Authors Notes: - Don't worry, in the next chapter the cross over begins. I just didn't want the story to start out in a lame way, so I had to go into character detail. Hope Vin doesn't seem OOC
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"Vincent..." Cid said carefully, watching his red clad friend with a frown.
"Hum?" Vincent replied.
"What the hell are you doing?"
"Digging." He paused to give Cid a look that suggested he was blind. "What does it look like?"
"Why are you digging?"
"Shera wants a larger garden." Vincent explained, and went back to steadfastly digging.
Before Cid could press for more information, Gerda, the chocobo ran by chasing a local cat. He raised an eyebrow as the golden bird darted by, then looked back to his friend. "Three months here and you're already her bitch."
"I am not her 'bitch'." Vincent said defensively, still digging.
"Then why the hell are you digging her a new garden?"
"Perhaps because I, unlike you, wish to help others." He gave Cid a dark look and kept working.
"Funny, you never used to be the helpful type. Getting soft I see." Cid smirked and lit a new cigarette, he paused again and watched Gerda run by again, this time the cat was doing the chasing.
"Not getting soft... Just tired." Vincent said in a soft voice.
Cid shook his head and attempted to ignore the antics of the bird. "Tired of what?"
Vincent didn't answer and moved to a different area of the large square he'd been digging for most of the day. Cid sighed, rolled his eyes and went to work on his rocket. A few moments later Shera came out of the house with a pitcher of lemonade and two glasses. First she went to Vincent and offered him some. He nodded to her in thanks and took the glass. She filled it up and he just as quickly drank it. Laughing she gave him a refill and went off to find Cid. She located him in the barn that served as a hanger. He was going over the rocket inch by inch, looking for any tiny imperfection and if he found one he'd mark with a brightly colored piece of chalk, as well as write down any notes that pertained to the flaw.
"Do you want some lemonade?" She asked after a moment of watching him.
"Huh? Oh, sure." He mumbled, ash falling from the tip of his cigarette.
Shera poured him a glass and held it out. After a moment of staring intently at the hull of his rocket he reached out and took the glass.
"I'm really happy Cloud sent Vincent here, he's been so helpful." She remarked with a soft smile.
"Yeah... to you." Cid countered and took of sip of his drink.
"He has helped you a lot in building the rocket." Shera quickly said in his defense, motioning to the large craft with the pitcher.
Cid didn't reply and used the pretence of drinking lemonade to remain silent. She sighed and poured him another glass when he finished.
"Dinner will be ready in an hour." Shera said with a sigh as she turned and left the barn.
He watched her go and glanced into his cup. A lemon slice floated in the yellow liquid, bobbing slowly amid the ice. He sighed and sat the glass aside. His eyes were quickly drawn back to the rocket. Vincent had done a great deal of work helping construct the exterior as well as the life support system. He was a quick learner and a good student, even if he never quiet acted very eager about it. Most of his stay had been taken up by Shera. The two of them would often work together on random projects around the house. He'd repainted the exterior, rearranged the living room, built a fence around the front yard and even started a greenhouse. Cid shook his head slightly. Once he'd considered Vincent a fearsome warrior, now he more resembled a handyman.
Cid exited the barn and looked over to his friend. Vincent was standing amid a pile of dirt, his red clothes covered in stains. He'd removed his head wrap and the wind was blowing his hair back from his lean face. Cid glanced towards the house and caught Shera staring out the window at him as she cooked. He shook his head in disgust. The thought of the two of them made him sick to his stomach. Vincent wasn't known for having the best taste in women. He walked over and sat his now empty glass on a table near where Vincent was working.
"How much longer are you planning on staying?" Cid asked in his most casual of tones.
"Until the rocket is complete. That is all Cloud asked of me." He replied, setting his glass down as well.
"Well it is almost done." Cid said with a slight shrug.
"Are you trying to get rid of me?" Vincent asked, raising an eyebrow.
"This isn't your place..." He started to explain.
"So you are." Vincent stepped out of his hole and dropped the shovel as he scooped up his glass.
"No! That's not what I mean." Cid snapped.
Vincent tipped back the glass and allowed some ice to fall into his mouth. He chewed on it and looked at Cid expectantly.
"You can't possibly be happy here playing home maker." Cid shrugged and motioned around. "Hell, you're a fucking fighter not a gardener."
"The world doesn't need people like me anymore Cid." Vincent sighed. "You have a place, but Cloud and I are at odds, but at least he has something to strive for."
"Yeah, Aeris." Cid mumbled watching his friend talk; he'd never considered how Vincent felt about the way the world had turned out. Every since the meteor hit no one seemed to want to fight. Everything had been peaceful.
"I have nothing but memories... and most of them aren't pleasant." Vincent said darkly as he headed towards the house.
Cid watched him go and scratched the back of his head. "Never figured him for the emotional type." He shrugged. "Oh well, learn something new everyday."
He went back into the barn, which now had a good portion of the room missing where the rocket stuck out.
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