Flying Free

Disclaimer: Not mine.

A/N: Yep, hopefully its got a twist. Now enjoy, and please review, let me know if it makes sense.

Birds are often considered free animals. The ground does not hold them down, and while they may not be able to swim the depths the sky is theirs to soar in. Birds fly free.

It's been said that if men were meant to fly God would have granted them wings. Others said the lack of wings was simply an inspiration to try harder.

Cid didn't give a shit.

Birds had been his favorite animals since as far back as he could remember. Freedom had been as strong a draw as the sky, the allure increasing the older he got.

Aging had disillusioned Cid Highwind. The older he got the more things tied him down, dragging as much freedom away as possible. ShinRa had been largely responsible for that, its stupid micromanaging regulations and petty politics. The Mafia-esque environment had limited him even further.

So Cid had taken to the skies more and more often. He'd taken up smoking because he still could. Drank because no one could stop him. And became a connoisseur of tea because he loved how soothing it was on his frazzled nerves.

Men like Cid needed freedom. They were the kind who lead rebellions and demanded things like liberty or death. Such men were dangerous in their youth. ShinRa had no use for such men.

As time passed even the sky was no longer free for Cid, ShinRa's tyranny reaching even into his precious retreat from reality. So Cid looked farther. Space was free, wasn't it? No ShinRa there. He could die there, then he'd die free. It was what he wanted most.

ShinRa simply wanted him to die.

Had Shera not known better, she would have accused the two of coming to an agreement. ShinRa would sabotage the rocket and Cid would die free in space.

That simply wouldn't do.

Both sides were decidedly idiotic. So Shera carefully intervened, knowing ShinRa would never spew more money into another rocket, knowing Cid would blame her even if she was saving his life. ShinRa found that blame perfectly convenient. It got him focused on something else.

Yet Cid would never stop dreaming of freedom. Even ShinRa wouldn't take Tiny Bronco away from him - they weren't completely stupid, they knew when not to push too hard.

But when a group of ragtag fighters wandered in, Cid began to think maybe there was freedom in more places than just the sky and space.

Maybe he could die free afterall.

Now that was something he could fight for damnit.

The End