*
"Tifa, you seen Vincent or Natalie?"
Tifa looked up from where she curled up on the couch reading a book. She sent Cloud a smile. "Hey, you. How was the walk with Cid to the power plant?"
Cloud sat beside her, pulling her legs up onto his lap. "Good, considering. Everything's looking great. It's working fine. No hiccups. No bugs. Nothing wrong that we can see. He scoped out a couple more places where he can build them, and he figures we can power at least one more town just from here. We only need to figure the best way to get the power from point A to point B. I'm voting for underground cable."
"That's great. Now, what's this about Vincent and Natalie?"
"When I woke up this morning he was gone. And Yuffie said Natalie never went to bed last night."
"Do you think they're in the mansion? You know yesterday was the day."
"I was on my way over when I figured I'd stop and say 'hi'." Cloud placed a kiss on her lips. "Hi."
Tifa wrapped her arms around his neck. "Hi, yourself."
He stood, bringing Tifa up within his arms. "Wanna come with?"
"To the mansion?" She shrugged, adjusting her hold around his neck. "Sure. Why not? It's not like I have anywhere else to go."
Cloud made his way to the door, waited while she opened it for him, and then stepped through. "I hope they aren't in a situation like before."
"Yeah. Catching them twice would be a little too embarrassing." Tifa rested her head against him. "It was sweet, though. Vincent kissing someone like Natalie. A Turk with a professional geek."
"Go figure."
They reached the entrance of the Mansion. "So, what exactly did you want with Vincent and Natalie?"
He smirked. "I was wanting to know how the computer was running."
"Liar. You wanted to check up on those two. You aren't their chaperone, you know."
"I know."
"So what's the real reason?"
"I was curious. I wanted to see what she was planning on doing. Look over her shoulder, I guess. Maybe give her a hand."
"Don't you think she'd ask if she needed help?"
"Are you kidding? She wouldn't think of that. She's used to working by herself." He winked at her. "Just like me."
"Oh. You recognized the 'loner' attitude, eh?"
When they reached the mansion gate, he set her on her feet. "Something like that. It's a gift."
"Vincent sure makes it go away, huh?"
"You noticed?"
Tifa smirked, nudging him toward the room with the spiral staircase. "Smart aleck."
"Hey. No name calling. I'll have to retaliate."
Tifa chuckled. "Oh? Now that I would like to see."
Cloud grabbed her waist and nibbled on her ear. "Hey, just say the word."
She pulled free. "Behave yourself, Mr. Strife, or there will be no dinner for you."
Cloud bowed, twice. "Yes, ma'am."
Laughing, Tifa grabbed his hand. "Oh come on, silly. Let's go down and see if they're here."
The two didn't hear voices or any telltale sign of activity as they made their way down the spiral staircase and through the hall to the basement laboratory beyond. Once they reached the door to the lab, they were reasonably certain there wouldn't be any surprises behind the door. Not to mention the fact it was already slightly ajar. So, Cloud and Tifa both gave a shrug and pushed it open.
Inside, Vincent and Natalie were both sound asleep on a makeshift examination bed positioned on the far side of the lab.
Tifa tightened her grip on Cloud's hand, resting her head on his arm. "Is that the sweetest thing you've seen in ages, or what?"
"Damned if I thought it would happen." He smirked. "It couldn't have happened to nicer people, though."
"It's like they've been together forever."
Cloud nodded. Then he gestured over to the desk with its varying assortment of opened books, scribbled notes, and microscope slides. "Take a look. She's been busy."
"How much of that is new and how much is from her whole life researching him?"
"Probably six of one and half a dozen of the other."
"Do you . . . do you think she'll cure him?"
"Hell ya. That woman is a lot like you. She can do anything once she sets her mind to it."
"Thanks."
He pressed his lips against her hair. "No problem. Now, come on. I feel like we're eavesdropping. Let's go have some dinner. They'll wake up soon enough to let us know how things are going."
Tifa nodded peeking at the sleeping couple one last time before following Cloud from the room. She closed the door quietly behind her.
XIV
PASSIONS
Natalie yawned and stretched, feeling much the cat that swallowed the canary. Time after time she woke to the warmth of his arm around her. To the steady beat of his heart in her ear. To the softness of his breath against her hair. Had anything been so wonderful? Not that she could remember. She tightened her arms around him.
"Good morning," he greeted.
Natalie cast a glance to the clock on the far wall. "It certainly is." The temptation to snuggle closer was tremendous, but she resisted. Instead, she sat up and put a hand up to salvage her ponytail of tousled curls. "Did you want anything specific for breakfast? I could put in a request for eggs and toast at the inn."
Vincent's eyes glowed for a moment before a guard seemed to click into place. "No."
She smiled down at him for a long moment before shifting and sliding off the bed. Her back protested, and every muscle yearned for a hot bath. She stretched and twisted, persuading her body to wake and cooperate before facing him. He watched her with an odd expression. Natalie blushed. "To be honest, I would rather skip coffee and breakfast and dive my nose into my notes. Something about creating a cure is quite compelling."
A smile teased the corner of his lips. "Yes."
She stepped forward, leaning her hands against the bed as she held his gaze. "Unfortunately, you will need to be patient a bit longer, Mr. Valentine. I need to find schematics of the machine within your claw before I can safely proceed one way or the other."
Vincent reached forward suddenly and caressed her cheek. Natalie blinked, her heart thudding in her chest when the guard fell away from his eyes. Had she ever seen such a compelling warmth? Such a clear spark of--
"Natalie, last night while you slept a realization was made. Many, in fact."
"About what?" Though a part of her almost felt fear at the asking.
"About who I am. Who I want to be. What I want." Vincent smiled, and the genuine expression grabbed her heart and drew it to him as no other man ever attempted. "I want you to try this cure, yes, but I won't force you to continue if it means my death. "
Natalie blinked at him, tears burning as her mouth worked to vocalize her terror to believe what he said. Did he . . . ? But how could she give words to her hope? It might wake her from her dream.
His hand brushed a curl from her face, those amber eyes tracing the line of her jaw to linger on her lips. "The life with you is more than enough to sate my dreams of freedom--No. No, not 'more than enough.' That life will be well beyond any hope I held. Hojo be damned."
"Vincent," she choked, falling into those strong arms as relief set loose her tears. She buried her face into the silky lengths of his black hair.
He breathed deep of her hair, his arms tightening about her. Then he enfolded her upper arms in a gently firm grip and gave a slight push. Natalie's hold around him resisted, her heart pounding. "Natalie . . ." he pleaded, gruffly.
She squeezed her eyes tight and forced her arms to loosen their hold. "Vincent . . . ." She could feel the burn of those amber eyes well before she met his gaze. They burned with passion and desire, glowing as the red of a raging fire. "Vincent, why not?"
"Because of how you feel."
She pulled him into another embrace, tightening her arms around him until it became a struggle to breathe. "Is it so wrong, us being together?"
He did n
ot answer for such a long moment . . . . "Natalie, that is not what I mean for you to think."
"Then why?" She wiped her tear-stained cheeks against the silk of his black shirt. "Why not?"
"I refuse to erase your innocence while still trapped within this nightmare. Not when there is still the possibility of being made whole. Natalie, please." He held her out at arm's length to meet her tear-filled gaze. "Please understand."
Natalie struggled against his grip. "I don't care about monster or human or whatever you think might make a bit of difference. I love you, Vincent, and I want to be with you. All of me! Do you really believe I'm going to be able to think straight when all I imagine--"
"Don't!" His eyes flashed red and black as he pushed away, the examination bed serving a boundary between them. "I understand, Natalie, and have grappled with that desire myself. What a triumph to share my twisted self with a woman who loves my darkness and light? But you . . . you deserve so much more than what this creature before you can offer, and this is why I must go."
Natalie paled, her hands fisting at her sides. "What do you mean 'go'? Go where?"
"Cid and Cloud plan to build another generator in Rocket Town."
"So?"
"I want to help."
"No." Natalie shook her head violently, reaching toward him. He stepped back. "I need you here, Vincent. I want you here!"
"I know," he said, a flash of pain shifting the amber to black. "I want to be here with you, but you must study and focus. You cannot do so when I am here."
"Why not?" And Natalie could not persuade that selfish side of her into silence. She understood--too well--the good sense behind what he said. Even now, the longer she could feel his warmth and smell his heady aroma, all thought of formulas and theories scattered.
"Your passion is stealing your focus. If I keep my distance for a day or two, you will be better able to think and reason." She shook her head without meaning, unable to tear her wide-eyed gaze from his face. "Natalie, it is becoming harder to resist you," he pressed. "I must go."
She stared at him, pinching at her lower lip as she fought with these two sides of herself. Was she so desperate to tie him to her that she would resort to--She choked on a sob of anger--at herself--and frustration and stormed from the lab.