Soda

by Court and Rin

*~*~*

Court: Uhh.... Shut up, stop that!

Rin: Castlevania music is teh shiznet yo FOOLIO.

Court: Wow, really on the subject, there.

Rin: Well, okay. I think this is one of the coolest chapters yet because I SAY SO. sdkfghjsdfghjasrhjdg there's, like, 874362895628947567834 instances of fanservice. XD

Court: Yeah, there are some amuuuusing parts, I suppose.... *COUGHCOUGH*

Rin: RUN IT'S RIN AAAAAHH

Court: Yes, so enjoy. cause... I say so. Huah. *Link pose.*

Rin: Navi sucks. Let's kill er.

Court: Sounds good to me. You get the arrows, I'll get the Master Sword.

Rin: Deal.

*~*~*

You hold the answers deep within your own mind.
Consciously, you've forgotten it.
That's the way the human mind works.
Whenever something is too unpleasant, too shameful for us to entertain---
We reject it.
We erase it from our memories.

But the answer is always there...

*~*~*

7: Lord of the Dance

*~*~*

Mako eyes were flared with indignance as they scanned over the black and white tuxedo that was hung on a hook on the door in Cid's closet. Zack usually didn't like to suit up, and for some company party, he despised the thought of it. Why was it that Cid had to drag him along, huh? He'd been working for all of a day... he was sure Cid had concocted a plan to start him working JUST before the party so he could drag him along and put him through this misery...

He stalked out of Cid's room, about to declare to the blonde in question for the umpteenth time that he was NOT going to go, when he found him across the hall in the bathroom... scraping a razor against his cheek. Eyes lost just a tiny bit of their annoyance at the sight, filled moreso with shock.

"Whoa... you're actually shaving..." he gawked.

Cid seemed to have finished; he had brought a towel to his chin and wiped it thoroughly. Now he turned around, still somewhat wet from the shower he had taken a few minutes earlier to rid himself of the grease he had accumulated in his work room. Incidentally, he was only garbed in a pair of sweat pants and socks. (....Socks...?)

"Yeah?" He growled, a bit miffed that he had ended up doing the exact thing that Zack had been pestering him about. Then again, he couldn't show up at a boss's party looking too scruffy, now could he? "......What's it to ya?"

Now that Zack got a good look of him when he was clean-shaven, he was a bit surprised. Cid looked unnervingly good without the stubble, even... dare we say... sexy? Zack felt a grin trying to capture his lips, but he did his best to refrain from saying anything, simply because Cid would probably freak out even worse than he had the previous day in the bathroom and he didn't really feel like walking around the party (if he was in the end forced to go,) with a black eye.

In all these thoughts, he had forgotten for a moment that Cid had even asked him a question, and upon remembering, stammered out a painfully late, "N-nothin'..."

"Uh....." Cid continued to stare back, the both of them frozen for a miniscule amount of time, but still long enough to make the moment slightly uncomfortable, especially for the fact that both of them were only half-clothed.

Zack could've sworn Cid's cheeks were at least slightly red as he turned away, his eyes shut tight as he yelled at the top of his lungs.

"GOD DAMMIT, ZACK, DIDN'T I TELL YOU TO GET YOUR FUCKING TUXEDO ON?!?!"

Zack would have teased him about the blush, had he his own cheeks not felt just slightly warm. Besides, he didn't really have the time, with Cid screaming out orders like a drill sergeant. His eyes were narrowed and he felt both of his hands balling into tight fists as he stomped a foot onto the ground rather childishly and responded with, "I TOLD you I'm NOT going! And that's that!" He stomped out of the bathroom and towards the living room.

"Huh-----HEY!!!!" Cid chased after him, rounding on the back of the couch as Zack flopped into it. He leered over the back of the sofa, a scowl on his face as he grated coldly. His cheeks were still slightly flushed, though now it seemed to be for a different reason. "It's not a question of want, kid, it's a question of responsibility!"

Zack stretched out on the couch as far as he could, listening to his back crack in a few places as his arms and legs were extended outwards. He yawned softly and turned on his side, the goal seeming to be to take a nap. "Meh... I thought you knew I don't have responsibilities. I don't need to go..." A pause for another yawn; this time, Cid was able to discern that it was a fake. "I just started working... you don't need me there."

"....You don't get it, do you?" Cid frowned, hands crossed over his bare chest as he circled the couch, speaking in a level and authoritative tone. "The party isn't really a party----just some thing Shin-Ra threw together for one of their staff members, who just happens to be my boss. Now. If I'm your boss, and he's my boss, then he's---" Cid paused in both his speech and his walking for a moment before he continued. "---uh your big, big boss. Or some shit. Like that." He closed his eyes, grumbling, knowing his reason hadn't been all that great but trying to pass it off as valid nonetheless. I'm not gonna let the fucktard sit around and watch TV while I have to go kiss ass by eating salty hor devours........ Not like they'll really listen to the idea of launching soon when I pitch it, but.....

Zack wasn't really in the mood to listen to Cid try to convince him, but he couldn't really do anything else. Since there was no way he was moving, he was a pretty captive audience. He wasn't quite sure why Cid was parading around without a shirt on, but he himself was only in his boxers, so there wasn't much he could say. He blinked slightly at the mention of the ladder of bosses. "You mean, like the final boss?" he squeaked rather immaturely, memories of video games from his childhood bubbling up from his memory.

"Final-----?!?!------What the hell are you TALKING about!?!??!" Cid whirled around, almost pushed to the brink of his tentative anger control. "STOP acting like a fucking six-year-old and------" He suddenly lunged at Zack, grabbing him roughly the upper arm and jerking him upwards, practically throwing him towards the bedroom, and in the process, onto the floor with a painful thud. "--------GO PUT ON SOME DAMN CLOTHES!!!!!!!"

Well, Zack should have been ready for this. However, he hadn't been aware that Cid wasn't a fan of video games. Wincing painfully as he grasped his arm harshly, and then shoved himself towards the ground. He really didn't want to get up now. He had been considering going along, but the way the pilot was treating him...

Hmmm.......

This was a party, right? The gears could practically be seen moving above the dark-haired kid's head as he slowly got to his feet and headed into the room, grabbing the tux off of the hook on the door and walking into the bathroom, shutting the door and locking it.

Cid blinked in shock in the direction where Zack had gone off to for a moment. He'd expected an insult in return, or maybe some whining..... He was almost disappointed that the argument hadn't lasted longer.

"Well, now!" Cid shut his eyes begrudgingly, talking loud enough that he was sure Zack could hear it from the other room, but low enough so that it sounded like he was thinking aloud. "THAT was quick, wasn't it?! I hope that FUCKTARD over there doesn't think I'm not onto him... He probably has something planned in his little brain that he thinks is oh-so-fucking-sma-----"

Zack was preparing to pull the tuxedo on when he heard the mumbling banter of the blonde still going on in the hallway. Blinking, he frowned slightly as he creaked the door open slowly and poked his head out, canting it to the side as he examined him. "Err... Cid...? Who are you talking to?"

Cid practically jumped two feet in the air, and then, with his shoulders slightly hunched, turned his head back towards Zack, his eyes wide. "Um." He took a step back, facing his entire body towards Zack as he blinked several times. "No one." Another step back, as he gestured helplessly towards the bedroom behind him. "I'll just. Go change too. Then." Cough. "Yeah."

Zack snickered slightly at how jumpy he was. Probably some anxiety about the upcoming event. Ehh, Zack had come to terms with it for the moment. He was just thinking over his plan for the moment. Ducking back into the bathroom, he locked the door again and got to work. This might take a while...

*~*~*

"Hey, Fucktard------!!!!!" Cid's fist clunked against the peeling paint of the bathroom door. He'd managed to dress himself up, even managed to slick back most of his annoyingly spiky hair in a quasi-gentlemanly manner, save for the stubborn little tuft at his forehead that had earned him the nickname of "Chocobutt." Even his tie was only a little bit crooked.

A frown. Another knock.

"You gonna spend another thousand years in there or what?!"

A sigh from behind the bathroom door. "Look, Cid, I actually agreed to going to this stupid thing with you, so let me do this right, okay?" That was obviously all he was going to say on the matter, as he spoke no more, and didn't plan to.

"..........FINE!" Cid threw his hands up into the air melodramatically, a sound of exasperated resignation in his voice. He walked towards the kitchen, settling down in one of the chairs. Bronco raised her head quizzically from her pad in the corner of the kitchen, and Cid arched an eyebrow back at her in response. "Haven't been seein' you lately, girl..." He muttered. He looked away, his mouth curled up into the side of his face as he looked towards the ceiling and rested his chin on one hand. Must be 'cause of all the fightin' that's been going on around here nowadays... damn. His eyes narrowed as he realized that Bronco always hid out in his work room or underneath his bed whenever he was stressed out. These past two weeks, he had only been seeing her when he fed her those two times a day and when he took her for walks in the early morning....

It was about five to ten minutes later when Zack finally emerged from the bathroom, flicking off the light inside and gently shutting the door behind him. He had the suit on perfectly, the tuxedo looking like it was made for him, seeming to fit his form perfectly down to every bit of his anatomy. His hair was arranged just as well, many sable spikes seeming to cooperate in harmony for once. His teeth were whiter than white, most likely from some serious brushing, and he had some sort of cologne on, though it was hardly detectable, just a nice smell that made itself comfortably noticeable when one was close enough to him.

Walking into the kitchen with small smile on his face, not his usual crooked grin, but something more tame, his eyes brightened as he caught sight of Cid. "Err... looking good...?" he said tentatively, voice also surprisingly normal, not the high-pitched, playful puppy tone it took on at times when he wanted something or wanted to get out of something.

"Anyway," the younger continued cooly, "We better get going now. Traffic shouldn't be too bad, considering it's a Sunday night and most people are home. But we should be safe. Better to be early than late with things like this." He spun on his heel and headed for the door, grabbing the keys to Cid's car off a the keyhook on the wall right by the door. Twirling them expertly on his fingers as he whistled to himself, he opened the door, holding it as he waited for Cid to walk out.

"..................?" Cid slowly stood up, albeit a bit shakily, and walked slowly down the hall, his eyes fixed on Zack's smug features the entire time. He stopped, suddenly, right as he neared the doorframe, and opened his mouth, haltingly, and then closed it again.

Finally, he spoke, his voice toneless as he outstretched his hand.

".....Keys."

A calm nod, though, just for a second, a flicker of mischief ran through his Mako eyes. He dropped the keys easily into Cid's extended hand, then swiftly walked out the door and headed down the stairs, hand skimming over the railing as he made his way to the ground floor, still whistling absentmindedly.

Cid could only stand there in shock for a moment....

With staggered movements, he closed the door behind him, putting his hands in the pockets of his tuxedo's pants as he made his way towards the stairs in an almost lethargic manner. Now.... how the hell did Zack manage to be so.......... different all of a sudden? He found a growl in his throat as he came to the first step and removed a hand from his pocket. He put it to the railing, leaning over slightly to see Zack's progress. The black-haired one was already a flight ahead of him, the sound of his whistling barely audible over the hollow sound of his shoes stepping on the old wood of the stairs.

There was something familiar about that tune....

Cid suddenly found himself back in reality as he flew down the stairs two at a time like he normally did, but with a sort of awkward clumsiness that replaced the inherent grace he usually possessed. He finally caught up with Zack, breathing hard as he let the words out of his mouth.

"Whuh-what...." He took a pause to breathe. ".....I know that from somewhere...."

Zack's mind seemed to be off somewhere else until he heard the loud thumping of Cid's dress shoes behind him. He turned his head to present Cid with a watchful gaze as he caught up with him, worse for the wear. Zack stopped whistling abruptly to respond. "Hmm, some song... don't remember what it is, though." He shrugged. "I dunno, just the first thing that came to mind, I guess." Not considering that too important, he turned and continued down the stairs, having a much easier time at the descendance then Cid was, moving rather easily in the formal wear, which seemed to work with him rather than against him.

Cid felt.... well, discombobulated, at best, not quite sure where he was as he stepped off the stairs, and then surprised when he found they had reached the car a few minutes later. Luckily, he'd had the foresight to clean the old vehicle up a bit the day before, and so it didn't look quite as grungy or dilapidated as it usually did, but the sight of it only reminded him that he could have used that same time to fix the broken toaster.... ( Why the hell was he so fixated on that damn toaster...?)

With a blank look on his face, the blonde unlocked the door on his side and climbed in, shutting it and leaning over to unlock the door on the passenger's side as well. When he was done, he moved back over to his side, letting out a sigh as he clamped his hands on the steering wheel and put his head to it, clearly in an exhausted state.

"Get in." He said, his voice muffled by the surface his head was resting upon.

The streets were slick, cold, and Zack found himself looking his own breath in the face. Rubbing his hands together for warmth, he grabbed the stiff, cold door handle and opened the rickety door, sliding into the passenger's seat and slamming it closed. A shivered sigh, he leaned back into the drooping seat, sagging downwards from a broken spring, and then grabbed for the seatbelt to buckle himself in. Considering how tired Cid looked, he wasn't sure how safe of a ride this would be. The state of the car wasn't any assurance, either.

And so, Cid raised his head and revved up the car and drove out of the parking lot. Soon, they were on the freeway, spending the vast majority of the car ride in silence until they came to the top of the plate---where all the nicer homes of the higher-ranked Shin-Ra staff members seemed to be from the look of the large houses' smog air-filters built into the roofs.

Zack didn't care too much about watching the passing scenery, having seen the same houses many times already, sickened enough by the memories of the upper-class Midgar residents who spit on those that lived in the slums. Really, any Midgar memories tended to be bad ones. So you had to wonder why he was even there now... why he didn't find someplace else. Just settled in here now, I guess. No point in going off somewhere else now that I have a place. Good enough reasoning there.

"Oh..." he said spontaneously, without really thinking about it. "What I was whistling earlier... you were whistling it once, too. When... I first met you, I think." He blinked at Cid, arm hanging exanimately on the wheel. "Anyway..." He turned his gaze to the window, staring out without really focusing on anything. "There gonna be any girls at this party...?" He felt a smirk play smoothly upon his lips.

Cid jerked a bit in surprise, looking at Zack for a moment before his eyes darted back onto the road.

"How the hell should I know about something like that?" He muttered. "Women who work in my department, I guess.....?" A suspicious glint in his eyes as he shot a glare at Zack. "Why d'you care, anyway?"

Zack snickered slightly, shaking his head in disbelief. "Earth to Cid... Hot girls means I might get in one of their pants. Or just cop a feel, whichever comes first." He winked at him, smirking suggestively, much like he did in the bathroom the other day. "Don't you know anything?"

Cid only stared back, nonplussed and apathetic as he answered.

"You're disgusting," he said simply, making a turn down one of the few cul de sacs in Midgar. Zack's eyebrows were raised as he so cooly called him such a mean word. Disgusting wasn't exactly gentle...."There's more to love than just physical attraction....... You're probably just desperate 'cause you can't get any. I mean....." His eyes moved around, searching for a spot to park. ".........I doubt any guy would ever-------------------------------

Wait.

------GIRL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" He suddenly shouted at the top of his lungs, his eyes more than wide as he braked suddenly, close to running over the curb as the car stopped. Zack was forced to cover his ears when the shout was made, along with the heightened sound of the brakes screeching on the asphalt. Geez, Cid and Cid's car sure made a hell of a lot of noise.

There was a long. Long. Pause.

Cid closed his eyes and put a hand to his forehead as the sound of the car's motor began to die down. "........I meant girl, goddammit....."

Once the scene had calmed down a bit, Zack gave the pilot an annoyed look. "That was brilliant, Cid. Just brilliant. How am I supposed to get into anyone's pants now with THAT entrance? Geez... I mean, I was at least hoping for a girl. They're sort of easy, and seem to want sex more than guys. I thought MAYBE I'd get with a girl, at least... but now that doesn't even seem possible."

What he was insinuating was left to Cid's imagination as Zack opened the door and stepped out, sticking his head back in the car just to say one more thing.

"Oh, and it isn't disgusting. Two people have a right to be horny together, all right?" He slammed the door and started to walk to the building where the party was being held.

Cid opened his mouth to say something, but then stopped, hanging his head, shutting his eyes tight, and clenching his teeth tightly in his mouth. What the hell was wrong with him...? God dammit, he wished he thought as much as he spoke sometimes.... And that... that little freak..... Cid raised his head, glaring at Zack's backside as the youth sauntered his way through the door of the place (the right house, amazingly enough....)

....Well, he wasn't helping much, that's all Cid could say. The blonde made an inner vow to kick the fucktard out as soon as his financial situation became a bit more stable, and then he exited the car. He sighed, his shoulders slightly hunched as he walked up onto the curb, tossing his car keys up and down with his right hand. He finally caught them in a definitive catch and pocketed them, brushing himself off slightly as he finally walked inside.

Who knew. Maybe he'd actually find someone he could talk to.....

Well, the entrance by car may not have been stellar, but Zack's entrance into the building certainly was so. He seemed entirely cool, like one of the people that was 'in the loop' and knew what he was doing, having a far-off expression that expressed that he was here just because it was the right thing to do, a smug smile playing at his lips as he paced in. One hand was halfway into his pants pocket, bit of the coat pushed back a bit by his arm to show the underlying white shirt that hugged so nicely to his form.

How he did it was hard to fathom, transforming from the whiny puppy dog boy to this fine specimen of man flesh. And did it make heads turn, all the women seeming to be looking at him, a silence practically washing over the entire place, and bits of mumbles of jealousy being expressed by the males as their partners walked off to crowd around Zack.

"Well, ladies, glad to see you're all as excited as me as I am about you! How about you clear the way so I can get through to get a drink, hm? Maybe I'll even treat one of you to one... who knows, could be your lucky day..." His obvious display of confidence somehow seemed to make him even more attractive, and he ended up with quite the group following him as he walked to the refreshment table.

Where Cid was standing.

Gawking.

As Zack poured a drink for one of the many females huddled around him, he managed to catch sight of Cid through the crowd of women and wink at him, mouthing to him, Couldn't get any, eh? to which Cid responded by averting his eyes and halfheartedly snatching up a plate and picking out various hor devours to pile upon it. He sighed and took a fork as well, swirling it down into something unappetizing that looked like hummus dip.

Damn kid doesn't know when to give up, does he?

He suddenly heard a gait amongst the pounding of dancing feet, a limping gait, in fact, that was so familiar that as he turned around, a rare, sincere grin was on his face as he met the weary, tanned face framed by cropped brown hair.

Heya, Keith, he said, forgetting for the first time in a couple of weeks or so about the annoyance that lived in his apartment. He stepped forward and clapped the man on the back. How the hell you doin', huh? Didn't think I'd see you at a political ch'rade like this....

Keith smiled back, and Cid noticed as the man stood, he rested most of his weight on his good leg---the one Cid knew wasn't twisted and slightly withered beneath the man's pants. That brought back something of a vague, painful memory from the war---Cid had been there when his friend had received the wound, after all----but he didn't have the energy to retrieve it, nor did he want to.

Keith answered slowly, wincing as he tried to stand a bit more upright. The company still has me on their military payroll, if that's what you mean.... So they want me to check out the local places... have me on some strange jobs, nowadays, I'll tell you that much....

Cid blinked. He could tell from the look on his old friend's face that the jobs he spoke of probably had to do with inner corruption and corporate scandals, but he didn't want to pry. Keith was probably somewhat envious as it was of Cid's success in following the dreams he'd been planning since before they'd been comrades in Squadron Alpha. Cid had been his superior even then---Captain Highwind had been his name, best in the entire fleet. Hoo-hah. Then again, the envy was probably outweighed by the camraderie they alone shared, seeing as everyone else was now gone...

Just don't let em work you too hard, Cid finally said, standing back and sighing. They already got me doin' overtime on their own stuff, not to mention the program----

There was a sudden and from the crowd that caused both of them to raise their eyes towards the center of the commotion. In it, was a young girl in a sequin-laced gown, dancing quite skillfully with....

Who's that? Keith blinked. Haven't seen him anywhere around the HQ....

Oh, dear God... Cid found himself grimacing with his forehead held in his hand.

Yes, Zack had really snatched a good one this time. The dance was focused primarily on hip movements and just making it look downright sexy, quite a sight when the two participants were so good-looking. When the two had looked over, Zack was in the middle of twirling the girl around him, making sure that their bodies pressed against each other at each possible moment, though it wasn't as if his partner was complaining.

He then switched from her to yet another female, releasing his first companion into the crowd and pulling out yet another. This dance was started by him bringing her almost uncomfortably close, then stepping away, followed by the two circling around each other in the most seductive way possible. He continued to switch from girl to girl, the naughty intentions of his dance never simmering down -- if anything, they got worse with each new girl he grabbed.

And instead of averting his gaze, Cid now found himself gaping in outright horror. Keith seemed to look from the rambunctious dancer to his friend and then back again.

He paused. Do you know that guy...?

Cid grit his teeth and took a very hard step forward, almost like the beginning of a march towards a threatening enemy.

He's my roommate, he hissed out the side of his mouth.

When it became obvious that Cid was planning on dragging Zack from the crowd and giving him something close to a beating, (Keith knew Cid pretty well from the war days), he put a hand on the angered man's shoulder. Hey, it's pretty harmless overall---it's what younger guys do these days when they get out of school right away. How old is he? Seventeen, eighteen....?

Cid muttered dangerously.

Well.... In any case, I think he's got everything under control. Keith forced a smile, finally causing Cid to pace back to where he had been standing, looking towards Zack with a blank expression on his face. Incidentally, the routine now involved him running his face over his dance partner's abdomen and chest, and then up her neck to her face. Absentmindedly, Cid gently mashed down his fork into his small plate, his eyes still fixed on the scene.

Mash.

With a bit of prodding from the crowd that now surrounded him (mostly males), and his current partner, he put his tongue to the side of her lips.

Mash.

Then did he force her mouth open, and dive right in. There was absolutely no protest to this, or to his hand that slinked around her slim form and groped at her behind with no shame whatsoever.

MASH.

When his free hand, which had been initially resting at her side, reached up and tried to undo her bra, she decided that was quite enough and stepped away, still looking rather satisfied. He grinned deviously at her and reached his hand into his pocket, producing a small card which he gave to her amid the clapping and laughing of the crowd. Here, this is where I live, he explained with a grin.

.......................................................WHAT THE HELL??!?!?!?!?

Cid could only look on in stark disbelief, mute as the girl---a green-eyed redhead---returned the grin with a wink and slinked off, her hips swaying like those of a vixen as she disappeared into the crowd, which had now disappated slightly around where Zack had been standing.

Oh, now, this, this was getting fucking ridiculous.....

He turned towards the table to set down his plate, whereupon all of the hor devours piled upon it had turned into something of an unrecognizable mush. Cid blinked at it, vaguely wondering when that had happened.

He let go of it and stormed off in Zack's direction. It seemed Keith had evacuated the area in anticipation of Cid's well-known fury, or maybe he'd just been continuing with his job....

Zack gave a wave as the blonde approached, obviously not as wary of the man's explosive temper as Keith was -- though it was possible that the porcupine was just immune to it by now. Heya, Cid. How've ya liked the party? he questioned with a crooked smile, really acting as if there was no problem. Maybe he thought if he treated everything normally, Cid would just forget about his little escapade that had taken place just a few seconds earlier.

Fat chance, Zack.

What the fuck did you think you were doing?!??! Cid probably would have yelled in a half-mad roar if the room hadn't been so full. Going and... and.... drawing attention to yourself like that---- his blue eyes seemed to dart around over Zack's shoulder at the people still motioning towards the dancer. Oh, oh, Cid rolled his eyes, gesticulating towards the watchers. Now, ain't this great---they're seeing me with you, now!

Zack raised his eyebrows. And that's a bad thing? I mean, I'm sure you just being seen with me would get you ten times the girls you get now, he scoffed, obviously ashamed at Cid's lack of female friends. Most likely because he had been planning to get with any Cid may have had, but that was most certainly not the point. I'm sure me just mentioning you would attract some of them to you, he pointed out. 'cause, I mean, it's not like they can all have me. Cocky? Just a bit.

I'm not interested in girls!!!! Cid said in a furious whisper that was nearly a shout.

Another eyebrows raise, along with a blink. He sounded surprised -- but also, in a way, satisfied. As if something had finally been confirmed.

It took a second for Cid to realize what Zack had read into the sentence, but when he did, he retaliated by grabbing Zack by the collar threateningly.

I mean, he growled. I'm more interested in getting my bosses to see that my project needs to stay at the top of their priorities! And my roommate making a scene with some---some whore is not the impression I wanted to fucking make on them!!!!

Zack growled sharply and pushed Cid away, taking a few steps back and dusting himself off -- trying to seem like the dignified one in this argument, and it seemed most of the onlookers were buying it, even with the show he had put on earlier. Zack was just a likeable guy that way. Whatever he did, people agreed with it.

I don't think they're even around here, he muttered, taking a glance around the room to check. I doubt they care what you do... they probably don't even know I'm your roommate. In fact, they probably wouldn't have ever guessed that we even knew each other if you hadn't come over here to talk to me! He crossed his arms over his chest in a way that almost made it seem like he was pouting. Anyways, we may as well go now, if you're gonna get pissy on me. Fun's over, an' all...

Cid blinked in confusion, then looked away, a hand at his forehead like a few minutes before. No, no, I need to catch up to one of my supervisors... make sure everything with my project's goin' smoothly.....

Eh, all right, then, Zack grumbled, a tad upset after the scene that Cid had made and no longer wanting to even be there. And so he wandered off to amuse himself in some other way, though it wasn't likely that he'd do something as outrageous as his previous act, what with his newly acquired downtrodden attitude. He raised up his hand as walked off, letting out a quick, Catch ya' later... before disappearing into the crowd.

Cid grumbled as he shoved his hands in his pockets and began to stalk off in search of someone else who had maybe spotted his bosses mingling among the crowd. Instead, he was given quite a shock when he nearly smashed into a familiar face while thinking his melancholy thoughts to himself.

Oh, I'm so sor--- a female voice said before pausing mid-sentence and blinking from behind large round glasses.

Cid found himself blinking back rather awkwardly, not sure whether to admonish his worker or just grumble to himself and continue on his merry way. However, he didn't have a chance to do either one, as Shera smiled her usual small, sad smile. Well, of course, you're here... I mean, I guess you would be here, wouldn't you...? Um, working for the company and all....

Cid responded gruffly, not in the mood for small talk. Um, if you'd please excuse me, Miss---

Say, did you see... Zack earlier?

Cid suddenly froze and narrowed his eyes. Now, this was something worth complaining about. How the hell couldn't I?

Shera said. It seemed she was a bit taken aback by the random swearing, but from all the times she'd interacted with Cid and the people who worked with him, she was beginning to get used to it. Well... yes, I suppose it was rather obvious, wasn't it?

Sure, sure, Cid said tiredly, he got everyone into a fucking uproa--

Well,do you---

They both stopped, embarrassed, it seemed.

Uh, you go on--

No, no, please, continue---

Cid sighed, his hands still in his pockets. I forgot what I was gonna say, anyway....

Shera blinked before continuing. Well.... I wonder, do you know how to dance...?

Suddenly, the hairs on his neck were standing straight up as he froze even more suddenly than before.

Just answer, you dumbass. Yeah... sure, not the best, but....

Shera's cheeks turned a light shade of red as she looked down, wringing her hands together as her voice faded. Would you care to dance right now...?

Oh.

Well, now, this was fucking fantastic.....

Cid hesitated for a long moment, not sure how to answer. He didn't want to hurt the poor girl's feelings; not that he cared much for what people thought of him, but from what he'd seen of this one, she seemed on the edge of a nervous breakdown every single minute of the day.

He responded slowly. I....... guess...........

Shera obviously hadn't been expecting that sort of answer, and as she looked up, Cid was almost shocked to find a full smile on her face as she took his hands gently.

Um... then, shall we...?

Oh, for fuck's sake, what the hell had he gotten himself into now?!?!

But it was too late now, as a slow song came on and he found himself staring blankly into Shera's face as he numbly stepped to the music.

Zack had found some random people to converse with, most of which were asking him vigorously about his little stunt earlier, though he was hardly in the mood to talk about it anymore. He did his best to be sociable, though, but he still managed to catch sight of his roommate on the dancefloor. His eyes widened in surprise as he watched him for a few more seconds. Well, I guess he's at least bi, then... he settled with, a tad upset that he wouldn't be able to bother him as much about it anymore.

Luckily for Cid, Zack turned away right then, so he wasn't able to see when Shera moved in to gently rest her head on his shoulder---or when he pushed her away suddenly.

he stammered suddenly, staring with wide eyes. I have to go. To the bathroom. Yeah. And with that, he abandoned the confused woman and began to walk away briskly, not quite sure where the restrooms were, but determined to go find out. On the way to wherever he was going, he bumped into another familiar face and grabbed him for what seemed to be the umpteenth time.

Let's go. Now.

Whuh? But I thought you needed to see your final boss, and you seemed to be having a perfectly good time danci--

Forget all that shit--- Cid growled, using his grip on Zack to begin to pull him towards the nearest exit onto the street. My boss is probably busy or you scared him away.... and I already danced, all right?! Besides, I have some things I need to discuss with you in private.

Uh, right, Zack blinked, fearing for his life. Though he couldn't resist mumbling under his breath, As moody as a cat, as they walked towards their car... hardly a car, more like a piece of junk, but... well, Zack didn't even have a car so he couldn't really talk.

Once they got there, he quickly got out of Cid's deathgrip and into the passenger's seat. He was pretty much silent as his roommate slipped into the other side, and with a large jerk, turned the keys in the ignition and began to back out of the rather unskilled parking job he'd done.

Within minutes, they were on the road. Zack wondered when the silence would finally stop as he twiddled his thumbs and began to whistle the same song he'd had stuck in his head back at the apartment.

Shut. The fuck. UP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Cid finally exploded. Zack winced as the sound rattled the windows somewhat and made his ear drums hurt. WHY THE HELL WERE YOU GIVING THAT.... THAT WOMAN MY ADDRESS FOR, HUH?!?!?!?

Zack was doing his best to remain calm and not cower back at Cid's yelling. Well, you don't have any friends, anyways. Figured we may as well get some people in the house, liven it up a little----

AND WHERE THE FLYING FUCK DID YOU GET THOSE FUCKING BUSINESS CARDS?!?!?!?

Zack grinned at him. You sorta did give me access to the Shin-Ra computers. You didn't think I'd make good use of it? What do you take me for?

A MATURE, RESPONSIBLE INDIVIDUAL.

To which Zack responded by cracking up. Oh, that's a good one...

There was an unbearably uncomfortable silence for a moment before Cid gave out a yell, perhaps even louder than the others, and turned towards Zack, one hand on the wheel and his right hand groping madly for Zack's pockets. WHERE THE FUCK ARE THEY?

Zack yelped as Cid's rather rough hand started grabbing in.... random places. What do you mean?! he asked, sounding rather accusatory, trying his hardest to squirm out of the way.

The CARD SHIT--------A-HAH!!!! Cid exclaimed in victory as his hand dove into Zack's closest pocket and he gripped something.

Uh, Cid, Zack blinked. That isn't my wallet.



Those are my keys.



Cid paused before yanking his hand out and reaching over to search in Zack's farther pocket, albeit the second yelp of indignance. However, this time, the search proved fruitful and Cid came up triumphantly with a rather large, bulging wallet.

Zack looked extremely downtrodden, as if he had been robbed of something very precious to him without reason. Well, nothing he could do about it now. He turned away and commenced staring out the window, huffing to himself about how it had been unwanted, unwelcome physical contact.

Cid was meanwhile grinning wickedly as he flipped through it, one hand still free from the wheel. It didn't matter much; no one was on the road at this time of night.... Lessee, here..... Shin-Ra Company identification, driver's liscense, membership cards for Night.... Fantasy.... Girls Gone Wild......? What the hell?!? The grin was suddenly wiped off of Cid's face as he flipped through what seemed to be ten similar ones.... Showgirl Heaven, The One-Nighter, Foxy's Gentleman Club....?!?! He shot a disbelieving look at Zack before turning back and flipping past the last card. His grin reappeared, and his eyes narrowed as he pulled out a thick wad of white business cards. Well, then....

There, you HAPPY?! You have the stupid cards, now give me that back! Zack managed to retreive his wallet from the pilot, and though it was a lot thinner than before, it was still worth something. (In fact, a lot of something...) He placed it back in his pocket while shooting a glare at Cid.

Cid couldn't help but return the glare before turning towards the window, rolling it down, and throwing the wad of cards into the night air with something that seemed like fervor. The papers seemed to dance in the flurry of wind that the car made before falling to the ground like snow.

Oh, nice goin', Captain. Now all of Midgar is gonna know where we live...

...I thought I told you not to call me that, dammit!!!

Stop trying to avoid your stupid ass mistake! I mean, GOD. Who knows what sorta weirdos are gonna show up at our apartment NOW!

Well, I didn't do anything to make you show up, and you're probably worse than ALL THE FUCKING OTHER ONES COMBINED.

............. FINE. Be that way!



He whacked his hand on the dashboard, letting out a small whine of pain afterwards.

Cid grumbled before putting his eyes back on the road.