They weren't sure how long they had been asleep, whenever the nausiating sound of the telephone woke them from the sweet bliss of their dreams. At least Cid. Which was completely contrary to the norm, but Vincent had a lot to catch up on, and Cid was more alert than normal, to keep an eye on the sleeping beauty next to him. He still didn't completely trust Chaos, and swore he'd awaken the ex-Turk at the smallest sign that he was in trouble.

The ring invaded his mind again, and he swatted at it, causing Vincent to stir. Cid held his breath, stroking his fingers through the thick black strands, silently wishing for him not to wake up.

"Cid… phone." Despite his best efforts, he still spoke, stretching slightly in his sleep, but didn't wake his eyes.

"Shh, doesn't matter. The answering machine can get it."

It rang again, and Vincent groaned, rubbing a hand across his eyes, and settled back into Cid's embrace.

Another ring and the machine picked up in the kitchen. The voice was difficult to make out, but it sounded urgent. Almost paniced.

Cid groaned, sliding out of the bed, and into the kitchen – not even bothering to put any kind of censors over him.

Vincent wavered a bit, as he listened to Cid answering the phone. His eyes opened, hearing a slight elevation in the pilot's voice. After muttering something about coming, Cid slammed the phone onto the reciever, and headed back to the room.

Cid walked in, not seeming too happy about the interuption. Even less so, to see Vincent was awake now. "Why the hell'd he have ta call now?"

Vincent stretched slightly. "What's wrong?"

"Eh, that was just Junior. There's, apparently, something wrong with the Shera. And they need the 'captain' to take care of it." There was a slightly annoyed sarcasm in his voice, as he sat on the bed proceeding to get dressed. "Probably some idiotic problem that they could fix if they'd just listen to a fucking word I say. Can't believe I gotta go do this damn shit now."

Cid fiddled with his shirt, glancing back at Vincent. His eyes softened on the unconcious look of disappointment reflected in those crimson eyes. "You gonna be alright, alone?"

"Huh? Y-yea."

"You sure? I could just blow 'em off. You're more improtant than the stupid ship." Vincent felt a blush touch his cheeks. He knew Cid loved his airships more than anything. "No, it's ok. If they need you, then you'd better go."

Cid slid closer, wrapping his arms around Vincent, and kissed him. "I can at least stay until you fall asleep again."

Vincent's eyes fell. He wasn't too sure about that any more. It wasn't really the phone that woke him up… it was the chill inducing sound of Chaos laughing. The sound made him uneasy, and he didn't know if he should fall back to sleep, or not. "I'll be ok." He slid his arms around the pilot's waist, kissing his back. "You better hurry, so you can get back sooner."

Cid just smiled, pulling their lips together again. It still felt so good to be able to kiss him whenever he wanted to. "I love you, Vince."

xXx

Vincent lay awake, staring at the ceiling. There was another, more selfish reason, he wanted Cid to leave. Now that the dream was over, reality was beginning to settle back in. He sat up, with a yawn, and rubbed his eyes. "What are you doing?"

Chaos' laughter dulled to a slight chuckle. *"(Oh, nothing. I just realized something.)"

"Really now?" Vincent slid out of bed, pulling his cloths on. He didn't feel as comfortable as Cid did with being exposed. "What would that be?"

*"(Na, I don't really want to tell you.)"

"Why not?" Vincent finished dressing, and started into the kitchen.

*"(Because, you might not find it as amusing as I do.)"

"Heh. That never stopped you before."

*"(This is true… so, you really want to know?)"

"I would like to. Yes."

*"(I was just thinking about how much like Cloud you were.)"

Vincent's hand froze, mear inches from the phone. His heart stopped at the comment. "What?"

*"(Well… think about it… you're lusting after two different men. Completely opposite of each other, and you can't decide who you want… so, you want both of them.)"

The ex-Turk's blood ran cold, a fluxuating mix of both rage and fear welling within him. "How can you say something like that?" His hand drew back into a fist. "I am not lusting after two men. I don't want Cloud."

Chaos laughed again, enciting another swirl of emotions. *"(That's not what your head is telling me.)"

"Shut up!" He nearly screamed. "You don't know what you're talking about."

*"(Then, what do you call it?)"

Vincent's eyes narrowed inwardly towards the accusing demon. "Just because I'm worried about him, doesn't mean I still want him. I shot the man in the fucking arm, Chaos! I just want to make sure he's still alive, that's not a crime."

*"(Uh-huh. Keep telling yourself that, bright-eyes.)"

"Just keep out of this, and shut up."

*"(I should start keeping tabs on how many times you tell me to shut up.)"

"Bite me."

*"(That one too.)"

Vincent just rolled his eyes, snatching the phone from the wall, and dialed the number. His eyes teared, each ring threatening to make them fall. "Please pick it up… please."

"Hello?" It was hoarse, and a bit strained, but at least it was a voice.

"Cloud?" With the sound of it, his tears finally broke through.

"Vincent? Where are you? Why the fuck did you run off like that?"

"Cloud… are-are you ok?"

"AM I OK!?" Cloud screamed through the reciever, forcing Vincent to pull his end away, sharply. "YOU FUCKING SHOT ME!!!!!!! HOW THE HELL CAN YOU ASK IF I'M OK!?!?!!!?"

Vincent gently set the reciever back to his ear. "Cloud please." He sobbed. "I'm sorry."

"Yea, sure. How many times have I heard that?"

"Just, please, hear me out. I didn't mean to shoot you. I was just paniced and confused." He paused, trying to steady his voice. He didn't want to cry… he didn't deserve that luxury. "I honestly never intended to pull the trigger. I'm so sorry."

Cloud sighed. It was hard to stay mad at Vincent when he was crying. "I guess this means there really is no chance for us?"

Vincent shook his head. "I'm afraid not. But I don't want such bad blood between us." He sighed, trying to prepare for what he had to do. "And I need to tell you something."

"Tell me something? What could you possibly want to tell me, besides that we're through?"

"It's just a problem I've been having. I'm hoping it'll explain some of my actions to you."

There was silence on the other end, as Cloud contemplated the thoughts. "What is it?"

"I'd rather tell you in person."

"You're not gonna shoot me again, are you?"

"I won't be armed, you have my gun."

Cloud sighed. "Alright. Where are you?"

"I think it'd be better if I came to you."

Cloud scowled. "You're at Highwind's, aren't you?"

Vincent sighed, coiling the cord in his fingers. "Yes."

"I knew it." Cloud snapped. "What happened to you not being able to go back there!?"

"I didn't intend to. He just kinda dragged me back."

Cloud groaned, flopping down onto the chair, and pressed his fingers in his eyes. "Alright, fine. I'll see you in a little while."

xXx

It was a good hour, or so, before Cid finally made it back home. He suspected Vincent to still be asleep, so he took off his shoes, sneaking quietly through the house. Cid pushed the door open, his eyes falling immediately on the bed. His eyes burned, heart freezing to see it empty. "Vince?" His whole body felt hollow. Where the hell was he?

Cid skulked over to the bed, setting down on it, with a heavy weight. "Why'd he leave?" He was about to leap to his feet, to check the other rooms when a small white paper, on the pillow caught his eye. He turned it in his hand seeing some words written, but they were all scratched out, and his eyes were too blurry to try and make them out. Small wet drops had smeared some of the ink, a few of the scratches having ripped through the paper. Finally his eyes settled on two little words that nearly shattered his heart…

'I'm sorry.'

"Sorry?" Cid bit his lip. He couldn't believe this. He thought Vincent was finally going to stay with him. He thought he was his now. "Sorry!?" How could he just leave so easily after that? After what they'd just done? After what he'd managed to give him?

"Sorry!?!" Cid crumpled the note in his hand. Who the hell did he think he was to fuck with him like that? He was gonna wring his scrawny little neck.

Cid shot up, nearly leaving a trail of fire as he darted to the phone. That damn vampire wasn't as sneaky as he thought… he knew exactly where he was.

After a few rings, the phone picked up. "What?" The voice sounded hurried in a near state of panic. Cid didn't care how he sounded. He wanted to know where that man had run off to, and he wanted to know now.

"Don't 'what' me, Strife! Where the fuck is Vincent!?"

"H-Highwind? Oh, thank Gaia! I need your help."

"I don't fuckin care what you need, I wanna know where – wait what? Why?" Cid had finally heard his words, his anger subsiding just enough to perk his curiosity… but he was still pretty pissed.

"It's Vincent! He just collapsed. I can't get him to wake up, or even respond to me. I don't know what to do!!"

All anger Cid had felt melted away. Vincent collapsed? What had happened?

"I called you a little while ago, but you weren't there."

"Why would you call me?"

"Well, um… before he went under he uh… he called for you… so I thought… um." Cloud growled. "I though t maybe you'd know what was going on."

Cid felt the angry tears release into sorrow, worry, and a bit of joy with the situation. He called for him?

"Do you know something?" Cloud nearly snapped, from both impatience and worry.

Cid sighed. "Yea… I think so. I'll be over there as fast as I can. Just, hold on." He hung up the phone, not even bothering to listen to what Cloud had to say to him, (Or even get his shoes.) running out to Tiny Bronco.

xXx

Cid Highwind flew, in nearly every sense of the word, to Midgar. His heart was feeling more and more paniced as he approached the city. What happened to him? Maybe Chaos actually did betray him. He still attacked Vincent, like he said, because he was weak enough to affect him while he was awake. That rotten bastared, he was gonna kill him.

Cid landed, barely able to keep from running into the side of the small house. He jumped from the plane, running inside, right past Cloud, and into the bedroom. "Vincent!?" He fell down on the bed, taking the gunman's hand. "Vincent, baby! Its ok, I'm here now. You're gonna be alright." The pressure against his eyes increased, as he gazed down at the docile form. Vincent's face seemed so calm, despite the innevitable strain his mind had to be under. He just seemed to be sleeping, but Cloud was right. No matter how much he called to him, how he shook him, he just lay there… he wouldn't even flinch. Cid slid down, laying his ear against Vincent's heart. He heaved a sigh to hear the steady pulse in his head, but that was still un-nerving. It was too steady. You'd think if he was battling a demon it'd show somehow. Maybe Chaos had nothing to do with this? Maybe Vincent's body just gave out from lack of rest.

Cloud stood in the doorway, for some reason afraid to approach the two men. "He said he had something to tell me. All I got was something about Chaos… then he just collapsed. Do you know what he was trying to tell me?"

Cid wiped his face, and sighed, not wanting to release Vincent's hand. "Yea… I do."

Cloud settled onto the other side of the bed as Cid spilled everything. He'd told him all that Chaos was doing to Vincent, and the effects it'd caused… leaving out a few details. He didn't think the man would be able to stand to hear what'd happened between them, specifically.

Cloud's head drooped, picking with the ring he now wore on his hand. He could feel his own eyes stinging, not too sure if it was from the worry for Vincent. The fact that he didn't know all of this before, or the sharp sting that still enveloped his right side. "He told you all of this?"

"Yea."

"I see… he could tell you something like that, and didn't even think his own fiancee` needed to know. Sorry, ex-fiancee`."

"Well, I had to drag it out of him. I'm sure, if he wasn't so pissed at you, he woulda told ya."

Cloud's head fell into his hands.

Cid sighed, starting to feel sorry for the guy. He'd been through so much as well. Cid just knew what all pain Vincent was going through, and didn't even stop to think about what Cloud must have endured through all of this. Sure, he brought it on himself, but he didn't really do anything to justify suffering like this. He was actually about to say so, when he felt Vincent's fingers close around his hand. The movement startled him, and his eyes shot down to the straining features of his face. "Vince!?"

Cloud jumped, with the gunman's movements being brought to his attention. "Vincent!?"

"You ok?"

Vincent hummed, trying to open his eyes. "Cid?" He brought a hand to his eyes, trying to rub them open.

Cid clung desperately to Vincent's hand, pulling it to his chest, the other hand tracing the side of his gunman's face. "Yes! Yes, Vincent, I'm here! Are you alright!?" His dried up tears seemed to come back from his relief.

Those drowsy crimson eyes opened gently to him, and he smiled. He sat up, slowly, rubbing his head.

Cid and Cloud watched him, still a bit nervous. Cloud grabbed his arm. "Vincent, are you ok?"

Vincent glanced over to him, his eyes seeming a bit lost. "Yea… I-I think so." He slid to the edge of the bed, swinging his legs over. Cid grabbed his shoulders. "Whoa, Vince. Maybe you should lay back down."

Vincent smiled up at him. "I'm alright. I just need to get some air."

Cid let go, a bit unsure, letting him stand, and head towards the door. Vincent's legs shook a bit, but overall, he was able to walk ok… there didn't seem to be anything wrong with him.

Cloud bounced off the bed, gently grasping Vincent's arms. "Are you sure? You were out for almost two hours."

Vincent knocked his hands off. "I told you, I'm fine."

Cloud stepped back a bit. He didn't dare stand in Vincent's way again. They both jumped with a firm hand grasping tightly to Vincent's upper arm.

Vincent glanced back, a bit afraid to see the glimpse of anger behind Cid's eyes. "I really think you should lay back down, Vince."

"I'm fine, Cid. I just need to get some fresh air. I'll be right back."

Cid's eyes narrowed. "I'm not so sure about that. You've run off a few times before."

"I said I'd come back. Isn't that enough for you?"

Cid shook his head, tightening his grip. "I need to make sure you're ok, before I let you out of my sight."

Vincent pulled at his arm, nearly squeezing from the stubborn grip. "Cid, you're scaring me. I told you I'll be-" He was cut short by a hard fist colliding with the side of his face, slamming his head into the wall. Vincent fell to the wall, holding a hand to his split lip.

"You're not going any fucking where."

--

AN: YAY!!!!!! two in one night... i'm ona role. maybe i could get three... or i could just wait a little while, and watch you all squirm mwahaha