Chapter 4
Cid is at his limit. He hasn't cursed all evening, Tifa has no tea left in the house and he desperately needs a cup. He is even feeling like trying out Reno's punch when his cell phone rings. Thankful for the distraction, he takes the call.
"Who is it?" the pilot bites back a string of swear words that reflexively try to attach to the end of each sentence.
"It's Vincent. Cid, this is going to sound weird, but I need you to come meet me at the Sierra, and I need you to do it without telling anyone why. Make an excuse", Vincent's voice is calm like usual but Cid has an eerie feeling something isn't all right. Vincent rarely pulls any weird shit, the pilot frowns.
"What the h…eck are you going on about, Valentine?" the older blonde almost bites his tongue. Damn kids, damn Tifa for asking him to watch his language.
"Just do it, it is important. Make an excuse, something wrong with the Sierra, anything. Come to meet me there as soon as possible", Vincent hangs up without further explanation. Cid stares at his cell phone for a while, then pockets it and sighs. At least there will be some tea on the Sierra. The pilot thinks for a moment, before he sets off to tell Tifa that there is a technical problem on the airship and he has to go check it. He waves at Reeve, who has come to the party in person to everyone's surprise. They will all be too busy milling around him to miss him for a while.
---
This night is definitely turning into one of the most interesting and bizarre experiences in Vincent's life, and he has witnessed some really bizarre things over the years. The ex-Turk has gone to meet Cid on the airship alone to pave the way for Cloud and the present he has received from the Planet. The red-cloaked man isn't sure what word he should use of the former General. The really hard part is breaking the news to the blonde pilot.
Cid is already on the bridge of the airship when Vincent steps in. He is cradling a cup of steaming hot tea, smoking furiously, and muttering profanities under his breath as if to try and catch up with his quota after holding his tongue for most of the evening.
"Valentine, what the fuck is going on?" the pilot yells at the red-cloaked man. "Why all this damn secrecy?"
Vincent glances at the fuming man. "You better drink your tea before I tell you."
Cid narrows his eyes but takes a swig from his teacup, launching into another string of curses as he burns his tongue. Vincent sighs under his breath as he leans on the railing next to the pilot. Maybe this isn't such a good idea, but Cid is trustworthy and a good friend under his harsh façade.
"It's about Cloud", the ex-Turk starts, once Cid has emptied his teacup. "He has a… visitor, someone from his past", Vincent frowns as he tries to find the words.
"The kid gotten himself into some trouble?" Cid raises his eyebrow. "Don't tell me he's got an old girlfriend stashed somewhere?"
"Well, definitely not a girlfriend", Vincent bites his lip. The pilot's face creases into a frown and then the understanding hits him.
"Are you trying to tell me that Cloud swings that way?" Cid asks patting his pockets for a new pack of cigarettes.
"Apparently", Vincent replies stoically. "He says the Planet returned the man to him."
Cid sighs. As unexpected this news was, it really was none of his business. "So you dragged me here just to tell me that the kid is gay?" Vincent winces at the words.
"No. I dragged you here because he needs help and some place for him and the other man to stay at least overnight", the ex-Turk is glad the pilot hasn't exploded so far, though the real bomb is still around the corner.
"Yeah, sure, whatever, as long as they behave", Cid gestures. "My home is your home, or whatever they say in Mideel." Cid pauses for a while. "You said someone from Cloud's past. Anyone I know?" the pilot asks, he isn't unknown to gossiping.
"Glad you asked…" Vincent drops his bomb.
---
Cid splutters an exquisite selection of swear words, while chain smoking half a pack of cigarettes, then tries fervently to cough out a lung, before he finally calms down. He uses some new curse words too, the ex-Turk notices during the outburst, lifting his eyebrow. Probably ones saved specifically for occasions like this. Vincent is always amazed at how graphic the pilot can be in his anger.
"So, you serious about this, Valentine?" Cid asks the red-cloaked man. Deep down he is hoping the world would soon restore itself to normality and not this weirdness Vincent is talking about.
"Do I look like I'm joking?" Vincent replies, his face totally blank.
"No, but then again, you never do", the pilot mutters under his breath, taking a new cigarette. I'll be damned… Wouldn't have guessed that in a million years.
After the initial shock the pilot behaves quite matter of factly. Cid was a ShinRa employee for a long time, and he had even met Sephiroth once or twice before the younger man had been promoted to General. There had of course been a lot of rumours about the silver-haired man already in the old ShinRa days. But the man he had met years ago had not been rotten, instead in his mind a decent enough lad with way too much responsibility on his young shoulders.
If both the kid and Vincent say he is all right, it is good enough for him. Besides, he has seen weirder shit happen, so the dead coming back to life is barely making the top ten. Though dead ShinRa Generals coming back to life is a matter for itself…
---
The pilot waits for Cloud by the entrance hatch of the Sierra. He knows the kid is on his way, Vincent had phoned him that it was okay to come. He still can't help looking startled when the younger blonde steps aboard the Sierra carrying the silver-haired ex-General as if the man weighs nothing. Even if Sephiroth still is psycho, he is clearly in no state of posing a threat to anyone. Somehow, it doesn't feel any less weird when you actually see the man.
Cloud looks into Cid's eyes defiantly, as if challenging the pilot to say something, to lash out, get any grudges out of the way immediately. Thankfully, the older man is smarter than that. He ignores the provocation, and instead points the younger blonde toward the direction of the cabins, nodding at him with what he hopes is a reassuring smile.
"Pick whichever you think is best… They're all unoccupied at the moment", he says, gesturing down the hallway. The pilot sees Cloud's defiance crackle and the man smiles back at him, confident that he understands at least on some level.
To be truthful, Cid has no fucking idea what in the blazes of Ifrit is going on, but he is hoping Cloud or someone to enlighten him, the sooner the better. He also has a terrible craving for another cup of tea.
---
Choosing one of the bigger cabins, Cloud pushes the door open, carefully manoeuvring inside with his precious burden. Cid has certainly put attention to detail when decorating the Sierra, or maybe he has let Shera do it for him. The beds are wider and softer than on the old Highwind, not the usual ShinRa military issue stuff. The cabin of his choice has two beds, a table and a couple of chairs, and a nightstand.
The blonde ex-SOLDIER places the silver-haired man gently on one of the beds, and unwraps the blankets covering him before he pulls the thick and warm covers over the man so he doesn't get chilled. The blonde knows it might take days for the older man to sleep away his Mako poisoning. There is a feverish sheen to the man's skin, but luckily his brow isn't too hot, just slightly warmer to the touch than it usually would be.
Sephiroth looks exactly like Cloud remembers. Exactly like that morning in Nibelheim before the fateful journey to the reactor in the mountains, the last time he saw the true him, the person he has loved through all these years. There's an aura of peace around the silver-haired man now, something Cloud has never before sensed, but in a way that makes sense to him. Jenova is gone now, there is no one to whisper lies in the man's mind, nothing to drive him over the edge of madness.
Cloud caresses the sleeping man's cheek. He has everything he has ever wanted now. The blonde knows there is nothing he can do for his love right now, except to stay with him in case he wakes up, and make sure he stays warm and comfortable. Well, actually there is one thing he could do… Cloud smiles as he remembers one of his favourite evening rituals from years ago. He grabs a few extra pillows from the other bed and arranges them around the sleeping man's head. He removes his boots before climbing on the bed next to the man and picks up a hairbrush and a comb from Cid's well stocked nightstand. Still smiling gently he starts to untangle the man's matted hair. Zack was right, Sephiroth was always so meticulous about his hair, and it had been so long time since he'd been able to do this for him…
He is almost painstakingly careful not to pull too hard as he gently works through the tangled silver. He wishes he could wash the older man's hair, but that has to wait… Tangles give in to his fingers, as he runs his hand through the strands, then he brushes them until they shine like silk in the dim light of the cabin. Cloud is almost humming to himself, hoping the other man would be awake to enjoy the moment too.
He is halfway through his task when there's a knock on the door. "Come in", the blonde says, lifting his gaze from the tangles in the silvery hair as Vincent opens the door and steps in, closing it behind him again. The red-cloaked man is carrying a tray of food which he places on the table.
There is an unmistakable hint of amusement in those red eyes as Vincent takes in the scene of Cloud, the hairbrush and the mass of hair, neatly arranged on the pillows. The blonde feels his face blush.
"I brought you some food, there's enough for Sephiroth too if he wakes up", the ex-Turk says, nodding to the blonde man. "Cid and I, we have to go back to the party or the others will get suspicious. I presume you'll want to stay with him?"
Cloud nods, his face still blushed, his hand frozen in movement, hairbrush still touching a tuft of hair.
"Don't let me detain you", Vincent is trying hard not to smile. "We'll find a way to prepare the others for the news. But it'll probably have to wait until tomorrow. They will be too drunk to rationalize tonight if they have been drinking Reno's punch."
The thought of Reno and the punch strikes amusement in the blonde man, but his expression is also filled with thankfulness for Vincent's understanding. Without another word, the former Turk slips out of the cabin, letting Cloud return to his task of combing the tangles out of his lover's hair.
Vincent stands in the hallway for a moment, calling up the scene he had just witnessed and chuckles under his breath. Cloud had looked so happy and at the same time, like a kid with his hand caught in a cookie jar. Shaking his head, the red-cloaked man heads to meet Cid.
---
Back at 7th Heaven, Tifa is going out of her mind for worrying. First Cloud had left without a word, then Vincent too had disappeared. And then Cid had made an obvious excuse about some problem with the Sierra. Reeve's arrival had distracted her for a while, but the brunette fighter is by no means stupid, and she smells trouble. She winces as she hears Reno launch into another one of his stories, she is quite certain they're in no way appropriate for the young ears of the kids, but the red-head is unstoppable once he gets into full swing. For a while she even contemplated kicking Reno out of her bar, but it is Yule after all. And the poor man probably doesn't have any other place to go to since he isn't with his family on such an evening.
Tifa spins around as she hears the door open and sees the red-cloaked former Turk and the foul-mouthed pilot step in. Quickly she darts to meet them, in the hopes that they might have news of Cloud.
"Guys, where have you been? Have you seen Cloud?" she blurts hurriedly. Cid seems a little uneasy but Vincent's calm cannot be broken by conventional means.
"Cloud is all right. He met an… old friend, who needed help, so he decided to stay with them", Vincent ventures, as diplomatically and neutrally as he possibly can. He knows the temperamentical brunette will be the toughest nut to crack when Cloud is ready to break the news to his friends. But now is not the time, not here, and most definitely not right now.
"Don't worry about the kid, he's doing fine", Cid manages a smile he hopes looks reassuring.
"Okay…" Tifa is frowning, she isn't sure what to think of this. She had expected to toast the old year away and welcome the new together with Cloud.
"Cloud will tell you himself once he returns", Vincent assures her, grimacing inwardly. Sorry Cloud, no way to make this easier for you…
Commotion from the other end of the room catches their attention. Somehow, time has flown by and it's almost midnight. Yuffie is climbing on the table, her moogle hat drooping to the side, as she pulls Reno up with her.
"Okay guys, it's toast time!" she chimes, poking Reno's ribs for more punch.
"Come on, lets go toast with the others", Cid suggests.
"New year… Time to start with a clean slate", Vincent muses. Tifa can't help to think that there's a dual meaning to the man's words.
"Okay, let's go", she resigns with a smile. I don't know what could be more important than celebrating with your friends, Cloud, but I hope it's something that makes you happy.
They join the others, Yuffie's bickering about no more punch for her sounding above the cheers.
---
The darkest night of the year winds on, the midwinter holiday waving goodbye to the old year, and welcoming in the new. In Tifa's 7th Heaven, old friends raise a toast to each other and the years to come.
Nearby, aboard the airship, the world's happiest man is in a heaven of his own, spending his night combing the hair of an angel, before he too drifts into sleep cradling the love he once lost but found again in his arms.
MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!
Author's notes:
1. It says in the warnings it's fluffy. God it's so fluffy! Eee
2. I told you, Cid has to behave. Well I gave him a few bad words. That's all he'll get from me for now.
3. Cloud combing Sephiroth's hair tru luv. I love that image.
4. See note for part 1 concerning Yule.
5. Kirsty! Thanks for the feedback, it made me rewrite a big part of this chapter!