Vincent finally sighed and put down the remote, looking down. "Strife will probably be back soon..."
"Right..." Cid slid off the bed, heading for the phone. He fished the slip of paper out of his pocket and dialed quickly. "Yo, Reeve?...Cait, whatever. Mind comin' on over? Considerin' the atmosphere I don't think it's the greatest #$^#in' idea in the world for me to be walkin' around alone."
Vincent was searching around his desk, not sure of what to do. He didn't want Cid to be hurt because of him, he never wanted that...he wanted some way that he could help protect him, even if it wasn't truly physical. Unfortunately, his posessions didn't leave much to the imagination. He looked towards Cid, who apparently was having a rather active conversation with Reeve on the phone. His eyes glanced down at the pad of paper on the floor, and he picked it up, leaning back against the wall to begin to sketch.
"C'mon, it ain't that bad, sure, Hojo's a #$^#$, but you can't let him do that to you!...Well, #$#^...shut up, that won't happen again! Cause I said so, that's why! Oooo, you're askin' to get that tail of yours pulled! Yeah, wouldn't like that, would you? What?! You leave my goggles out of this, you little..."
Vincent could tell from his tone that the two were teasing eachother gently and without seriousness. He smiled quietly as he tried to draw himself on the paper, demonic wings flaring to protect a smaller, feather winged person underneath him. He wasn't sure what other way he could give protection, knowing that he couldn't be with Cid all the time, but he felt as though this was at least making some kind of visible effort.
"What class you got tomorrow, catface?...Well of COURSE you don't like that name, that's why I thought of it! Pff, you're too easy to #$^% off, man. So what class you got?" Cid pulled the paper out of his pocket, looking at it as he supported the phone on one shoulder. "Great, me too! We can meet up there and ignore everythin' together! ...Pff, you sound as if you WANT to pass college, catface...well of COURSE that's not the purpose of college, man! It's to get drunk and get #$^@ed, everyone knows that."
Vincent began snickering to himself, finding the irony too much for him. Cid pointed at him with the paper. "Shut up, I don't need any comments from YOU."
Vincent rolled his eyes and darkened his lines, trying to shade evenly. His shading always seemed to be blocky and sharp and it bothered him, but here he seemed to be making progress. "And to think, that's what started this entire mess."
"Hey catface, meet me here in fifteen minutes, okay?" Cid hung up without waiting for a response, smiling broadly. "#$^#, I don't think I've ever met a guy in my life that's easier to tweak with then him."
"I'll make a note of that." Vincent smiled softly and continued to work. It wasn't long before Cid was hovering around him, blinking curiously.
"What are you drawing?"
"Oh..." Vincent put his pencil down and handed the paper to Cid. "A gift, I guess. I suppose you could say it's my way of offering my protection."
If Vincent expected an awkward pause he didn't get one. Cid smiled brightly at him and folded the paper twice, putting it in one of his many pockets. "Thanks, Vin! Don't worry, I think everything will blow over soon anyway. Those #$^#ers got to get tired of it sometime."
Cid slid off the bed again, rubbing the back of his head. "#$^@, wish I thought to bring my cigs tho'. #^#%. In fact, mother#$^#."
"You'll get them soon, Highwind, don't worry." Vincent's arm twitched slightly, and he remembered about earlier that day. Curious, he tried to unwrap the fabric with his claw, but only ended up shredding it instead. Sighing, he pulled the fabric away, staring at the five glaring red marks left on the inside of his arm.
Again, Cid had come to look. "Really did a #$^#in' number, Vin, I'm not kiddin'."
Vincent sighed. "I didn't intend to...it's a nervous reaction of mine...to clench this..." Vincent couldn't even continue with what he intended. He moved around it. "Whenever I get upset..."
The gold glinted softly in the light. Cid stared at him seriously for a moment and took the claw authoratively. "Vin, come on. It's not that bad. You're way too #$#^in' hard on yourself."
Vincent didn't physically respond, his voice level. "I'm worried, Highwind. What if one of us gets hurt...? I mean...with all the rumors going around..."
"#$^# the rumors, man!" Cid leaned back on his heels and stood, his feet sinking into the bed. He wavered for a second, then found his balance, putting a hand to his chest. "I'm Cid #$^#in' Highwind, I'll beat the #$^# out of anyone that tries to touch you! An' me, for that matter. An' good ol' catface."
Vincent shook his head and smiled in spite of himself. "Are you going to call him that permanently now?"
Cid sat down quickly, bouncing a few times before responding. "Hey, I could be callin' you gothboy."
Vincent raised an eyebrow and smiled slightly. "Gothboy?"
Cid smiled and leaned against the wall for a second. "Or I could think of somethin' even worse. You're lucky you got off with Vin."
"You always make up nicknames for people...?" Vincent leaned forward and wrapped his arms around his knees, more because he wanted something to do with his arms then anything else. Cid looked at him levelly and managed to return the same kind of smile that Vincent had before.
"You always use their lastnames? I bet it's drivin' you #$^#in' nuts you can't figure out what Catface's last name is."
Vincent looked vaguely annoyed while Cid smiled knowingly. "Ah, see? I was right!" Cid again shifted off the bed. "See, I'm always right."
Vincent smiled again, leaning back to watch Cid walk around the room, poking at things. "You're always right, are you?"
"#$^# yeah." Cid poked something that spun and smiled. "Doubt me?"
There were some timid knocks on the door. Cid opened it before Vincent even thought of getting up, pulling Reeve inside and closing the door quickly behind him.
"How was your trip?" Vincent inquired from the bed. Reeve was brushing himself off from his rough pull into the room, his clothes pretty much the same as before, his shirt now black in the front and red in the back and the slacks replaced with black cargos. His ears flicked back and forth, following his inquisitive eyes.
"Got the royal starin' treatment, as usual." Reeve noted that there was a large blank space on Cloud's shelf where the books were supposed to be and instantly made his way up there, despite the fact he had to climb the desk to do so. He layed down on the shelf and rested his head on his hands, smiling in that catlike way of his that seemed so natural. "Think people've never seen a cat before..."
"Maybe it's 'cause you're only a #$^#in' half-@#$ed cat, catface." Cid seemed to be filled with a bizarre kind of energy, jumping back onto the bed with such force that Vincent was knocked out of his curled position. "What the #$^# you doin' up there anyway?"
"I'm plottin' to take over the world, genius, what do you think?" The catlike smile remained on Reeve's face. Vincent watched him in amazement. Earlier today, when talking to him, even when he was Cait Sith, this kind of ease hadn't been present. Cait Sith must have really grown to trust them in the span of time that had passed since the parted. He wondered if Reeve would follow suit.
"#$^#, if you do, can I make sure a few people die in some real nasty ways?" Cid smiled. "I know a few that really #$^#in' deserve it."
Reeve let one of his thin arms fall over the edge of the shelf, drifting lazily across the top of the Cloud's monitor. "So do I, really. I think everyone does. But anyway, why'd you invite me here anyway, you spaz?"
"Don't call me a spaz, catface." Cid pointed at Reeve mock-threateningly, who lowered his ears.
"Spaz."
"Catface."
"Spaaaaz."
"Caaaatfacceeeee."
"Yes, the maturity in this room is astounding." Vincent remarked quietly, causing the two to turn their eyes to him.
"You're too serious, Vin, honestly." Cid shrugged. Reeve flicked his tail back and forth lazily along the same trajectory his hand had been following, a smile crossing his face. The same smile lit up Cid's face a few seconds later. "You should lighten up."
"It's not my fault you-" Vincent was cut off as Cid lept at him and began tickling him furiously. "AGH!"
Reeve began to laugh from the top shelf as Vincent tried in vain to push Cid away while laughing too hard to talk.
"See? You look better already!" Cid was laughing as well as Vincent squirmed, trying to get away from him. Reeve sat up slightly, propping up his elbows and letting his head rest in his hands.
"Stop! Agh!"
The sound of clicking from the door cause all sound in the room to stop. Cid backed away quickly from Vincent and in the process managed to trip over his chair. He gave a short cry of surprise before falling on his back heavily. Vincent pulled himself up, trying to catch his breath. Reeve remained completely silent, his tail lifted back up to the level of the rest of his body.
Cloud walked in, looking tired and worn. He threw his bag near Cid, almost striking him, as he slammed the door. He finally seemed to notice Cid after a moment's pause.
Cid struggled to right himself, managing to somehow knock the chair over again in the process. He put it back up and brushed himself off, holding his head slightly. The dizziness there must have been terrible.
"Again, would you please warn me when you have people over?" Cloud moved over to his bed, sitting down with a thump.
Reeve's tail wandered back down near the monitor as he spoke. "Sorry, we don't want to bothering you..."
Cloud jumped as he realized that Reeve was there, then again looked at Vincent, just in time to miss Reeve repeatedly thumping his head into the shelf mumbling to himself.
"Stupid stupid stupid..."
Cid stood and pulled on Reeve's tail gently.
"Woah woah woah, stop it, come on! It's no big deal, come on."
Reeve slowly turned to look at him, his forehead a slightly darker color then the rest of his face, his expression changing for a few moments, then returning to the ease it had before. "Sorry about that, don't know what came over me..."
Vincent sighed deeply as Reeve made his way down from the shelf with a quiet grace. "I'm sorry, but I think you should probably go..."
"No problem, Vin, no problem." Cid smiled lightheartedly, pushing Reeve along in front of him. "We'll be back later, alright? Call us if you need us."
Vincent nodded as the two left, bantering back and forth seemingly carelessly. Vincent again felt a twinge of worry for them both. He hoped they'd be alright.
Cloud continued to stare at him for a few moments, as if waiting for him to explain something, then shook his head, rolling onto his side on his bed. "I'm going to sleep...turn the lights off."
Vincent obediantly flicked the switch and sat in darkness, unable to rest.
Cid and Reeve meandered down the hall, glancing back at the room where Vincent had been left alone.
"Man, what a #$^#$. I still got a #$^#in' headache and now Vin's roomie is all like 'this be my room now, #$^@%, get out!' and stuff." Cid put a fake accent into his speech, eliciting some muffled snickering from Reeve. "I ain't down with that."
"Stop that." Reeve's tail moved back and forth lazily as they headed down the stairs. "You're just being silly now."
"Pff, I was born to be #$^#in' silly, catface."
"Whatever, spazboy."
Cid playfully lept for Reeve, but he dodged out of the way with the feline grace that came so naturally to him. Cid laughed and crossed his arms. "$#^#in' catface. You're too #$^#in' fast."
"Comes with the territory." Reeve stuck his tongue out at him and continued walking down the hallway, Cid following along behind. "Never been hit by somethin' thrown at me in my life."
"Yeah yeah." Cid looked slightly awkward for a moment. "Hey, can I stay at your place for a while? My roomies a #$^#in' #$#%."
Reeve paused for a moment then smiled. "Sure I guess. But you got to go back sometime tonight."
"Hey hey, I said a little while!" Cid held up his hands nonthreateningly as they walked towards Reeve's dorm, which was in-between his and Vincent's. "Not like I'm #^$@in' askin' you to marry me or somethin'."
"Good, 'cause I'd divorce you in a second." Reeve's tail was flicking back and forth playfully as he smirked back at Cid, who caught up and put his arms behind his head.
"Pff, divorce me an' I'll take you for everythin' you got, @#%@%."
"I'll see you in court then! I want the dog, and the cat, and the car..."
"Pff, you already HAVE the cat, catface."
"Great, you just ruined the entire thing! Thanks a lot."
"No wonder I want a divorce."
"No, I wanted the divorce."
"Lies! All lies!" Cid kicked open the door to Reeve's dorm roughly and walked in, his arms outstretched. "You know what, catface? I just can't handle the truth, that's what. Just can't. I got a restrainin' order on it too."
Reeve rolled his eyes. "You never quit, do you? Come on, my room's over here."
Cid waited impatiently while Reeve struggled to remember where he had put his room key. He noticed as he waited the stares he was getting from everyone passing by with increasing annoyance. The fact that Reeve was talking to himself and pulling debris out of his pockets wasn't helping at all.
"God#$^# it, catface, speed it up already."
"Ah! Here we go." Reeve smiled and unlocked the door. "I wonder if Moog's in..."
"He your roomie?" Cid walked in. Reeve's side of the room was decorated with pictures of cats and various casinos, along with what seemed to be architectural plans. The other side of the room seemed somewhat barren in comparison, but the same kind of fascination with casinos seemed to be present. Cid, having no real respect for anyone's sense of personal property, went and sat on Reeve's bed, propping his feet up.
Reeve cocked his head slightly, his ears changing positions slightly with each motion. "Yeah, we've been friends for what feels like forever, so we signed up to be roommates. I feel bad for you suckers who just got the random assignments."
"Yeah, I bet you're #^#^in' sorry." Cid found a ball of yarn and began throwing it idly at the ceiling. "What's he like?"
"Ah, the quiet type. I don't think he'll appeal t'you much, but me and him go waaay back." Reeve was watching the yarnball with great interest. "Either way, you can stay here if you want for a while, but y'got to go back sometime."
"Don't worry about it." Cid let the yarn ball fall back into his hands, looking at it for a moment before throwing it upwards again. "I'll be fine."
"I hope so." Reeve leaned back and sighed. "I really hope so."
Cid's night was spent rather uneventfully in Reeve's room. They mainly just pretended to bicker back and forth until his roommate came back. He was a huge, completely white, overweight kid that seemed to dwarf everything in the room. He talked slowly, but he wasn't stupid. Cid was surprised for a moment, but at the happiness in Reeve's face at seeing his friend, he shrugged and decided to go along with it.
Cid eventually had to bid Reeve and Moogle (as he found out he was called) farewell and, tired of people having to go out of their way for him, he decided to walk back alone. It was about time he started doing things for himself again.
The staring was beginning to bother him, although he liked to pretend it didn't. His thoughts wandered to the paper in his pocket. Vincent had drawn himself with demon wings, and he had angel ones...
Cid sighed and rubbed his head, his headache still lingering somewhere in the back. He wondered why Vincent had made him the angel...was it because that he thought that he was a demon himself, or because he thought that highly of Cid? He wasn't sure. He did feel better with the paper with him however.
He left the dorm and began walking back to his own, sighing. He didn't want to have to deal with Reno right now. Considering the rumors going around, it would just give him more ammunition to use against him, and Cid really didn't want to listen to his cruel jabs while he tried to sleep. Especially since his head hurt. He shouldn't have drank so much...
He paused on the sidewalk, a slight breeze blowing by in the night air. He looked at the sky, finding the moon to be nearing full. Where had the time gone? It felt like it had just been lunch...
Time flies when you're having fun. He smiled to himself. When he was with his friends, he really did feel like time went so much quicker. It had always been a problem for him, the passage of time. He always felt like it was too slow, and that the world was moving at a snails pace compared to his own. He wondered if anyone else felt that way.
The sound of a footstep nearby brought him out of his daydream and he looked around, wondering what new person would be staring at him this time.
This person was standing in front of him, arms crossed. Their hair was spiked up in an extremely odd way, dyed a sapphire blue color. In fact, he was dressed entirely in the same hue, his wrists adorned with other sharp looking blue shards. And he was well out of Cid's league in strength. Cid backed away slightly, dread completely filling his body. Knowing his own #$^#in' bad luck, this wasn't going to be pretty...
More footsteps around him. He turned to his right to find another one, almost the same stature as the one in front of him, this one however dressed in black. Turning in a slow circle, he found a red one behind him, and the most peculiar of all, one that seemed completely white.
"Who the #$^# are you?" Cid couldn't stand the silence and tried to sound confident. He really, really could use a cigarette now. The four stared at him with unconcealed hatred and disgust.
"We don't take kindly to your type here." The blue one in front of him gestured slightly, and the black one moved towards him. "We're here to teach you a lesson."
"Is that #^#@in' so?" Cid struggled to keep the confidence in his voice. In truth, being surrounded by four people who were, not only physically superior, but actively wished him harm, was frightening him more then he wanted to admit. He tried to lock away his fear, struggling to be able to ignore it.
Cid waited for the black one to approach him before dropping suddenly, kicking out and knocking him flat on his back. He crossed his arms again and smirked confidently, hoping that would be enough to show that he wasn't defenseless and make them back off. "Well, what #$^%in' lesson was that?"
The blue one simply glared at him for a moment before turning away. "Diamond, Ruby, bring him over here, out of sight."
"The $%^# you will!" Cid turned on the white one, not sure which one he should be watching out for. "Get the #$^# away from me!"
Diamond wasn't the one he should have watched out for. In a moment his legs were taken out from underneath him and he fell, Ruby having knocked him down from below. He hit the sidewalk harder then he would have liked, and he winced. His entire field of vision went completely black, accompanied by the normal horrible pain in his head. Figures he'd have to have a spell NOW, wouldn't it?
That didn't stop him from struggling as they grabbed his arms, dragging him off to some darker area away from the sidewalk. He tried to speak, but he felt as if his words were garbled in his current state. He'd have to wait for the dizziness to wear off first...he couldn't do anything in this condition. The pain was making things blurry.
"Ultima, drop him here."
Cid again changed altitudes and angles, which didn't help the spell in any way whatsoever. He couldn't help but put a hand to his head, trying to stop the world from moving. The pain increased steadily, and the blackness in front of his eyes began to throb and shift, changing colors so that he could occasionally see some reality, but only for a few moments before it disappeared.
"Is that all it takes to take you down? This shouldn't take to long then."
"Sapphire, what do we do?"
"What do you think?" The blackness faded enough so that he could see the spikes off of one of their bracelets and their clenched fist in front of his face. "Like I said before, teach him a lesson."
He could hear them moving around them as his vision blacked out, entirely again, bringing with it another wave of disorienting pain. The fear he had tried to keep locked away before had now completely taken over him, and he could feel his heart quicken. Already knowing what was going to happen, and helpless to stop it, Cid groaned underneath his breath. "I am SO #$^#ed."