Chapter Four - Vincent

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As I'd promised Aeryn, I remained nearby as she slept the sleep of the utterly weary. I was quite sure that in the course of her short life the chance for complete, restful repose did not come her way often. After my conversation with Cloud, I had brought forth the lantern I had used in the basement, and as its light flickered over the form of the slumbering girl and danced in patterns across the floor. Seated in the chair in the corner of the room, hands steepled over my chest, I lost myself in my thoughts, as unpleasant and guilt inducing as they were. When finally I snapped out of my musing, I was mildly surprised to see the first rays of the sun creeping through the partially open and mostly shattered window situated above the bed. Dawn had come, and for the first time in a long time I hadn't been tuned to its approach.

It was not a good sign.

It was another few minutes before the child began to move; she had been motionless since first succumbing to sleep. As the bright light of the sun began to wash over her face she twitched and murmured; seconds later her eyes fluttered open to focus on me. Strange, that seeing me upon awakening didn't disconcert or frighten her; a small, tenuous and warm smile fleetingly curved her lips, and I felt myself feeling rather odd that she should bestow me with such a thing. Sitting up and rubbing at her eyes, in voice husky with sleep she said almost shyly, "Good morning."

"Good morning," I said quietly.

"You stayed here all night?"

"Yes." I replied with a nod.

She regarded me for a long moment, large eyes holding a speculation that belonged to a person older and more jaded. Finally she said, "Thank you."

Feeling odd at her expression of gratitude, I merely nodded once again brusquely before standing. "Our ride will be here soon," I said, moving to the door; she hopped off the bed and followed me.

"Our ride?" she asked as we entered the east landing and made our way down the steps.

"Yes, I called-"

A sudden booming interrupted me; someone was knocking at the door. With a glance at the child to ensure she would trail me I hastened down the remainder of the stairs and crossed the wide parlor to the door.

In the seconds before I opened it, I heard what I thought to be someone muttering expletives; knowing who stood on the other side I found a small smile crossing my face, and I swung the door open. "Cid," I greeted as the pilot, cigarette dangling precariously from his lips, ceased his swearing in mid-sentence. He was alone on the doorstep with Cloud nowhere to be seen, and so the next words out of my mouth were, "Cloud's not with you?"

"Naw, he went to go and check some things out," he said, and a sneaky smile crossed his face, "How the hell have ya been? Haven't seen ya in a while." He went back to shuffle through whatever had his attention before; Cid was never one to simply talk without keeping his hands busy.

"Fine," I said perfunctorily. At that moment there was a small cough from behind me; I half turned to see Aeryn staring wide eyed at the pilot with her hands clamped over her mouth in belated attempt to stifle the sound. Turning back to Cid, I said, "This is Aeryn, from Midgar."

He gave me a sideways glance before turning to Aeryn. "Hey there kid," he said casually, "Ya needin' something? Or were ya just lookin' for Vin here?" The girl fidgeted with her hands for a moment, as if indecisive of her actions.

"Umm... who is this?" she asked me, pointing to Cid, who was no longer paying attention to either of us.

"Oh, he's... Cid," I said, repressing the smirk. And sure enough he reacted. "That's Cid Highwind," he said, looking back at us, "Captain Cid Highwind." The girl had a small grin tugging on the side of her mouth.

"That ride I spoke of? It belongs to him." I said.

"What sort of ride?" she wondered aloud, gaze on the pilot.

"What sort of ride?" he began, and I knew this could go on for quite some time, "Well, kid, out there is one of the finest airships to ever fly the skies. The Highwind..." This proceeded into a description of the various odd mechanized things on board, illustrated by hand gestures and some accompanying sound effects. Suffice to say, Aeryn seemed amused. And Cid was... well, he was doing what he does best.

"And that's how she flies," he finished up, grinning at the girl. She smiled back. Undoubtedly, she'd be all over the ship now...

"Perhaps we should be making our way to the Highwind?" I said then. "Is Cloud meeting us there?"

"Um, ya," he said, finally locating some odd contraption from the box he was shuffling through, "I think that's what he said." He then turned to Aeryn. "Ready to fly, kid?"

"Yes!" she said excitedly, though still a little less exuberant than a child her age should be. More like a shadow of a child. I was glad Cid was drawing her out of her shell somewhat. With a jaunty nod at me Cid turned and fairly marched down the steps; after a glancing at me with a hesitant smile Aeryn followed, and I brought up the rear with a resigned yet somewhat amused sigh.

Here we were … on the road once again.

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