Chapter Three: Only Human

It had been three days since they'd found Vincent and Cid's PHS was blowing up with calls from his friends wondering how the demon infested man was doing. "Sleepin' still." He snapped and hung up on Cloud. The swordsman had been calling at least twice a day. Cid didn't understand what the spiky haired prick was so uptight about. "Prolly all butt hurt 'cuz the demons don' like 'im." The pilot chuckled as he walked towards his rooms to check on his sleeping friend.

Vincent hadn't woken once in the three days he had been on the ship, which was worrisome, but none of his demons had taken control either. Cid took that as a good sign and whistled quietly to himself as he walked into his room. "Hey Vinnie, ya awake yet?" He leaned over his friend's peaceful face, resisting the sudden urge to kiss him. He had a feeling that would not go over well no matter what that demon had said. Liberties indeed. He'd only been carrying Vincent to the ship. If he really wanted to take liberties... he gasped as Vincent's crimson eyes opened.

"Vincent." The gunman whispered roughly. "How...many times do I have to tell you?" Cid grinned. This had always been his favorite game. He had always loved teasing the older man and his relief at finding him alive was making him giddy.

"Aw, ya know I like ta tease." The pilot laughed as he straightened then sat on the edge of the bed. "How ya feelin'?" Something flickered behind the other man's crimson eyes, too briefly for Cid to recognize.

"Rested." Vincent said after a moment. His voice was still rough, but it sounded stronger than it had been a few days ago.

"I'd hope so." Cid smiled. "Ya been sleepin' for three days." Vincent's eyes widened in shock.

"I haven't changed...have I?" There was fear deep in his eyes. Cid shook his head.

"Nope." The pilot grinned. "Seems as though yer demons like me, hell if I know why."

"You smell good." Vincent said absently as his eyes moved about the room.

"Huh?" Cid said stupidly. He smelled good? A light blush appeared on Vincent's face as the other man realized what he'd said and he carefully kept his eyes averted. "Yerself thinks I smell good or they do?" The gunman's only response, if it could be considered that, was to slowly sit up and turn so that they were facing each other. The blankets pooled around his waist and Cid was glad that he had put some of his own clothes on the man before putting him in bed. A naked Vincent was the last thing he needed to see right now. It was difficult enough for him just being able to see the other man's entire face. There was a softness to it despite the emotionless expression it held that had Cid's gaze transfixed. Warmth flooded through him and a blush stained his cheeks as he realized he was staring at Vincent's lips. He quickly looked away and tried to calm his rapidly beating heart.

"You smell like the sky." Vincent's soft voice surprised him making him jump slightly. Cid hadn't been expecting the man to speak. It had always been a rare occurrence, although when Vincent spoke he usually had something important to say. He was a man used to silence. The pilot raised his eyes to Vincent's and was surprised again when the older man leaned forward to rest his forehead against the blonde's shoulder. "The scent is...soothing." His voice was barely audible so Cid almost didn't catch what he had said. When he did he stopped resisting the urge to wrap his arms around the incredibly thin man beside him.

Vincent froze as Highwind's arms surrounded him, pulling the gunman against his chest. It had been so long since someone had held him like this that he didn't know what to do. His sensitive nose was smothered in the pilot's scent. It was intoxicating yet oddly helped him to relax. There was safety here, he realized. The demons in his mind were completely silent. There were no screams or commands to kill...nothing. It was like his mind was his own again even though he could feel them lurking on the outskirts. Vincent allowed his body to relax against Highwind's warm chest and breathed in deeply. Just for now, he told himself, I can accept this comfort. He felt gentle fingers running through his hair and let his eyes fall closed, enjoying the sensations. What was this man doing to him? He could feel all his defenses falling away. The walls he had built both around his heart and himself were beginning to crumble...all for this one man, Cid Highwind. It was conusing. Shouldn't he pull away, what if he lost control again? The demons were quiet now, but how much longer would they put up with this? Why was his heart telling him to stay?

'Listen to your instincts, Host.' Galian's deep voice rumbled in his mind. 'Humans are not meant to be alone.'

'I am not human.' Vincent replied dejectedly.

'You are as human as the man who smells of the sky. We and the mindless ones are not.' Galian said fondly, then retreated back into Vincent's mind. The ex-Turk kept his eyes closed as he mulled over what the beast had said.

"You okay Vince?" Highwind asked, his voice filled with concern. Vincent didn't know how to respond. Ever since waking up in the basement of the Shinra mansion words normally failed him. It had become difficult to express himself, more so even than when he was still a Turk. The weight of his sins had been heavy on his shoulders and even though he had atoned for some of them he still felt as though he didn't deserve the friendship or care of someone...well anyone really. Galian said that humans weren't meant to be alone, but did someone such as Vincent, who had lost the only woman he'd ever loved to a mad scientist, deserve a second chance? What if he failed Highwind as well? Listen to my instincts? What did that even mean anymore? "Vince?" The gunman opened his eyes and looked up at Highwind.

"Galian has asked me to listen to my instincts. What do you you do when all they say is to run...to hide?" Vincent asked, hoping the other man might know the answer. A startled look crossed the blonde pilot's face, then his brow furrowed in thought.

"Well now, instinct, you see, is a funny thing. Sometimes it steers us the wrong way...wait. Why are ya askin' me? Tifa'd be a smarter person t'ask." There was a pink flush to the pilot's face that Vincent found endearing and suddenly he wanted to tell Highwind all that Galian had said. He sat up, pulling away from the younger man, and was about to speak...until he saw his left hand. The blackened skin stood out against the white blankets.

"Where is my glove?" His voice was cold and he saw Highwind flinch at his tone.

"It were covered in blood." The pilot replied in a quiet voice. "I got it cleaned, tho', i'll go get it." Highwind stood and left the room quickly. Vincent grabbed part of the blanket and wrapped it around his hand and arm, fighting back the urge to vomit. It was then that he noticed the rest of his clothing. He wore a soft gray t-shirt and dark-blue flannel pants. Both pieces of clothing hung off his thin frame making him look like a child wearing their father's clothes. The scars on his arms stood out against the paleness of his skin. Vincent shuddered in revulsion. There was a reason he wore so much clothing.

It took ten minutes for Highwind to return. He walked in carrying a black glove in one hand...a glove that wasn't Vincent's. "I musta left yer glove back in Rocket Town." The pilot said apologetically, rubbing the back of his head. "I asked Shera to get yer stuff cleaned, then I had ta take the others home." He held the glove out to Vincent. The gunman hesitantly reached out to take it. He turned his body away from the other man before unwrapping his arm and sliding the glove on. It fit him perfectly. He stared at it for a moment. The glove was made from a soft leather, and reached almost to his elbow. Intricate thread-work decorated the material, making it obvious that the glove belonged to a woman, probably one of Highwind's crew. Guilt pricked at the ex-Turk's conscience.

"Thank you." He said softly, unable to look the other man in the eye. He felt the bed sink as the ship's captain sat down next to him. Vincent bent his neck so that his hair fell forward, hiding himself further from the pilot's gaze. He stared at his hands, one pale and scarred the other black and disgusting under the leather glove. How could Highwind even stand to be near someone as ugly as he was? He gasped in surprise as warm hands caressed his face before forcing him to turn so that he was looking into stormy blue eyes.

"Why do ya hide?" Highwind whispered. Vincent wanted to pull away, but was unable. He was caught by the look in the other man's eyes.

"Don't look at me." Vincent heard his own voice plead weakly.

Cid's eyes widened at the plea and the pained look in Vincent's eyes. It was at that moment that he realized why the older man covered himself so thoroughly. The gunman was repulsed by his own body. The pilot was stunned by the revelation. Vincent had always hid himself and kept his distance from everyone, but Cid had never understood why until now. Without thinking he leaned forward and pressed his lips to Vincent's. The other man gasped in surprise, his body going stiff, but instead of pulling away Cid deepened the kiss. He slid his tongue through the ex-Turks parted lips moaning softly. He'd been dreaming of this moment for years, but none of his imaginings compared to the feel and taste of reality. Vincent's mouth was sweet and warm. The scent of him was dark with a hint of spice. His skin was smooth under Cid's hands. Only the need for air made him pull away, panting slightly.

"Yer beautiful." The blonde whispered against Vincent's kiss swollen lips. He heard the gunman's breath hitch in his throat and looked up to see tears slipping silently down pale cheeks. Vincent's eyes were closed. When they opened Cid was blindsided by the raw emotion filling their crimson depths. He'd never seen anything so beautiful his entire life and he was rendered completely speechless.

"No." Vincent's voice was raw shook the pilot from his stupor. "I am disgusting." Vinceent growled, his voice breaking, eyes averted. "Forever tainted by a-"

"Shut it." Cid growled not wanting to hear his friend's self-hatred any longer. "Yer none of those things ya think ya are. So what if ya got scars or demons in yer head. That don' change how I feel about ya." He softened his tone as he continued. "I love you." Vincent's eyes went wide in shock. "I have fer a while." The pilot went on. "That's why I never gave up on ya bein' alive." Vincent made a small sound of anguish and seemed to collapse in on himself. Cid pulled the smaller man into his arms and rocked him gently as harsh sobs racked his thin frame. He ran his fingers through Vincent's soft hair and let him cry. He had a feeling that it had been a long time since the older man had allowed himself to.

"Why?" Vincent asked brokenly. "I don't deserve your kindness, or love."

"S'that what ya think?!" Cid gasped then growled irritably. "I don' much care fer that kinda thinkin'." He forced Vincent to look at him. "I don' know anyone who deserves love more'n you. Ya been through hell, Vince, give yerself a break. Yer only human." Vincent froze. Before he could blink Cid found himself on his back with Vincent on top of him, straddling his waist and his hands pinning the pilot by the shoulders.

"Am I still human?" The raven haired man asked. His voice held a touch of hope.

"Of course ya are." Cid felt confused. "Why wouldn't ya be?"

"I do not feel human." The other man replied. "I cannot die and am a host for demons. I will never age as humans do, Highwind. How can I still be human?" Cid felt slightly overwhelmed by the ex-Turk's words, but he smiled and reached up to gently brush a tear from Vincent's cheek. It amazed him that even after crying, the older man's skin still held no color.

"This proves it." Cid said smugly, showing Vincent the wetness on his thumb. "Demons don' cry. They don't feel like we do. I don't know a lot about demons, but I don't think they consider whether or not they deserve love. I'm thinkin' they just demand it or sumthin' similar." The gunman was silent for a long time, just staring down at him. Cid suddenly became aware of their positions. He could feel Vincent against his groin and tried very hard to ignore the sensations running through him.

Vincent stared down at Highwind. The words he had spoken were ones that he had wanted to hear for so long. Yer only human. It was the first time since waking from a thirty year sleep that he had heard those words from someone other than a demon. To the others he had always been 'the vampire'. "Uh, Vince, you might want to get off now." The gunman shook his head. He knew why the pilot had made the suggestion. He could smell the other man's arousal, could feel it, hard and throbbing, beneath him. Vincent rocked his hips and inhaled deeply as the scent in the air thickened. Cid groaned, his body arching as pleasure coursed through him. The ex-Turk decided that he was going to 'follow his instincts'. He leaned down and captured the younger man's mouth with his. Highwind gasped, his hands going to the gunman's hips. Vincent slid his own hands up to tangle his fingers in the other's hair.

"Captain! There's a storm approaching!" A panicked voice over the ship's intercom system startled both men. Vincent immediately slid off of the pilot knowing that he was needed by his crew. The younger man growled something unintelligible and got to his feet.

"Don't ya dare move." He snapped, pointing a finger at the man still on the bed. "This discussion ain't finished." Vincent nodded solemnly and watched him storm out of the room angrily.