A Clean and Cool Cotton

The sun had set far below the horizion by the time Cid and the others made thier way back to the inn. The pilot could hear Tifa and Yuffie behind him comparing how pruny they were, and Barett did nothing but go 'hmmmph' and 'that's right' whenever Tifa asked him a question. Cid glanced up at the sky, mulling over the fact that despite the whole Vincent-put-a-gun-to-my-head-and-stole-my-shirt-then-kicked-me-out-and-I-still-don't-know-what-the-fuck's-going-on incident, the day had been pretty good. He retired to the beach and sun after swimming for most of the day, enjoying the heat on his back as he watched Tifa and Yuffie chase after Barett as they played beach football. Cid would have played himself, had he not ended up falling asleep mid-sun bathing. Oh well, they were staying in Costa Del Sol for another day or so- there could always be a chance tomorrow.

The stars were starting to come out by the time they reached the inn, and as Cid started up the stairs to his room he waved a goodbye to the others before he got to his room. He stood there, looking at the door with a frown. He wasn't sure exactly WHAT he was expecting when he finally walked inside...a part of was morbidly curious. Cid grit his teeth as he turned the doorknob and stepped inside.

The room was almost pitch black, the only light coming into the room the light from the moon through the window. Both beds were undisturbed, and if the paranoid side of Cid wasn't active, he could have sworm the room was empty. He walked to the bed his bag was on, clicking the lamp beside it on.

"Welcome back, captain."

Cid swore he jumped five feet before he turned around and glared at the man standing behind him, silently watching him. "Fuckin' A, Vince! Say a goddamn word or two before you fuckin' sneak up and scare me like that! What the hell's your problem, anyways?!" Cid ignored the close proximity of the gunner behind him, turning around to glare face to face at the taller man.

"I appologize for scaring you...you're burnt." Red eyes looked slowly to the red sin on Cid's shoulders and chest, almost glowing.

"Yeah, that's cause come jackass fucker with a gun had to go all homocidal on my ass and steal my damn shirt from me! I'm sure you know who I'm talking about too!" Cid pushed his way past Vincent to his duffel bag, pulling out a clean pair of boxers and a loose shirt. He had sand in more places he cared for, and a shower was definately in order. "I don't know what the hell all that was about this afternoon, but you better damn well give me back my damn shirt!" Cid was about to step towards the bathroom before he had a soft, but strong, hand land on his shoulder, and the white shirt that was stolen from him that afternoon was held in front of him.

"I...appologize."

Cid snatched the shirt away, looking back at the expressionless eyes watching him, glaring. "What the hell was that all about anyways?! You didn't have to put a damn gun to my head jus' to get my shir--!"

Cid didn't realize during the start of his rant that Vincent's face was getting closer to his until he felt lips, softer than they looked, press against his own in a soft kiss. His next words were caught in his throat even as Vincent pulled away, his eyes wider than he thought they could go, a small blush creeping into his face. "You should go take a shower. I refuse to sleep in the same room as you if you do not bathe." Vincent turned away from him and walked silently to the opposite end of the room, staring out of the window passively. the gunman listened as Cid made an angry/confused noise before the blonde stomped away to the bathroom, slamming the door behind him. He waited until the water was running before he looked towards the bathroom door, pat B of his plan already running through his head.
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GODDAMN uppity son of a bitch! First he holds a damn gun to his head just to get a sirt, then he has to go and plant...what the fuck was THAT?! Cid furiously scrubbed his hair, calming down only when he was sure he'd pulled a clump of hair out mid scrub. He sighed, knitting his brows as he rinsed his hair out. The water was colder than he usually had it, and it felt great against his sun burnt skin. That was another thing that annoyed him- Cid Highwind never got burnt, Cid Highwind TANNED. He wouldn't have burned if he had his stupid shirt, but some trigger happy basatard had to steal it for god-only-knows-what reason. He growled and finished rinsing off, making sure he was totally dry before he slipped his boxers on, walking out of the bathroom into the silent bedroom.

Blue eyes flashed around the room before they landed on his silent room mate, sitting on the opposite side of the room on his bed, red eyes watching him almost too intently. "What the hell are you looking at?"

"You are sun burnt."

"No shit, sherlock. Ah wouldn't BE burnt if someone hadn't stolen my damn shirt!" Cid sat down on his bed, shoving his duffel bag to the floor as Vincent just watched him.

"I appologiozed."

"Not good enough, Vincent."

"...how would you like me to make this up to you, Cid?"

Cid turned his head to look over at Vincent, eyebrows knitted. "What the hell you talkin' about?"

"My appology is obviously not enough, therefore I'm asking you how you would like me to make it up to you."

Cid sat there, staring at Vincent's emotionless face as he thought. "Well, first of all, no more pointing your goddamn gun at my head jus' to get what you want, and you'd better have a damn good reason next time you do! An' there better not BE a next time, got it!"

"Understood."

"GOOD!"

"Those look painful."

"WHAT?!" Cid looked down at his sunburns as Vincent gestured to them. "Oh. Nah, not really. Got em sunbathing." Cid's anger at the gunman had faded for the most part, content with the promise Vincent wouldn't be pointing a gun at him ever again. He leaned back onto his hands, wincing a bit as the burnt skin rubbed against itself.

"Regardless, perhaps you should put something on them."

"Yah know I think this is the most ah've ever heard you talk...and I don't have anything to put on them." Cid shrugged it off. Sunburns come and go as far as he was concerned. He didn't even hear Vincent standing up, and only realized the gunman had moved when he heard the nightstand drawer open and close. He looked up at Vincent holding a bottle of something thick and green, shaking it slightly. "An what's that?"

"Aloe."

"Oh...well hand it over and I'll..the fuck you doing?!" He jumped slightly as he felt Vincent slid up behind him, soft, cold hands on his shoulders.

"You can't very well put it on your back yourself, can you?"

"Oh...well..."

"I'll be careful." Vincent held in a small smile as he flipped open the lid to the aloe, squirting some on his palm and spreading it on his hands. The back in front of him was a bright red, standing out against Cid's beautifully tanned skin, almost marring it. Vincent glided his hands across Cid's shoulders, smirking at the flinch and the moan that followed it under his hands. "I'm not hurting you, am I."

"Hell no, this feels damn good, thanks Vince." Cid swore he could feel his hot skin pratically melting as Vincent applied the aloe, the skilled hands of the man behind him almost massaging his shoulders. "So...tell me somethin'."

"Hmm?"

"Why'd the hell you steal my shirt anyway?" Cid turned his head to look at Vincent behind him, one eyebrow quirked.

"I did not really want it."

Blink blink. "Then what the hell did you take it for?!" Cid Felt Vincent lean against his back, and he shuddered as Vincent's response came out a sultry whisper.

"Perhaps I really wanted what the shirt was wearing...captain." Vincent held Cid's shoulders strong enough so the other man couldn't turn around, and he moved his mouth to softly lip against Cid's cheek as he spoke. Vincent closed his eyes, smelling the man in front of him. That musky, exotic smell he loved was right under his nose, stronger than ever. He lowered his face to Cid's neck, inhaling deeply as the blonde tensed up under him. The gunman's hands had wandered from Cid's shoulders to his chest, running up over the firm pectorals to his neck, fingers trailing up the skin to the pilot's jaw, and he tilted Cid's head backwards.

Cid stared upwards, wide eyed and unblinking as he looked up intro half lidded, red eyes as a the familiar, pale pink lips that had kissed him not even ten minutes ago kissed him again. The hands on his face were now in his hair, pulling his whole body backwards into the kiss. Vincent had a taste he hadn't quite expected....almost sweet, and Cid opened his mouth to let the gunman in. Almost immediately he felt Vincent's tongue slide in, exploring his mouth as the hands in his hair ran around to his chest, pulling him back against Vincent's smaller body.

The man under his hands ws almost hot to the touch, and Cid tasted just as wonderful as he smelled, a mixture of cigarettes and tea mixed in with the slight salty taste of seawater. It took a moment before Cid leaned into the kiss, the pilot's tongue finally battling with his own for dominance. Vincent could feel Cid's hands weaving into his hair, both men pulling at each other to deepen the kiss. When Vincent pulled away from Cid's embrace he heard the man growl a bit, blonde eyes looking up at him under a deepening scowl. "WHAT the hell was THAT?!"

"It's called a kiss. Surely you've been kissed before?" Vincent pulled himself away from Cid, his face impassive as he walked over to his own bed, sitting down. He watched Cid sit up and look over at him, obviously getting more and more pissed off by the second.

"No, dammit! You know what I mean! You trying to fuck with my head, Valentine!?"

"MMmm, and the rest of you if you'd shut up and get over here." Vincent openly smirked as Cid's mouth snapped shut and his eyes went wide again, his face now red from an embarrassed blush.

"W-what're you sayin' Vince?"

"Let's just say I've thought of a way to...'appologize'." Vincent slid back towards the headboard of the bed, gesturing Cid over with one crooked finger.

Cid watched the taller, pale skinned man sliding away from him, his red eyes half lidded and a small smile on his beautiful face as he beckoned him over. Cid could feel the blood rushing from his face to other parts of his body, and the only thought on his mind as he walked over to the bed, sliding on all fours to lean over Vincent was 'why not?'. His train of thought was cut off as the pale lips under him met his again and long fingers trailed up his arms and into his hair, pulling him down once again.
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AN- lemon next chapter. :3 I promise. Oh, and btw, never try to write man love while listening to 'The Last Unicorn' in the background. O_o it doesn't work. REALLY