A/N: Something I have been trying to write for a while now and boy has turned into something of a monster! This first part seems a bit dramatic, but then Valentine is rather dramatic. Plus I kinda watched 'Dogville' last night and the prose as got into meh brain.

Dedicated to Enide-Dear, because she is possibly one of the most awesome Valenwind authors of all time and her work has inspired or rather kicked my arse into doing this.

Personal Effects…

Introduction

To say Vincent was concerned was an understatement.

His arrival aboard the Highwind should've been met with a warm shit eating grin and an equally warm, yet rough embrace. Perhaps more if he had the courage this time. Instead he was greeted with an equally empty and silent ship. It worried him. Not the emptiness, for the Captain could be quite generous when it came to shore leave in Wutai. No, it was the silence. That was what worried him. Like it's Captain, the Highwind was rarely silent and when it was it was indeed a serious cause for concern.

It worried the Ex-Turk considerably. Perhaps more than it should've done, but then he had come to terms with those feelings long ago… Though he had yet to act on them.

Being the professional he was, Vincent immediately swept the ship with Cerberus in hand to greet any unwelcome visitors with the full force they deserved. However there were none to be found and while it gave the tall man some small comfort, it did little to ease his concern for his friends well being. Even if it did turn out to be just a temper tantrum.

When Vincent finally found Cid, he was sat in his cabin alone on the edge of his bed. His head solemnly in his hands, a cigarette dangled from his lips unlit and his body slumped. He looked like…well… like shit. The captain was not happy, no he, he was far from it. The scent of loss hung around him in an almost suffocating fashion. On the other hand it did appear that the man was in a sulk and Cid was not known to be one to wallow in self-pity.

What had happened?

From the look of a very guilty looking Ninja No Hime he had witnessed bolting from the grounded ships general direction earlier, The Ex-Turk could take a very good guess. Their fights were rather legendary.

The silence was almost deafening, even for one who professed a great love if it. So in a very pragmatic fashion, Vincent decided to remedy the situation.

"Highwind?" He said as he moved toward the pilot with the caution he was accustomed to. Deciding on the slow approach to begin with. "Cid, whatever is the matter?"

The pilot barely registered Vincent's approach and didn't even bother to even look at the man. Highly unusual indeed, Cid always acknowledged him, even in the dead of battle or when he was just in a foul mood. Even if it were just a glance. Instead the blond settled for a shrug and a grunt.

"It's gone…" The man barely mumbled.

"What's gone?"

Vincent was perplexed now. What could've been so important?

However Cid refused to answer and instead gave another shrug and refused to look his tall friend in the eye.

"Don't matter, it's just gone…"

Vincent sighed. It was obvious that the slow and subtle approach to finding out the reason for Cid's unusual behaviour was a waste of time. So he decided to take a leaf out of the Chief's book. He sat next to the blond, reached for his rough chin and brought Cid's head up to face his and held him steady.

"Cid, I have no idea what you are talking about, but it seems to have you rather upset. So rather than doing a poor impression of Cloud or me for that matter, could you please tell me what the hell is going on?"

With that Cid seemed to snap out of his funk and a within a second those blue eyes had locked onto his.

Sometimes being blunt did have it advantages.

tbc...