The Calm after the Storm (working title) Chapter 4 Fandom:FFVII Post Dirge of Cerberus Rating:PG-13 for language. Summary:Chaos has returned to the planet along with Omega, but for Vincent there are still issues to deal with left in their wake. For the rest of Gaia, there's a planet that needs to heal and rebuild. The WRO on one side, opposing factions on the other, life doesn't seem to get any smoother. Author notes: The rating of this fic may well go up. For anyone stumbling onto my fic journal, hello. Just so you know, this fic will contain a m/m relationship. Just a heads up. Disclaimer:FFVII and all it entails belong to Square Enix.
Vincent put his phone away. “Reeve wants to see us.”
“Let’s not keep him waitin’ then,” Cid said. “We can leave this lot to get on with their jobs.”
Taking their leave, they left the WRO science team to their work and returned to the Shera and from there to WRO headquarters and Reeve.
The flight back was tedious, but less cramped now the WRO team were at the Glacier. Vincent wandered through the walkway empty apart from the occasional passing crew member and onto the bridge.
Cid stood at the helm, grumbling. He noticed Vincent. “Hell, these flights are gonna get borin’ if all I gotta do is go back and forth. The only good thing is, that with less weight onboard, she’ll fly a bit quicker. Not that my baby’s slow.”
Vincent, stood off to one side just behind Cid, leant against the bulkhead and said nothing.
Cid grumbled under his breath about it, fighting the urge to veer the ship suddenly to one side to knock Vincent over, just for the fun of it.
* * * *
The WRO building was the same as Vincent remembered it, minus Deepground soldiers. Cid seemed at home enough, but Vincent could never bring himself to be totally comfortable with the sterility of the place. Reeve met them in the main entrance hall of the large building. “It’s good to see you, Cid, Vincent,” he said greeting them both in turn.
Both nodded. “So, what’s up?” Cid asked.
“Come.” Reeve gestured in front of him as he started walking towards the lift leading to the higher levels and his office. “I’ve had a visit from Rufus Shinra.”
“Rufus? What does he want?” Vincent asked.
“Information currently. It may change depending on the information he gets.”
“I take it he’s been asking about the machine we found,” Vincent said.
“Yes. He paid me a visit before it was found so he doesn’t know what it is yet, but he’s definitely interested to find out.”
Cid followed along behind listening to the two men talk. Politics. It wasn’t that he had no interest at all, but apart from grumbling his dislike for Rufus, he didn’t have much to contribute to the current conversation. He’d filled Reeve in earlier on what they had found, any more information concerning that would be relayed to him through what the rest of the team discovered.
“Did Rufus give any indication as to what he wanted the information for?”
Reeve pressed the button for the lift and turned to Vincent. “No. But he made it quite clear he intends to find out what we’ve found. Beyond that, I don’t believe it is unreasonable to assume he has one thing in mind.”
Rebuilding the Shinra Company,” Vincent said, echoing Reeve’s thoughts.
“Yes. Not long after Deepground was defeated, I spoke to Cloud. During the course of our conversation he’d said that at one point Reno had let slip that it was Rufus’ intention.”
“Reno? I’m surprised he’d do that,” Vincent said.
Reeve chuckled. “It was always more typical of Elena.”
“I wouldn’t know. The last time I saw Elena, she was half dead.”
“Thanks to you they both made a full recovery, but I fear that will work to our disadvantage now.”
“You think I should have left them?” Vincent almost sounded puzzled.
“No, no,” Reeve said emphatically. “I meant in terms of them being Turks and in the employ of Rufus. Rufus will use everything at his disposal, including them two. The Turks are loyal to him, well, loyal enough.”
Cid decided he’d been quite long enough. “Well, I’m not lettin’ those Shinra dogs get their hands on that equipment.”
Both Reeve and Vincent turned to look at him as they entered into Reeve’s office. Cid looked almost childishly defiant. “Look, the world’s not exactly been better under the WRO, but that’s not really been it’s fault. Besides, I’m lookin’ out for my own interests. They’re not nickin’ another damn airship off me.”
Vincent smiled, though it was deliberately hidden by his cloak collar. Reeve smiled and nodded in understanding. He felt pressure from his position and more than once Shelke had commented in her factual way that the Commissioner seemed to be perpetually mildly stressed. But he could do a lot more for the people, especially the citizens of Midgar; from where he was, he could help them rebuild their city, their homes. He had concerns of Rufus taking over and serving his own ends. Despite the changes over the years, he still believed Rufus capable of this.
They sat down at the table. “The only thing we can do right now is watch to see what Rufus does next, if anything,” Reeve said. “Due to his obvious financial involvement in the WRO, if he really wants to get involved in what’s happening, I’m not really sure there is much anyone can do about it.”
“What exactly does this have to do with us?” Vincent asked, not entirely sure where Reeve was leading with all this. “This is politics, it’s not something I get involved in.”
Though he was in agreement with Vincent’s statement, Cid couldn’t resist. “Vince, you wouldn’t get involved in anythin’ unless we dragged your ass along.” Giving no room for any possible comebacks, he turned to Reeve. “He’s got a point though, our part’s done and dusted.”
“I need your help. Shelke can give you more information on the technical side, but ideally, I need your help with any possible problems whilst I try to deal with Rufus.”
“She is here?” Vincent asked slowly. Shelke always brought out mixed feelings in him.
“Yes, she’s where you’ll usually find her. She spends time sorting through data for me, when she’s not catching up on normal things for a girl of her age.”
“She’s a grown woman of twenty.” Vincent pointed out. “Just one that cannot age and will die without mako.”
Reeve just nodded. He was well aware of Shelke’s age. He didn’t feel the need to reply to Vincent’s statement of something so obvious, they had spoken before on Shelke. Shelke was one of the few things in the world that Vincent had feelings for and would speak up about at odd times.
Cid, having watched the exchange, brought matters back on track. “So, am I straight in thinkin’ you want us as some kinda bodyguard for the power generator?”
“Yes, and no,” Reeve said. “Of course we have enough of our own soldiers that we can get to guard the power generator, but we believe there are more of them. I trust you both more to find them and oversee the protection of the sites.”
“I’m going to talk to Shelke.” Vincent stood and left the room.
Cid and Reeve looked at each other. “Y’know, I value Vince’s friendship greatly, but he’s still a weird bastard sometimes,” Cid said looking toward the door.
Vincent followed the corridors leading to the computer lab that Shelke occupied when she was here. He stepped through as the door opened with a gentle hiss, alerting her to his presence. “Commissio…Vincent.” She corrected as she saw who had entered the room.
“You are well?” Vincent asked
“Yes, and you?”
Both had grown comfortable in the strange formality that existed between them. Both were aware of the connection between them from Lucrecia and the similarities they bore. Shelke, like Vincent, did not age.
“I’ve been fine. Reeve says you have some information.”
“Yes. I’ve been tracking information on the World Network, trying to piece together any information I could find in reference to the power generator. I’ve been mostly unsuccessful. But I did find a small reference to an unknown power source from many years before mako was discovered. The data was one line, found within Lucrecia’s study of Chaos and the Chronicles of Yore. There is a possibility that there is more of them.”
“Is it likely?”
“The team keep sending in new information in regularly. Give us a few days and we should have enough to tell us if it is probable.” Shelke looked at the ground. “Vincent?”
“Yes?”
“I have been thinking on much since our last meeting. Lucrecia’s data fragments? I…I am confused.” She paused. “ No, it's not important.” She wasn't sure how to proceed or why she'd started to talk, though her feelings had been causing her some consternation, she didn't feel it was necessary to talk about.
“What is it?” He had a feeling this conversation with her was a long time coming.
Shelke looked uncomfortable. “My…Lucrecia’s feelings for you. I know they are not my own, but….” she trailed off, unsure how to voice her jumbled thoughts.
Vincent stood a little nearer to her and placed his hands gently on her shoulders. “I know, but these are not your feelings. I know it is difficult. I have to remember that Lucrecia and you are two separate people.”
“Do you care for me, Vincent?” Her voice regained its usual steady tone.
Unsure of what it was Shelke really meant by the question, he took the honest approach in answering her. “Yes. But how much of my feelings are a result of your connection to Lucrecia, I couldn’t say.” He fell silent.
She looked thoughtful for a moment. “We are alike, Vincent Valentine. I believe in each other we find a ‘kindred spirit’. A friendship based on understanding.”
He smiled at her. He had worried that Shelke, in her inexperience and subsequent return to humanity, may have confused Lucrecia’s feelings with her own. It was the presence of the data fragments that had had some influence on Shelke’s actions with them during the fight with Deepground. But to his relief, she kept a level head even when she did suffer from confusion at times. She was right, he did feel about her that way, as a friend and kindred spirit; he worried about her, thought about others conduct with her. He had come to the conclusion that maybe this was as close to becoming a father as he would ever experience. No, she wasn’t a child, but he wasn’t the twenty seven year old man he appeared to be either. They were a strange family, but a family no less.
They spoke for a while longer until they were interrupted by Cid and Reeve joining them. “I’ve set up some quarters for you both until we have any more news on what to do next.” Reeve said. “Besides, I’m sure you and Shelke have much to talk about.” It was a subtle reference that didn’t go unnoticed. Though Vincent was around civilisation more than he used to, he still tended to disappear off for weeks or months at a time.
Vincent and Cid headed back further into the part of the building that housed the temporary sleeping quarters. “There’s a lot goin’ on, looks like we’re sharin’ yet again,” Cid said. “Hope you’re not bored of my company.”
Reaching the room, which was small and spartan with a bunk built into the side, Cid dumped down a bag and made his excuses, claiming if he didn’t phone her soon, Shera was going to ‘hand him his ass’. Alone, Vincent lay on the top bunk, lost in thought. He didn’t begrudge Reeve asking for help; it gave him a reason to spend time in Cid’s company, which he enjoyed. The man was rough, swore too much even when he was swearing less and he smoked like a chimney. But he was down to earth and intelligent. Vincent admired that in him. He closed his eyes and again the darkness brought little comfort as his mind wandered to less pleasant thoughts.
Vincent opened his eyes as he heard the door latch click as Cid returned. Vincent jumped down from the bunk, taking the proffered cup of tea. He took Cid’s too and placed it on the small table so that Cid could close the door unencumbered.
“Shelke okay?”
“Yes, Shelke’s alright. She seems to be happy enough here,” Vincent replied.
“Good to hear.”
“She’s concerned about her feelings for me. I can understand, because of Lucrecia’s data fragments. To be honest, I’m not sure if they really remained, or if she’s experiencing remembered feelings.”
“Have you considered they might actually be her feelin's?”
Vincent looked at Cid sharply in surprise. “Do you think that might be the case?”
“Why not? She only looks like a ten year old, but as you said yourself, she’s a woman of nearly twenty one. I’m more concerned about your feelin's for her.”
“What do you mean?”
“Look, Vince. I’ve nothin' against the girl. It’s bloody great you've someone you care about. I just want you to be sure you know why you care about her. You owe it to her to care about her for who she is, not the memories and information she has stored in her head.” He paused, seeing the look in Vincent’s eyes and decided to go for broke. “She’s not Lucrecia.” He said softly.
“I’m aware of that, Cid.”
They sat in silence; the steam from the tea invaded his nostrils, reminding Cid of its presence. As he drank, Vincent sighed and spoke again.
“She said she was sorry.” Vincent said as he stared into the tea in front of him, looking almost as if all his answers would be there if only he could look hard enough.
Cid said nothing. He took a swig of his tea and waited to see if Vincent would continue.
“She enclosed herself in that mako to escape. She needed to escape from her own guilt.” He swallowed a mouthful of his own tea, not because he wanted it, but it gave him a much needed second to compose himself to continue talking. “I knew she was there when my father died, that he died protecting her. But I never blamed her.”
Vincent‘s voice was quiet as he spoke, so Cid felt he had to strain to hear the words clearly.
Vincent raised his eyes from the cup to look at Cid. “Once I knew, she felt she couldn’t face me. That’s when she gave herself to Hojo.” The pain of the memory was still very evident in his eyes.
Cid didn’t know what to say, but felt he should say something. “Shit, Vince. I’m sorry. I never knew.”
“Why should you? I’ve never spoken of it.” Vincent sat back in his chair and sighed. “I wanted to tell her I never thought she was at fault. But, after Hojo, it was difficult to talk to her. Then…well, you know the rest.”
Vincent rose from his seat and walked over to the small window. He stared out at the horizon. “Cloud once asked me if sins could be forgiven. My answer to him was that I’d never tried.”
“Then maybe you should try?” Cid replied. “As you said, you’d never blamed Lucrecia. What makes you so sure you are any more to blame than she is? Beatin' yourself up over her decisions, right or wrong, probably isn’t what she’d want.” The silence weighed heavy, then Cid spoke again in an attempt to lighten the mood again. “Would it be so surprisin' that she’s attracted to you?”
“Shelke?”
“Come on, you’re a good looking guy. No reason she wouldn’t.”
Vincent smiled. “That’s what concerns me. I care for her, but more like a daughter. I admit there are things that remind me of Lucrecia, but occasional mixed feelings does not confuse me to what is real.”
“Glad to hear it. In that case, there’s a bar down the road, I say we go get a cold one.” Any concerns Cid had for Vincent were alleviated, certainly in terms of Shelke. He just wished Lucrecia wasn’t as large a shadow over Vincent’s life as she sometimes appeared to be.
* * * *
Cid was becoming impatient. Two days they had sat in the WRO headquarters and he was starting to feel cooped up and bored. He was stood on the bridge of the Shera waiting. He heard the door to the bridge open. “Goddamnit man, my engines are gettin' cold waiting for you.”
“Shelke wanted to talk to me before I left. Reeve also had a last few bits of information to pass on as well,” Vincent said as he walked around to where Cid was standing.
“So, where to next?” Cid asked.
Vincent unfolded a map. “With the extra information the team have sent through to Reeve, and the information Shelke could find, they think there could be another four or five of these power generators. In theory, with others, it could be a global source of power.”
“That’s if it ever bloody works. That machinery’s not new and it’s currently dead as a doornail.”
“The next place to look is south of Wutai. Based on what they have worked out in terms of the generator's possible range, the next one should be found somewhere in the region of the old materia cave.
"How's they figure that out? They've not got it working. I swear these guys make it up as they go along, just to give people answers." He grumbled under his breath some more that Vincent didn't catch, then he voiced his feelings again. “Damn it. There’s nowhere round there to land a damn airship.”
Vincent sighed. Sometimes he wondered how Shera lived with him. “We can land to the north, near Wutai and travel from there.”
“That’s miles on foot. We’re goin' to need something to get us there quicker.”
“Will the buggy make it?”
Cid took a cigarette from the pack and shook his head as he lit a match. “Too many goddamn mountains. We need to pay Ester a visit.”
At Cid’s command the Shera took off and headed east.
* * * *
The first noticeable thing as they disembarked was the smell that assaulted their noses, the breeze brought the distinct smell of ammonia from the corner of the yard as a farm hand overturned an old pile of used straw. The second was the distinct smell of chocobo, to which the only word that came to mind was pervasive. It got everywhere. Cloud had once commented, when telling him about the desert prison, that the smell of chocobo could still be faintly smelt in his clothes weeks later. Cid had always thought it strange that, considering what was going on a the time, he actually noticed. Strange boy that one.
Vincent observed that the Chocobo farm had expanded quiet a bit since he’d last seen it. He entered the main stable with Cid.
“Hey, Bill?” Cid called into the barn, startling a few chocobos.
A young man stuck his head round from the alcove he was working in. “Mr Highwind? I was told by Ester to expect you.”
Vincent looked at Cid. “You phoned?”
Cid grinned. “Course, that’s what we have them for.”
Vincent slightly rolled his eyes. Enough to let Cid know the jibe wasn’t unnoticed. “I’ll wait outside,” he said. Leaving Cid to procure some chocobos, he walked from the barn and found himself wandering near the building that housed the farm hands living quarters and a very small bed and breakfast for the few travellers that stopped by.
“Do I recognise you, Sonny?”
Vincent turned to see an old man, possibly Billie’s father; he couldn’t recall, standing there.”
“Unlikely.”
“Hmm, I swore I’d seen ya before.” He nodded and turned into the house.
Heading back to the airship, he watched as a farmhand was helping one of Cid’s crew load two chocobos onboard. Walking over, he stood beside Cid.
Cid turned. “No point bein' a Captain if you never delegate.” At Vincent’s maintained silence, he continued. “Come on, lets get back, we’ve got another stop yet.”
They returned to The Shera, Vincent wondering if Cid meant the Wutaian continent, or another one added to an itinerary Vincent didn’t know about.
Vincent was given quarters as the journey to Wutai was a much longer run than the one to Icicle. He wandered for a while then retired to his room realising he missed the deck of the Highwind. The observation panels on the bridge just wasn’t the same as being out in the night air. Cid had already left another crew member at the helm and was shut away in his quarters working on something before he turned in for the night. Not that Vincent particularly wanted the Captain’s company. He wasn’t sure what he wanted, but it wasn’t company. He sat in the darkened room, the only light came from a small nightlight at floor level to one side. The soft faint glow was more than enough for him to see by as he stared into the middle distance, lost in thought.
Vincent had once told Cid that he was a monster. He’d be a little taken aback when Cid had replied in fewer words that this was quite true. Having seen ‘The Walking Carpet’; as he called the Galian Beast, in action, monster was a good as any word to describe him.
The group had been attacked by an opportunist group of Nibel Wolves, the pack had been larger than usual making them harder work to take down. Barret had been injured and the wolves had managed to get between the members of the group, separating them for an easier kill. Until Vincent snapped. It was the first time they had seen him transform.
Once Barret’s wounds were tended they all took the opportunity to rest. Cid wandered towards Vincent, who had put some distance between himself and the others. “The walkin' carpet’s quite impressive,” Cid said.
Vincent looked away, a contemptuous edge to his reply. “It is a monster. It’s who I am.”
Cid wasn’t biting, he knew just where the contempt was aimed and sat on a fallen log near Vincent, but still far enough away to give the man some space. “Yeah, and Yuffie’s an irritatin' brat. I can tolerate her company too.” With that he stood again and wandered back to the main group.
Vincent watched his back as he walked away and just knew Cid had smugly noticed the barely perceptible widening of Vincent’s eyes and that he understood.
Over time since then, Vincent had come to terms with himself as he much as he thought he ever would. He had learnt to understand those entities that shared his body, all except Chaos. But Chaos was now gone, and Vincent didn’t miss the Weapon’s presence. Galian Beast had evolved over time and Hellmasker and Death Gigas had been quiet for a long time and seemed to be content to do so. It had been long enough and Vincent was no weak minded fool. It had taken time, but who was now in charge was undisputed.
He rose from the bed he was sat on and wandered the dimmed corridors, getting nothing more than a few brief inquisitive looks from the crew on nightshift. He walked into a room that had been set aside for recreation and looked over to the window at the far side. Cid turned round from looking at the stars. “You can’t sleep either?”
“I don’t sleep.”
“Explains why you’re so pale all the time,” Cid shrugged and went back to looking at the stars.
Vincent stood off to one side.
After a few minutes, Cid smiled before he turned to face Vincent. “Well, if you’re gonna be lousy company, I might as well get some shut-eye.” He yawned. “See ya in the morning.” With that he left the room.
Despite his statement, which he knew Cid didn‘t take literally, Vincent returned to his room and slept for a short while. It was dawn when he awoke having noticed the lull in the ships engines. Looking out of the small window, he didn’t recognise the area of Wutai they were until he realised they weren’t on the Wutain continent at all and they were in fact, just outside Rocket Town.