Ok, I don't own the rights to final fantasy 7, the brilliant Squaresoft do…though maybe they shouldn't of put their name to the final fantasy movie……let's not speak of that. Well, anyway, here's a warning, Cid is cid in this and as I don't believe in the damn censor law when it comes the damn man, he swears. A lot I think…also, it will have a Cid/Vincent pairing thing to it…once I get around to it. I'll let the two guys sweat it out for a while longer….and I should be saying this at the bottom bit right? A flying elves called Legolas….don't own him either….dammit!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This is a long story, the first bit anyway, it's kinda testing the water amd plus, it kinda saves me from having to explain why the wait is so long, it's a bumper pack chapter. Also, I'm knew to this whole, fan fiction thing so so me if one or two parts are a little weird. As long as it follows and makes sense! And I do apologize for making these bits too long, I just like to rabble on and on and on… So as the great Cid Highwind is known for saying in the game, "Sit your ass down and drink your goddamn tea!"
What would you give?
The old Shin-Ra mansion seemed to be far too big and far too old to even standing. The secrets it held shouldn't be known to anyone but they had been found and it caused terror to the world.
Vincent Valentine stood at the door, his metal claw hand lightly pressed on the heavy wooden door and sighed. He had just witnessed the destruction of the most powerful city on the planet in just under a matter of minutes. The huge form of Meteor crashing down, killing all those unfortunate enough to be caught in the death.
Everyone on board the airship Highwind had stood in silence, taking in the scene, the usually talkative captain stood slack jawed and in awe. It certainly was something to behold. It was a once in a lifetime chance. To see the death of a once powerful city brought to it's knees by nature. It was ironic, the city had tried for so long to kill the planet and now, it had been the planet that destroyed the city.
Bright colors shone out from Midgar as Meteor fell, reds, of all sorts of hues bleed into the city, Holy was having the opposite effect and was dragging the huge rock closer to Midgar but then, Vincent felt something, something serene but he had pushed the feeling aside.
Vincent had watched the captain move slowly to the controls, every move not as graceful or as fluid as it usually was. The captain said nothing as he silently brought the mighty airship, or what was left of her closer towards Midgar. The huge form of Meteor had almost devastated the once great city, the large plate structure had been completely ripped off, allowing the people underneath it to finally see the long hidden heavens. The serene feeling he had felt was still lingering, like a dream or a scent of a heavenly perfume that refused to dissipate into the winds.
Life as everyone knew it was going to change, for the better or worse. No one knew what would happen next, Vincent merely wished to avoid any type of involvement in the future, he was quite happy to remain hidden in the basement of the dark mansion he had resided in for the past 30 years. Life would continue on as it had without him, no one would miss him.
No one had missed him during his thirty year slumber, he had no family. No friends yet why did his heart feel like he was leaving something important behind? Whatever life he had with AVALANCHE and it's members was over. He decided that it would be best if he saw none of them again and had expressed his wishes of solitude to almost everyone. He couldn't bring himself to deny Cid rights to visit him.
He had been dropped off in Nibelhiem by the captain and had gotten an awkward farewell from the small AVALANCHE group. Everyone had thought he was freaky and he really couldn't be interested in telling them otherwise. The dark man thought he saw a look of hurt on the captain's face as he left the ship. The two hadn't been close but they considered each other to be friends of a type. The fact that the captain hadn't turned his nose up at him when the pair had to share a bed had to be a good sign. The others avoided sharing a bed with him but the pilot would end up cuddling into him as the others slept, although the pilot didn't know that.
Captain Cid Highwind had been the last member of the group to join, he had always been the outsider along with Vincent. The rest seemed to hang out with each other but avoided interacting with Cid and Vincent. The pilot had a habit of telling those around him what he thought, when he thought it. His attitude always grated on Barret Wallace's nerve and on more than one occasion the pair had to be separated from one another. Vincent would watch, fascinated by the younger men. Neither would apologize to each other yet, Barret had followed Cid's leadership when they had went to Corel. The younger blonde had assumed the role of leader when he had been dozing and had swore that if any other decisions like that were made again when he slept, then the group would be tied down and would have various sharp, hot metal objects inserted into as many different places the captain could think of in their places.
Cid more than made up for feeling left out by being as loud and as annoying as he possibly could but still AVALANCHE had it's own little group. They had saw Cid only as a means of travel to get to point A to B with safety, although the way the pilot flew, Vincent wondered if the flight instructors had heard the blonde pilot swear at something had had just handed him a flight paper and pointed to a plane.
The pair were never going to be completely accepted into the eco-warrior group because they were both Shin-ra. Cid a high ranking pilot and Vincent, former Turk.
He allowed a small smile to escape onto his pale face as he walked into the mansion but it quickly fell as the memories sent into his head flashed before his red eyes.
The images showed pain, hurt, all those he killed as a Turk and a simple voice came through his head.
Welcome home.
Rocket Town
Cid Highwind dragged his feet across the dusty ground to his home. The street was empty, the towns people must be in their homes. Trying to comprehend the events that had just conspired. It had only been a few hours since he'd pulled AVALANCHE's asses out of the North Crater as it exploded with Mako and gushed with the Lifestream. He hadn't fully grasped the fact that he was now classed as a hero for a different reason other than his flying skills.
He didn't feel any different than he had a few hours ago save a few new bruises and scars that won't heal but a few hours ago he was doing something he hoped that no one else would have to do. Saving the planet from a alien and her crazed half human son with a bunch of people who he didn't know.
The captain could barely believe it himself, he had just saved the planet. He had came here a few nights back, all set to die. What hope on the planet did they have? What little they did was killed when Aeris had died and the team had lost their way, all the while being guided by the unwitting pawn of Sephiroth. The pilot had felt ready to hang up his goggles a few nights back and kiss his pilot ass goodbye but something had brought him home. He wanted to stay with Vincent and check out the bars in Junon but Vincent had pushed the captain to Rocket Town, saying: if you die and haven't told the ones you love how you feel, then they may hate you. You will forever torment yourself in the next life and the next, you will seek her forgiveness in every life you live and in every form you will take.
He had told Shera Noah how much he loved her and how sorry he was for not being the guy she wanted or needed. He had said a lot of things to her that night, he found that if he didn't, she might not know as to how he felt about her, about a lot of things.
Now he had to face her again and tell her that he had been high on drugs or drunk or something. He really didn't want her to come running into his arms and sobbing. Weak people did nothing for him, he liked fire and passion but he'd be the first to admit that Shera was a real fire cracker when her mile wide fuse was lit.
He had had enough of that in Junon with all the grateful people hugging him and kissing him. Part of him was almost convinced that one of the male thankers had groped his rear end either that or it was Vincent. The tall dark man had stood closely and seemed just as embarrassed as the captain. Maybe the rear pincher had got him too?
Cid heard excited yells and he spotted the towns people rushing to him, looks of amazement and relief had became common place for them. The first of the towns people rammed him to the ground and started hugging him. The pilot blushed furiously and felt them kiss his blonde head. Various shouts of praise were being shouted. 'Way to go captain' or 'thank the gods' or 'Ya did it'.
He was a little hurt that no one was asking him how he felt, not that he would of told them. He hadn't told the others of AVALANCHE how he felt or was going to anytime soon. As far as he was concerned, he didn't want to see their faces ever again. A month and a half of travelling close quartes with a group of strangers either broke a friendship or made it. For the pilot it had most definalty broke it. He couldn't stick being around them, save for the quiet dark former Turk who had watched his back in battle.
The pilot squirmed underneath the growing dog pile that was growing on top of him. He wanted nothing more than to crawl into his nice warm bed, to drink a decent cup of tea and to have a proper meal. he didn't care what order it happened in, as long as it happened.
He finally crawled out from underneath the chaos and sighed, why couldn't he just of stayed in the town and not went with Cloud and the rest of the guys? His life would have been much simpler and easier to deal with, granted he could be dead but it was better than being depressed again.
A single raindrop fell on his head, he hadn't even noticed the sky. So unlike him, the stars were slowly making their wonderful appearance. The captain wiped the drop away and looked to the mountains of Nibel. He thought of Vincent Valentine, alone in the creepy old Shin-Ra mansion.
Wonder what he's up to. Is he ok? The fuck did he go back to the damn mansion for? I thought he wanted to start over…he talked…ok, he suggested that there was someone he could start over with but who was he talking about? The damn vampire…
, Cid narrowed his eyes, once he'd settled he'd go to Nibelhiem and visit the dark man. The former Turk was the only one he truly felt secure with in the team. The only one who seemed to have a healthy dose of real life in his head, instead of the crazy dream land the others had fantasised."Captain!" a female voice shouted out to him, he instantly recognized the light voice. It was Shera, the wonderful Shera.
"Hey," was all he mustered. He didn't want to talk much, he just wanted silence. A chance to get his head in order, to sort out his feelings. When he was taking AVALANCHE home, no one had said a word, the bridge filled with a nice silence with only the humming of the airship's engines breaking the peaceful silence. It gave him time to figure out what just happened and what he'd now do after it.
He'd just saved the planet and people were wanting to know how he felt, he didn't know how he felt. What made them think he did?
Shera sat down beside him, her eyes trying to lock onto her captain's blue eyes. He avoided her gaze, his eyes locked onto the mountains.
"Are you alright captain?" she placed a hand on his shoulder, this wasn't the same man who had left a few days back. This one looked like a shell of him.
"Yeah," Cid nodded, "Just a little tired."
Are you alright captain?
Shera's words rang in his head, she hadn't asked him how he was, she asked him if he was alright. There was a difference, the way she said it made him want comfort even more than ever and he wasn't fussed who knew but found he couldn't show it. He'd been used to barely surviving or living in cramped spaces for the past month or so. Comfort was a luxury the team couldn't afford. The only man who he allowed to show any weakness to was gone, living on the other side of the mountains. The choice of showing Vincent wasn't really given but sometimes sharing a bed with him was weird. The team had never really had lots of money so they didn't stay in inns very often but when they did, it was usually cramped and two to a bed. Everyone avoided sharing with Vincent but Cid simply shrugged and bunked down with him. The guy was human after all, the others were making him feel like a damn leper and that boiled his blood to no end. Vincent was part of the team. He would always be part of the team, no matter what demon took his form in battle.Understandable. He has just saved us all,
Shera smiled sympathetically, he did seem tired. A hot meal and a decent night sleep should make him feel better, she sniffed the air and found the captain also needed a good bath too.She pulled him closer to her, ignoring how he smelt. Oil, smoke, sweat and the various other monster smells all intermingled together.
Nibelheim
He tore the bedroom up in a fit of blind rage, punching and kicking the walls. His voice screaming in pain and anger. He had 30 years of pent up anger and pain to vent and he didn't care if it took another 30 to vent it out. He had to get rid of it. He felt as though it was killing him, slowing poisoning his mind.
The rooms were filled with dark memories he didn't want to recall. The room he was in filled with the emotions of Lucrecia and Hojo, the bed. The bed were Hojo and Vincent's beloved had shared their love, while the Turk sat in the next room. Vincent's heart had been broken over and over as he heard Lucrecia call out Hojo's name in passion. He wished nothing more than to rip Hojo's throat out at that moment in his life.
He knew the only way to the destroy the pain was either to destroy the house or to destroy him, no way was he going to die. Not after surviving the horrors of Hojo. He would not fall to the madness that was consuming him.
Inside he could fell Chaos from within, the demon was desperate to break free. Desperate to cause it's own form of havoc. It wanted to kill, maim or at the very least, give some one a very nasty fright or a paper cut. However, the demon seemed to be fuelled with something other than it's anger. It now seemed to be reluctant in it's destruction. It seemed to crave peace and would fight to the death in order to get it. Had the power of Holy changed the demons spirit? Changed it from one of death to one of life? Impossible, it was a demon from the very bowels of hell.
He closed his red ruby eyes and allowed the demon to break free, it's wings tearing through his shoulder blades and spreading. His long dark hair receded back into his scalp which was turning the dark greyish purple which was the colour of skin for Chaos. His hands turned into the clawed fingers of the demon.
Where are my enemies? I see none before me…
Chaos waited for Vincent's answer, the master was silent. The demon took slow deep breath, hovering above the floor as it's wings flapped slowly. None of the other demons spoke up. They feared the winged one but The Master must of scared them with his sudden temper tantrum and sudden madness.
Chaos was the most intelligent of the demons, well, it knew the basics. The demon had the use of The Master's words so it could hold a conversation but didn't know what the words meant.
It knew it was living as part of a sentient life form and that it was in one body. The Master's body, was weak but when it changed into one of the demons it took on the strength of the demon. Chaos found it was alone, The Master not wanting to talk to him meant only one thing.
The Master has finally got mad or he was close to death. The Master didn't feel ill or wounded in any physical way however, the demon sensed that the human was suffering mentally from something. But what, it couldn't figure out.
Should he call one of The Master's friends? The spikey blonde one with the funny eyes and huge over sized, what the master called a butter knife, sword or the nice brunette woman with the ample chest? Perhaps the thief? The lion thing? The big loud black man or the huge white mog thing? No…he didn't really like them. They always avoided The Master and showed fear when Chaos appeared. The foul pilot that the master was rather fond of? He recalled how the pilot had offered him or The Master anyhow a place of sanctuary in his home.
Yes, the pilot would be the most ideal one of choice. Sides, Chaos also seemed to like the blonde. The blonde pilot seemed to take everything in his stride and refused to let anything get him down for long, a quality The Master admired silently.
He could contact them but found that The Master made some form of weak resistance, he didn't want the others involved. He didn't want Cid Highwind to see him as a broken man.
The demon found one drawback to it's hastily made plan. It didn't know what a call was or what was required to make the action. Oh well.
Rampage and destruction of the mansion it was then, if only to help the master heal.
Hours later
Vincent fell to his knees, exhausted and tired from his bout of madness. The suddenness of the attack was frightening to him, he should never of lost his control like that. Calling Chaos had drained him more than he liked admitting, he knew he had to rest and eat. Chaos had been unwilling to show itself and had wanted nothing more than to return to it's small place in Vincent's mind but he had kept it out. He didn't want Chaos to return quite so soon.
He crawled over to the bed and lay down on the torn mattress, his red eyes filling with tears and his heart filled with an age old pain. A painful sob escaped his lips. His right flesh hand was bleeding from a cut he had received when he crawled. It stung like crazy and he looked intently at it, a small piece of wood was imbedded in his palm and he made no effort to remove it.
He wanted nothing more than to be held in someone's arms, he wanted nothing more than to be loved.
His life had been filled with so much pain and hurt, all he wanted was someone to call him theirs and them his. His stomach growled and gave hunger pains that made him curl up even further. There was no food in the mansion and only Chaos had the stomach to kill the local monsters and devour it.
The ex-Turk pulled some torn covers over him, trying to retain some heat in him, he shivered and held in a sob. What the hell had came over him? Had he really just destroyed the mansion? He couldn't clearly recall what exactly happened but he knew that he had lost control. His mind grasped feebly for some answers but found he didn't want them. He pushed away any thoughts that tried to invade his mind.
He heard Chaos tut gently inside his head, it managed a soft sigh.
Master what is wrong? Why did you lose control? Why did you intend on harming the innocent? I do not understand as to why you have done this. We do not understand.
Vincent laughed out loud, the very thought was comical. Why had he wanted to harm the innocent? There was no innocents on the planet. Everyone was guilty of some crime against humanity. Hojo was responsible for his pain, for his beloved pains, for the pains of Sephiroth. Hojo was the one who brought madness to the world and had sought to control what he wanted. Besides, he was a Turk after all. It's what he did. He made the innocent suffer by taking all that they loved away from them and by killing those that stood in the way of the Shin-Ra.
Hojo was a very twisted man who, in Vincent's eyes, deserved to die. What made it sweeter was that Vincent had been the one to deliver the final shot that ended the despicable life of the scientist. The ex-Turk had thought his revenge was complete, that he could regain some of his life back but only found an emptiness that seemed to span the length of his soul.
It seemed Hojo had really killed him but then one man had placed a hand on his shoulder and offered him a grin. A cigarette hanging from his lips and goggles perched on his head.
"The fucker's finally gone. Now we can rest a bit easy," the captain had said, he didn't fully understand that for Vincent it could never be over. During the thirty years of sleep, he had developed a damn nasty streak to him and he wanted nothing more than to rip Hojo's heart out and show it to the scientist as he once did to him. The only reason he hadn't done it was because he was with two people who were used to seeing him a picture of sanity yet there was a nagging doubt in Vincent's mind that Cid thought otherwise.
"No…we have to kill Sephiroth," was all Vincent muttered.
The captain had turned to Cloud Strife, the leader of the group for an idea as to where next and found Cloud staring at the cannon. It seemed even Cloud was at a lose for the next stage of action.
The pilot shrugged and took a thoughtful puff of his smoke, "Well, I dunno bout ya'll but I'm headin back to the ship. Ain't nothing more we can do here."
Vincent found his voice again, "Back to the ship? We have just seen the fall of a…great scientist."
The words had tasted like lead and poison on his tongue as he said them but Cid had again, brushed off the comment.
"Seen the fall of a fucking crackpot. Now, as ya said, we have to kill Sephiroth. We gotta save the fucking world from that man's mistake," Cid looked him directly in the eye.
"Sephiroth was never a mistake," Vincent felt his blood boil at the comment. How dare the pilot comment one what he had no right on. He had no real knowledge of what Sephiroth was or how he came to be. Sephiroth needed to be stopped yes, but killing him? No, that was too extreme.
"Didn't say that but, I ain't going to stand around and mourn for some crazy fuck who I helped kill. You, of all people, shouldn't be talking like ya lost your best friend. Hojo held you hostage for thirty years and now your finally free of him, don't waste your freedom by mourning him," Cid shrugged, he looked over to where the sister ray's cannon ended. Cloud was staring into the distance, a look of determination etched on his young features.
"Spike's got a plan I think," Cid said.
"I'm not mourning him," Vincent sounded like he was pleading with Cid, trying to convince the pilot he wasn't sad over Hojo's demise.
Cid stared a long moment at Hojo's body, "It's not me who ya should be trying to convince. Look, if ya want, I'll stay here with ya until you've said what ya have to. Don't let it boil inside ya. It sure as hell ain't healthy."
Vincent focused on the thought of Cid, the pilot had always seemed to be so cheerful and optimistic. Even when the team had returned from space and had been at a loss as to what they should do, he had given them a speech that moved even him. The planet was a sick little kid and they should try and help it. They had rescued it but now what did the heroes have to fight for? What did he fight for? Tifa and Cloud had each other and would start a new life together but the ex-Turk didn't hold out much hope for them. Tifa would always be living in Aeris' shadow. Yuffie would return home with all the materia she'd gathered from her long journey. Barret would finally be a father to his little girl, Cait Sith, or Reeve would be planning on how to create a better world now that he was in charge. Red XIII or Nanaki would return back to Cosmo Canyon to protect it.
He wondered what new project the pilot would turn his ever abundant energy to? The man had seemed to be withdrawn and depressed when they had left each other, his blue eyes were filled with uncertainty and some hurt. Was the pilot sad because they were splitting up or because he was leaving them? Perhaps it was because he no longer had a reason to fight either?
He had offered Vincent a place to stay whenever he needed and help when he required it. He had even offered him the usage of the Highwind, the pilot's own pride and joy. Vincent had noted that the younger man hadn't offered or extended the offer to the other members, he simply said 'see ya later', perhaps he should take him up on the offer? He should not be left to his own devices but he couldn't be trusted with live people either. He should remain in the mansion, he should go back to sleep in his coffin.
Yes, that would be better for all concerned.
Wouldn't it?
Rocket town a few days later
Cid sat outside in the yard, his blue eyes looking at the mountains again. He'd done nothing but stare at them, his mind would wander over to the reactor and how Sephiroth had gone nuts five years back. He'd heard the rumours flying around at the time and suddenly the thought struck him.
That's why he'd been pulled from the space program for the best part of a month, he had never been ordered to the town but he had been ordered to fly the 'cargo' of whatever it was to Junon. The stuff had been delivered to the sleepy town and he'd been told not to question what was in them. Had they been the residents of the town or was one of the crates Jenova? Had he played a part in the death of the innocent?
The thought made his blood run cold, he could of refused the mission but he was the only nearest highest ranking pilot in the area with top level security passes and plus, he loved to fly.
He slid further down in his chair and almost cried out, life was not going to be easy for any of them now. The planet's way of life had been altered, Shin-Ra had been defeated and now it didn't suck up the life force of the planet but when Aeris Gainsborough had died on the alter, something of the pilot had gone too. He had grown up the very instant she fell and had seen the sneer of the man who had killed her. Gone was his lazy days of just sitting on the Bronco or dreaming of space flight. Hello to a lifetime of nightmares and a new way of life.
He frowned, why was he thinking about this now? What he wouldn't give just to be his usual selfish self. Could life really be this fucking sucky?
Deep inside he knew, he had never had to face up to anything in his life and he had been told a few home truths when he joined AVALANCHE. They didn't care that he was a damn good pilot or about his dreams of space flight. They cared for the safety of the planet but it had taken him to actually leave the planet to understand how precious the seemingly insignificant sphere was.
"Captain? How long have you been sitting outside for?" Shera sat beside him on the bench. She handed him a cup of tea and watched him carefully. It seemed like he was losing a lot of weight, it scared Shera something awful.
Cid shrugged, he remembered it was still very early but he was still living in AVALANCHE time. Going to bed when it was dark and awaking a few hours later to keep ahead of the evil Shin-Ra, some nights the pilot hadn't dozed off and stayed awake with the forever awake Vincent. They wouldn't speak but they would just sit and contemplate their role in AVALANCHE and would move when one started to doze off.
The morning was turning out to be quiet nice but the Nibel mountain range still had the mist. The sun was halfway up the sky and was being covered by some rain clouds. He wouldn't of thought anything of it but for a while back, he was used to seeing the huge form of Meteor hanging in it. A fiery red bloodstain in his blue sky.
Shera felt her heart fill with concern. Cid had barely spoke to her the past few days. He'd wake up really early and then return back to bed really late. His meals would sit untouched and his tea would sit for hours barely touched. She had laid in her room and listened as the pilot would sometimes wake with a scream of horror. It was always the same name he would cry out, Aeris. The very lovely young woman who had came to the town with Cloud. Cid had told her a lot about the small group when he had came home for one night. Whenever she ran into his room, he'd brush her off with a swear or mutter that he didn't need a damn wet nurse but that didn't stop him from letting her stay though, until he dozed off again.
The airship he was so fond of had sat for the past few days without her captain venturing near her. To Shera, when Cid looked at the ship, he would shudder and retreat back into the house. The battered form of the once great airship cast a long shadow on the house, making the yard feel cold and uninviting to all those who'd stopped by. She needed the love of her creator and all she was getting was the cold shoulder. Shera had thought about doing her up herself but didn't want to start on the airship without Cid's say so. The airship was his child after all.
What had happened to her captain?
"Captain?"
Cid sighed, he slumped forward and crossed his arms. A dark look crossing his face, the woman beside him recognized the look. It was the same one he had when he had returned from the failed rocket launch and he had sat outside for hours, staring at the tilting machine. He'd been so near the edge of darkness that it was scary. Was he now falling even deeper into the hole of hate he'd tried to climb out of?
Now he was forever staring at the creepy mountains of Nibel. As if watching and waiting for some long forgotten evil to arise, with the same intent stare. Was he trying to figure things out or was he just daring them to make the wrong move?
"Captain…?" Shera repeated, she tried to catch his attention by waving a hand in front of him, it worked. A deep part of her wanted him to mutter an obscenity at her but she buried that feeling. No longer would she be made to fell like she was a second class citizen but if he wouldn't even register her presence…
"Huh? Oh, sorry. You said something?" Cid sounded like she'd woke him up, he returned his gaze to Nibel and stood up, "Look, I'm going out for a bit. Don't stay up."
"Where are you going?" Shera remained seated but she wanted to go with him. To keep an eye on him.
"Somewhere that isn't here…" the words weren't filled with hate, they had sadness tinged throughout.
"Cap…Cid, what is wrong with you?"
Shera watched as he walked away from her, his shoulders slating at the ground and his head lowered.
Cid turned round briefly, "Nothing…I just need a little breathing space that's all."
This was not her captain. Who was this impostor? It was definitely not her friend or the mayor of Rocket Town but, he was the one who had returned.
Cid stopped when he reached the Tiny Bronco, did he really wanna fly her across the mountains? She didn't cut a scary figure but she could handle the winds better and the Highwind was a no go anyway. Her engines needed to be replaced and various parts of her hull repaired where'd she'd been ripped at by the jagged rock at the North Crater. Escaping from the centre of the planet had been more of a challenge than actually going down and killing Sephiroth. It had tested his piloting skills to the limit and he was surprised as to how well the ship had handled during the madness. Though it hadn't stopped Yuffie from chucking her cargo all over his ship.
He smiled faintly as he recalled the first thing he'd done when he landed the Highwind and walked off her. He had stood for a few moments, shaking in shock.
It took all his strength to even walk unaided. Vincent had remained close by his side though, gently placing a hand on the pilot's lower back when Cid would veer a little too much to one side.
He felt like he'd stopped the train at Corel from crashing into the small town. His heart had pounded like a jack hammer for the rest of the day. He had stood and looked like a class idiot but not before he chucked his load over the flight deck of Junon, much to everyone's surprise. The pilot had missed Yuffie by a few feet and found that he had never really spoken to her about her travel sickness or about anything. Vincent had stood beside and steadied him as he continued to throw up, the pilot had never been sick in his entire life after a flight but Vincent had merely explained to everyone that the pilot had drank a lot of coffee and was coming down from the caffeine induced high and being banged about in a flying death contraption like a pinball was enough to make even the strongest men lose their lunch.
He missed the whole adrenaline pumping roller coaster ride of the past month. He even missed the rest of AVALANCHE, it was weird not waking up to see at least one of their faces. Well, maybe not all of their faces but he'd miss them anyway. He wanted to hear Yuffie retching as he banked the Highwind or the wet cat smell of Red XII when they had crashed into the ocean and further baths the team thought he needed during one of the lighter filled moods of the team. The curse words he and Barrett flung at each other when the pair got into one of their fights or the way Tifa could cook. He wondered if he put on a few pounds because of the meals, nothing fancy or anything but they were better than nothing and he was always eating them. He didn't want to hang with Cloud, he just couldn't find anything that he actually liked about the small ex-Soldier. He was just to damn arrogant.
Reeve or the huge white mog Cait Sith, there was a guy who had missed his calling as a gypsy or as a really bad fortune teller but one of his predictions had came true. For Cloud any how, the fortune had read, 'what you seek shall be yours but you will lose something dear.' Cid had avoided the mog about the fortunes, the pilot had figured he'd get, 'reach for the stars.'
The team had lost a very dear friend, Aries when the bastard Sephiroth ran her threw like a knife through butter. Cid had stood paralysed with Vincent as the silver haired monster fell to the alter. Cloud looked like he was battling with the same feelings as well.
Cid pushed the feelings and thoughts out of his head, what was done was done. He had been upset when Cloud gave Aeris her watery gave, he hadn't cried through. He avoided looking at the young woman's serene face and he would swear to his dying breath that she was smiling. Like she knew what was going to occur.
She'd talked to him before she left, her whole attitude one of peace and love. She spoke about next time or later a lot. She said she wanted to take a ride in the huge airship and she wanted to see the Cosmo Canyon at sunrise. He simply smiled and said he'd see what he could do.
The pilot jumped into the small plane and started her up, the engines purred but then spluttered. The thought struck him, the Bronco's engines had been shot as he had escaped with Cloud and the others. He'd take the car then.
Take the car to fucking where? You even know where ya heading?
Cid heard the perfectly reasonable voice of his brain kick in.Yep, I think Nibelhiem. Gonna crash Vincent, he's great for dealing with depressing thoughts. I mean, we are mates after all.
Nibelheiem
He heard a car draw upside the mansion and leapt up. His long hair hung wildly and his eyes darted madly about the mansion's master bedroom. Vincent Valentine had well and truly flipped.
He crawled along the floor like a wild animal, just wanting to leap on the next living thing that stepped through the door. He stopped as he watched his metal hand glinted in the dark light, his deranged brain made him laugh. It echoed in the empty house.
The stairs seemed to be never ending and stretched all the way down. Could someone really be bothered to come and visit him? The really freaky Vincent Valentine? Nah, why would they?
He heard the door open and he leapt up.
Ah! Lunch is served!
He listened patiently as the person entered the mansion, the steps were light and slow. It seemed as though the visitor seemed pretty cautious of the mansion.
Cid walked slowly in, he hated how his footsteps echoed in the large lobby. It would alert any freaky thing in the place that he was in. He really didn't know as to why he came. Something had pushed him and he was the first to admit that he didn't have a clue as to what. He did things for a reason but what that reason was, he couldn't fathom.
Something had dragged his ass there and he had simply followed the instinct. He pondered the feeling as he walked into the place, the very house freaked him out. Why would any sane man live in a house like this? It was enough to drive you insane.
Or in the case of Sephiroth, drive you up the wall, round the bend and then all around the damn solar system.
"Vincent? Ya in?" he smiled at the really awful attempt at humour.
Of course the dark man would be in, he wouldn't exactly be having a suntan now would he?
He froze as the floor boards creaked above his head, something or someone was in. Whether it was Vincent was another question. The pilot moved to the stairs and tugged on his jacket, he really hated the mansion.
This was his first time in the run down place. He only knew second hand as to what horrors it held.
His footsteps became muffled as he walked on the heavy old carpeting of the stairs, the place must've been impressive when it was first built. All the brass buttons looking real nice and the silver all polished and the carpets still vibrant with their deep colours. Now it looked run down and obsolete.
Just like it's owners, who were now dead.
Why had he left the safety of his home town and walk right into devil's country? The entire town reeked of Mako and death of the loss of loved ones. The entire town was in mourning and it looked like it wasn't going to end soon. Nibelhiem was the village of the damn. Forever stuck in it's painful past. The future wouldn't be welcomed in the town.
His heart raced as he took every slow step, the creaking he'd heard was getting louder and nearer, something knew he was here and was coming straight for him.
He held his breath and willed his heart to stop thundering in his ears. He'd been through scarier stuff than this in the past few days but somehow, this was even scarier than facing Sephiroth. He at least knew what to expect with the alien half breed. In this mansion, who knew what interesting little side experiments Hojo had the gaggle of scientists that worked for him had created.
Vincent kept his thin body close to the ground, hoping his meal hadn't heard him come crawling.
None of his thoughts made any sense to him, it no longer mattered. He was what Hojo wanted him to be. A monster. Devoid of feelings, devoid of love and all it took was to leave and re-enter the mansion.
No one could love him.
Not even the devil himself.
He sniffed the air and a faint memory sprang in his head, smoke…from a cigarette?
An image of a blonde pilot snapped into focus but he quickly pushed it down. No! that was the old Vincent. He no longer existed. Hadn't done for a long time.
He heard the meal speak, "Vincent, ya in?"
Again it chuckled low, Oh no! no one is home my friend. Absolutely no one is home. Trust me.
It crept closer and came a few feet away from the meal. it looked like he hadn't spotted the monster coming to his side. Wouldn't get a chance to either, if it had a choice.
A powerful yet tender voice filled the inside of his mind, it made him freeze in terror.
STOP! This is not you master. You are sick, you shall rest and recoup your strength. You need to mourn and allow your pain to show through the mask and the madness. I will not allow you to destroy yourself, you are not the only being trapped in this form.
NO! I AM NOT SICK! THIS IS ME!
Vincent screamed back at the voice, his form trembling in rage, I AM A MONSTER!The voice of Chaos seemed almost loving, a change from the death loving being Vincent thought it as, you are no monster. You are one of the innocents who were wronged.
Doubt filled his mind, was he? Was he one of the innocents? Was he innocent? No, he deserved this punishment Hojo had created for him.
He pushed Chaos back down with great effort and howled loudly as the great demon fought for a way back up. It seemed the winged demon wasn't finished talking to the master. The meal span round to face him, a look of panic, disgust and confusion spread over his features. The cigarette that hung from it's mouth fell from it's lips as it took a few steps away from him.
"Holy shit Vincent! The hell is fucking with ya?!" Cid's voice cracked with worry and surprise.
His friend was certainly a sight to see. The normally neat and prim man was certainly not his usual self. The man's long dark hair was wild and his red eyes looked mad. His friend lay close to the floor like an animal ready to pounce on it's prey. The pilot could the feeling of dread creep into his stomach, was his friend going to attack him?!
He didn't have much time to ponder the thought as he was pushed violently back down the stairs. He rolled as much as much as he could, trying to put into practise all those close combat training classes the Shin-Ra deemed necessary for all SOLDIER members and he tried to keep his friend from both trying to kill themselves. He grunted in pain as his body bounced off the stairs, his mind started to go dizzy as the world went by really fast. All the while his friend was trying to rip the skin from his hide, something in the man had snapped. Had Chaos gotten control? No…if Chaos had then he would know it.
He felt his head crack against the cold floor of the lobby and cried out in pain. The pilot turned his head to see Vincent sprawled across the floor beside, out for the count.
Fuck was that all about?
Cid thought as he closed his eyes.Hours later
The world slowly blurred into focus. His head pounded and his entire body hurt like he'd just went a few rounds with the entire elite of Soldier and did at least three retakes of it.
What had he done? He had attacked one of his friends and had probably killed him in a bout of madness. He'd managed to kill all those he cared about, Lucrecia, Sephiroth…alright, not so much cared about Sephiroth.
Cid lay a few feet away from him, laying on his back and out for the count. His goggles where askew and his smokes were scattered across the floor, he made a feeble move but then stopped.
"Cid…? Are…are you ok?" Vincent rolled over to face him properly, afraid of the response.
The pilot muttered something, it seemed he was awake but not for talking. The ex-Turk couldn't blame him, if he was the pilot, he wouldn't.
"When was the last time ya played leap fucking frog? Ya don't play it on stairs you fucking idiot," Cid covered his eyes with one of his arms and moaned. The pilot must of felt strong enough to try cracking a joke.
"I'm sorry…I…" Vincent felt a sob in the back of his throat, he wanted nothing more than to cry in his friend's arms but knew the action would not go down to well. Cid would stiffen when you even mentioned hugging and he had just tried to kill the pilot by trying to tear his skin off.
Cid rolled onto his stomach and gazed at his friend, what the hell had happened in just under a week? Could someone really lose it that fast? Well, he'd just take the ex-Turk home with him and get a good Shera cooked meal in him.
"Let's not talk," Cid rested his head on his forearms, "I'm seein' stars."
Vincent simply lay still, trying to regain some of his sanity and to control his sobs. He flexed his metal claw hand, it still worked. His right hand throbbed in a dull pain and blood trickled out from the wound on it.
"I feel…as though I have to…say," Vincent whispered softly but he was interrupted by the pilot.
"No ya don't…just don't do it again," Cid kept his head on his arms. He slowly lifted it, "Come on…Let's head back to Rocket Town."
Rocket Town…I can't. If I go then how on earth can I deal with my demons?
Vincent made a move to decline but something made him stop.Chaos rolled it's eyes mentally, How can you deal with your demons? What about us? You're the one who has the issues right now!
The blonde pilot sat up, he looked around and spotted his goggles and smokes. He leaned over and grabbed the nearest one, which was the goggles and pulled them on. The house had gotten darker since he'd been there, checking his watch he discovered it was a good few hours since he'd arrived. Shera was probably worried sick.
He stood up slowly, allowing the lobby to stop spinning round like a carousel before he made a move to reach for his smokes.
"Get your ass up boy and uh…brush your hair," Cid ordered the dark man laying at his feet, he offered a gloved hand and was pleased when Vincent took it.
"I'm old enough to…be your…father," Vincent reminded the younger blonde. He found that his spirits were a little lighter since the blonde had arrived but not enough to make him forget that he'd tried to kill the pilot.
Cid muttered something under his breath, hoping the older man wouldn't hear but Vincent did.
"Yeah…he tried to kill me to."
Rocket Town
Shera tidied the kitchen up quickly and quietly. The house work had taken her a few minutes to do when usually it would take a few hours to get the place round squarely. The fact Cid wasn't touching any of the mechanical devices in the house contributed a lot to the fact and the house wasn't cluttered by engine parts.
She was worried about the mayor of Rocket Town, ever since he came home he wasn't himself. It was if someone had transplanted the vibrant personality of the captain with a sombre and dull one. It made her wonder about what had occurred down in the planet's centre. What horrors had he seen?
She sat down in the kitchen and placed a hand to her stomach, pregnancy was not going to go down well with the captain right now. She'd been hiding it for the past month but knew it would be long until she wasn't able to hid it. The young woman had her doubts as to whether or not the pilot knew. Rocket Town was a small place and everyone knew everyone's business, no matter how quiet you were. The more quiet you where the more gossip that was spread or created just for you.
Much to everyone's disbelief, the two had gotten into a relationship a few months back. They still fought but it meant that it wasn't as bad as it once was. The relationship however started under a bad cloud. The pair had gotten drunk and slept with each other. Shera had thought it was a turning point but after the incident Cid had became even more distant and angry to her. Everyone in the town had said that the infamous pilot battered the engineer and that he was the control freak. He wasn't. The pilot had never laid a hand on the woman and had once said that he would rather cut his hands off than use them to strike a woman.
Once, a few days after the failed launch, Shera had gotten herself rather tipsy at the local inn and had came home. She had attracted the attention of one of the lecherous villagers and he had attempted to be her companion for the night. She had suffered a few bruises and scrapes as she fought him off and had ran home, tears streaming and clearly upset. Cid had been up late again, working on the Tiny Bronco and had heard her come crashing in. He was ready for hurling a barrage of insults at her for coming in late but he had saw the mess she was in and after cleaning her up had went out to have a few words with the townsperson who had down that to her and had ended up in the local jail for the best part of two weeks. He had said nothing to her as he had came home apart from asking if she was okay. The pilot hadn't always been a monster to her but he was hurt from having his dreams so near to being complete and yet only to have them die a fiery death.
She also knew that Cid couldn't deny that it was his, she had only slept with him and she had a feeling that she was one of the few women the captain had slept with. Even though Cid had bragged about his sexual exploits, he was always running from woman and had never been in a relationship any longer than a week or the longest had been a whole month. Shera could count how many times Cid had slept with woman on one hand and about the same for how many relationships he's had.
"What happened to us captain? We used to be so happy," Shera sighed, did she really want the answer to that question? Probably not but It didn't stop her from asking it quietly.
She brought her dark brown eyes to the clock that hung above the door, the woman had always thought that it was a crazy place to put a clock but Cid had been adamant about where it was placed. She had asked him why and he shrugged, saying 'why the hell not?'
The phone rang, making her jump. It was late in Rocket Town, just passing 11 at night but it could be one of the captain's friends. Calling to see if he got home safe or perhaps to arrange a reunion.
She walked over to it, hoping that it wouldn't stop by the time she got there, it didn't.
"Hello?"
"Shera, it's me. Cid,"
the caller identified himself, relief ran through her shapely form as she listened to his voice."Captain, where are you? Are you alright?" Shera had to stop herself from becoming over protective and motherly.
"Yeah…need a favour though,"
the captain asked, "Think you could do it for me?"Shera smiled, "Of course captain. You don't have to ask. What is it?"
"Need ya to come pick me and Vinny up,"
the captain's voice had a smile on it, obviously he was feeling better.Her mind went blank for a second as she tried to recall who 'Vinny' was. Cid hadn't spoken much about his fellow heroes sinse he got home and she had only met them a few times before hand and didn't really catch all of their names.
"I'll explain it to ya when we get home, also, could ya grab some first aid kit outta the house cause…me and Vinny was attacked by something,"
Cid seemed to be reluctant in saying what had attacked them but the fact that they were both alive meant it wasn't anything serious."Of course," Shera nodded. She knew he couldn't see the action but it was habit, "Where do I collect you two, captain?"
"Nibelheim, you'll see my car. I'll deal with that later…and shera?"
Cid paused, waiting for Shera's answer."Yes?"
"One other favour…call me Cid. It's my first name and it's only right that you call me that as you're my friend and all,"
Cid laughed, "Thanks darling."Shera had to smile as she hung up the phone, she was relieved that her captain was finally better but there was a nagging thought in her head. It could be the calm before the storm.
Nibelhiem
The rain pounded heavily onto the street, turning the ground into mud or making it slippy. The mountains, if one looked, looked evil and uninviting to everyone. No sane villager would be out in the weather, no sane traveller would be either. However, many of the residents of Rocket Town, would proclaim that Cid Highwind, was not sane.
"Fuck, fuck, fuck!" Cid Highwind swore for the hundredth time as he tried to walk across the street to the inn. Shera had called him minutes before saying that she couldn't make it, the weather had gotten terrible and a dense mist had fallen over Rocket Town and the area surrounding the town. It wasn't that unusual, the mountain's made that happen, so Cid had decided to go and attempt to drive home, only to find the car had been water logged by the falling rain. He had spent a few minutes kicking the vehicle, spouting out all the curse words he knew in a vain attempt a getting the car to work.
Vincent, hopefully was resting in the inn. The guy looked terrible to the pilot, not his usual self but Cid wasn't sure what that was for the man. Cid had decided to take him home with him only because he didn't want the ex-Turk doing something stupid. He didn't want one of his few friends trying suicide.
If the best pilot on the planet had to be honest, he hated this town. He hated everything about it. The mansion deserved to be destroyed, as soon as the Highwind or the Bronco was up and running, he'd drop a bomb on the house. Hell, he'd torch the place himself or something but Vincent had done a good start up job of tearing the place down himself.
He fell to his backside as he lost his footing. He landed with a thud in the cold, wet slimy mud and swore loudly. His voice echoing in the silent town. A few dogs barked when they heard him swear.
"SHIT!" he slammed his fist into the mud, making it splash everywhere and cover him further in the slimy substance.
He contemplated just laying in the mud but he was in his favourite flight jacket and besides, his smokes were getting wet. Slipping as he attempted to get up, the pilot kept swearing to the gods of rain, making idle threats that the minute he was up in the skies, he'd find and kick the crap out of him.
Yeah…like the weathers a real guy,
his mind scolded him.He walked to the inn, dripping wet and covered with mud. Cid rolled his eyes as he got funny looks from everyone as he walked into the inn. The receptionist gave him a disgusted look.
"Can I help you?"
"No, I've got a fucking room here already," Cid swore at the woman, his mood darkening with each step he took up the stairs. His boots left a trail of mud behind him but he really wasn't that fussed as to the noises of annoyance the woman was making behind him. The way he saw it was that he was keeping the cleaners in a job.
He searched through his many pockets to look for the key to the room, he'd locked it to keep Vincent safe or was he doing it to keep the stupid villagers safe? No, it was to keep Vincent safe, he didn't want the man to be awoken by housekeeping. He needed all the rest he could get.
After what seemed like a lifetime, he gave up searching for the key, it must of fell out when he'd slipped into the mud puddle. Swearing seemed like a good idea for a few minutes.
"The fuck can't I keep a simple fucking key in a safe place? I mean, ask me to look for huge fucking materia or the key to the temple of the ancients and I'll give them to you in a matter of fucking minutes but ask me to look for a key! Fucking asshole!" Cid ranted, he wasn't that fussed as to who heard but an old gentleman peered out of his room to the captain.
"Excuse me son, but could you please be quiet. Some of us are not as young as we used to be," the gentleman said.
Cid stuck the middle finger at him, "Screw you old man."
The old man went back into his room, muttering something about the youth of today not having enough respect for the elders of the world.
He waited a few moments before finally and reluctantly knocking on the door. He wasn't wanting to wake the younger…or older man. He needed his rest but Cid needed to get a fresh change of clothes and home as soon as possible but at the very least, clean himself up.
He waited a few moments before knocking again, the ex-Turk must be sleeping. That was a good thing, wasn't it?
He placed his hands on his hips and rubbed his eyes, his head was beginning to pound. He'd never been to fond of rain as it made flying treacherous.
"Vincent…wake up for a few minutes will ya? Open the fuckin' door," he muttered softly.
Seconds passed and the door opened slowly, Vincent appeared in the doorway. The ex-Turk looked far too pale and weak to stand.
Vincent said nothing as he stepped back, he raised an eyebrow when he saw his friend's mud covered form. Various insults went through his head but figured that the pilot would probably have a good few retorts.
Cid slipped into the room, "Don't say a damn word. I slipped and fell."
Vincent said nothing but a faint smile played on his lips, he felt his shoulder grow cold as his shirt slipped off it. He felt to weary to move and return it back to it's rightful place. Cid rolled his blue eyes and slowly walked over to him, a small friendly smile gracing his features.
"Fuck we gonna do with ya Vincent?" Cid pulled the shirt back to his shoulder, "The car's kinda waterlogged so we're stuck in here."
Vincent sighed, "Thank you my friend."
Thunder roared outside and the rain fell on the roof, filling the silence that had fallen over the room. Cid turned away from the ex-Turk, he pulled out a cigarette from the pack on his head and sparked it up.
"For what?"
Vincent sat on the bed, it was still warm from where he was sleeping and he was so very tempted just to curl up back into it, "For what? For being…for coming to my rescue."
Cid said nothing as he walked to the large window, Coming to the rescue? Nah, he's still a bit bumped and his head is probably still spinning.
Vincent felt awkward as he watched his friend stand silently at the window, had he said something to offend him?
He decided to change the subject, "Why did you come to Nibelhiem? The towns people aren't driving you crazy are they? How is Shera?"
Cid tensed at the name Shera, he'd been a complete jerk to her since he got back, ignoring her and he had to try hard not to fall back into the hurtful name calling.
"Shera's pregnant," he finally said the words.
A sharp intake of breath was all Vincent managed to make, "Preg…she's going to have a child?"
"Usually meant by the term pregnancy. She thinks I don't know but when a chick runs to the bathroom every morning," Cid sounded like he was going through his own thoughts, trying to clear and give them an airing, "It usually means a sprog's on the way. Either that or I cooked something."
Vincent smiled at the memory. Cid had cooked or rather attempted to cook breakfast for the team when Tifa had left to care for Cloud in Mideel and had failed fantastically. The meal had stuck to the pot and no one, not even the cook knew what the blazes it was supposed to look or even be.
"Anyway, Rocket Town is a damn small town, the old fish wives just love talking about things that will stir up trouble," Cid had brought the older man out of his thoughts, "They delighted in telling me."
"Who's the father?"
"Looking at him," Cid remained at the window and peeled off his muddy flight jacket.
"Congratulations," Vincent offered, his thought as to what Cid would do with his energy now. Fatherhood and more than likely, marriage.
Cid didn't seem to be to happy with the idea of Shera being pregnant, "Yeah…thanks."
He doesn't seem to want the pregnancy does he?
Chaos spoke up, at the moment, Vincent was amazed at how perceptive the demon was at guessing human feelings."You don't seem to be overjoyed at the idea of fatherhood," Vincent looked around the inn room, it hadn't changed since he last came here over thirty years ago.
Cid sat heavily down on the other bed and pulled of his boots, swearing at how muddy they were. He was trying to break the weird feeling that had fallen over the two. He shrugged mentally, why was he freaking out like this? He'd been through life and death with this guy and here he was, acting like a nervous date.
"It's been over thirty years since I last came here…still the same wall paper and the same hideous spreadsheets for the beds," Vincent felt a wave of dizziness wash over him, it was the same one that had took him before the madness. His body burned with a new fever that he hadn't felt before.
Cid leaned forward and placed a hand on Vincent's knee, "Ya alright there partner?"
Vincent nodded slowly, hoping whatever madness had claimed him back at the mansion would not claim him again, it could spell the end for his friend Cid and the people of Rocket Town.
The pilot frowned, clearly not convinced about his best friend's admittance of wellness, "Yeah well, if your fine and fucking dandy then strap a tutu on my ass and call me fucking Priscilla."
Vincent smiled as he recalled the image of the sweet young child who had a crush Cloud. He had to laugh at the image of Cid in the said tutu and likening himself to the girl. The pink skin tight leotard and the fluffy ruffle skirt around his waist. The clinching thought was having the ever present cigarette in his mouth and the flight goggles strapped to his head.
"What's so fucking funny?" as much as he hated people laughing at him, he found he was relieved at the smile. It meant Vincent was slowly returning to his normal self.
"Nothing Priscilla," Vincent fell back on the bed, rolling his eyes as the bed was still as hard as he reminded.
Cid rolled his eyes and stood up, "Gotta strap a tutu on ma ass before ya call me that, Vicki."
"Give me a few moments and I will attempt to endeavour on that task," Vincent closed his eyes as he heard his friend hit the shower. He was sure that like the remark in the mansion, it wasn't meant to be heard but it filled his heart with some form of warmth.
"Well, it wouldn't be that fucking hard."
Later that night
Cid sat at the window and peered into the darkness and at the mansion, the building looked pure evil and in no way did it make him feel any more comfortable. He took a swig of the hour old beer he had and looked over to where Vincent was sleeping on the bed.
The pilot had mulled over the problems of the dark man since he'd fallen asleep. Something in the man's mind had snapped and it was clear that Vincent was struggling to regain some control.
So, what happened back in the damn mansion? Maybe I should go check it out,
Cid flexed his foot, he toyed with his lighter and shrugged."Well, I 'pose I could always go and check it out," he muttered.
Cid gingerly stood up, he knew Vincent was a light sleeper but hopefully the bottle of booze he'd poured down his throat had knocked the ex-Turk out. His boots were sitting at the door, covered in mud. A thought crossed his mind, he really should get a new pair of boots. Those ones were older than the Highwind. They were so comfy though.
He headed to the door and but a sharp cry from Vincent made him turn round. The ex-Turk was sitting up on the bed, wide eyed and looking totally petrified. Cid leapt over to him, he tripped over his own feet and he fell flat on his face. He blamed himself for having a few too many beers.
Vincent clawed at the bed covers, the same look of panic was etched on his pale delicate face. His dark red eyes filled with pain and fear. It looked like his nightmares were returning in full force.
Cid sat up and crawled over to the bed, the pilot felt unsure at how he should react or even try to comfort the man. He edged as near as he could, he didn't want a repeat of the mansion incident again.
"Vincent…? Hey, hey, ya okay?" Cid whispered, he slowly extended his arm and placed his gloveless hand on Vincent's shoulder.
Vincent reacted to the touch as though he'd been struck by a bolt of lighting and he scrambled away from his touch. Cid sighed, he swore on his life that when he died, he'd hunt the bastard Hojo and kill him again.
"Hey, hey, it's me. Cid Highwind," the pilot spoke gently and calmly. He remained sitting at the end of the double bed Vincent had claimed.
The ex-Turk looked at the pilot with true suspicion and pulled up the covers further, "Cid……friend? My friend…?"
"Yup, best one," Cid offered with a broad grin.
"……I…don't have any," Vincent breathed.
"Bull, you know you do. Vince, what the hell Is going on in that head of yours?" Cid edged a little closer to the ex-Turk, hoping and praying he wouldn't scoot further up on the bed.
The older man had tears welling in his eyes, a few spilled over and ran down his pale cheeks. He shook his head and let out a choked cry, "I…I……"
Cid shook his head, he'd never been to great with people crying. It wasn't part of his tough guy image that everyone was so used to seeing on him. Shera had never seen him cry, neither had his own parents.
Do I really try to hug him? I mean, he might rip my fucking hand off…
, the pilot pulled Vincent to him and held him tightly to his chest.A few moments passed and Cid let out a relieved sigh when Vincent didn't kill him on the spot. The pilot felt a tentative arm go round his waist and felt the former assassin for the Shin-ra relax ever so slightly.
"Shhh," Cid whispered gently, very softly he started to stroke his friend's dark hair in an attempt to sooth him. He was surprised at just how well the action was doing. Vincent's sobs were quiet but Cid could feel them shake the frail body of his friend.
***************
A loud constant thunder pounded in his ears. His entire right hand side was nice and warm. He vaguely recalled being scared and afraid.
Where was the thunder coming from? His mind slowly got around to thinking that it wasn't thunder, that it was something else. Something much more closer. Much more intimate.
"Wha…where is the thunder coming from?" he whispered, he kept his eyes closed and focused on the sounds. They sounded so familiar to him, so reassuring.
He felt a gentle hand stroke his long hair, the fingers delicately brushing down his neck. Vincent sighed, he remained motionless, afraid that if he moved, the motion would stop.
He spoke again, a little more strongly, "Where is the thunder coming from?"
A sleepy drawl of a voice sounded muffled and quiet, Vincent's hearing on his left side had never fully recovered after Hojo's torture. He strained to hear the words.
"Nah, it's…um…" the speaker paused and yawned, "A little…after 3 in the morning. The storm passed over a few hours back when ya were sleeping."
So he was in Cid's arms, a small smile crept over his face. The one place he wanted to be and all he had to do was go mad. He sighed with contentment and tried to cuddle more into his friend's arms. The action, he knew would be pushed aside in his friend's mind as one of trying to get warmth and not of the way it really was meant.
Vincent was almost dozing when he felt the pilot shake him gently. The action wasn't meant to fully wake him, just enough to arouse him into doing something for a short moment.
"Hey…" Cid whispered, "Think ya could shift your ass for a sec? I gotta go pee."
Vincent reluctantly sat up, his head spinning round. He attempted to stay sitting upright for as long as he could but the desire to lay back down was more stronger than ever. He obeyed the command his body was giving and found the spot were Cid had been lying and curled up into it. The warmth was enough to send him almost straight to sleep but Chaos spoke, sending a new wave of pain to his already hurting head.
It pleases us to see you are feeling stronger master. Perhaps you should return with your friend to his home? There he would look after you, he would not I feel, abandon you,
Chaos's voice sounded so loud. It echoed in Vincent's mind.Will you never shut up?! Please…I don't want you…nor do I ask for your council?! No! It's your fault I'm the way I am! Do not speak to me…when I need your aid or council, I will ask…
, Vincent screamed back at Chaos, his head felt like someone had placed it in a hot vice and was very slowly squeezing.He felt something cool being placed on his forehead and a concerned growl emitting from somewhere above him.
"Shit…burning up some fucking fever pal," Cid cursed, "How are ya feeling?"
It hurt to even speak, "Fine and…fucking dandy."
The simple statement made him smile and hurt him even more.
"We gotta get ya to a doc Vincent. There is something seriously wrong with ya…" Cid sounded concerned, "I ain't going to let ma best friend die on me."
"I'll be…fine…" Vincent rubbed his head into the pillow in a vain effort to ease the pain in his head.
Cid watched his friend, concern and anger at not being able to help him ripping his soul apart. The pilot rubbed his eyes tiredly, he shouldn't of woke him. He cursed his bladder but knew the action was futile, Vincent probably would of woken up to this in the morning.
Something in his sleep filled mind the pilot suddenly had a rational thought, who knew what shit Hojo had filled Vincent's body with. The former Turk had been placed in a stasis like form and had been pumped full of whatever Hojo had to hand. Which meant Jenova.
Jenova had protected Cloud from catching colds and had probably saved his life when he'd fallen into the Lifestream, twice. Jenova offered some amazing healing properties but it worked as part of a living organism, even when separated, it was in constant contact with the main body and that was just the cells. Perhaps by killing the main form of Jenova, they had killed the cells that resided in all other SOLDIER members and in Vincent?
The poisons that Hojo had pumped him full of was slowly coming into effect and Vincent was going to be in a hard couple of days as the shit left his frail body.
"Hey, shit, I think your either poisoned or your going into with-fucking-drawl here partner," Cid spoke after his internal debating.
"What makes you thin……think it's…" Vincent trailed off, it hurt to much to speak, every scar on his body felt like Chaos or one of the other demons with were trying to break free but he knew, in some deep part of him, they weren't.
"Well…I…ahh…shit, I was never fucking good at biology at school. I'm a fucking rocket scientist for christ sakes," Cid cursed, "If you cut the head offa something the body dies right?"
Vincent barely nodded, he had no clue as to where his friend was going with the statement but allowed him to continue.
"Could Hojo of put some Jenova cells in you? Ya know maybe to balance out the whole shit he put in you? He'd want you to live right?" Cid's voice started to fade into oblivion but a small part of Vincent understood the words.
Hojo had put Jenova in him, if he hadn't then Vincent would of died almost instantly. It had been to counteract the poisons in his body and to keep him strong enough to last through the experiments planned for him. The cells within him had either kept the poisons at bay or Vincent was going through withdrawal as a result of the cells dying or perhaps because they were being reabsorbed into his already messed up immune system.
All he wanted right now was for the numbness that Hojo once had him in, the blissful period were no pain was felt or where time had no govern.
Vincent felt Cid's hand on his forehead, it remained there for a moment longer than it should of, if he was trying to gauge the temperature of his friend but not if it was meant as a sign of comfort as well.
He summoned up the last of his waning strength to ask a simple request of his friend, "Could you hold me?"
Cid smiled and offered a laugh, but he didn't say no. He climbed into the bed and muttered something about how this would look to anyone walking in. Cid lay beside Vincent and pulled him nearer. The bed sheets were in the middle of the bed and Cid stretched down to reach them, he wrapped Vincent up in them.
"Get some sleep and don't worry," the pilot whispered into his friend's ear, "I'll be right here when ya wake up."
He doesn't know how much this means to me, the words he says…they're not needed but welcomed anyway. Why is he doing the simple small actions of a lover and not a friend? Does he even know he's doing this?
Vincent felt Cid's warmth radiate through the sheets. It was odd in a way, during his time with AVALANCHE Cid had been the one who had ended up in Vincent's arms. The action was never requested or spoke of but it had occurred. Perhaps the pilot did know of what he did? Cid had always treated him differently from the others but not in a bad way. Friendship to the pair had came as naturally as ducks to water.Cid shifted slightly and started to sing something in Wutian, very softly and in key, which surprised the ex-Turk. Whenever the radio had been on in the Highwind the captain would sing very badly and ham it up to no end.
Vincent wondered were the pilot had learned Wutian from, the pilot was fluent and didn't have the annoying hold up when trying to pronounce some words. It seemed to suit the pilot although Cid had once commented to Barret that he really did only know only two types of English. Good English and the bad kind.
Vincent didn't focus on the song or the words, he simply was happy to have his friend holding him. No words were needed to communicate how safe he felt in his friend's arms, he fell asleep listening to his friend's singing and the constant sound of the heartbeat of his friend.
*************
Cid didn't get much sleep that night, his mind wandering onto every topic that sprang to his head. Even the damn silly ones, like how did they get the icing into some chocolate bars that were shaped like eggs?
The main two topics that kept hitting him straight between the eyes were Shera and the man in his arms at the moment, Vincent.
He loved Shera and was going to have a child with her but he found he had missed the ex-Turk like crazy. Did he love Vincent?
No way, that wasn't done, he was a guy and guys only go with girls. So why did holding Vincent in his arms feel so damn right? Like it was meant to be? He had never been so completely at ease with someone as much as this man right here.
"Shit," he whispered, "Trust me to get fucked up when I don't even try."
The comment hadn't woken up his sleeping friend, Cid raised his hand to his friend's forehead, hoping the fever that had burned had passed but his hope had been in vain. His hand was a few centimetres away from it and he could feel just how hot he was. It must be unbearable.
The pilot rested his head on the headboard and closed his eyes, the next few days were going to be damn hard for Vincent if it was withdrawal. It was going to be hard whatever was happening to his friend. He'd need someone he could trust and Cid had offered his services but the pilot hadn't been so sure of his own feelings before he had arrived. His mind was trying to figure out as to why he had arrived in the town. He was going to do the right thing by Shera but now this had came up. Vincent seemed to depend on him, more than what he had in AVALANCHE.
In AVALANCHE he had simply relied on him in battle to watch his back and he his. Cid had relied on him sharing a bed at night, the pilot had been mortified to wake up in Vincent's arms the first time he did it but Vincent had said nothing apart from 'good morning'. The pilot had blushed and muttered a charming choice words.
So, what was he going to do?
In his head, he knew what he had to do. He had to stay with Vincent. The man had been there for him. Cid would live up to the name of Highwind by helping out a friend.
The sun tried to peek through the heavy curtains in the room and Cid found himself trying to snuggle further down the bed and nearer to his friend. Vincent's head was resting on his chest and the long black locks had fallen out of it's hastily made pony tail. The younger/older man had woken an hour after Cid had gently aroused him and had been ill. Violently ill.
Cid had held his dark hair back as he threw up. He'd carried his friend back to the bed, surprised and concerned as to how light he was.
The former Turk was now settled and seemed to be very contented where he was. Now all Cid had to do was to fall asleep and rest his weary head and the pair would be good.
Sleep seemed to elude the famous hero, as it had in Rocket Town. He knew he couldn't depend on Shera soothing him when he had a bad dream, Vincent looked in no fit state to do it. The man was busy with his own nightmares.
His sky blue eyes stung in pain the longer he kept them open and his head felt like it weighed like the Highwind.
Vincent shifted and it made the pilot look down at him.
"Morning sleepy," Cid cleared his throat, he knew he looked exhausted but he didn't care. Vincent wasn't any better looking at the moment.
"…morning…?" his friend's quiet voice barely made it to his ears. The word had vibrated on his stomach and it sent a warm gentle breath on a small spot of his tanned form.
Thank fuck he hasn't got dragon breath,
Cid joked mentally, or Chaos breath…that thing could bore a hole in the Highwind's hull if it had the urge."Yup, it's still early though," Cid reached to where he'd placed his wristwatch and blinked away the stinginess that had become almost annoying.
"Shit…what normal people are up at this fucking hour?"
Warm short breaths on his chest as his friend spoke, "…time is it?"
Cid rubbed his eyes and stared at the watch for a long moment, trying to figure out what time it was. His vision kept blurring so he couldn't discern whether it was 8 or 6 or hell it could even of been 5. All he knew was that it was early.
"Does it matter?" Cid replied at long last.
Vincent shook his head, "……I wish I could be like you…"
The comment made Cid snort with laughter, "Nah ya don't. I'm pretty fucked up too friend."
Vincent slowly sat up, his long hair brushed against Cid's skin. His dark red eyes searching his friend's sleepy features.
His pale cheekbones reddened, "That was some…thing you shouldn't…of heard."
The pilot stretched out his hand and gently stroked Vincent's cheek, "Just forget it."
Vincent froze at the touch but closed his eyes. His heart leapt a thousand times more quicker than what the fever was making it. He felt his balance sway and knew better than to argue with the laws of gravity.
A small part of him marvelled at the fact that the blonde pilot wasn't pushing him away, telling him to burn in hell and was in a way, opening up to him. Had the pilot changed so much from when Vincent had first met him?
"Cid?" he whispered
"What?" the pilot replied in the same timid whisper, he removed his hand from the older man's cheek, as if he had asked.
"We're not exactly normal are we?" Vincent lay back down beside Cid, hoping Cid would replace his arm around his shoulders and rested his head on his chest. The pilot complied by placing an arm around his shoulders and the former Turk got an extra gift of the pilot pulling him a little closer to him.
A smile played on the captain's lips, "Well, who'd be normal anyhow? It's over rated I think. I mean, life would be boring if we all had cushy jobs like Reeve. The only excitement we'd get would be if someone fell over and stubbed his toe on a letter."
"…on a letter?" Vincent frowned, was his friend saying that to get a laugh or was he still half a sleep?
The smile got a little bigger, "Yup, and tied to the letter was a highlighter. You know, those things are lethal if ya don't watch yourself."
Vincent felt his lips tug at a smile, he knew what his friend was getting at. He was trying to make him feel better by trying to prove how silly and abnormal he was. The ex-Turk decided to join in, knowing full well that Cid would carry the joke on for as long as he wanted and this would be a private joke between them.
The older man decided that he would put his opinion of lethal stationary equipment out, "It's the paper clips that worries me…they can trip you if your not careful…they work together."
Cid whispered in mock fear, "No! how do they do it?"
"They link up…" he whispered back.
Again, in the same whisper Cid spoke back, "That's what I thought…they must be stopped……quick, to the stationary cupboard! We will defeat the evil lord of paper clips and save the fair…save the fair…water cooler from marrying the dastardly…"
Vincent laughed out loud, "The dastardly photocopier!"
At that point Cid started to chuckle. One of the few genuine laughs he'd had since he had joined AVALANCHE and had saved the world. The team never really had a chance to sit and chill out. Never had a chance to exchange jokes or laugh at small things. Cid had always had a sarcastic sense of humour and the way the team thought, he was just mean.
The pilot knew though that Vincent had just a sarcastic tone to him as well. On occasions, when Cid had commented about something with his sarcastic outlook, Cid had seen a smile grace the tall man's features and his eyes light with a distant laugh.
Vincent lay still as he listened to his friends heart beat, it was slow and reassuring. He felt bad for yelling at the demon Chaos earlier, he was feeling better but he still felt groggy and he knew his fever still burned. Chaos was actually concerned for him, like a way a parent would be for a child. It would only speak when it felt it had to. Cid gently started to drum his finger tips on Vincent's side, the motions sent a tingling sensation on his side.
"They talk to me, ya know?" Vincent said after a while.
Cid must have been dozing, his response was slow and sleepy, "What?"
The ex-Turk felt he had to tell someone and Cid seemed like he wasn't going anywhere soon so he'd tell him.
"Chaos and the other demons. They can talk to me," he offered.
Vincent merely got a soft snore from his pilot as a way of a response. He sighed softly but he didn't mind his friend sleeping. Cid was many things in life but very rarely did he shirk from his duty to those he cared for. He would show it in the most odd ways but everyone knew the pilot had a heart of gold.
The former Turk was actually glad that while Cloud had awoken him physically from his nightmarish slumber. The pilot, Cid, had hauled his mind and soul back into the land of the living.
Later that day
Vincent stepped into the shower, feeling better almost instantly as he felt the hot water hit his skin. A chance to get rid of the grim and dirt that he had accumulated over the past few days. It was a small wonder that the pilot sharing the bed with him, hadn't poured a bucket of water all over him. Even he had to admit that he wasn't his fragrant smelling self and he must stink to high heavens.
He steadied himself by placing his metal hand on the tiled shower wall, he gazed intently at it. It was a technical marvel but it was part of him. He hated it, it didn't feel like his hand any more.
Hojo had made sure that if he ever awoke, the scientist had wanted him never to feel anything again but what he wanted. To feel like a monster.
He'd caught his fellow team mates staring at the appendage and he knew the questions in their minds. Just how exactly did he get the appendage and why was he so quiet. Cid had simply pulled a face at the limb and had blasted Yuffie for staring at him.
"The hell are ya staring at?! It's a goddamn arm for fuck sake," the irate pilot exploded.
Vincent blushed underneath all the cowling he had wrapped around his face, why was the pilot taking so much interest in him? He had done nothing to deserve the attention that was being given to him. He didn't deserve friends.
"The man isn't some goddamn freakshow," Cid waved his hand in Vincent's general direction.
"You are going for sarcasm right?" the teen ninja shot back, "How can he not be a freakshow? He slept in a coffin for Da-chao sakes!"
The former Turk felt his cheeks burn in embarrassment and resentment but again the pilot came to his aid.
"Yuffie, I slept in a goddamn garage for the best part of two years," the pilot stalked up to the teen, he towered above her small frame, "I'm anti-social and generally cranky if I don't have my morning cup of tea. Sides, we're currently chasing a silver haired freak who claims to be heir to the damn planet. Vincent is normal compared to that guy, anyhow, you're the damn freak kid. What in god's name is a sixteen year old doing hanging around a group of adults?"
The ninja fell quiet and stared at the
Highwind's deck. She didn't have an answer to that question and probably never would have.Why is he always defending me?
Vincent thought, he ran his flesh hand through the mess that was his hair, trying to untangle the knots that had formed.He hadn't came up with an answer then and found he still couldn't. the pilot didn't have to defend him, he hadn't needed to do half the things he had.
************************
Ok? How was it? Good bad? Ok? Or a don't bother to write more? Please R&R, I'd love for some feedback on this. Also, I can promise you….I won't be doing a Aeris comeback tale. She's dead, she's gone and she's feeding the fishes. Sephiroth however…….well, he just rocks and plus, who else is gonna bug the hell out of the AVALANCHE group?
I would also like some ideas as to how to wrap up the whole Shera pregnant thing. Trust me, I've thought about killing her off but then, I kinda like her. Princess Artimess, (I'm sorry, cuz I know I've spelt her name wrong!) has done some great fics about her and Cid. I honestly don't know who the man should be with……please, please, please help me think of a way! …..the things they say about the paper clips and the office supplies….are true!!!!!!! Trust me…….the damn water machine keeps giving me electric shocks when I go for a drink at my work……….
