~Cloud's POV~

A knock on the door wakes me up. Knock knock knock. Knock knock knock. Stop knocking... Someone throwing a shoe at my head gets me up, and I groan, stretching my arms over my head. My back cracks and I grimace, stumbling toward the door in the darkness. Are you kidding me...

"Reeve?"

"Yes, sorry about waking you up, it's just that you all were supposed to get going at eight and it's nine thirty..."

"Shoot," my eyes widen. Cid would eventually get impatient and just leave without taking us. I don't blame him, Shera's got her hands full enough without him, and he can't be gone too long or she starts to worry.

"I managed to keep Cid busy with repairing the fridge in the cafeteria, but he'll have to check his watch sometime."

"Yeah, thanks so much, Reeve," I nod gratefully before closing the door and flicking on the light. "Guys, get up! Cid's gonna leave without us!"

"Good for him," Hope groans, burying his face in his pillow. Lightning sighs and stands, shrugging her white vest over her brown, sleeveless turtleneck, and straps her weapon holder to her leg. I yank Hope's blankets away and throw them across the room, strapping my sword to my back and lacing my boots up.

"Bye Hope," I say, heading toward the door. He groans again and stands, already in his clothes, and shoves his shoes on. His silver hair is messier than usual and the bandana around his neck is twisted at an awkward angle. Rolling her eyes, Light grabs her Blazefire Saber and puts it in its holster, brushing past me to leave the room. I raise an eyebrow at the reengage in front of me and he shrugs.

"Bout dang time," Cid growls as we appear in his airship. "I was only givin' ya five more minutes."

"Yeah, sorry about that," I frown. "Reeve had to come get us."

"Well next time I ain't waitin'," he snaps, turning to order his crew around. Lightning raises an eyebrow at me and I shake my head.

"He's always like this."

"I'd have kicked his butt to the moon by now," she sighs.

"I know," I chuckle. Cid impatiently waits for the engine to start before yelling and cursing some more.

"Hey Hope," Lightning crosses her arms. "Next time set your alarm, will you?"

"Maybe," he smirks, cocking his head to the side. "Or maybe you could do it."

"I don't have that snazzy watch," she points out. I laugh and bump my shoulder against hers.

"You could always use your snazzy phone." She opens her mouth to protest and I cut her off. "And don't bother lying. Snow showed me how."

"Stupid idiot," she growls.

"What?" I laugh harder.

"You heard me," she scowls. Hope even has to hold back a slipping laugh by clapping a gloved hand over his mouth.

"Sorry, geeze!" I hold up my hands. She rolls her icy blue eyes and smiles a little, softening her usually hardened expression.

"Don't you mean 'My apologies'?"

"Don't make fun of Vince," I roll my eyes. "He's just... Special."

"More like the most shy man I've ever met," she rolls her eyes. "Doesn't talk. Hangs out in the dark corner most likely fantasizing about shooting all of us and swimming in our blood. Has those freaky bloody eyes."

"He talks to Fang," I point out.

"Everyone talks to Fang."

"Why does it bother you? Do you have crush on him?" I tease. Hope laughs and makes his way toward Cid. The pilot can't intimidate everyone, and he never intimidated Denzel.

Denzel. The nine year old boy who deserved so much more than what I could offer. Who had an incurable disease I thought I had taken care of. Who was Marlene's best friend. Who would've loved Vanille, Hope, Lightning, Snow, Sazh, Dajh, and Fang. Who I couldn't save just like everyone else.

"Of course not," she scoffs. "You know that."

"Do I?"

"Don't be difficult."

"I'm not," I smirk. "I'm just a little confused. Care to clear that up?" Her cheeks flush a perfect shade of pale pink that I know she hates.

"That's alright."

"Oh it's better than alright," I say, still smirking and moving close enough the lay a hand on her waist. Her blush glows darker and she nervously looks around to see if anyone's watching. Little does she know that Hope ans Cid are cracking up a short distance away while they watch us.

"This isn't smart..." She blinks, speaking hesitantly.

"Neither am I," I smile before capturing her lips. She jumps before pulling away in surprise, clearing her throat and glaring at the two laughing guys behind us. Well, Cid looks confused and Hope's laughing.

"Cloud," she whispers, shaking her head in mock disappointment. I chuckle and turn away from the red faced woman, looking at my pilot friend.

"How much longer?"

"Maybe twenty minutes," he shrugs, lighting a cigarette. "Why?"

"I was just wondering," I shrug back. "Where are we going anyway?"

"Mideel," he answers after a long drag. "Reeve didn't tell ya?"

"No," I shake my head.

"Hmph. Someone reported seeing Hojo min both Mideel and Ice Village, so y'all are goin down south and Vince is goin up north."

"Ugh," I shudder. "We should've switched. I hate the heat, and Fang's not exactly equipped for the cold. Vanille either."

"Too bad Reeve ain't got no winter clothes," he shakes his head. "I ain't got any either."

"They'll be fine," Light shakes her head. "We just have to worry about melting to death in chase of a madman in a lab coat."

~Fang's POV~

"Why didn't you tell us we were going somewhere this cold?" I hug my arms closer to my body as Reeve gives me an apologetic look. The man driving the boat ignores our slight conversation, concentrating on the water as if it was his open highway.

"Everyone was late waking up," the robed man explains. "I had no time to divide who was going where, and Cloud had already left with Cid by the time you had come."

"But I'm in a scarf!" I protest, cringing at the pathetic nickname for my clothing choice. I can feel Vincent smirking at my back and hear Vanille giggling quietly to herself. Sazh chuckles along as he always does, in a good mood from seeing Dajh, even if just for a short while.

"Then you should be nice and toasty in your winter clothing," he teases.

"I hate you all," I scowl, crossing my arms tightly as I shiver. Dang cold weather sucks.

"Fang, doesn't it just feel lovely!?" Vanille sighs, joining my side and the edge of the boat. I shake my head with a glare directed toward a very amused looking Vampy Boy.

"No, it doesn't, especially since I don't have my face shoved into a cape thing that would be really handy at keeping me warm," I hint loudly. Being a retarded man, Vincent blinks at me as if I was the strangest being on the planet and turns away to look at the water we slim over.

"We're nearly there," Reeve announces a few minutes later.

"I can feel it," my teeth chatter. Even Vanille seems to be wracked with chills that have her shaking like a leaf.

"Here kid," Sazh slides his worn, green army jacket off and hands it to the smaller girl.

"Thanks Pops!" She giggles, sliding it over her thin arms with a grateful smile. He smiles back and looks up at his afro.

"Stay nice and toasty, chocobo. No need to become a popsicle now, ya hear?" The baby bird chirps and hides back beneath his thick hair. Must feel strange to have a living creature hangin out on your head all the time.

"Vince," I whine, stomping my foot in an attempt to bring the feeling back to it.

"Do you need something?" He raises an eyebrow. I roll my eyes and shudder again.

"Are you mentally challenged? It's probably ten degrees out here and I'm barely wearin a thing!"

"I am afraid I cannot change the weather."

"I know that," I roll my eyes. "Keep me warm, you idiot man!"

"Well if you are going to ask like that..." He trails off, point made.

"I hate you," I grumble. "Oi! Vinnie! Can I please borrow you cloak to keep from freezing to death?"

"I don't know, can you?"

"Stop it!" I stomp my foot again, only this time it wasn't to bring back feeling. Maybe it should be taking away feeling, before I go all Hulk smash on someone. Anyone here will do, honestly. He chuckles again, ma mm omg me just huff in annoyance before turning to angrily watch the freezing water pass. A hand lays on my shoulder, but I shrug it off. No! You were being mean! With a sigh, Vincent slowly undoes the clap thingies to his cape and drops the heavy material onto my shoulders. Using my shoulders to turn me around, he clasps it up the rest of the way for me.

"... Thanks." He nods, then corner of his mouth twitching into one of his rare smiles. I shake my head at him and hug his warm cloak to my skin, enjoying the comfort of the old material. It smells like earth, blood, regret, and hope. Vincent. I'm still a little cold though... Smirking to myself, I hug Vincent tightly around his too-thin waist. He turns into Mr. Rock Man for exactly three seconds before hugging me back awkwardly, me still holding back a laugh against his chest. "Now you can keep me warm." I can almost see his eyeroll.

"I suppose so," he silently laughs to himself.

"My cheek's cold," I whine. Vincent sighs.

"This is going to be harder than it seems, correct?"

"You got it, pal." I feel his hand brush gently over my cheek to push my loose strands of hair out of the way before brushing his lips against the side of my face, his breath warming my cold skin more than the kiss itself. "And my forehead," I smirk up at him. "Oh, and my mouth's cold too!"

"You are a terrible liar," he sighs, pressing his lips to my forehead before kissing me briefly.

"But you love it," I tease. He rolls his crimson eyes and looks out toward the ocean, ignoring the stares of Vanille and Sazh. "I really hope we find this Hojo guy soon, because I really do hate traveling so fast."

"I hope so as well."

"Guess what?" Vanille skips over. "Sazh thinks that you two should take the day off, and we'll take the watch. How's that sound?" Vincent frowns and looks down at me. I shrug.

"I think we should all just keep looking."

"Fine," she pouts. "You two will take the Snow fields and Sazh and I..."

"Why do we have to take the fields?" I whine.

"You couldn't possibly think that a little girl and an old man could take the cold, do you?" She sticks out her lower lip.

"Maybe the old men can take the fields and the little girls can take the village," I shoot back. Vincent rolls his eyes and grabs my elbow, pulling me off the now docked boat onto the snow. My toes brush the cold substance and I shiver.

"My feet are going to freeze off!"

"As will my face," Vincent mutters, making Vanille giggle. Sazh shudders and looks around.

"So how do we get to that village?"

"It will take a long hike," Vincent says slowly. "But we must get there if we do not wish to freeze."

"What about that doggy?" I suggest. He scowls at me.

"Galian is a demon, not to be messed with. Especially when I have not let him hunt for a long time and he is thirsty for blood." His dark words alone make Vanille's eye open wide and she squeaks, hiding behind me.

"Chaos is not going to try and eat us again, right?" She whimpers. Something shifts in Vincent's eyes and he turns his back toward us, staring at the cold ground.

"I do not know," he says coldly before starting a gracefully stiff walk. Sazh sighs and shakes his head.

"I honestly worry for that man sometimes." Then he's walking off too. Vanille gives me sad and apologetic look.

"It's alright, Missy. He just doesn't like people to be scared of him for something he can't control."

"You've changed," she says suddenly as we start to catch up. "You're not as rude and loud anymore, you let your emotions show more."

"Lovely," I groan.

"It's a good thing," she says quickly. "I like being able to see that side of you that only Vince and Light really can. Tifa too, but she's so busy worrying over Snow that, well, you know."

"Is he still staring at that necklace and daydreaming about Serah?" I frown. She nods.

"It's only been a week and a half, Fang. Let him..."

"No. He needs to see what he's doing to the poor girl," I snap. "She trued to talk to me about it, but there ain't much I can't do. Kissing her and imagining that she's Serah at the sane time just isn't right, and you know it. I can't have him using her as a tool!"

"Snow wouldn't..."

"Men are stupid," I say lowly. "They do things without meaning to, you just have to look to find them."

"Okay," she sighs. "Whatever you say Fang. You're the expert."

We manage to catch up to the fast moving guys in cold wind that makes my hair whip all around and in my face, the hits stinging my cheeks. Even Vincent's seemingly invincible body seems to be struggling against the strong gusts full of ice. Vanille huddles against my side, her thin arms hugging my waist as I attempt to keep the cape around both of us. Eventually, we end up in a cave, shivering from the intense cold. Well, Vincent isn't cold anyway. Or, his skin is, but he just doesn't feel it. Either way, we're all human icicles huddling around the weak flame Sazh managed to start.

"You alright, kid?" He furrows his eyebrows at Vanille. She shivers and nods. I scoff and scoot closer to her.

"No you ain't, Vanille. Cmon, warm up."

"T-thanks Fang."

"No problem. Just keep warm."

Us 'older' people manage to at least keep our bodies at a tolerable temperature, but poor Vanille.... Even under a pilot's coat and my arm, she can't stop shivering and her lips turn blue. Nobody makes a move to help her, much to my frustration, so I loop an arm under hers and help her stumble toward the tiny fire. Vincent sits at the mouth of the cave, black hair soaked with snow from the blizzard outside. Why won't he help? Hmph. Probably brooding again. In a last second attempt to warm her, I undo the cape and fasten it around her, my skin instantly numbing at the cold air.

"What are you d-doing?" She stutters.

"You gotta stay warm," I avoid her eyes as I use my number fingers to clasp it together.

"So d-do you."

"I'll be fine," I give her a rueful smile as I go as far back into the cave as possible and huddle up in an attempt to get out of the wind that's blowing straight into our cave. As a result, our weak flame dies and Sazh attempts to keep warm by huddling by Vanille. She carefully shrugs his jacket it off and forces him to take it back. Guess you've been forgotten, Fang. Yeah.

I never thought air this cold was possible. I can't feel anything, it hurts to breathe, and my head is pounding. I can hardly move I'm so cold, which probably be the best way to warm up. But I can't. I just huddle up in the darkest corner, too stubborn to do anything to help myself. Unfortunately, I think Vincent's super ears hear my teeth chattering and he turns with a soft expression on his face to look at me. I do what I think smart and pretend to be asleep. I hear him stand and slowly walk over toward me, his metal shoes making echoing noises against the stone floor. When he's beside me, he lays his metal hand on my bare shoulder, making me shiver. Ow. That hurt my bones.

"Fang?" He says just barely over a deep voiced whisper. I shiver again and wearily look up at him.

"Yeah?" So cold...

"Why are you... Come here," he crouches and opens his long, thin arms.

"I'm f-fine," my teeth chatter. So stubborn.

"Freezing, more like it," he scowls. "Now come."

"I said I'm fine," I turn away with a determined look. He huffs and forcefully pulls me toward him, my hands folded up against his chest. "Hey! I... Oh my gosh, you're really warm." I snuggle my numb cheek against him and shiver again.

"And you are freezing, as I said before," he says quietly. "Quite literally."

"Sorry."

"For what?"

"I dunno. Being a pain in the butt." He chuckles and shakes his head, resting his chin on my hair. I think I feel him kiss the top of my head, but I can't be sure. In all honesty, his clothes are colder than I am, and it's all... Fading... Away......................