Wherever You Will Go - Chapter 5

[calvi_sama]

Title:  Wherever You Will Go
Authors:  madisuzy and calvi_sama
Pairing: Vincent Valentine x Laguna Loire (crossover)
Rating: NC-17
Disclaimer: We do not in any way own, nor profit from, the characters and/or locations of FFVII or FFVIII.  The title for this piece was adapted from the song Where Ever You Will Go by The Calling
Warnings: Adult themes, Yaoi - that's two men having sex folks, be warned, and swearing 
Summary: From an erotic chance encouter blossoms a love that will test both men's desire and devotion, and will send them on a journey of self discovery that will change both of their lives forever.

A/N: This is pretty much pure porn, the plot comes later!  This was written as an RP: madisuzy wrote Laguna, Kiros and Squall and yours truly wrote Vincent (more to come later ;3).  It started out as kind of a "feeler fic" -an experiment if you will- and we both just fell in love with the story and kept going!  We hope you enjoy!!

Chapter 5

Laguna lead Vincent down the hall towards the conference room by the hand. They were meeting Kiros for lunch in private, so they didn’t have to worry about the press or anyone else for the time being. He was a little worried how Kiros would react to Vincent and could only hope that it would be a positive introduction. The drama of Squall’s morning visit was enough excitement for one day.

As they approached the door it swung open and a staff member walked out, greeting Laguna with a smile and informed them that Kiros would be around ten minutes late. He thanked the woman, choosing to ignore her raised eyebrow when she noticed him holding hands with Vincent, and entered the room, closing the door and turning to his lover.

“Well, looks like we have a little time to wait,” he said, glancing around the empty room until his eyes rested on the table of food. Laguna smiled at the spread, silently thanking Kiros for organizing the meal at such short notice. He really was an amazing assistant.

Giving Laguna’s hand a quick squeeze he dropped it in order to take a slow walk around the conference room. He nodded in approval at the culinary array, before turning to look out one of the large floor to ceiling windows and down on the streets and tress below him. He marveled again at how bright everything was here. He had elected to leave his torn and ragged cloak back in Laguna’s quarters along with his gauntlet - no sense in appearing more frightening than he already did (he had noticed the strange and fearful looks thrown his way when the few people he had passed had seen his red eyes) - and had dressed in his fighting leathers.

The only color on him was his crimson headscarf he had chosen to wear in an attempt to control his thick, wild hair. He turned back to Laguna, and studied his lover a moment before coming around the table to wrap his arms around him from behind. He had noticed the slight fidgeting. “Nervous?” He kissed Laguna’s temple. “I would be lying if I said that I was calm right now. Why don’t you tell me a little about Kiros so that I might know how to talk to him when he arrives? I would have this meeting go a little better than my introduction to your son.”

Laguna chuckled at Vincent’s words, knowing that he’d been thinking the exact same thing. “Kiros is far easier to get along with than Squall. He is an honorable man who is usually serious and very protective of those he cares about. Although when he relaxes and gets comfortable with a person his cheeky, teasing side comes out in full force. Physically…well I suppose he gets described as cat-like by a lot of people. The ladies love his natural grace and fawn all over him.” Laguna’s smile grew wide as he continued, “Not that any of them have the slightest chance with him.”

Vincent laughed softly, burying his nose in Laguna’s hair before releasing the smaller man. “So he prefers company of the male persuasion then,” he said thoughtfully, approving of Kiros’ description. “If he is as honorable as you say, then I believe he and I should get along very well indeed.” He would have said more, but was interrupted by the sudden opening of the conference room door and the entrance of a lean, attractive dark-skinned man wearing a warm and welcoming smile.

“Kiros!” Laguna said, walking over to hug his friend. Kiros chuckled as he returned the embrace, glancing up at the stranger in the room curiously. “This is Vincent. He’s the one I met in Midgar,” Laguna added nervously as he stepped back and chewed his lip.

“Pleased to meet you, Vincent,” Kiros said, smiling as he held out his hand.

“The pleasure is mine,” Vincent said, nodding and accepting Kiros’ hand in a firm and solid grip, while his gloved hand came up to rest on Laguna’s lower back as he sought to comfort the shorter man.

Laguna let out his breath in relief. Well, that was easier than last time. As they sat down around the table, he noticed Kiros was studying Vincent intensely and he tried to stop his nervous fidgeting.

“Laguna, relax. I’m not gonna do a Squall on you,” Kiros chuckled out, smiling across the table. “I’m just happy to see you smiling again.”

Vincent winced involuntarily at Kiros’ words. That was a rather sore subject. But what Kiros said grabbed his attention. “Did Laguna not smile?” Way to go, Valentine, of all the dumb questions to ask. He didn’t know why that mattered so much to him, but it did.

“He’s been completely miserable ever since he came back from Midgar… staring out the windows like a love struck puppy,” Kiros teased, grinning at Laguna who blushed a lovely shade of magenta in response to his words.

“Kiros!” Laguna whined, kicking him under the table. Kiros yelped in the middle of laughing but the kick only seemed to make him laugh more.

Vincent chuckled. “Well, his reaction is certainly more preferable than mine, I assure you.” Unerringly, his hand found Laguna’s thigh where he followed it up to dangerously close to the man’s groin where he absently rubbed slow, soothing circles, occasionally nudging the man’s cock. “The entire time we were apart, I’m afraid I was rather dangerously… irritable.”

Laguna squeaked when Vincent’s hand crept up his leg but at least his face couldn’t get any more red. He should of known that introducing these two was going to be a whole new kind of painful.

“So, this is serious then?” Kiros asked, his glance flicking between both of the men before him. Laguna rolled his eyes and huffed at his friend.

“Yes, dad!” he said sarcastically, running a hand through his hair as he shuffled in his seat. Vincent’s hand was… distracting, to say the least.

“Sorry, not really my business. My apologies,” Kiros replied meekly, blushing himself as he looked down at the table.

Vincent grinned and rolled his eyes. “Children, am I going to have to separate you?” He took his hand away from Laguna’s thigh and rested his elbows on the table, leaning forward to look into Kiros’ eyes - as soon as the man looked back up. “I would like this to be serious, yes. If Laguna will consent to have me.” He let that hang in the air a moment before leaning back in his seat once more. “Tell me, Kiros, if you would indulge me in this. But how long have you known Laguna?”

Kiros grinned at Vincent, deciding that so far he was impressed by this young man. At first he’d thought that maybe someone so young wouldn’t be a good match for his friend but this one seemed far more mature than even Laguna was.

“We were in the army together which was… what, twenty years ago?” Kiros answered, looking at Laguna who had recovered some of his normal coloring.

“Yeah, it would be around twenty years,” Laguna chuckled. “If it wasn’t for him, I wouldn’t be here right now. He’s saved my life so many times that I’ve lost count.” Laguna smiled fondly at his best friend, realizing how lucky he was to have him.

“And it is as I’ve told Laguna before: I owe you a great debt, Kiros.” He gazed at Laguna soberly. “Through Laguna, I have a real chance at happiness. After all these long, long years… I think, I can dare to dream again.” He picked up his water glass and drained about half of it, suddenly a little embarrassed himself. “I should very much like your approval, Kiros. Are there no questions you might have for me?”

“Trust me, you don’t need my approval. Laguna doesn’t often listen to me anyway,” he smirked, winking at his friend. “As for questions… I suppose there are a few things I’d like to ask….” His sentence was cut off by a loud beeping coming from the phone on the wall near the door. “Excuse me for a moment,” Kiros said standing up to answer it.

Laguna glanced up at Vincent, reaching over to grab his hand and squeeze it. He was very happy about how well this was going but didn’t know how to put his relief into words. Kiros returned looking a little pissed as Laguna looked up at him.

“I’m sorry but business calls. Apparently, General Caraway is having a fit about the trade talks we had last month and wants to speak to you in person. He’s pissed about Timber getting that contract over him and just needs your sympathy, I think. Do you think you could handle it? I’ll keep Vincent company while you do.”

“I better take the call in my office. Will you be okay here for a minute, Vin?” Laguna asked his lover.

Vincent gave Laguna a reassuring smile and returned the hand-squeeze. “I shall be fine. I promise I will not throttle your best friend.” As Laguna grinned and rose, and he grabbed his lover’s hand as he walked by, pulling him down for a lazy kiss and rumbled, “Hurry back.” Before letting him go, watching Laguna until the door closed behind him. With a sigh he turned back to Kiros and raised an eyebrow. “You were saying?”

Kiros grinned at the kiss as he watched the two men part across the table. Damn, these two were cute together. Straightening up in his chair, he frowned as he thought about what he wanted to ask. He didn’t want to just come out and ask it bluntly so he had choose his words carefully.

“I was going to ask you how long will you be staying in Esthar,” he finally managed.

Vincent frowned a little at the loaded question. “Hn,” he murmured, “I believe the socially appropriate answer would be for as long as I am welcome here, however, the truthful answer would be for as long as Laguna will have me.” He leaned back in his chair and tapped his forefinger on the tabletop. “I have never been lucky in love, Kiros. I suppose you might say, the last time I gave my heart, it was quite literal, and my ‘life’ as it were has never been the same since. I have no desire to make Laguna’s life difficult, and I only wish to help where I may while indulging my own - rather repressed - selfishness.”

Kiros looked across the table at the other man with one eyebrow raised. Great, the guy was as smart as he was beautiful and had seen right through his attempts to skirt around the point. Noticing the strange wording of some of Vincent’s answer, his curiosity flared but he held it back for another time, deciding to stick to his original concern.

“Vincent, I believe you are the kind of man that prefers direct questions, so would it be too forward of me to just be blunt with you?”

“You are a most perceptive man, Kiros,” Vincent said a little absently but still with a great deal of respect. “I do prefer direct questions as I feel that to dance around a subject tends to impart that one has something to hide. That, and my patience wears thin quickly. More so now than when I was… younger.” He gave Kiros a little smile as he propped his elbows up on the arms of his chair to steeple his fingers in front of his mouth and nose as he watched his companion. “I do not consider it too forward at all, after all we are amongst friends here are we not?”

“It’s just that I wanted to ask you about Laguna. He’s been… well… alone for a long time and I’m glad to see him with someone after all this time. I only have to look at him to see how happy you make him.” Kiros smiled up at Vincent nervously, fiddling with his napkin as he floundered for the right words.

“I just worry about him. Laguna… when he gets attached to someone, he tends to get serious fast and never does it half assed. What I mean is, he falls hard and I don’t want to see him hurt. My apologies for rambling but I just want to know if you are serious about him and I am hoping that… well, that you are….” Kiros voice broke off as he blushed and looked down at the table. Fuck, why couldn’t he get out a coherent sentence when it came to worrying about his best friend? He knew that to see Laguna broken hearted again would kill him but it really wasn’t his place to ask this. Kiros just hoped that Vincent would not be offended.

Vincent smiled gently. “I think I have noticed that about Laguna.” He lowered his hands to rest on the table as he leaned forward, grabbing Kiros’ eyes again with his own; he sought to reassure the man. “I appreciate your concern for him, Kiros, and it does my heart glad to know that he has such people looking out for him. I am not normally one to trust another so quickly, so the fact that I have done so with Laguna is unusual, but I have been on the receiving end of hurt and betrayal and I would wish no such thing on another… especially him.” He grew wistful, his eyes distant, as he murmured, “I used to be like Laguna, until that ability to feel so deeply and so thoroughly was taken from me; beaten from my heart even as my body was disfigured and ruined.”

His eyes focused once again on Kiros. “I thought I could never feel that way again. I didn’t even want to try… until I met Laguna. He showed me that those kinds of feelings still existed and that woke something up inside of me.” He chuckled. “Now it is my turn to beg forgiveness, as I tend to rather dramatically digress. To reassure you: yes, I am most serious. I do not lie when I say that I hold Laguna’s happiness above my own.”

“I’m relieved to hear it. Look, I really shouldn’t even be bothering you. You said earlier that you were serious and it’s wrong of me to make you repeat yourself just to satisfy my insecurities. Laguna would kill me if he knew I was. I know he can look after himself and is an adult it’s just that… well, he is like a brother to me and I can’t help but worry,” Kiros said, still embarrassed to be prying into Laguna’s personal life.

“I should be giving him more credit, as he’s not as ignorant as I make him out to be. For example, there was one woman a while ago who tried to romance Laguna and I found out that her intentions where less than true. She was after money and power and had no real feelings for him. I had to work up the courage to try and tell him but when I did he wasn’t surprised. He already knew that she wasn’t after his heart which surprised me. When I asked him how he knew, he simply said that he could tell by the way she kissed him. Laguna tends to be a lot more perceptive than anyone realizes.”

Thinking back to what else the young man before him had said, he added, “I am sorry that you’ve been hurt in the past but I do believe that you are more like Laguna, when it comes to your heart, than you know. I can see it in your eyes when you look at him. Sometimes, past hurt can make one feel as if their heart has died but it only takes the right person to bring it to life once more.” Kiros looked down at the table, embarrassed that his romantic notions on life had slipped out.

Vincent chuckled. “Perhaps you are right, Kiros. But that side of me is small, and weak. I have done much in my life to choke its growth, and I am intimate with death. Peace…,” he held up his hand when he saw Kiros sit up a little straighter, “…you have nothing to fear from me immediately. My past is a dark one, but it takes much to push me too far. Squall was rather frighteningly efficient at getting me near to my breaking point, but I think that was only where Laguna was concerned. I do feel though, that I must warn you that I can get rather… protective, of those I care for.”

“If it means Laguna will be safer, it doesn’t bother me. When it comes to Squall, there are probably some things I should fill you in about. Firstly, Laguna loves the boy completely, so hurting him is not an option. I have to admit, I too have had urges to do the same. Secondly, he is the Commander of SeeD. This means he is the head of the most powerful organization in our corner of the world. It’s a lot of stress and responsibility and his outbursts are… somewhat to be expected. Not many people have saved the world and been left to run a whole organization by the tender age of eighteen. 
Add that to his growing up in an orphanage where he was sent off to be trained as a killer when still a child… well, it’s all a complicated mess that Laguna feels completely responsible for,” he finished, sighing as he ran his fingers absently along one of his braids.

Now that was some useful information, small bit though it was. Reeve’s file had not given much detail in regards to just what exactly SeeD was, and this bit he got from Kiros, little though it may be, was something to go off of. Vincent was nothing if not good at digging up information. Once a Turk, always a Turk and old habits died very hard. “Hn, yes,” he said thoughtfully. “I gathered as much when he separated us. Squall’s story is indeed a sad one. When the appropriate amount of time has passed, I shall make an apology to the boy.” Vincent cocked his head and said, “But if I am to live here, with Laguna, is there naught I could do in the way of offering my services?”

Kiros looked up, surprised by the suggestion, although it did make him happy as it was an indication that Vincent would be here on a permanent basis.

“Actually, that’s a good question. Well, to tell you the truth, I have been bothering Laguna for years about getting a bodyguard. He’s always traveling around by himself and for a leader of a country it’s just not safe for him to do so. Laguna is rather stubborn on that point though, so I don’t know. Then again, I’d say he’d be dragging you with him now anyway. Would you be interested in the position if I could talk Laguna into it?” he said, looking up hopefully. Kiros would sleep better knowing that someone was with Laguna, ensuring his safety when he took off on his jaunts around the world.

That sobered him right up. The thought of Laguna not taking protective precautions was unacceptable. “Yes.” He replied, “I would accept that position, and I shall work on Laguna myself to insure that he sees the wisdom of your words, Kiros.” He smiled wryly. “Many, many years ago, I used to do that very thing for a living, so I have developed a certain skill where protection is concerned… protection and, other things, only my employer was not an honorable man. He viewed us all as disposable.”

“I can assure you that will not happen here,” Kiros began before stopping as Laguna came back into the room with a frown. “Laguna, what’s wrong?” he asked. Laguna looked up and grinned at both men who where looking at him with worry plain on their faces.

“Oh, it’s nothing. Just left over annoyance from talking to Caraway. So what did I miss?” he asked, walking over to take his place next to Vincent. As he sat down he looked at his lover, letting the warmth of the man sooth him.

As soon as Laguna sat back down Vincent felt his shoulders relax. He hadn’t realized how tense he had gotten. He reached over and laced his fingers with Laguna’s and grinned. “Not much. Kiros here was telling me about the time you stripped naked and ran through town, although I have to wonder how you managed to end up in the fountain, let alone the cactus spines in your ass and wearing lipstick, but I suppose those details shall just remain a mystery. I shall not even inquire about the goat.” How he managed to keep a straight face, he didn’t know as he cocked his head and waited to see Laguna’s reaction.

“What?” Laguna squeaked. Kiros began laughing so hard that tears began to trickle down his cheeks. Laguna tried to glare at his lover but could only hold the look for a couple of seconds before he too began to laugh. “You ass,” he chuckled out, squeezing Vincent’s hand as his face flushed red.

Laughing outright, Vincent winked lazily at Laguna. “Truthfully, Laguna, I was simply reassuring your friend that my intentions toward you are as honest as they are serious. And he has also brought to my attention that you insist on going places without an escort or protection, and at the risk of sounding paternal, I find that most unacceptable,” he said seriously, turning to face Laguna. “Kiros has offered me the position of guard to you and I have accepted it. Laguna…,” he reached his free hand up to trace the smaller man’s cheek. “I don’t know what I would do if something happened to you… not when I could protect you. Do not deny me this position, as you would ease not just my mind but others’ as well who care for you, if you agree to this.”

Laguna turned to glare over the table at Kiros who grinned back at him. Great, this was a subject that he’d thought they’d been through more than enough times in the past. Looking back to Vincent he sighed, knowing that this time he would not win. Honestly, he really didn’t want to go anywhere without his lover so there was no point in arguing about it.

“Okay. You win, Kiros,” he muttered, taking a drink from his coffee to try to cover up his pout.

“Don’t you dare sulk about this, Laguna. You’re the only leader in the world that is naïve enough to wander about on your own. Or have you forgotten the kidnapping attempt at Balamb last year already? If Squall hadn’t been there, we may have lost you,” Kiros said, suddenly serious as he remembered getting the phone call that day from the SeeD Commander.

Vincent instantly stilled at that, going completely numb as fear and rage suffused him. His gaze grew cold and feral as he stared at Laguna. He didn’t lecture his lover, the man was intelligent, but he let his glacial expression say everything. Finally he turned to Kiros and said darkly, “That will never happen again. Laguna’s protection is now my business. If I am to take this job, I want no one questioning my decisions or orders and I need absolute clearance to all grounds, rooms, and archives. Is that acceptable?”

Kiros’ eyebrow rose up at Vincent’s response, surprised but relieved that at least Laguna’s lover agreed with him on the seriousness of the matter. The President was still pouting but he knew his friend would get over his reservations eventually.

“It may take time to get you the clearance you want. Since the attempt, all requests for security clearance have had to go through Garden, which means Squall. He insisted on it after failing to convince Laguna to allow him to assign SeeDs as bodyguards. Garden has the expertise to thoroughly check the backgrounds of all applicants. Will checking your background be problematic?” he asked. He’d gotten the impression from their earlier conversation that Vincent had a past that was rather colorful.

Vincent winced. That could prove to be rather problematic. But it appeared that Kiros was willing to work with him, and if he was to get what he wanted he would have to open up to someone other than Laguna. He needed allies in this. “Yes,” he said simply. “Before I died, I was employed by the ShinRa Electric Company in the Department of Administrative Research, where myself and others answered only to the president himself. Before I was sent to Neibelheim - and my fate - I had attained a high level of clearance in that department, and earned one of the highest ranks short of Director. We specialized in protection, interrogation, espionage, intelligence and assassination as well as other small and sometimes random jobs. My particular skill was marksmanship, to which I excelled with no equal. After the Meteor debacle when one of Gaia’s Weapons retaliated against ShinRa,, the ShinRa tower was utterly destroyed and all records were lost. I tried to locate them, but they are gone, so you must rely on my word. I am sorry.”

“You died? Uhh, forgive me but could you explain that?” Kiros asked, his eyes wide. Laguna flinched in his seat and tried to change the subject.

“Kiros, couldn’t I just talk to Squall and fix this? I don’t see why Vincent has to be harassed like this,” the older man muttered, running a hand through his hair.

“Considering that Squall left your suite this morning swearing and ranting about you, I really don’t know if that’s a good idea Laguna,” Kiros answered his friend before turning back to Vincent to wait for his reply.

Vincent rested his hand on Laguna’s thigh a moment in reassurance before he said softly, “The details of it all are, in the end, unimportant. I was… am… the product of a sick and twisted experiment, and amongst my new skill set are enhanced strength, senses and an enhanced rate of regeneration. I was twenty-seven when I died, and so shall my body always remain. I was young and foolish, giving my heart blindly and without thinking of the consequences. But time has taught me much, and I have learned my lessons well in betrayal and sacrifice… and ultimately forgiveness.”

He glanced first at Laguna and then down at his hand that rested on the table before returning his gaze to Kiros’ face. “I am nearly sixty-five years old. I will never age…,” he swallowed and ended softly, “…and I will never die. At least… as far as I know.” He leaned forward and said earnestly, “You should know that I have had three demons grafted into my very DNA, and was host to one of Gaia’s creations: Chaos, squire to Omega, and I am still able to tap into some of its residual power as it too had become part of my genetic makeup. I have since been parted with it, but its effects to my body are enduring. But when I am pushed to my limit, either physically or mentally, I “break” and transform into one of those three. I’ve developed a great deal of control over them, but the possibility is always there that I might… change…,” he broke off, running his hand nervously though his thick hair. Shit, I hope I didn’t just fuck myself,  he thought before he looked back up at Kiros. “You can trust me,” I hope. “Kiros, I need that clearance…”

Kiros frowned, looking down at the table as he processed all that Vincent had said. Glancing over at Laguna, he saw that his friend was peering at him with a worried look and he couldn’t help but smile.

“I’ll be honest with you, Vincent. What you’ve said… well it’s a lot to take in but if Laguna trusts you than I do too. While I find your story hard to believe, I have no reason to doubt your honesty. After all, why in the world would you make up something like that?” Sighing, he fiddled with a braid of hair as he continued, “Your training makes you a perfect protector and the fact you’re emotionally involved means I’m certain that you’ll never let anyone hurt Laguna. He’s always had a knack for knowing people which I don’t have. I just have to ask one thing. These demons… is there a chance they could hurt Laguna?” he asked, looking back to Vincent.

Vincent relaxed a little.   Kiros was taking this all rather well, and his concern was a valid one. “You do right to worry, Kiros, but I do not believe that Laguna is in any danger from them, no. When I became… aggressive with Squall back in Laguna’s quarters, I believe I was close to a break -as I hadn’t had one recently- and as soon as Laguna touched me it was as though all the tension eased out of my body. It was odd, actually. No other person has had that effect on me, which is why I believe he would be safe from them. And if anything, he’d be even safer as they tend to get rather… protective, of what they perceive as ‘theirs’. It’s everyone else I’m concerned about, but if Laguna can ‘defuse’ me, then I do not think they will be a problem.”

Kiros thought over Vincent’s explanation, finally deciding that if Laguna would be safe, the rest they could deal with in time. After all, these ‘demons’ couldn’t be all that bad, could they? Taking a deep breath, he looked up to find the other two men gazing at each other. Gods, these two really are adorable, Kiros thought to himself as he smiled. Resisting the urge to tease, Kiros decided it was time to get things moving.

“Well, that’s good enough for me. As long as Laguna is safe, I’m happy. I think I’ll take my leave and go make some calls. Laguna, I’ll run our idea past Irvine first. His support would help us out with Squall no end. As soon as I hear anything back, you’ll be the first to know,” Kiros finished, standing up and stretching.

“Thanks, Kiros. I don’t know what I’d do without you, you know?” Laguna said fondly, breaking eye contact with Vincent to smile at his friend.

“It’s nice to be needed,” Kiros grinned back. “It’s been a pleasure to meet you, Vincent and don’t worry too much. If worst comes to worst, you can always travel around with Laguna in a strictly ‘unofficial’ capacity. I’d prefer to at least pay you for the inconvenience, though.” Laguna threw a napkin at Kiros’ teasing and he dodged it easily as he headed out the door.