Disclaimer: Yeah. I wish I owned FFVII. Especially after Crisis Core coming out and being all about one of my favorite characters, Zack! If that was the case, I would've changed the ending, for sure! So that means I don't.
Chapter Three
Sounds Like Wedding Bells
\/\/\/
After getting ushered out by the bartender (followed by repeated threats), Cloud helped walk a very wasted Cid Highwind back to his villa, along with Yuffie and Red XIII. The pilot spent part of the night on Cloud's couch, part of it in the bathroom puking, and the other part on the floor from having fallen off the couch.
The next morning, Costa Del Sol was still sunny, and Cid had a massive hangover.
"Gods…what a nightmare," Cid mumbled as Cloud moved around in the kitchen, throwing things into a blender. Yuffie was still asleep and Red had just come in. The blonde pilot grimaced when the blender came on. "Turn that damned thing off, Cloud! Have you no consideration for the ill?" Cid held his hands over his ears, face pressed against the counter surface.
"This will only take a second," the younger said over the noise of the blender. When it took longer than a second, Cloud could see Cid's hand ball into a fist, the pilot's face still against the counter. "Uh…" He quickly unplugged it and dumped the contents into a large glass.
Once it was safe to sit up straight again, Cid did. He looked at the "beverage" Cloud was making. "Yuck, what the hell is in that?" the former Captain of the Highwind dared to ask.
"Things you're going to need to make it through the rest of the day," Cloud sat the drink in front of Cid. "The recipe is a secret."
"I won't be askin' you for it anytime soon," Cid looked down into the cup, sticking out his tongue in disgust. "I ain't drinking this…"
"Then you're gonna be hating life all day," Cloud warned. "Just trust me and drink it, Cid. It's the least you can do for getting us kicked out of the bar last night."
"Dammit! How the hell was that my fault, Cloud!? You weren't drinkin' anyway!"
"I meant pool, Cid."
"Well, fuck pool! I still ain't drinkin' this crap!" Cid scowled and turned away. Then he gritted his teeth and clutched his head, the headache getting worse. "Shit, shit, shit! Fine! I'll drink it!" He clenched the cup and chugged it all at once, aiming to satisfy the blonde ex-mercenary. Once he slammed down the cup, he wiped the rest of the contents from his mouth, giving Cloud a bitter look. "That was nasty, Spike. This thing had better not kill me."
"It won't," Cloud assured. "It's my hangover helper. Tifa used to make it for me all the time when I'd get smashed."
"And she let you get away with it?" Red spoke up this time, eyeing Cloud.
The former mercenary shrugged. "I just got into fights was all. Guess she felt sorry for me."
"Man, she pampers you like a baby." Cid pushed himself away from the barstool and counter, still holding his head in one hand. "Geez, I feel like Meteor's crashed right down on top of me. I'm gonna head outside and catch some fresh air."
"Careful," Cloud began, "the sun might make your headache worse."
"Yeah, yeah," Cid waved him and his advice away like the wind. "Whatever."
He heard Cloud sigh before he shut the door.
All at once, the sun attacked him, just as the younger blonde had predicted it would. Cid groaned and shielded his eyes with the hand that had earlier held his head in place. He turned his back to the sun, removed his arm, and opened his eyes, blinking. With a little bit of time, they were refocused and he was able to see the beach and the people moving along it.
Everyone was happy in the land of Costa Del Sol. Everyone except Cid. He hated life and the resort town. Children were playing and laughing in the sand, intensifying his headache and loathing of them. Couples were walking by with slushies in their hands, talking to each other in the stupid, sissy voices that couples talked in. Daredevils were riding the waves while chicks watched them, whistling with admiration, and others were tanning on the beach.
Yup, just another happy day in the world of Costa Del Sol.
Just a walk, he assured himself. Just a walk so I can forget everything that happened yesterday. He had lost his coat and gloves, now just wandering around in his pants, boots, and a dull blue tank top that Cloud had lent him after he had hurled all over his own shirt. It was in the dryer now.
I need a cigarette. But he realized that he had gone through those, too. Great…first my shirt, and now my cigs. Can't things get just a little easier 'round here? When he turned the corner, the first thing he saw was red…a stripe of white…and black hair.
Son of a… Cid tossed himself back behind the wall he had just come from, and slowly snaked his head around the side of the building to see what the hell Mr. Bradley Whatever-his-last-name-was was up to. He was in front of another building—one with a small window in front—talking to a smaller man from within. Cid leaned in closer, trying to eavesdrop.
"It's not a matter of a question," Bradley was saying, "It's very important that you get this for me."
"Right!" the shorter, fatter man nodded eagerly. "But it's awfully expensive. Are you sure that—"
"Money is no issue here," Bradley waved him away. "I'm buying it for her."
"Ooooh," the other man leaned his head back and whistled. "Your girlfriend, right? I saw you together yesterday at the game."
Bradley quickly leaned forward and whispered something that was far too low for Cid to make out. The pilot grumbled and took a step forward, only managing to catch the last few words:
"…marry her soon…"
Then Bradley turned to quickly walk away from the little vending shop. Cid was paralyzed to the ground, unsure if what he had just heard was entirely correct. He felt lightheaded, the hangover suddenly coming in waves and Cid shook the fuzziness from his head. The rich punk was walking away, whistling it sounded like, and waving to other people on the beach who called out to him. It wasn't just another happy day in the world of Costa Del Sol…
…It was another happy day in the life of Bradley Pukehead too.
What!? That son of a bitch plans to what!? Shit! This'as gone far enough!
It was a wonder why there wasn't more steam coming out of Cid's ears at the horrid thought, but then again, he was focused more on the small shop that Bradley had just been at.
The very same one that read "Palmer's Delights" on the top.
"Palmer," Cid seethed, his eyes narrowing. "So the little fat ass is still around, is he? Guess it's only right for me to pay my respects…"
Palmer, still dressed in his small tan three-piece suit, was counting out his earnings and eating a hotdog when Cid had stomped over and slammed his hands down on top of the small counter attached to the window. It startled the former Shinra employee and Space Program executive.
"GAH!" Palmer tossed all of the money into the air and dropped the hotdog to the floor. He looked up to see a very angry Cid, who was only so far away from trying to climb into the small window and wring the other man's neck.
"C-Cid!?" Palmer exclaimed, his eyes vacillating back and forth between the money on the ground and the pilot. "I…uh…Nice weather we're having…"
"Cut the crap, lard ass!" Cid spat back. "I wanna know what the hell you and rich boy were discussing!"
"Oh, uh, Bradley?"
"Don't play stupid! What the hell were you two numbskulls talking 'bout!?" Cid began to crack his knuckles, "Or do I hafta get rough wif ya?"
"Urp! Come on, Cid, you and I've known each other for years! Why does it have to come to this?"
"Tell me, dammit!"
"I…I can't tell you!" Palmer cried out, tears brimming at his eyes. "Bradley made me promisenot to tell! He funds my salary, ya know."
"Listen here, Fatty! If I don't get nuttin' but the answer from you in less than three seconds, I'm gonna haul my ass through this here window and beat you to a fuckin' pulp! Are we square!?"
Palmer was silent for a moment, staring at Cid, who was shooting machetes rather than daggers in his direction, and then down in front of Cid's hand…which was in the line of fire of the closing window.
"… … … …Ican'ttell!"
The window slammed shut and crunched Cid's hand, causing the pilot to jump back. He yanked his arm out of the window and instantly began to jump up and down, cursing so violently, it went on for a good four or five minutes. His vehement profanities caused everyone who had been in the vicinity to vacate in less than thirty seconds. Children were herded away as parents shouted back at Cid, who couldn't hear them over his own swearing, to find a new vocabulary.
After eight minutes or so, the pilot was successfully able to calm himself, unclenching his hand to stare at it. It was black and blue and bleeding slightly, but otherwise fine. He looked back to Palmer's shop. The smaller man was nowhere in sight.
"Oh, that little shit. I'm gonna have my foot so far up his ass, he'll have to turn his fat body completely around to take a crap." Cid swiveled around and stomped away, but he wasn't about to give up the war.
A few moments later, he returned, Venus Gospel in hand. He sidestepped around the vending shop and knocked on the window, hiding the rest of himself away. It was such a pleasure to hear the window open.
"Hello and welcome to Palmer's Delights. May I take…your…order…?"
Cid's shadow slowly loomed over the window and his wicked eyes stared the smaller man down. It only took Palmer a moment to realize that his situation had turned fatal, and Cid always made sure to leave some blood leftover from his victims stuck to his blade. At this point in time, the blonde pilot was livid.
"… … … …We'reclosed."
Palmer slammed the window shut again and quickly fled to the back of his small shop.
"Son of a bitch, Palmer! I'm gonna get you this time!"
Cid speared the window, shattering it into thousands of pieces. The former Shinra executive screamed from the back as the pilot used the end of his weapon to clear away any extra glass. Then he immediately began to pull himself through the window.
"You do realize that once I make it through this window, your ass is going to be hanging from the end of my spear, don'cha?"
"Hey…Hey! You're vandalizing my property! I…I'll sue!" Palmer's voice weakened. "Uh…come on, Cid…? Friend…? Tra…la…la?"
The foulmouthed pilot was upon Palmer in a moment, his eyes dark and foreboding. The Venus Gospel was aligned with the other man's throat.
"Tell me," Cid said lowly and as calm as he could muster, "or else."
It didn't take long for Palmer to make a decision. Salary was nice, but life was much more valuable. The little man was on his knees, trembling.
"A-All right! All right, I'll tell you! Just please put that thing away, Cid!"
Cid did not. It encouraged Palmer to speak hastily.
"B-Bradley t-told me to have my associate order a very rare item, but they can only ship it to Gold Saucer. S-So I told him he'd have to go there—"
"What was it?" Cid interrupted, his brows arching along his eyes. "What was he ordering!?"
"Gah!" Palmer jumped back at Cid's sudden outburst, sausage-like fingers gripping at the collar of his undershirt. "A ring! A ring!"
Cid stopped in his tracks, mouth agape. Had he heard correctly? A ring!?
"A…A r-r-ring!?" the pilot stammered, nearly dropping his Venus Gospel. He's…he's gettin' her a ring!? A fuckin' engagement ring!?
"Yes, yes," Palmer concurred, still eyeing the blade. "It's awfully expensive, too. I told him that brass would be much cheaper, but he insists on getting a—"
"Dammit!" Cid screamed into the air, throwing his head back. The veins in his neck were pulsating from such anger. "Dammit all to hell!" He turned and kicked the shelf holding hotdog and hamburger buns. The metal racks shook and all of the wares toppled to the floor. He ferociously rubbed at his eyes, grinding his teeth.
Palmer looked up at him now, blinking. "Well, gee Cid, I didn't think you'd agree with me about this."
"You fat little bastard!" the pilot roared at him, eyes black and unfocused. "How the hell could you just do this without so much as consulting me!?"
"I…uh…well, you know how things are…" the glare was life threatening. "Tra…la…la…"
"Fuck!" Instead of kicking the shelf this time, Cid ripped it completely out of the wall in a fit of rage. Palmer screamed as the pilot kicked the backdoor open and showed himself out, saying nothing else.
Nearby, he could see a spiky blonde man playing volleyball with several other people. He hit it out of the court.
"C'mon, Cloud," the voice belonged to Yuffie. "We don't have all day!"
"'Kay," the former mercenary said, turning in the direction of where he had hit the ball.
Cid could hear a man with red hair sigh. "Man, he's always been the same dunce—even when we were kids."
"We know how you feel, Johnny," a woman, presumably his girlfriend, patted him on the shoulder.
"Cloud, my nose is beginning to dry out," Red commented. "Have you gotten the ball, yet?"
"Yeah! Are we playing volleyball or not!?" Yuffie cupped her hands around her mouth and yelled at Cloud, who was torn between getting the ball and staring at those who were screaming verbal atrocities at him.
"Yuffie, please," the child of Seto looked up at her. "I can handle it."
"Well, Cloud!?" Johnny put his hands on his hips, gruffly. "Did you retrieve the ball yet!?"
"Stop screaming at me!" Cloud stomped his foot into the sand, hands balled into fists, and he turned to storm off and get the ball.
"Who here says that we should kick Cloud off the team?" Johnny's girlfriend looked around.
"Me!" Johnny thrust an eager arm into the air.
"Yeah!" Yuffie chimed in.
"Okay, okay! I got it!" Cloud came back to the court, volleyball in hand. He tossed it over to Red XII, who skillfully balanced it upon his nose before handing it to Yuffie.
"Fifteen-Zero service!"
Cid listened in closer to Johnny and his girlfriend, who began to talk amongst themselves as Cloud stepped to the frontline.
"Is it just me, or are we losing?" she asked.
Johnny shrugged. "It's all Cloud's fault."
Yuffie threw the ball over the net and Cloud immediately leapt into the air, spiking it with his head. Unfortunately, his largest, pointy spike made contact with the ball first, causing it to pop and fly all over the place like a deflating balloon.
"Awww!" everyone cried. "Cloud!"
He looked away, sheepishly, and scratched the back of his neck. "Anybody have twenty-two fifty?"
\/\/\/
Cid spent the next forty-five minutes gearing up the plane and checking for problems. He was still pissed. The man at the inn had informed him that Shera and her companion had already left when he went to straighten things out. When he went to go and buy another pack of cigarettes, the shop owner said the same exact thing. Now he felt sick to his stomach.
He could be proposing to her at any minute an' I ain't there ta stop him! Shit, Shera! Why haven't you told me 'bout this?
"What's going on, Cid?"
The pilot didn't even bother to look at his company, still checking the engine for the final preparations.
"I'm busy now," Cid replied, sill eyeing the Tiny Bronco. "Dun have time ta talk."
Cloud blinked. "What's wrong?"
"Going to Gold Saucer, that's what."
"That's not wrong, Cid…Unless you don't like vacations, which you've been known not to. Then I can see that as being a problem. Uh…wait, weren't we here to talk to Shera and her boyfriend?"
Cid gave him an angry glare in reward for that curt remark. Cloud clamped his mouth shut.
"I meant…"
"That's the reason I'm going there in the first place," Cid said, his brows narrowing. "I just 'bout got all this worked out." Then, slapping the plane on its wing, Cid hopped in and looked at Cloud. "What? You coming or staying?"
Cloud looked around for a moment, then back at Cid with a look that read "who? Me?" The pilot was drumming his fingers on the side of the plane, impatiently.
"I…I…" Cloud gave up, shoulders hunched over, and then climbed into the back of the aircraft. "What about Yuffie and Red?"
"Whadd'bout them? They wanna come? Tiny Bronco can only seat two. Tell them ta take a Dune Buggy." Cid reached into his pocket and handed Cloud his PHS.
"I got my own," Cloud said, waving Cid's away. "I'll call them once we get there."
\/\/\/
Cloud hadn't seen Cid this angry since…well, Cid was always angry, but he hadn't seen him this angry since Rufus had wanted to borrow the Tiny Bronco…or when the pilot had found out Shera was on the rocket headed for Meteor…or even yesterday during the walk. But now, during this particular moment, Cid was seething.
He and Cloud were sitting in their hotel room while the foulmouthed pilot searched the brochure guide for anywhere Shera and her male companion could've gone. The ex-mercenary had already been informed of what had gotten Cid so worked up (though, honestly, he wasn't sure what the big deal over an engagement ring was. Cid had already assured him that Shera moving out wouldn't be so bad), but everything seemed so…bland.
Well, mostly because the situation itself didn't involve Cloud. And the pilot hadn't exactly asked for any help dealing with his problems. Still, the delivery boy was worried about him. It was…unusual to see Cid act in such a manner. The Captain always prided himself in what a man he was and how nothing affected him. At this point, nothing could be further from the truth…as far as being a man, that was. Not to mention, Cid's reaction to the situation made Cloud worry about Shera and her companion even more. He didn't really want Cid to find them. He had phoned Yuffie and Red, explaining the situation in extensive detail. They were to meet him at the entrance an hour later, thanks to their Rent-A-Dune-Buggy.
Now, Cid was gone, searching for the accessory shop (or whatever) where Shera's "boyfriend" was supposedly at. Cloud was determined to find them first, and any help was appreciated. When that time came, the former mercenary was waiting with arms crossed and foot tapping, butterflies attacking his stomach.
"So, what's going on?" Yuffie asked once she and her animal companion got off of the tram.
"It's bad." Cloud looked around to make sure that unwanted ears weren't listening. Then he looked back to the Materia thief, "He's way worse than before."
"How?" Red inquired.
"I guess that that Bradley dude is going to propose to Shera. Cid's nuttin' up about it."
"What!?" Yuffie shrieked, her jaw dropping to the ground. She literally had to stoop over to pick it up. "What did you just say, Cloud!?"
"It's true," he nodded. "Cid's hunting them down right now…which is why we've got to get to them first."
"This is quite a mess," Red agreed. "How about we split up into two groups?"
"Good idea," Cloud concurred. "We'll cover much more ground this way."
"All right," Yuffie cleared her throat. "If you were in Shera's shoes with her hot new boyfriend, Cloud, where would you be?"
This caused the blonde ex-mercenary to frown…deeply. "Well I hope I'm never that way."
"Cloud! This is for pretend!"
"All right! All right!" Cloud threw his arms up. "I'd…uh…be in a hotel, okay!?"
Red and Yuffie were both taken aback. Cloud blinked.
"What? What did I say?"
"You…You're awfully fast for just a first date, Cloud. You'd already want to do…that?" Yuffie gulped.
The older man would never get them. He just…never…would.
"NO! You asked me a freaking question, Yuffie! How am I supposed to answer something like that!?"
"Well…" she shifted her weight to her back leg. "That is true…All right, you search the hotel and Red and I will search the Battle Arena. Oh! We called Barret, too. He was already in Corel, so he's been here for a while waiting for you."
Cloud nodded in understanding. "I'll go look for him then." He was about to leave when he suddenly stopped, a thought crossing his mind, "Oh…I called Tifa a while ago, but I haven't seen her yet."
"We'll let her know you're looking for her," Red said and turned to dash off into the amusement park.
\/\/\/
"Don't lie to me!" Cid spat, his eyes darkening. "I don't tolerate liars very well!"
The man behind the counter cowered, his bottom lip trembling. "I…I'm not lying to you, sir! I honestly have no idea who you're talking about!"
"This is the only accessory shop in the Gold Saucer, right? How the hell could you not know who Palmer is!? He called you earlier!"
"I don't know a Palmer!" the store owner argued. "I don't even know a Bradshaw!"
Can't remember his name fer the life of me. Oh well. "You son of a bitch, you're hiding something! You don't wanna see me angry…"
"I think you already are!" The man was beyond frightened, and seemed only seconds away from running into the back and locking himself in. But the Captain would probably catch and beat him up first. "I don't know who you're talking about! I swear it!"
"What's going on here, gentlemen?"
Cid turned his attention to the giant moogle behind him and recognized the stuffed body.
"Spybot?" the pilot narrowed his eyes. "The hell you doin' here?"
"I'm always here," Cait Sith said. "What seems to be the problem?"
"Nothing that should concern you," Cid replied and looked back to the storekeeper, "I just have some business to settle up with…" the other man was gone. "…Dammit. He got away."
"Well, perhaps that's a good thing," Cait Sith bounced up behind him, and the cat looked him squarely in the eye. "What's got you so worked up, Cid?"
"I already said it don't concern you, Spybot." Cid waved him away and turned to walk off. "But I'm gonna be back here in 'bout five minutes with my Venus Gospel, and that guy better be scared by then."
"Woah! Woah!" the stuffed toy bounded in front of the pilot, waving its cat-like arms. "Hang on a second, Cid. That sounds serious. I've never known you to be a murderer or anything."
"And why would you care? You gonna report me or something?"
The cat sighed. "Aren't we beyond all of this, Cid? I thought we were friends."
"Once a spy, always a spy," the foulmouthed man sidestepped around Cait Sith. "I got nuthin' ta say."
"What? That's so cold! I'm here to help, Cid! Give me a chance, why don't you?"
"This is a little more important than jus' swapping man stories, Spybot. I can't afford for you to be blabbing on me."
Cait Sith followed heel after Cid. "What can I do to make you trust me?"
"Nuthin' and that's my final answer."
"Well, I can't just let you go and murder an innocent civilian, Cid."
The pilot rolled his eyes, "Damn hypocrite. You had no problem doin' that to all the people you and Shinra killed."
"Gah, you make me feel worse."
"It should make you feel worse."
"Come on, Cid, please tell me? Just…give me a chance. This is unlike you, even through the exterior demeanor of your grumpiness."
Cid turned on him, eyes ablaze. "You wanna know what the hell my problem is? I'll tell ya! Damn Shera and her 'friend' are eloping and the bastard is buying her an engagement present and that little punk…" he pointed back to the store from which he had just exited, "…knows something and ain't tellin' me!"
At Cid's huff, Cait Sith was left taken aback, words unable to form. Taking the small window of opportunity of the silence, Cid turned to leave again.
"W-Well…this…is a surprise…" Cait Sith's voice brought the foulmouthed man to a halt, and the pilot snorted.
"To you, mebbe. Now, if you'll excuse me…"
"Wait!" Cait Sith cried and then clapped his tiny cat paws together. "Let's go to Wonder Square and get you calmed down. I think we can figure out a plan there."
"…No. Just…no. I want to handle this on my own."
"Come on, Cid! Just trust me this once! Let me make it up to you for all the bad things I've done, all right?"
Cid knew this was a bad idea. He just knew it.
\/\/\/
Cloud met Barret in the lobby of the hotel by coincidence, but the spiky haired man was relieved nonetheless.
"Awright, Cloud, spill da beans. Waz' goin' on with Cid? Yuffie said it was important. Somethin' 'bout Cid nuttin' up 'bout Shera's new boyfriend."
"Yeah," Cloud straightened his back and proceeded to spend the next fifteen minutes talking about everything from the two days prior to what was happening now. At the end of the story, Barret looked bored.
"What? You tellin' me dat Cid is jealous? Psh, serves the bastard right aftah how he treated Shera all dem years. If I was her, I'd say good riddance."
"That's…sort of what he said about her," Cloud scratched the back of his head. "Obviously now, we know that's a lie."
"He say so 'imself?"
"No, but I'd like to think I know him a little better than that."
Barret snorted. "I dun see why we gotta help him. He brought this all on 'imself."
Cloud frowned. "I know that, but don't you think it's the right thing to do just slightly?"
Barret chuckled, "Since when do you care what the right thing is?"
The younger man was losing patience. "Don't patronize me, Barret. Are you going to help me or not?"
The gunman shrugged, shaking his head. "What choice do I got? 'Course I will. What'cha want me to do?"
"We want to find Shera and her companion before Cid does. I'll guess we'll start looking in the hotel first."
"Ya, Yuffie told me ta meet ya over 'ere. Guess we'll split up then, eh?"
Cloud nodded.
\/\/\/
Cid wasn't feeling much better, even after winning sixty-five GP at the Arm Wrestling game. He looked to Cait Sith, who was shuffling his fortunes. During the trip here, he had told the toy the entire story and how much strain it had put on the pilot.
"Hey, Spybot, ya thinkin' of something or not!?"
"I am! I am! Give me a break, would you? Go play another game and let me do my work." The stuffed toy gestured to a large game machine with a joystick in the middle. "How about that one?"
Cid frowned once he realized what it was. "Mog House? Hell no! I ain't playing something that sounds as stupid as that!"
"Come on," Cait Sith encouraged. "How bad can it be? Besides, it'll give you something to do while I think of a plan."
Cid growled, snarled, and cursed for three minutes straight without using any other words but 'a,' 'this,' and 'it.' In the end, however, he found himself standing above the game of Mog House.
"This is Mog's house. It's in Mog Forest on Mt. Mog."
"Stupid as hell," Cid mumbled, fumbling with the joystick.
"Easy, easy," Cait Sith said, giving that stupid, cheesy smile that he always did.
"The beginning of another day in the life of a Mog." The pilot watched as a nasty white creature wandered out of its house made out of a huge tree…or mushroom…or something. "This year, Mog is pipapopupo years old."
"YAWN," the Captain faked, waving his hand over his mouth.
"…that's twenty-eight in human years. He's at that age when he should be looking for a mate."
"Hey, you're older than that," Cait Sith pointed out. "Aren't you long past due finding a mate, Cid?"
Cid flipped the toy his middle finger and looked back at his game, feeling much more depressed than before. Damn…the toy has a point. A thirty-two year old bachelor jus' ain't right. Suddenly, Cid lost all interest in the game, underfeeding the poor Mog and allowing it to starve to death. Mog was unable to prove itself to the female Mog and destroyed life for all Moogles everywhere. Cid sighed, took a step back, and stuffed his hands into his pockets.
"Shit…now I'm depressed."
"What? Truth hurt?"
Cid turned on him. "Ya want my foot up yer ass, Spybot?"
"Gosh, anyone ever tell you that you MSB too often?"
"And just what the hell is that!?"
The toy didn't answer the question. Instead, he looked scared.
Cait Sith waddled back, "Uh…uh…Well, as for where they might've gone, how about the Gondola?"
The pilot withdrew one of the few cigarettes he had had that day, and proceeded to light it.
"Shera's scared of heights. No way she'd go on that."
"Cid, there's no smoking in here…" the toy snapped its mouth shut at Cid's grunt of indifference. "Uh…well, all of the attractions are free tonight. What about the play?"
"She dun care for 'em."
Cait Sith leaned forward. "You sure about that? She's seemed to surprise you more than once in the last few days."
The cigarette instantly tasted dull and less than satisfactory. Cid dropped it to the floor and stomped it out with the heel of his shoe. All those public outings…That dress she was wearing…That's the second time in two minutes he's been right. "…Can't even enjoy my own cigarette." He focused his attention on his stuffed companion. "All right, Spybot, take me to the Gondola."
"Now we're talking."
\/\/\/
Sorry. Couldn't help myself with the Cloud volleyball scene. I know it was OOC, but it's something some friends and I made up a long time ago and since the scene was in Costa Del Sol, I just couldn't pass up the opportunity to use it. I think after reading that, it's safe to warn that that won't be the ONLY sporadic moment in the story, but this story's already on crack, so I think you know that by now, right? …Right? …Or not.
