Resurfacing

Vincent didn’t go to see Lord Godo that night. He woke up sometime around four, unable to sleep anymore. He rolled over to his other side, Cid sound asleep next to him. A light snore was coming from his slightly open mouth, one hand on his chest with the other underneath the pillow he was using. The sheets were sloppily tossed off of his top half and only his hips down were covered. Vincent smiled and shook his head as he stood, stretching. He didn’t know how long he’d been out, but he knew he wouldn’t be able to get back into bed. Well, at least go back to sleep, he mused.

He turned and looked down at Cid sleeping again, studying the form of the man in the bed. If you had told him five years ago he would end up being with Cid Highwind, he’d have merely blinked at you before he blew your head off. Now, though, it didn’t seem as far fetched. He turned and padded to his duffel bag he’s tossed in the room that morning, retrieving a loose pair of jeans and slipped them on. Night inside the Shera was slightly cold, but he liked it well enough. He just sat back on the bed and took the book Cid was reading before, flipping it to the front page.

Four a.m. rolled around to seven, and he barely caught the sun rising in east, casting its rays through the windows to land right on Cid’s face. Vincent had to suppress a laugh as the pilot’s face wrinkled up, his hands clenched into fists and he hissed at the sunlight before cramming a pillow down onto his head. “Sleep well, Dracula?” Vincent let the teasing tone in his voice come out as he leaned over the bed, poking the well muscled chest before he trailed his fingers down it and into the sheets. He had to lean back quickly to avoid the pillow that swung at him, only catching the ends of his hair in it.

“DON’T FUCKIN TEASE ME AT SEVEN IN THE MORNING, VALENTINE!” Cid sat up, giving his best Cid Highwind glare that he was sure didn’t work on the gunman. He squinted his eyes as he yawned and scowled at the sun before he turned his attention back to Vincent. He did a double take, trying his hardest not to look impressed. The gunner sat on the edge of the bed, wearing a loose fitting pair of jeans with his hair falling like a wave of black onto his back and bare shoulders. A small smile was on his face, and his red eyes seemed to look beyond Cid into something deeper. Those long black lashes bat against the high, pale cheekbones above those pale pink lips Cid was so well acquainted with now. “Why’re you in such a good mood?"

“If you woke up next to someone like you Cid, wouldn’t you be?”

Cid hated the fact everything Vincent said made him blush. “Hell no. I’d probably be bolting up, grabbing something flat and heavy to hit him with while screaming ‘who the hell are you and why does my ass hurt?! ’...ya know, like that.”

Vincent gave what had to be the most dramatic roll of his eyes he’d ever done. “Whatever. Get up, already. I want to go into town.”

“For what? We were just there yesterday.” Cid stretched, enjoying the feel of his bones popping. He knew Vincent watched him as he tossed the sheet back and stood up, looking for his clothing on the floor, wherever Vince had tossed it last night. He bent over and grabbed his pants, sure the brunette behind him was smiling wider now. He needed a shower, he was sure, and he walked into the bathroom and turned on the water.

“Yes, but while I was getting myself ready for the fan dance you were off by yourself wandering around. BeSIDES,” Vincent tried not to let the bitterness seep into his voice too much, “I want to go back to the jewelry vendor that was there and see if he had another one of those rings.” It was really the only thing from the festival he wanted (besides Cid of course) and had been more than disappointed when the ring was gone last night.

“Didn’t know you wore anything jewelry wise outside of the metal claw department, but okay.” Cid smiled to himself as he bathed, making sure to get every place where the sun didn’t usually shine clean. “Can’t really see you in a ring.”

“Oh well, hurry up. I want to go out anyway.” Vincent shuffled through his bag and brought out the same shirt from the day before. He wouldn’t normally do things like this, but the shirt WAS still clean...or maybe Cid was just rubbing off on him too much. Either or, he shrugged, and tossed it on. “Come on, Cid. How long does it take you to take a shower?”

“Well now that you said THAT, about another ten minutes, thank you VERY MUCH.”

Vincent sighed and sat back on the bed. Despite how often Cid wanted him to voice his thoughts and feelings, sometimes he was better off silent after all.
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The market place was noisy, but he mused that it was always noisy, even when he was just a child walking alongside his mother while shopping. There were more than one vendors he remembered from his adolescent years before he left Wutai for Midgar to join the Turks. That had been a long time ago...or felt like a long time ago. Now, though he was still young looking for his age (well into his thirties), he could sometimes feel that bone in his ankle that never healed well when he broke it during a mission, or knew rain was coming from the arthritis in his hands. He couldn’t remember how long he’d been under the commission of Rufus as the leader of the Turks, but Tseng never worried about those kinds of things. Not anymore. Retired life suited him just fine, what with the Turks being all but disbanded after the clones had been beaten by Cloud and his group.

Tseng’s normally calm face scowled at the thought as he rubbed his left ribs. The clones, Yazoo and Loz, had broken them and several other bones when they’d caught them in the Northern Crater. It had only been sheer luck or a miracle, and the soft hands of an ex-Turk, that had healed him and Elena after that incident. A cool breeze made him lift his head and break away from his thoughts. He’d come back to Wutai to settle and rebuild, to calm down and live an easier life, not to think about something as painful as that. He nodded his head, mostly to himself, and kept walking, acknowledging the people he remembered and that hopefully remembered him, too. The normally calm and sparse streets were crowded today, but he knew they would be. The vendors always stayed the next few days after the Creation festival, selling hand made items to the visitors.

He wound his way through the streets when something bright and blonde caught his attention out of the corner of his eye. It was just a flash, but curiosity drove him to investigate. He followed the strange flash of blonde, discovering to his surprise it belonged to a man walking through the streets. He was short, much shorter than himself, his hands tucked into khakis. He wore a VERY familiar blue shirt, though why one man walking through Wutai with blonde hair and a blue shirt should ring any kind of bell in his mind....

“Highwind?” He took the chance and it payed off when the blonde man stopped and turned around to look up at him. Tseng remembered the sky blue eyes from anywhere, but without the cigarette hanging from his lip or the scowl on his face the pilot was hard to recognize. “Well, Ancient’s be, it is you.”

Cid blinked up at the black haired man, staring at the dot on the guy’s forehead as he tried to attach a name to it. “Um...damn, you’re that Turk Vince took care of...what’s your name?....Tseng, right?”

The Wutaiian nodded. “I’m surprised you remembered my name, much less my face. I take it you’re here with President Tuesti?”

“Reeve? Yeah, he’s here. Vincent’s around here somewhere too, though trying to find him in THIS crowd is like trying to single out a chocobo in a herd.”

“...Valentine is here?” Tseng’s attention was perked. The silent, red eyed gunman that saved his life was here, in Wutaii? Tseng never DID have an opportunity to thank the man personally, and he didn’t think a “thank you for saving my life” card would cut it manners wise. It would be a perfect time to thank him in person. “I’ve been hoping to speak with him. I will help you find him, ne?”

Cid shrugged. He had nothing against the Turk, in fact compared to someone like Reno Tseng was an alright guy in his book. “Alright. But it ain’t gonna be eaSEEEEEEEYYY ” The last few syllables of his last word came out high pitched and stuttered, his ridiculous face matching. His wallet his didn’t know was gone was slipped into his back pocket smooth as butter, the hand that put it there teasing his left butt cheek as it slipped out. He spun around and glared up at the man who did it. “DAMMIT Vince, don’t DO that ”

Vincent just laughed with a smile. “Thanks for the loan, Ci-..” He stopped mind-word as he caught the face of the man standing in front of him, brown eyes wide in confusion. “Tseng?”

“V-VINCENT?” Tseng couldn’t believe his eyes. The man his life was in debt to could not be the same man in front of him. “W..Well, it IS you. You’ve certainly..um..changed.”

“Tseng...how have you been? Are you feeling well, are your injuries all healed?”

“Yes, all better now, thanks to you...I...I know you’re here with Highwind, obviously, but I was wondering perhaps if I might have a word with you alone?” Tseng gestured towards the small restaurant behind them.

Vincent glanced down at Cid, almost smiling at the ‘don’t you dare’ look the pilot was giving him. “Of course...Cid, I’ll meet up with you later.” He did smile then, more in a reassuring look than anything as he followed Tseng to the café, the blonde man behind them quickly lost in the crowd.

“My treat...well, I must say it IS a surprise to see you of all people here in Wutaii...are you on business with Highwind or did you come for the festival?” Tseng took a seat, trying to grasp all of the differences he could see in Vincent since the clone war. His eyes were wider now, and full of light. He looked healthier albeit still pale, and he acted more extroverted now. His smile, though it was a small one, was....well, DAZZLING. Vincent could exemplify the ideal Wutaiian man in Tseng’s eyes.

“A little of both. I came with Cid as company while he ferries Reeve back and forth between meetings.” He gave his order to the waitress as she came over (simple black coffee with two creamers) before turning back to Tseng. “And yourself?”

“Living, as it were...Vincent..Mr. Valentine, I want to finally say face to face how thankful I am for helping us during the clone wars-for-for saving my life. And Elena’s." Tseng swiftly added that on, sighing in relief as Vincent overlooked it. “Though I know you didn’t HAVE to, I’m grateful none the less that you did.” He cleared his throat; for some reason, talking to Vincent made him nervous. Perhaps it was his overwhelming beauty, or maybe his silent authority. Whatever the case, Tseng could barely look him in the eye.

“Think nothing of it. I’m just glad the two of you are alright. So, I heard the Turks were disbanded.”

“And I that you were living with Highwind.” Tseng sipped at his tea, the annoyance that crept into Vincent’s face amusing.

“Reeve has a big mouth...yes, actually, I am living with Cid, and must say before you ask anymore questions that YES I’m happy there, NO he doesn’t mistreat me and YES, I’m glad I went. If you have anymore inquiries, please see Reeve and his oversized mouth.” Vincent sipped his coffee that was now in his hand, smiling into his cup at Tseng’s obviously surprised look. The Turk started laughing then, and Vincent himself couldn’t help but chuckle at the absurdity of his response. Maybe he WAS spending too much time with the pilot. “Seriously though, I am happy. I feel that I’ve changed for the better, and can life now without regret.”

“You DO seem changed. Last I tried to speak to you, you barely said a word except to ask me if I was alright or if I still hurt. You seem happier now.”

“I am.”

“What are you doing tonight?”

“Cid, hopefully.”

“....I beg your pardon?!”

Vincent choked on his coffee as he realized he had, for the second day in a row, SERIOUSLY slipped up. He swallowed hard and slapped a hand over his mouth as he looked up at Tseng. The Turk was sitting there, wide eyed and obviously confused, his cup of hot tea slipping out of his hands. He was brought back only when the scalding hot liquid spilled into his lap and Tseng jumped up, cursing in Wutaiian. He grabbed a napkin and once again looked at the gunman in front of him. “SAY that AGAIN, Vincent?!”

He knew it was no good to try to lie to a Turk, especially not one as sharp as or had a good memory like Tseng. Vincent sighed, motioning for Tseng to sit down before he continued. “You won’t speak a word to ANYONE what I about to tell you, understand?” He shot Tseng a look he was sure the Turk would understand- he’d seen Tseng use it on Reno many times. “Alright, I went out to Rocket Town after the Omega incident, as everyone knows. Cid invited me to stay and I....accepted. For the first few weeks, everyday was awkward. I never fit in, I didn’t know what to do or where I stood...but Cid never stopped trying to get me to be happy. He even did the most RIDICULOUS things to try...made me work on the ship, made me go LINE DANCING!.” Vincent laughed at the memory, shaking his head. “It was only when I realized that Cid was trying to make me happy, HONESTLY happy, I began to realize that I COULD be happy..and also, that I was...FEELING things for him I NEVER thought I would.”

“I agree with you on that one.” Tseng was still staring at the red eyed man in complete shock, his mind now trying to register Vincent having feelings for a complete redneck like Highwind. He, never in his mind, imagined anyone that wasn’t born in a barn and missing half their teeth liking someone like Highwind.

Vincent ignored that. “I knew that what I was feeling was wrong, and I was afraid to admit it to myself...much less CID...but...through some STRANGE turn of fate I DID...and found out that most of my fears were....well..” Vincent fiddled with his coffee cup, watching the black liquid in it swirl around. “Unnecessary. I found out he....felt the same way, sort of. And we agreed to try and..take it further. So we did.” Vincent could feel himself blushing as he looked back up at Tseng, who now had a slightly disgusted look on his face. The gunman could feel his pride bristling as he looked at the Turk with a scowl. “ALRIGHT, I admit he’s no SUPER MODEL and can be very uncouth at times, but EVERYONE thinks that. No one knows what he’s like at all. ” Vincent took his cup, slamming it down on the table, almost breaking it in the process.

“I don’t believe it. How can someone like YOU POSSIBLY end up with someone like HIM?!” Tseng couldn’t believe his ears. Of people to pair the gunman up with, HIGHWIND was no where on his list.

“What do you MEAN, ‘someone like him’? ” Vincent narrowed his eyebrows, his eyes flashing dangerously."

”Vincent, I’m not going to lie! You’re a very beautiful man who could have anyone, and Highwind’s just ...he’s just! ....”

“He’s JUST as beautiful, and it’s not HIS fault if people like YOU are too blind to see it. ” Vincent pushed his chair back, staring down at Tseng with an angry look, his breathing hard. “And how DARE you assume that he’s not good enough for me ...he’s everything I’ve been looking for, and was either stuck in a coffin for thirty years or blind to it! I was a fool not to see it...I will NEVER be a fool again. You’re welcome, Tseng. That’s what you wanted to hear after all, wasn’t it? You have it now, and if you ever wish to speak to me again, do so only when you can accept us. ”

With that Vincent stood and walked swiftly away from the café, leaving Tseng watching him leave with a regretful face and an open mouth, the apology he had in his throat never coming out.
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Vincent couldn’t remember the last time he’d gotten that mad, said that much in such a way, or acted SO totally out of character. He assumed the silent, far away facade in front of such people like Tseng and Reeve for such reasons. If anyone, ANYONE, knew how he truly was, what he REALLY felt and wanted to say half the time, he wouldn’t get the respect and fear from people he did. If someone like...like BARETT (Vincent shuddered at the thought) knew how he really was, he’d never hear the end of ANYTHING. If ANYONE knew anything...

But there was someone who did. Cid. Cid knew almost everything about the gunner, even things Vincent didn’t know about himself.

He stopped, sliding against one of the cool, stone walls of a nearby store to the ground. He sat there, catching his breath and cooling down. All of a sudden he felt a urgent desire to be around the blonde pilot. He was a calming agent to Vincent, whether he knew it or not. The gunman was about to stand when a shadow fell over him, and he looked up at it to face the sun bleached image of... “Lord Godo?”

“Mr. Valentine...let’s take a walk.”
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AN- DUNH DUNH DUNH!!! Hanger of Cliffs!!
What will Lord Godo say? WILL Tseng ever accept Vincent's feelings, and WHO'S Tifa's baby's daddy?! (jk)
Find out next time on "All My Advent Children"!