Fandom: Final Fantasy VII
Originally Posted June 21st 2026
The bright sun of Costa Del Sol beat down against Vincent's shoulders like a spotlight. It was his own fault, he knew, for wearing all black in such a tropical climate. He could change, go about in bathing suits like the rest of the team, but he had an image to uphold and a Yuffie that would "I told you so" for at least an hour if he admitted defeat at this point. He had opted for a simple button up and slacks, he wasn't a complete madman, but he was nothing if not stubborn. The get together had been Reeve's idea, the beach house had been Barret's. Both excellent ideas by most counts, though it had taken ages for everyone to have the free time for it, leaving their vacation for the hottest and most unpleasant week of the year.
From his vantage point on the beach side balcony Vincent could see nearly the entire coast the resort took up. With practiced ease he could pick out any of his friend in the crowd. Nanaki and the kids playing tag, Reeve valiantly trying to learn to surf, Tifa and Barret swimming nearby, Yuffie and Cid of all people playing volleyball. It was nice to see everyone having fun. In the past five years they hadn't had much chance for it. Between the world nearly ending and the many smaller crisises that had popped up in the aftermath it had been hard to find the time to stop. The weight of what they'd lost had been heavy, nearly enough to crush some of them, but it was finally light enough to enjoy a warm day in the sun.
"Vincent? You hiding up here?" Cloud called up the stairs, more announcing his presence than truly asking after the man.
"That depends on who asks." Vincent replied, sidestepping to make room for the other man on the balcony.
"Shelke wanted to know if you wanted ice cream. She couldn't reach your phone." He teased, his own phone already in hand. "I told her you were probably up here but you know how she is."
"And she definitely already knows I want mint." he huffed a laugh, "Why send a messenger?"
Cloud gave an exaggerated shrug as he tapped out Vincent's order, "For all I know she wanted to distract me so she could take my bike on a joyride. I can never tell what she's thinking like you can."
"To be quite honest I can never tell either. I just have good pattern recognition."
"Oh yeah?" Cloud cocked an eyebrow at him, a silent challenge to prove it.
"You're fidgeting with the collar of your shirt, you do that a lot when you're thinking. You've rarely been more than ten feet from Marline or Denzel since we got here unless Tifa or Barret were with them. You've left your sword in the room but I see the materia on your wrist brace. This is the first time we've all been together without a threat to our lives. You're stressed about that." He rattled off, ignoring how red Cloud's face grew. There was more, but he spared him the details in his stance and scent.
Cloud dropped his hands to the railing pointedly, "That a Turk skill?"
He shook his head, "It certainly made me a valuable asset."
They let the silence pass between them. "Sorry." Cloud eventually mumbled.
"It doesn't bother me much anymore." In the hierarchy of things that haunted him his career as a hired gun truly wasn't that high of a priority. Everything it had led to, everything he had become because of it, the violence that had come before was nothing in the face of it.
"That's good."
Vincent hummed and resumed his post watching everyone down below. When Cloud didn't return to the others he asked, "There's something else?"
"Oh uh," Cloud sighed, "I've been wanting to talk to you alone for a while now, but every time I try I can't find the right words."
"You've never had a problem simply saying the wrong ones before."
"Hey!" he shoved Vincent playfully, pulling a chuckle from the other man. "You're right though. I don't know why this is so much harder."
Below them a shrill shriek echoed from the beach, followed by laughter as one of the kids dropped an ice cube down the back of Yuffie's top. In the ensuing scuffle they could see her roped into whatever game they were playing now. Cid waved up at the two of them when he noticed them watching.
"How'd you do it?" Cloud asked, pulling Vincent's attention back to him, "Knowing how bad it gets."
"Do what?"
Cloud shrunk in on himself, looking as if he was trying to hide within his own skin, "Y'know, how you and Cid…? How are you able to be so open?"
"Are you asking me how to come out Cloud?" His tone was more incredulous than he'd intended it to be. He hadn't exactly come out, was the thing, he'd just not cared enough to correct anyone when they'd made assumptions and lived the way he felt he should until the day he began living as he wanted to.
Shoving away from the railing Cloud took two angry steps towards the stairs before stopping abruptly and slinking back to his spot on the balcony. A cool breeze flowed between them as he hesitated, "I'm asking you how to not be afraid of it."
Over the course of their friendship Cloud had often come to Vincent for advice. It was comforting in a way to think he was trusted in such a way, and terrifying in most others. If there was one thing Vincent knew for absolute fact about himself it was that he was the least qualified person he knew to answer that question. "You don't."
"What do you mean you don't?"
"You don't stop being afraid of it. I've been afraid of it my whole life. Not just other people knowing, though that was always in the back of my mind, but the actual idea. I loved Lucretia, truly, but before her I loved a boy. A classmate from school. Now, I find myself loving Cid. And I've never stopped being afraid of it."
"So, just be scared and do it anyway? Is that really your advice?"
Vincent shrugged, "It's the best I've got."
"But what if-?"
Placing his hand on Cloud's shoulder he interrupted, "You can't live your life on what ifs and if onlys. You taught me that."
Cloud nodded, but hesitated, "I don't want them to think… I don't want them to hate me."
Vincent fixed him with a blank stare, "Cloud, think this through for a moment. How would they react any differently to you than me? Than Cid?"
"You're both bisexual that's not the same! This isn't- I'm not just-!" Cloud broke away again to pace two steps toward the door and two back. He wanted to run, every tensed muscle showed it clear as day. This wasn't something that could be ran from. You could run from a lot of things; responsibility, blame, even your own demons for a time if you ran fast enough, but try as you might you can't outrun who you are forever. "I think I want to try… No, I want to be a girl. I- I am a girl. And I think I have been a long time."
The silence grew thick between them. Vincent didn't know what to say to that. What could he say to that? "Oh?" he settled on.
"I- is that all you can say about it? Oh?" Cloud gripped the banister tightly, his- her hands starting to shake slightly from the effort.
"Is there something else you'd rather I say?"
"Yes? No I- I don't know! I was just expecting…" she trailed off, looking out to the beach again, "I don't know."
Gently tugging her hand away from it's death grip on the railing, Vincent led her back into the shaded area of the resort, letting go only once he had to unlock the door. His room was in the back, furthest away from anyone else so he didn't disturb anyone in the night. Plenty of privacy. Once he was sure she was inside and the door was closed he began digging through his luggage. For a one week stay he'd certainly over prepared.
"Vincent what are you doing?" Cloud finally asked after the silence grew too awkward.
He held up his finger to ask her to wait. It was in here somewhere he was sure just - ah, there. From the bottom of his bag he pulled a thin, blood red band of fabric. A ribbon. The protective enchantments on it had faded with age and use but it was still a good piece of equipment and one he made sure to have on hand in case of emergency. But, more importantly, it was the most delicate and beautiful thing he owned. "It's not quite your color. I'm sure Tifa could help you pick something later."
Rather than presenting the ribbon to Cloud he beckoned her closer, pulling her to lean down a bit once she was where he needed her. Combing his fingers through her hair he gathered it up the best he could at the nape of her neck and tied the ribbon into a bow around it. A part of his heart ached at the memory of the last time he'd done that, five years ago the night before Aerith left them forever. "There. It'll look better if you let your hair grow out but I think ribbons will suit you."
Cloud turned to the mirror and inspected his handiwork. It was small and kinda stupid looking, "I haven't had long hair since I was a kid."
"You never know unless you try." Vincent pressed a hand to the small of her back, "Do you want to tell the others?"
"You're right, gotta give it my best try. They deserve to know." she smiled warmly and leaned into the touch, "Thanks Vincent."
"You deserve to be happy you mean." he waited for her to agree, "Now we should definitely get down to the beach. Shelke will need help parking your bike and the ice cream will melt before we get to eat it if we don't hurry."
Vincent ignored Cloud's indignant shout of "You were covering for her the whole time?" as he led the way down to the others. No one mentioned the ribbon, but he saw Tifa and Yuffie exchange a glance once they'd noticed it. There was no rush, Cloud would tell them at her own pace and she had a whole week to get around to it. And he'd be here, to support her through it the whole way.