"#$^#, Vin? Vin, are you okay? #@$^..." Cid mumbled under his breath. Cid looked upwards and found that Prof. Hojo hadn't even resumed talking, only staring at the two of them with a kind of detached interest. Cid glared at him in pure hatred.
"Hey, Vin needs some #$^#in' help." Cid stood up, taking a hold of Vincent's shoulder and pulling him up as well. Cid noted the complete lack of resistance that Vincent seemed to put up, and his refusal to show any kind of facial expression. Cid vaguely remembered Vincent mentioning something about how he locked up in front of people and assumed that he had completely locked himself away in an effort to deal with what was going on. He began walking down the aisle, hearing the soft snickers of those around him and trying to ignore them. Vincent followed him passively. Prof. Hojo continued to have that smirk on his face that Cid was rapidly growing to hate. Cid glared at Hojo, drawing himself up to his full height in front of him, which didn't amount to much, and walked out of the room. "We'll be back soon."
Cid slammed the door behind him and began cursing as soon as he did. "Those mother#$^#in' pieces of #$^#in' #$^#, what the #$^#..."
Vincent was staring at his bleeding arm, his face completely passive. When he spoke, his voice was completely emotionless. "I didn't intend to hurt myself. It was beyond my control. I'm bleeding rather badly."
"#$^#..." Cid looked around, not sure of what else to do. He dragged Vincent to the bathroom, letting go while he looked around for something to use to take care of the wound. Vincent stood quietly, his face still having a lost, faraway look.
"C'mon Vin, we got to #$^#in' clean your arm up. Mother#^$#..." Cid dragged Vincent to a sink and held his arm underneath it. Vincent didn't protest or help, only letting Cid wash away the blood angrily. "What the #$^# does that #$%^in' pompous #$% think he's doin', #$^#er...can't #$^#in' believe this #$^#..."
When his arm was clean, it was clear that Vincent had five small open slits in his arm that were still bleeding, although not too heavily. "#$^#..."
Cid pulled out a small knife from one of his pockets and clicked it open. He took the edge of the grey shirt angrily. "Sorry about your shirt Vin but..."
He ripped off a portion of the bottom, washing it off in the sink before wrapping it tightly around Vincent's arm, tying it off. "Got to stop this #$^#in' bleedin'..."
Cid looked at Vincent's face, which was still very far away. He shook his shoulders softly. "Vin? Vin, are you #$^#in' listenin' to me? Vin?"
Vincent looked down at him. "Highwind..." His eyes softened slightly. "You do realize that from now on, we're...we're..."
"#$^#ed?" Cid supplied and shook his head. He brushed a wet hand through his hair. "That's what I would #$^#in' guess. #$^#."
Vincent looked at his claws and finally made some movements of his own, washing off the tips with the same expressionless face. "This is my fault...I'm sorry, Highwind."
"$%^$, if this's anybody's #$^@in' fault it's that $%^# Hojo's, so shut the #$^# up." Cid took a hold of Vincent's arm. "Don't #$^#in' blame yourself for his #$^#in' trick questions."
Vincent shook off his claw quietly. "I shouldn't have said anything..."
"#$^# 'em!" Cid shouted, causing Vincent to break out of his stoic shell for a moment and stare at him in surprise. "#$^# 'em all, Vin! Who the #$^# cares, alright?" Cid turned and punched the wall viciously. "Who the #^#$in' #$^# cares? Let 'em #^#%in' think all the #$^#in' stupid #$^#in' #$^# they want, I don't give a flyin' #$^#! An' you shouldn't either!"
Vincent stared at him and finally raised his claw arm to stop Cid's arm from raising again. The anger and sudden burst of violence had surprised him, and he was worried. "Highwind, calm down, it's alright."
Cid smiled at him in relief, but Vincent could still see the lingering traces of anger in his eyes. "There's the Vin I know. Those stupid #$^#s don't know a #$#^in' thin', alright? Let 'em #$%^in' talk. I don't #$^#in' care. I know what's $%&@in' true an what #$%&in' ain't, and that's all that $%#@in' counts."
Vincent touched the impromptu bandage on his arm. "...we should go back..."
"#$^#." Cid crossed his arms and put a hand to his head, sighing deeply. "#^#%, wish I had a #$^#in' cig right now. Mother#$^#er..."
"It's alright." Vincent shook his head slightly, running his flesh hand through his hair, pushing it back. "I'll be okay, don't worry. I'm sorry if I frightened you, I've done that ever since I was a child..."
"Lock up?" Cid turned and headed for the door, hearing Vincent's soft footsteps behind him. "#$^#, it's okay, Vin."
Vincent sighed as they headed down the hallway. "I wish that I wouldn't have to endure their eyes again..."
"$%%%%%%@$ their eyes." Cid held out his arms light-heartedly. "Don't worry about 'em, Vin. They're #$^#ers."
Vincent smiled slightly. Cid took this a chance to continue on. "Huge #$^#ers. In fact, in my entire #^#%in' life, they're the biggest #^#%er's I've ever known! In fact-"
"Shh." Vincent put his hand on the door to the room. "Keep it down."
"Right." Cid took a deep breath as Vincent opened the door.
Prof. Hojo was writing something on the board, but turned as the two entered the room again. Vincent's claw instantly moved behind his back and the two remained in the doorway, as if waiting for him to say something before moving any further. Everyone turned to look.
"Ah, so you two are back." Prof. Hojo's voice was cold, and he looked at the grey fabric around Vincent's arm quietly, immediately assessing where it had come from. "I trust you didn't have any...difficulties?"
More quiet snickering. Cid took Vincent's arm, who seemed to have locked up again and dragged him forward, muttering under his breath. "No, you mother#$^@er."
"What was that?" Prof. Hojo's voice lost the quietly amused tone it had before and immediately became dangerous. Cid seemed to snarl in his throat quietly before responding.
"Nothing."
"Hmm." Prof. Hojo leaned back and crossed his arms. Cid walked up the aisle towards their seats in the back, mumbling under his breath the entire time. He waited until the two were seated before speaking again, quiet clearly and carefully. "I'm glad you managed to take care of him, Cid. However, I think that is to be expected...you are his..."
Cid clenched his fists and felt his nails digging into his skin. His knuckles were already aching from when he had punched the wall before. He wished he had his gloves, they gave him an extra layer of protection when he felt like punching things. Hojo paused on purpose before continuing, seeming to be studying Cid's reaction. "...friend, are you not?"