Pain

Cid sat up in bed coughing furiously, gasping for breath. Vincent who was sleeping next to him jerked awake and looked at him fearfully.
“Cid? Cid are you alright?” Cid waived Vincent to go back to sleep but the gunman continued to look at him. After Cid’s coughing had stopped his voice cracked.
“Don’t worry Vin. Jus’ had something’ stuck in my throat.” Cid laid back down and in a few minutes Vincent heard the familiar snore of his beloved. It was that moment that he realized that something was wrong with his pilot. Determined now that when they woke that Cid would be going to the doctor first thing.
For the second time Cid woke coughing. He managed to stifle it enough to get out of the room so he wouldn’t wake Vincent. Cid already knew that he wasn’t long for this world and was afraid to tell his gunman. The pilot knew the emotional pain that Vincent would go through and would do anything to take it away. So he sat sipping at his tea until he heard Vincent coming down the stairs.
“Vin would ya come in here a sec?” Vincent turned the corner to faced unnerved looking pilot. The raven haired man’s heart sank. Cid cast his eyes away unable to look at Vincent.
“ I have something to tell ya Vin. I…I love you, you know that but I don’t have much longer.” Vincent raised a hand shaking his head.
“ No.” He whispered. Cid looked up seeing the fear in Vincent’s eyes and a single tear that tore Cid’s heart into. Now tears flowing freely form his sky blue eyes he stood.
“I’m sorry Vincent. I’m sorry. The doctor said there was nothing left to do. It was far too along.” Vincent stood now still looking at Cid.
“How long?” he asked in agony. Cid turned away.
“’bout a month.” Seconds later Cid heard the door close.
Outside Vincent walked quickly going nowhere. When he realized that he was in the middle of a field he screamed for all he was worth. He fell to his knees screaming. Why did everyone he loved have to die. He did not think he could live without his pilot. The thought of it sent shivers down his spine. Vincent covered his face with his hands wiping the tears away. When he took his hands away he noticed the blood on them. He was shedding tears of blood, he knew it was from Chaos. Chaos liked the pilot too. Vincent curled up on himself shaking. He laid on the ground for a very long time crying silent tears.
Cid remained still for as long as he could before he snapped grabbing the chair that he had been sitting in and launched it through the door. Glass shattered everywhere and Cid wrenched the table up and over onto its top, dishes crashing to the floor. Why did it have to be like this. It feels like I’m abandoning him. Cid let out a stream of curses before breaking into another coughing fit. He brought his hand up to his mouth and could feel the blood splatter onto it. He collapsed finally gasping, hoping that it wasn’t his last breath before he fell into darkness.
About an hour later Vincent guessed, he came walking back up to the house. When the door came into view he started to run. He burst through the door to find a mess and Cid laying unconscious in the floor. He rushed to him scooping him up in his arms. Vincent could hear Cid’s faint breath. He moved the pilot to the couch. Cid cracked an eye open to look at him.
“Sorry.” Vincent shook his head.
“Don’t apologize to me. I’m sorry I walked away. Please Cid don’t die on me yet.” Cid smiled up at him.
“I’ll hold on as long as you want me too.” Vincent kissed him gently. Cid closed his eyes letting Vincent hold him.
Vincent woke earlier than usual today looking over to check on Cid. He had stopped sleeping by him for fear of hurting him. It had been three months since Cid had confessed his condition. A month after that Cid had become bedridden. The last two days he had spiraled down not eating or drinking. He was paler than Vincent now and thin, terribly thin. His voice was just barely a whisper. Vincent sat beside his bed holding his hand. Cid rolled his head over to look at the gunman.
“Vincent.” Vincent turned his attention quickly. A pained look formed on the pilot’s face.
“I know I said I would hold on for as long as you wanted but I can’t. Is it alright to go now?” Vincent’s throat tightened making it hard to speak. He smiled gently at Cid and nodded.
“Go ahead my love. I’ll see you again. Don’t suffer any longer. I’ll always keep you in my heart and soul. I’ll always remember the gifts you gave me. You kept me sane and you loved me for who I am. I will always remember.” He chocked as Cid’s grip on his hand fell. Vincent reached up and closed the lifeless sky blue eyes that had captivated him in the past. Vincent spent the rest of the day holding his lovers lifeless body crying.
The next day he laid his lover to rest under the tree that they used to lay under looking at the sky. Vincent stared at the fresh grave for hours before he left. He went back to the empty house and strapped death penalty to his leg and walked out the door leaving everything he knew. Tightly gripped in his hand was Cid’s goggles and scarf. Vincent tucked the scarf into his shirt and placed the goggles firmly on his head, just the way Cid had always worn them. When he had reached the point that he wouldn’t be able to see the town much longer he turned back to look at the grave. Standing there he saw a healthy looking Cid saluting to him, then waiving he turned and walked away disappearing. Vincent wiped fresh tears away and turned away. He would never forget Cid and would wait for the day to see him again. He would hold his pilot close. Until then he would hold his memory dear to his heart.