Sorry it was late...everything's been a bit of a rush lately for both of us. Speaking of, updates over the next month or so are going to be slow, if we don't just call a complete hiatus. I will let you know if that happens, but for now...just slow.
"That's…shit. That ain't good. That really ain't good." Cid slumped against his seat and returned to the old habit of massaging his temples after removing his glasses. "An' I s'pose you ain't rentin' it out t'anybody or nothin'."
"That would make things easier, wouldn't it?" Vincent said, chewing on his lower lip. Normally it would be Tseng he would be discussing such things with, but Tseng was not here, so Highwind got that dubious pleasure. Later he would reflect upon the ease with which he discussed this with the cop, but at the moment, he had bigger things to worry about. "No, currently that warehouse is standing empty. Do you know who Spike was referring to when he said 'the redhead with long red coat'?" He glanced quickly over Cid, who was looking alarmingly pale. "Are you sure you're all right?"
"Never heard o' nobody with a long red coat, no. Don't know any redheads, either, I- oh, wait, unless it's that one guy Lazard mentioned once…Rhapsodos? Is that right? I don't really recollect it so perfect right now…" Vincent's stare had turned a bit worried, and Cid realized that he had never answered the last question. He smiled bravely. "Yeah, m'all right. Just real tired all over. Gettin' shot's a new one fer me," he said, laughing weakly. "Can't let you have all th'fun, can I?" I really shoulda gone home. I'm only gonna slow 'im up.
Vincent nodded. "Genesis Rhapsodos, narcissistically calling himself 'The Red General', runs the upper plate, and is the eternal thorn in my side." He said with a growl. "He has been making encroachments onto my turf ever since I began running for ShinRa. He has some nerve making a pickup in one of my buildings." He pulled the car into the semi-filled parking lot of a bank that was several blocks from his warehouse. After killing the engine, he once again turned to Highwind. "Cid, if you do not feel up to this, I understand and do not hold it against you if you remain here; however, I do not lie when I admit that having your company puts me at considerable ease."
Cid only smiled again and nodded, saying, "I wanna come with ya. I dunno if I'll be much help, but I'll be there. Vincent?"
Vincent nodded, and raised an eyebrow. "Yes?"
Laughing softly and shaking his head, Cid said, "Mm- nothin'. Never mind. Let's go," and began attempting to wrench open his door, only succeeding after managing to look like an idiot for quite some time.
Vincent reached out and stilled Cid's movement with a hand on the cop's shoulder before the man could exit the car. "I would know what you have on your mind before we do this, Cid." He said softly.
Cid winced; Vincent's hand was on his injured shoulder, and he had anticipated the touch to be heavier than it was. "I can't right now. S'too much," he said sadly, looking at Vincent and hoping that somehow his eyes would convey all that his words could not. "But…wouldja kiss me b'fore we go? Just in case," he near-pleaded, suddenly finally feeling the fear that had threatened to come when Vincent had asked him to step outside earlier. He couldn't remember feeling this frightened since the first year of his time living on the streets, and he wondered whether he was worried about himself or about Vincent.
Perplexed at the request, and concerned at what he saw in Cid's eyes he briefly considered turning the man down, but in the end it was what he saw in those blue eyes that had him do the opposite. Slowly he got out of the car, shutting the door and walking around the hood, he crouched down to face the cop as the man continued to sit in the car. "What is this look in your eyes, Cid?" He asked softly, leaning forward to rest his knees against the bottom of the car doorframe and taking Cid's pale face in his hands. "You speak as though I would allow death to take one of us, and that I will not allow, not while there is much we must resolve between us. Think no more of it." And he leaned forward to gently capture Cid's lips with his own. It was an easy kiss, lacking the fiery passion he had felt earlier, but it was far from distant or cold. "Come," he stood up, and held his hand out Cid, "let us do this."
Cid took Vincent's hand and squeezed it tightly for as long as he thought was appropriate, murmuring, "Vincent," contentedly when that hand came to rest on his face briefly. "Come," Vincent said again, and Cid stood and followed him, closing the door with a well-aimed kick. Whatever happened here would happen, and Cid could do nothing about it except hope for the best and work to prevent further accidents. All he knew was that if he had his way, he and Vincent would leave this warehouse together and return with Elena…whom they would quickly shoo into her own apartment along with her children. The fingers of his left hand were beginning to go a bit numb, which he figured was probably not good, but he could do nothing about that at the moment either. He clamped down on the pain, fear, anxiety, and hatred for the majority of mankind as they headed toward Vincent's stolen warehouse.
They had to be careful as they made their way down the much more crowded Loveless Avenue. Vincent took great pains to hide his gauntlet between the two of them to avoid attracting unwanted attention. As they approached the end of the street, and subsequently the warehouse, he hissed and drew Cid into an alley just up from the building. "Look," he murmured, poking his head around the corner as he gestured with his chin to the three parked cars in front of the warehouse. "That enormous white monstrosity is ShinRa's, and I can only assume that the garish red one is Rhapsados's, but whose is the third? Do you recognize it?"
"Scarlet's," Cid mumbled, and for some reason had to fight the urge to laugh. The entire scene struck him as funny, but he knew the seriousness of it, so he bit back the chuckles that fought to escape. "Wait…wait just a second. So they're all here t'gether? Shit, I knew they was talkin' an' whatnot, but I wouldn't ever've thought they were meetin' t'gether, much less on your property. So, uh, how d'we get 'in? I reckon none of 'em's gonna be all too eager t'see either of us." An' if that bastard lays s'much as a hand on you… Cid mentally growled, thought trailing off as he considered all the unpleasant things he wanted to do to Shinra.
"No, I imagine they would not." Vincent agreed sourly. "This way." He led, and Cid followed close behind as he made his way down the side of the warehouse. The situation had just turned critical. He too knew that Scarlet and Rufus had been corresponding, but what he didn't know was that apparently those correspondences also had included Genesis. That did not bode well for him. "There." He said pointing to a window towards the roof. "That is our best way in." He walked over to a closed dumpster and waited for Cid, who just watched in incredulity for a moment before swallowing and walking over. "I will help you." Vincent murmured reassuringly. "Something tells me that you will want to hear what is being said here." He offered his linked hands, and Cid stepped into them. Lifting Cid's weight easily he leapt up after the cop, and the two men proceeded in such a fashion until they reached the window by way of the brick half-wall that ran between the warehouse and the building next door. Vincent was careful as he slid a blade of his gauntlet between the lock and windowsill until he heard a 'click', and the window swung open with a quiet squeak.
Pulling himself up briefly with his arms, Vincent peeked inside to see a ledge wide enough to hold them both then dropped back down beside Cid. "You first, Highwind. Wait for me just inside the window; there is a ledge sufficient for us both." Cid nodded and Vincent heaved him up. After the cop had scrambled through the window, Vincent leapt up to catch the sill and pulled himself in after Cid. Once inside, Vincent shut the window and latched it so that it wouldn't bang, and alert anyone their presence. Motioning wordlessly to Cid, he crept slowly along the large steel beam until voices became audible.
"…expendable," came Rufus's bored voice.
Even in the midst of something so serious, Cid was impressed by Vincent's displays of strength and grace, and he shuddered as he watched Vincent leaping so easily to heights Cid could not have reached on his own. Once they were inside, he forced his mind to focus on the matter at hand.
"So you seem to think," replied another voice, and Cid could only assume it belonged to Rhapsodos. "But I beg you reconsider."
Scarlet's laugh broke through the quiet next, grating on Cid's ears. "Now, now, don't the two of you carry your little lover's spat into business, hm?"
"I assure you, madam," Genesis said coldly, "that this is no lover's spat. I can do much better than that." He turned back to Rufus and continued, "Everything is working now as it should. Can we really call any part of it expendable?"
"Every part but Highwind," Scarlet cut in. "But then, he's never been anything but expendable."
"Ah, but he's necessary!" the redhead insisted, then returned to the topic he had actually been discussing. "We can't cut Corneo. Everyone knows his name and his business. Yes, he's more than a little greedy when it comes to his cut of the money, but we have enough to spare if it keeps him happy and quiet and functioning as we plan."
Cid, flustered at being called expendable, started to mutter curses under his breath and then realized that he needed to be silent. He hunkered down onto the beam to get a better grip and turned to Vincent to make sure that he could hear as well.
Vincent met Cid's gaze and nodded, angling his head towards the conversation, indicating that he could hear what was being said. He could just make out the blond-headed figure of ShinRa, the woman Scarlet, and Genesis, leaning against a pillar and fondling the hilt of…he groaned silently. What is it with people and swords? He thought in irritation, but snapped back to attention when Rufus spoke up next.
"And only you would think that I would lower myself to bedding that…lunatic!" Rufus spat at Scarlet, then grumbled, "I want Valentine gone. I get the feeling he is just playing with me…"
"That is because he is playing with you," growled a new voice, deep and ominous like an approaching thunderstorm, from a corner neither he nor Cid could see into. Vincent shuddered as a cold spike of fear dragged its nails down his spine. He knew that voice. Azul the Cerulean. But why is Azul here? He's with the Syndicate…unless the Syndiate is in on this. No, that makes no sense. Weiss and Nero would not do something like this. They dislike Rhapsodos nearly as much as I do, especially since Genesis has cheated them out of…his thoughts trailed off as realization set in. Azul was going behind the Syndicate's back! To say that Weiss and Nero would not be pleased, would be giving a suicidal understatement.
"What do you mean by that?" Rufus snapped.
"I mean, that Valentine is playing you all for fools. Even you, Rhapsados." Azul chuckled. "I say give him back to this Hojo, and be done with him. Sounds to me like Hojo would be more than pleased to get his little 'pet' back. But…" Azul's voice trailed off in a growl. "That would leave you all in an unenviable position, as it Valentine that is keeping this whole thing together, is it not?" The ground very nearly shook as the massive, hulking beast of a man slowly materialized from the shadows and into view.
"Why you…" Rufus snarled, lunging at Azul, only to be stopped by the point of Rhapsodos's sword pointing at his chest.
"Stop. Just stop. Sit down, you foolish man. Now," Genesis said, sheathing his sword and beginning to pace, "what you're saying is that Valentine is essential. We know this. If you know something we do not, you ought to tell us all you know rather than taunting us with useless scraps of information."
"I agree," cut in Scarlet. "If you want our support, give us yours as well. Tell us what it is you know that we do not." Cid could hear the defiant tremor in her voice; he knew that sound well. She was frightened by this other man, but the very qualities that inspired her fear excited her. Here was a man she could use if only she could find out how to manipulate him.
"Hah! I merely state what is obvious!" Azul said, beginning to prowl restlessly before turning to Genesis. "It is either one way or another with you. You say that I am not being forthcoming…I think it is you who is not telling us everything."
"What is he talking about, Rhapsodos?" Rufus asked suspiciously. "What do you know about Valentine?"
Disgusted, Genesis sat and glared at all of them. "I know nothing that I do not share. Shinra, would you truly listen to this man over me? He has only just joined us today; what do we know of him? You have my word that anything of relevance that reaches my ears soon reaches yours." Truthfully, his word was not worth very much, but Shinra didn't know that.
"If we can all settle down," Scarlet said shrilly, "there are still matters to attend to. Old business- the girl is waiting to be transported. And Rhapsodos, please. Wait to conduct your business with Corneo until you're quite done meeting with us." Her nose wrinkled in disgust at the very thought of being compared to such scum as the kind of man who ran that dreaded whorehouse. "New business- have we decided how to eliminate the president?" She looked around at her associates, wondering how such great minds could be so petty.
Cid would have laughed aloud if he could have heard her thoughts; clearly she had not looked into the proverbial mirror for quite some time.
Vincent frowned as he stared down at the quartet of trouble. He didn't believe a word out of Genesis' mouth. Anyone from the Syndicate did not just pull up roots and make a random road trip for the hell of it. ShinRa was out of his league, even the woman Scarlet had bigger balls than Rufus. At the mention of assassinating the president of Midgar, he leaned down even lower to the beam, to rest upon his belly.
"If anyone here knows death, it is I," Rufus said smoothly, his sheer arrogance making Vincent snort.
"Did you hear something?" Azul said suddenly, and the others hushed instantly.
Vincent and Cid both held their breaths and froze.
Genesis waved his hand to signal it was "nothing," and Rufus continued. "I think I have a way to relieve us of both of our problems. Scarlet, by your own admission, Highwind is dumber than that brick wall over there, yes?" At Scarlet's delighted laugh and nod, Rufus said, "I thought so. And stupid men can be easily manipulated. It would not surprise me if Valentine has him eating out of the palm of his hand right now…hells, he probably has the man begging to bend over for him. All we have to do is get the cop into the right position, and then have Valentine pull the trigger. The man's a crack shot after all…"
Rufus was silenced by Azul's bark of laughter. "Good plan! Now all we have to do is convince Valentine to kill the president of Midgar! Ask yourself why would he do that?"
"Uh…" Rufus said, looking momentarily confused.
Cid blinked several times, trying to process all the insults separately before finally catching the real point of the argument. They were going to frame him, Vincent included, for the assassination of Midgar's president. Caught off guard by the prospect that while he was loyal to Vincent, Vincent might have been playing him the entire time, Cid turned wounded eyes on the man he'd considered his friend.
Vincent completely missed Cid's hurt expression as he snarled savagely down at the four who would see them both destroyed in such a manner. Their laughter at his and Cid's expense drowned out the soft screeching of metal on metal as Vincent gouged small furrows in the beam with his gauntleted hand. How dare they insinuate he would use someone like that! He used people, yes, but never like that…particularly someone as innocent and good-natured as Highwind, whom he had indeed come to look upon as a friend. He may not have much left to his name, but he had his honor.
He was done here. He knew of their plan. As soon as he could manage it, he would send word to both the Syndicate and the Kisaragi's and set up a meeting of his own. It was time to collect his allies, and make what was going on here was known. Gesturing to Cid to follow him, he began to silently slither his way along the beam to the only place someone could hold a prisoner…yet another back office.
Cid followed silently, morosely, behind Vincent for several minutes before finally getting the thought that Vincent would not have brought him here, would not have allowed him to hear of this plan, if he intended to carry it out. Brightened by the realization, a noticeable spring returned to Cid's step. He knew they were searching for Elena, and by the sound of Scarlet's declaration, she was still alive and probably in decent condition. They entered the office quietly and found her much in the same situation Spike had been in, except that she also had her eyes and mouth covered. Cid removed the blindfold first before even waiting for an OK from Vincent, but he was glad for it; Elena calmed immediately upon seeing them. Now Cid turned to Vincent, wondering where they went from here and how they would get out, especially with an extra passenger.
Vincent was stunned at how sure of himself Cid was as he just walked right on into the office and over to Elena. As the two blonds turned questioning eyes on him, he heard the growling. Not human; this was definitely from an animal. Catching a blur of movement out of the corner of his eye, Vincent only just managed to shove Cid to the ground as a medium-sized dog leapt at the cop, intent on ripping out the man's throat. With the removal of its target, the dog's eyes latched onto Vincent, and it continued its leap onto him, which he managed to block with his gauntlet, the teeth closing on his metal-clad forearm with a metallic 'ting-ka-ting'. He reached out his right hand, wrapped his fingers around the animal's throat, and squeezed until with a dull snap its neck was crushed. With a muffled yelp, the animal was no more. Wearing a disgusted expression, Vincent tossed the corpse into a corner with a muttered, "Play dead", and knelt down next to the bound Elena. They didn't have much time now. There was no way that at least Azul did not hear that. "Can you run?" He asked the terrified woman.
Elena shook her head. "M-my legs hurt, I think they're asl- eeeeeeep!" she squeaked as Vincent snapped the rope binding her to the chair, and scooped her into his arms. They didn't have time to find out.
"Let us go now, Cid. I think it is safe to leave by at least the back door at this point, but it will mean a bit of a run to make it to the car." He was already slipping out of the office. Glancing up at the camera, and saw that at least it had been disconnected, and he sent a small prayer of gratitude to Odin that at least they had a chance of staying anonymous. "Move your feet, Highwind!" he hissed, and was out the door and into the alleyway, trusting the cop to keep up.
By the time they reached the car –and they did so without incident, luckily- Cid decided that he never wanted to run again as long as he lived. Vincent deposited Elena unceremoniously into the middle seating area, where she would have more room to get situated, and Cid climbed into the other side. He regretted not sitting up front with Vincent, but Elena's wrists were still bound to each other and she was shaking all over. He helped her into her seatbelt and then buckled his own, not sure why he was so concerned with using them when there were such greater problems at hand. "You all right, kid?" Cid asked, watching her squint at the sunlight.
"I- I guess. I will be. Cid, if you're here- the kids- ?"
Cid could see the panic trying to claw its way to the front of her mind, so he put it to rest quickly. "They've got the best protection they c'd have, save fer Vincent. Don't you worry, I wouldn't'a let nothin' happen to 'em. But I reckon y're in fer one hell of a lecture from that little Marlene."
Elena laughed shakily and then gasped. "Cid, you're bleeding!"
"I know it. Coulda been a lot worse. Almost was." He fell silent then, considering with great gravity what it meant that Vincent had saved his life twice in one day. They would discuss this later; Cid had dragged Vincent into this, and now owed him all a man could owe another.
Vincent didn't begin to relax until they were well away from Loveless Avenue. He was still jittery as hell, glancing repeatedly in the rearview mirror to check to see if they were being followed. Twice he was convinced that they were, and it took all of his self-control to keep from flooring the gas pedal. Just to be careful, he took a circuitous and time-consuming route back to Cid's apartment anyway until he was convinced that they were in fact safe, still electing to park several blocks away from their building.
That was not exactly how he would have done things, but what was done was done and it was only a waste of energy to dwell upon what could be changed. As they made their slow way back to the apartment building, he kept a wary eye on every car that passed, and every curious set of eyes that peered out of windows. "Elena," he said softly, and when the young woman turned questioning doe-brown eyes up at him he said, "I would be extremely careful leaving your home for a while after this. In point of fact, I would suggest that you stay with a friend for a while to keep the children safe. Even if we have not been discovered, you have made some very powerful enemies, one in particular whose pride will demand that he get you back."
Elena nodded, wondering who exactly she would stay with. She didn't have any friends at all; Spike had made sure of that, and she'd been with him long enough to lose touch with the ones she'd had before.
Cid, also seeing the problem, ran through a mental list of people he would trust with a friend of his. Aerith was busy, and there was a great chance of her drawing attention already. Shera could not be bothered right now, and Lazard was… "I got it. I'll call 'er when we get inside an' settled," he assured her, placing a hand on her shoulder.
The walk to the building was nerve-wracking for all of them, and Cid nearly threw a fit in protest when he saw that the elevator was out of order. He slumped his way up the three flights of stairs, now honestly wanting nothing more than to collapse onto the nearest soft surface.