Key
-(Ch.)POV- POV change
(...) Character's thoughts
0 AN:...0 Author's Note
... Chaos' Thoughts
... Galian's Thoughts
0 AN: Well, this is the second chapter. It's taken a little while to get it together as my thoughts tend to be rather scattered, but I don't think it's turned out too badly. It didn't help that I had Chaos destroying things as I typed, not to mention Galian tearing up written drafts! ¬¬" ..."...0
---(Vincent) POV---
That wasn't so hard now, was it?
Chaos' voice struck through the shocked silence that had filled Vincent's head.
(...I suppose...)
Oh, come on Vincent, it's not like you were askin' him out! Galian threw in.
No, just asking for his company at bedtime... Chaos pointed out, with a teasing tone in his voice that made Vincent 's eyes widen.
(...You don't think HE took it that way...do you?)
Well, from his little compliment, I think it's a possibility. And anyway, would you really mind?
(I guess not...but...) Vincent was beginning to panic, ( It's nearly dark...and...well...)
Chaos and Galian looked at each other and, laughing, left Vincent, his cheeks burning, to finish with the bedroom with a look of complete disbelief on his face. However, he couldn't help giving a small smile when he thought of what Cid had said. It wasn't much, but it was something... right?
---(Cid) POV---
(I didn't say anything. My mouth opened, words failed to come out. That's it. That's all. Nothing else.)
Cid sat ridged on the piano stool. He couldn't play, he just didn't trust any of the other furniture. Mainly because when the rest of the gang had been there Cloud had succeeded in being attacked by a chair that had gained a mind of its own. He got off with a few minor scratches 0AN: which is more than can be said for the chair!0, but they had all been rather wary of items in the mansion after that. It was something that had amused Vincent to no end, how Cid flinched every time he took a seat, half expecting it to swallow him.
A few moments later, Vincent reappeared at the top of the stairs. "Everything's ready, just tell me when you want to go to bed…"
(…and I'll be happy to join you?) Cid thought, (No, don't be a goddamned fool! Wishful thinking isn't gonna get me anywhere!). "Yeah, well…I'm kinda shattered now come to think of it." He cringed, expecting Vincent to react. He didn't.
"We'll go to bed now then." Vincent replied simply.
Cid looked at him incredulously. He didn't know what he had expected, but he had the feeling that that wasn't it.
---(Vincent) POV---
Vincent watched out of the corner of his eye as the sky captain stripped down to his boxers. He could feel his cheeks beginning to burn, and for once his beasts had nothing to say: they were too busy drooling.
Cid turned round to see him looking intently out of the window. "Isn't there any heating in this place?"
Vincent turned to him and blinked slowly. "The boiler burst a while back. Haven't bothered fixing it." He was keeping his sentences short, he didn't feel as though he could speak coherently for very long when faced with a half naked Cid. "Do you want more blankets?"
"No, I'll get some, you go to bed…"
"I insist!" Vincent tried to move past Cid, but they both tripped over Venus Gospel and Cid landed on top of him. Their eyes widened considerably.
What a situation to land yourself in. Chaos chuckled.
Yeah, and I wonder if Cid feels it too… Galian added.
(Feels what?...) Vincent felt his cheeks burning again…(I...need…to…get him…off me!)
"Erm…Cid, those blankets?"
"Wair a second, my foot's stuck…erm…under the bed…"
Chaos and Galian looked at one another bluntly. Yes, his foot's stuck
Vincent looked at Cid, feeling the longing intensify as he stared into his eyes. They began to move their lips closer, pushing the boundary…
"CID, VINCENT!"
The pair jumped up in shock as a young girl ran into the room. She looked troubled, but neither of them noticed: they were too busy trying to ignore what had just happened.
"Word from Wutai! Rebel ninjas have attacked the pagoda! My father's in trouble!" Yuffie shouted breathlessly.
"Wait, slow down a second Yuffie, just what happened, and how did you know that Cid was here?" Vincent asked.
"My father and the others have been attacked by a group of ninjas that were outlawed a few years back. I knew Cid was here because I saw the airship when I came to get you. Now lets go get the rest of the gang and rescue my father!"
The men nodded, but both sighed inwardly. It had been so close for both of them.
Stupid girl! She has no idea what she's messing with here! Galian snarled.
Calm down. How's she to know what's going on? And besides, I have a feeling that these two will come straight back here
(Stop talking about me like I'm not here!...)
The beasts looked at each other. They had sensed something different about Vincent in that split second. He was petrified of what could happen now. He didn't want to be hurt again.
(Lucrecia…) Vincent stopped suddenly as he boarded the airship, (No, I won't let someone hurt me again.)
---(Cid) POV---
(Maybe it was for the best…)
Cid concentrated hard on flying the airship, to try to keep himself from think of what had nearly happened. Behind him, Cloud, Tifa, Nanaki, Barret, Cait Sith, and Yuffie were talking animatedly about their plans. Vincent was talking to a chocobo in the stable below. He felt that it listened better than Galian and Chaos, even if it couldn't reply. Eventually, they were hovering over Wutai and Vincent ascended to the deck, to find out the plan of attack. It was pretty mundane. Run in, defeat the ninjas, help Godo. And Shake, Staniv, Gorki and Chekhov, but Yuffie was refusing to acknowledge their existence, only her father mattered. The gang disembarked, and looked around.
The town was eerily quiet. It seemed that everyone was being held at the pagoda, which worried Yuffie, though she wouldn't tell anyone why. When they entered the towering structure they could hear music playing, crystal clear from the upper floors. They climbed the stairs cautiously. Because Wutai had very few residents, there would be enough space on the top floor to hold everyone. But it was clear that someone did not want them to be rescued. On the third floor up they were confronted by the group of ninjas.
"Well, well, well. Little Miss Yuffie has returned to show us who's boss!" the tallest cackled.
"Just because I'm younger it doesn't mean I'm weaker, Dart…" Yuffie's eyes blazed furiously.
"No one said you could speak, rat. Back off." spoke a voice from behind Dart. He stepped aside and a girl with long black hair stepped into view. "Your father's done for. He's giving up his place as head of the town as we speak." The girl's eyes danced malevolently and the gang looked at Yuffie nervously. The other ninjas were sneering confidently. That is, until the 16-yr-old decided that she had had enough.
Yuffie threw Conformer into the air and it spun into the eldest of the ninjas. Without second thought, the rest of the gang rushed forward, taking the battle into their own hands. The girl with the black hair dodged a bullet, ducked under Venus Gospel and struck Yuffie with her fist. But the attack was expected. The next moment was a blur as Conformer returned, smacking the girl hard on the head. As she struggled to regain balance, Cerberus took her out, as it had done her brother. Once she had fallen, the others fled, and the gang mounted the last flights of stairs with heavy hearts.
As they reached the top the sound of Godo's voice became stronger. He was putting up a fight, but seemed to be losing the war. Yuffie ran into the last room just as her father was struck down. Then she grabbed his weapon and flung it at the ninja leader. Within seconds it was over. The ninja's had lost, but none could be sure of Godo's survival. Cloud and Barret carried him to his home, where they decided to stay for the night so that Yuffie would have someone there for her.
Later, as the sun was setting and the gardens of Wutai were glowing with its falling rays a shadow stepped out into the garden of Godo's home. Vincent sat down next to the pond and watched the fish swimming carelessly, wishing that for once he could be that carefree. He sat there for what seemed like hours, and it probably was, as the moon had begun to shine and the stars were glittering. Cid wondered for a moment, watching Vincent from a window; if he had best leave it all, forget about his feelings…
(But I'd be a goddamned fool if I didn't at least try!) He thought in a moment of clarity. He took a deep breath, and stepped out into the garden.
---(Vincent) POV---
Hearing a rustle behind him, Vincent turned to see the sky captain watching him. He saw the stars in his eyes and wanted so much to just fall into them, their blazing infernos echoing through the passion that threatened at this moment to devour his soul.
Go for it Galian and Chaos whispered in the back of his mind. But Vincent couldn't bring himself to say anything. Since what had nearly happened back at the mansion, the two had even spoken and now all that Vincent could think about was how close their lips had come to meeting.
"Erm…d'ya mind if I sit down?"Cid asked awkwardly.
Vincent shook his head slowly, and his beasts leaned forward expectantly.
"I want to talk to ya about something…" Cid began.
------END OF CHAPTER!------
0An: Okay, it was a 'story chapter'. Getting characters where I want them (for now). I know I rushed tha battle, and I've left it in an awkward place, but that's just life & fanfiction for you. I may revise the battle part sometime, but I just wanted to get this chapter done. Mainly so that someone won't kill me. Sorry if it wasn't all that good! "0
Oh! What's going to happen next?
I don't know, but she'd better hurry up with the next chapter. And I want more screen time too!