The Babysitter

Discliamer: I own no rights to the characters in this fanfic. Thats why I call it a fanfic.

The Babysitter
By SailorPoison


Note: Vincent’s story donated by Seraphim-Sephiroth

The pilot was truly beside himself. Cid had not yet figured out when he agreed to babysit but there were just some things you just don’t argue with when the other guy was huge muscle bound black man. Besides Marlene was not a bad kid. Not like she was gonna set the house on fire.

Vincent was there to help out. Really, he was there to keep an eye on the pilot who was not the ideal Babysitter. Sure Cid was a nice guy, not counting his habit of berating people, but to watch a child?! Vincent set his mind to make sure the child stays in one piece.

The pilot thought it would be best to have her at his house. It was his territory! He knew where everything was! Plus, it was way cheaper then the Golden Saucer. Besides that place was a little seedy if you wandered into the wrong place. Cid was not ready to explain why some of the men in the new Honey Bee Inn wore skimpy bee outfits and why she couldn’t wear one too. Barret would kill him if her baby girl even got hold of an outfit. That’s if Vincent didn’t kill him first. So it was all much better to be in Rocket Town!

The town was maybe an ideal place for a child. This, Vincent had to agree with. Places for her to run and play. Plus, they would have Shera to lend a hand.
Good old country air and country living. Yes, Cid didn’t care for it. He liked cities or well a city with a fucking airport! But he was having one installed.

But it was raining when they go there. The house was too small, for a child, but the three were stuck. Worse of all, no Shera. She had to go care for one of the elderly people in the town.

What does one do with a child when its raining? Not as if they can turn her off and put her in a cardboard. The pilot was trying to think of a good game to play with the child. Not that he ever had kids. But he had playing cards!

Cid held his salvation up, “ Hey look at what Uncle cid found!”

Vincent scowled, “ Planning to teach her poker?”

Vincent was not happy with this idea. Sure its just one game but the game could inspire her to play harder card games. Before they knew it, Marlene will be a gambler. Her body sold on the corner for a night of pleasure just to get more Gil to gamble with. Downward spiral into the life of drugs. Her life headed to ruin! Cards were eeeevil! And all evil starts off small. Oh he knew evil. He knew Sin!

Cid gave Vincent a dry look, “ Now, unless you got a better fucking idea, shut up! I am gonna show her how to play Spoons, smart ass.”

Vincent, “ Highwind, you should not cuss infront of the child.”

Marlene, “ Daddy says bad words all the time.”

Cid, “ Shit... you need to get that steel bar out of your ass, Vinny,” as neither seemed to pay attention to what what she just said.

Spoons was a game even children could play. There were one less spoon then the number of players on the table. In this case there were only two. Each player was seeking a four of a kind. When one acquired the cards, they cried out “ Spoon “ and grab a spoon. The looser was the one without a spoon. Sadly Cid was not very lucky in this game. There was a good reason Cid didn’t gamble. His luck sucked worse then Cloud’s ability to reason.

Cid scowls in an almost childish pout, “ This game sucks! “

Marlene was giggling at her uncle Cid. Even used to Uncle Vincent even if he was little creepy.

Marlene, “ Lets play Old Maid! “

Vincent knew this game was leading to greater evil!

Cid, “ That's a great idea!” With a smile.

Once again, Cid proved to be lousy in this game as well. But he held more grace about it thanks to Vincent kicking him in the shin whenever he looked as if he was going to get upset. This proved later to be the source of the bruises on his shin. They also played a few other games. Like they used the cards to build card houses.

Marlene, “ I’m hungry.”

Indeed it was getting late in the day. Cid lost track of the time and felt his own stomach insist on being fed. The pilot and ex-turk proceeded to argue over who would cook. But they compromised on sharing the job. Then came the battle of the menu. Vincent used to cook excellent meals. The problem was they were too fancy for a child. Cid lacks cooking skills. The pilot simply never lived alone. He left home to have the airforce feed him and then Shera tend to his domesticated needs. This battle was settled upon hot dogs and macaroni, much to the relief of Marlene. Aside the macaroni was a bit overcooked, the meal was pretty good.

Next came the wash-up game! Or their attempt to get her to take a bath. Cid knew his bathroom better had the task of preparing the tub. The pilot borrowed some of Shera’s bubble bath to put into the water. Knew women and girls loved bubbles. He supposed it might be fun popping all them bubbles. Vincent brought the child to the doorway in time to see Cid trying to pop bubbles in the tub.

Vincent, “ Is it ready or do you need more time to play?”

Cid was very embarrassed but not nearly as embarrassed as he was about to be. He stood up very fast, too fast to keep himself from slipping on some water and falling into the tub. The sight of the soaked pilot was very funny. Especially when he spit out some of the soapy water. The child broke into laughter. Even Vincent was chuckling at this sight. Cid climbed out of the tub with a scowl. They were after laughing at him and not with him.

Cid, “ Just take your damn bath! “ as he stalked out to change clothing.

Marlene was old enough to bath herself so Vincent let her be. He found Cid in the kitchen, with dry clothing, smoking still in a huff. There was only one cure for an angry pilot and that was fresh Tea. This brought a reluctant smile to Cid’s face.

Cid accepted his cup, “ Thanks, Vin.”

Vincent smirked, “ At least your mouth was washed out.”

Cid tried to scowl but even he couldn’t keep it up and began to laugh, “ Damn it, Vinny... it wasn’t funny art the time. “

After the bath was over, it was bedtime. Marlene was put into her night gown and give the best room of the very small house. But the child was not ready for bed. This was something even Cid understood. The ritual of a story.

Cid, “ What kind of story would you like?”

Marlene, “ I want to hear a scary story!”

Vincent knew this was his department, “ Very well. “

Cid settled next to Marlene on the bed as the ex--Turk sat in a chair. The room was only lit up by one small lap and Vincent sat in dark shadows with his glowing red eyes.

Vincent was very good at making a story sound and feel scary. This man who has seen horrors few could see, yet remain sane afterward. This man who lived in his own nightmare. Or so he claimed. Not that Cid was going to argue that any time soon.

Vincent, “ The little orphaned girl snuggled in the dusty sheets, unaware of the thudding danger which lucked within the old halls... feeling safe in the comfort of the bed she laid in. It was at that moment, the air froze-still... the errie moan of the deteriorating floorboards echoing throughout the winding hallways. The girl stirred, her heart skipping a beat as she heard the foreboding. Thump, thump, THUMP! of footsteps, thudding and scratching with claws. The sound was creeping closer and Closer. The girl sat up in the bed, clutching the blanket's around her, staring at the cracked doorway with wide terrified eyes. The atmosphere turned cold enough to see one's breath, heavy with horrid burden and becoming an obstacle to respire... Thump... Thump.. THUMP! ... yet suddenly, the footsteps halted, only to be replaced with the foreboding creeeeaak if the door, slowly opening to reveal a black sillouhette filling the threshold, blood-red eyes glowing in the shroud of shadows around it, " and then speaking i a deeply demonic tone, his crimson eyes taking on a haunting glow.. " 'Somebody's been sleeping in herrrrrrrrrr beeeeeeeddd........"

Cid and Marlene scream as for the moment they could have sworn Vincent was the dark creature. In fact... it reminded Cid of a nightmare he had. The time they stopped by the mansion because Cloud wanted to visit the creepy ass basement. The dream he had when he spent the night at the mansion. Cid just wanted to take a nap. His dream was filled with being chased by a monster and tumbling down the stairs. Or was it? He did wake up with a headache. Vincent claimed he was sleepwalking. Then two and two connected.

Cid, “ It was you that night?!”

Vincent, “ You shouldn’t have slept in her bed.”

Cid, “ I almost broke my fucking neck!! Besides, I can, goddamn, sleep in whatever fucking bed I want you crazy ass vampire!"

In midst their argument, Marlene gave a yawn and fell asleep. The yelling was so much like home to her. Cid looked down to see her angelic face. His anger melted. Then they left her sleep in peace.

The next day, Barret reclaimed his daughter. Marlene told him about everything she did. From the card games, which she won many, to supper and the bubble bath. But then she said something neither Cid nor Vincent knew she heard.

Marlene, “ And then Uncle cid and Vincent got into an argument. Uncle Cid told Vincent he can sleep in whatever fucking bed he wants.”

Most parents would have been angry to hear their child picking up cuss words. But this was Barret. He was extremely paranoid about his adopted daughter’s welfare. In his mind, it sound as if Cid was trying to sleep with Marlene. This conjured other very disturbing thoughts.

Barret, “ You try to sleep with marlene?!? "

Cid was very much taken back by that. Was either the idea he was a child molester or the fact Barret was gonna pummel him made his balls want to dig their way into his stomach.

Cid sputtered, “What the fuck are you talking about?! Hell no! NO way! I ain’t like that!!”

Barret rather angry now, “ That's it!”

Cid was close to panicking, “ Vinny,tell him I didn’t sleep with her! I was with you all night!”

Barret, “ Exposing my baby to homosexual shit too?!”

Cid tried to not put his foot in his mouth even further, “ It wasn’t like that!! “

Vincent, “ Yes, Cid was with me all night after we tucked her in for bed. I made sure he was nice and warm.” His tone was hard to tell if there was more to it or not.

Cid yelled, “ You bastard!”

Vincent sat back and watched Barret chasing after the innocent pilot. This was indeed an interesting babysitting job.


The end

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