Vincent Comes Home

Nev--I've got you on the edge, huh? Yay! *happy dance*

Shadrach--Your review cracked me up. Especially the line about Paladin picking up the Holy Avenger. I salute you. I'm gonna have to go over and read your stories now. (All of you should! Go do it!) That just cracked me up. But, I am glad that Zet isn't coming across to people as a mary-sue. I loath MSs. Thank you.

Maron--I was hoping someone might find the letter amusing. I did. I always get this image in my head of Edward Tarshil just being hilarious. All attitude. (Kinda like Reno. *eyeroll*:) But I have to say that this chapter will be from Cid and the next one is about Tifa. And I had already put some consideration in for that before you added your review--so I was very happy that I've got some pre-support for it. :D The one after that will be from Vincent. And your reviews are never drawn out. I appreciate everything you tell me. I really do.

VahlanaAngel--I'm working on it. :D I'm trying to get as much done as possible before I go back to college this weekend. I'll still be able to write there, of course--but perhaps not as much. (And by the way everyone, Vahlana is working on a fic called JI Project. She is revamping it and republishing it for the public. So, if you wanna take a stab at something new--give it a try.)

--**Author's Note at the end**---


A Lannister always pays his debts. (Any George R. R. Martin fans out there?)




“So, what did y’do before you started workin’ for Jeremiah?”

Zet had her elbows on the railing on the desk, watching the countryside stream by. Holding a small glass of amber liquid in her hands, she smiled. “I worked in a little Item Shop for my dad in North Valley.”

Cid leaned on one arm, looking puzzled. “I never ‘eard of North Valley before I met you two.”

She laughed. Cid noted how she smiled when she did it and how her eyes crinkled up. Her laugh was low and pleasant.

“Most people haven’t. When you ask ‘em about the north, they all say Icicle Inn because of it’s famous snowboarding slopes and because some famous scientist professor person lived there for awhile.”

“Gast?” Cid knew the answer, of course, so he wasn’t sure why he even asked.

Zet only shrugged. “Dunno. Maybe.” She took a sip of her drink. It was Cid’s stash of Costa del Sol’s best brandy. Not even O’Malley knew he had it. And good thing, the stuff cost a fortune. (His First could slug it like water.)

He nodded and turned to stare out over the railing. They’d been up here for an hour or two, at least. The wind was fast and cold but the brandy (and their jackets) kept them warm. She had loosened up when they’d come onto the deck. Perhaps staring at the rushing countryside calmed her. And up here, they didn’t really have to look at each other. Although he noticed that she glanced over every once in awhile.

And for some reason he couldn’t really explain, he found he didn’t mind very much. That was ominous. She was young, too young. She was Tifa’s age. Well, she was an adult, but still. He looked up into the stars.

And for no reason at all, Shera popped into his head. Scowling, he looked back down and then over at Zet.

She had tied back her hair so it wouldn’t fly in her face. It was coarse; at least, it looked coarse. Her hair was a slightly wavy, and brown, like her eyes. She was short, maybe Yuffie’s height, with a wiry frame and curiously long fingers. There was nothing particularly striking about her. She was pretty, sure. But he wouldn’t have stopped in the street to stare if she walked by or anything. But still…

Cid swallowed, suddenly uncomfortable. His thoughts were taking him in a direction that he wasn’t sure he was entirely comfortable with. You dumb prick. She was too young. And he was too goddamn old to be thinking about something like that.

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw her glance at him again.

She doesn’t seem to mind…

Cid snorted, angry with himself. He took a deep drink from his glass and looked at her. “Tif told me that your parents were in Junon when the WEAPON attacked.”

Zet nodded casually, as if they were talking about a nice set of plates. “They were visiting a war memorial. My uncle was in such-and-such a battle. They said it was before my time. I lived above the store in a little apartment, so my dad asked me to watch it for him.”

“You got lucky then.”

Zet smiled ruefully. “Yeah. Although in our generation, I think everyone has lost someone to either ShinRa, the WEAPONs, or Sephiroth.”

“Ain’t that the damn truth.” Cid paused. “Why didn’ you keep your old man’s store?”

Zet chuckled again, and Cid realized he smiled when she did and immediately frowned, as if that would reverse the action. “I wasn’t a very good business woman,” Zet said, grinning over the railing. “And I was bored to tears, to tell you the truth.”

“So how did you meet Jeremiah?”

Zet sipped her glass again. She smiled fondly. “He came in one day and wanted a couple Phoenix Downs. And he wanted to know where my dad was. They knew each other, of course—impossible to live in a little place like North Valley and not know everyone else.”

Cid half-smiled, somehow not surprised at all, and felt a little sorry for Jeremiah. “Did he miss the phone call or somethin’?”

She smiled ruefully. “Somethin’ like that. So I told him what happened. And then he asked me if I liked working in the shop. Well, I told him not really—but it paid the bills. And then he left. I didn’t see him again for…probably a month. And then he just showed up one day with some business guy who wanted to buy the store. I didn’t let him, at first. But then Jeremy offered me a place on his ship. And I couldn’t refuse that.”

“So you got lucky twice.”

“Yep, and three years later we’re carting around celebrities.”

Cid laughed at that. He could hardly imagine Vincent standing in front of thousands of adoring fans (i.e. women) getting his picture taken. He smiled, looking over the railing again.

She glanced at him.

Cid looked down at the railing, smirking to himself. “Why you keep lookin’ at me?”

Zet blinked, caught, and turned away, looking embarrassed.

Cid looked at her thoughtfully. “It’s not a problem or nothin’. I’m just curious.”

Zet glanced at him and licked her lips. Words seemed to have suddenly failed her.

Cid turned away and straightened. He took the goggles out of his jacket pocket and put them on his head. As he adjusted the straps, he watched Zet watch him do it out of the corner of his eye. “There you go,” he said, a smile in his voice. “Watchin’ me again.”

Zet, abashed, looked at the deck.

“Here,” said Cid, turning to face her. “How do they look?”

A nervous chuckle escaped her lips as she managed to glimpse up at him. “They’re a little crooked.”

Cid looked up with both eyes. “Don’ look like it t’me.” Of course, he couldn’t see them.

She laughed quietly, seeming to still it as soon as it began. But she was smiling now. She reached up, barely skimming her fingers around his forehead and she tilted the leather just a little down on the left side. “There,” she said and quickly removed her fingers but didn’t seem to know what to do with them.

“Your fingers are cold,” he told her. He didn’t mention that they were trembling.

She looked away over the rail, allowing a short, nervous chuckle to escape her throat.

Cid leaned one elbow on the railing again. You gotta be shittin’ me… But as he watched her gaze carefully at everything but him, there could be no other explanation. He smiled to himself. Son of a bitch… It was a little flattering, he had to admit—such a young woman having a thing for him. But instead of saying anything about it, he said, “Y’know, yer a lot shyer than I thought you’d be.”

She cocked her head to one side and then looked at him, a soft, almost anxious smile coming over her face. “You’re a lot more friendly than you pretend to be.”

Cid stared at her, with a wry grin. He shook his head. “Well, I guess we’re both learnin’ somethin’, ain’t we?” He finished off his glass of brandy and set it down on the deck. Then he turned his gaze back into the dark sky and leaned against the railing.

She did the same, but she was closer this time than she had been.

He looked over, raising his eyebrows. “You cold?”

“No,” she said, shaking her head.

“Yer a liar.”

“No I’m not,” she said indignantly, turning to glare at him.

“Oh yeah?” He reached out and snagged her hands, glass and all.

She froze instantly.

Cid could have burst out laughing at the look on her face. Something had put him in a weird ass mood tonight. He grinned at her. “Wassamatter?”

“Nothin’,” she answered emphatically.

It was almost worth it, just to see her squirm.

Cid, you’re bein’ a real shithead. Knock it off. His conscience, although most likely snickering behind it’s invisible hand, sure was loud lately.

But hell, he’d fucked up a lot of shit in his life. Maybe he should take a chance or two. He smirked to himself. Imagine that. He suddenly felt twenty-five again.

“H-hey, Cid?”

He blinked, realizing he was staring off into space. He looked down. “Yeah?”

She went shifty-eyed. “You okay?”

“Yeah. O’ course I am.”

They were silent for a moment.

“You know, Zet…I was thinkin’—“

The door flew open. On reflex, Cid dropped Zet’s had and whipped around. Tifa ran up to him. Cid felt his good mood vanish. He rubbed his temples. “Jesus Christ, what do you want?”

“They’re putting Cloud in one of the cells on the bottom deck! You can’t let them do that!”

“Who is?”

“Nanaki and Reno and Yuffie!”

Cid felt frustration and anger lick up his throat. “Why?”

“Why what?”

“Why are they doing that, Tifa?! I’m assuming if Nanaki is having a part in it, there must be a damn good reason.”

“Cloud…he…it wasn’t his fault! Jenova—“

“Oh, here we are. Back to Jenova again.”

“He got into a fight…with me. And Vincent.”

“Where’s Vincent.”

Something seemed to pass across Tifa’s face that Cid couldn’t name but then she answered. “He went back to his room.”

“So what d’you want me to do about it?”

“Stop them! Cloud doesn’t deserve to be locked up.”

“Tifa, I’m gonna lock you up if you keep up this crazy shit of yours.”

“I’m not crazy!”

Cid sighed. “Fine, you’re not crazy. You’re just havin’ a bad day, right? Lead the way.” He shook his head and looked over his shoulder.

Zet met his eyes; she gave him a pitying nod.

"Why don't y'come too, Zet? We’ll make a party out of it.”

Her face turned anxious, glancing at Tifa and then back at him. It cheered him when she gave him a little nod of assent.

“You can’t make a party out of—“

“Party below deck, Tifa. Lead away.”

Tifa looked about ready to either rip Cid’s head off or burst into tears. But she didn’t do either. Tifa turned on her heel and strode off.

Tifa led them across the ship and down two flights of stairs to the storage cells. Barret, Reno, Yuffie, and Nanaki were all present. Tifa pushed past them and pointed to the window.

Cid looked in.

Cloud was trussed up like a hostage. There was blood on his face and he looked furious. His eyes burned out at Cid, seeming to scream, I’m going to kill you!

Cid suppressed that chill that went up his back. Suddenly, it was just too much to be angry anymore. He couldn’t find the energy to make himself pissed. He turned to Tifa. “What d’ you want me t’do about this?”

“Let him out!” Tifa exclaimed.

Cid licked his lips and closed his eyes. “What did he do?”

“He attacked her, Cid. He tried to kill her,” Yuffie said sharply. “It’s for her protection as well as ours. He’s crazy.”

“HE’S NOT CRAZY! IT’S JENOVA! IT—“

Cid grabbed Tifa by the front of her shirt and clamped his hand over her mouth. Smiling, he shook his head at her. “No more, Tifa. I can’t do this right now. Go back to bed. Cloud stays here tonight. I’ll check on him in the morning.”

“If he is possessed by Jenova, it would be best if we set up shifts to keep a watch on him.”

“Good idea, Naki,” Cid said, ignoring the puzzled look the beast gave him. “Barret, how do you feel about goin’ first?”

“Fine.”

“Reno, you after that? Then Yuffie—“

Tifa ripped her mouth away from Cid’s hand. “I want to—“

“No, Tifa. No.” He shook his head. He laughed, a little wildly. “No. Because you’ll go in there th’moment he looks pitiful. Because you’re not yourself right now. An’ if I have to lock you up in a cell ‘cross the ship, I will.”

Tifa stared at him.

“I’m not joking, Tif. An’ I’m going to move you to a different room and put a guard on your door. And they will tell me if you leave, and where you go and what you do.”

Tifa’s mouth fell open. “You can’t seriously be considering—“

“Oh, I am, Tifa. I am. And, what’s more—we’re pas’ consideration. I’m gonna to do it. So, come with me.”

“No.”

“Tifa, don’ make this difficult. You’ll come, or I will force you. An’ if I have to tie you up like they did Cloud, then so be it.”

Tifa looked around helplessly at her companions but no one spoke in her defense.

“I’s for yer own good, Tifa,” Barret muttered.

“How can it be for my own good?!”

“Tifa! Are you listening to yourself?! What the hell is wrong with you?! He tried to kill you!” Yuffie stared at her in a mix of anger and disbelief.

Tifa swallowed a sob and looked pleadingly at Cid. “Please, Cid. Don’t do this. Don’t lock me up. Please?”

The pilot looked away from her tears. “Come with me, Tifa.”

“No, Cid. Cid, don’t. Okay? Just let me go. Please?”

Cid bit his lip, shaking his head. “I’m sorry Tifa.” He took her arm and started to pull her away. She didn’t resist but she started to sob.

“Everythin’ in ‘er life ‘as gone wrong,” Barret said darkly, staring after them.

Yuffie nodded in agreement. Reno looked at the ground. Nanaki sat down, seeming lost in thought.

Zet looked aside, feeling like an intruder. She backed away quietly and, at a distance, followed Cid.


The pilot indeed took Tifa across his ship. All the way over to his crew’s cabins. He walked down the hallway, holding Tifa by her arm and he thumped loudly on an officer’s, Leon’s, door. Cid didn’t wait for the man to come out but walked on. He scanned the room numbers and took out a set of keys.

“Sir?”

Cid glanced over his shoulder. Leon was a limber fellow, with shaggy brown hair and a scar running down the middle of his face. He was a pleasant, if somber, guy but he made a good officer. And he was damn sneaky. He had a way of creeping up on you. It reminded Cid of Vincent.

“Who’s on the night shift watch?”

Leon’s eyes unfocused when he thought. It made his pupils dilate and always seemed vaguely eerie to Cid. He did it this time and then said, “Proctor, Works, Steiner, and Maxell.”

“Go to Steiner and have him arrange shifts for a one-at-a-time rotation. This is Tifa Lockhart. She is not to leave this room without my knowledge. If she needs to go somewhere, you will tell me immediately and, if she goes, she will be escorted. And no one enters this room except me. If someone else wants to go in, send them to my quarters.”

“Cid! You can’t—“

Goddammit…I don’t wanna do it either, Tif. I’m sorry. “There’s a bathroom inside, Tifa. So you’ll have what you need. I’ll come back tomorrow morning. Just go and sleep.” He turned to Leon. “You got all that?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Good, go tell Steiner.”

When he was gone, Cid put his hands on Tifa’s shoulders. “I don’t wanna do this, Tifa. I want you t’know that. But I’d rather lock you up now, than have you dead, all right?”

“But I—“

“I understan’ that Cloud isn’t himself. And it’s not ‘is fault. But ‘e’s still dangerous. Jus’ do this. Humor me, all right?”

Tifa’s eyes were red. She blinked hard, trying to stop her tears.

“Everythin’ will be fine, Tif. Jus’ go get some sleep. Okay?”

Tifa bowed her head, defeated. She nodded.

Cid unlocked the door and she stepped inside. He turned on the lights and waited for her to look at him. He nodded to her and turned around.

He shut the door and turned his key in the lock. He stood still for a moment in front of the door, leaning forward until his brow touched the cold metal.

“Cid.”

He stood up straight. It was Zet.

She and Jeremiah were like two little islands on which the problems of his past and current situation didn’t exist. They didn’t know everything he had been through with his companions. To them, it was a far-away event only brought closer by their chance meeting with Vincent. They were being drawn into it. But for now, the two of them were separate from his life. With them, he could pretend things were almost normal.

So, this time, he didn’t hesitate at all.

“Comin’? I think I’m gonna throw up. I’m fuckin’ tired.”

Without a word, she took his proffered hand and they walked down the hallway.


-----


Author's Note::

I've been in a bit of turmoil lately. At the very beginning of this story, I had quite a bit from Vincent's perspective. And the story is called 'Vincent Comes Home'--so that leads you to believe that the story will be about him. And it is. I mean, there are bits with a lot of Cid and some Tifa and Cloud and stuff, but Vincent is the one I've spent the most time on. And I began with him, and I plan to end with his perspective. But I also really enjoy doing chapters from perspective of other characters. I don't want to lose the focus entirely--but as this plot has branched out farther then even I anticipated--I find that that is hard to do because you lose bits of the story. So I've been switching back and forth between, mostly, Cid and Vincent, Cloud, Tifa, and a little of the other characters (like Reno, Yuffie, and Zet) every once in awhile. So, I think that--most likely, I'll end up doing that for the rest of this. And I was wondering what people thought on my switching of characters. I like it, because I believe I get a more complete story out of it. But I know I like Vincent too (that's why I started with him:). So, just curious on others' thoughts. Thank you much. You guys are fabulous.