What Friends are For

This is the fifth chapter of 'What Friends are For',

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'What Friends are For' Chapter 5: Here There Be Monsters
Vincent takes Cid for the ride of his life, and introduces the pilot to Vince's other side. [WAFF, Violence, HJ, Yaoi]

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When I got to the cargo hold, I was alone - Vince still hadn't arrived. It took a good fifteen minutes of pacing impatience before I heard the sound of his metal-clad boots heading my way, and I smiled, turning to face that direction. I froze when he stepped into view.

Yesterday he hadn't worn anything different - just that leather outfit with too many buckles, and that cape of his. This time, though, he was bare from the waist up, with only his pants and boots to keep him modest - and the golden gauntlet. It was one thing to see him in my bed, mostly nude; standing there without his shirt, cape, or the glove on his right hand made him seem both sensual and dangerous. Hanging from the grip of his claw was a small backpack with oversized straps. He had attached my Venus Gospel to it, but I didn't see his Death Penalty anywhere - the bag was too small to hold the gun.

"What's goin' on, Vince?" I asked, confused by that point. "Not that I mind seein' ya walk around like that, but--"

I stopped talking when he gave me that low chuckle. "It is easier for me this way," he replied as he adjusted the pack's straps and slung them over his shoulders. "That was my flying shirt I wore yesterday - it was the only one that had slits for Chaos' wings. I did not feel like ruining another by trying to alter it." He stepped closer, giving me a knowing smile. "Besides, I did not think you would mind seeing me without 'that damn cloak' you seem so fond of."

I closed the distance and wrapped my arms around him, pulling him closer. "Nah, I think I can handle it." I was grinning slightly even as he slipped his arms around me and tilted his head down to give me a brief kiss.

"Good," he replied, pulling away. It's a good thing he did, or we might not've moved from that spot. "Open the door, if you please?"

I leaned in for another short kiss before moving to the controls and triggering the override. I waited in front of the doors, and felt Vince step behind me again, his arms tucking around me like they had yesterday. "This will be a little different," he murmured into my ear. "Though, if you like it, we may do it again in the future."

This time, when we jumped, we were side by side, my left hand in his right. We had barely cleared the lip of the door before he pulled, turning me beneath him to press our chests together, and I didn't know whether it was the sensation falling or the sudden kiss he gave me that made my stomach flutter. I barely had time to see the Highwind receding behind him before I closed my eyes, holding him as tight as he held me, content to lose myself in the feel and taste of his mouth against mine.

I didn't notice when his wings unfurled and we began to glide instead of fall, but I did feel it when they began to push at the air, making his body move against mine in a way that was far too erotic to stand. The wait had left me time to cool down, but it wasn't long before I was hard again, aching as he let the movements of his body tease me. It took me a moment to realize the moan echoing in my ears was my own, and I felt him laugh though my lips and my chest.

"Cid," he murmured; I could barely hear him over the wind. "Let go."

I did, moving my arms away and resting my hands on his shoulders. A sudden, broad sweep of his wings startled me as it jolted us upwards, and my grip tightened; it was all I could do to not cling to him again. We were traveling at a sharp upward angle, his wings pushing us steadily. But then, the movements stopped, and we slowed; right then he pulled away and smiled.

"I love you, Cid Highwind," he whispered. "Never forget that."

And abruptly, he released me, and I was drifting alone with just enough momentum to keep me from plummeting, though he didn't give me time to worry. With a deft flick of his wings, he was behind me, arms tucking around me just in time to let us fall together. He waited until we had settled into a smooth glide again before his legs moved around mine, this time drawing them apart instead of holding them together.

I found out then why he had left his glove off. His bare hand moved down my belly to slip into my pants and I gasped. It amazed me how delicate his fingers was when he curled them around my cock, the touch feeling slightly cool against me. I gripped his metal arm tightly and moaned. It was hard to keep from rocking, but I managed it, not wanting to throw off his balance.

His hand began to move in slow, teasing strokes, just enough to make me want more. It felt like heaven, that merging of the two things I loved most. My body moved beneath his, trying to slide with the gentle movements of his hand, and he tightened his grip in response when he felt my need. It was torture, the way he touched me, yet I didn't want to hurry him. I'd been waiting for him to touch me like that for too damn long to try and rush it.

His wings moved again, thrusting with a slow rhythm that matched the gliding of his hand. It rocked him along my back now, and my breath caught in my throat. He was hard against me, his spine arching with the motion of his wings to grind his hips against my ass; his mouth was close to my ear again, letting me hear his answering moan, and oh gods I thought I was going to die.

I lost sense of everything but the way Vince's touches and movements against me. The ground passing below was blurry - not because we were moving fast, but because I couldn't focus. I don't know how long we drifted like that, lost in a haze of pleasure as he all but tortured me. Occasionally he would tighten his grip and stroke me harder, until I was squirming under him with the urge to cum, but then he'd stop, his attentions becoming feather-soft and teasing me again. Over and over he did that, until I thought I was going mad with the need for release, desperate enough to beg him to stop teasing me and let me finish.

He tightened his grip again, holding my shaft firmly as he moved faster than before, and I knew that finally he had decided to stop tormenting me. I knew I was whimpering and writhing, but I was beyond caring; Vince's perfect hand was down my pants, rubbing me just right. His wings beat harder again, driving us into the air until we reached the peak of our ascent, almost drifting to a complete stop. This time there were no whispered endearments from him, only my cry as I came. I screamed his name as he finally let me find the release I needed, pumping my seed from me with steady strokes of his fist, draining me into my own pants as I shuddered and moaned beneath him. It felt like I was going to melt, and just ooze right out of his grip, unless I simply exploded first into a million shattered pieces.

It was the most intense thing I'd felt in my life, and part of me wondered if I would be able to handle more. Whatever the answer was, I was damn sure gonna try.

He stilled again; even his wings stopped beating, and we coasted lazily, him holding me as my body calmed. Below us was a forested area that grew closer as we spiraled downward; he was aiming toward a break in the trees somewhere near the center. Vince backwinged once we were close to the ground, and we landed on our feet with his arms still around me. We'd arrived in a clearing in the forest, with a small lake close by.

I wasn't sure if I could move without losing my balance - I was still a bit unsteady - but I turned anyway to wrap my arms around him, leaning against his body. "Y'know, Vince, ya just keep gettin' better an' better."

He laughed, his metal-covered fingers tilting my head up for a kiss. "Mm, I am glad to hear you say that. You will have to tell me when I become boring. Now," He paused, moving his gauntleted hand to loosen my pants and withdrew his messy hand, "Shall we get you cleaned up?"

When Vince stepped away, he unsnapped the backpack's straps, letting it fall to the ground; the reason he did that instead of slipping it off surprised me. "Vince, yer still wearin' yer wings." He hadn't let me see them before, but he didn't move when I stepped close and ran my palm over the membrane, tracing the veins with a finger. It made him shiver, and I leaned to kiss between their bases.

"I know," came his soft reply. He leaned over and rinsed his hand in the water, then picked up the pack as he stood, offering it to me by a strap. "And I shall tell you why in a moment. There are spare pants in there, and your equipment. You will need it soon."

I stared at him for a moment, wondering at his sudden seriousness. My hands moved to take the pack, and I shed my pants, then cleaned with the water from the lake. In addition to the spare pair of pants - which I quickly pulled out and slipped on - the pack had my Escort Guard I'd found in that sunken airplane, and the Ribbon one of the others had given Vince a while back. He was they only one of us who still fought the monsters on a regular basis, but he was loaning it to me for the moment. Set into the slots on the armband and my Gospel was some of my favorite - and mostly mastered - materia. He'd focused on physical augmentation; it seemed like what little magic was there was powerful enough to be a 'last resort' measure.

What the hell was he getting me into?

But if he says 'soon,' then he means soon, so I wasted no time in slipping on the equipment and unfastening the Gospel. I couldn't help but give her a twirl, swinging her through the air - it felt like old times, and I grinned. "So, what's goin' on?" I finally asked, once I was ready.

"I felt you deserved to know what I do when I go flying," came the reply. "It gives me a sense of freedom, especially when all of us were together. I had been asleep for so long, and before that I was... even more of a prisoner. So to be around so many, in such a small space, constantly moving but always together, I felt... lost. Trapped. During one of the more rowdy celebrations - when we defeated the Ultimate Weapon, near Nanaki's home - it grew unbearable. Everyone was so excited for all the treasures found. But I... I just wanted to escape." He broke off and sighed, staring down at the golden claw, idly flexing the fingers.

"You know of Chaos; you have seen him before, and how he fights." He waited for my nod, before continuing. "He is the strongest of my demons, though I can keep him at bay. We had a long time to get to know each other; spending thirty years with no company but the voices in one's head is not something I would wish on another. Chaos made a deal with me, that night. He would give me a way to escape, but in exchange, I would take him to feed."

"What do you mean... 'feed'?" I didn't like the sound of it. I trusted Vince, yeah, but that demon inside him made me nervous, and I wasn't ashamed to admit it. Hell, who wouldn't be uneasy around a damn demon?

"Oh, you are safe. From me, at least. I wanted you to be protected from the creatures that are coming, and that equipment is more than enough." Vince took a deep breath; already his skin was rippling, changing from near-white to the violet-tinged dusk of his demonic form. "Chaos feeds on death, on carnage. He craves the kill as you or I crave food or water. I promised him, if he could give me a way to escape, he could feed on whatever he could find - though I insisted on no humans. He did not like it, but he accepted. We have not been out together, he and I, since before you first removed my gauntlet. And now... He is hungry."

Those last three words came out in a pained moan, low enough to almost be a growl, and Vince fell to his knees. The rippling of his skin intensified, and he shuddered. I'd seen it happen time and again when we would fight together, when he changed into Chaos, but I never saw how. One minute Vince was there, locked in pain, and the next it was Chaos, so much larger and bulged with muscle, with horns curved from his head and hands tipped with vicious claws that put Vince's gauntlet to shame.

I stared at the demon. It was like Vince's gauntlet - I didn't like to see it, and hated to be reminded of where it came from, but it held an odd sort of fascination. But Chaos was much more fearsome than that metal weapon, though I hoped - for both our sakes - it was as easily controlled.

Chaos stayed crouched there for a moment before it stood, stretching as if it had just woken up from a long sleep. It gave a low, animalistic sound that made me shudder, before it turned in my direction.

"Hello, manling," it said in a deep, growling voice as it took a step forward. I backed away a bit, lifting the Gospel between us - Vince or no, I wasn't letting that thing near me. My movement seemed to amuse it, and it laughed, making the same dismissive gesture I'd seen Vince make so many times. For some reason, that almost frightened me. "Worry not. The other has threatened me with dire consequences if I dare to harm thee." I didn't relax, though, especially when it moved within a few feet of me. It didn't help that the demon gave me a grin full of lots and lots of very sharp teeth. "I merely wished to see the manling that has so occupied The Other's thoughts and dreams of late."

"Well, you've seen me," I replied, sounding braver than I felt. I shifted my spear, motioning for the demon to step back. "Shouldn't ya be gettin' ready ta fight, or feed, or whatever it is yer here to do?"

The demon made a thoughtful sound, and nodded, its grin broadening. "Ahh, thou art correct, manling. And if thou wilt turn, thou shalt see mine first meal."

Sure, it was one of the oldest trick in the book, and a rather silly one at that. But sometimes, it was true; this was no exception. I felt my hackles rise when I heard a low, wolfish growl behind me, and I spun in place to bring the Gospel to bear on the creature that was stalking me. I was too late, though, just in time to catch a purplish blur from the corner of my eye as the demon leapt for the unfortunate creature. Monster or no, I couldn't help but grimace at the gleeful abandon with which the demon tore into it.

The fight - if it could be called that - was over in seconds, leaving the area for several feet around the monster's massacred body covered in blood and gore. Chaos had never been this violent when used in battles before; now I could see why Vincent waited until he was alone to let the demon feed.

"Come, manling," it said, beckoning me with a bloodstained claw. "It is a good walk to where thine skyship awaits, and I shalt not carry thee." With that, the demon stalked into the trees lining the clearing; a moment later, I could hear the shriek of another dying 'meal'. Sighing to myself, I lifted the pack and refastened the straps, then slung it over one shoulder and set off after my lover's demon.

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We left a trail of mangled bodies behind us. Vince had been right when he said I would hardly need my equipment. A few times, a creature was stupid enough to slip past the demon and attack me, but I barely had time to ward it off with my spear before Chaos was there, tearing it from me. It always moved far enough away to keep from splattering me with its 'meal', something I was grateful for. Guess it was the demon's idea of table manners.

The walk only lasted a few miles, less than half a dozen I would guess, but it seemed like much, much longer. The forest had little undergrowth, and trails were easy to find, but the demon's frequent stops dragged out the trip. We didn't speak after leaving the clearing. Chaos was too content to finally sate his hunger, and I was too busy with my thoughts.

This was what lived inside the quiet Vince? This was what was whispering inside his mind every day for more than three decades? No wonder Vincent was so withdrawn and serious; I could only imagine what our friends would say had they seen the path of carnage we left behind. And yet, he still had the willpower to keep the demon under control, even made a bargain with it.

He just keeps getting stranger and stranger, but it didn't make me love him any less. The thought made me wonder though - what if he expected it to?

No, be better to think about that later. For now, there was the fact that I was lost in a forest, with nothing but a demon's sense of direction to lead me out. Of course, I could always go back. After all, blood and corpses made a better trail than breadcrumbs.

I shook my head at that. 'Better watch out, or I'll get as morbid as Vince.'

None too soon, I could see a break in the trees ahead, and Chaos stopped. "I hath enjoyed dining with thee, manling," it said as it crouched down. "Thou art pleasant company, but thine skyship awaits ahead, and it is time for The Other to return."

I just shrugged, and nodded, not trusting myself to speak; knowing me, the wrong thing would come out, and I'd end up insulting the demon somehow. I just watched as the muscled, winged form began to quiver and shrink, melting into itself like water absorbed into a sponge. The dark, purplish hide paled as if bleached, and the horns and heavy wings merged into Vince's skin with a ripple of finality.

I hesitated a moment, then stepped forward to rest a hand on Vince's blood-splattered shoulder. I didn't know what to say, so I just didn't say anything; eventually he spoke first.

"So now you know." His voice was soft, sad-sounding.

"Now I know", I replied, crouching down beside him. "And I gotta say, Vince, ya got some pretty strange roommates in that head'a yers."

I think that surprised him. He looked up and stared at me, meeting my eyes as if searching for something there. I just smiled, and gave his shoulder a squeeze, and after a moment he seemed to have found what he was hunting. His right hand came up and covered the one I had resting on his shoulder. "Aye... That I do, Cid. That I do."

We sat like that for a moment, until Vince stood, and pulled me to my feet. "Shall we go home?" he asked, motioning to the treeline with a tilt of his head.

"That's a great idea," I said with a short laugh. My hand dropped to lace my fingers between his, and we set off to find the Highwind; I could already hear her past the trees.

"I should warn you," the gunslinger said as we threaded our way toward the edge of the forest, "Chaos can tell no lies. I have bound him from doing so; though evil, a demon is unable to break a promise once it has been made." He paused, glancing at me with an arched brow. "He is already asking me if you will be able to hunt with him again, and says he has missed dining with company. It has been a long while since he or I have fought with any others, after all."

The offer surprised - and worried - me. 'What the hell do you say when a demon asks you out to dinner?' "Well... Tell him thank you, I guess, and I'll think about it," I replied after a moment. "Not exactly my kinda meal, y'know?"

"Nor mine, my friend," Vince said with a laugh. "Though he does not see how we can foul our bodies with scorched and boiled dead things - in his words, of course."

"Of course," I grinned. A curious thought came to me. "Hey, Vince. Ya said Chaos can't lie, right?" He made a sound of agreement, and my grin broadened. "So... What kinda dreams have ya been havin' about me?"

The look of surprise Vince shot my way before stumbling on the uneven floor was simply priceless, and I helped my love up with a laugh. "I know, I know. 'Insufferable man,' right?"

"Beyond insufferable," Vince growled, looking at me from the corner of his eye. "Though, perhaps I might show them to you some time. I find them to be... fascinating."

No matter how many times I'd ask him to explain, he wouldn't, only leading the way back to the Highwind with that secretive smile of his.