Chapter Seven: Only Human

A/N: So I am attempting some humor in this chapter. I am also going to let the guys have a little heart to heart and I'll try to keep the angst down. There will be some smooches, but I don't think it is time yet for a full blown...lemon I think they are called. Or was it a Lime? Shit, I don't understand these terminologies. I get confused lol. The first time I read a story that said lemon in the summary I wondered where the lemon was after I'd read it. I was like "There is no godamn fruit in this story." Just like the M/M thing, I got that confused with M&Ms. Either I am obsessed with food, completely retarded, or just weird. My cousin had to explain to me what slash was, which is actually a pretty funny story about how it came up. We were talking about fan-fiction and she started spouting off these terms I had never heard like 'shipping', 'mpreg' (Which is retarded cuz its just not possible, but whatever floats your boat) and 'slash goggles'. I was like "Da fuck are you on?" See, I get Yaoi and Yuri and shounen ai and shoujo ai. I speak Japanese and love to watch anime, but these american terms I was like "what?". She very kindly and patiently began explaining. I lurve her lols. I should probably explain that I am a very literal person so when I see Lemon or ship I automatically assume that actual lemon and ship...Its okay to laugh. Oh and I'm babbling, on with the story! Except that I forgot my point which was there is no sex in this chapter. Hopefully a kind reviewer can explain to me what lemon and lime means on this website lol.

UPDATE 2-27-2017: I have made some changes/corrections to the story. It would be prudent to reread it.

Cid tossed and turned on the uncomfortable bed he was currently trying to sleep on. He'd gone to a room near his own quarters to get some sleep because he wasn't sure if climbing into the same bed as Vincent was a good idea. Not because he was scared or anything, but because he didn't want Vince to feel uncomfortable. The gunman didn't really like to be near other people...or touch them...or have them touch him. The pilot sighed then frowned as he heard the sound of the door across the hall from him opening. Was Vincent awake? He sat up and listened carefully. Someone whispered something that he couldn't understand. What the hell? Cid got up and went out into the hall. No one was there. "Da fuck?" He muttered. He'd definitely heard something out here. He knew the sounds of his ship better than he knew himself. Narrowing his eyes, the blonde opened the door to his own quarters then smirked. No Vincent. He turned and walked down the silent corridors searching for the elusive ex-Turk.

"I do not think that is edible Galian." The soft whisper came from the Galley just as Cid passed the entrance. "Because it is made of plastic...I do not understand the significance of fake fruit either." Cid bit his lip to keep from laughing out loud and startling the other man. Shera had used a bowl of plastic fruit as decoration in the Galley. She'd wanted to brighten the place up. The fact that it confused both Vincent and one of his demons was priceless. "I do not know if I like where this idea of yours is going...I...stop laughing." There was a soft sigh then the refrigerator opened. "No...I will not eat that Galian." The refrigerator closed again. "I don't care if its green. It looks odd." Cid snickered then turned on the lights in the Galley. Vincent was sitting on the floor with an artichoke in his hands. He blinked up at Cid with an expression of utter confusion on his face. It was, in a word, adorable.

"What are ya up to, Vince?" The pilot asked with a grin.

"I am...not sure." The ex-Turk frowned down at the item in his hands. "Galian told me that I should eat."

"I thought ya didn' need ta."

"I do not. He thinks it will appease the mindless ones."

"By that ya mean..."

"Hellmasker and Death Gigas." Vincent shrugged then sighed and set the artichoke on the floor next to him. "I told you it was odd." He muttered under his breath, obviously speaking to Galian. Cid wondered if he knew he was speaking aloud.

"So, yer not hungry, but ya want somethin' ta eat?" Cid asked carefully, he was a little confused. Vincent gave a little sigh.

"Perhaps I should explain." He picked up the artichoke then stood and put it back in the fridge. "This is...difficult." He said quietly. "For the past year I have been struggling to keep them contained. When Chaos departed from my mind it was not on good terms. He was...angry." Vincent turned so that his hair was hiding his face from Cid's gaze. "He...took things from me. Mostly memories, which seemed important at the time. I thought he had also taken Galian, because I no longer felt him within me. I was left with...the others and...they hungered." The gunman fell silent and Cid had to stop himself from walking over to him. He could tell that talking about this was painful for the other man. "You saw the aftermath of their hunts...what you did not see was what they...ate." Vincent shuddered violently and Cid could no longer stop himself. He walked over and put his arms around the other man's thin frame. Vincent stiffened in his arms, but after a moment he relaxed slightly and let his head fall against the blonde's shoulder.

"These are not pleasant memories." Vincent murmured. "I would come to myself with the taste of blood in my mouth, the warmth of it still running down my throat." His voice was barely a whisper forcing Cid to strain to hear every word. "Every time they hunger they force their way to the surface and nothing is safe. It was why I stayed away. I had no control and I did not want to hurt you or anyone. The forest where I was living was secluded. Humans rarely ventured there so I thought it was safe...then I found Cloud near death...Hellmasker almost got loose in that cave." Vincent began to tremble slightly so Cid tightened his hold and kissed the top of his head.

"Ya saved his life Vince."

"Yes, but you saved mine." The gunman's arms slid around Cid's waist. "It was you who woke Galian from the slumber Chaos had placed him in. He spoke to you through me."

"Ah, I was wonderin' which one it were." Cid chuckled. "He talked like it was more'n one though."

"Yes, that is Galian. It is an ancient Wutaian custom for royalty to speak in such a way."

"He's royalty?!" The pilot exclaimed.

"In a way, he was the Lord of his clan a long time ago...he is much wiser than I." Vincent took a deep breath then exhaled slowly. "It was his custom to eat to gain strength. He says that because my body is weak I have not enough strength to control the brainless ones."

"That what he calls 'em?" Cid smirked.

"Yes, it is an apt description." Vincent muttered . The pilot threw his head back and laughed. He was beginning to like this Galian fellow. "After much discussion I decided to try things his way...although for obvious reasons I would like to avoid ingesting any meat products."

"I gotcha." Cid nodded. He stood there holding Vincent as he thought about what the other man might like to eat. After a while the gunman pulled away and looked into his eyes.

"Galian wishes to know what that green vegetable was...it smells odd and there doesn't seem to be a way to eat it."

"It's an artichoke." Cid was trying to hold back the laughter bubbling in his chest. Vincent eyed him for a moment then sighed.

"It is fine, you may laugh if you wish." The older man winced slightly as Cid let go and began laughing uproariously.

"Ya never seen one before?" He asked once he'd calmed down. Vincent shook his head. "I never et one, but I hear they're gross so how's 'bout I fix ya somethin' that'll taste better."

"If you wish." The gunman replied in a subdued tone.

"Alrighty, have a seat over yonder and I'll get to cookin'." Cid gestured to one of the bar stools behind the counter Vincent stood next to. He watched the older man sit down then turned and got to work. He'd decided to make pancakes since it was one thing he could cook well and he had a sudden craving for them. As he cooked he could feel Vincent's eyes watching his every move. Oddly enough it didn't make him feel uncomfortable. It took almost an hour to get all the batter cooked and the toppings fixed. He set a plate in front of Vincent then laid out the toppings. He had maple syrup, peanut butter, chocolate syrup, strawberries, whipped cream, butter, powdered sugar, and peaches. Onto a serving platter he heaped all the pancakes he'd cooked then grabbed a plate for himself and sat down next to Vincent, who was staring at the pancakes oddly.

"I remember these." He said quietly.

"Ya remember how ya like 'em?" Cid asked with a smile. Vincent shook his head, a sad look in his eyes.

"Chaos took most of my past memories from me...the ones from before I slept."

"What a prick." The pilot grunted, then began to explain the different toppings and what he personally liked on his pancakes. Vincent soaked in every word then watched Cid prepare his own food. The blonde carefully kept his eyes on his plate as he ate so that his friend would feel more comfortable. Between them they finished the huge stack of pancakes. "So what didja think?" Cid asked as Vincent helped him clean up.

"It was...different."

"A good different, right?"

"I...think so." Vincent replied slowly. "I do not feel sick as I normally do after eating. I feel...tired actually." Cid smiled then led him back to his quarters.

"Why don't you get sum sleep then." He suggested as they walked. When they got to the room Cid gestured for Vincent to go in then turned to head to the room across the hall that he had chosen to sleep in, but he felt a hand on his arm. He looked back at Vincent. "What's up?" He asked, his heart fluttering in his chest at the contact.

"I do not wish to be alone." Was the quiet reply. Cid swallowed the sudden lump in his throat and nodded. Vincent's hand left him as he turned to enter the room. Cid followed a moment later wondering how long he was supposed to stay. He didn't think the other man would be comfortable sleeping in the same bed together nor would he appreciate the sexual advances Cid was having a hard time controlling. He really should just go back to his temporary room, but he had agreed to sit with Vince for a while. "May I ask you something?" The gunman asked as he sat down on the edge of the bed.

"Sure." Cid shrugged going to one of his chairs. He lit up a cigarette as he waited for the older man's question. Vincent slid to the center of the bed so that they were facing each other, his expression serious.

"If I cannot regain control of my demons-"

"You will." Cid frowned, he had a feeling he wasn't going to like where this was going.

"Cid, no one can predict the future. What if I end up hurting you?"

"You wanna run off again?" The pilot snapped getting to his feet. "Is that it?"

"I-"

"Well I ain't gonna let ya. Ya got friends now that wanna help, for fucks sake Vin you can't like bein' alone all the time. Let us fuckin' help ya. We-"

"Will you let me finish, please." The tone was polite, but Cid could see a quiet anger in Vincent's crimson eyes. The pilot sat back down. He didn't want to hear what the man in front of him had to say, but he had to. The gunman's expression said that he brook no argument. So he sat there and waited for the man he loved to tell him that he was leaving again.

Vincent watched Cid sit back down and try to control his anger. He could also see pain in the younger man's eyes. Pain that he was inflicting on himself because he was refusing to listen. "Thank you." He said quietly. "What I was going to say before you interrupted was that I do not feel comfortable going to stay in Rocket Town." He held up a hand when Cid opened his mouth to argue. "Be silent and listen Highwind." The pilot's mouth closed again. "I would not wish harm on the people of your city, and if I lost control within the city limits that is precisely what would happen. I would prefer if we went somewhere else where there aren't as many people around."

"We?" Cid asked.

"Yes, Cid, we. As in you and I." Vincent sighed. "I was not preparing to 'run away' as you put it."

"Ya did before." The blonde frowned. "When we was livin' together, you jus' up an' fuckin' left one day. No word, no note, jus' gone." Ah, so that's where his sudden anger was coming from. "I been searchin' for yer ass since."

"I left to find a way to rid myself of Chaos." Vincent looked out the window. "My departure was rather hasty because he was threatening you and Shera. I had a rather unpleasant experience in which he tried to take control which convinced me that I needed to leave. I had been planning to return after I had gotten rid of him...but then Sephiroth returned and after that it was Deepground."

"Its been almost two and a half years." Cid growled. "Why didn' you call or somethin'?"

"...I do not have a phone." Vincent replied. "The proper use of such technology escapes me." He turned back to Cid who had suddenly begun to laugh. The gunman allowed himself a small smile. "Young Marlene was most put out that I did not have one. I had one at some point, but I lost it." He let out a half laugh and flopped back on the bed. "I finally managed to rid myself of him and in return he made sure that I would be unable to return."

"I coulda helped ya know."

"Perhaps...I could not risk it...I do not know what I would do if I hurt you, Cid." He heard the rustle of clothes then Cid's face was hovering above him. "You are the first...human to tell me that I am not a monster. Words cannot express what that means to me. I-" He was cut off by a mouth on his. He gasped into the warmth and was startled by a tongue slipping into his mouth. His eyes fell closed as he relaxed into the pleasant sensations running down his spine. A warm body covered his as he began to hesitantly return the kiss. All his fears and worries seemed to fade away as Cid's fingers caressed his face before moving to tangle in his hair. He let his own hands come up to rest on the pilot's chest. Beneath his fingers he could feel the younger man's rapid heart beat. There was a warm hardness pressing into his stomach and the sweet scent of arousal tickled his nose. He pressed his body up into Cid's making the man groan and pull from his lips gasping for air.

"Damn, Vince, I shouldn't..." He trailed off staring down into Vincent's eyes. The gunman could see a red glow reflected there. "Planet that's beautiful." Cid breathed. Vincent wasn't sure what to think. Personally he thought the red mako glow of his eyes was a bit creepy. Fortunately Cid's lips on his made a response unnecessary. Vincent felt himself melting under the onslaught. The previous kiss had been relatively mild, but this one was filled with passion. Their tongues dueled making each of their bodies harden with desire. Cid's hands left his hair. When they began sliding up his shirt Vincent froze. Immediately the pilot pulled back, both his hands and his lips, and he slid off of Vincent quickly. "Shit, Vince, I'm sorry, I know ya ain't ready. I got carried away." He started to rise from the bed, but Vincent grabbed his hand.

"Stay with me." He pleaded in a quiet voice. Something akin to panic flared in his chest at the thought of being alone...or Cid being angry with him.

"I can't right now Vince, I'm liable ta do somethin' we'll both regret later." With that he was gone. Vincent stared at the closed door. What would he regret? Kissing? Touching him?

"What do I do?" The gunman whispered to himself. Should he follow and demand an explanation? He didn't want Cid to be angry, but he also didn't want to be alone at the moment. Steeling himself Vincent rose from the bed and went to the door. He was not going to let Cid walk away from him like that, not without explaining himself. He followed the pilot's scent to the room across the hall and knocked on the door. "Explain, Highwind." He said coldly as soon as the door opened. Cid stared at him in surprise. "What is it that you would regret?"

"Oh, shit." The pilot paled. "I didn' mean...ah hell...fuck."

"Skip the profanity Chief."

"Damn, ok here's the thing. I've loved ya fer a long time, and I'm havin' a hard time keepin' my hands to myself ya know?" Cid rubbed the back of his head. "I don' wanna push ya inta somethin' ya didn' want. I'm sorry it came out like I was gonna regret kissin' ya and stuff, I just, fuck..." He trailed off looking down at the floor. "When ya froze up like that I thought...well I know ya don' like it when people touch ya so I thought maybe it were too much too soon ya know?" Vincent relaxed then reached out and took one of Cid's hand in his flesh one.

"I was only startled Cid." He said gently. "I am not used to being touched in such a manner." His eyes slipped past the younger man to see the tiny bed Cid had been preparing to climb into. That would never do. With a sigh he dragged Cid back to his own quarters. "You are either sleeping in here with me or I will go to another room." He told the blonde.

"But-"

"Was that bed comfortable?" Vincent asked him with a raised brow.

"No but-"

"You are the Captain of this ship correct?"

"Yes but-"

"Then this is where you will sleep."

'There is the strength we have wanted to see.' Galian rumbled with a laugh.

'Quiet.' The beast retreated with another laugh.

"Won't it make you uncomfortable to sleep in the same bed?" Cid frowned.

"No. I was trying to tell you before you left that I do not want to be alone."

"Oh...why?" The pilot cocked his head. What a loaded question, Vincent thought darkly, I wish I knew the answer.

"...I do not know." He finally said. "I just know that I would prefer if you stayed."

"Well ok, but if I can't keep my hands to myself I'm gonna leave."

"If you insist." Vincent sighed then climbed into the huge bed. He watched Cid take a deep breath then crawl in next to him. The younger man sighed in what sounded like relief as he settled into the mattress. Vincent smirked. It took only seconds for the pilot to fall asleep. He could tell the other man hadn't had a decent night of sleep since bringing Vincent home. Home? The gunman smiled to himself as he closed his eyes. Yes, this was home. Right here next to Cid. The shorter man's loud snores were soothing in a way. Vincent had missed them on his journey. He inhaled the soft, smoky scent of the other man and felt sleep closing in on him. Maybe tomorrow they could have pancakes again.