Chapter 11 at long last. Man…I just dunno what the heck is up with me. Inspiration for this chapter goes to Queen, Meatloaf and Bon Jovi. Trust me, a whole day of listening to them finally made me write this chapter.
This is a rather weird chappie for me…it's…it's the 1st time that I've actually thought about the character as something other than annoying.
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Cid's fingers were numb and raw from his scratching and clawing at the rocks in front of him. Determination etched even more lines into the normally tanned features. His heart had sank when Cait had told him that they had heard a faint rumble above them and then the rocks fell.
He knew that he had been the cause of the rock fall, he knew he shouldn't of threw the stick of dynamite but he didn't even think he had been that close to the second group.
A sharp intake of breath surprised him as he nearly ripped off a dirty finger nail, two battles were being fought inside him. The warrior and pilot half of him told him to take his loses and move ahead, fight for the greater good but the man, the half that made him who he was, refused to move an inch.
Cait Sith looked at the pilot in front of him, his mechanical heart going out to him. However, Cid couldn't sit around and wallow in self pity. Not this time, this was the fight for the planet and as sad as it was, sacrifices needed to be made.
"Cid, he wouldn't want you to give up. He'd want you to keep fighting," Cait pulled lightly on Cid's combats.
"He wouldn't want his death to be in vain. If he knew that he was the reason the planet died, I don't think he could forgive himself ," the grey and white cat tugged harder.
The last member to join AVALANCHE ran both his hands across his grim covered face and through his hair, hoping that the answer he wanted so badly would smack him in the face. It was like he was with Megan all over again.
He'd just managed to get over her, after four long years of taking it out on Shera and everyone he really cared about. Blaming the failed rocket launch, his friends…however, it was Shera who had bore the brunt of the anger.
She had been the only woman who had even went near the blonde after Megan and had offered herself willingly to him only to have it spat back in her face whenever Cid had had to much to drink. It still amazed him to this day that the mousy woman had stayed for as long as she did.
"I told him that I wouldn't leave him, would never treat him like Lucrecia did," he muttered softly, "and what the hell did I go and do?"
"You weren't responsible for her," Cait shook his head, "Vincent didn't compare you to her so why are you comparing him to Megan? He wasn't going to…"
"You don't know that," the pilot sighed as he took in the sight of the rocks that had crushed his lover, "Hell…I was to busy wallowing in my own self pity that I didn't even think to ask him how he felt. I used him. Sides, everyone who cares for me usually ends up dead."
While Reeve had never met Vincent as a young man, he had a feeling that the dark haired former Turk wouldn't allow anyone to use him if he didn't want them to. If he didn't have some form of a healthy tolerance for the rest of AVALANCHE, he wouldn't of spoken to them, wouldn't of joined with them in this insane race to save the planet.
"Not everyone," Cait suddenly felt inadequate, wishing that he was his human operator, wishing he was Reeve so he could show Cid some real emotion instead of just a compassionate voice.
"There's Shera, um…the guys in AVALANCHE, the folk in Rocket Town," Cait Sith placed both paws on Cid's lower calf, "we all care bout you and we aint dead yet."
"We can twist that round," Cid wiped away a drop of sweat from his forehead, "Aeris, Vincent, Megan, the guys of AVALANCHE in a few hours, the people of Rocket Town and Shera."
Reeve wanted to tear his hair out right then, here he was, talking to a man who had obviously decided that he was doomed to be alone and not bother to even try to be happy.
"You scared the living daylights out of him when you got the stupid idea of flying without the Highwind back in Corel," Cait confessed, "He didn't get a wink of sleep that night, kept whispering to you that everything was going to be okay and that you haven't screwed anything up!"
Two huge blue eyes stared at him in a mixture of shock and horror. How did…how did he know that? Vincent had told him that no one had seen them and that it would go no further than the two of them. Their little dangerous secret.
The mechanical cat allowed the words to sink in before divulging where he got that information. Vincent would probably…would have either ripped out his mechanical circuits or go straight to the source and choke the life out of the human operator if he'd known that he knew.
"This is what I saw…" the cat took a deep simulated breath, steadying nerves that didn't really need to be steadied.
Corel Party….
He watched in curiosity as two of his team mates walked slowly to the large airship, he'd been aware that Vincent had came over to him earlier this evening. He had even heard the comment about him not being bothered by the party.
He would of joined in more but Reeve had been pulled into a sudden meeting with the president and the rest of the goons that made up the board. So, Reeve had one ear listening to the meeting and the other to the Corel party.
The small grey and white cat knew how much Reeve had wanted to get away and disguise himself as a local but, the president had all important staff locked in the Shin-ra building, concocting ever more evil and useless plans on how to defeat the oncoming threat of Meteor.
The current one of choice was the rocket back in Rocket Town. The plan was to launch the rocket and use it as a missile after they had loaded it with Huge Materia at the fiery ball called Meteor.
Reeve was doubtful that that would actually succeed but did the dutiful nod and 'that's-a-great-idea' spiel. In his eyes, if the people wanted to look for hope, then it was with AVALANCHE that they should be turning their attention to. Terrorists to the Shin-Ra but freedom fighters for the planet.
It wasn't in technology that the planet was going to find salvation, it had been placed into the hands of humans…well, almost. It had been placed on the shoulders of eight individuals who had been thrown together
He retuned his divided attention back to the two figures heading to the airship, wondering why Cid was leaving the party so early. The man loved partying…well, enjoyed a really good drink so, why was he heading back to the Highwind?
Not bothering to summon his mog into action, he elegantly leapt off and began to follow them. He stalked through the grass, not wanting to alert Vincent. Cait Sith was convinced that the man who said nothing had the most sensitive hearing on the planet.
He was convinced that Cid had that expert hearing as well as he seemed to be the only one who would smile if Vincent muttered something that the rest of the group couldn't hear.
A smile curled his lips as Vincent snaked an arm around Cid's waist. The action it seemed to the untrained eye was to steady a drunk pilot as the blonde leaned slightly on Vincent but Cait had watched Cid walk perfectly straight when leaving the town.
Part of him was curious as to how far exactly the pair were in the relationship, he had his suspicions but he could hardly wander up to them and ask, 'Hey, are you two screwing each other yet?'. he might as well throw himself of the Highwind.
His ears perked up as he strained to listen if they were talking, not that he would really eavesdrop but Barret was right. What did the pair talk about when they were left lone in their rooms?
They had shared a room at the Gold Saucer and Cid had refused to spill the beans about his room mate. The blonde claimed ignorance, saying that he had only been with the team for a few nights so he really didn't know anything about anyone.
Vincent, however, had been that little bit more sneaky than his lover. He had wanted to know more about Cid before he even approached the man. That was the first time that Reeve had even had a clue that Vincent might actually be interested in Cid, however, if he actually thought about it, there had been clues long before.
He looked up to find that the two men had disappeared from his sight but he averted his gaze to the Highwind. They were boarding her, how could he of let his super senses down like that? Some spy he was turning out to be!
Maybe that's a good thing, Reeve thought, the fact that I am now one of the good guys and that I do feel bad about betraying them back then.
He jumped through the grass like he was a kitten until he got to the ladder that lead to the upper deck of the Highwind. His sensors told him that it really wasn't that high up but his eyes said other wise.
Reeve had a thing for heights, he was okay if it was Cait Sith doing all the dangerous stuff but the Head of Urban Development got nose bleeds when he travelled to the President's office on the 69th Floor of the Shin-Ra headquarters by the elevator.
The cat tried leaping for the last rung of the rope ladder but found it was a good few feet out of reach. He kept trying, just hoping that every jump was a jump nearer to it. No matter how hard he tried or how much bounce he gave, the rope would sway in the breeze and remain out of reach.
"Should of picked an animal that jumped that little bit higher," Cait Sith moaned as he went to look for another way on board.
An hour later…
Voices could be heard from the crew quarters of the Highwind of varying descriptions. Cid's usually instantly smoke hardened drawl couldn't be heard. The entire ship had a sleepy yet eerie quiet to it. His booted paws made little noise as he made his way down the corridor.
"That is such a cute looking kitty cat," a female engineer said quietly, "It's got little booties on…aww."
A male voice sounded a little confused, "Um Jessica? That's half of that really annoying fortune telling machine."
Caith Sith flattened his ears in annoyance as he heard that comment, "That's not really nice. I'm actually a real person."
"Sure…one who'd Barret would like to get his hands on," the male responded.
"Anyhow…" Cait frowned slightly, "Do you know where Cid's room is? I wanna talk to him bout something…"
The woman looked thoughtful for a few seconds, "Down the hall but, he's not feeling to great. Vincent asked if we could leave him alone for the night."
Cait nodded, "Oh…what's wrong?"
The female shrugged, "Dunno but he didn't look so hot when he came on board. Hope he's not coming down with something."
The male she was with looked at her, "Why's that?"
"Cause if anyone can stop Meteor, I'm sure he can…along with the rest of AVALANCHE," her voice sounded hopeful as she looked at the small cat in front of her.
Something about the honest and hopeful look in her eye made him look away. Was this how the entire planet felt? Did they want AVALANCHE or the Shin-Ra to defeat Sephiroth and Meteor?
"You want us to win?" Cait said the words slowly, "but the Shin-Ra has all the big guns, we're just running around with hardly anything."
The woman frowned a bit, "I really don't know…maybe it's because no matter what the Shin-ra have done to you guys, you come back looking for more and it's for the good of the planet. Lot's of reasons but…I've got a kid and she wants to grow up to be in AVALANCHE. Maybe because everyone today has been forced fed on the lies for to long and we want…it's time that we all started believing in something real and not the pack of lies that has been given. AVALANCHE has finally given us something to believe in and that's what we need."
The male who was with her looked stunned at the honest words of his friend. He had no idea that she felt like but he understood her words.
"We need heroes," the male said, "and that's what we all see AVALANCHE as."
Words seemed to of failed the usually talkative cat, all he could do was stare at the floor in wonder and actually think about those words. His own words rang in them too, words he had said to Cloud and Aeris back at the Gold Saucer.
You don't get paid or praised for what you do but you keep going anyway.
Was that how the entire planet felt? That AVALANCHE were now fighting for the good of the planet? Corel and Fort Condor certainly did, Yuffie's own father had stated that he had admired the group. Heck, even people he knew back at the office admired them.
"Th…thanks," Cait Sith stuttered, "You have no idea how much that is going to mean to the rest of the group."
"It's just how I feel about it," the woman offered sheepishly.
The two engineers looked at each other ackwardly before going about there business, leaving the tiny form of Cait Sith to slowly make his way to Cid's room. Surely this would make Cid feel better? He knew it would mean the world to Tifa, hopefully that would quell any doubts that had risen in her heart.
Cid's door was slightly ajar when he arrived, Vincent's soft voice could be heard from within, saying something to Cid.
"…be okay…" Cait picked up, "I'll…never…screw up."
As far as he was aware, Vincent had never really screwed things up for the group. Was he indicating something else?
Maybe I should get that little bit closer…Cait thought, he tipped toed nervously closer, knowing that if he got caught, he'd be used as a bouncy ball.
"Next time when you need to talk to someone, just come to me," Vincent had lowered all his shields and Cait Sith suddenly felt really guilty at listening.
"But we're gonna be okay. You're gonna be okay," Vincent continued, oblivious to the fact that he was being spied upon.
Something like a sigh emerged from the man's delicate lips, "But I will admit that you scared me like no one has before. Think you knocked a couple of years off me. Just…just don't go jumping off anything, I love you and…I just couldn't cope if I lost you too."
Cait blinked slowly a few times, love? So soon? He waited to hear the words come out from Cid's mouth but none came. That annoyed him, Vincent had laid his heart on the line and…whoa…jumping off anything?
Who had tried to jump off something and why was it a bad thing? Cait scratched his head until Reeve filled in the blanks for him.
Oh…Cid must of tried to…to do something drastic, Reeve moved the small mechanical cat a little closer to the door, part of him wanting to offer some comforting words to Cid and Vincent. To tell them of the good news that not everyone wanted them dead.
Cait Sith peeked halfway into the room, one eye covered by the door but the other orb catching sight of Cid and Vincent on the bed. The pilot was curled up like a cat to the slender and older former Turk who had wrapped both his arms around the blonde in an extremely protective hug.
"You know," Vincent smiled slightly as he looked down at the blonde sleeping somewhat restfully in his arms, "you look kinda cute…without that damn fag in your mouth."
Guilt seemed to be the cat's new best friend that evening as he felt awful for witnessing such a sweet moment between the pair however, he was going to look for a bit longer. When else would he get the chance to see the real Vincent Valentine?
Vincent gave Cid a few butterfly kisses along his forehead, a content smile appearing on the man's pale face. The smile grew slightly when Cid stirred slightly from his slumber but the waking blonde was only up for a minute. The pilot rested his head on Vincent's shoulder and sighed deeply as he fell back to sleep.
"You haven't screwed anything up…well, nothing that time and love couldn't fix," Vincent words could barely be heard from where Cait was but Reeve was glad of that, "that's why, no matter what happens. I love you, faults an' all."
Cait Sith wiped away an imaginary small tear from it's face, You know…I think this is when I should leave them…
He took one last look at the couple, his mind going to Aeris and what she said way back when Cid had entered the group to Cloud. She had wanted to see the end result of the pair, she knew that deep down, that they were going to get it together.
Present
Cait Sith had covered his eyes, afraid that Cid was going to do something mean and horrible to him if he looked him dead in the eyes after telling him that. Slowly, after a few minutes had gone past, he ventured open an eye.
Cid was fighting back tears and was winning that battle, something in his blue eyes had changed. he sighed slightly as he looked at the rocks.
"He…he said that?" he rubbed the back of his neck, unsure of how to take the news.
"Yup," Cait took a few large steps back away from Cid, "I just felt like I had to tell you. Make you feel a little better about moving on."
"I'm not leaving him," Cid shook his head, his hand tugging on something, something red underneath the rock.
"Cait stood slack jawed, "Uh…w…why?"
"I've found him…"