Author's Note: Now that there's another fic for this pairing on , I figured it was time to get my contribution to this pairing out there!
I don't own anything relating to Final Fantasy. Slightly regrettable, since I'd love to supply fans with the information on background characters that they want to know. Ah well. I hope you enjoy!
Cid couldn't quite pinpoint just when it was that everything started. When his eyes lingered longer than before on Rygdea's back as he turned to leave his office. When they started to wander from even that and he had to stop himself short of an embarrassing end, if only in his own mind. But when it started was far less important than the implications, one of those something Cid simply refused to acknowledge. There were few other explanations that fit as well, but it was not an option.
He didn't have time to spend on love.
It was as simple as that. Or that was what he thought at first. He could simply put it out of his mind as he worked. Time would pass and the crazy thought would leave. However as the days slipped by, his eyes lingered more and more on the shorter man. No longer could he stop himself, even, or perhaps especially when Rygdea left his office with a satisfied expression on his face.
Still Cid couldn't allow himself to believe it could be love. Lust, perhaps, would be far easier to accept. Something short term that was hardly so complicated. Something he could accept without having to give in to such a powerful emotion when he couldn't afford to let his emotions surface and cloud his better judgement. The moment he did would be the moment his whole world changed. He wasn't sure he was ready for that to happen a second time.
Then again, it hardly mattered if he was ready. These sorts of things had the habit of sneaking up on someone. Sneaking up so quietly that one day, with his eyes drawn to the back of his gloved right hand, pen held in his fingers poised to sign yet another paper, he was unaware he was no longer alone until a hand planted itself firmly upon his desk. He didn't jolt at the surprise, and simply lifted his head as an arm draped itself across his shoulders.
Rygdea. Cid had nearly forgotten the brunette's threat to drag him out of the Lindblum once their leave started. He had fully planned to resist the attempt. There was far too much work that he had to finish here, and his time would be better spent at his desk than in a place like Nautilus, or perhaps the beaches of Bodhum. And yet the grin on Rygdea's handsome face, a grin that lit his bright blue eyes stalled any protest before they were made. Maybe it was time that he spent one day as nothing more than Cid Raines. Set the Brigadier General aside for a day.
And maybe, just maybe, he could admit that he was in love.