Duet
Six months later, we still are who we were. But now we are called upon, to shead who we were and to see what we become. In our Duet.
CHAPTER I: Prelude 12/21
This is what I thought,
I thought you need me,
This is what I thought so think me naïve,
It was pouring. Raining like it hadn't rained years. "Do you copy?" a pause, "Do you copy damnit?"
"I copy. What do you want?"
"I have news," a pause and a click, "what the FUCK?" Quickly pulling out his cell phone he dialed the number he needed.
"Vincent Valentine speaking," the man said.
"DAMN YOU VALENTINE!" the deranged pilot yelled at the man.
"Well if you wish to damn me you'll have to wait in line," Vincent quickly said, "What do you want Highwind."
"Well Cloud wants the great Vincent Valentine to come to the bar tonight, I was wondering if the General would grace us with his presence," Highwind quickly said.
"I have plans."
Highwind snorted, "Any of these plans include getting drunk?"
"Horribly drunk if you must know." Vincent said, "Well I don't know."
"Just come you stupid motherfucker, Tifa is serving for free. And…Reeve has some sort of news for us," Highwind said eagerly.
"What kind of news?"
"Something about a threat or something," he paused, "He wants us again."
"Cid, tell Reeve what ever he's planning. I want absolutely no part of it."
"Vince that ain't fair. You fought with us. You gotta help. I'll tell ya, Reeve is really shaken up, and he even got those Turks a helping. " Cid paused, "They all a miss ya too. Marlene misses ya." Cid sighed.
"When will you land in Nibelhiem?" Vincent asked, he sighed, "I cannot fathom the slightest reason why I should help."
Cid smiled, "Its cause you've got soft for Marlene. I'll be there in an hour. Highwind out!" Cid shut the flip phone and placed it in his back pocket. Walking out of his shop room he past another window. Lighting flashed. Cid stared at the window for a brief moment; it hadn't rained like this since Aerith's death…Aerith's death was a loss that the planet wept over. Cid bowed his head and worked his way into the kitchen where his wife stood.
"Cid?" Shera turned around and looked at her husband, "Cid, what's the matter?"
"Shera…" he sighed.
"Oh, I see. How long?" Shera brushed off her apron and folded her hands neatly, waiting for her husband to continue.
"I don't know Shera…" He slowly approached her and pulled her into a hug, "I love you…" Shera smiled and began to rub his back.
"Well, I love you too, Captain," Shera pulled back and looked into his eyes, "Do your job Cid, they need you." Cid smiled and nodded. Shera kissed his cheek and she felt him pull away. He was leaving.
She went back to her dishes as she heard the door slam indicating that he had left for hopefully the last time.
Cid walked up the ramp of The Shera and started the engine of his latest, and the one with a great repair job, ship. He really didn't want to leave, but…this was his job. His job. So off to…Nibelhiem. Flying wasn't so bad; it was just the rain. He landed at Nibelhiem and Vincent quickly boarded.
"Where is Shera?" he asked.
"Home. She's safe there." Cid sighed and slammed his hand on the wheel, "Damn crew!" Vincent nodded.
"I assumed you'd bring your wife," Vincent said.
"Once you get married, you'll figure out why I'd had made Shera stay," Cid paused as his phone went off, "Sorry," Vincent nodded and turned to the bridge and made his descent down to the lodge rooms. Cid pulled out his phone, "Hello?"
"Hey old man!" Yuffie.
"Do you need a ride brat?"
"Nah, I'm already in Edge," she paused, "You convinced Vincent, didn't you Cid?"
"Cha I did," Cid dropped off, "Why?"
"Well it's been raining a lot and…well. Nevermind! I'll see you when you get here! Kisaragi out!" The line dropped and he put his phone in his back pocket again.
The intercom clicked, "Three hours until landing. We are now serving a light lunch in the mess hall." It clicked again. Cid shook his head and sighed, hopefully the ride wouldn't drag on.
The landed in Edge after many delays because of the rain; Cid and Vincent couldn't wait to get to somewhere dry. When they finally found the bar, they found Reno sitting outside the bar. "Evening. Foul Bird, Vampire." Cid lunged at the man, but found that Vincent was already in the way.
"Reno? Do you know what happens when I'm angry?"
"Do I want to know?" The rain was getting louder.
"Then I'd lay off. I'm not in my best mood." Reno didn't respond and Vincent walked into the bar slowly and took a seat away from the noise and near the window. It was now pouring.
"It's great to see you," Tifa exclaimed as she hugged the wet pilot. Cid let out a groan letting Tifa know that she was breaking the man's back. "Oh sorry Cid!" She turned around, "Vincent! There is somebody here that wishes to see you!" Tifa smiled and Vincent sighed.
"Who?"
"Marlene." Vincent tiled his head a little at this.
"I guess you want to see her?" Tifa asked cleaning out a cup.
"Yes, I would like to." Vincent said as he began to undo the latches on his claw. Tifa smiled and walked to the bottom of the steps.
"Marlene, Barrett, Reeve, Shelke, Denzel! Cloud!" Tifa yelled, "C'mon down! Vincent and Cid are here!" Footsteps and a screams were heard. Marlene ran halfway down the stairs and stopped halfway.
"Uncle…Vinnie…" her eyes where glistening. She ran down the stairs and carefully walked by Nanaki, not wishing to wake the fire cat, she the jumped into her 'Uncle's' arms and hugged him. "I missed you!" Cloud walked down the stairs to witness the event and even smirked.
"Seems that you're catching up…" Cloud smirked and took a seat. Vincent nodded.
"Your doing well, Cloud." The door opened slowly
"Hi there," Yuffie said as she sat down, "Sorry that I'm late!" Barrett snorted.
"Losing your touch, Ninja brat." He said downing his cup. "Got a follower."
"It's me!" Cait Sith yelled, the cat carried a stack of papers in his hands, "Hello everybody!" The papers flew out of his hands as he waved. Marlene dashed out of her 'Uncle's' lap and helped the robotic cat pick up the papers, as this was being done, Reeve and Shelke were deep in conversation unknown to them, the rest of the room was listening.
"Reeve, listen, we found her in time. When we excavated the Shera a day after Omega's flight we found her. She is in a coma like state. But stable. However we are facing a new problem in Kalm and other parts of Gaia…"
"I believe I understand…um… Hello everybody…" Reeve said with a small smile. "I did call you here for a reason." Tifa pulled a chair up next to Cloud as Yuffie slid into a chair near Cid.
"Just continue Reeve," Cloud said crossing his arms. "I know I'm being impatient, but if this is as severe as you said it was I would like to get a head start on it. Today," he hissed. Reeve's eyed widened.
He coughed, "Alright, well you know about the flooding in Kalm recently, I have had to evacuate most of Northern Kalm. Including part of WRO headquarters." He paused, "Shelke and I have discussed many theories about the rain, but we came up with one explanation. We have to go to who brought the Planet pain."
"Shinra…" Yuffie hissed. Reeve nodded. Murmured replies filled the room. Nanaki yawned and let out a low growl.
"But that's not all the bad news…I'm afraid. My sources indicate, in Junon, the mass disappearances haven't stopped. They are getting worse I'm afraid."
Tifa raised an eyebrow, "But Reeve didn't you say it yourself that the only remaining DeepGround member is Shelke? Who would be causing the disappearances?" Reeve sighed.
"Yes I did say that Shelke is the only remaining DeepGround member, but I don't believe this is the work of DeepGround. I've heard stories about mysterious men lurking around the Junon outskirts and they sound more or less like…SOLDIERs." This caused Cloud to sit up.
"SOLDIER?" he said slowly, "But…"
"I know Cloud…but it gets worse…only recently we stumbled over some of Hojo's old files; we wanted to contact Vincent to see what we should so with them, but when we finally were able to get a hold of Vincent…the files…were stolen…." Reeve gulped, "This information was about Sephiroth..." Cloud groaned.
Yuffie stood up, "How could the WRO have this big of an information leak?! It's like they have an insider of sorts!" She huffed and fell back into her chair.
"That is a good question Yuffie; I would like to know about the leak myself. We have every right to be angry at this moment, because this leak with so…dangerous." He paused, "But first…we must go find Rufus Shinra and talk with him." Most of the team nodded. Vincent coughed and all eyes turned on him.
"Reeve…I have no idea why I am needed and I feel that my presence here only puts you all in more danger-" Somebody slammed their hand to the table. Yuffie stood up and looked at him. Barrett pulled down on her arm, almost forcing her back into her chair, but she remained standing and staring at him.
"Reeve asked you a favor. This has to do with the Planet. Like it or not. This is your home. Like it or not. It is your duty to help the Planet when it needs us. Like it or not, Valentine! You have not a choice!" She almost yelled. She was red in the face and sat back down. Vincent watched her as she buried her head in her hands.
'She is the only one that can meet my eyes without fear.' He thought as Reeve began to speak again.
"Well thank you Yuffie, though it wasn't really required…" He scratched the back of his head. The rain began pounding again.
"Damn rain! It's raining all over the Damn globe!" Barrett yelled.
"Indeed," Vincent said, "It is storming quite a bit." Cid remained silent. Yuffie did not.
"There is an old tale of some sort in Wutai…" Yuffie was cut off.
"That would be considered lore, Yuffie," Reeve corrected
"Right right! Well this story tells that when it's raining like this the planet is crying for its lost soul…but…who is the lost soul?" Yuffie trailed off.
Cloud stood up, "Well we need to go to Shinra…and where is he located?" He asked.
"Junon from the last transmission I got from him," Shelke said quickly. Cloud nodded.
"Then let's mosey!" He said.
"Damnit Cloud!" Cid yelled, "Say Move out next time…" Cloud mumbled and walked up the stairs. Vincent picked Marlene up off the floor and headed for the stairs.
Vincent walked up the stairs with Marlene in his arms; he had carried her up the stairs many times, for she had always felt safe with her 'Uncle'. He didn't know why, he was dangerous. Vincent walked into her room and laid Marlene in her bed, Tifa was waiting at the doorframe. He turned around. "Yes?"
"Oh nothing…can't a mother see her daughter off to bed?" Tifa asked calmly. She walked past Vincent and tucked the girl in. She placed a small kiss on her forehead and backed away.
"We leave in the morning. We'll meet up with Cid at the hanger…" she sighed, "Vincent…I thought that you were going to loose it…after Yuffie yelled at you."
"She was right, that's why I didn't yell," He said turning away with his cloak billowing around. Denzel pushed past the gunner and plopped down onto his bed. Tifa did the same that she had done for Marlene. Tifa turned around and smiled at Vincent.
"Why don't you go talk to her, she won't talk with me. She's really upset…and well…you know." She said sitting down in one of the chairs. Vincent nodded.
"I'll see what I can do." He said walking out the door. Tifa sighed and looked back at the kids.
It took Vincent a little over fifteen minutes to find the precocious ninja. She was perched on the top of Seventh Heaven soaked to the bone.
"Yuffie?" She spun around and took a fighting stance, only to drop it a second later.
"Oh hey Vince," She said, her voice lacking enthusiasm.
"Why are you out here in the rain?" She shrugged.
"You know Vince, I could ask you something similar," She said. She brought her knees close to her body as the cold rain came down in sheets. "Or I could ask you why you left."
"I am dangerous. I have learned that through Omega…" He said looking down at her. She looked up.
"I don't think you're dangerous." She said gently. He looked away.
"Then you are gravely mistaken." He jumped off the roof and walked back into the building. She stood up after he had gone into the house.
She began to speak quietly, "I guess so…Vincent…I guess I always will be."
Sometime later, around three am, on the Shera, Cid awoke to the sound of his near by cell phone ringing in his ear. The man hadn't gotten much sleep anyways. This just gave him an excuse to move around and get up and do something. He carefully picked up the phone and flipped the top.
"Hello? Cid Highwind speaking," Cid didn't feel in the mood to curse out whoever had called him at three am in the morning.
"Cid, dear? Did I wake you?" Shera. Cid beamed.
"No Shera. You called at a good time…I was just docking," Cid lied.
"Well…Cid…I have news…your going to be a daddy…" Shera paused and waited, "Cid?" It was no use anyways. Cid had already dropped the phone.
The rain seemed to let up at that one moment as they knew, she was blessing them with this gift.
A/N: Read and Review. I hope you enjoyed the new version of Duet.