Hmm… when I first wrote the last chapter before this I thought it was really angsty.

How WRONG was I.

The later chapters scream out for razor blades, people. Be warned.

Anyway, there is a wee gap between the end of this chapter and the start of the bit I'm currently writing… this is because when I get an idea, I have to write it down at the bottom of the document for later when I come to it… this "note" at the bottom is now twice as long as the story here right up to the end of this chapter. Whoops! I'll try hard to get the two parts linked up soon. Promise. I can't put the later parts up until I reach that point with this part, can I? Oh well…

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***

I was back in the village inn, wrapped in a blanket whilst my clothes were drying by the fireplace.

"For @#$%'s sake, Valentine. Look at me! I look like I just swam to Wutai and back! Next time you throw a hissy fit and I have to come slap some sense into ya, make sure it's a nice sunny day?"

I looked up at him. He was still in his wet clothes, dripping. "I don't think there will be a next time, Cid." I looked at the fire. A madness had come and gone, it seemed, for things seemed to be gaining perspective now. Of course I wasn't feeling all better and happy, that's just not how these things go. If anything I felt wretchedly embarrassed, tired and I was still uneasy about my own reasons for existing. But still I felt as if some weight had been lifted from me.

"No word from Cloud," Cid muttered as he scrubbed at his hair. "@#$%, my cigs are all soggy!" He got each one out of the packet and carefully laid each one out in front of the fireplace, being careful not to let one snap. When one did, falling apart due to the soggy paper, he cursed duly.

Yuffie walked in. "Stop swearing, you old coot! My young innocent ears can't take it!"

Cid glared at her. "Shut the @#$% up, brat. Go buy me some more cigs or I'll kick your ass from here to Midgar for insultin' yer elders!"

Yuffie gasped and looked at me. "Vincent! Did you hear that? Are you just going to let the old fart talk to me like that?!"

I shrugged at her. "You're both as bad as each other."

Cid snorted. "Don't @#$%in' compare me to her!!"

Yuffie started to laugh but made a hasty retreat when Cid rolled up a sleeve and stomped over to her.

"Okay, I'm going, I'm GOING!" She yelled as she ran out the door.

Cid paused as the door clicked shut on its own. "Needs a good ass-kickin', that kid..." He reached for a cigarette and swore when he remembered where they were.

"Hey, Vince, we better get ready! We're supposed to make our way over to the Ice continent to meet up with Cloud & co."

I paused for a moment, watching Cid continue to carefully lay out his smokes before the fire.

"I don't want to go."

Cid looked at me, maybe a bit taken aback. "Huh? Why? It'll get your mind off things. Besides--"

"I know, but I can't face it. Not yet."

Cid sighed and stood up, scratching his head. I wondered vaguely why he hadn't changed out of his wet clothes. "I guess I know where yer comin' from buddy... I guess Cloud won't mind if just you stayed behind. I'll tell him something important came up."

I rested my chin on my drawn-up knees. I didn't want to stay here alone, either.

'What should I do? I don't want to go, but I don't want to be alone, not now... I feel so fragile. Why am I always so weak?' I thought.

I watched Cid continue laying his smokes out. He was so careful, like those little sticks of soggy tobacco were bars of gold. I've never smoked so I guess I don't understand the importance of them.

So careful... his tongue sticking out of the side of his mouth as he very slowly pulled each one out of the limp cardboard pack and laid each out with reverence upon the stone fireplace.

He was a comfort, and I found myself smiling a little at his careful ministrations. I was a little surprised at myself when I found I was smiling, even though it was only a little one. I was smiling because I realised he was my friend.

When had I last had one of those? Had I ever really had a friend? One that cared enough to follow me when I ran out, mad, into the pouring rain and manage to talk sense into my shattered mind.

Then, the thought of being alone here hovered again and I began to consider leaving with Cid after all, if only for the company. But no... not yet, I couldn't...

"Cid, ..." I began.

"Yup?" He laid out another cigarette. It had been a full pack.

"Would you... stay here with me?" 

He turned his head to regard me, then laid out the last cigarette. "Why? Need some company? Can't say I blame ya, but it might be a bit unfair on the other guys if two of us drop out for a while." He stopped speaking, and we were both silent for a while.

I looked over at him when Cid started to chuckle, shaking his head as he compulsively kept arranging and rearranging the line of smokes on the hearth, still crouching with his back to me. Why was he laughing?

"Heh heh... I've cracked you all right!" He chuckled.

"What do you mean...?" I asked warily, narrowing my eyes slightly.

"I said when we were still on Tiny Bronco when she crashed into the sea, that I'd crack ya! Remember?"

I did remember. I considered denying it, but since the episode earlier my pride had abandoned me for the moment. "Yes." I smiled weakly.

"Right!" Cid said, standing up and clapping his hands together.

Then the PHS rang.

"Bet that's Cloud, bet they've found Aeris." Cid muttered as he picked it up. "Yeah?" He was silent for a moment, listening. "Uh-huh. Yeah. Okay, ... nah, don't mention it. See ya then. ... Yeah, you guys too. Bye."

He fiddled with it for a moment, cursing under his breath before working out which button to press to end the call.

"It was Cloud, they said they found Aeris. He sounded kinda quiet. He wouldn't tell me much else, other than meet him at the base of the Gaea Cliffs in three days."

"Oh..." I wondered why there was a change of plan... I thought he would be bringing Aeris back here.

"It'll only take us a day to get there! That means we gotta spend two more days in this crappy hole they call a town!" He shouted as the innkeeper passed the door. "Hey bud," Cid called to him cheerily, smiling somewhat fixedly.

I thought for a moment. I didn't particularly want to stay here either after what had happened before. "Are there any better towns from here to the Gaea Cliffs?" I asked.

"I dunno, let's see on the map." He picked up our map and unfolded it to its full size, obscuring his entire upper half from my view. "Lessee now... can't read @#$%in' maps for the life of me... all these @#$%in' roads and landmarks and... here! Well, there's Bone Village... sounds shit to me... and Icicle Inn. Hey, this one's got a bar! That suits me! A proper hotel, too, not like this @#$%in' shack!" He managed to say this just as the Innkeeper walked past again going the other way.

"If you hate it so much, leave!" The Innkeeper growled as he went past. Cid leaned out of the door and gave him a middle-finger salute before returning to our discussion.

"So how about it, Vince? Your clothes are dry now, ain't they? I say we set off right now!"

I sat still for a moment before getting up from the armchair and checking my clothes. They were pretty much dry.

"All right." I picked them all up and took them into the bathroom to get changed.

***

An hour later and we were boarding the Tiny Bronco. Yuffie, Red and Cait Sith had already left and Cloud had apparently had the Tiny Bronco sent back to Cid after using it initially to reach the Ice continent, so it was just me and Cid on our way to Icicle Inn. I was glad. I didn't have to pretend when it was just me and Cid, because Cid understood me now like no one else could, and it didn't bother him.

The conversation on the journey there was light and somewhat cheerful considering what I was used to, and Cid was telling me all about how he'd first been interviewed to be a pilot in Midgar over ten years ago.

I could have listened to him for hours, I even found his serious tales funny. I just wished I'd started listening to him earlier. I wished I'd known him earlier - If I'd have known someone like Cid back when I became a Turk, I truly believe I'd have ended up a different person.

We soon arrived at a small cliff that Cid insisted we climb rather than take the long way round from the beach. We couldn't land Tiny Bronco but Cid moored her to a rocky outcrop with a length of rope he kept in a cockpit. It was not a big cliff, about seven foot from the surface of the water, and sloping in at that, so we climbed up with ease.

Five minutes walk in the snow later, and we were standing in Icicle Inn. It was a charming town to look at, much more civilised than the rather tribal looking Gongaga with its huts and ruined reactor.

It was early evening in the small town and the lamps were just being lit. Icicle Inn was full of laughing children wrapped up in big fluffy pink coats playing in the snow, elderly gents salting the snow off paths and just a general nice feeling all round. Very wholesome and cheerful.     

We stood for a moment, taking in our surroundings and locating the Inn we would be staying at.

"I guess that's the Inn..." Cid pointed to a large building off to one side. "How many days we got here?"

"Not counting today and the day we leave for Gaea Cliffs, two." I said.

"Well, how about we rest up at the Inn? Then we can have a drink in the bar!" He cricked his neck loudly. "Do us good to take a break without worryin', huh Vince?"

"Hmm." I nodded. With a final glance at the scene around us, we made our way to the Inn.

Upon walking in, we were greeted by a friendly youth with a big smile who took us up to the counter.

"Hello, welcome to Icicle Inn! Will you be making a reservation?"

"Yeah, for two nights." Cid replied.

"Right, let me see, we have... one room with space for two and one single room... I'm afraid I'll have to ask you to take the double room, so we will have space for another guest who will want the single room. Is this all right?"

"Sure it is."

"Wonderful. For two nights, the fee is 400 Gil, please."

Cid grumbled only slightly as he produced the money and handed it over to the friendly youth.

"Room six, last one on the right. Here is the key, the bar is next-door to reception."

I nodded at the young man and we made our way to the room.

Cid groaned and threw himself on one of the small beds. "@#$%, am I looking forward to that drink later. But first I gotta have a... little rest, you know... shut my eyes.... for a .....  for a bit... ... ......... ......... ........... ......... ....... ........ ....... ... zzz zzzzzz  ZZZZZZ..."

I had hardly closed the door and he was asleep. I looked at him for a moment, my hand still on the door.

He was barely in his thirties and he was acting like an old man. No wonder Yuffie called him a ... Well. What she called him.

I went over to my bed and removed my cloak and headband. I sat down, noticing the mattress wasn't nearly as hard as the one I had slept on briefly in Gongaga. I swung my legs up onto the bed and lay back, my eyes fighting to stay open. Okay, so I was just as tired as Cid. Maybe a little nap would be good...

"Vince! Vince! Wake up!"

I was shook awake by an enthusiastic Cid and realised I had been deep asleep.

"Cid, stop shaking me... I'm awake..." He released my shoulders and I sat up, rubbing my eye with my right hand.

"Come on, sleeping beauty! I've been up for 20 minutes waiting for ya, the bar's waiting!" He chuckled and slapped me on the back.

"Ugh." I slowly got up from the bed and smoothed out my shirt as it had become twisted as I'd been asleep. "What time is it?"

"About ten. Come on, hurry up!" He left the room, presumably hurrying down to the bar.

I shook myself a little to wake myself up, and put my cape and headband back on before leaving the room and making my way downstairs to the bar.

As I walked in, I noticed there were a few other guests scattered around the bar area, there was a friendly, lively atmosphere. I noticed Cid straight away, leaning on the bar, making a joke with the barman.

I approached and stood by Cid. He grinned at me.

"Well this here's my pal Vin, he's a touch on the quiet side so don't expect much talk outta him! Ain't that right, Vin?"

I sighed and made my way to a table in the back. I heard Cid say to the barman in his usual foul-mouthed way: "See? Now, what the @#$% does he want to drink... Hey! Vince!"

"Yes?" I turned to look at him. I knew what he was going to ask but I let him ask anyway.

"Whaddya want to drink?"

"...." I didn't usually drink, so I didn't know what beverages were likely to be on offer. I decided to play it safe. "Red wine, please."

Cid seemed a little surprised at my choice, but said nothing. I went to the table and sat down, waiting.

I took a moment to survey the other occupants of the room. A bulk of them were surfers from Costa Del Sol come to try out the town's famous snowboarding slope. There were a few other various people that looked like tourists, and a few locals.

I wondered if Cloud and the others had passed through here once they had found Aeris on their way to the Gaea Cliffs.

When I thought about it, why were they taking so long to get there? Since we took a short cut up the small sea cliff, we should have been in front of them, but there was as yet no sign of them coming through this way. Strange. Did something happen?

"Here y'are, one red  wine." I looked up to see Cid put a glass of wine in front of me, then the bottle it came out of. He put an empty wine glass in front of himself as he sat down opposite me.

"Well, it looks good stuff, thought I'd give it a try." He picked up the bottle and poured a large amount of the red liquid into his glass.

I sipped at mine and looked at the volume on the bottle as it tasted quite strong. "13.5%..."

Cid grinned. "Yeah? It's good shit!" He drank half of his glass in one go.

"Easy, Cid... you'll be inebriated in no time if you carry on like that..."

"That's the plan." Cid drank some more wine.

"You... want to get drunk..?" I asked, "Why?"

"Because I ain't had fun in weeks and we got two days to ourselves! I dunno about you but I wanna get drunk." He pulled a cigarette from a new packet in his goggle strap. "Hey, they sell my favourites at the bar. Means I don't have ta smoke them @#$%in' soggy ones yet... may as well save em for an emergency." He lit up and took a long drag, sighing happily on the out breath. "That's what I'm talkin' 'bout..." he grinned.

I looked at my glass, swirling the wine around in it, wondering vaguely if it was possible for me to get drunk anymore. I'd never been drunk even when I was mortal, so I didn't know what it was like anyway. I'd seen people drunk, of course - staggering around, paralytic, acting like idiots.

I looked at the wine in my glass. I found it amazing that a substance that could reduce one to that sort of state was actually legal and drunk as a pastime.

"Why is being intoxicated enjoyable?" I asked Cid, who was on his second glass already.

"Because when yer drunk, you can forget ALL yer @#$%in' problems and just be a mindless idiot for a lil' bit." He already had a rosy tint to his cheeks. "Heh-hey, this stuff works fast. Drink up, Vince! I'm way ahead of ya here!"

I looked at him, then at my glass for a moment. Forget all my problems... should I try it?

~~~~~~

Well, should he try it? Tell me what you think. I haven't written more of this part yet. ^.^;;; forgive me!

Also, if you read a few parts of this and wondered vaguely if I was skipping out bits of the journey on purpose because I was lazy and wanted to get to the emotionally charged angsty or fluffy bits, …. Well, you'd be right. Shame on me.