Chapter 3

CID

Authors note and disclaimer: I really hate writing these things, who came up with them? Anyway, let's cut to the chase---I don't own anything having to do with Final Fantasy. The idea for this story is mine and so is Harper. Props to all my Zombie friends that didn't die last night.

Author's important note: Sorry all you people who think cursing is really great when it comes from Cid Highwind. I happen to think that it is a nasty and vile thing when it comes from anyone. That is why any curse words that cid or anyone will say in this and any other chapter will be written like this ----------. I used to have a problem with language, and I've been trying for the past three years to clean up my act. If you don't like it…buzz off. -- I'm sorry, that was mean of me.

The door thudded softly as it closed behind Cloud. I sighed and looked at Vincent after I turned off the TV. He was watching the Highwind land in a clearing where there had been another shop a few years ago. "I'm gonna go change so Tifa doesn't yell at me."

"Yes. I'm going to go change too," Vincent said, looking bored now.

"Next time I'm flyin' this piece 'a junk no matter what Shera says!" Cid raged as he climbed down the ladder of the Highwind. He turned and saw Cloud standing there. "Hey, Cloud! How you been boy?" He slapped him on the back instead of hugging him.

Vincent walked out, now dressed in black and red and the goldish color of his metal arm and pointed shoes. The only things he was missing were his crimson cape and black glove for his right hand.

I followed Vincent. In my room I had decided to not only put on a T-shirt (a black and slightly fitted one), but also to change into a pair of baggy, black, cargo pants. For shoes I picked a pair of, yet again, black boots that zipped up on one side, buckled on the other, and laced up like regular shoes. The boots went to my mid-calf. I didn't notice the gangster-goth look I had.

"Vincent! I thought you'd go back to the Shinra mansion," Cid said as he greeted Vincent with a handshake.

"I did go back, but I decided that I had been there too long. Staying with Cloud and the others has not been as bad as I thought it would be."

"Time to come out'a tha closet 'Eh?"

Vincent just stared at him.

"Uh hu…"Cid's eyes fell on me as he pushed his goggles onto his head. His eyes snapped open in excitement. "And who is this?"

"Harper. Hi Cid!" I said. "You don't seem half as bad as Barret made you sound."

"Ah well, that's Barret for ya!" He replied, lighting a cigarette. "Let's mosey, shall we?"

"You're never going to leave me alone about that are you?" Cloud asked, rolling his eyes.

Cid began walking toward the door. "Not a chance!" He shot over his shoulder.

"Wake up wake up all you Sephiroth vanquishing' dogs!" Cid yelled when he reached the living room.

"Hush!" I ran up to him and clapped a hand over his mouth to silence him. "You'll wake up Marlene!"

"Oh, Sorry!" he calmed his voice after I removed my hand.

"I think she's still…"

"Cid!" A fully awake and dressed ninja Yuffie exclaimed as she somehow managed to hop onto Cid's back, knocking me to the floor in the process. "Cid! CID! CID ! CID! CID ! CIDDDDDDDDD!"

"Get offa me!"

Cloud shook his head and reached down to help me up.

"Ow!" I yanked my hand away from his once I was on my feet again.

"I didn't think my grip was that hard," Cloud said, looking to Vincent.

"It's not," I confirmed as I looked at my palm. "I burned my hand on Cid's cigarette. I'm gonna go run this under some water." I walked away still looking at my hand.

When I came back from the kitchen a few minutes later, Tifa and Red had joined the group. "Where's Barret?" I asked.

"He's lucky. He sleeps like a rock," the creature said as he shook out his mane. His tail flipped in annoyance at being woken up.

Cid finally pried the "Yuffie monkey" off of his back. We all sat down and he unleashed a deluge of questions on me. "Where you from?"

He raised an eyebrow when I answered, "I don't' know my hometown."

"Well, who're your parents? I'll be able to find them in a jiffy with all my contacts," He bragged.

He went slack-jawed when I said again, "I don't know."

"Gosh woman! Do you even know how old you are!"

I looked at him and blinked. "I'm 25."

His face went blank. "Too ------- young," he mumbled.

Cloud raised an eyebrow. "You're 33 Cid; I don't think she's too young."

My eyes widened in surprise at what I was hearing.

Red picked up his head to listen. The rest of the team seemed to tune in.

"Hey! She's 25. I'm 17! That's worse!" Yuffie said.

Tifa cringed and made an EW noise.

"Personally I think they'd make a great couple," Barret said as he gulped down his coffee.

When'd you get here? I thought.

Vincent swept his gaze over them, then stood up. "This is insane," He said simply, catching the entire groups attention. "You are all talking about Harper's personal life as if she weren't even here."

"She's in here?" Barret asked.

Vincent's brows came together quickly and he walked off, leaving everyone silent.

Cid chewed on the cigarette in his mouth. "Uhhhmmm---Oops."

I sighed and went to my room.

Vincent's door was closed and no sound came from within his room.

Once inside my room I snatched my brush from the top of my dresser and began working through my tangled, mid-back length hair. Cid likes me? He just met me…

Finally my hair was all untangled and I had grown tired. Sleep beckoned and I answered, happily succumbing to the veil of darkness.

It was 11 o'clock when I woke up, or was woken by a nock at my door. "Come in," I mumbled.

The door cracked open as I sat up and rubbed sleep out of my eyes.

Cid poked his head in, eyes closed. "You got clothes on?" He asked.

"Yeah," I said, forcing my voice to work. He opened his eyes and walked in. He leaned on the edge of my desk. "Why wouldn't I?"

"Well, uh…." He scratched the back of his head.

"Forget it, " I said immediately regretting asking that question. "What's up?"

"Huh? Oh, I feel kinda bad about earlier this morning, so I was wondering," he scratched his head again here, "I was wondering, if I could make it up to you by taking you out to….lunch or somethin'."

Uhm," My stomach growled. it's just lunch. The most meaningless meal-date ever. Heck, it's not even a date. "Yeah, sure. Sound's good. Where to?"

"I was thinkin' WallMarket. It's good food but also a good walk."

"Ok, just let me change," I said, looking at my all black ensemble.

Cid winked and left as I went to my dresser and pulled out a green T-shirt with a two in cut in the collar, making a V-neck that was much easier to breathe in.

"New shirt?" Tifa asked when I crossed her in the hall.

"Nah, you're just not around to see it."

She shrugged and walked on.

I walked into the living room and was greeted by a loud, "HEY! Now you don't look like Vince!" from Barret.

"There's nothing wrong with the way Vincent looks," I said just loud enough for him to hear.

"Well, no…It's just weird and kinda creepy."

"Yeah? Well, why don't you try wearing a shirt Barret? THAT'S weird," I spat.

Cid walked out of Cloud's room. "Did you just insult Barret and live?"

I smiled, "Yep, and he knows I could beat 'im in a fight if he started one."

"That was only that one time," Barret mumbled.

"Aw, it's ok, B. Take it like a man! You ready?" Cid asked me.

"If by ready you mean 'hungry'…yes."

"Shall we?" He motioned toward the door.

"We shall."

We both walked out and headed in the direction of Wallmarket. He's pretty playful I thought.

"I still like cats. I haven't been hearing much about that in the black cape; I wonder what happened," The kid in front of the restaurant said.

Cid simply answered, "Guy in a black cape? Heard he died a year ago or something."

"Aw, I wanted to know what was going on."

"It wasn't that interesting," Cid replied as we walked into the food place. We sat down at the bar and a waiter handed up menus. "Order anything'. This's my treat to you remember?"

"Ok…"I scanned the plastic sheet in front of me. "I'll have…the special," I said decisively.

"And I'll have the seafood platter," Cid told the cook.

"Seafood?"

"Yeah. I had it once in Junon and loved it."

"What'd you get?"

"A fried hunk 'o' that bottomswell Cloud killed a few weeks 'for they hooked up with me."

I made my face scrunch up, "Eeewwww."

We made light conversation and when out food was set before us we were both silent.

"I'm still sorry about earlier," Cid whined as he took a drink from his glass of….whatever it was.

I rolled my eyes, unsure of what to say. A question popped up, "So, what was that about anyway? You got the hots for me or something?"

He cast a shaky smile, "Oh…um, I…You're pretty….and…." He sounded like a love struck, hormonal teenager.

I gave him a sly look out of the corner of my eye.

"---------- girl! Don't do that! You remind me-"he was cut off by the man who'd just walked up next to him.

"Whoa! Would you look at those eyes!" the stranger exclaimed. He looked almost as old as Cid, but his spiky purple hair and tight green shirt made him look younger. "And the white hair…I bet she's soft too…"

I glared at him as he rubbed a finger on my arm. "Who do you think you are?" I demanded quietly.

My demand went un-noticed as the man turned to Cid, "Seriously, if Don were still around you guys could make a fortune."

Cid looked at me and saw the fire blazing in my eyes. "Dude," he started, "She's ticked off; I'd back off now if I were you."

"Seriously! If Don C. were still-"

This time it was I who did the cutting off as I slapped the man across the face, knocking him to the floor.

The slap echoed throughout the small place and the buzz of conversation stopped as everyone turned to look at me.

"Don't you DARE mention me and Corneo in the same sentence you perv."

"S-ss-sssooorry!" A distinct red handprint appeared on his left cheek as he stood up and bolted out of the restaurant.

Cid recovered from his state oh shock when I sat down again. "----, I didn't know that there're still guys like him here, 'else we'da gone somewhere else."

I gave him a smile, my anger cooling down instantly. "It's ok. Anyone with any association with Corneo talks to me like that. I treat 'em all the same way: like the scum they are."

The people around us resumed their conversations.

Cid laughed nervously, "How 'bout some dessert?"