Cid returned back home after they parted, Cloud said he will tell him if he got some news about the gang.
He spent his days with work and he moved into Vincent's room at night. Cid remembered how much effort they put into this room, he wanted it to be perfect, he wanted to give Vincent a home and peace but he failed; he failed miserably.
Shera moved out immediately after they returned, she said she will only speak with him when he takes the gunman back.
After two long weeks he stopped to go into the gunmans room, his wounds couldn't heal until he let go of him … but did he really want to let go?
"Yeah?" Cid picked up the phone.
"We have a new trace we thought you could help" Cloud wasn't sure if Cid will keep his promise to help them.
"I'm on my way" he hung up before Cloud could answer.
"I will crash them" Cid vowed, he still hated them for hurting Vincent.
The pilot picked his friends up but nothing changed, they were still sad and disappointed but maybe not so angry anymore.
"People say they hide in the mountains, I hope we have more luck as the last time" Cloud explained while he watched the pilot. He looked older and thin, he and Tifa decided that their next mission was to find Vincent.
After they made a plan and discussed what to do next, Tifa prepared dinner for them all.
It was the first time they ate together since Vincent disappeared.
"That's #%# good" Cid wanted to break the uncomfortable silence.
"Thank you" she replied, she wasn't interested in his clumsy try to speak with them.
"Hey Yuffie, why don't you eat your dessert" Nanaki asked stunned it was her favorite dessert "It's chocolate pudding" she said simply.
"What's the problem you love chocolate?" Tifa asked suspicious.
"It's his favorite" she almost started to cry, she missed her `big brother` and would do everything to get him back.
Cid looked up from his plate and stared at her "Don't stare at me" she bluffed "You drove him away. He didn't want to look at me … he didn't play with me anymore, all because of you… I lost my `big brother` because of you" she stood up and left.
"Brother?" Cid was confused; they weren't related so why should she call him brother.
"She's still a kid; Yuffi needs someone who takes care of her. She's far away from her family and who could understand her feelings better than Vincent" Nanaki explained before he made his way to Yuffi, he could smell the salt of her tears.
"I didn't know that" Cid lightened a cigarette, he wasn't hungry anymore and only to think about the pudding made him sick.
"There are a lot of things you don't know" Barrett stood up and left.
Cid was angry even Barrett knew more about his gunman than himself "We don't know everything but we watched his behavior and we tried to see behind his strong façade"
Tifa started to clear the table; the dinner was over before it really started.
Cid was on the bridge until they arrived their destination. They had to wait for the next day, it was too dangerous at night.
They left the ship and headed for the mountains "When they aren't here I will #%# kill your informant" Cid gasped. He was too old for climbing up a damn mountain.
"Shut up old man" Yuffi nagged, they had to be here. She wanted to steal all their equipment and the others could kill them after that.
They reached the canyon but there was no trace of them "Where are they?" Barrett grunted.
"Looks like we were tricked again" Cloud was angry, they played with them.
"Let's search over there" Tifa pointed at a cave a few meters away.
Barrett and Cloud entered the cave but it was empty, the canyon was abandoned.
"#%# " Cid cursed this damn freaks messed around with them.
"Let's head back" Cloud ordered disappointed.
They only walked for five minutes until monsters appeared "A #%# trap" the pilot swung his spear.
The monsters were superior in numbers but they weren't strong enough to be a deadly hindrance.
Cloud sliced two monsters in half while Barrett gets rid of three monsters. It wasn't as easy as they thought but they were on the best way to win.
They fought for an hour already but now was only one creature left "Die you #%# #%#" Cid yelled. He vented all his frustration against the creatures they had to pay for his misery.
"I thought it will never end" Yuffi sighed.
"We will wait until they come to us otherwise we run from one trap to the next" Cloud was tiered of their games.
"Let's get back to the Highwind" Cid wanted to leave this god forsaken place.
As he turned around he faced Vincent, Cid wasn't able to make a sound.
"Vinii" Yuffi yelled happy but she became silent immediately. Vincent looked awesome; he raised Cerberus and pointed directly at the pilot.
Cids eyes widened, was that his end? Killed by his ex lover…
Vincent tilted his head slightly and shot; the bullet barely missed his head and smashed the brain of the monster behind him.
Everyone turned around as they heard a loud yell from behind. They didn't notice that one of the monsters weren't dead.
"God thank you Vi…" Cloud turned around but the gunman disappeared.
"Where did he go?" Tifa was confused.
"He came to save Cid" Nanaki interfered; as they arrived the canyon he had the feeling someone watched them but he didn't think it was Vincent.
"Vin!" Cid yelled as he snapped out of his thoughts but he was already gone so they thought.
Vincent was grateful they waited for the next day to explore the canyon otherwise he couldn't have arrived in time.
He hid near the edge of the canyon and watched them; he followed Cid since he left the Highwind. He wouldn't leave the pilot's side until the danger was averted.
He was satisfied with the events, his friends made the best out of the situation.
The gunman watched every single movement of Cid, he adored his muscles and strength.
It made his heart beat faster, he was so fascinated by him that he almost overlooked the surviving monster. He had no other choice than to interfere and flee. He wanted to save him but he didn't want hurtful words.
Cids expression hurt him; he looked like he believed that he would kill him. How could he think he would hurt him?
`Vincent it's time to go` Chaos didn't want them to speak with each other.
He took one last glance of the confused pilot before he hid again.
"Do you think he never really left?" Tifa asked serious, it was a calming thought that he was always near.
"I think he won't leave until we won against them" Cloud answered and settled down.
"But why?" Yuffi asked innocent.
"He wants to protect us" Tifa patted Yuffi's head "Wouldn't you do the same?"
She gave her an eager nod as reply.
Cid left the room, he couldn't bear the conversation. He went into Vincent's room, the gunman left weeks ago but he hadn't the heart to change something in the room.
He sat down on the bed and stared at the mirror "You saved me" he talked to the mirror as if it was a connection to Vincent's soul "I didn't get the chance to talk to you"
Cid was grateful that Vincent saved him but on the other hand he was angry. The gunman had no right to leave him again, he should have stayed. But he ran away from him again "Do you want to torture me? Is it your way of revenge? … No it's not like you. It's easier to find them when you stay close to us, you're a pragmatist"
Cid played with the silver pendant in his hands, he missed him and came to the conclusion that he wasn't able to get over the gunman. This love ruined his life.
"Maybe it's time to give them their jobs back … they suffered long enough"
He had to correct his mistakes when he wanted his old life back.
Cid arrived at Rocket Town a month ago but they didn't get their jobs back. He didn't know why he changed his mind but as he visited the city he felt how anger built up in his chest.
The villagers hadn't noticed Vincent's absence they thought he hid at home and so they made bad and morbid jokes about the gunman when Cid was in hearing distance.
"You mean his dead doll?"
"His demons should blow him up from the inside"
"My child has nightmares of a red eyed witch"
Even the kids were infected with their stupidity "Let's play hangman" they gave him a venomous grin.
He had enough, it was too much "#%# Town" he muttered and left.
It was lonely at home without the gunman and Shera, maybe he should give her a call?
"Maybe that's a bad idea" he held the phone in his hand "#%#" he dialed her number.
"Hello?" he heard her friendly voice.
"Uhm … It's me" he didn't know what to say.
"What do you want?" she didn't sound angry it was more sadness.
"I want to talk" he said honest, they spent a lot of time together but now where she was gone he understood the meaning of `best friends`.
"Ok" she missed the rough pilot too even though he was an idiot.
"How are you?" he asked clumsy
"Good and you?" he didn't sound well.
"I don't know" he sighed "I'm lonely, angry and disappointed … it's all a mess"
"We don't have an affair" was the answer.
"Really?" Cid wasn't sure if he believed her or not.
"Why should he stay with you when he loves me?" she asked and was curious about the answer.
"Duty" he said unsure, he heard a gasp from the other side of the line "Duty? Are you stupid? It's love you idiot. We're nothing more than friends and therefore he wanted to protect me. It was a stupid coincidence"
"But it's too late" Shera thought he will start to cry but it wasn't like Cid.
"Tifa said he protected you. Don't you think it's meaningful?"
"I think he hopes he will find them faster when he stays close" Cid searched a reason against Vincent.
"Does he need you alive for that?" she said blunt.
Cid was speechless, that was a good objection "No" he finally said.
"You see!" she said soft "Did you know that he ignored women?"
"What? No" he thought about it.
"He never looked into our eyes, he never touched us if not necessary and he talked with us as rare as possible. He didn't want you to get jealous"
He started to understand Yuffis words, why didn't he see his misery? "Cid?" she asked worried.
"Huh? I was lost in thoughts"
"You don't trust him because of him, am I right?" Shera knew his former lover had left a deep scar on his heart.
"He dumped me for a girl and Vincent was straight before so tell me … isn't it a reason to worry?"
"In no case" she sounded serious "He knew you didn't trust him even though you said so. He kept his illusion upright and was ready to sacrifice his happiness for you"
Cid almost dropped the phone, he knew? Did he sense his insecurity? "He was afraid you could abandon him too so he tried hard to believe in you … he tried hard to make you believe in him"
"It wasn't my intention" he whispered into the phone "What do you mean, Cid?"
"I was angry … I didn't mean what I said, I didn't want him to go"
"I know" she never thought it was his intention to drive him away.
"I want him back" Cid's heart pounded, the wish was so intense.
"I know" there was nothing more she could say.
Vincent lived in a cave near Rocket Town but the most of the time he stood on a mountain and looked over the town.
`They still hate you` Chaos heard a few villagers talking as he pursued his dinner a few days ago.
"I think it won't change" Vincent eyes still rested on the town.
`I dare say you're right` Galian wished he could blow up the town but Vincent would kill them.
"Do you think he's all right?" Vincent wanted to see the pilot.
`You know him; he's probably drunk or is working on the Highwind` Chaos was sure it was option one.
`I'm for option two` Galian interjected.
"I don't know" the gunman wasn't sure if Cid was so cold and acted as if nothing happened.
`He abandoned you, do you really think he's sad?` Chaos said sarcastically.
"Maybe a bit" the gunman said unsure. He hoped the pilot would be sad at least a little bit.
They were a couple he had to be sad or was the whole relationship a lie?
`Dream on!`
`Chaos he feels already rough. Don't make it worse` Vincent's feelings were annoying and thanks to Chaos, Galian felt even more sick.
"When do you think they will show up?"
`Two or three days … maybe` Chaos guessed.
"I think a plan is useless" Vincent sighed.
`You're right! We only know that they will come to Rocket Town… we must improvise` Galian knew Chaos had a plan and he hated it, he was a bad demon but it was even for him a stupid plan but they could be successful.
"I never thought they will extradite me" it hurt to think about it but it was the hard truth.
`We should kill them for hiring the enemy to eliminate you` Chaos felt a mental kick and sigh `I know I know I won't lay a hand on them`
"Good" he watched the sunset and passed their journey to the beach in review.
Four days later, Cid fell asleep on his sofa after a long night full of booze.
A loud knock on his door woke him up, to his surprise he didn't had a hangover.
"Who the #%# " he opened his door and froze. Cloud and the whole team stood in front of his door. "What do you want" he grunted.
"Rumors say they will come to rocket Town" Cloud explained.
"Come in" he stepped aside. He felt a whiff of joy as he saw Shera, she really came to help him.
"Hey" he said nervous "Hey" she replied and gave him a light smile.
"Did you see him on your way here?" he whispered shy.
"No, but I'm sure he isn't far away" in reality she wasn't sure at all but Cid needed it.
"I hope so too" he was able to see right through the lie.
"Cid?" Cloud called him "Can we stay here?" he knew they could but it was important to be polite.
"Of course, you and Barrett can sleep in my room, Nanaki and I sleep in Vincent's room and the girls in Shera's room" he planned absentminded. He didn't want them to stay at Vincent's room, it wasn't right to give his room away.
His friends remained silent about the topic; they knew why he chose the room for himself.
Cid went to work and hoped they won't burn down his house.
It was a boring day for him normally he loved it to work on his baby but not today.
He missed Vincent and the time they spent together. The pilot remembered the time he tried to teach him how to repair an airship.
The gunman was a fast learner and it was nice to work with him. They had fun together and Vincent was especially sexy when he worked.
The sweat which let his pale skin gleam, the oil on his face let him look younger and he loved the movements of the gunman's muscles.
"Why don't you show up?" Cid cursed while he repaired a pipe.
Cid came home late and sneaked into Vincent's room "Hey Cid" Nanaki yawned.
"Why don't you sleep?" Cid changed into his pyjama.
"I don't know maybe I'm thinking too much" he answered.
"Do you need an extra blanket?" Cid asked polite as he saw a shiver.
"No … I'm worried. Do we have a plan?" Nanaki asked tiered.
"Maybe it's false alarm again" Cid lied down and inhaled Vincent's beautiful scent while he covered himself up.
"I think this time it's true" Nanaki moved closer to the heater "Will you search for him when it's over?"
"I don't know maybe it's too late" Cid closed his eyes and snuggled deeper into the bedclothes.
"We will see" Nanaki yawned again "Good night Cid"
"Good night … and #%# tell me when you smell his scent" Cid said reproachful but Nanaki knew he wasn't really angry at him for hiding his discovery at the mountains. The pilot was angry at Vincent and angry at himself.