Author: Shiva Darkwater | Fandom: Final Fantasy VII | Rating: PG-13 | Summary: Lost in thought, Vincent decides he wants to stop playing this game. | Disclaimer: Squaresoft owns final Fantasy VII, but it is really all thanks to Hironobu Sakaguchi, the lead creator of the Final Fantasy series. We are not worthy. | Author's Notes: This is one of my top OTPs: Cid/Vincent. They weren't the first FFVII pairing I read, but they were the first FFVII pairing that I actually fell in love with. I can only see them together, Cid requests no one less. Even though I don't mind Hojo/Vincent (guilty pleasure), Vincent has eyes for no one but Cid (well, and Lucrecia…) Different as night and day and yet they mix so beautifully… they truly complete one another. | Apologies: This fanfic was written purely on its own, it follows my Vincent's typical style from first person to 3rd, and it's always by Cid interrupting him too. Sorry.

No Longer The Monster

Ever since I met him, nothing has ever been the same.

It's difficult to describe; he's not the easiest man to understand. However, something about him simply makes him one of a kind.

It could be his smile. The way his eyes lighten when his lips curl. The way his teeth bite down on the cigarette in his mouth. The way that his cheeks sometimes flush if he's caught doing something out of character…

His hands, despite the calluses gained from days spent with tools and spears, always seem to be soft and reassuring. His skin, though hardened by days spent in the sun and building up a sweat, is oddly soft. Always he is warm and alight, almost as if he was the sun himself.

Strangely fitting with what everyone calls my "moonlit beauty", my pale skin and my dark hair… But I am not beautiful.

It has been ages since a time where I ever thought that I was.

Vanity has no meaning. What is the purpose of it anyway? Monsters for sure are not beautiful creatures…

"What 'cha doing?"

Vincent shut the book shut quickly, eyes wide as he turned in his seat to gaze at the other at the door. "Don't startle me like that."

Blue eyes twinkled mischievously and Cid grinned as he shut the door behind him, blocking out the noise of the others below. "You disappeared on me downstairs and I went to find out what was up." He started forward, smiling as he noticed the leather bound book in Vincent's hands. "Where you writing something?"

Vincent turned his eyes away, calmly placing the book back into his small bag of personal belongings. "It is nothing you need to concern yourself with Highwind. I only wished to be alone."

"Oh, so I'm interrupting you, eh?" Cid asked, warm bare hands resting upon Vincent's shoulders as he leaned over to try to get a look at the other's face. Those scarlet eyes never failed to amaze him. "You want me to leave you alone?"

Back straightening, Vincent once again turned his head. Surely Cid already knew, the blond never seemed to have any trouble at reading him… "Please."

"Please?" Blond eyebrows furrowed and Cid gave a little look of surprise. "You're giving up this early Vince?" and a smirk crossed those lips once more. "That's unlike you."

"If you're not here for a reason, then please leave." Vincent muttered, gazing down to his lap to notice that the fingers of his right hand were clenched tightly into a fist. "I'm not in the mood to play games with you tonight…"

Cid smiled and leaned in closer, removing a hand from Vincent's shoulder to entwine their fingers together before gathering the other into a gentle embrace. "It was never about games to begin with Beautiful… All I want is just one thing…"

Red eyes widened as Cid whispered into his ear, a soft moan leaving his lips and he fell back against the other man who lifted him into his arms.

I am not beautiful. Monsters are not beautiful. But at this moment I feel no more a monster than anyone else. In this instant, perhaps, I am human once again.