlooked the abandoned church and the desolated town that he and his family had once lived in. But a while ago, some disease had spread through it and everyone had died except for him.

The disease though, was never identified. Cloud had been quarantined for a full year after he was dragged away from the dying bodies of his parents. That was when he was ten years old. Now, seven years later, he was living in the orphanage of the newly built town, right above the chasm that his old town laid in.

"Um…I was told no one was supposed to come here…so what are you doing?" questioned a voice.

Cloud turned, the wind blowing blond hair into cobalt eyes. There in front of him, stood a teenager. He had chocolate brown hair and sun kissed skin. He wore tight leather pants with various belts scattered around his hips and a white t-shirt clung to his chest. A single scar crossed the bridge of his nose but it was the only mar Cloud could find.

"It is off limits," Cloud replied softly, turning back to stare down at the town.

His hand moved in smooth firm strokes as he drew, his pencil shading in the shadows the church cast on the rest of the town.

"Then why are you here?" the teen asked.

"Is it really any of your business?" Cloud replied, not looking at him.

"It's just…never mind. But…no one did tell me why it's off limits. I'm new here and…"

"It's off limits because the entire town was wiped out by a disease. Even after seven years, people are still afraid that the disease is still there," Cloud answered. "But I don't have to worry about catching the disease. I'm prone to it, it seems."

"What do you mean?" the teen wondered.

Cloud stood up and once again, did not look at him. "I ask again, is it your business?"

With that, he strode past the teen, folding his sketch pad as he did so.

"My name is Leon," the teen called after him. "Yours?"

"Cloud," Cloud replied before stalking away towards the city.

XXX

"Cloud! You're home!" shouted a voice as Cloud opened the rusty door into the orphanage.

He was instantly tackled by a little girl who clung to his waist tightly. She was dressed in a small pink dress and a small ribbon was tied in her hair to match.

"Hey Marlene. Where is everyone else?" he asked, staring around in surprise at the empty orphanage.

"Remember? There's the festival today. Aerith had me stay me stay behind and remind you because you always forget," Marlene told him grinning.

Cloud let a small smile reach his lips as Marlene grabbed his hand.

"Let's go!"

Cloud nodded. "Alright."

XXX

"Hey Cloud!" called Aerith as she weaved through the crowds.

The festival was celebrating the day the city was first opened and for everyone else it was a happy day. For Cloud, it wasn't. For Cloud, this day was like the day his new life began and he cast his past aside.

"Hi Aerith," he greeted as he walked over to her.

"So, where were you?" she asked as she smoothed out her pink dress.

"I was drawing," he replied, shuffling his feet and looking down. "At the canyon again."

Aerith's expression dropped. "Cloud, you know you can't be by there."

"Aerith…I'm prone to that disease and there's no way it is still existing there anyways and besides, it's a mile drop down to the canyon. I…" Cloud looked away. "I wanted to be there today."

Aerith sighed and nodded. Then she looked at him with her soft, emerald, understanding eyes. "It's okay. I understand. Have you met Leon yet?" she wondered.

Cloud glanced up. "Yeah. He saw me drawing. Why?"

Aerith took a deep breath. "He's going to be staying at the orphanage from now on. His parents died in a car accident in a town near here and they have no place for him to stay so they sent him here."
Cloud nodded. "Right. But um…Aerith. I think I'm going to head back. I just…want to be alone."

Aerith nodded again. "I understand. Go ahead. I'll be back when the kids are done, alright Cloud?"

"Yeah. I'll be up."

With that, he shoved his hands in his pockets and head away from the crowd and towards the orphanage on the other side of town. In the deserted desert that they lived in, there were only three main roads and everyone knew everyone else. He arrived at the orphanage in less than five minutes.

Upon reaching the door he gazed out at the desert, towards the canyon, his home. He wanted badly to run to the cliff side and scale down its rough walls and into the town below. He missed it so much. He stared at where his hand rested on the door knob and then suddenly took off, sprinting for the canyon.

He ran, fast and hard, bare feet skimming over the desert ground as the stars above him lit his way. Upon reaching the edge of the canyon he slid to a halt, a few stray pebbles skittering down the edge. He stared down into the moonlit chasm before falling to his knees.

"I miss you so much Mom…Dad," he whispered quietly. "In seven years, the ache hasn't lessened."

Behind him, the first round of fireworks exploded, startling him so that he whirled around. This off balanced him and he fell back, barely managing to grab the edge of the canyon wall before he fell. He sucked in a deep breath and quickly swung his other arm up to grasp at the edge before hauling himself up.

"That was a close one there, huh?" wondered a voice.

Panting, Cloud glanced up into the brown eyes of Leon. "What are you doing here?" he asked.

"Aerith told me that you had gone home. She said she didn't believe you and gave me permission to come check here," Leon answered before extending a hand down to help him up.

Cloud stared at the hand for several long seconds before grabbing it. Leon helped him up and Cloud glanced away.

"What are you doing here?" he asked.

"Is it any of your business?" Cloud shot back.

"Is that all you know how to say?" Leon retorted.

Cloud sighed and looked up at him. "Look Leon. I don't like you and I don't want to talk to you. I hate it when people ask questions about me because it annoys me. I recommend you don't get on my bad side."

Leon stared at him. "Or what?"

Cloud sighed again. "When I was little, my parents drilled me hard in hand to hand combat. I will hurt you if you get on my nerves too much. Even ask Aerith. To be completely honest, I actually crippled one of the kids in the orphanage. On accident. I didn't mean for the hit to be that hard. But when I'm mad, I snap. It's something I don't control. So just keep your distance."

Leon didn't reply at first. Then, "I'm not afraid of you Cloud. You should learn to open up more."

"So many people have told me that and I don't listen at all. Who says I'm gonna listen now," Cloud told him.

"Maybe I can do something to change your mind," Leon mused.

Cloud snorted. "Whatever. I'm out of here."

With that Cloud stalked away from him.

"Where are you going?" Leon asked.

"None of your business," Cloud called over his shoulder. "Just tell Aerith I'm at the church."

"But the church is that way," Leon protested.

"Not that church," Cloud said.

Leon ran after him and grabbed his shoulder. "You're going down there?"

Cloud turned to look at him. "Yeah why?"

"I thought you said there was a disease down there," Leon said.

"I also said I'm prone to it so let go and I'll be on my way," Cloud muttered.

"Take me with you," Leon suddenly said.

"Why?" Cloud demanded.

"I want to see what's down there."

"I ask again, why?"

"Well it's obvious that whatever is down there is somehow connected to your past and I want to know what it is," Leon replied.

"Go back to Aerith and tell her where I've gone. Otherwise she'll worry," Cloud ordered sternly.

Leon stared at him for a long moment before releasing him and walking away. Cloud sighed and then waited until he was out of sight before swinging over the edge of the canyon and quickly finding foot holds for his bare feet. He knew it was dangerous to attempt this barefoot seeing as how scorpions roamed around at night but at the moment he didn't really care.

So he continued down, one careful foot at a time and each hand grasping the rock tightly. Above him, colorful fireworks burst into the sky but not once did he look at their color or their beauty as he was too intent on what he was doing. Upon reaching the bottom he took a deep breath and stared at then entrance of his old home.

Then, he took his first step in. If he had expected some sort of change it didn't come but he didn't really care, he hadn't been expecting one at all. The town was eerily quiet but he had expected that. He headed straight for the church, not even stopping to look at his own house. When he had been little, he had often gone to the church to clear his head, especially when everyone started getting sick.

Now, he knew that all of the confusion that still seemed to swamp his mind, would be cleared when he reached the church. He didn't know why he was confused but lately, everything seemed to be moving in slow motion, as if he was the only one who wasn't happy with the repetition of everyday. And he had no idea why.

When he reached the entrance of the church he stared at the huge oak doors, unsure of what he truly wanted to do now that he had reached it. He knew for certain Aerith would be furious with him when he got back but at the moment he didn't truly care. Aerith was only twenty three, six years older than him, and couldn't really provide a mother figure for him and in his mind; she didn't really have the right to control him. Cloud knew that once he was eighteen and was considered an adult he would come back here for good, no matter what anyone else said.

Finally, he reached forward and pushed open the huge doors open. Inside, everything was covered in a layer of dust and he could smell the must that had seemed to gather there. Moonlight flittered in from the broken ceiling above him and he sat down in the aisle, staring up at it.

"And you are?" a voice questioned.

Cloud scrambled to his feet, whirling to look up at the pedestal. Atop it sat a man dressed completely in black with a deep red cloak that swirled around him. The man sat with his left arm resting on top his left knee, gazing at Cloud with a steady crimson gaze.

"Who are you?" Cloud whispered, staring into the garnet eyes of the mysterious man.

"I believe I asked you first but I suppose it doesn't matter since I already know who you are," the raven haired man spoke in a deep baritone voice.

Cloud's azure eyes narrowed. "How?"

The man stepped down from the pedestal and slowly walked towards him, crimson eyes nearly obscured by midnight hair. Cloud stared at the metal hand as it slowly clenched and unclenched.

"You're the lone survivor of the disease that wiped out an entire village. The village I have taken residence in recently."

"So who are you?" Cloud demanded.

"I'm Hell's Dark Arvenger. My name is Vincent."

Cloud stared at him. Hell's Dark Arvenger was supposed to be a myth. The Dark Arvenger was a human most of the time but it would lose control often to the beast inside its mind unless he had some sort of human contact daily.

"The Dark Arvenger is a myth," Cloud muttered, taking a step back.

"If the Dark Arvenger is a myth, does that make my existence merely a myth as well," Vincent asked quietly, continuing to near closer and closer.

Cloud was unsure of what to say or do as Vincent came to stand a mere inch from Cloud. Cloud's breath became erratic as he examined the devil in human form before him. Marble skin that Cloud knew would be cold to the touch; matching blood red eyes; raven hair that would be soft as feathers.

"Myths can't have existences," Cloud said, sounding more like he was trying to convince himself then Vincent.

"Then tell me, how am I here?" Vincent asked quietly.

"Um…" Cloud started.

Something close to a smirk crossed Vincent's face.

"You're so intelligent with your words," Vincent said, a trickle of amusement seeping into his voice.

"I…"

Cloud had no idea what to say; the words just wouldn't come up.

"I hope you realize I won't let you leave here," Vincent continued.

"What?" Cloud asked, his mouth going dry as fear settled in his stomach.

"You think I enjoy turning into one of the beasts every time I lose human contact?" Vincent suddenly growled, anger sparking in his eyes. "Do you think I want to be the Dark Arvenger?"

Cloud was stunned. He had heard in the myths that the Dark Arvenger was emotionless. But the raw need and anger that he felt radiating off Vincent now was anything but emotionless.

Before he could respond though, Vincent had a steely grip on his arm. Then he was roughly jerked forward, cool lips moving softly over his. He was once again, stunned. Despite the fiery anger and roughness he had felt moments before, Vincent's lips were surprisingly soft. Wait. I'm not gay, Cloud thought as Vincent pulled away, a small pink tongue darting out to wet his lips. The anger was no longer in his eyes and the predatory feel in the air was suddenly gone. The red eyes were once again crimson voids, all traces of emotion gone.

"Did you just-" Cloud started.

"That was the contact I need. I can't be picky on the gender of who I get it from."

Vincent's tone had changed. Before, it had a sort of superiority to it. Now, it was dead, no life in it at all.

"I'm not…gay," Cloud said dumbly.

"And I believe in the tooth fairy," Vincent said dryly.

Cloud looked away, heart pounding. Yes, he had enjoyed the kiss. No, he wasn't going to admit it. How could he admit liking a kiss from the Dark Arvenger?

"You reacted to it. You know that you did," Vincent told him.

Cloud blushed. "I-"

"Will you come back here?" Vincent suddenly asked.

Cloud looked up surprised. "What?"

"I need human contact or I'll go insane," Vincent told him seriously.

"I…I'll come," he said quietly, shocked at what he was agreeing to.

Relief suddenly danced over Vincent's face and Cloud couldn't help but feel bad for him.

"I guess…I'll be going," Cloud muttered, turning to leave.

He was stopped by Vincent suddenly curling his metal hand around Cloud's wrist. Cloud turned and once again had soft lips moving over his own. This time though, he reacted without hesitation, gently kissing him back. So maybe I am gay, he thought.

Vincent pulled away. "See? You are gay."