Authors Notes: - A reviewer commented that Cid was being too mean to Cloud. Well he had a reason. It's addressed in this chapter. I wasn't trying to make him a complete ass but if you remember the game he was just down right cruel to Shera. Poor Shera. Anyway, stuff.
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The bronco's engine sputtered and made a horrible racket, after a few moments of gasping and clinging to life it finally clunked loudly once and died. Cid stared at the control panel blankly for a second then yelled wordlessly at it in frustration. He climbed out of the cockpit and dropped to the ground cussing.
"That's it! I'll just build a fucking plane!" Cid spun around and pointed an accusatory finger at the plane. "I'm not wasting any more time on you!"
Shera looked up from the garden and pushed a few stray strands of hair out of her face with the back of her hand. She watched him stomp his way inside and rolled her eyes. He was getting worse.
Cid stepped into his living room, which was part of the dining room and headed strait towards the liquor cabinet. When he arrived he found a secure looking lock had been attached to the doors. He glared at it severely and snatched his spear off the wall. With one quick blow he broke open the cabinet and claimed his favorite bottle of whiskey. Smiling he sat down at the table and took a quick pull from the bottle. It burned all the way down but he liked it that way.
After his first drink he relaxed slightly and just held onto it as he stared at the wall. Pictures of him posing in front of various vehicles and projects he worked on adorned it. He turned his face away and pulled off his goggles. His pack of cigarettes was almost empty and the band was in need of replacement. He stared at the goggles sadly for a moment then discarded them on the table. It slid partway across the table and came to a limp stop on its side.
Shera walked in and sat down beside him. She removed her dirt cakes gloves and sat them in the basket she was carrying. Inside it was potatoes, carrots and a few mushrooms. She leaned against the table and folded her hands in front of her.
"You were pretty rough with Cloud the other day." She said conversationally.
"I wasn't rough enough." Cid snapped weakly, not putting his usual amount of effort into it.
"He's your friend, why are you so cruel to him?"
"Because he's a moron." He sat up and took a small sip of the whiskey. "He's got Tifa waiting dutifully by his side but he's still running after Aeris, even though she's been dead for over a year."
"So that's why." She smiled slightly.
"What's that smile for?" He asked raising an eyebrow.
"It's just nice to occasionally see some real emotion from you." Shera shrugged slightly.
"I have plenty of real God damned emotions!" He hollered defensively.
She ignored his yelling and went on. "I do feel sorry for her. Seems like she'll wait forever for him to come to his senses."
"He's a damned fool." Cid sighed and stood up, corking the whiskey. "Got a pretty woman doting over him and he doesn't even notice her."
Shera watched him put away the liquor sadly. She hadn't even had a suspicion that he was so concerned for his friends. "Hopefully he'll open his eyes."
He nodded and headed back outside. "Might as well work on the rocket."
She picked up her basket of veggies and walked into the kitchen to wash them off. As she scrubbed them in the sink she could watch Cid move about the makeshift launch pad as he built his rocket. She couldn't help but smile a little, but it was a sad smile. Shera whispered softly. "I really hope you achieve your dreams."
Suddenly someone pounded on the door. She jumped slightly and dropped the potato she'd been working on. Laughing nervously at herself she grabbed a kitchen towel and walked to the front door, drying her hands. She opened the door a peered out. The unmistakable red swathed figure of Vincent stared at her.
"Oh, hello Vincent. I didn't expect you so soon." Shera remarked, stepping aside and motioning him in. "Come on in."
He walked in and looked around the house coldly. "Where is Cid?"
"He's out back working on his rocket." She said casually. "I'm sure he'll be happy to see you."
Vincent glanced at her and raised an eyebrow. Without saying anything further he walked through the house and exited through the back. Cid was sitting at a workbench putting together something complicated. Vincent walked up to him and paused.
"Stupid Cloud..." Cid was mumbling to himself. "That hair must grow all the way into his damned skull..."
"I would have to agree." Vincent remarked quietly.
"Fuck!" He exclaimed dropping his project. Cid put a hand over his heart and glared over his shoulder at his friend. "Don't sneak up on me like that you bloody bastard!"
Vincent didn't apologize and stared at him coldly. "Cloud sent me. I assume he mentioned it to you."
"Yeah, he mentioned it but I didn't expect you to come, let alone so quickly." Cid said standing up. "How'd you get here so fast?"
"Gerda." He explained simplistically.
"Gerda? What the fuck is a 'Gerda'?"
Vincent turned slightly and whistled. A loud trilling chirp replied and a large gold chocobo came running around the side of the house. The big bird came to a stop and dipped her head, bumping it against his shoulder.
"This is Gerda." He said patting the bird on the head.
"Cloud actually gave up one of his prized chocobo?" Cid asked in surprise.
"Tifa forced him to giver her to me. He did so by asking me to race her for a while. It was another one of the projects he's been giving me." He shrugged a little and continued scratching the bird behind her crest.
"Projects? What's that about?" Cid walked around the bird looking her over.
"Once again, it is mostly Tifa's idea. She thinks I'm depressed." Vincent clarified in his usual deadpan voice.
"Wonder what gave her that idea..." Cid mumbled, glancing at him briefly.
Vincent ignored the comment and pushed the bird away. "Go."
Gerda chirped and ran off into a near by field. She went about scaring up small flying birds and chasing them around. Cid watched her and shook his head. "Weird bird."
"So... what will I be doing here?" He asked, looking to his friend.
"What can you do?" Cid asked gruffly.
"You are well aware of my skills." Vincent remarked dryly.
Cid sighed heavily. "Great, now I have a student on my hands."
"Blame Tifa."
"Don't worry, I do." Cid motioned for him to follow. "Alright, let's get started. You might as well help me build the rocket, just don't fuck it up."
"Your confidence in my ability is flattering." Vincent sneered slightly and followed him into a barn. "This wasn't here before."
"I had it built so I could house my projects. I wanted a real hanger but that would have cost too much so..." He motioned around. "This will do."
"I would think you would have plenty of funds. Especially after what we did." Vincent kept looking around. Half built, and half torn apart planes and cars littered the floor of the large barn. He was forced to walk carefully to avoid stepping on anything breakable or tripping and breaking his neck.
"I do and I don't. The money goes quickly." Cid shrugged and came to a stop beside a circle of machinery. "I guess you can say I have an expensive hobby."
"On second thought. I'll just have Shera show you what to do." He said walking back out of the bard. "I just hope she doesn't fuck thinks up again."
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