Title: A Dark Moon Rising part 2 of 13

Author: Enide Dear

Rating: NC-17, eventually

Pairing: Cid/Reeve, Valenwind, Cid/Reeve/Vincent

Summary: This, as far as I can get it, is what you wished for – hot and smexy Valenwind. With Reeve.

Author's note: The dark, tall demon-man has a name! *gasp* Who ever can it be?

Also, I have a hand – fetish…*sigh*

The Highwind left Nibelehim that same afternoon, rising slowly and gracefully into the clear blue summer sky. It was hard to tell who were happiest when it cleared the mountain pass, the people of town or the two people inside the ship. When they cleared the treacherous mountain winds Cid could relax a bit. He cast a glance at his strange, unwilling passenger.

"Hey, y'alright in there? Yer not getting airsick or something?"

"No, mr Highwind. I'm…fine."

"Eh? How did ya…how did ya know my name?"

"I heard them talking to you." The dark man shifted inside his cage, red eyes like embers behind the curtain of his hair.

"Oh. Well, what's yer name then?"

"What makes you think I have one? Do demons have names?" The man sounded tired, his voice low.

"I don't know. Yer the first one I met." Cid set his jaw stubbornly, sucking at his cigarette.

"I am not a demon." The man almost whispered.

"Really?" Cid rolled his eyes. "'Cause ya could have fooled me, what with the fangs and claws and everything."

"There are demons living inside me. I don't deny that. That doesn't make me one of them."

"What's the difference? Ya attacked…"

"And if you had been shot, mr Highwind? What would you have done?"

"Not turned into a monster, that's fer sure. Look, I get yer point, but it ain't changing a thing. If I were to let ya loose, ye'd attack me. Or someone else, who can't defend themselves, like those pesky villagers."

"Only if you'd hurt me. Or make me very angry. I can't…I can't control them."

"Then there ain't much of a difference, is there?" Cid sighed. "I'm not looking forward to this or anything, ya know. But I figure it would be a far worse thing, if I let someone with four demons waiting to break out loose in the world. Ya understand?"

The dark man nodded.

"Maybe you are right, captain." He fiddled with his bandaged arm, not looking up. "It would be…nice and calm, not having to worry about the demons. Not having to worry about anything, anymore."

"So it will work? This cage?"

"The silver keeps the demons contained. I won't be able to get out, so I guess…I guess I'll drown, and them with me."

"I'm sorry." Cid said, and meant it. The man's tired voice spoke of a burden carried too long and it tugged at his heartstrings.

"I know you are, mr Highwind. None of this is your fault. You just happened to be the end of a very long chain of events that brought this upon me." He leaned back against the bars, staring out into the open sky. "So maybe you'll be the one to put me out of this misery."

"Yeah. Um. Right." Cid felt unexpectedly flustered; he really hadn't expected the maybe-not-demon – man to be grateful he'd kill him. "So…want a cup of tea? I can make ya some sandwiches if ya want."

For a second a ghostly smile seemed to touch the dark man's lips.

"Thank you, captain." He was quite for a while whiles Cid busied himself in the kitchenette. "Valentine," he said quietly as he accepted the food and drink through the bars.

"What, now? More like Midsummer…"

"No, that's my name. You asked. My name is Vincent Valentine."

"Oh. Well, Vince, ya ruined my vacation, made sure I can never return to Nibelheim and are forcing me ta become an executioner." Cid sat down outside the cage with his own cup and food. Grinning a lopsided smile, he reached out a hand. "Still, it's nice meeting ya."

Surprised, Vincent looked at the offered hand, but reached out with his own, unhurt one. Long, strong, cool fingers closed around callused, warm, skilled ones.

"Nice meeting you to, mr Highwind."

"Call me Cid."