Chapter Eight: Only Human
A/N: I truly hope I am keeping these guys in character for the most part. I have not played any of the games or watched Advent Children for a few years now so I am working mostly off memory. This story is getting longer than I had planned lol. I decided I wanted to add some Cloud and Tifa because I love Tifa. She puts up with so much shit from Cloud. I also want to give her the happy ending she deserves so if this story begins to side track a little into her relationship with Cloud I hope you Valenwind (Whoa first time I have used a pairing term lol) won't mind.
Cid opened his eyes slowly in groggy confusion. He was warm, comfortable, and pressed up against someone else. When his vision finally cleared he found himself staring into the sleeping face of Vincent Valentine. He had his arms wrapped around the thinner man...and a raging hard-on. That he was used to waking up to...his arms around Vincent, not so much. His first instinct was to pull away because he knew he should, but the older man looked so peaceful. Every time Cid had seen him sleep before he'd looked either dead or as though he were having nightmares. So the pilot remained where he was, deciding not to disturb the other man's peaceful slumber. It gave him time to think about all that had transpired the night before.
He smiled as he thought about their pancake feast. He hadn't watched Vincent eat, but the gunman had seemed to enjoy himself. They would have to do it again some time. Cid knew he would have to introduce his friend to different foods as well, but for now pancakes would have to suffice. They were really all he knew how to make. Pancakes and waffles. Not the most healthiest of diets, especially when he added cigarettes and alcohol, but Cid didn't really care. It was his own damn health to worry about anyway and he wasn't suffering for it. He was nearing thirty-seven years of age and looked like he was still in his late twenties, maybe early thirties. The point was that he didn't look his age. Cid worked hard for a living. It took a lot of strength to be a mechanic, especially on an airship. The parts he worked with were extremely heavy and there were many areas on the ship where he had to have a lot of strength to even get to. Sure he could pay someone else to keep his airship in top condition, but he didn't trust anyone else with the Highwind. Most people who had the technical skills to fix her either used to work for Shinra or still did and even though the company had turned over a new leaf in recent years he still didn't trust them or the people they employed. The thought occurred to him then that Vincent had once worked for Shinra.
Cid looked down at the man sleeping in his arms. Vincent was the one exception to the rule...well besides Shera and the people on his crew. He trusted the gunman more than anyone else in AVALANCHE, despite his less than stellar control over the demons Hojo had placed in him. The ex-Turk had proved himself again and again in their fights to save the Planet, hell he had almost single-handedly defeated Deepground and the Omega Weapon. If that didn't deserve a person's trust then that person was stupid...like Barret. Cid was really starting to hate that bastard. He didn't know if the man was being deliberately obtuse, or if he was just that dim and ignorant by nature. Not that it really mattered to him how...no that was a lie. He wanted everyone to believe in Vincent's humanity. Cid wanted to scream from the rooftops that his friend wasn't a monster. Last night had proved it to him once and for all.
Monsters didn't get their feelings hurt by misunderstandings. Monsters didn't try desperately to keep from hurting people and they definitely didn't ask their friends, who were sexually attracted to them, to stay the night with them because they didn't want to be alone. Vincent's body might be able to turn itself into a monster, but his heart and soul belonged to that of a human...and a very broken one at that. The gunman wanted to keep everyone away but at the same time he didn't like being alone. Cid knew from experience that when a person is alone that's when all the doubts, self-hatred, and fear are the most dangerous. For some people it led them down a dangerous road that ultimately ended in death by their own hand. Not like that was possible for Vincent. The man was almost sixty-one and didn't look a day over twenty-seven. He would never age...maybe that was why he stayed so distant. Cid's brow furrowed as he thought about what that could mean for their relationship. Would Vincent not want to stay because-
His thoughts were abruptly put on hold as a cool finger poked the furrows in his brow. He looked down to find crimson eyes open and staring up at him. Vincent's finger was now running down his nose. "Galian says your face will get stuck that way if you continue to make that expression for much longer." The gunman said solemnly. Cid laughed in surprise at the comment.
"I didn't know demons could joke."
"It was a joke?" Vincent looked confused for a moment before his lips turned down...in what almost looked like a pout. Cid laughed harder before leaning down to capture those sweet lips in a kiss. He pulled back a moment later in embarrassment, his cheeks flushing. It was so hard to keep himself from ravaging the older man and he knew he needed to move away, but something in Vincent's eyes made him stay put, mesmerized. The gunman touched long slim fingers to his lips and there was a faint pinkish tinge to his cheeks as he stared up into Cid's eyes. The pilot was very aware of everywhere his body was in contact with the other man's. He was also very, very aware of the erection he was sporting. It had faded while he'd laid there thinking, but now it was back in full force. When he realized that it was resting against Vincent's thigh he quickly moved away, his face burning. The other man was now eyeing him, a curious light in his eyes.
"I...uh...would you like some breakfast?" Cid stammered, trying to distract both himself and Vincent from his current predicament. "We could have pancakes again, or try waffles this time."
"Will you teach me how to make them?" Vincent asked.
"Sure!" The pilot grinned then started getting out of bed. "I'm jus' gonna take a shower." He grabbed some clothes and retreated with haste into the bathroom.
Vincent sat up in bed as he watched Cid practically run from the room. He felt the uncommon urge to laugh at the younger man. He knew why the man was running. He'd felt the hardness against his leg, but it hadn't bothered him. The ringing of Cid's PHS distracted him from his amusement. The shower was already running so he knew the pilot wouldn't have heard the phone. Vincent frowned and crawled over to the small device lying on the bedside table. If it was important he should probably answer it and take a message or something. He hit the green button that would accept the call after noting that the caller was Cloud. "Good morning, Cloud." Vincent said calmly as he set the phone against his ear.
"Vincent?" The swordsman asked in a confused tone.
"Yes. Cid is in the shower." The gunman replied politely. "I thought this call might be important so I answered. Is that improper?"
"No! I was just surprised is all." Cloud replied with a laugh. "I was actually calling to see how you were doing."
"I am well." Vincent said after thinking about it for a moment.
"That's good. I thought you'd been injured last time I saw you."
"I am a quick healer Cloud, but thank you for your concern."
"I care about my friends." Cloud said seriously. "I'm sorry about Barret, he's-"
"Not an issue." Vincent cut in. "Mr. Wallace has a very set way of thinking. It will take a lot for him to come to the same opinion that you and the others have. I myself am not too sure about whether I am still human."
"Really?" Cloud sounded surprised. "Why is that?"
"There are many reasons." The older man replied hesitantly. "Hojo changed a lot about my physical being. My soul and mind may belong to that of a human, but I cannot help but feel as though my body is no longer the same."
"Oh." There was an understanding in Cloud's tone that made Vincent feel warm inside. "I used to think the same thing about myself. Tifa told me something that I think you should hear. She said that no matter what Hojo did to my body he couldn't change my soul and in the end that's what really matters. So even though your body isn't normal, Vincent, your soul is human. You think and feel like a regular person, right?"
"Yes." Vincent whispered, his mind reeling from the concept Cloud was describing.
"Then you're human. Its as simple as that."
"It is?" The ex-Turk felt the first stirrings of hope within his chest.
"Yeah." Cloud laughed. "Weird right? I mean you spend so long worrying about how people are gonna see you as a monster because of something a demented scientist did to you then you find out that in the scheme of things it doesn't really matter. When we die we'll go into the Lifestream and be reborn as something else. Vincent, think about this. Sephiroth was way more of a monster than you, so was Hojo and that man was completely human...physically anyways. Don't ever compare yourself to them. You've helped save the Planet, what, three times now? Monsters don't protect humanity do they? Dude, I don't think they even worry about whether they're human or not." There was a derisive laugh on the other end of the line. "Yeah, Tifa agrees with me."
"I have never thought of it in that way." Vincent said after a while. His spirit was soaring. "Tifa is wise beyond her years. Perhaps she was an Ancient in a previous life." Cloud chuckled.
"Yeah, I've thought that a time or two myself." There was a wistful tone in his voice. "Hey Vince?" The gunman bit back a sigh. He was going to have to get used to nicknames if he was going to remain friends with these people.
"Hmm?"
"Do you think she's, ya know, watching over us?"
"I do." Vincent replied. "It was her way Cloud. I believe she wishes us all to be happy and move on. For some of us this is harder than for others." He was, of course, referring to himself.
"Do you think you can love more than one person in a lifetime?"
"Yes." Vincent smiled softly, finally something he knew a little about. "It is something I have wondered about for myself from time to time. So allow me to impart what I have realized about love in return for the hope you have given me. When the person you love dies your feelings for them remain, which is painful, but you can move on. You will never feel the same way about anyone else because the reasons you loved Aerith can never be duplicated. Love is ever changing, Cloud, and it can sneak up on a person without them realizing it. One thing you can ask yourself is can you live happily without Tifa?"
"How did you-"
"I am observant Cloud. I have seen the way she looks at you and how you have come to look at her. You care very deeply for her, do you not?"
"Yeah." Cloud sighed. "I know she loves me because she said so. She also told me that if I never love her back its ok as long as I don't distance myself from her. I can tell she's hurting though and I...I don't know if what I feel is love because I don't feel the same about her that I did about Aerith."
"And you won't." Vincent said calmly. "They are different people, though similar in many ways. Think about this. Your friendship with Barret is different from your friendship with Nanaki. You care for them in different ways yes?"
"Yeah, Nanaki's smarter so there are more things I can talk to him about."
"Love works in much the same way. Aerith evoked different feelings than Tifa does."
"You think I'm in love with Tifa?"
"I think it is very possible...think about kissing her."
"What?!" Cloud sputtered.
"Just do it Strife." Vincent sighed. This was getting ridiculous. Either Cloud was really uncertain or he was an idiot.
"...ok." The swordsman sounded slightly agitated.
"Close your eyes and think of kissing her." The gunman smirked when he heard the younger man's gasp. "That was the second step. Your first was admitting that you care for her, now you know that you are attracted to her as well."
"What's the next step?"
"Telling her how you feel." Vincent laughed as Cloud muttered something quite unflattering and physically improbable. "I do not believe that is possible, young Strife." He murmured once the blonde had quit swearing.
"I do love her don't I?"
"Yes."
"Thanks Vince."
"You are welcome."
"Were you serious when you said I had given you some hope?" Cloud asked curiously.
"Yes, Cloud, your words have given me hope...thank you."
"You're welcome. I'm glad I could help...I'll talk to you later okay?"
"Yes. Goodbye Cloud." Vincent pressed the red button on the phone and let out a little sigh before setting it back where he had found it. He realized then that he no longer heard the shower. He looked up to find Cid standing in the bathroom doorway staring at him oddly.
"What'd ya mean when ya said his words gave ya hope?" There was a strange tone in the pilot's voice. It seemed to be a mixture of fear and disappointment. For a moment Vincent wondered what the man could be thinking, but decided that it would be best if he just explained. So he told Cid what Cloud had said. The younger man sank to his knees, his eyes filled with relief. Ah, Vincent sighed then rose to his feet and walked over to kneel in front of Cid. The man must have feared that Vincent's affections had turned to Strife or some other nonsense along those lines. What he felt for Cid was not yet love, but he cared deeply for the man and did not like to cause him pain, even if it was inadvertent. He wouldn't let just anyone kiss him, or sleep in the same bed.
"What strange ideas did you have running through your mind, Chief?" He asked in an amused tone, softly poking the other man in the forehead. His mischievous side was making in appearance. He hadn't felt this good in over thirty years. The pilot scowled at him but laughed as he pushed his hand away.
"Nun'ya business." The blonde muttered with a blush. Vincent allowed himself a small smile before helping the other man to his feet.
"Fine, but if I remember correctly you were going to teach me how to make pancakes."
"Yup." Cid grinned. "I'll learn ya a few things 'bout makin' the best pancakes on all 'o Gaia."
"Poor grammar aside, I say lead on." Vincent smirked before allowing himself to be led to the Galley. It turned out that he was an excellent student and quite adept at cooking. Cid scowled as they ate, muttering something about 'cheeky bastards'. Vincent just smiled softly at the younger man's gruff manner and decided that maybe, just maybe, they had a shot at happiness together.
A/N: I apologize for any out of character-ness, which according to the red lines of my spell check is not a word lol. Speaking of red lines, damn you Cid and your uncouth improper way of speaking. I have never had so many of these red lines until I started trying to write you. Anyways, I decided that if I am going to make Vincent happy then his character will have to go through a process of change. I don't think I will make him a happy-go-lucky person like Yuffie, but I do want him to smile a bit more and become comfortable with human contact. I am hoping that the change in him will not be huge. He is not someone who talks just for the sake of hearing their own voice, which is something I respect...I can go for days without saying much more than a few sentences, I see the disbelieving stares lol. I am not a normally talkative person. It is easier to express myself through my writing so we'll just leave it at that lol. Wow I write long notes...I hope they don't bore people. Oh and for the record I do not write a lot of fluffy stuff, haha, so sometimes it may seem a little forced. *Hangs head in shame* It is my curse to only be good at angst.