A/N: Not much to say this time, only that I am planning on finishing this story before I work on my others; so be patient and read this one while you are waiting!
The Tiny Bronco was all that mattered to him anymore. He had given up on it a year ago; but lately he had felt a strong need to complete his repairs to it. Shera Highwind thought that maybe he should just give up and throw the "large piece of metal crap" out. But Cid had told her again and again that, "The only piece of metal crap I am throwing out in the near future is going to be my fucking weapons, now get me my damn tea"
The other ladies of the town all felt sorry for her. None of them understood why she would still stand by him. None of them knew that in fact, he wasn't always like this. There had been times when he was actually sweet. It was just that recently he had to begin to resent things, to really hate things. She stood now inside of their doorway watching him moving around under the Bronco, grumbling the entire time. She sighed, as much as she didn't want to believe it, it was true, and Cid needed some action. He needed to find the rest of the heroes, and get some action.
When she mentally counted how long it had been since his last fight, she knew then that she was right. Shera sighed again then picked up a teacup she had set down and walked over to the edge of the Bronco. "Cid, tea."
"About fucking time, what the hell where you doing? Grinding and bagging the leaves by hand? Or did you just fucking well fall asleep and forget about it?" Shera handed Cid the cup. She didn't mind his insulting that much anymore. She just learned to live with it. "What the hell are you standing around for? If you ain't gunna help, get the hell outa here." Shera nodded and left.
Cid sighed; as soon as Shera had gone inside of their house he tossed the tea. He had lost the taste for it when Shera had made him give up his smokes. He looked over at the pack on the ground. It was empty of course, but it still had the same calming effect that the smokes had. He stood up and moved over to a small shed located in the far corner of his yard, inside the shed where his weapons. They where all worn and damaged with age and lack of use.
He reached first for the Venus Gospel. It had always been his favourite. He picked it up, feeling the familiar grip of it in his old, scarred, hands. Its two yellow fins had been broken off; he remembered it was form the time he has tossed the heavy lance, hoping to be rid of it. Of course he had leapt his fence and retrieved it, but the ensuing struggle to get it back in the shed without Shera noticing had cost him its two fins.
He slowly ran his hand down the length of it. He gasped when he found three materia still in the slots. A time materia linked with an All materia. "What's this one then?" he touched the last materia, "The Knights Of The Round!?" He suddenly remembered that faithful battle, Cloud had entrusted him with the special materia, he remembered his pried when he had cast the spell and the others had to mimic him. He must have accidentally left it in there when they where packing up. Cloud had all of the other materia now, so Cid figured he should go and give it back.
Just for old times sack though, he wanted to try it one more time. "Alright ya fucking plane, you have had it!" He positioned himself in front of the Bronco and prepared to cast the spell, when he suddenly heard a sound behind him. He stopped the summon spell and swivelled around, instincts telling him that the sound wasn't caused by Shera.
"Oh? You going to use that against me again?" The voice, Cid remembered it; hearing it again still brought a shiver to his spine.
"You? What the fuck are you doing back?" Cid slowly circled the plane; sure the he had heard the voice form inside of it. "Come on out so I can fucking well use this on you again. You want to die again?"
"No, I want you to." Cid turned in time to the smile on the face of his killer; and to feel the touch of cold steel going trough his neck.