In The Dark

IN THE DARK

CHAPTER THREE

~~~~~

"Now Mr. Valentine...I'm going to attach each of your nerves to the claw. You may want to bite down on that strap, heh..."

~~~~~

The slender man sat up suddenly; covered in a cold sweat, pulse racing.

"A...Dream?" He shot shaky fingers to the cold gold limb.

Closing his eyes, he tried to calm his breathing. Nightmares of Hojo's treatment and the ShinRa Mansion were a usual occurrence, but that didn't take any of the fright from them.
//Will it ever end?//
Sighing, he pulled his sore legs up and buried his face in his knees.
//Why won't the dreams stop?//
He despised his weakness, but was helpless as salty drops fell steady from his eyes.

"I don't even know where I am..." Vincent spoke to himself, looking around the room.
//It looks like a cave...//

His thoughts were a blur. It was as if all memories up till his waking were running into each other. Then the door opened.

"Oi, it's a beautiful day out!" The sandy haired pilot came in smiling. He paused when he seen Vincent was crying. "Vinny?"

Vincent stared, in confusion. Suddenly he remembered the pilot, and his giving of blood. "H-highwind..."

"What's wrong, you in pain?" Cid quickly walked to the bed and sat near the former Turk. Vincent jumped slightly as Cid placed his hands on his shoulders.

"I, I forgot...I didn't..." Sobs broke apart his sentence, to the brunettes suprise.

"Shh. It's okay now." Cid wrapped his arms around the shaking form.
//What the hell is up with him?//

Vincent tensed immediately, a tiny blush on his face. The blonde noticed the reaction and let go, a little embarrassed.

"I'm sorry. I woke up and didn't know where I was. I forgot you were here."
//I'm so happy you are.//
The former Turk held his head down to hide his face. Suddenly he felt very self conscious, realizing he was nude.

"Yep I'm here. It's only been two days since I gave you the blood. We're in Cosmo Canyon."

"Right." He pulled the sheet up farther over his chest.

"Hey Vince? Can I ask you something?"

"What?"
//Please don't be about the scars...//

"Well, you WERE sleeping in a coffin, and the blood thing. I mean you had fangs a few days ago!...Are you a well, you know..." Cid didn't want to sound stupid or worse, offensive.

A small shake of his shoulder let him know Vincent laughed. "I'm not a vampyr, Highwind." The pale one spoke sweetly.

"Oh, good. Then why the blood?"

"It was for Chaos. I had no strength, it was up to him to heal me...At times, he cries for human blood." Vincent paused swallowing hard. "Usually I deny him it. But I had no choice this time." He lowered his head even more. "I'm truly sorry about all this...The trouble I've caused you."

Cid laughed. "Hell, I don't care if ya need brains like a zombie. You can't help how you are, right? Don't you dare try to add another atonement or whatever to your list. Your no trouble at all." Cid sat back, giving the other man some space.

"Your much too kind to someone like me." Vincent kept his eyes on the bed, staring as if it wasn't there.

"Woah, someone like you?"

"You must know I am a monster, Highwind..."

The pilot wasn't sure what angered him more. What Hojo did, or the fact Vincent thought that low of himself. The way his body language screamed it's timidness.

"No part of you is monstrous to me. Your beautiful." Cid reached a hand out and briefly brushed the silky bangs away.

Vincent looked up and stared completely shocked.
//How can he say that?//

Feeling trapped in the ruby eyes, Cid wanted to change the subject. "So, how do you feel? Good enough to go outside? Your probably sick of this room."

"I think I can stand now."

"Great! I'll let you get dressed, I'll be right outside, if you can't manage." Cid stood watching Vincent nod.

Soon he was out of the room. Vincent sighed before attempting to stand. He was very weak and shaky but he managed. Using the small nightstand, he made his way to the familiar red pile of clothes.

- - - - -

"I'm truly amazed these survived..." Vincent played with the hem of the red cloak, stepping out the door.

Cid was shocked for a moment, he felt like a lecher. Seeing the pale one in usual garment, reminded him how much of Vincent was usually hidden. He had gotten use to seeing all of his obsession.

"Uh, yeah. A worker here repaired them, they were pretty shredded." He cleared his throat nervously.

"I must thank them." Weak garnet eyes looked up at the pink and purple sky. " It is beautiful out, as you said."

"It's always like a sunset here. C'mon, you must be fuckin' starved." Cid placed a firm hand on the thin shoulder and lead the way.

- - - - -

"Highwind...I could never eat all of this..." The cloak could not hide the disbelief on his face.

'So? Then just eat what the hell you want. Don't want you getting sick or anything."

"R-right." The black haired one began picking at the gluttonous proportions of food. He felt nervous under the deep gaze of the pilot. Not to mention the hoards of employee's starring him down.
//Am I truly that strange?//

"I bet half of these guys didn't expect you to live past the first week." Cid swigged his scotch, taking note of the many stares and Vincent's body language.

"Oh, I had forgotten. That's why they are staring..."

"What's you think?"

"Nothing." Vincent forced another small bite. He actually wasn't hungry, but he wouldn't turn down the pilot's generosity.

"It's almost dusk, looks like everyone's getting ready to go home."

"It's that late? I suppose you can never tell here."

"Yeah fuckin' weird sky." Cid laughed at his own comment.

"I hope Cloud and the others are faring well."

"Like old spikes would ever give up before fighting Sephiroth. They'll be fine, they got Tifa and Aeris, those broads will keep 'um in check."

Vincent laughed a little, covering his mouth.

"Ya like that?" Cid winked, finishing his drink.
//Wow, he can laugh...//

"I like your way with words. What is that your drinking?" Vincent motioned towards the empty glass.

"Supposed to be Scotch, but taste more like water."

"Never heard of it."

"Really? Well, hell, let me introduce you! It's my favorite of all liquors. Hey, Miss!" Cid called to waitress.

//Liquor?//
Vincent watched Cid order and laugh. He loved the way Cid could talk to anyone. Despite his loud, brash exterior he usually got along well with everyone he met. As the waitress brought back two glasses of ice and a dark bottle, Cid smiled at Vincent.

"This is tha little filly who sewed up your wounds." Cid pated the small woman's shoulder affectionately. She smiled nervous.

"H-hi..." She rubbed the back of her head.

Vincent blinked a few times at the girl. "Thank you." He said blankly.

"No prob. I'm really happy your okay. Just take it easy...watch this guy, he'll get you drunk. It's been a whole lot crazier with him around." She bowed somewhat to Vincent and smiled at Cid.

"I didn't hold a gun to your head y'know." Cid smiled back. He wondered who was more nervous, her or Vincent.

"Wouldn't put it past you. Take it easy Pops." She laughed as she disappeared into the bar.

"Pops? I'm not that old! Damn kids..."

Vincent smiled to himself.
//I think I love you Cid Highwind.//
"You planning on getting me drunk, Highwind?" A thin brow raised, beneath the bandana.

"Heh, only if ya wanted to." The pilot poured the amber liquid into the two glasses. "Tada, meet Scotch. Scotch, meet Mr. Valentine." Cid slid the other glass towards Vincent, holding the other up.

Vincent took it, smelling it timidly. "Uh, smells awful."

"What? Nah, that's just it's aroma. It's unique."
//Like someone else I know.//
"Cheers." Cid tilted his glass a little, and downed about half.

Vincent closed his eyes and took a small sip, almost choking.
"I-it takes your breath away."

"You can't sip it. Just swallow as much as you can, fast." A smile lit up the blondes face.

Holding his nose, Vincent forced himself to swallow most of it.
"It burns all the way down." He cleared his throat.

Cid laughed. "Now that's it's way of saying it likes you." A tanned hand took the bottle and refilled the glasses.

Vincent nodded taking his glass again. He did feel something soothing about the way the warmth remained...Like the warmth where the pilot brushed his bangs back. Vincent's eyes widened for a nano second.
//What am I thinking?//
He took a swig, this time ready for the taste.

//What am I thinking?//
Cid wondered watching Vincent's glass steadily empty.
//Get him drunk and what? He's been in a damn coma for a month!//
"Not that bad once you get use to it, eh?"

"Not really..."

Cid refilled the glasses again.

- - - - -

After eight or so more glasses, the bottle remained a little over 1/4 full. The two sat in a comfortable silence. Cid felt a little buzzed, but to tell the truth he'd have to finish another bottle by himself, to get to feeling 'nice'. He watched the pale man carefully.

His alabaster cheeks were kissed with a slight rose color and his eyes seemed unfocused. He was staring blankly at the glass in his hand.

"You all right? This has been your first day up and around."

"Mhm, I'mokay." His words ran into each other. He wasn't sure why, but his tongue felt like it was disobeying him.

"Sounds like you've officially met Scotch." Cid smiled at the state of his friend.

Vincent laughed in an almost loud way, a few employees looked over at him strangely. The former Turk held his hand up to cover his mouth, a little too late.

"Why ya do that?"

"Eh?" He blinked one eyelid a a time.

"Cover your mouth when you smile or laugh. You don't have to hide it."

"Dunno, habit."

"You should break it."

Vincent smiled uncharacteristically.
//Why does he care?//
"You worry 'bout me toomuch." The thin lips slurred.

"Someone should." Cid went to refill Vincent's glass.

"Uh, no more...Sorry." He held his hands up in defeat, sighing.

"Suit yerself." Cid upped the bottle, not bothering with the glass.

Vincent began to feel very hot. The air was thick with the smell of many cigarettes, not to mention Cid's blowing in his face.

"Highwind..." Vincent said, barely audible.

"Yeah?"

"Can we leave? I need some air..."

Cid knew the look on Vincent's face well, the way he kept taking deep breaths.
"Sure, c'mon." The pilot stood, setting the Gil on the table. He carefully helped Vincent up, who leaned heavy on him. He became very lightheaded once he stood.

"I'm gonna be sick..." Vincent tried to speak.

Cid took no hesitation as he made their way to the bathroom. Opening a stall and helping Vincent get into it. Instantly, the former Turk began vomiting. Cid held his hair up and rubbed his back slowly.
//Damnit! I knew this would happen. You made him sicker!//

After a while Vincent shakily stood, wiping his mouth on the back of his black glove. "I'm so so sorry, Highwind." He looked down shamefully, wanting to disappear.

"Don't you apologize! I'm the idiot, I shouldn't have pushed liquor on you this early."

Vincent smiled some. "I feel much better now. Thank you for your help, again."

"Let's go back to our room. You should lay down, don't want to push it too much."

Vincent nodded; following Cid out of the bathroom, he'd clean up at the room.

- - - - -

"Kuso..." Vincent sighed sitting, then falling back on the bed.

"What?" Cid smiled at the sight.

"So dizzy. I wanted to take a bath." He kept his eyes closed.

"Well, if you trust me, I can help you with that."

"Huh?" Vincent tried to sit up, propping himself up on an elbow.

"I can run you a bath, maybe wash your hair..." Cid stood.

"But..." Vincent blushed. "I couldn't ask you to do that..."

"You didn't." The pilot was soon in the bathroom, the sound of water running filled the room.

Vincent sat up and smiled.
//Your too good to be true Cid.//
He began taking off his cloak and pointy boots. The cloak came along, but he was struggling at the boots.

Cid came out and laughed a little.
"Let me get that for ya." He kneeled down and began untying the knot Vincent had made.

The former Turk starred down, breathless.
//He's so caring, so...beautiful too.//
A black and red boot was pulled off, the other soon followed. Cid pulled the socks down to reveal two pale, perfect tiny feet.

"You have sexy feet." Cid looked up at the starry eyed marksman.

Vincent blinked a few times before laughing. "That's insanity. How can feet be significant?"

"When they look like that. C'mon the tubs ready." Cid walked back into the bathroom.

"Wait. Let me get in first, then you come in." Vincent stiffly stood.

"Shy, eh?" The pilot stepped out, allowing the blushing Turk to enter.

"No. Just stay out there for now."

"Heh." Cid walked to the bed and picked up the cloak, smelling it. Vincent's exotic scent, like oranges and rain.

"Okay, you can come in now." Vincent's voice called.

- - - - -

Cid walked in and caught his breath. Vincent sat in the sudsy water, gold claw hanging over the side. He seemed nervous and drawn up to the pilot.

"Ya look like an angel Vinny, but ya need to relax." Cid got on his knees behind the mass of black hair.

"Sorry." He sighed.
//Angel?!//

"Don't worry about it. Can you dip under to wet your hair?"

"Uh huh." Vincent obliged, coming up wiping his eyes with his human hand.

"Your even sexier wet." The scotch was talking a little, but heart backed it up.

"Highwind, must you keep saying that to me?"

"Yep." Tan hands took the hair and began massaging soap into it.

Vincent sighed, closing his eyes, it was so relaxing. He found himself leaning against the tub, letting his legs lay flat.

"That's it, just let all the stress wash away." Cid cooed.

Vincent nodded. Hands came down and began rubbing a washcloth over his shoulders. His hair was folded up on his head with help from the shampoo. Cid took a chance to admire the pale nape that was rarely viewable. As the blonde began washing his back, Vincent moaned a little.

"That feels really good..."

"Glad to hear it. Your really tense around your shoulders."

"Mmhmm...The claw adds weight to that side. I've never been able to get use to it."

Cid frowned. He hated Hojo so much. His eyes focused on the metal object in question. It was dull and appeared to be dirty as well.
//I'll clean that when we're done here.//
Cid looked down and gasped. Vincent was leaning forward on his knees so Cid could wash his back. The pilot seen two huge, painful looking scars running parallel down it's entire length. He had never noticed before, because the man lay on his back.

"I'm quite horrible up close, ne?" Vincent stared forward blankly. He heard the blondes reaction.

Cid swallowed. "No! Your gorgeous! It's just looks very painful. I wish you had not suffered so much."

"It's Chaos' wings. They come from there, when I reach that limit."

Cid leaned down and kissed the middle of his frail back, causing Vincent to gasp in shock.

"Highwind?! What's come over you tonight?" The brunette tried to sound angry.
//Him? What about you? That felt amazing and you know it!//

"I'm sorry, I can't help it. When I see a wound on you, it hurts like it's mine." Cid calmed himself.
//Don't rush him echii.//

"I see." Vincent closed his eyes.

He could not tell Cid what he felt. How the man made him feel human again. Not some ghost of the ShinRa, or the pathetic fool who couldn't save the one he loved. Water began to run over his hair, startling him a little.

"Lean back."

//Please forgive me Cid...For being this way.//
The pale form sighed, as the blonde continued his task.

- - - - -

"Here, let me clean your arm. The stuff I use on my spear should work fine."

Vincent was sitting on the bed. Once again fully clothed except for his cape, bandana, and shoes. His throat clenched for a moment. "No!"

Cid stared at the unusually firm response.

"I'm sorry. I mean it's all right, I can do it later." Vincent hid in his wet, hanging hair.

"You don't have to hide it, I'm not sickened by it or anything." Cid walked over and sat on the bed as well.

"You've done enough for me today, for a lifetime actually."
//He's not?//

The pilot laughed. "All I did was watch ya. Not like I can set bones or nothing."

Vincent sighed. "Your talking to me. I've talked more today than in my whole life." A small smile formed.

'Why wouldn't I talk? You not much of a drinking buddy, but your good company."
//Your a lot more than that.//

"Tonight was my first drink. When I was a Turk, they tried to make me drink all the time. I seen how they acted when doing so and declined." Vincent admitted.

'Then shit, if that was your first time, then you've got raw potential." Cid smiled in a way that made the pale ones heart flutter.

"Do you have the Highwind?"

The pilot blinked at the sudden question. "Yeah, not like any of them pups can fly her."

"They are not coming back for a month...If it would not be too much trouble..."

"You got somewhere you wanna go?"

Vincent nodded slowly. "Nibelheim."

"Why there?" Cid noticed how serious Vincent's face had become.

"I have wanted to return there for a while...We were always so busy. I need to go back into the ShinRa Mansion."

Cid felt his heart leap in assumption. "No! I can't let you go back to a coffin!"

Vincent blinked, but smiled. "I don't wish to 'return' return. Only to go in one more time."

Cid's mind thought of the tapes. "Why the fuck would you want to do that?"

"I don't know...It's nothing." Vincent looked away.

"No, say it. Tell me."

The pale one looked more nervous than ever. "I have dreams of that place. Maybe if I confront it, they will go away."

"Then we can go to ole Nibel. Doesn't that place scare ya though?"

Vincent shook his head. "Not anymore."
//Not if your there too.//
"That's why I wish to walk it now. To prove it's just a building."

"We can leave in the morning. Now, let me see that beautiful arm." Cid smiled.

Very reluctantly, Vincent held out the large claw. Cid immediately caressed it softly, the sensation making the brunette bite his tongue. Very carefully, and thoughtfully, Cid began cleaning the object. Vincent never took his eyes off the pilot's face. Love and acceptance was all he could see.
//I love you Cid Highwind.//
"Thank you. It's difficult to do with one hand actually..."

"Shit, I bet. So, does it uh, hurt or anything?"
//I hope not.//

Vincent swallowed. "Sometimes..."
//Don't lie! It never stops hurting...//

Cid frowned. "Sorry to hear that. Why does it hurt?"

The pale one began to chew on his nails and little. "My nerves are attached to devices within it. If it is scratched, I feel it, and so on. That's why it is impossible to remove." He sighed. "True, I could just cut it completely off...But as horrible as this is, it's more useful in battle than a nub."

The pilot had to let it sink in. So much pain and sorrow. "It's hardly horrible Vince. It's better than Cait's body or Clouds hair."

Thin shoulders shook in another small, silent laugh. "Thank you."

"You need to stop thanking me so much."

Vincent nodded. "Will you go into the basement with me, Highwind?" Ruby eyes pleaded.

"I'd never make ya go alone, I know it will be hard on you." Cid finished the cleaning job. "There ya go, good as new." He stood.

Vincent looked at the now shining limb. "Thank you."

"Ah, ah, ah..."

"I mean, it looks good."

"That's better."

The two remained silent for a while.

"We should get some sleep for tomorrow."

"Highwind, you can take the bed, I'll be fine on the couch." Guilt swam in Vincent's stomach as the blonde crossed the room.
//He's been so vigilant.//

Cid laughed. "Ain't no way in hell. Your still pretty banged up. I noticed you limping. I've stayed on this couch for a while now."

"Yes, but-"

"No buts. You need that bed. Just take it and don't worry about me, ne?"

Vincent nodded. He could never say what he was thinking, that they could share the bed.

"Goodnight Vince."

- - - - -

END CHAPTER THREE

((This had been on chill in a notebook since 3 June 2005. Finally got around to vamping it up and making it useable. Hope it wasn't as bad as it felt when I was writing it, heh ^_^ Thanks to those of you who have read or reviewed, it truly makes me happy that after all this time people still care about Final Fantasy VII. Domo!))