FF7【R-18】 vincent(top)/cloud(bottom)
"夏の夢は醒めない" English version.
Cloud aged 13~15 meets Vincent at Shinra Residence.

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　A birthday only becomes special when someone you care about says “Happy Birthday” to you.
Otherwise, it's not just meaningless—it's nothing but emptiness and pain.
That heavy, gloomy feeling had settled in Cloud Strife's mind since morning, and even as dusk approached, he couldn't bring himself to go home.
　He knew full well that if he went home, his mother would be waiting with his favorite stew and a delicious cake. But for Cloud, straddling the line between boyhood and adolescence, having his mother celebrate his birthday was neither happy nor joyful; it only made his heart prickly and frayed.
He dragged his feet, wearing shoes that didn't fit. Pebbles stuck to the soles scraped against the ground, making an irritating, gritty sound.
He didn't want to be forced into celebrating. He'd rather be left alone.
He knew saying that would only make his mother look troubled, so he couldn't say it.
　Walking between houses as the road lit by the setting sun gradually darkened, the warm scent of dinner wafted softly through the air. And faint, cheerful laughter reached my ears.
My feet, already moving slowly toward home, grew heavier still, until they stopped completely.
Cloud turned his face in another direction, swung his arms wide, kicked the ground, and began running with force.


　On the outskirts of Nibelheim stands an old mansion known as the Shinra Residence.
No one dared approach the eerie place, where vines and weeds grew wild. When the wind blew, ominous rustling sounds echoed from all around.
　But the reason no one approached wasn't just because it felt eerie. Beyond the usual rumors about ghosts or kidnappers haunting such places—gossip more terrifying than the gossip that fills country living rooms—there was a very real and terrifying warning: an official notice from the colossal Shinra Company forbidding anyone unrelated to the property from approaching. And if anything happened, the village would face damages it could never possibly pay.
　So even Cloud hadn't come here because he wanted to.
He wasn't interested either. He knew perfectly well he shouldn't be here. He'd just been thinking about going somewhere other than home, somewhere other than where people were... and then, somehow, he'd ended up here as if driven by something.
　He caught his breath for a moment, then looked up at the wall surrounding the mansion and scrambled up a nearby tree. His movements were light. He easily climbed to a branch higher than the wall, then, like a cat, deftly leaped onto the wall and dropped down to the other side.
　Before him stood the eerie mansion, swaying as if in a gentle breeze.
The surroundings were already growing dark.
It wasn't that he didn't feel fear. But for Cloud at that moment, fear was merely a motivation to keep moving forward. The idea that he might run away because he was scared—even if no one said it—was the one thing he couldn't forgive himself for.
　There was nowhere else to go. He pretended not to notice that feeling. Telling himself he wasn't scared, he pushed hard against the old, heavy door. It creaked open with a wrenching sound.
Amid the thick, musty smell of dust, Cloud exhaled softly and stepped inside the mansion.

(What is it? It's just... a normal old house, isn't it?)
He walked around the spacious hall, looking around nervously. His steps, which had seemed hesitant and cautious at first, gradually took on his usual calm demeanor.
It was dark, creaking sounds echoed, and occasionally he thought he heard noises that weren't footsteps. But as his eyes adjusted to the darkness, these things stopped bothering him so much. Gradually, he even felt a tinge of curiosity. No, more than curiosity—the fact that he was alone, wandering through a mansion that even adults feared and avoided, began to feel strangely exhilarating. He'd intended to leave immediately after a quick look inside, but now he felt a vague reluctance to depart. He found himself examining the furnishings here and there, even though he knew nothing about them. A painting by some unknown artist hung on faded wallpaper. Antique-looking furniture was covered in yellowed cloth, making it feel like time had stopped inside this mansion long ago. When exactly had these things been used? Mother had said she didn't really know either. Had they been hidden away like this since before I was born, quietly waiting for the day they might be used again? Who had lived here? What thoughts filled their minds as they lived here? Did they even like this place? And where on earth did they vanish to?
Suddenly, a creak echoed through the room.
Instinctively, Cloud looked up.
Where was it coming from? Above?
After a moment's hesitation, Cloud climbed the stairs at the far end of the hall. He climbed the heavy, gently spiraling staircase with light, quick steps. Passing through the connecting corridor, he found a room with a different atmosphere. Opening the door, he saw a purple sky spread across the ceiling window.
It was a small greenhouse. It had a skylight, allowing light to enter. Unlike the other rooms, the air felt denser here. It didn't smell as dusty. Though cramped, pots were packed tightly together, tall green plants thriving lushly and vibrantly, showing no signs of withering. Why? It was strange. Only in this place did time seem to be moving.
With a soft creak, Cloud moved forward. Here and there, small flowers he didn't know the names of were blooming. He thought they were beautiful. Looking up, stars were beginning to twinkle in the sky, which hadn't yet fully turned to night.
　Mom must be waiting alone, worrying about me.
The sudden memory squeezed his chest.
The faint cheerfulness he'd felt moments ago quickly withered away.
He had to hurry back. The thought crossed his mind, but his feet refused to move. He didn't understand why he wanted to stay in this eerie mansion. It wasn't comfortable, nor had my fear completely vanished. But here, there wasn't that suffocating sense of confinement I always felt back in the village.
Just a little longer... just a little more. I'm sure there was a room on the other side of the hallway too. I'll look there. Then...
Yeah, he nodded to himself, and Cloud turned around.
　There was a huge pumpkin head.
Its bottomless eyes stared straight at him, and its jagged, slit-like mouth opened wide with a gaping yawn.
Just as he started to scream, “Hii!”, a deafening boom like an explosion split his ears—and everything went pitch black.

“――Waaah, don't eat me! ...Huh? Wha-what's that?”
“...What are you talking about?”
With a thud, the soles of his shoes hit the floor.
Having been held by someone, he was set down on the floor. His legs went completely limp, and Cloud just plopped down onto the floor.
　Who... who is this?
Something just happened. Someone spoke. Someone picked me up and set me down.
He cautiously tried to look up at the source of the low voice, but before he could, that someone knelt before him and peered into Cloud's face.
It was a man with a terrifyingly beautiful face.
His eyes were red, one of them seeming to glow faintly.
　Long black hair cascaded from his shoulders to his chest.
From the neck down, he was cloaked entirely in a deep red mantle.
A left hand, metallic like armor, suddenly extended. Sharp claws slid smoothly across Cloud's cheek, and the icy coldness made Cloud's body jerk involuntarily.
“Are you alright?”
“Huh... Wh-who are you?”
The man before him tilted his head slightly. His expression was puzzled, as if the question hadn't been answered. But as he seemed about to say something, he paused, his gaze lingering on his own metal left hand. Then, for some reason, he lifted his cloak with a rustle and said,
“I'm the security guard here.”
“Weird outfit.”
The man who called himself the guard showed no reaction to the words that slipped out. He nodded to himself, seeming satisfied, and stood up.
He then slipped his hand under Cloud's armpit and helped him up.
Cloud reflexively grabbed that arm, thinking something completely unrelated: This feels nothing like my own arm.
"Weren't you told not to come here? ...Well, never mind. I'll take you home. Get back there quickly."
“No—”
He clung to the arm he'd grabbed without thinking.
“I don't want to go home! I don't want to!”
“What's this all of a sudden? What's wrong?”
“I said I don't want to! I don't want to go home!”
He felt like crying. But he clenched his throat, determined not to let the tears out, and clung tighter to the arm, refusing to let go.
　Suddenly, something inside Cloud overflowed. There was nowhere to go, nowhere to run. She'd sneaked into the mansion she'd been told never to enter, and deep down, she was terrified. The creaking sounds echoing in the darkness were incredibly creepy. To distract himself from that fear, even though he knew he had to go home, he didn't want to go. He knew he shouldn't say it, but then the man who suddenly appeared right in front of him looked straight at Cloud. He wasn't angry, or in a bad mood, or mocking him. Somehow... he felt kind.
　A hand landed softly on his head.
It wasn't metal, but it felt oddly rough, as if covered in thick leather. Still, it felt gentle.
Then a soft push came on his shoulder. Cloud looked down, embarrassed, and released the arm he'd been clinging to.
　It was truly embarrassing. He'd been yelling like a little kid, and to a stranger at that. Besides, he didn't even know if this person was genuinely kind or not. He felt like an idiot. Not like one, but an actual idiot. He wanted to bolt from this place right now, but his legs felt completely weak and refused to move.
“You're hurt. Let me see.”
“Eh...”
What the hell was this person talking about? Just go home already.
　He'd been expecting that kind of response, so when something completely different came out, Cloud was utterly confused at first.
He walked where his hand was tugged, and they came to a water source.
“Don't worry, the water here is clean.”
He turned the faucet, and just as promised, clear water flowed out. When his arm was placed in it, he felt a stinging pain for the first time. A fairly large scrape had formed on his elbow, oozing blood.
　The man tore off a piece of his red cloak, dipped it into the flowing water, and carefully wiped the wound. Tiny shards, like fragments from a plant pot, were stuck in the wound, making Cloud wince slightly.
“This cloak isn't unclean. Don't worry.”
“I'm not... worried or anything.”
“I see. ...Does it hurt?”
“It... doesn't hurt.”
His voice was low, and he might have been caught lying. He thought that, but he couldn't bring himself to admit it hurt.
　But the man seemed unconcerned. He pressed a torn edge of the red cloak against the wound and tied it tightly.
“...Well then. Shall we go?”
“...”
Cloud stared at the man's outstretched right hand as he stood up, hesitating.
A whirlwind of thoughts swirled inside him. He really didn't want to go back. He shouldn't stay here. He wanted to be with this man a little longer—together.
　The moment he lifted his face to think that, the man grabbed Cloud's hand.
“Ah, no—”
“Let's go. To the ‘way’ home.”
“...Huh?”
“You still don't want to go back, do you?”
He was yanked forward. It was a force that brooked no argument, leaving no room for resistance. Worse, he was immediately tucked under the man's arm.
　Huh? Before Cloud could process it, the man casually opened the tightly shut window as if it were nothing. Leaning out, he immediately threw himself into the air. Naturally, Cloud, still clutched in his arms, went with him.
No, this is the second floor, Cloud thought the instant his spine froze. The next moment, the entire night sky spread out before his eyes.

“It was scary. Scary, but fun. I mean, flying through the sky? That's amazing.”
“Why did you come to the mansion? There are monsters there. You were taught not to go near it, weren't you?”
“I was told not to go, but I heard it's because you have to pay money. Huh? There are monsters?”
"Money... So that's how it is now... That's right. You have to pay money, and there are monsters too."
“Then what's Vincent doing over there?”
“I'm fine. I'm a security guard.”
“A security guard...!”
Seeing Cloud staring at him with sparkling eyes again, Vincent began to worry a little about whether this boy was really okay.
　Wouldn't he just fall for some bad adult's tricks? Wouldn't that lead to a lot of trouble later in life? Wouldn't it be better for him to develop a bit more resilience against the world?
Vincent himself was by no means a saintly adult, but perhaps precisely because of that, Cloud's eyes, so easily filled with admiration, made Vincent's usual impassive expression waver slightly. He was starting to genuinely worry, which was rare for him.　　
“What's your name?”
“Cloud. Cloud Strife.”
“An ordinary name.”
“...Yeah. It's ordinary. Not some awesome name like Sephiroth.”
Vincent's eyes widened slightly at the name Cloud had casually muttered. A quiet strength tightened around the fingers holding Cloud. But he showed no further reaction, so Cloud didn't notice.
　More than that, Vincent was troubled by the way Cloud had clouded the pure innocence he'd shown moments before and averted his gaze.
“Hey, Vincent... If I can't go to that mansion, how can I see you?”
“Me?”
“Yeah... I want to see you again.”
The voice that spoke while looking down was very small.
　This boy—Cloud—is he alone?
All alone, huh.
Vincent thought.
The old me wouldn't have cared about any of this. But now it's different. All that happened at that mansion, and what ended there.
Could it be that I now know what this little Cloud is carrying?
—If that's the case.

“...You must not come to that mansion. You must not approach it.”
How could I, possessing hands no longer human, pretend to remain human?
“It's alright. You'll forget everything—me, that mansion—once this moment passes.”
To think that taking this small hand might let me become human again.
“So there's no need to come to that mansion anymore—Cloud.”
　—Knowing it's impossible, someday I'll devour Cloud until not a single bone remains.

“...Forget?”
Something slipped away from Cloud's expression, yet he seemed to want to say something, gripping the edge of Vincent's cloak with a tight squeeze.
“Vincent... Listen.”
“Yeah.”
“Today... was my birthday.”
“...Is that so?”
Even as he spoke, Vincent felt an odd feeling take hold of him.
　While telling himself not to get close, not to come near, he was desperately searching for something he could do for Cloud right now.
Vincent spoke to Cloud, who had started to say something, then wavered, and fell silent again.
“Is there... anything you want?”
“...I want a friend.”
Hearing these unfamiliar words, Vincent paused, lost in thought for a moment.
　Then, he listened intently to Cloud's words.
“Just one person. Just one person who understands me—ordinary, with nothing special—and will talk to me like this. I don't want to forget today...”
Vincent held Cloud firmly with both arms as he slowly closed his eyes. He stroked his soft golden hair once with his metallic left hand.
Night deepened, and the moon was rising.
　This far was enough. He had to get Cloud home, back to his daily life. Cloud wouldn't want to worry his mother any more than this.
“I won't forget. I'll remember your name, even in my sleep—Cloud. Cloud Strife...”

　＊　＊　＊

“...Hm, hm...”
“...loud, Cloud. Wake up. Or do you want to sleep like this?”
“Ah...”
Cloud blinked, and Vincent was right before his eyes.
He wore a slightly teasing smile, which Cloud tried to ignore as he wrapped both arms around Vincent's neck, hugging him and rubbing his cheek against Vincent's.
　Night. Inside a single, narrow bed. Neither of them was wearing clothes. Cloud had requested, “Today's work was a bit tough, so hold me gently,” and to satisfy that request, Vincent had touched and rocked him with the utmost tenderness. That was how Cloud had fallen asleep, his eyes still closed.
“Sorry... you felt so good... I fell asleep.”
　With the innocent expression of someone just waking up, his words sounding childlike too, Cloud instinctively rubbed his whole body against Vincent, trying to cling to him with his entire being.
Seeing Cloud like this was a rare sight. So Vincent kept a soft smile on his face. There was another issue involving pride – was it really that monotonous that he fell asleep? But well, he'd properly make up for that next time.
"Cloud, you must be sleepy. Then let's sleep now. Sleep well."
“No... I won't sleep... Keep going...”
He chuckled softly as Cloud wrapped his legs around his waist, whining. He wished he could see this every day, every night, all year round, but this kind of honest, clingy behavior only happened once a year, on his birthday.
Vincent gazed endlessly at the face about to fall asleep, smiling happily.
　—I wish you could be happy too. I wonder how that would be.


“I'm sorry I couldn't be your friend.”
“...Huh? What?”
“Forgive me for this. Happy birthday, Cloud. ...Good night.”
“Ah, don't say that now, mmm, kiss me again... Vince...”

end