O My Lord Valentine
---Chapter Eight (woohoo!)

Disclaimer: Final Fantasy is not mine. I don't own any of the characters in this story unless otherwise noted.
Warnings in this Chapter: Slight sappy CidxVin yaoiness.
Author Note: This is part one of two, I guess. Not much of...much. Ah well. At least I haven't given up on this story yet.

"Heidegger." Scarlett approached him with the utmost seriousness in her eyes. "You won't believe what I have to tell you."

"Are you lying?"

"No."

"I don't believe you! BWAHAHA--"

"Heidegger! Do you remember that time we overheard the Turks gossiping about some legend?"

"Eh?"

"The Legend of the Ancient Turk."

"Oh?"

"Well it must be true. Reno is not in Midgar visiting his momma. One of our men caught him in the elevator with AVALANCHE, chasing a man with long black hair. I remember someone describing him that way. I'm led to believe, that apparently he's in some sort of relationship with the revived Ancient Turk!"

"Wha?"

"You heard me. Stop doing that."

Heidegger lifted his fat ass out of his seat, eyebrows turned down with businesslike severity. The only thing contrasting his staid exterior now was that frequent wiggling of his mustache. "I see." (Wiggle-wiggle.) "So Reno is after the Ancient Turk to save his career."

"Apparently so," said Scarlett. "But...from what I've been hearing, it's not just that. I think he's sitting on the fence. Preference-wise."

"Shall we notify the rest of the board?"

"No, not yet. I doubt Hojo will know much about the Turk, anyway." (If you say so.) "President Shinra thinks it's a laugh and a half, both the Turk and Reno's preferences, so we won't be getting his assisstance."

"Assisstance?" (Wiggle-wiggle.) "With what?"

"With retrieving the Ancient Turk, of course."

"But that's just a myth;Rufus would have no part in it."

"Heidegger!" Scarlett grabbed his uniform and shook him as best she could with her girly arms. "Just think of the possibilities if this man is really the fabled Ancient Turk!"

"Heh?"

"Heh...forget it."

Vincent shuddered before opening his eyes. A gentle morning light gleamed through unfamiliar white curtains. Blue and white panels on the walls led down toward the wood floors. Vincent groaned as he sat up, pushing away the sheets of the bed. All but his pants sprawled across the chair beside him, his headband close to falling into an ashtray on the end table. He noticed Cid smoking by the door, his spear propped against a dresser.

Before Vincent could ask, Cid said "You're in Kalm," and made his way to the chair.

Vincent nodded, watching Cid's every move as he jammed his cigarette into the ashtray.

"Figured we should put you someplace quieter than Junon or the airship."

Again he only nodded. Cid was bound to be mad at him, after that horribly-executed failure of a mission last night. He opened his mouth to ask where Reno was--not out of concern, but of self-worry--but didn't speak. He pressed his teeth together, wondering if it might be too late to say hello instead.

"How do ya feel? Ya hit your head on one of those banisters last night."

"Better. Thank you, Cid." At this point he would have resorted into silence yet again, had he not seen the way Cid's chest heaved a quiet sigh. "Cid?"

"Hm?"

"I'm sorry about all of this. Truly, I am."

Cid looked at Vincent sideways, then cracked a smile. He looked more inviting without his jacket and cigarette-wielding goggles. "Yeah, well. How would you've known this mixed-up Shinra had the hots for you."

The hots? For him? The thought of it made Vincent's headache worse. "He needs me for his job, and that's it. He's just messing around. I'm sorry he's been on my tail so much."

"He likes you." Cid drew his face nearer to Vincent's, surprising the raven-haired man. "It's not about that job anymore. Don't make like you don't know that. We're competin' here, and you're the prize."

Vincent gasped silently, taken aback; not often did Cid swoop down on him with a compliment like that. Nor did he like to get this close when someone could be watching from a wide-open door. In fact, he protested most any romantic contact whatsoever. "Cid..."

"I know, I know. What can I say. Somethin's come over me. So just shut up and kiss me."

Vincent smiled, hardly able to lean in before Cid grabbed his shoulder and engulfed him in a kiss. Vin pressed his hands subtly against Cid's sides, tearful from his forgiveness. He wished to hang on to that moment as he deepened their kiss, knowing it could last forever, if only Cid were immortal too...

"Cid! Breakfast is rea--YIPE!" Tifa almost dropped her tray.

Vincent found himself shoved away by a shocked and wailing Cid, who then whirled frantically around and slammed his fist on the table. "WHAT?!"

Tifa had her hand to her mouth, rather shocked, herself. "Oh! Cid!" She placed the tray on the end table and grinned ear-to-ear, teasingly clasping her hands behind her. "And I always thought you were just playing daddy with him!"

"Dammit woman, would you just go an' eat your damn BREAKFAST?!?"

"But Cid, it's so cute! Hey Yuffie, come here! Quick!"

Vincent rubbed his aching head. He'd hit his head on the wall. Good going, Cid.

Yuffie showed up instantly and scanned the room in a flash. Seeing Vincent against the wall and Cid leaning back on the bed from his chair, she needed no explanation. "Oh my God! I knew it! I so knew it!"

The girls then performed an very unneeded session of fangirlish jumping and slapping of hands, which, to Vincent's dismay, attracted both Cloud and Reno. And Red. And Cait. Cloud yelled, "The heck's going on here?!"

Yuffie and Tifa replied with a point Vincent's way and something like "SQUEEEEEEEEEEE!"

Reno pushed Cid's chair farther back and jumped on the bed himself. "Heya, Lord Valentine! What's going on?"

Vincent whimpered automatically, covering his lap with his hands.

"Aww c'mon. It wasn't that bad, was it?"

"Cid! Cid?"

"HE'S CALLING ON CID! SQUEEEEEEE--"

"How much do I owe you?" Red asked Cait.

Cloud grinned lecherously with his hands on his hips. "Hmmm, looks like a triangle to me."

"EVERYONE GET OUT!" Cid managed to grab his spear in one hand and Vincent's shotgun in the other. "I'M A MAN, DAMMIT! I ain't about to get mushy or triangulized or nothin'! Out you go! OUT!" A crowd of laughing bystanders started to leave, but Cid had to prod Cait Sith and Red who were busy discussing Cait's earnings. "Get goin'!"

"Why so ashamed?" said Cloud as he waved from the door. "Love is beautiful, you guys! Especially triangles. Call me sometime and we'll make it a square!"

Reno kissed Vincent on the cheek and jumped out of bed. "Don't be mad. I'm leavin'."

"You better be!"

Cid left to protect his pride from gossipers, and slammed the door shut. Vincent finally rose from where he lay. What a way to start the day. Again.

Suddenly he touched the cheek Reno had kissed. Was there something magnetic about him that Cid and Reno could see? Or were they just...chasing his ass, or something?

AN: This one's kind of a "part one-part two" thing. Which is why I updated at the same time. Next one involves Vinny-angst. Though kind of humorous, it's still Vinny-angst, so I dunno. Big thankies to Konie Hime for reviewing almost all of my chapters individually! Hime nice. Nice indeed.