Retarded Monkey with Guns (luzzu) wrote in balfonheim_port, @ 2008-04-22 02:38:00 |
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Entry tags: | cid/vincent, ffvii, the calm after the storm |
The Calm after the Storm Chapter 12
Fandom:Final Fantasy VII
Rating:R - sort of, maybe? I'd apologise for not being sure, but I'm English.
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:Oh dear. Just when I think I know where I'm going with this, I lose the plot again. Twelve chapters in and I'm still going 'whut?'
Disclaimer:All characters belong to SquareEnix and I make no money. However, this crazy lack of idea belongs to me. SqEx would never get Cid and Vincent doing this, they'd get them doing something sensible - maybe.
At what point Vincent had decided to go to Gongaga with Cid, he wasn't sure. But as Cid had accompanied him to Edge, watching his back in Gongaga seemed to be a fair exchange. It wasn't much to go on, but they'd both come to the conclusion that the best place to start their search in the area would be to check out the old Mako reactor.
Cid had suggested to Vincent that the girl had probably been right and Tio was completely senile. Quite how Shinra could hold any answers to was debatable, but he conceded that Shinra had hidden a great deal of knowledge generally so it was possible. What this could have to do with an old disused and clapped out Mako reactor in the middle of practically nowhere, he couldn't fathom.
They'd left the Shera and booked into the small ramshackle inn in Gongaga village. Cid didn't come to Gongaga much as it wasn't a regular stop on the trade routes, but he liked the odd rustic charm of the place. It was still run down, though now it no longer had the desolate feel to it that had been present during and just after the Jenova war.
From there they had set back out into the forested area for the old Mako reactor. The path leading towards it was overgrown, a sign no one had been this way for a while. At least long enough for the plants to spread to almost obscure the path’s route in places. Reaching the reactor they could see there wasn't much left of parts of it. Natural erosion had taken care of some of it, and the local villagers had done the rest. As much as the residents of Gongaga resented the reactor, building material was building material and whilst the WRO had done much to help out, time constraints and the demands of the rest of planet meant that Gongaga wasn't a high priority.
Looking around the debris and old twisted metal Cid kicked a small rock out of the way. “I can’t see how we’re supposed to find anything here. There’s barely anythin’ left and we’ve no idea what the hell we’re lookin’ for.”
“I don’t know,” Vincent replied. “That’s why we need to look.” He ignored Cid grumbling under his breath about the lack of any concrete information. He agreed that the lack of anything solid beyond a name and place was frustrating in itself, but until something came to light or Tio would possibly furnish them with more information, there was little they could do.
Vincent had been quiet since Reeve had given him the letter found at the Shinra mansion. Cid hadn’t asked, figuring Vincent would talk if he wanted to. The silence between the two men while not entirely uncomfortable, felt slightly forced. Though he wouldn’t ask, or broach the subject, Cid found himself nearly talking for the sake of filling the silence but cutting himself off before he actually spoke because he didn’t really know what to say.
They’d searched in silence for three hours, going over the place almost with a fine tooth comb. “I’ve got nothing,” Cid said finally. “This is pointless.”
“What would you suggest we do instead?”
“How about wring the old guy’s neck until he says something useful?” He sat down on a rusty girder. “I’ve got no time for these ‘enigmatic’ types. I don’t need to be sent on some life changing adventure, I’ve had my fair share of those already thanks. I ain’t livin’ in some damn fairy tale.”
Vincent smiled. Cid’s practical nature was something that could always be relied on. “I doubt half throttling him will help us much, but I could return to Cosmo Canyon and attempt to see if he knows anything else.”
“Might be an idea, because this is getting us nowhere. Finding a damn needle in a haystack would be easier, least we’d know what we’re looking for.”
* * *
“Preparations are in place. It should all go quite smoothly.”
Reeve was still unconvinced at Rufus’ latest idea. “If we move some of the research team into Midgar itself, not only are we taking them away from doing vital work, but we are also placing them at great risk.”
“The risk will be minimal, and they‘re as much at risk at the Generator site if everything goes according to plan.” Rufus dismissed Reeve’s concerns. “We need to get them into Midgar. Reno has been as far as we can tell, successful in discovering what the group is actually after. I’m almost disappointed at their lack of ambition, after Sephiroth and Kadaj, it seems quite paltry.”
“Personally, Rufus, I’m quite happy with the lack of grandeur in their ambitions if that’s the case.”
Rufus nodded slightly. “I assume, despite their lack of vision, that if we are to treat them as a serious threat you would like to keep our people informed.”
Rufus’ statement brought it back with clarity just how Shinra had originally worked. Reeve had become so used to the openness between him and close colleagues that he’d all but forgotten the shroud of secrecy that Shinra operated under. “I generally find keeping employees informed useful.” His attempt to keep his voice completely free of sarcasm failed.
“Once the plan is underway, I cannot risk getting word to Reno. Our methods, whilst effective are not foolproof. If you can find any information for them, I trust you can find a way to get it to them?” Rufus said, either not caring or not noticing Reeve’s tone.
“I can probably find a way.” Reeve stopped to think for a moment. “I still think moving key staff into Midgar is asking for trouble.”
“And that is why it must be done.”
Though he could see the logic behind Rufus’ argument, it still left him uncomfortable. He knew the only reason the smaller attacks on Midgar recently had not resulted in any injuries beyond any fake reports was because of Reno’s influence on the group. It wasn’t the most comforting thought. “So you say.”
* * *
Vincent returned to Gongaga and not before time as far as Cid was concerned. As Vincent had ‘borrowed’ the Shera and its crew while Cid remained searching, the only thing that had been discovered were the limits to Cid's patience.
"Anything new?" Cid asked, now back on the Shera.
"Tio was most unhelpful in that regard. Though us being here is not a complete loss, as another generator is believed to be somewhere in the region of Gongaga." Vincent was mildly amused at the way Cid was taking his frustration out on his cigarette. He could almost tell his moods apart by the way he smoked.
"Then tomorrow I'll break out the detectors and we can actually look for something a little more concrete than hints and whispers." Cid's mood wasn't improving.
They sat in silence for a while, Vincent still pouring over the files that Reeve had given him originally. Cid wondered if there was something specific Vincent was hoping to find, beyond casual interest. He couldn't put his finger on it, but something in Vincent's demeanour had changed since Reeve had given him that letter, and Cid wasn't sure if he liked what it hinted at.
Vincent looked up from the papers. "Once we've finished here, we need to return to Edge. Reeve needs me to get some information to Yuffie."
"What's the brat up to now?"
"She's gathering information on the terrorist group they're trying to stop."
"I can't see why they can't just bust in there an' break a few heads. It always used to work just fine."
Vincent knew it was pointless to point out that Shinra's methods were far from ideal, Cid was the last person he needed to preach the obvious to. "I think Reeve would prefer to have evidence first."
Cid shrugged. "If Yuffie's there and knows it's them, how much more evidence do they need?"
"The word of one girl isn't sufficient to get a conviction. Though I agree with Reeve that the way they are getting evidence isn't the most unbiased."
"True, but since when has this world ever done anythin' in a way that was genuinely fair?"
Vincent rose from his seat , placed a hand on Cid's shoulder as he spoke. "It's because the world has been so unfair that it needs to change. Goodnight, Cid."
Cid nodded and lit another cigarette as Vincent left the room. He didn't think about the unfairness of what Reeve was doing working with Rufus, or the Space programme that he never saw get off the ground. He thought about the letter that Vincent had and felt, well, he wasn't sure how he felt. But the discovery of the letter irked him. He aggressively stubbed his cigarette out, cursing under his breath trying to work out what the hell had got into him lately.
Irrational anger.
Exaggerated ….
A thought occurred to him. Vincent?…Could he? No. He shook his head and summarily dismissed the thought.
The next few days had brought no luck in finding sign of a new generator either. Frustration at the brick wall they seemed to have hit had made Cid skulk back into Gongaga earlier in the day than he'd originally intended, looking for a drink a bit stronger than tea.
The small bar in the bed and breakfast was probably the smallest Cid had ever been in. He'd have been surprised if the place could hold more than five people. After the first drink, he decided the close proximity of the other two patrons was more company than he wanted right now, so he took his pint upstairs to the room he and Vincent was staying in. He sat on the bed refusing to feel guilty that he'd left Vincent searching on his own. As it was, they'd not been searching too far from the town, so Cid felt there was no real need for any concern and he felt more comfortable out of Vincent's company. Finishing his drink, he nodded off to sleep lost in thought.
When he awoke it was dark outside and Vincent was sat on the chair in the corner of the room, reading. Neither man said anything as Cid rose from the narrow bed and walked out onto the small makeshift balcony, refusing to give the fact it looked like it would break any more thought than necessary.
“Here, Vince. Come and look at this.”
Vincent joined Cid out on the balcony. The night breeze was warm and carried the smell of cooking from a nearby house. Gongaga looked even less rundown in the dark, looking out in the starlight it could almost be a pretty rural village. Following Cid’s gaze, Vincent looked at the moon, now copper coloured and looking twice as large as usual.
“Haven't seen one of those in a while, eh?” Cid asked, though it wasn’t actually a question.
“It's the first eclipse I've seen for a while.”
"How long's it been, five years?"
“Possibly.” Vincent turned to go back inside. “Cid?”
“Uh?” Cid said absently.
“Never mind.” Vincent returned to the room.
Cid turned in time to see Vincent’s cloak disappear beyond the door. Cursing himself for reasons he wasn't sure he wanted to acknowledge, he lit another cigarette.
When Cid finally came inside, he saw Vincent had removed his cloak and was sitting in the chair reading the latest file reports. “Anything interesting?”
“Much the same as before.” He didn’t elaborate any further.
Cid nodded and sat down on the edge of the bed. He was getting annoyed with himself, he hadn’t felt this awkward when he’d asked Shera to marry him. Vincent was a friend, and a good one at that. Feeling discomfort at being in his friend’s company was seriously pissing him off now.
Vincent looked at him and put the papers down. He knew Cid was uneasy about something. Cid was not one for hiding his agitation, and failed when he tried. Without making it obvious that he was trying to discern what was going through Cid’s head he more intently tried to read the man.
Cid scratched the back of his head awkwardly and stood up. “I’m gonna get some sleep", he muttered.
Vincent just sat there, surprised at the discovery that Cid seemed to be embarrassed. He averted his eyes, lost in his own thoughts as Cid took his shirt off.
Cid sat on the bed , then stood up again. “Look…” He began. “You see…me and Shera.. Well, I love her…I’m not going to deny that, but…” Cid paced awkwardly, struggling to coherently put his thoughts together. He turned toward the window, his back to Vincent. “Aww shit! I’m no good at this.” He spun round to find Vincent standing directly in front of him. Before he could say anything, lips were pressed against his.
His eyes widened slightly at the shock of his friend, so calm and distant most of the time, now kissing him fiercely. Then he stopped thinking.
Vincent for his part, noticed for a fraction of a second that Cid tasted of smoke.
They pulled apart. Vincent stood there and looked at Cid, a hand still resting on his arm. There was no apology in his face, he wasn’t sorry. He had spent a lifetime being sorry. Now, it was what it was and Shiva be damned. If Cid wanted to lay him out for it, then that was his call. For the first time in a long time, he’d deal with any regrets later.
“Fucking hell, Vince.” That was all Cid said, then he was kissing Vincent again.
No loving words were exchanged, no words were exchanged at all. Driven by passion and need they pulled at each others clothes, hands everywhere. Lips and tongues vying for superiority as Vincent pushed Cid against the wall.