He didn't know what he had expected, but this wasn't it.

Cid Highwind looked around the small dusty room, filled with coffins. Cloud was already poking through them, looking for anything useful, while Barrett was guarding the door from more of those YingYang things they'd found. Normally Cait Sith traveled with them, but after he had told them not to go down there and Cloud ignored him, he'd taken to sulking with Yuffie out in the hold. He'd been most adamant that whatever was down here was not to be disturbed.

"I thought there'd be more down here, after fighting through that monster and cracking the safe." Cloud pushed over some bones with his sword. "Not this."

Cid secretly agreed, though he didn't let it show. "There must be something down here they didn't want us finding. ShinRa don't put that sort of security on nothing." Not to mention Cait Sith's insistence that they don't come.

In the corner, Barrett coughed and muttered under his breath. "Why don't we go, before those nasties catch up? Anythign ShinRa wants, let them keep. We don't need their left overs."

"There has to be something here!" Cloud walked up to the centre coffin and tugged at the lid. It didn't budge. "This one's locked in some way."

Cid sighed and walked over, trying to jam his spear under the edge of the coffin, even Barrett helped try to lever it open. Nothing.

"We'll never get it open, we might as well come back later. If there's something in there, no one's going to get it out." Cloud turned around and looked at the others. "Agreed?"

Barrett nodded and walked out, not waiting to see if Cid would agree with Cloud's sentiment. Cloud stared at Cid with those eerie Mako eyes. "Highwind?"

"I wanna open it."

"We need to get going and find Sephiroth. Aeris and Tifa will be waiting."

Cid rolled his eyes. He knew that the kid had been getting some, he hadn't realised that it was from both of the girls. "Fine, you go. I wanna see what's in here. You go though, I'm claiming it."

Rising to the threat, Cloud stood to his full height, which was still shorter than the pilot. "Fine, I'll help you open it. Normal split."

"You help, and I get fifty percent."

"Normal division!"

"Fifty fifty!"

The coffin lid was flung away from the coffin, clattering across the room. A dark figure rose from the black box, cloak floating around it, hovering on unfelt winds. "Who disturbs this cursed place?"

Both of them were frozen to the spot, unable to move. The figure drifted closer, black tresses wild around the hidden face. "Who disturbs my slumber!?" In that quiet voice it expressed more menacing threat than anything Cid had heard in his thirty two years.

It looked at them and over at a brand, which flew to float in front of it, lighting the area. A high collar and elaborate head wrap hide its the face, but there seemed to be something glowing red from in the darkness. Hopefully, it was a trick of the fire. "Answer or get out of my sanctum!"

Cid found his tongue and stepped forward. "I'm Cid Highwind, this is Cloud Strife."

Its head moved back and forth. "These names mean nothing to me. Go away." The torch returned to its place and the figure started to float backwards.

"Hey, wait up! Why'd you wanna go back in there so quickly?" Cid stepped forwards, hand reaching to the creature.

"To continue my purgatory. Leave me alone. The sooner I continue, the sooner I end." It sounded male, a deep, rich baritone with a slight huskiness similar to that of someone who had just woken. "Go away."

"Purgatory for what?" He pushed. He could see Cloud glaring at him in his peripheral vision.

"For my sins, what else?" It sounded genuinely confused. "Leave me be, little one."

With that it sank back into its coffin and the lid clattered back into place.

Cloud turned to Cid. "Leave the thing along, its obviously some kind of monster seeking redemption. Let it sleep."

Cid stomped his foot. "How does sleeping make up for sins? The fucking thing wants to atone, it can fucking do it by action, not inaction. The fucker should get up an use those powers to better the world."

"It's not our problem. Monsters think differently."

"Monsters don't talk, Cloud! Fucking think about it, you jackass. That was human. Or close enough."

Cloud sighed. "Let's go, Cid."

Cid stared and then walked up the coffin, banging loudly on the lid. "Hey, you, in there, purgatory thing! Get up, I wanna talk to you about something I think you'd be very interested in."

The coffin lid was pushed back and the inhabitant floated up again. "What is it, mortal?"

"Help us."

"What?"

"Help us save the world." Cid planted the butt of his spear in the ground. "You, help us, for redemption."

It tilted its head and the glowing redness flickered for a moment. "Get lost, little man. I will not ask again."

It disappeared back into the coffin.

"Cid, face facts. It doesn't want to help, it wants to sleep and wallow. At least its one monster we don't have to kill."

Cid kicked the coffin and, staring at Cloud, yelled, "Oi, you in there! Get up, you lazy fuck, I still wanna talk."

Something at that moment changed. The room grew darker, the fires were blown out by a rush of freezing cold wind. The door slammed shut hard, leaving the room in pitch blackness. There was a creaking noise from somewhere, and Cid heard Cloud trying to use a fire spell.

"You're magic will not work here, mortals. I warned you to go while you could."

They both returned, Cid assumed Cloud did, and saw the glowing pinpoints of red in the pitch black. There was still that cold chill, only it seemed to come from the strange figure. "Do not insult me, Cid Highwind. I sleep because it is my punishment. I dream the nightmares of a tortured world, and I see the future of it." The door creaked open. "Cloud Strife, leave now."

"Not without Cid."

"Do not anger me, boy. You have a part in the future, go fulfill it. Highwind stays with me."

"Not with out my teammate!"

"NOW!" Something gutturally roared. Cloud was flung backwards, Cid could see his silhouette in the doorway, right before the door was slammed shut.

"So, what you want me for?"

"You angered me, human."

Cid sat down and fumbled for a lighter, finally flicking it open and lighting a cigarette. "Yeah, I tend to fuck people off. Too damn honest for my own good, got no tact."

The red got deeper and the chill returned. "Do I not frighten you?" The deep rumbling voice demanded.

"Not really."

Abruptly, the lights came back on, or rather, the fires re lit. Cid saw he was looking at a man, lithe under the red cape he wore, wearing a metal gauntlet on his left hand, a finger less leather glove on the right. His face was still obscured by his collar and head band, but the pale skin was slightly visible. "Why not?" The harsh tones were gone, leaving the naturally soft and quiet voice to be heard.

Cid shrugged and took a drag. "Why should you? All you did was flicker on some fires and float. I seen fancier."

The man seemed surprised by this. He crouched down, metal sheathed hand balancing him on the ground in front. "You said you are called Cid Highwind?"

"Yep." He stuck out his right hand. "Who are you?"

The man seemed surprised. One elegantly slender hand reached out and grasped his in a firm handshake. "I don't need a name. Not for you to call me by. I'm going to kill you, you know that, don't you?"

Once more, Cid shrugged. "Yeah, well, everyone dies. I'll fight, ya know."

"I don't die." The man sat down and crossed his legs. He wore metal boots, plated and heavy looking. "I can't, not anymore. I don't think so anyway." He scratched a line in the stone with his gauntlet covered finger. "Fighting will make it harder on you."

"Then don't kill me."

"I have to."

"Why?"

Silence after that. "I need to."

"Why? I don't really wanna die. Not yet. Not for no reason."

More silence. "I need your blood."

"Why'd ya want that?"

"To keep me active. I need blood."

"And you need enough so much I'll die?"

"No. Not really. But you won't let me take it. The other two wouldn't, and he killed them. So they locked me down here."

Cid abruptly noticed how very young his 'attacker' sounded. "How old are you?"

"I don't know. What year is it?"

"I forget."

More silence. Cid puffed away and his companion watched in silence.

"Who is that guy who killed them?"

"Chaos. He lives in me. He needs the blood as well, but he's far more, violent, in acquiring it. When they denied us, he got angry. He'll kill you. I'm sorry."

Cid nodded slowly. "Why didn't ya ask, ya dumb fuck?"

The red flickered again, and Cid realised he was blinking. "Why would you say yes?"

Another shrug. "One, if I let you, I get to live. Two, you seem to be a good person, whoever you are. If you need blood, fair enough. I'll give it to you."

Silence. "No one's ever done something like this for me."

Cid smiled and stubbed out his cigarette. "So, you want me to cut something open or what?"

Shake of that black haired head. "No. I will open a wound, and close it." He stood up and shook out his cloak. "Thank you, Cid Highwind."

"Can I ask something of you?"

"Yes."

"What's your name? Seriously."

The figure stayed still then turned back. "It doesn't matter. Once this is over, you can leave, and I can go back sleep."

Cid nodded, regretfully. He kind of hoped that the strange young man would come with them. "Okay. What you want me to do?"

"Stand up please."

He stood up and lay his spear against a coffin. He felt the man approach from behind him, and wind his arms around his waist and chest, holding him close. The body behind his was cold to touch, unnaturally so. "What are you doing?"

"Shh." The softest lips he had ever felt caressed his nape, then moved to the side, just under his ear. He felt teeth brush over his skin and shivered. "What are you?"

"I am cursed, but right now, I am your ecstasy." Sharp fangs slid into his skin but he felt no pain, only the most pleasurably sensation, one that ran straight to his groin. He gasped and felt the hand around his waist reach down, the one on his chest pulling him close. Slender fingers were stroking him through heavy cloth, rough weave burning as it brushed over him. He gasped and thrust up into the waitnig hand, then felt suction on his neck, hard and rough, making him shudder, the hand on his chest carefully pinching a nipple and he lost it completely.

He sat up. He was tired and felt very, relaxed. Satiated.

He was in a coffin.

He yelled and jumped out, swaying on his feet.

A steadying hand caught his elbow and held him upright. "Be careful, you lost a lot of blood."

He tried to speak but his throat felt strange and he was extremely dizzy. "What happened?" He could remember nothing beyond agreeing to let the man have his blood. There was a vague flicker in his mind as something tried to claw to the surface, him screaming out in pleasure, the other man pressed against him, hardness against his lower back drving him over the edge.

"I took the blood, but you passed out." He saw his companion come into vision, red eyes finally visible this close. "Are you feeling well?"

"No, I feel sick. And I can't remember what happened."

"I'm sorry. Your memory will return to you."

Cid smiled and clipped the younger man where he presumed his ear was. "Don't apologise, I volunteered."

"I made you. I'm sorry. Can I make it up to you?"

Cid sighed and sat down on the edge of the coffin. "Look, you didn't..... you wanna make it up to me?"

An earnest nod.

"Come and help us fight Sephiroth."

"Sephi...... no, no I can't."

"You wanna atone for stuff, and make it up to me? Do it by helping us. That nut wants to blow up this world. Someone with your powers would be a great help."

He shook his head. "No, the longer I stay awake, the more blood we need. Sleep abates the thirst."

"I'll give ya blood. How often do you, need it?"

"Once every two months. More if you want me to fight with magic." He pulled aside the cloak to reveal narrow hips with a heavy gun in a holster on one side. "I can fight in other ways though."

Cid nodded. "Please?"

He sighed and nodded, looking away. "Yes, I will fight for you."

"Tell me your name." He grabbed the slim shoulders and turned the man to face him. Another flicker of memory, bloodstained lips against his own, his hands against cold skin.

The man looked up, large red eyes mournful. "Vincent. Vincent Valentine."