So it's chapter three. I actually wouldn't even have this up if it hadn't almost been finished already. Right now I'm completely drained and my creative spark is on the fritz. But I'll get over it soon. Anyway, I'm gonna make this kind of short for that reason exactly. But it's Cid's first day. We all know that feeling. But it just wouldn't be right if something weird didn't happen to the poor guy. Alas, a couple of weird things. But we finally get a peek into Mr. Thiefy's life. Well, a little anyway. Maybe a reason for his activities. Haha...whatever. Anyway, chapter three.
Chapter Three--First Day Introductions
Cid sighed as he flopped into the desk. He'd finally made it back to the bar, finding Zack nursing a bottle of sake alone. Cloud had been asleep, head pillowed on the black-haired man's shoulder. He hadn't even tried to explain what had happened. Instead he had just asked Zack when they were leaving, something they had done not too long after, the two of them helping Cloud to walk back to the house.
But he had made it through his first night. Sure, a lot had happened and he hoped he never would have to go through all that again, but he had made it. And now he was in his first class, the room filling fast with students.
He was actually surprised that about a third weren't Japanese. He'd been told to expect the unexpected when he was over here, but he just kept seeing things that contradicted almost every stereotype out there. He knew it would happen, but still. It surprised him a little.
The teacher finally walked in, setting down his briefcase on the small table up front. Without saying a word he turned to the board and began writing, his name appearing in his scrawled script. Turning, he looked over the class once. The he spoke quickly, eyes watching the entire room. Cid tried to follow suit as the class addressed him as a whole, and he also bowed, though somewhat awkwardly.
When the introductions were over the instructor started right into the lesson, the numbers and symbols flowing from his hand onto the board. Cid sighed and began writing. He always hated math. But it was almost essential in his major. There wasn't too much you could do in engineering without math.
As he quickly scribbled down his excuse for notes, he heard the door open and close, the entire class glancing up. The professor also looked over, regarding the new arrival with patience. "Varentain-san. Konnichiwa. What is there today?" he asked amiably. Cid figured they knew each other.
The other answered and Cid half-listened as he continued his note-taking. "Gomen, Sensei-san. Just a small message today." The voice struck Cid as familiar for some reason and he glanced upward, not having done it when everyone else had.
Cid almost choked as he watched the new boy standing next to the professor. Black hair…black clothes…and that voice. He tried his best to look at the boy's hands, gasping when he caught sight of the gleaming metal. Him! That mugger! What the hell…what's he doing here? He handed the professor a small envelope and waited as the man read over it, leaning down to write a response.
Under decent lighting, Cid saw that he wasn't as old as he'd first thought. Instead of a man older than him by years, he was more around Cid's own age. But that didn't explain his presence. Why would a mugger be associating with their teacher?
While the professor wrote out his response, the boy ran his crimson eyes over the room. He stood silently, gazing over them all. That's when he felt the crimson eyes fall on him. Cid shivered, raising his blue eyes to meet that steady gaze. The boy's eyes widened in recognition and he turned his head away, taking the envelope back when the professor had finished. Bowing slightly, he said his goodbye and left rather quickly, closing the door behind him.
Cid shook his head. So it had been the mugger. There was no one else it could have been. He forced himself to concentrate on the paper before him, but something just kept nagging him. Why was he here? He pushed his blonde hair back with a hand, resting his forehead on it. He'd have to try and find out later. Right now the horror that was trigonometry was staring him down.
Cid growled, pulling his backpack onto his shoulders. He'd gone through the entire day and hadn't seen the black-haired boy once. It was beginning to get to him. All he wanted to do was ask him why he was hanging around the University and making small talk with the teachers. He was supposed to be mugger, wasn't he? It just didn't make sense.
He growled again and pulled out his wallet, handing the clerk the money for his meager lunch. Passing through the main green, he picked shady spot to sit and unwrapped his cheeseburger. Sure, he loved Japanese food, but right now he just wanted a good old-fashioned cheeseburger. Thank god they have fast-food over here. He was all for the learning about a new culture and integrating into it, but he wasn't quite ready to do everything at once. For now, he just wanted to enjoy his cheeseburger.
Cid had just taken a bite when a voice called out right behind him. "Hey. Highwind-san, wasn't it?" He choked, coughing out the bite he'd just taken. No sooner had he recovered had he whirled around, staring into crimson eyes. "Never thought I'd see you here," the boy said as he sat next to the blonde.
"Wha—you never thought you'd see me? I was thing the same damned thing when you just waltzed into that class!" he threw up his hand, accidentally flinging a piece of lettuce at the boy.
Grimacing, he picked it off. "I don't feel the urge to share your food, thank you. Wait a minute. Waltzed? I just walked in. Where do you get that I waltzed in?" He slid a strap off of his shoulder, placing a bag in front of him. While Cid stared, he started digging around inside of it.
"Well, you did. But why were you even there? Why aren't you out stealing some poor old decrepit woman's walker or some shit like that? Decide you wanted another try at my wallet?" He ignored the boy the best he could, taking a bite out of his sandwich. This time, however, he actually got to eat it. "Yo, mug-boy. You gonna answer me?" he asked through his mouthful.
The crimson eyes narrowed again. "'Mug-boy'? Now where did you come up with that one?" He took a bite out of his own lunch, a few grains of rice falling back into the bento box. "But I'll have you know that I was there because I was delivering a message to Okano-Sensei. I happen to have a job here."
"Right. A job." Cid laughed, stuffing a fallen pickle into his mouth. "Messenger by day, thief by night, right? Good one mug-boy."
"What would you know about it?" He tucked a lock of raven hair behind his ear, glaring at the blonde. "And would you stop calling me that? I have a name."
Cid waved a hand uncaringly. "Yeah, yeah, whatever. So if you want me to stop calling you that then tell me your name already. You know," he glanced at the black-haired boy for a moment, "the only people I usually talk to this long without knowing their name usually have their asses kicked by now."
"Right. Uh, huh. I'm really going to believe that. I don't see you as the type." He flicked another lock of hair back, taking another bite on his lunch.
"Oh really. You sure about that?" He raised his fist, smiling, and let it stop right before the pale boy's nose. "I could demonstrate if you want."
The boy closed his eyes. "You wouldn't dare." His voice was cold, calculated. He opened his crimson eyes just in time for his vision to flash white, pain flaring through his face. Whipping his hands upward, he pressed them against his nose, cursing. "Chikusho! You stupid idiot! What the hell'd you do that for!" he blinked his eyes a few times, finally regaining his sight as he leaned back his head. Thick warm liquid poured over his fingers and he pulled his hands down, staring at the blood. "You stupid, stupid idiot!"
Cid's mouth gaped. He hadn't meant to actually hit the boy, just make him think he would. But his fist hadn't stopped, crashing into the pale nose. Now he simply sat there, watching as blood poured over the pale skin. "Uh, I, uh, I didn't mean to," he whispered.
"The hell you didn't!" The boy ducked his head, using his shirt front to try and stop the flow. Glaring at the blonde, he stuffed his shirt closer to his face. "Damn kimpatsu," he growled at the other boy.
Cid stammered out an apology, pulling a piece of cloth free from his backpack. It was just a small handkerchief but he held it out anyway. "Here. I'm really sorry. I seriously didn't mean to!" He glanced nervously around as several gazes fell on them.
"Yeah, whatever." He snatched the cloth and pressed it to his nose. "Shit. It's not stopping. What a time to be hemophiliac." He growled something in Japanese, pinching harder as the cloth continued staining scarlet.
"Vinsento-kun!" A young girl knelt next to him suddenly, startling both of the boys. She started talking at a furious pace, the black-haired boy speaking occasionally in the wash of language. Cid couldn't keep up, but he did pick out a few words like 'nurse' and the phrase 'I'll stay'. Confused, he watched as the other teen stood, wavering slightly.
He quickly stood also, reaching out so the other didn't lose his balance. "What'd she say?"
"Said I should to get to the nurse. She's right. Also said she'd watch our stuff." He grabbed a hold of Cid's arm, dragging him along as he started walking across the green, his pace fast.
"Wait a minute. Why am I going?" He tried to pull his arm free but the other's grip was too strong. "Dammit, I don't get it!"
"You're going to help me explain this," he said, tugging at Cid arm harder. "Now come on before I have a damn blackout!" He finally let go of the blonde's arm in favor of pulling the door he was now in front of open. Cid followed him rather reluctantly. But still. It was the least he could do. He did cause the problem to begin with.
The secretary glanced up as they entered the room and she dropped her pencil, rushing to the boy's side. "Oh Varentain-san! What happened! You're bleeding everywhere!" Quickly grabbing hold of his arms, she steered him into the main examining room, pushing him onto the bed. Cid moved out of her way as she rushed back to her desk, dialing furiously and speaking in a short, clipped tone. "Hai. Hai. Varentain-san."
Cid eyed her warily until he moved out of her sight. "So, uh, you have a precedent here or something?" Pulling a chair up to the bed, he sat down, watching as the boy stared at the floor.
"Like I said, hemophiliac. I tend to get nosebleeds easy and they don't stop. I'm usually in here once every week for something related to that." He pulled the handkerchief back, gently running a finger under his nose. It came away, slick with fresh blood. "Damn. Still going."
The blonde leaned over until he was peeking into the waiting room again. "That doesn't explain why she's freaking out like that."
The boy sighed, shaking his black hair out of his face. "If I lose too much blood then I pass out and they have to get me to the hospital. Doesn't work out too well that way. Far too expensive for me, plus it causes a lot of inconvenience for the staff here." He sniffed, coughing as blood ran down his throat. "Gross. Hate that."
"Then why the hell'd you do it?"
"Because I felt like it, okay? You know what, how about I just give you a bloody nose too. Then you wouldn't be bothering me, you'd be somewhere else nursing yourself." Black hair slipped over the thin shoulder as he leaned forward slightly, head bowed.
"Hey, you're the one who brought me here, remember?" Cid glanced away, his eyes running over the various colorful posters on the wall. Even though he couldn't read them, they were a distraction from the other boy. However, his gaze soon wandered back, settling on the metal-encased arm. "So, uh, you never did explain that," he said quietly.
The other glanced down, eyes rapidly turning onto his soon after. "Don't want to talk about it." He fell silent, finally speaking up after a few minutes. "So you wanted to know my name."
Cid's head rose up slightly, glancing at the boy. "I guess. I'm getting tired of calling you mug-boy. It's amusing the first few time, but after—"
"It's Vincent. Vincent Valentine." He locked eyes with the blonde. "Sorry about last night."
"Vincent. Well, Vince, nice to meet ya, whatever, if you could call it a meeting." He waved a hand nonchalantly, smiling at the crimson-eyed boy. "But why exactly were you out there doing…what you did?" He lowered his voice as the secretary went running past the door, talking quickly on the phone.
"I said Vincent, not—never mind." He sighed, checking his nose once more. It still came away red, crimson like his eyes. "But it's my step-father's fault. He's not exactly the best guy in the world and all the money I manage to make here somehow disappears down his throat the instant I get it. Alcoholic."
"Oh." Cid knew from personal experience how the money flew when you drank like that. "So, why don't you just move out?"
Vincent fidgeted a little. "Because the bakayaru has legal custody over me until I turn twenty-one. Then I'm out of there as soon as possible. Hate it there. I still have a year left."
"Wow. Must be tough then. I hardly ever see my parents, but—"
"Varentain-kun! How are you?" A young looking woman entered the room, nodding politely toward Cid before pulling a small bottle out of her pocket. "Didn't make it past the first day, I see." She smiled kindly as she prepared a needle, filling it with the clear fluid.
Vincent lowered his head. "No, Kimisa-san. I had…an accident." He glanced over at Cid, crimson eyes dark.
Cid shrank back as the nurse stepped toward them, allowing her the access to Vincent's left arm. Curious, the blonde peeked around her as she pushed his sleeve up, revealing that the metal encasement stopped right below his elbow. Vincent sat stoically as the needle entered, the fluid pushed into his veins.
"Well, I believe that should do it," the nurse stated as she pressed a small cotton pad to his arm. "Do you want to stay here until the bleeding stops? You know you're welcome to."
The boy said his thanks, bowing slightly as she left. He sighed, turning his eyes back to the blonde. "What?"
"They give you a shot for a nosebleed? That seems kind of…strange."
Vincent pulled the cotton pad away, checking. "Not really. It's a coagulant. Makes the blood clot and stop flowing."
Cid stared at him, lower lip pushed out a bit. He knew that. After all, he had to take those biology courses all through college. He didn't see why he had to take them but he did. So he at least knew what a coagulant did. Did Vincent think he was dumb? "I'm not stupid, ya know."
"Could have fooled me, kimpatsu."
Curling his fist, Cid stood up. "I thought I told you to stop calling me a damn white-boy! How about if I start calling you Mr. Japan or some shit like that?" he hissed, pointing at the ebony-haired boy.
Vincent shrugged. "It's your own fault for not listening. I'm not calling you a white-boy, so get over it already." He turned his crimson eyes on the blonde, glaring up at him. "Not my fault if you misinterpret me."
"Misinterpret? But that's what 'kimpatsu' means, isn't it? White-boy?"
Vincent checked his nose again, relieved to see it had finally stopped. "Yes and no. While it does translate into 'white-boy' somewhat, it's more common understanding is 'blonde-haired'." He rose, stepping out of the exam room silently and nodding goodbye to the assistant.
Cid soon followed, nodding his own hasty goodbye. "So, wait. Now you're calling me a dumb blonde? I think I liked white-boy better." He grumbled a few more choice comments to himself as he followed Vincent out of the building and back onto the green. "Hey, hey! Are you even listening?"
"Would you stop if I say yes?" Vincent kept facing forward. He heard another comment from the blonde, one he didn't quite fully comprehend, and he stopped before the tree. The girl they had left with their belongings was still there, anxiously doodling in the grass with a finger.
At the sound of Vincent's approach, she looked up, eyes shining. "Vinsento-kun!" She rose, taking him in a small hug. The black-haired boy stood silent, waiting for the embrace to pass.
Cid frowned as she started speaking in her quick voice again and he simply sat down, not even bothering to try and figure out what she was saying. The other boy was simply listening, every once in a while coming in with a short assurance.
She finally left, waving as she crossed the green. Vincent sighed, slumping down onto the ground beside Cid. "I thought she'd never leave. She's so annoying, I swear. Stupid girl doesn't even attend this college. High-schooler." Grumbling, he wiped his hand across his face.
"What'd she say?" He found it somewhat safe to ask seeing at he didn't altogether like the girl. Or at least that's what he had picked up on. He took a bite of his now-cold cheeseburger, chewing thoughtfully.
Vincent let out a strained breath as he flopped backward, lying on the grass. "Ah, she was going on about how I should take better care of myself, how I shouldn't scare her, how I shouldn't spend time with hooligans…the usual." He glanced up to see the blonde's reaction.
Cid laughed. It was actually kind of funny that Vincent was this tall, mysterious guy who went around stealing for extra money and here he was being told off by some little short high school girl. "Man, I think she rules you. What with all that." He paused, thinking about the things the crimson-eyed boy had just said. "Wait. Hooligan? She thinks I'm a damn hooligan? What the hell!"
A small grin passed over the pale boy's lips. "Well, she does have a point. But yes, she does control my life. Or at least she tries to. She came from the Osaka prefecture so she thinks she's somehow above me or something like that. Plus she likes me." He shook his head as if getting rid of a bad thought.
Cid almost burst out laughing with the look of utter disdain that crossed Vincent's face. "You really don't like her, huh? "
"Can't stand her. And somewhere she got the idea that if she spent enough time with me that I would fall madly in love or something." He made a gagging motion, shaking his head at Cid. "Not going to happen. Just, if you ever see her coming toward you, run."
The blonde thought carefully about that. "I'll keep it in mind. What's her name? Just in case I hear it said and want to climb up a tree or some shit like that."
Vincent chuckled, the sound deep as it rumbled out of his chest. "Good point. Yuffie Kisaragi." He took on the look of disgust again. "She has to be the most annoying person I've ever met. Except you." While Cid said something in retaliation and swung an arm at him, Vincent rose, settling his bag on his shoulder again. Dodging the fake blow was easy enough and he stepped away, laughing as the blonde unbalanced himself and fell face-first into the grass. "Well, anyway. I'll see you around, kimpatsu." Throwing a laughing wave over his shoulder, he turned and started for the closest hall.
"Goddamn thief," he muttered, a small smirk settling onto his face. Interesting that the first person I meet ends up robbing me and becoming something of a friend. I guess that's what you'd call a friend. A small laugh escaped him and he stuffed his belongings back in his bag, getting ready for his last class.
The door clicked as it shut, the echo following Cid as he removed his shoes. "Tada ima," he called out. He felt he owed Zack that much since his last class was later than the black-haired boy's and he had to walk home alone. It probably didn't bother him though. Cid figured that Zack was used to it. He sighed as he propped open the refrigerator door with a foot, pouring a glass of water.
The silence was suddenly punctured, the blonde jumping at the shout. "You know what? I'm getting real tired of your cocky-ass attitude!" Shock ran through him as he recognized the voice as Zack's.
"Well, me too!" Cid grimaced. Cloud. So were they fighting? It sounded as such when Zack's voice cut in again.
"I just wish you'd die! Just straight out die already!"
"Oh really! Well, I could just kill you right here! Right here!"
"Let's see it! You couldn't if you tried!"
Cid was now visibly shaken and he dropped his bag, Water poured into the sink as the glass fell over, the blonde's socks skidding on the hardwood floor as he ran to Zack's room. Something was happening and he had to stop it. Cloud wouldn't really kill Zack, would he? He finally grabbed a hold of the door, pushing it open, his eyes wide. "No! Don't do it!"
Both Zack and Cloud looked up, shock and confusion crossing their faces as one. The raven-haired man dropped his controller, motioning toward Cid. "Uh, hi? What's up? You look kinda freaked."
The blonde took a breath as he stared at the pair. They were sitting calmly on the edge of Zack's bed, the cords of two controllers stretching from their laps to the entertainment center against the wall. He was downright confused as he looked from one to the other. "So…you're not killing each other?"
Zack glanced at Cloud before bursting out into laughter. "Kill each other? Nah, where'd you get that kind of messed up idea?" Cloud stared past his friend, blue eyes settling on Cid.
"But, I heard…I thought…" Cid started shaking his head, blonde hair flying around his face. "I just don't get it! I heard you two yelling! And then—"
"Oh that!" Zack slid off of the bed and took hold of the smaller blonde's shoulders. "No, no, we were just playing a game! You know, one of those fighting games! We do this all the time." He laughed again, waiting as Cid calmed down. "Okay? We wouldn't kill each other."
The breath slowly flowed back into Cid's lungs and he nodded, still stunned. A game? He glanced past Zack, eyeing the television. He smiled weakly. Only a game. "I, uh…I'm sorry. I didn't know…"
"Nah, don't worry about it." Zack patted the blonde on the back. "Just mishearing things, that's all. So you wanna join? We can fit another in."
Cid shook his head again, this time keeping it to a minimum. "Uh, I think I'll pass," he said quietly. "Sorry to bother you." He bowed his head, backing away and turned into his room.
Zack kept watching until the door clicked shut and then he turned back to Cloud. "Strange little guy, huh?" Picking up his controller from the floor, he took a flying leap onto the bed.
Cloud pushed him away as the other jostled him. "Hey, watch it! You're gonna make me fall off, ya know." Pulling his own controller to him, he took on a serious tone. "But yeah. That kid is kind of strange. He thought we were actually going to kill each other. Must not be a social type of guy."
"I don't know. I just think he's trying to make a good impression. But he's quiet. At least he's not up half the night screaming about vampire chickens that will suck out your bones to use for play-doh." The ebony-haired boy snorted as Cloud punched his arm.
"Hey! That was one night! And it was your fault anyway. Gave me that screwed up shit, whatever it was." He folded his arms, staring at the other teen. "Besides, you went along with it."
Another laugh escaped Zack. "That was only because I wanted to see how long you would keep going. You have some interesting sleeptalking episodes sometimes." Still chuckling, he reached over and pushed a button on Cloud's controller. "Now. Let's get back to kicking your ass."
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I'm sorry, but i would kill to see Cloud sleeptalking like that. Maybe it's inspired by my own strange habit of sleeptalking. Don't think I've ever said anything that strange though. Maybe. I don't know for sure. But anyway, down with the Yuffintine! Haha. Not that I have anything against the pairing, I just don't care for it either. I just don't see Vincent putting up with her for long. But Vincent's mouth isn't so bad in this one, huh? Maybe he clamed down a little. Still sacrastic though. Haha...sarcastic Vincent is fun. But if you read the "Vinsento" or "Varentain" and thought that was just too weird, it's actually just the japanese pronunciation of his name. Other characters will probably pop up like that too. They are in Japan. lol
So, the lil' translation thingymabobbidoodle. Haha, that's gotta be my favorite word, I swear. Anyway, not much new here, just a few. Most are repeated from before.
Konnichiwa--your basic "hello". There are several other ways to say hello, but this is the most straightforward and somewhat informal way to say it. Helps suggest that Vincent and the prof. know each other.
Hai--"Yes" Simple as that.
Gomen--Shortened form of "I'm sorry".
Bakayaru--Haha, one of the first words I ever learned in japanese. Means "asshole".
Anyway, that's chapter three. Please review, I still like to see how I'm doing. Just remember, the more I hear in response, the more I write.
Arigatogozaimashita!