Kiwi was flipping out, over the disappearance of her baby. She forced Cid onto her back, and took off, sniffing the ground like a hunting dog in search of it's game. Normally Cid would have mocked the bird's canine-like behavior, but he wasn't feeling up to it.

His feelings on the before-hand situation were tearing. If Vincent really wanted to go back, then ok, but it was so lonely to have him gone. His rage at Vincent, or maybe Cloud who the hell really knew, was turning back on him. Then again, maybe it was guilt. He just couldn't believe he had yelled at Vincent like that. The ex-Turk trusted him. He would always go to him with any problem, even if he wasn't completely aware of it. Maybe he'd understand. I mean, Vincent wasn't blind. He had to know that Cid wasn't really angry at him… he had to.

Kiwi had stopped for a while, looking around, then took off with a sharp leap. It wouldn't have been a problem… if Cid was paying attention. Instead, the pilot went tumbling off the back of the bird, landing right on a pine-cone that had to be the size of a fucking bowling ball.

"Argh!!" He cursed the golden bird, throwing the abrasive pain at her. Cid was just beginning to rise to his feet, when he heard a rather enthused 'wak, wak, wak' coming from over by a large mullberry bush.

Kiwi heard the call, darting over to the bush. The little chickobo seemed to fly out from behind the bush, flapping her wings frantically. Cid just sat on the ground, wondering how the hell it did that.

"WARK!!" Kiwi scooped her baby up with her beak, carrying it over towards Cid. Keri, however, didn't seem too thrilled about this. She waked frantically, seeming to reach back to the bush. Finally, she managed to worm from her mother's grip, running back. Kiwi growled at the in-subordination.

Cid stood, wiping off his cloths, and headed over to it. The chickobo skidded out from behind the bush, but scurried right back in again. Now the pilot's cuiosity was sparked. There was only one thing that little rat would get so excited about. He rushed over, trying to see around the bush.

He heard a slight ruffle, and thought he caught a shadow, but nothing more. Keri seemed to think there was something there though. So Cid decided to look again. "Vince?" This time something glinted. It had to be him.

"Vincent. That you?' He chased him half way around the bush, before deciding to turn and cut him off around the other side. Vincent jumped, with being outsmarted. Cid grabbed the ex-Turk's arm before he could turn and run again. "Let me go."

"What are you doing out here?"

Vincent tugged on his arm, keeping his face turned away. "I could ask you the same thing."

Cid groaned, pulling Vincent closer, to try and get him to face him. "Kiwi was looking for Keri. Your turn. These woods are well away from Midgar."

Vincent closed his eyes, bringing a shoulder up to shield his face. "It's none of your business."

"That never stopped me before."

"Just let go. Why won't anybody leave me alone?"

"Well, fer one thing, Vince. You're out here without a damn shirt, your holster ain't gotta gun in it." He looked over the form, stopping on his feet. "And you ain't wearin no shoes. Either something happened, or you're a shy streaker. Which is it?"

"It's neither!!" The golden claw swiped at Cid's face. He raised a hand and, much to his surprise, managed to catch a hold of it. Pinning Vincent sharply into the trunk of a nearby tree.

"LET ME GO!!!" The gunman growled at the restriction, still unable to gather any strength to fight back. It seemed Chaos wasn't giving anything anymore. He didn't even care to hold back his tears still continuing to try and pull his hands loose. "Please, just let me go."

Cid stared at the sorrow scarred eyes of his beloved, and released him. Vincent seemed to withdraw into himself, biting his trembling lip in a futile attempt to make it stop.

"What'd he do?"

"He didn't do anything!!" Vincent nearly screamed at him, his legs finally giving out, and dropping him to the ground.

Cid knelt in front of him, brushing the tears from his eyes. "Well if he didn't do anything, why are you all the way out here? What happened? You were so happy to go back to him."

"I was wrong, ok?" He sobbed, hiding his face in his hands. "You were right. I never should have gone back to him."

Cid instinctively drew Vincent into his arms, pulling him tight against his chest. Vincent lay there for a moment, a bit relieved for the warmth of his arms. It hit him, exactly what he was doing, and he pushed back, away from Cid. "Don't do this to me."

Cid just sighed, brushing a hand against the gunner's bare arm. Vincent pulled it away, trying to hide the chill that'd hit him from the touch.

"Vince…" He looked up at him, but the question was silenced. Damn. What was he going to do? Cid sighed, grabbing Vincent's hands, to pull him to his feet. "Come on."

"What? Cid, no."

"Why?"

"I…" He paused, thinking for a moment. "I just can't."

Cid groaned, his patience wearing thin. "We were doin so well, at my place. Just give me a straight answer, for once in your fuckin life."

Vincent looked up at Cid, only able to think of one solid reason why he couldn't go back with him. Even though he knew there were so many more. "I told Cloud I wasn't going to."

Cid's jaw dropped to the floor. Did he seriously just say that? "Who the hell cares? If he thinks you ain't there, then maybe he'll leave you alone. Besides…" Cid glanced down at the chickobo still nestled into the side of Vincent's leg. "That little thing ain't leavin you alone. And Kiwi's goin ape shit over her."

"But…" The gunman's eyes turned down to her. "I just…" He sighed. "Can't you just take her with you?"

"I could." Cid shrugged. "But she wouldn't shut up with you not there. Plus you know as well as I do that I'm not leaving you out here."

The crimson gaze stared transfixed into his, going over all the options. There really was no way out of this. He couldn't out run, let alone over-power Cid in his current condition. Vincent sighed, letting Cid pull him on up. "Fine. I'm not in the mood to fight anymore."

Cid's grin threatened to cleave his face in half. "Good. You're learning."

"Barely."

"Well, doesn't matter. I need to get you inside before you catch a cold or somethin." The pilot scooped Keri up into his hand, handing her to Vincent.

Kiwi didn't seemed too thrilled about the motion, but loosened up when she saw her master pull the man holding her baby onto her back. The golden bird rose to her feet, and took off towards home.

It was a lot more different to ride on the back of a chocobo, than a motorcycle. For one thing, the movements weren't as smooth, and the rocking of the large birds hips made it difficult to keep his balance. He had to cling to Cid, while still holding the tiny bird in the other. A difficult feat indeed. Vincent burried his face into Cid's shoulder. He closed his eyes breathing in the warm smoky smell that seemed to be permanently ingrained in the pilot's cloths.

A timid smile found the gunman's lips. Why did Cid seem so much warmer than Cloud? What was it about him that would melt his heart, and make him feel like he could do no wrong? That he was safe. That anything could be possible, even finding a way to overcome a demon.

Cid's face heated. He was always nervous with having Vincent so close to him. Maybe afraid of doing something he'd regret. He was distracted from whatever thoughts he was trying to supress with the feeling of something warming his shoulder. Cid glanced back at Vincent, to see his beautiful eyes closed in a seemingly peaceful gesture, but tears staining his face. "Vince?" He spoke softly, not quite able to find his voice.

"Hmm?" Vincent didn't even open his eyes to respond, just tightened his hold.

Cid looked forward again, to see where he was going. "Nothin. Just wanted to make sure you didn't fall asleep on me."

"Mmm, no. I'm ok." His fingers tightened around a knot in Cid's shirt. "Though the thought did cross my mind."

Cid's face deepened from the romantic tone in his voice. "Just-just be careful, ok? I don't want ya to get hurt again… k Vince?"

"It's alright."

"What? How so?"

Vincent nuzzled into him further, enciting a small protest from the jealous chickobo. "Chaos promised he'd let me sleep if I fed him."

Cid's stomach twisted into a tight knot. "He did huh? And you believed him?"

"Mm Hmm. He may be a jerk, but he's an honest jerk. If he says something, he usually means it. It's the reason why nobody but innane monsters get killed during his feedings."

"Uh huh." The pilot barely heard what he said. The adjustments of Vincent's head caused his warm breath to trace along the side of his neck. He was torn between telling Vincent to move his head, before some problems arose, and allowing him to have a moment of peace. Fucking conundrums. Why did so many of Vincent's actions encite such opposite feelings? He swore this man could mind fuck him so much better than any woman ever in history.

The sight of the little farmhouse, approaching fast, was a welcome sight. "We're home, Vince."

"Hmm?" Vincent lifted his head lazily, to see where they were. "Home?"

Cid's heart sank from the still pained expression in his eyes. "You ok?"

Vincent didn't want to say anything else. He just layed his head back against Cid's shoulder, facing away from him.

Kiwi stopped in front of the little house, and kneeled glancing back at her master for a sign of him getting off, but his attention was elsewear. Cid brought a hand up to comb through the long raven hairs, spilling over his shoulder. "Vince?" He paused for a moment, maybe waiting for a response. "You sure he didn't do anything?"

Vincent shook his head.

"Then what is it?"

The chickobo was slid to the ground, allowing Vincent to clamp tighter to him. He ignored the annoyed squaking, twisting his fingers in Cid's shirt. "I shot him."

"What?" Did he hear that correctly? It was difficult to make out with the low volume of Vincent's voice, but he couldn't believe what came through.

A small sob pushed the slender arms further around him. "I didn't mean to… I paniced. I-I promised him I'd go back to him. Then Chaos wouldn't shut up… and… and I realized I was making a big mistake. He wouldn't let me leave… and I-" His entire body seemed to curl from his anguish. "I feel like my brain's splitting in two. I'm a monster. I can't believe I did that to him. He loved me, and I shot him."

Cid laced his fingers through Vincent's hair. He wanted to turn around. To hold the ex-Turk in his arms again, but he couldn't. His hand was all that could reach. "Where did it hit?"

Vincent sniffed, trying to remember. "I think his shoulder."

"Then he's gonna be alright, Vince." Cid brushed the hairs from Vincent's face, at least he thought he did. "Cloud's strong enough to withstand that. And you're not a monster, stop saying that."

Vincent finally looked at him, his eyes dark and puffy, the movement coaxing Cid's hand to the side of his neck. "But I just ran, Cid. He was in pain. Bleeding badly, and I just ran… because I was scared."

"But that's understandable." Cid's fingers rubbed the side of his neck, causing his eyes to slowly flutter closed, enjoying the tender touch. Cid soon realized what he was doing, jerking his hand away. "It's uh… it's normal for you to be scared. Especially with what you're going through." He swung a leg over, sliding from Kiwi's back. Turning around, he offered a hand to help Vincent down. Even crouched, the bird was still pretty tall.

"But I never got around to telling him. He doesn't understand."

Cid shrugged, grabbing Vincent's hands, to try and relay his meaning better. "Well… I'm sure you'll get another chance. But running just means you were scared. It doesn't make you a monster."

Vincent finally tried to slide off. He wasn't as used to it as Cid was, and greatly underestimated the height. He stumbled, his heart pounding from the sudden drop. At least that's what he thought casued it. His hands flexed over the thick muscles of Cid's arms holding him tightly against him. The same arms that'd kept him from hitting the ground. Vincent's eyes closed gently, intoxicated by the rapidly increasing heartbeat in his ear. "Would you show me?"

"Wh-what?"

Vincent's head turned up to look at him. He watched as the pilot's face darkened from the dreamy look in those hypnotic crimson eyes. "Would you show me? Prove to me that I'm not a monster." His fingers twisted in the fabric of Cid's sleeve. "Remind me what it feels like to be human."

"V-Vince? I-I don't know… what… how?"

Vincent's eyes glinted, from the tears threatening them again. "Just follow your instincts." It hadn't occurred to him before that Cid didn't understand what he meant by that… so he just needed to show him. The gunman's hands traced up over his shoulder, to twine in the short blonde hairs on the back of Cid's neck. He pulled himself up, pressing their lips firmly together.

Cid thought he had died. He'd kissed Vincent before, though not as much as he'd liked, but Vincent had never kissed him. And it was far too gentle to be Chaos. This was the real thing. The man he'd desired for so long was holding him. Willingly pressing their lips together. Hinting at this leading to something else… something more.

The pilot's eyes closed, pulling his arms tighter around him. The motion caused Vincent to rise higher, deepening the kiss.

Keri seemed to growl at this, but Kiwi drug her back, sliding a wing over the young bird's eyes.

Vincent moaned, his hands working further into Cid's scalp. He'd never tasted so much pent up lust before. It was a bit un-nerving, but at the same time, exhilerating. There was no telling what that could do for him. Vincent's lips parted, trying to invite Cid inside. At the feel of his still lingering hesitation, Vincent decided to prove to him how serious he was. His tongue invaded the pilot's mouth, gently searching for his.

Cid's eyes sprang open in shock at the foreign muscle, breaking the kiss without a second thought. He stared up at the gleaming red ring, sweat running along the curve of his cheeks. "Vince? … What are we doing?" He panted, beginning to wonder why he stopped.

A slightly mischievous smile teased the corner of Vincent's lips. He leaned over, placing a kiss along the crease in Cid's neck. "What does it feel like?"

Cid's breath harshened, his eyes going hazy. "I know what it feels like." His gloved hands traced along the gunman's bare back, tilting his head to allow him better acess. "I just wanta know if they're the same."

"Mmm want no more." Vincent moved his head to kiss him again. His fingers trailed down Cid's arms, searching for his hands. He grabbed them, pulling back to drag him inside.

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AN: so... that's how i decided to handle it... hope it worked. this was gonna go uh... further, but i figured it's be good to stop here. besides... all that means is the next chapter with be full of KWAY!!!!!!