Thanks to spoony and Lora Helen and everyone who has reviewed so far!

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He ducked as he threw the small but powerful stick of dynamite in front of him. The cavern he was in shook, loose rocks falling from the ceiling above him. The ground beneath his boots also shook from the attack and he heard a distant rumbling emerge from below him. The tonberry looked at him oddly, it seemed like the attack did nothing but cause a few minor pebbles to fall from the ceiling.

"See how ya like a bolt of lighting up your ass," Cid focused his energy into the powerful lighting spell and grinned in pleasure as the monster fell.

"Teach ya to mess with a Highwind," the blonde walked over to, examining the previous scars it had.

He rubbed his eyes tiredly, it wasn't the fact that he was physically so it was more of a mental fatigue. He dragged his feet passed the monster, resisting the urge to spit on it and the urge to give it a swift kick to make himself feel slightly better.

The blonde captain paused as he headed deeper into the cavern, how far were his friends into the cave? They had a good few hours of a head start but they could have been slowed by monsters or the terrain. Could he actually catch up with the team before they battled Sephiroth and Jenova?

The thought seemed appealing. More so than it did a few hours back, why did he allow his fear to overwhelm him? He should have been commanding the second time down in to the fight. Not crying like some goddamned moron up at the entrance.

He had told the one person he cared about that he loved him. He should of went with him to their deaths without hesitation but he had. He had stood right outside of deaths doorway and had turned to go back. If the group failed, he would of caused it. If they failed to return but succeeded, he would live forever, knowing that he could of prevented the deaths.

He couldn't live with himself if that came to pass. To much had gone on between them, he considered every one of them family.

He hadn't said those three little words with a big meaning to anyone in a long time. Not his folks, friends or his fiancée once a upon a time. When everything was so warm and reliable, when everything didn't depend on whether or not AVALANCHE succeeded in saving a planet.

Part of him always wondered when exactly he had fallen for Vincent and the dark haired beauty for him. He wasn't the most polite person when he had first encountered the group. Hell, there was Midgar snakes more friendly than him.

The first night he had spent with the group had been hellish. He was drunk from the afternoons drinking and was sobering up. Didn't help much that he had became addicted to the booze he was drinking either so much of his anger the first few days and nights had been more of a withdrawal symptom rather than who he really was.

Underneath the cruel words and insults he spouted, he was actually a half decent guy. Always did as he was told, never did drugs or beat women. He was happy with the mess he had scrounged up for himself until the rocket launch.

Things had gone from bad to worse within a matter of days after that.

He had just lost control, did everything that good boys shouldn't do. Drugs, booze, violence…he turned into a very nasty person. Even he didn't love himself, so how could any one else?

That why I didn't go with him? Was I to afraid to put my trust in him only to have him taken from me? Cid gripped his weapon tightly and let out a shaky sigh, …shit, I didn't even think as to how this was scaring him. I let my own fears and doubts emerge over him when I swore that I wouldn't.

He had been rude and hellish but when Vincent had shoved him into the water to cool off, he began to feel a little respect for the man. When did it turn to love though?

~~~~~~~~~

The first night after cid joins the group…..

The night hadn't been that unusual from the other nights the team had spent under the stars. It was a starry night and the salty air made everyone feel good.

They simply had a new member in the form of Cid Highwind, a brutally honest pilot who wouldn't know subtlety if it smacked him in the face. The team also suspected the said blonde had a problem with alcohol. That would of explained the whole stinking attitude.

The blonde pilot didn't interact with the rest of the team as much as Cloud thought he would. He seemed to distance himself from the rest, avoiding any kind of interaction with the eight gathered round the small campfire.

Vincent seemed more friendlier than the older blonde. The quiet member sat and stared into the red flames of the fire, his pale face taking on a pale glow. His dark red eyes catching the flames and making them shine with a power far greater from within. He took a second to look at the lone blonde sitting on top of a useless pink plane.

Why is he sitting alone? What demons haunt him? Vincent crossed his arms, sighing into the fire.

Aeris stood up, with a small plate in her delicate grip and headed over to where Cid was sitting. The plan was to give the blonde something to eat and a chance for a small chat. Something to get him interacting with them.

"Hey," she called to him, "Captain? Would you like something to eat?"

Cid didn't turn round, he kept his blue eyes on the setting sun. His mood getting darker as the sun set. He was still furious about the afternoon. The failed restart of the rocket programme and the fact that he had his precious baby, the Tiny Bronco shot at didn't help his mood.

Aeris didn't take the hint, she carefully crawled onto the pink wing. Just as carefully she walked along it.

"Captain Highwind? Are you hungry?"

The flower girl didn't see his jaw twitch in anger. He flashed her a dark look, muttered something extremely unflattering before returning his gaze back to the sunset.

"Excuse me?" Aeris took a tone that was rare for her. She didn't appreciated being ignored like some animal. Also, she hadn't quite forgiven him for the way he treated the timid woman, Shera, back in Rocket Town.

"Get the fuck away from me girl," Cid avoided the angry look on the girl's face, "If I need anything, I'll get it myself. I do have two fucking hands so if ya want to help someone help the vampire or Mr Right hand man."

Vincent shot the blonde a foul look, he narrowed his eyes. The blonde was becoming increasingly unpleasant demons or no demons. Hadn't he been brought up to respect women? His mind wandered back to Rocket Town and the mouse of a woman Shera, apparently not.

Barret was near ready to explode at the Shin-Ra captain, the large man moved to get up but was stilled by the small brunette Tifa.

It seemed like Aeris wasn't finished with the blonde so Vincent allowed it to continue. Until he deemed a threat was there, he was happy to allow the young woman attempt to make friends.

"That was really mean. Take it back," Aeris ordered.

The pilot snorted, "Get bent."

The flower girl's eyes widened to saucers, who did this guy think he was? Why was he being so unruly to the group?

"I'm only trying to be nice to you," Aeris frowned, "Why are you being so mean?"

Cid stood up, he towered above her. He looked into her eyes and snorted,

"Trust me, this is me being real friendly."

"Trust me, I think you are being a complete jerk," Aeris poked him in the chest, trying to prove her point.

Cid raised an eyebrow, "Like I give a damn what you think. Go screw Cloud or something. Anything, just get out of my face will ya?"

"I would apologize to the young woman," Vincent finally broke his silence, he stood up and headed towards the plane.

Again, Cid snorted, "Yeah…probably right. I think the lion would be more her lines."

Vincent leapt to where the two were standing and gave Cid a dangerous look, "Captain Highwind, the next words uttered better be an apology."

The captain looked away for a moment, contemplating his next few words, "Get bent. What makes you think I give a damn anyhow?"

All of AVALANCHE were up on their feet, none had seen Vincent get so annoyed at anything since he joined them. They didn't know whether or not to get involved in the fight that would probably start.

Vincent suddenly shoved the blonde off the Bronco and into the cold water before leaping in himself. He waited the few moments, allowing the blonde to recollect himself.

"The fuck did ya do that for you stupid son-of-a-bitch?!" Cid exploded, he struggled to stand in the gentle current.

"You need to cool off," Vincent stated with little passion, "I refuse to allow a man act like that in front of a lady."

"I really don't give a fuc…" he was cut off by the taller man shoving him yet again back into the water.

"Nor do I care for that kind of language," Vincent stood above him, anger flashed in his eyes for a second. He motioned the blonde to strike by beckoning him.

The blonde readied himself for an attack, pulling his arm back to punch Vincent, "Again, think I care?"

Almost to fast for even the more sober members of the watching group, Vincent was behind the blonde within a matter of seconds. He grabbed the blonde round the waist from behind.

"Let go!" Cid roared as he squirmed against the grip.

All Vincent did was hold on a little tighter, knowing that if he did let go, the blonde would turn round and flatten him. A few moments passed, the blonde still tried to free himself but it was getting more weaker by the minute.

"…let go," Cid muttered quietly, "please?"

Vincent shook his head, "Not until you at least say sorry."

Cid slumped back into the former Turk, taking the man off balance a little.

Cid raised his head and looked at Aeris who was beside Cloud and the others by then, "…Shit…Sorry."

His release from the grip caught him unaware and he was rather unceremoniously dumped into the water. No man alive would have had the balls to do that to him. They would have had their heads taken firmly of their shoulders for even thinking about the action.

He looked up to see Vincent hold out his flesh hand, "You know, you're the only man to have done that."

The man above him smiled slightly, "You're the only man I've held in over thirty years."

Cid took the hand, "Should I be worried about that?"

Vincent gave him a secret smile after the blonde headed to shore, giving the smaller man a quick once over, "Perhaps."

The captain waited for him to reach the sandy beach, frowning slightly, "You say something Valentine?"

"Not at all. Tell me Highwind," Vincent walked by him, "Are you this friendly to people or do you work at it?"

Cloud stood and watched the two at the beach, not quite hearing the conversation. Once again the blonde angered but a few moments later he laughed.

Aeris stood beside the ex-soldier with a strange smile on her face, "I think Vincent found his friend."

Cloud looked at her with a puzzled expression, "Huh? What are you talking about?"

Again the strange smile never failed, "You'll find out later, I think whenever Cid acts up, we should let Vincent deal with him and vice versa."

Cloud shrugged. He was working with some of the oddest people on the planet but they all seemed like good people, trying to work past their own demons."

Aeris got him with another cryptic remark, "Just wish I could see the end result."

~~~~~~~~~~~

Present

Cid squeezed by a thin rock crack, holding his breath to get past. He wasn't big but the years of drinking beer had gotten him a bit of a beer belly, one that he was currently trying to work off.

Vincent had once joked in one of their private moments that he actually preferred a meat on his victims, also that having some form of fat was healthy if the team travelled a lot. It meant that his body had some form of reserve to fall back on when the food and money was scarce.

"So you're calling me fat?" Cid had said rather annoyed.

Vincent leaned over the table in the hotel room they were staying in and kissed him lightly on the lips, "I'm calling you mine."

The blonde smiled as he licked his lips, tasting the drink on his friend's lips. The urge to have one returned with full force, he had gone over a week not touching one but his smoking had went through the roof.

"You haven't answered my question," Cid pulled back slightly when he saw Vincent move for a second kiss, "Am I?"

The former Turk shook his head, "No, I…like you exactly the way you are."

Cid shook himself as he freed himself from the crack, he scanned the area. Did he cause more trouble than good when he chucked his stick of explosive at that bastard tonberry?

Something made him shout out, "Vincent?! Yuffie? Cait?"

Nothing, except for the strange wind that howled in here. He scanned for an exit, his blue eyes narrowing as he spotted a rock pile to the far end of the cavern………

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Chapter 6 up! Thanks to those who reviewed. Midnight loner, I still hope ur reading this…I figured that if he was going to lead a team and if he was in the turks, he could still have his own one…granted it would be the size of a brick but a phone none the less!

Spoony, yep, I like ff9. And please stop with the ego!!! Lol, I love ya all.

Next fic I do will have the deep and meaningful two minute noodles! lol