Chapter Four
Cid stomped on to the bridge and froze, staring out the window in front of him. Angry black clouds covered the sky as far as the eye could see. "Where are we?" He asked James, who was sitting behind the flight controls.
"About an hour from Rocket Town, but that storm looks like a doozy."
"Yup." Cid ran a hand through his hair. "We're gonna have ta set 'er down." James stood to let the ship's captain take over. "Ella, what's below us?"
"A forest, Captain." The woman at the radar screen replied. "If you go east about ten klicks there's a field big enough to land in."
"Alright." Cid took hold of the controls and turned the Highwind towards the east. He spotted the field in moments and breathed a sigh of relief when he saw that it wasn't farmed. He'd hate to ruin someone else's livelihood while trying to save his own. He was able to land the large ship with little difficulty and just in time. As soon as he was down the clouds rolled in and icy sleet slammed into the window.
"Nice job Captain!" Ella grinned.
"Why thank ya." The pilot grinned back then stood and stretched. "Well you kids take it easy, this storm looks like its gonna last a while. I'm gonna go check on Vince." As he turned to leave he felt a hand on his arm. He glanced back to see Ella standing there looking up at him shyly.
"Did that glove I gave you help?" She asked.
"Fits 'im perfect." Cid smiled. "Thanks."
"You're welcome." The girl smiled back. "How is he doing?"
"Better, I think." He sighed remembering the pain Vincent had been in. "He's got a lot on 'is mind...none a it good."
"You should tell him how you feel." Ella told him in a rush.
"I did. It kinda put 'im in shock." The pilot laughed then ruffled his navigator's red hair. "Go get some rest kid." She nodded and skipped off happily. Cid began walking back to his quarters. Just as he neared his door the PHS in his pocket began to ring. Heaving a sigh, he dug it out and answered. "Hello Cloud."
"Valentine awake yet?" The swordsman asked.
"Yeah, Vince woke up a bit ago."
"How is he?" Cloud asked, a note of dread in his voice. Cid hated that tone. He hated that the others were all scared of Vincent.
"He's human, Cloud." The pilot growled.
"No he isn't Cid, you know that."
"Yer a damn fool Strife, and ya don' know nuthin'." He snarled then hung up. Before he walked into his room he took a moment to calm himself. When he opened the door the first thing he noticed was the empty bed. He frowned, stepping forward and shutting the door behind him.
"You do not have to defend my humanity, or lack there of, to Strife or anyone, Highwind." A deep voice whispered to his left. Cid turned to find Vincent standing in the doorway of the bathroom.
"My name is Cid ya know." The pilot pouted.
"Once you begin calling me by my given name I will use yours...Chief." The gunman replied, a touch of amusement in his voice.
"Fine Vincent." Cid growled good naturedly. "I still say its too stuffy."
"I am over sixty years old." Vincent replied with a small smile. Cid blinked at him in shock. He'd known Vincent was almost thirty years older than him so that was no surprise. It was the smile that rendered him incapable of speaking. He just watched dumbly as the other man walked to the window and stared out at the storm. "I see that we have been grounded for the time being." Cid shook himself then walked over to stand next to Vincent.
"Yeah." He sighed then frowned as something occurred to him. "Are ya hungry? Ya haven' eaten fer a few days."
"I no longer need to eat to survive."
"So yer...not hungry?"
"No...I have not felt hunger for a long time." A shudder passed through the taller man.
"You okay?" Cid asked worriedly.
"...not really."
"Wanna talk about it?" The pilot touched the other man's arm gently, but Vincent shook his head.
"I have many unpleasant memories." The gunman said quietly, his left hand was shaking. Cid pulled him into an embrace and ran a hand through his silken hair. He had his own share of things he'd rather not remember so he understood Vincent's reluctance to speak.
"If you ever do...wanna talk that is, I'm here for ya." He murmured. Thin arms wrapped around his waist in response making the blonde smile triumphantly. He was finally getting through to Vincent.
Vincent let his forehead drop to Highwind...no Cid's shoulder. He felt as though he could be there forever. The safety, security, and warmth Cid's arms offered was addictive. He couldn't call what he felt for the younger man 'love', not yet, the feelings were too new. The pilot had been his only friend since leaving his coffin so he already had affection for him, but love? Love was not something he thought about. Not since Lucrecia and now he knew that she hadn't loved him, not truly. He had been a way to pass the time for her, sure she had liked him and had felt guilty for what Hojo had put him through, but she hadn't loved him. That knowledge was what had finally allowed Vincent to let her go. No longer did the desire he felt for her burn in his body. He did miss the times they had shared together. He had been happy then...well as happy as he had ever been in the tragedy that was his life.
For the past year he had been praying for death to come and take him. The pain he felt in his soul had been overwhelming him and, now with his sins atoned for, he'd just wanted it to end. He wanted to be at peace. The deep guilt he had woken to in this new life was still there, but not as strong. He'd helped to stop the monster Sephiroth had become and had rid the world of Chaos, so now what purpose did his life serve? Could he be content to watch as Cid grew old and died while he remained? He hadn't lied when he'd told Cid that he would never age. Hojo had killed him then brought life back into his empty shell. Now he no longer needed to eat and was unable to die. The demons kept his body alive and his mind on the brink of madness...well all except for Galian. He had become very fond of the demon lord over the past few years. The beast had been his only defense against Chaos's torment and the unruly behavior of Death Gigas and Hellmasker. He wished there was a way he could repay the great wolf's kindness.
'There is, Host.' Galian chuckled.
'How?'
'Allow yourself to be happy.' The beast replied. 'We would return to our hunting ground so that you might have peace, but we cannot be separated from the Host. It is our punishment for going against the great Lords of Hell. We do not regret our past, nor do we regret becoming part of the Host and at this moment our only wish is for you to become strong. To do that you must accept what you are.'
'Which is?' Vincent asked mentally, humbled by what his demon was saying.
'Human.' He could feel Galian smiling. 'You are only human.' Vincent felt a smile touch his lips as the great beast's presence retreated.
"Ya feelin' better now?" Cid's voice startled him, but he didn't lift his head.
"Yes." The gunman replied then straightened and stepped away from the pilot. For a long moment they just stood there. Vincent was trying to work up the courage to talk to his friend about what was going on in his mind, but was having difficulty getting the words out. He didn't even know where to start.
'HUUUNNNGGGRRYYYY!' Vincent winced as Death Gigas roared in his mind. He put a hand to his head and stumbled back until he hit the wall. He felt himself falling to the floor as the demon continued to roar angrily. How long had it been since he had hunted? Almost a week...damn, even Galian would be unable to control the giant if he waited much longer.
"Vince?!" Cid was kneeling in front of him hands reaching out.
"Don't..." Vincent hissed, slapping the other man's hands away. The pilot looked hurt as he let his hands fall to his sides. "Touching...aggravates him." He managed to gasp out. The pain in his head was increasing steadily. "I...need to..." The gunman felt something wet on his face and Cid's look of shocked horror. At first he thought he was crying again...but then he smelled the blood. "Damn." He whispered then struggled to his feet and began stumbling to the door. "No...time." Vincent ignored Cid's cries as he began to run. He needed to get off the ship fast, otherwise his only friend and the crew of the Highwind would become the Gigas's next meal.
Cid swore he would give up smoking as he ran after Vincent. For a spindly little guy the man ran awfully fast. He finally managed to catch up to the gunman on the second level's balcony, but could only watch in horror as Vincent threw himself over the railing and into the raging storm. "VINCE!" He screamed running to the railing. He heard a deafening roar and saw a giant figure running towards the nearby forest."Death Gigas." He whispered in shock. Jesus, if that thing had gotten loose on his ship... "Damn." The pilot swore. That's why Vincent had pushed him away. Cid ran back into the ship now thoroughly drenched. As he raced down the corridors of the ship towards his room he wondered what he was going to do.
He couldn't go after Vincent, not with the storm still raging, but he didn't know if he could stay locked up in his room either. Cid also wondered if Cloud had been right to be worried about him...no. He shook his head. Vincent had realized what was happening to him and tried to warn him. He hadn't understood, though, so the gunman had run. He'd actually thrown himself off the ship to keep from hurting Cid or his crew. The blonde now knew why Vincent had stayed away...the demons were trying to take over.
Cid slowed as he reached his door then opened it and, after closing it behind him, began stripping off his wet clothes. He left them in a pile near his door and walked into his bathroom. What the hell was he going to do? The pilot glared at his reflection in the mirror then got into the shower. The first thing he needed to do was get warm. He hadn't noticed his own trembling and chattering teeth since he'd been so focused on thoughts of Vincent, but now he could feel the deep chill he'd received from the icy sleet of the storm.
As the hot water did its work his thoughts drifted back to the man he loved. It had been difficult, in the beginning of their acquaintance, to get the man to speak about anything personal. Cid had gleaned a few things here and there about what had happened to him before being placed in that coffin, mostly from Lucrecia. He knew that Hojo had experimented on him and perhaps tortured him just for the hell of it. He also knew that Vincent had loved Lucrecia, had even tried to save her, but the woman had turned from him and created Sephiroth with the demented Hojo. Cid didn't know if Vincent still blamed himself for what had happened, but he hoped that he didn't. None of it had been his fault. Lucrecia had made her own damn choices and because of them Hojo had got his disgusting hands on Vincent and made the man what he was today.
For the longest time Cid had thought Vincent didn't have emotions since he hid them so well, but it was becoming increasingly apparent that the gunman just didn't know how to express them. For all his eloquence when speaking about a matter unrelated to him, words utterly failed the man when trying to speak about something that was bothering him. Cid had never had that problem. He was loud and crass and generally said what ever the hell he wanted. Most people were put off by it. The only ones who stuck around were the people who could see through all his bluster.
Cid sighed heavily and turned off the water then stepped out of the shower and began drying himself off. Worry over Vincent gnawed at him leaving a sour feeling in his gut. With another sigh he walked over to his dresser and snatched up his cigarettes. He hadn't been smoking as much lately because he wanted to quit, but the stress was just too great right now. He lit one up then set about getting dressed. Once clothed he headed toward the bridge. If he sat there he could keep an eye out for Vincent. He just prayed that the man would come back.