Recollecting

He sat there in his living room, the ready made pot of tea from just a few minutes ago sitting on the stove while he cup he had poured himself sat on the table in front of him, cooling rapidly. Tseng stared at the top of the low table, his eyebrows nit together slightly. It had only been fifteen minutes since Highwind had arrived, and he was sure the reunited couple was wasting no time in whatever ministrations they’d kept in reserve for each other. He just hoped it wasn’t going to stain the grass.

He stood up and walked to the window over looking the back yard where he last saw the two sitting. He damned his own curiosity as he looked out of it, spotting the two men sitting where’d they had been fifteen minutes ago. Highwind and Vincent were sitting side by side, Vincent’s head leaning down on the blonde’s shoulder, likewise the blonde’s head on top of Vincent’s. They looked like a love struck couple, one of Highwind’s hair tangled in the raven black hair that was the ex-turks.

Tseng could feel the knot that had been forming in his stomach tighten, and his scowl grew deeper. Valentine was smiling for the first time in weeks, some color back on his face as he talked to Highwind in a low, hushed tone, the blonde returning the words in the same tone. Both men were still clothed, though some of Vincent’s kimono had slipped off of his shoulder, revealing porcelain white skin. Tseng turned away from the window after he saw Highwind stop and kiss the pale skin, trailing his way up to, he was sure, Vincent’s face. He returned back to the table he was sitting at before, and sat down with a thump and a scowl. He remained that way, hands clasped in his lap and eyes shut, until he heard the back door open and close again, softly, and the sounds of footsteps walking his way. Only one set actually walked into the room, tough, and who ever it was stopped and sat beside Tseng. “Yes.”

“Hey.” It was obvious by the first word who it was, and Tseng opened his eyes to look at the shorter blonde man sitting a bit away from his side. The blonde, for the first time since Tseng had ever met the man, was smiling genuinely instead of his usual smug smirk, the light that was missing in his eyes at first meet that morning back enough to put some life back in his body. “I just wanted to...well- wanted to see if it was alright if Vincent and I went out for a while?”

Tseng lifted an eyebrow. “I do not know which is more surprising- the fact you’re using proper grammar or the fact you asked me to do something that is your own decision.” Tseng’s reply came out more snapped than he meant to, and was surprised when Cid’s reply was just a bigger smile and not a snapped out yell.

“Well, it’s your house, ain’t it? We just wanted to make sure it was alright with you.”

“.....do not dawdle in town long. You came here on business, remember that.”

“Will do, boss.” Cid made a small salute before he began to stand up- he was promptly stopped by Tseng raising a hand. “Yeah?”

“I take it that you will be sharing a room with Vinent-san?”

“....if that’s alright with you, yes.” Cid blinked, wondering why Tseng asked such an obvious question. “No objections, I hope?”

‘No legitimate ones yet, no,’ Tseng thought to himself. “Of course not. But when you get back I’d like to have a talk with you. In private.”

“...You’re the boss.” Cid stood up all of the way, lifting an eyebrow down at Tseng’s form before he turned and walked back to Vincent. The other Wutaiian simply stood in the doorway, arms crossed. Cid waited until they were out of the house before he turned back to Vincent. “Alright, what’s Tseng’s problem with me?”

“I’m not entirely sure, however I’m guessing it has to do with why I’m here. I haven’t exactly been the talkative type with him up until you came.” Vincent smiled at that, looking down at the shorter man.

Cid just smiled and shook his head, his bigger right hand meeting Vincent’s smaller left, their fingers intertwining as they walked. “You never were to begin with.”

“Touche.”
*********************************

He waited until the sun dropped down and the stars were coming out before he decided it would be okay to talk to Tseng. He found out that in Wutaii, near winter, the sun didn’t stay in the sky very long in the evenings anyway, and his walk with Vincent was cut short. The other Wutaiian was currently waiting for Cid to come back from his talk so that he and Vincent could have their own talk, and then ‘talk’. Cid smiled at the thought as he knocked on the door, but quickly let the smile fall as he heard Tseng order him inside.

The room wasn’t nearly as big as the others in the house, but it was warm and inviting at least. What looked like a fire pit in the middle of the floor was burning, and Tseng sat on one side, his eyes following Cid’s form as they walked into the room and sat across from him. “I see you’ve begun to take off your shoes at the front door.”

“Yeah, Vince kind of imprinted a few rules of Wutaii on me as we walked.” Cid didn’t mention each one was before and followed after a kiss, as Tseng more than likely wouldn’t like hearing that.

“YES, speaking of Vincent...” Tseng’s calm face furrowed a bit as he stared Cid straight in the eyes. “Two weeks ago he showed up at my doorstep, silent, depressed, withdrawn-“

”Sounds like he normally is to me.”

“AND I would LIKE to know WHY.” Tseng’s eyebrows narrowed more at the interruption. “It OBVIOUSLY has something to do with you, because every time I brought you up he’d withdraw into himself.”

Cid sighed and leaned back into a more comfortable sitting position, running a hand through his hair. “....My wife found out about us..and kicked Vincent out...he must have come here because he knew he would be safer than anywhere else...thank you for that, by the way. But, I did some diplomatic begging and he can probably go back to Rocket Town in another few weeks.”

Tseng raised an eyebrow at that. “Your wife is letting him go back? I find that hard to believe.”

“Yeah, me too. Guess me groveling and begging at anyone’s feet would get that reaction, though.” Cid kept his eyes drawn to the fire, sure that whatever pride he had in his voice upon entering was gone. “But it’s true...if I’d known he was here with you, I don’t think I would have worried about him so much, especially now that I’ve got something bigger to worry about.” Cid sighed and closed his eyes, sure that the man sitting across from him was waiting for the answer. “Shera’s pregnant, an’ that thought scares me to death. Shit, I’m 38 years old. I’ve never even owned a DOG, and now I’m gonna have a kid in anther nine months? What the fuck do I know about raising children?”

“And what about Vincent?”

Cid opened his eyes and looked at Tseng. “What about him? I told you he’s going back.”

“And doing what? Spending more time in the company of your wife who by now detests him, taking care of a house he’s no longer comfortable in and helping to raise a child of his married lover’s? That’s very cruel, Highwind.” Tseng by now was frowning, his arms crossed.

“What else should happen, huh? I’ve told Shera and Vince and now I’m telling YOU. I am NOT letting him go. I know what it must have been like for him before all of this, and I’m not going to let that happen.”

“You mean you’re not going to give him a chance to be happy with someone else who can actually LOVE him freely.”

“What, you mean someone like YOU?” Cid snapped it out, his face darkening. “Is that what you’re saying?” Cid waited for an answer, and wasn’t very surprised when he didn’t get one. He stood up and made a straight line for the door, ignoring Tseng’s protesting frown. “Well here’s an newsflash for ya, Tseng. I love him. I love him so much it hurts, so much that two weeks ago I threw away all of my pride and dignity and BEGGED my own WIFE not to make him leave. I BEGGED HER, on my hands and knees. If you had told me he was over here I would’ve WALKED here day and fuckin’ night instead of waiting the whole week after you called. LET HIM GO?” Cid opened the door and stepped outside, turning back to Tseng before he shut it again. “Don’t make me laugh.”

Tseng watched as the door was slammed shut, bouncing back a bit as the wooden frames met. He could hear Cid’s heavy footsteps going through the back of the house, the muttered curses that followed. He sat there in silence before he stood and walked after Cid, his footsteps silent on the well worn wooden floor. He knew, beyond the matter of the doubt, that he had to apologize to the blonde man- he just wasn’t sure what he was going to apologize FOR.

The door to the room Vincent and Cid were sharing was closed, and Tseng stopped outside of it. He raised his hand to knock, but was stopped halfway as a sound, not loud enough for anyone else to hear, but not SOFT either, came through the thin rice paper of the door. It was a MOAN. It was long, and drawn out, and though he wasn’t sure who it had come from was followed by whispers and pants. He should leave- just turn around and walk the opposite direction and wait until the morning before he spoke to the blonde man. Still he found himself leaning against the wall behind him, sliding down so his rear hit the floor, and he sat there blankly staring at the door, listening to the sounds behind it muffle, than pick back up in a pitch.

It was only when a soft yell was heard did he stand up, retreat to his room as silently as he could, shut the door, and sat on the bed, wondering just how much tighter the knot in his stomach could get.
**********************************


Vincent looked up as his lover opened the door roughly, all but slamming it closed, the scowl on Cid’s face the only tale tell sign that something had gone wrong in his meeting with Tseng. “Everything alright?”

“No good, stuck up, uppity sonuva bitch.”

“I’ll take that as a no.” He watched Cid sit down with a hard sigh before he leaned over, resting his cheek on the blonde’s shoulder. “What’s wrong?”

“I told him about what happened between you, Shera and me. Apparently he doesn’t like the idea of you goin’ back. He said it was ‘cruel’ to make you an that it would be BETTER if I let you go so you could be with someone else.”

Vincent frowned a bit at that, scooting up to Cid until he was side to side. “But I don’t desire to be with anyone else.”

“Yeah, well try telling HIM that.”

"He was only trying to defend me...still...” Vincent smiled then, small and secretive. “I’m sure if he knew you better he would not make such accusations. Perhaps if you seduced him the way you did me?”

Cid snorted heavily, leaning back on his hands. “Oh HELL no!. It's bad enough I'm in the doghouse with Shera cause of you an' me, much less if I slept with ANOTHER man while I'm gone! Sure the man’s good looking enough, but his personality ain't worth shit.” Cid felt Vincent shift beside him, only blinking as the Wutaiian proceeded to crawl into his lap, straddling him as Cid looked up into the ruby red eyes of his lover, their faces only inches apart.

“Then perhaps you can seduce just me then?” Vincent all but purred out the words, his hands raising to rest on Cid’s cheeks. “You certainly know how to.”

Cid smiled, wrapping his arms around Vincent’s back, playing withthe long black hair he loved so much. “I guess it’s just my natural redneck charm, huh?”

“Yup.” Vincent smiled as the man below him laughed, sending small rumbles through his chest as the hands on his back gripped around him tighter. Vincent wasted no time as Cid opened his mouth, slipping his tongue in as he kissed the blonde. Cid stiffened, but only for a moment before he started returning the kiss, one of his hands tangling itself in Vincent’s hair. The kiss broke, and before Vincent could think about questioning why Cid lipped at his neck, trailing his lips under Vincent’s chin and down to his collar bone, the wet sensation of the pilot liking across the skin there, Cid’s free hand gliding the silk of the kimono off of the shoulder, kissing down it. Before he could stifle it, the ex-turk let out a soft moan at the sensation, his own hands trailing off of Cid’s face and down to the broad back of the pilot, scratching softly on the way.

“Mmmmm, Gods Vince, you still taste so fuckin’ good....” Cid whispered into the pale skin below him, inhaling at the crook of Vincent’s neck.

“Don’t stop then.” Vincent leaned his head down and buried it in the sun kissed, spikey locks of Cid’s hair, squeezing the pilot’s shoulder blades. He was well aware that it had only been two weeks since he’d left the pilot’s side and come to Wutaii, but his body obviously missed Cid and all his caresses as much as his mind did, and Vincent found himself panting despite the chill settling in the room. Under his lap he could feel Cid’s stiffening need pressing up against his own, and he was aware now more than ever of his urgency to feel the man beneath him IN him. “Cid...”

“I know, baby...I know.” Cid’s hands slid the silk kimono down off of Vincent’s shoulders all of the way, the fabric falling off of Vincent’s frame and pooling at his lap. The pale skin underneath practically shone in the room, the moon outside being the only source of light for them to see by. Cid tugged gently on the knot holding the robe together, and it gave way without a fight, falling to the floor to reveal Vincent’s body in its entirety. The ex-Turk’s erection pressed against the pilot’s flat stomach, and he moaned as he felt the fabric of Cid’s shirt rub up against it. Cid could feel Vincent’s hands wander down his back to the hemline of his shirt, yanking it up. The pilot lifted his arms and let himself be stripped before the shirt was tossed to the floor, the long slender fingers of his lover now working on undoing his pants, followed by a soft hand reaching inside and grabbing around his shaft, squeezing gently. Cid instantly face planted in the crook of Vincent’s neck, licking and sucking there with a soft moan.

“Cid...take off your pants..” He could hear Vincent whispering into his hair, his hand stroking him torturously slow as the other trailed little circles on his back. “I want to feel your skin.” He didn’t wait for Cid to react as he slid off of the pilot’s lap onto the floor, his legs spread apart slightly as he watched the blonde quickly strip free of his pants, moving to hover over the Wutaiian. Lips met hurridly, tongue battling each other as Vincent’s hand moved back to it’s spot to stroking his lover, feeling Cid’s gasping breaths on his face as they broke the kiss, Cid’s tongue lashing and trailing over Vincent’s neck. The Wutaiian could feel Cid’s lips trailing down his body, brushing hard kisses over his chest and stomach until Cid came to the hard flesh between his legs. Vincent’s hips lifted slightly as he felt Cid lick up his shaft, sucking gently on the head before he took most of the length in his mouth, his teeth gently trailing on the hard skin as he moved his head up and down, stopping to suck at the head hard before trailing back down the length.

Vincent’s head was rolled back, his eyes clenched closed as his lover sucked on him, fully aware of his hands tangled and pulling slightly on the blonde’s hair. His breath came out in pants, his body shuddering as the long missed sensations ran through it. He could quickly feel himself coming to his climax all too soon with every suck and lick Cid made on him. The blonde’s breathing was heavy on his body, the muscles in his legs tightening and his hips lifting every time Cid sucked on the head of his penis and trailed down. He let out a small whimper as the hot mouth sucking on him let up, Cid licking on the hot bead of pre-come on his lips. Vincent spread his legs apart as he felt Cid’s body move up his, and he kissed the pilot harshly as their lips met. The Wutaiian could feel Cid’s shaft at his entrance, and the hands in the blonde’s hair tightened as the pilot slid in suddenly to his base, filling him.

Cid heard the small yell coming from Vincent in his hair as he entered the man below him, both men’s body shuddering at Cid’s entrance. It took him a moment before he began sliding in and out of Vincent in a soft rhythm, trying not to lose his small grip on control and release too soon. Vincent’s legs wrapped around his waist, and as he lifted his hips their bodies met flush with each other, earning another small, gasping yell from the Wutaiian. Cid’s body shuddered violently before he continued his movements, his gentle pushing turning into thrusting until he could feel himself practically pounding into the other man, Vincent’s body reacting as he clenched around him every time. He could feel Vincent’s own erection seeping slowly on his stomach, and he could feel moment’s later Vincent releasing all over him, the ex-turk’s head throwing back and his body clenching.

He couldn’t have taken much more, Vincent knew, not with the hard pushing in and out of him and Cid’s sucking and kissing on his neck, and he released onto the other man, his anus muscles clenching around Cid as he lifted his hips as high as they could go. Cid groaned into his neck, and he quickly followed Vincent’s climax with his own, filling his red eyed lover with his seed. They lay there for a moment in each other’s arms, their bodies shuddering against each other as they caught their breaths, Vincent’s hands still painfully clenched in Cid’s hair. They lay there like that for a moment before Vincent could feel more than hear Cid moan into his neck, gently pulling himself out and laying beside the ex- Turk, hugging them together.

It also took them a few minutes before their after sex warmth started to fade, and the chill of the room crept in. Vincent took long enough to pull them both over to the guest bed on the floor, covering themselves with the heavier blanket before he returned to his place in Cid’s arms. The soft breaths that fille the room quickly told him the pilot was asleep, and Vincent smiled into the blonde’s shoulder as he kissed it.

He wasn’t sure what time it was, not that it really mattered to the brunette. Before he closed his eyes they drifted to the door, wondering if the faint shadow of his host was still there.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

AN- while I was writing the smex scene, I was listening to Def Lepard’s Pour Some Sugar on Me......and it made me laugh when I realized it. Teehee.

Edited 3/14/08