Weeks passed by and Vincent was happy with Cid, from time to time they even had a date and he knew how schoolgirls must feel.
Cid taught him how to repair electronic things and he knew how to repair the engines of the Highwind, Vincent learned fast and wanted to make Cid proud of him.
"Vin, we have an order" Cid said cold "I have to deliver medical devices … I want you to stay here with Shera and protect the town just in case the enemy will come back"
"How long?" Vincent looked at Cid with a sad look in his eyes.
"One week" he lightened a cigarette "don't look like that … It's not I'm going to abandon you" he couldn't understand why Vincent clung to him as if he where his master or something.
"I know" Vincent smiled and didn't want to explain how he felt but he knew Cid will come back to him.
They were happy but sometimes Cid was strange and it felt like he was angry at him for some reason but he didn't dare to ask "When will you go?"
"Tomorrow" Cid answered, he didn't want to leave him but on the other hand he needed distance.
"Be careful I don't want to lose you because you ran into an enemy" Vincent stood up and Cid could see a shade of pink on the gunman's cheeks.
"Of course I'm #%# careful" he said enraged "You should be careful, you attract enemies like a magnet"
Vincent laughed; he liked it when Cid pouted because the pilot looked like big kid.
The pilot enjoyed Vincent's deep voice, he laughed seldom but it was worth waiting for.
"Come here" Cid sighed and gripped Vincent's wrist "sit down"
Vincent sat down next to the pilot, Cid put an arm around his shoulder and held him tight against his own body "I love you Vin" he kissed his soft cheek "I really do"
Vincent closed his eyes, listened to Cid's breath and his strong heartbeat "I love you too chief"
Cid smiled as he looked into the sky, it was a nice day but at the horizon he could see dark rain clouds "We should go home, it will rain"
"I can't see the rain anymore" Vincent sighed "I like the blue sky; it has the same color as your eyes"
Cid looked at the gunman, the always gloomy gunman and fan of rain liked the blue sky because of his eyes? "It's autumn, we have to wait for a clear blue sky"
"I will wait and then I will be free" Vincent touched Cid's chest and stopped over his heart "with you … I'm free"
Cid didn't know what exactly he meant but he felt it was a good thing "Stop" he said as he felt Vincent's hand on his belly.
The gunman gave him a confused look before he took his hand away "Sorry"
"Let us wait, when I return I have a little present for you" Cid explained vague, he took Vincent's hand and pulled him up into a tight embrace "Wait for me"
"Of course I will wait" Vincent nagged.
Cid chuckled before he led him back to the house, where Shera waited with the lunch.
Cid stood on the bridge and thought about his life "Captain we arrive in ten minutes" one of his officers said.
"Good … stow the medical devices and we will continue our journey"
"Yes Sir" he answered and left the bridge.
"Does he miss me?" Cid muttered to himself, he missed his gloomy gunman, his voice and touches.
He loved him with all his heart but he still wasn't sure that Vincent loved him too.
Cid knew the gunman never lied and believed that Vincent thought he loved the pilot but what if he mistook his feelings of friendship with love.
He decided to take the chance to believe in the gunman, he realized that they could be happy, he experienced it often enough.
The pilot smiled to himself and decided to search something in the next town to proof his love for Vincent and he wanted to bind him.
"Hey Vincent" Shera said cheerful "Do you want to come with me? I want run errands"
"Sure" he answered simply, Shera tried to cheer him up, she knew he missed the rough pilot and was lonely without him.
Cid was gone for five days and Vincent seldom spoke or smiled, it hurt to see him gloomy again but important was that Vincent was still friendly and amiable and that was a beginning.
They went to the small supermarket, normally it was pleasant to go shopping but this time it was as everyone was staring at him "Shera, I think I should go home" he whispered.
"Why?" She hadn't noticed the gazes of the people "They're staring at me" he said simply.
"Really?" she turned around and watched the people "You're right", the people whispered behind his back and glared at the gunman.
"Do you have a problem?" she yelled on purpose, the people turned around to avoid her.
"Yeah we have a problem" a young man said "They came for him … he will bring perdition over us all"
Vincent felt how pain shot through his heart, the villagers hated him "They didn't came for him, they didn't even knew he lives here" Shera interfered.
"It doesn't matter … they will come for him again because he's dangerous … Cid is no problem he will die easily but he …"
The man stopped in the middle of his sentence as he heard a dangerous `click`, Vincent pointed with Cerberus at his head.
"He won't die easily" the gunman sad cold as ice, the young man felt as if his blood could freeze by his words.
"Tch" the young man knew he was in danger and he shouldn't make him angrier, he wanted to give up as the other villagers interfered "He's right you're a curse for our town" an older woman yelled.
"He's not" Shera threw his grocery bag at the shop keeper instead of paying "one day you will need him and then we will watch you die don't think we will help when you go down" she took Vincent's hand and dragged him out of the shop.
"They're only a bunch of cowards … don't take it to heart" she tried to console him but Vincent was already lost in his own thoughts.
They arrived at home and Vincent went directly into his room, Shera wanted to call Cid but he would only be worried so she decided to wait for his return.
"They hate me" Vincent sighed as he lay down on his bed `They're cowards` Chaos grunted
`You tried to help them … you're not a scapegoat` Galian was angry, because of the villagers they felt depressed again.
`It's my fault` Vincent said simply and his demons were pissed.
`It's not and you know that they didn't came for you … they didn't know that you live here and they are afraid because they're so weak` Vincent knew they told the truth but it hurt, normally the villagers were friendly, they said hello or asked for help and now they want him to leave.
`And don't you dare to leave` Galian impended.
`I will wait for Cid` Vincent wanted his captain back, he wanted to see his eyes and feel his warmth `Cid won't die easily, he won't`
Vincent was afraid that he could leave him, that his chief could die.
`We will kill the villagers` they hissed `they will die`
`Leave them alone, Cid loves his town, I won't allow you to kill them` Vincent yelled.
`We will…` they weren't interested in his words and Vincent needed all his strength to hold them in.
"Vincent, can I come in?" Shera knocked on his door and hoped for a yes.
She got no answer and decided to enter his room without permission.
"Vinc…" Shera turned around and ran to the telephone to call the doctor, she hoped he will come, he had to come.
"Shera here, he has a break down again" she panicked, what if his heart will stop? "I have another patient at the moment" he answered "maybe I can come tomorrow" Shera almost dropped the phone "You're afraid of your reputation?" she yelled before she hung up.
She took a few towels and a bowl with cold water.
Vincent lay on his bed, he had a high fever but this time, there were no blood "Vincent ignore them" she said worried "Forget what they said, Cid loves you and I and the others from our old team like you too … don't forget it"
She placed a wet towel on his forehead and everything she could do was to wait.
Cid came home one day earlier than planned; he was tired but full of anticipation.
"Hey guys I'm back" he yelled through the house but got no response "Hmpf … no one at home?" then he heard someone run down the stairs "Cid" Shera gasped "Come with me" she took his hand and led him into Vincent's room.
Cid's eyes widened "What the #%# happened?" he sat down on Vincent's bed before he examined him.
"His blood pressure" she said simply, she didn't know how to explain the incident with the villagers. "What did the doctor say?" Cid looked at her and noticed that something was wrong "Shera?"
"He didn't come" she looked to the ground to avoid Cid's gaze "What do you mean?"
"The villagers started a fight yesterday, we were shopping then they said it was his fault that these guys attacked and he should leave … and things like that"
"What the #%# they searched for me" Cid hissed "they didn't even know he was here"
"They said that when they come back you will die easily but Vincent is a curse for the village … and the doc didn't want to help Vincent because of his reputation, I'm sure" she swallowed hard to suppress a sob.
Cid was foaming with rage, he gave Vincent a soft kiss on his forehead before he stormed out of the house, he had the intention to let them bleed for their betrayal.
"Hey Cid you're back" an old lady said as he arrived the city, he often helped her to carry her grocery bags.
"Oh Cid how was the trip?" a young girl asked friendly "shut your #%# mouth, #%# kid"
"Cid" the old woman said disgusted "Ahh go die old hag you exceed your use by date long ago, anyway"
She stared at him as if he was the reaper himself "I want to make an announcement" he yelled so everyone could hear him.
"What is it, Cid?" the mayor asked as he passed by "You know that I'm the biggest employer in this #%# town"
"Yeah you are but I don't understand?" the mayor said confused.
"Oh you don't understand?" Cid words were filled with venom "Then I make you understand … everyone who's working for me is disband"
"You can't do that" the young man who started everything yelled.
"I #%# can, you can bet your life on it" Cid countered.
The people stared at him in disbelieve "You can't ruin our existence" the mayor yelled at him.
"Why not? … You tried to ruin my life so I decided to ruin yours" he grinned before he went away.
The villagers were speechless; they couldn't believe that, more than the half of the town was now jobless.
"I'm back" Cid grunted satisfied as he entered the kitchen, he knew Shera made tea and something to eat.
She looked at him and waited for an explanation, judging from his evil grin he did something interesting.
"I need new employees" Cid smiled "do you think the neighbor town has diligent workers?"
"What did you do?" she had a notion and when he did what she thought he did, she will like it.
"I disband them" Cid sat down "I will only keep the Highwind crew, they fought with us and they treat Vincent like a human"
"Cid" she said upset "I like it" she added in a conspiratorial voice.
"I thought you will kick my #%# ass for that" Cid said suspicious.
"Normally … I would but you didn't see Vincent's face, the pain in his eyes" she answered angry, for the first time she agreed with Cid, they got what they deserved.
"Vin, you're awake" Cid jumped up and ran to the gunman, he leant against the doorframe.
"Cid" Vincent gasped and hugged the pilot tight, Cid was taken aback he never saw him act like a frightened little kid.
Vincent wanted to be strong but as the pilot approached him he couldn't hold his sadness back, he couldn't stand it.
"I was worried" Cid stroke through the soft ebony hair "How are you?"
"They said you will die easily" Vincent whispered "You won't leave right?"
"Of course not ... "Cid consoled the gunman "but don't worry about me … How do you feel about the villagers?"
"Sadness" he answered simply but honest "and I'm afraid"
Shera hugged both "They can't hurt us, we are a family …, we will fight everyone who tries to destroy it "
Vincent wasn't accustomed to so much care but he liked the feeling of safety.
"Shera is #%# right" Cid agreed "and now you will go back to bed"
"…" Vincent tried to answer back but Cid broke in on him "It's an order" he said serious.
"Yes, chief" he answered polite, Cid thought he would even salute "Good boy" he grinned.
"Shera make some tea … please" Cid thought he could be friendly …exceptionally because she fought for Vincent and to know that she would take care of him made him feel relived.
Shera beamed as she heard the please, she knew it was his way to say thank you "Of course"
"Tell me why did that happen again?" Cid asked as he covered Vincent up.
"They wanted to kill the villagers" Vincent confessed "and it isn't easy to suppress them"
"I wished they killed them" Cid sighed but Vincent was shocked "What? Why? It's your hometown, you're part of them"
"No, you're my home and when they hurt you again they will lose even more then only their jobs"
"You disband them?" Vincent gasped "You need them"
"I will find new employees" Cid consoled him "but you're irreplaceable"
Vincent's heart made a huge jump at Cid's words, he was irreplaceable … irreplaceable, he loved this word.
"Chief … I love you" he smiled "more than I ever loved her"
Cid's eyes widened, he loved him so much? He bent over the gunman and looked deep into his eyes "Vin" Cid said softly.
"I love you too … and tomorrow we will go to the city, so they can see what they've done"
"I don't want to, they hate me and who knows what they do to you" Vincent contradicted.
The pilot took a small box out of his pocket and opened it, it was a necklace, the pendant was a miniature of the Highwand "Lift your head up" he said, as Vincent obeyed him he put it around the gunman's slender neck.
Vincent needed time to realize what the pilot held in his hands, he was confused because no one gave him something that valuable before, it looked really expensive and significant.
"It's beautiful" Vincent said as he examined the pendant, it was silver and solid "I don't deserve it"
"Yes you do, it's the sign of my love, the chain which bind us together… forever" Cid smiled, he knew the gunman liked it.
"Thank you" Vincent wrapped his arms around Cid and pulled him down into a loving kiss.
"We will go to the town tomorrow, we have to buy things for the beach" he grinned.
"B-beach?" Vincent stuttered, what has Cid planned?
"We will spend a whole weekend at Costa del Sol" the pilot explained "I reserved a room at a luxury hotel"
"Luxury hotel? With me?" Vincent looked confused "Of course with you" Cid laughed, he loved Vincent's innocent side.
"I left you for a whole week, the villagers made you sick … ok as I made the reservation I didn't know all this but I thought we could spend time together only the two of us" Cid caressed his cheek.
"I want to go" Vincent whispered "I want to spend my life with you"
"Good then let's go to our honeymoon" Cid said blunt "Oh Vin don't blush"
Vincent's face had the color of his eyes, the idea of a honeymoon made his hurt flutter and an honest smile appeared on his soft lips.
"You're mine" Vincent's eyes gleamed with joy and Cid felt how happy he made the sensible gunman.
"Try to rest, I will go and fetch the tea" Cid left the room with a huge dirty grin on his face.
He sat down on the sofa and let Shera explain the whole incident before he brought the tea.