Untouchable Pt. 3

All was eerily calm in the forest. No animals stirred; Just fog. Fog was so thick that when Vincent's eyes snapped open, he couldn't see the campsite. His heart leapt into his throat and he stood, listening. He heard a growl not moments ago and yet it seemed like nothing stirred. He could hear Cid's snores, Clouds muttering that he did when he was dreaming, Tifa's small squeaks, but there was something else. Sniffing the air, he slowly walked towards camp. Chaos stirring on the front of his mind and his hand on Cerberus, he heard it again. Narrowing his eyes, he was just outside the camp when he scanned the unnaturally thick fog nearing Cid who slept so soundly cradling Vincent's golden claw. They should be awake by now. Cloud should have heard it.

I smell it

Vincent smelled it too. It stunk of fresh blood, dirt and damp moss. He went to pull his left arm from the confines of his cloak only to realize it was still braced. Growling, he untied the bandanna and pulled it away from his monstrosity. The bone was set, and the pain barely registered. Another cure and a day or two it would be fully healed. But right now, Chaos needed it. Just as he tucked it back into his cloak, he saw a tail swishing in the fog and Chaos was on alert. A fog wyvern blinked its dark green eyes and as it rose into the air Vincent ran for the fog, disappearing in it. Cerberus spit deadly lead as he went to work.

Cid, Cloud and Tifa were awoken with a thundering boom of a handgun. Instantly they all jumped up, grabbing weapons and searching for the sound. Cloud narrowed his eyes and turned the tip of his massive sword to the sound of flapping fabric only to let out a startled yelp when Vincent dropped right in front of them, his own massive gun hanging idly at his right with a vicious looking black crackling clawed hand on his left. Just as he landed, the body of the wyvern did to, shaking the ground. Cid lowered his spear, now leaning on it to light a cigarette.

Tifa looked at the Wyvern and how there was fog lingering around it, slowly fading into the ground.

"Did you do this?" She asked, taking a glance at his left hand.

Vincent, realizing his left arm was exposed tucked it away in his cloak again and holstered his weapon.

"The fog kept all of you in a sleep haze." He said softly, looking back at the body of the wyvern who was torn up by claws of negative energy and a barrage of bullets. "You awoke upon my last shot."

Cid grinned and propped his spear back against the tree.

"Told ya he'd be fine. Even saved our sleeping asses."

Cloud sheathed his own sword, scratching the back of his neck.

"Thanks Vincent." He said sheepishly.

Tifa nodded her thanks and gave him a thumbs up.

Giving them all his trademark jerk of his head, he withdrew into his cloak again and moved to the Captain to check on the status of his gauntlet. What Tifa and Cloud didn't see what the way his eyes rimmed gold. Though, Cid noticed.

"Gotta get back to the Highwind." He admitted, looking at the unwrapped left arm.

Chaos growled.

Cloud paused and Tifa turned around to look at the back of their gunner.

Cid didn't budge. "Yeah beasty. Looks like you gotta hoof it." He teased, taking in a nice slow inhale of his cigarette.

Chaos nodded, and gold eyes gave away to red leaving Vincent blink a few times before he realized what had happened. He stepped away from Cid before his voice stopped him.

"It's a'right Vin. He was a good boy." Smirking, he tucked the gunners claw into his bag and threw it over his shoulder, grabbing his spear. Cloud and Tifa gathered their things and started the trek back to the ship with Cid and Vincent pulling up the rear. It took three days to get back to the Highwind and thankfully the monsters they encountered where nothing they couldn't handle quickly especially since Vincent was being more protective of their pilot than normal and refusing any kind of close combat.

They made it back just before sundown and Cid made it clear that once they were on board the Highwind he had shit to do and not to bother him until lift off in the morning. Which, Cloud and Tifa took seriously and disappeared to their shared bunkroom where they'd be for the rest of the night. Both exhausted and travel weary, but mostly to stay off Cid's radar.

Vincent was lost without his gauntlet and felt more vulnerable the longer he went without it. It also didn't help that when Cid and the rest returned to the ship, they all seemed to disappear. So, he ended up pacing across the exterior forward deck for what felt like an eternity. Chaos quiet. The night had settled in and the interior of the ship was quiet, except for the metal of boots hitting the deck as Vincent paced. That was until he looked up and was met with his first mate, shaking in his boots.

"Uh…Captain would like to see you now." He said, his voice shaking as bad as his legs. Vincent scared him once, it seemed like he wasn't over it. The cool breeze whipped around Vincent's cloak, his eyes ablaze under the full moon. Except, without a claw he didn't think he looked as scary as everyone always said he did. Though, this man was proving that theory differently.

"H-He's in his chambers. Come on." He didn't wait for Vincent to follow. Together they moved about the deck to the interior of the ship and down the narrow passageway to the bridge and finally to the door for Cid's room. Vincent took note of how he walked, making sure to keep an eye on him always. Even though he knew how to get there and knew every inch of the Highwinds decks, passageways and hidden areas, he let this guy do his job to spare being chastised by Cid in the morning.

"Thank you." Vincent said softly, stepping away from the guy so he could not piss himself when he had to walk away.

I don't like that one

Ignoring his demon, Vincent knocked on the door. The sound of leather on metal was soft, but Cid heard it and beckoned him in.

"Come in, I got tea on."

When Vincent entered his room he blinked at the smell, earth oil with a hint of baby powder under it? The door closed behind him with a heavy click and Vincent waited there like a gargoyle mainly because Chaos was staring and so was he. Cid was barefoot, cargo pants were fresh and neat with a blue button-down shirt clinging to him in all the right places. He didn't know he owned any other clothes than what he'd always worn, let alone a button down. Dog tags reflecting the light and goggles were placed neatly on the nightstand, next to it was his large bed covered with blue sheets and a dark blue blanket. In the back of the room was a small kitchenette and an office with a door to his right that said "HEAD" on it in brass letters. Towards the center of the room was a small round table complete with two chairs and a box hiding under it, an old oily rag sticking out of it.

Cid stopped and saw his wraith standing at the door. He was tired. But this was more important than sleep.

"Well? You gonna go all statue on me or come have a cuppa tea?" Cid set the steaming kettle down and sat, pouring himself a cup and dressing it motioning for Vincent to do the same. Shaking himself out of his stupor, he crossed the floor. Cid noticing his boots making no noise except for faint scratching each time his sabatons would hit the metal, he also watched as Vincent sat down still withdrawn into his cloak and hiding his left arm. With his right, he'd pour his water over his tea leaves and add a few cubes of sugar from a small glass bowl that only held enough for the Gunner himself. Cid knew he had a sweet tooth. How did he know this? Did he tell him? Cid never had sugar in his tea.

He heard Chaos chuckle.

Frowning, he picked up the cup and stared at the liquid.

- What else have you told him?-

Nothing you need to be aware of Valentine

-Chaos…-

I have told him…enough.

"Vince? You okay?" Cid asked, watching as his friend's eyes flashed gold to red and back several times.

Vincent shook his head and blinked as if he was coming back to reality then nodded, bringing the cup to his lips, taking in it's scent before sipping on it. For a moment, he let the warmth assault his taste buds and it seemed to make Chaos purr. Not something he liked hearing in his head.

"Thank you, Cid." Vincent said softly, slowly raising his crimson eyes to be met with Cid's once again. Why did he trust him so much? Was it because Chaos did? Or because he'd never given him a reason not to trust him? Maybe it was because with Cid, Vincent felt; human. Wanted.

"I got yer gauntlet fixed. Workin' better now that it was before." He said proudly.

Vincent wondered how, even he didn't know where it came from and just assumed it was Shinra Technology that created it.

"I betcha want it back dontcha."

Vincent nodded and set his cup down.

Cid also nodded, polishing off his cup before pouring himself another.

"Not until I see yours. Needta make sure yer all healed up." Cid scooted forward on his chair and set his teapot down, holding his hands out to Vincent.

"I assure you Cid, it is healed." His eyes were wider than normal, Cid could see all of them this time and his cloak was doing a piss poor job of hiding him.

"Nope. Not till I see it."

Chaos smirked and gave his hosts heart a nice jolt making him grunt and grab it with his human hand.

Let him see me

Growling, Vincent dug his nails into his chest his head dropping to hide it from Cid. Until he felt a soft touch on the side of his cheek. "Vin? Tell him to go lay down somewhere, this is our time."

Vincent was stunned into silence and honestly, so was Chaos. Cid was now sitting on that small table inches from the gunner's face and touching his face telling him to tell his demon to go lay in a corner. For a moment, he couldn't believe it. Chaos went to his corner and pouted.

"How did you…"

"When you and him are fightin' your eyes change color."

Vincent's mouth fell out and Cid's heart fluttered. "I know when he does shit to ya Vince. The others can't see it like I do…but I know he's been fuckin' with ya this whole mission." Cid added, letting his calloused fingers fall from Vincent's face. For a brief second, Vincent missed the touch and almost wanted to bury his face in his hand again.

"Lemme see." He asked again, his hands-on Vincent's knee, palm up and waiting. Cid had far more patience for him that he thought he should ever have, and it scared him. Cid was a force to be reckoned with. Realizing he wasn't going to win, he revealed his mutilated arm and laid it in Cid's hands, once more shivering at the touch.