A/N: Feb. 13th is Strifentine's Day! I decided to celebrate by writing a fic depicting Vincent and Cloud's first time together. I have no idea what is with the Zack influence at the end, but I kinda like it. This story contains male/male action and possibly language. Don't like, don't read. Please excuse all spelling/grammar mistakes and most of all, enjoy the smutty V/C goodness!

. : For Once : .

It was fairly early when Cloud watched Vincent leave the observation deck of the Shera. He toiled with the idea of chasing after him and asking if everything was all right, seeing as though Vincent usually was the last person to retire in the evening, but the fact that the gunman more than likely didn't want company stopped him. Cloud watched as the cape and ratted mess of long hair cascading down his back flowed with a wind that wasn't there.

He turned and looked at the huge canvas of sky that stretched before him and the other members of AVALANCHE that were on the deck. The fact that the only thing separating them from safety and oblivion on this part of the airship was three-inch thick airline glass made him nervous, but he knew that Cid was too good of a captain to let anything happen to them and his beloved Shera.

Cloud tried to think of other things, but the thought of something being wrong with Vincent kept coming back to him. He didn't want the gunman to be in any more distress than one could suffer from being in a coffin for almost thirty years. Someone so beautiful didn't deserve such torture. Cloud had always wondered what Vincent was like before the silence of his scars took him. It was almost too hard for him to imagine a Vincent that wasn't quiet and unfriendly. Maybe he had always been that way.

Something inside Cloud wanted to doubt that, wanted Vincent to be less cold... wanted to believe there was a kinder, gentler Vincent capable of caring for a person that didn't happen to be some betraying whore of a scientist bitch under a hard exterior built from pain and heartache. Cloud surprised himself when that description of Lucrecia popped into his head. He didn't know much about this woman, but she had ruined Vincent. He was sure of it. And, of all things, Vincent still loved her.

He suddenly felt a pang of jealousy and hate for this woman. She had seen Vincent when he was happier, when he wasn't afraid to feel things that didn't involve pain and self-loathing. And she had robbed anyone else from seeing that side of Vincent ever again.

Cloud almost turned on his heel at this thought, but something else stopped him. People had such obsessive thoughts when they liked someone. Cloud remembered thinking this way about Zack, even Sephiroth. He could spend long periods of time thinking of nothing else but either of them. Those two people put a bitter taste in his mouth, but Sephiroth's taste was more bitter than Zack's. He pushed the consuming blackness of losing two people he loved so dearly back for once, determined to not let it eat at him for at least a little while.

Glancing at the late afternoon sky giving way to twilight one last time, Cloud turned and left in the same direction Vincent had gone.

He liked Vincent. A lot. He didn't know if he was going to fess up to spending numerous hours thinking compulsively and obsessively over this man, but he knew he was going to do something. Vincent would either understand or push him away. The latter he could actually picture happening and was prepared for it. The latter would allow things to return to semi-normal, while the first could change things radically. Or not. Cloud's mind continued to toil with each step towards the exit.

“Where are you going, Cloud?”

It was Tifa, but nonetheless Cloud almost jumped out of his skin.

“Oh, I'm just going to lay down.” he said quietly.

“Not feeling well?”

“I've got a lot on my mind.”

“Do you want to talk about it?” she asked.

Cloud wanted to tell her, Gaia, he wanted to spill everything about Vincent. She would be the number one person to understand if she didn't have such an unrequited love for him. He didn't want to hurt her more than he already was. She didn't really show it, but he knew.

“Maybe later, Tifa. My head's starting to hurt.” Cloud replied, rubbing at his temples.

“Okay,” Tifa said, resting a hand on his shoulder briefly. “Get some rest.”

Cloud simply nodded as he left the observation deck, starting down the winding halls. He passed a few technicians, but they were otherwise empty. When he neared Vincent's room, he tried to walk quietly, knowing Vincent had really good hearing, but that task was difficult when you wore huge clunky combat boots like he did.

Before he could stop himself, he raised a fist to knock. Just before said fist touched the metal surface of Vincent's door, it opened.

Deep crimson eyes met mako blue ones and Cloud very slowly lowered his arm to his side. Even Vincent's blank and questioning look made him want to melt. They were breathing the same air, so close together Cloud could reach out and touch him.

“Cloud, why are you touching me?” Vincent asked expressionlessly.

The blond glanced down and realized, to his humiliation, that he was touching Vincent. His hand rested right over the gunman's heart, and he could feel it beating faintly. Calm and slow, even in such an awkward situation. Cloud envied Vincent's ability to remain composed at all times.

Cloud quickly removed his hand and looked down, trying to hide the fact he was blushing furiously.

“Sorry... I...”

“Is everything all right, Cloud?” Vincent asked, furrowing his eyebrows slightly and cocking his head.

“Yeah, everything's fine.” Cloud wanted to leave it at that, stick his tail between his legs, and run, but he couldn't. “Can I talk to you, Vincent?”

Vincent nodded. “Of course. Are you sure everything is all right, Strife?”

Cloud rested a gloved hand on the back of his neck and nodded back. “Yeah. Privately?”

Most people would have asked him what he meant by just saying “privately” out of the blue, but Vincent understood and opened the door wider, stepping back. Cloud paused before taking a tentative step in. He knew he was the first person to be in Vincent's room since it had been assigned as his. It showed no other sign of human inhabitation other than the small bed being unmade. Cloud was starting to get dirty thoughts about that bed but was stopped by Vincent closing the door quietly.

“You seem troubled.” Vincent said carefully. The statement was not a question.

“I am.”

“I thought you said everything was all right.” Vincent stated with a hint of accusation in his voice. “You don't have to lie to me.”

“I'm sorry, I...” Cloud started, still looking at the bed from across the small room.

“There's not need to apologize. People have a tendency to not be straightforward with me for some reason. You're not the first.” There was dry humor and sarcasm in those words. Vincent saw irony in his past.

Cloud wouldn't believe what came out of his mouth next.

“I'm worried about you.”

Vincent looked surprised. “And why in the name of Gaia would you be worried about me?”

“Well, not exactly worried, just concerned... I...” Cloud tripped, hating the fact Vincent could make his brain so dysfunctional.

“Those two words are synonyms, you know.” Vincent said in his usual toneless voice.

Cloud turned around, facing the taller dark-haired man. “I've been thinking about you.”

Vincent didn't want to admit it, but Cloud was beautiful. Especially when flustered. Vincent hadn't known he felt that way about the same sex until that coffin lid had been pulled away only weeks ago. He compared it to a baby duck, attached to the first thing it sees once hatched. He tried his damnedest not to show it, but he was drawn to Cloud. A few wet dreams and some serious thinking later, and he knew he liked the blond. Wanted to touch him, wanted to hold him. He felt almost perverted.

“What do you mean?” Vincent asked, remaining cool and unaffected.

“I've been thinking really hard... and maybe this is just a product of me staying inside my own head for too long, but... I...” Cloud swallowed and said the last two words quieter than the rest. “...like you.”

Vincent couldn't tell if his heart fluttered, skipped a beat, or went into a full frontal arrhythmia, but it suddenly felt odd in his chest nonetheless. Still not showing any of it, he stepped forward, Cloud seeming to shrink back as he came closer.

“I have a confession to make myself.” he said, closing the space between them. He tilted his head slightly and met soft lips as tenderly as he could, kissing Cloud as if he was something that needed to be handled with care.

Cloud's eyelids fluttered and he parted his lips slightly, allowing Vincent access to his mouth if he desired it. The gunman took this invitation gingerly, exploring the warm, wet confines of the blond's mouth. Cloud let a little noise escape him, saddened by the fact that this was a dream.

Nothing this good could be real.

Resting a hand on the back of Cloud's head, Vincent kissed Cloud deeper as the swordsman began to make the kiss not so one-sided. Cloud hadn't been rendered catatonic after all. Vincent was already addicted to the taste of his mouth.

Without really thinking about it, Vincent started to slowly push Cloud backwards towards the bed. He felt no resistance in the shorter man, and continued to kiss him. Cloud obeyed until the back of his knees hit the bed, and with that he fell backwards, pulling Vincent down on top of him. Their mouths got hungry on each other, and Vincent didn't mind at all when Cloud reached down to cup and fondle his erection through his pants. The gunman squeezed his eyes shut and ground into the blond's palm, opening his eyes to give Cloud a reproachful look when he suddenly broke their endless kiss.

Cloud took a few deep breaths, and met Vincent's accusing eyes with an almost pleading expression. “Please, Vincent... take me.” he paused to swallow and wrap his arms around the gunman's neck, entwining fingers in ebony silk. “I want you so bad.”

Vincent could not ignore that request. Sitting up slightly, he looked around his barren room even though he knew there was nothing to prepare Cloud with. He was deciding between using saliva or getting Cloud off with a blow job when the blond spoke up.

“I have some... you know...” Cloud said, reaching down to fumble in one of his numerous pockets. “I got into the habit of carrying it around when Zack was... alive.” he retrieved what he spoke of and smiled sadly. “We got really horny off that mako they shot us up with. I don't know why I still carry it around with me.”

Vincent sensed the deep loss in Cloud's voice. Even when speaking of such a simple thing. Taking the tube of lubricant that looked like it was several years old from Cloud's hand, he wondered what kind of person Zack was.

Cloud seemed a little lost, in what Vincent did not know, but he needed to have his mind taken off of it. It was not healthy to dwell in the past so much. Setting the lubricant down, Vincent unbuttoned Cloud's pants and then unzipped them, pulling downward with care.

“I'm not made of glass or anything you know.”

The words were soft, almost sad. Cloud's eyes were on the ceiling, distantly gazing into memories that plagued him every time he tried to lay down and get some rest. Vincent hated to see Cloud hurt so much. He was so young yet had endured a lifetime of loss. Vincent didn't want Cloud to lose anything else, anything that might make him see the sun again. He decided right there to be a gain, not a loss.

Wanting to obey Cloud's words, Vincent yanked the baggy dark canvas pants down the rest of the way instead of gently tugging. Once that was completed, he undid his own fly and glanced over his shoulder to make sure he had locked the door. Yuffie walking in on this, or anyone for that matter, most certainly spelled disaster.

Turning his attention back to Cloud, Vincent busied himself by slicking his fingers with lubricant and leaning down to kiss Cloud while he searched for his entrance. The blond gasped and whimpered when the gunman found what he sought and spread his legs a little wider to allow Vincent easier access to one of his most private spots.

Cloud's muscles ached from not being touched like this in so long, but he had never been treated to such gentle preparation. Zack had simply lacked the grace to do so and they were usually pressed for time when together. Cloud could hardly blame him. He'd always love Zack, but he had room in his heart for more than one person that could complete him. Maybe Vincent was just another piece to the puzzle.

The ache started to fade as his muscles relaxed, and Cloud gasped again as fingers scissored inside him. He had no idea it was possible to forget how good this felt, and it was as if he was learning all over again.

“Vincent...” he sighed softly after another thick swallow.

The gunman slipped his fingers from Cloud and reached up with his other hand to unzip the navy blue vest that was keeping the blond's chest from being exposed. Vincent tried not to look surprised at the mess of scars that decorated his torso.

Just like me.

There was a pause and Cloud noticed Vincent was looking at his exposed chest with more intensity than a normal person would.

“Hojo doesn't play very nice with his toys.” Cloud said.

Instead of taking the time to undo all of the buckles on his mantle, Vincent simply slipped the red garment over his head and discarded it on the floor along with his cape. He undid the line of buttons running down the side of the black shirt underneath from the collar to his waistline and then shrugged out of it, exposing a pale chest adorned much like Cloud's. His face looked strange with the jaw showing, but Cloud decided it wasn't a bad kind of strange.

Normally Vincent would never have done such a thing in a million years, but he wanted to show Cloud how much alike they were. His skin was unaccustomed to open air and he shivered.

Cloud blinked and sat up, looking up at the darker haired man with understanding eyes. There was no need for words. He focused his gaze on the heavily decorated plane of flesh before him, seeing scars on Vincent that somewhat matched his own. The most prominent was one where two diagonal lines came from his collar bone, met in the middle of his chest, and proceeded downward several inches. It looked to be an unfinished Y-section, and the thought of Vincent's body being subjected to dissection made Cloud's insides clench.

Cloud lifted a hand and traced the left side of the scar gingerly, watching how the skin on Vincent's chest horripilated at the touch. A hand slightly larger but much more lithe than his own closed over his and Cloud glanced up. Vincent looked Cloud in the eye for only a brief moment before kissing the blond back down to lay on the bed.

“Where were we?” Vincent whispered, pulling only centimeters away from Cloud's lips.

Cloud wrapped his arms around the gunman's neck and spread his legs again, gritting his teeth hard at Vincent penetrating him. A cock was a hell of a lot bigger than two fingers. Vincent rubbed Cloud's bare side apologetically with one hand while he guided his cock with the other, regretting causing the blond any discomfort. He didn't stop until he was fully inside Cloud, pausing to let muscles adjust.

Cloud buried his face in the crook of the gunman's neck, waiting until the intense ache subsided. He exhaled carefully once he thought he was ready, and liked the way Vincent was good at understanding subtle hints.

The first thrust was tentative, Vincent allowing for both of them to get used to the feel of each other. Cloud was slick and hot and tight and Vincent had a hard time keeping pace it felt so good. He too had forgotten how wonderful this felt, and he didn't mind getting a refresher course. He bit and kissed Cloud's neck, driving himself in harder with each thrust.

Cloud squeezed Vincent around the neck and gasped, moaning at all the sensations he was feeling. His eyelids fluttered again and his heart hammered in his chest, for he was in a strange state of relaxation and anxiety.

“Please... Vincent... harder, faster... ahh...” he begged into Vincent's tangled mane of black hair, voice rusty and soft.

It was another request Vincent could not ignore. Bracing himself against the bed, he impaled Cloud fast and hard, again and again, pounding the blond into the bed just as he had asked.

Cloud shrieked helplessly, a frightening rush of pain and pleasure assaulting him unexpectedly. Vincent and Zack were the same in at least one way: when you asked for it, they gave it to you. He yelled again, wrapping his legs around Vincent's waist and digging the heels of his boots into the gunman's back. Giving Vincent's neck another hard squeeze, he bucked into Vincent's thrusts, wanting to feel more.

He certainly did, Vincent starting to make sure Cloud's prostate did not go unattended to. The blond bit back a scream, realizing that people with ears were not very far away. The last thing he needed was questions and jokes about who he was sleeping with. They made enough fun of his hair and the fact that maybe his buster sword was compensating for the lack thereof down south.

“Gaia, Vincent... yes...” Cloud gasped, feeling a familiar coiling in his abdomen. It unraveled like a lazy snake, moving gradually faster until it got irritated and struck, venomous fangs sinking into Cloud's core and causing him to orgasm violently. The back of his head hit the bed hard and he swore loudly, shaking and writhing with the intensity of it as he spilled himself all over Vincent's bare chest and stomach.

Cloud's muscles shuddered and clenched around Vincent and he snarled, claws tearing into the sheets right beside the blond's face. It hurt as he came, body not having had conscious release in a long time, but he rode it out, getting enveloped in his own hot seed as he thrust into Cloud a few more times before he was completely spent.

They laid that way for several minutes, each learning how to breathe once more, before Vincent rolled off Cloud and pulled the slighter man into his arms. Cloud could feel the blood pulsing through his whole body and he felt suddenly tired. It wasn't the kind of tired he experienced from on and off insomnia, however, it was the kind of tired you felt when you accomplished something. And that was a kind of tired he hadn't felt in a long time.

A cool hand running down the side of his face made him remember that Vincent was still there. He looked up at the gunman, who looked good with some color in his cheeks. Deep crimson met mako blue again and Vincent tilted his head to kiss Cloud just like he had done the first time.

Cloud fell asleep next to Vincent wondering when he would wake up from this dream. A man with friendly violet eyes and spiky black hair grinned crookedly, just glad to see that Cloud, for once, wasn't dreaming.