Poisoned Isolation

Poisoned Isolation


Shivering, his breath making frost on the air, Cid sat alone in his room. Alone he truly was. He laughed at this. After the incident with Sephiroth and meteor Rocket town had dwindled down to only mechanics and his crew. They were not his family, not his friends. Shera had long ago abandoned him. She hated him and for what reasons he did not know. No one from avalanche called anymore besides Yuffie, on occasion. The pilot pulled the blanket up around his ears and lit a cigarette, shivering from the inside out. It was dark silent and cold in the empty house. The light, air conditioning, and heat long since gone. Cid was so hungry it hurt. He couldn’t remember the last time he had eaten. Actually he didn’t even know what day it was. Knowing there was nothing in the house to eat he remained seated. Several hours passed and the pilot drifted in and out of sleep. Somewhere in the deepest part of his mind Cid thought he could hear someone. Awaking into full consciousness he raised his head neck cracking from sleeping crooked. The blanket was on the floor wrapped around his ankles.
Footsteps could be heard coming up the creaking stairs. Cid causally looked at the door as the handle began to jiggle. Figuring it was on of his crewmen he looked away and out the window into the starless night sky. Maybe it would be a robber if he was lucky. Then the robber could put him out of his misery. The pilot heard the door click and more footsteps followed. Cid shivered again from the cold.
“Cid?” Rumbled a deep voice. Cid’s eyes widened but the man standing behind him could not see it.
“Is he asleep?” asked a young woman’s voice.
“I don’t know.” Said the man. Cid slowly turned in his chair and faced the two people he had not expected to see. Yuffie smiled.
“Look Vincent he is awake.” Vincent nodded and kneeled before the pilot.


Vincent knew at first sight that the pilot was not alright. Cid was very pale and thin. Not once in his memory had he seen the pilot like this. The man look as if he was on his death bed.
“Cid can you get up?” he asked.
“No.” Looking away as he answered. He wouldn’t make it very far if he stood.
“We are taking you away from here Cid. Everyone is living in Edge. We want you to come too. We have all been worried.” Yuffie choked a little at the sight of the pilot’s frailty. Vincent carefully scooped the pilot up and carried him down the stairs and out to the chocobos.
“Do you think you can ride?” Cid looked up at Vincent. The gunman was shocked at the lifelessness in Cid’s dull eyes.
“Yes.” Cid nodded. He would do anything to be around his friends. Yuffie walked to the gold chocobo and pulled a heavy blanket from it.
“Your freezing. Wrap this around him Vincent.” Vincent hurriedly wrapped the pilot. Yuffie helped him steady Cid as he mounted the chocobo with the pilot in his lap. Putting one arm around Cid’s back to brace him he began.
“The trip won’t be long so just hold on if you can.” Yuffie and Vincent rode fast back to Edge. Only a few hours had passed. Once they reached the outskirts they stopped and a car headed toward them. Vincent gently climbed down off the chocobo turning to Yuffie.
“Get our things.” She nodded pulling the packs off the exhausted Chocobos. The car slowed to a stop and the door opened revealing Tifa.
“I’m so glad you found him. Hurry lets get him home.” Vincent nodded as he and Yuffie climbed in. Cid opened his eyes to look around seeing Barret behind the wheel. Tifa hovered over Cid the whole way back to wherever it was they were taking him. Cid didn’t care though, at least he wasn’t alone.


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“Where did you find him?” Tifa asked the gunman.
“In his house alone.” He answered, Tifa shaking her head.
“I wonder how long he has been alone and what caused him to be in this condition?”
“I do not know.” He replied. Just then Yuffie came through the door with a bowl of soup.
“We should wake him.” She said as she sat the bowl down on the bedside table. Cid had barely been listening to the conversation until Yuffie had come in. He felt the bed shift as more weight was added onto it. Yuffie lightly touched Cid on the shoulder.
“Cid. Wake up for me. “ Cid slowly peeled his eyes open. Tifa and Vincent were standing directly behind Yuffie looking down on him. The pilot could have cried.
“So it wasn’t a dream. You are here.” He whispered. They all smiled at him.
“Yes Cid everyone is here. Cloud, Nanaki, Reeve and Barret are in the other room. They’ll be here later to see you.” answered Vincent. Cid’s odd behavior was beginning to trouble the gunman.
“I’ll go tell the others your awake.” Tifa smiled at him again before leaving. Yuffie gently slipped her arms around the pilot and helped him sit up.
“When was the last time you ate anything?” Vincent asked as he sat down on the other side of the pilot.
“I don’t know.” Yuffie sighed at this.
“Here I brought you some soup. Go slowly or it will make you sick.” The young ninja lifted the bowl from the table and raised the spoon to Cid’s lips but the pilot turned away.
“Cid you have to eat something.” She said firmly but the blonde made no attempt to turn back.
“Cid there is no reason for you to be embarrassed about Yuffie feeding you. You are not well right now. No one wants to see you like this. We all want the vivacious swearing pilot back. So please just eat.” Cid looked at the gunman surprised the words came from the man and nodded. Yuffie lifted the spoon once more and Cid took it. Slowly the blonde worked at the soup his stomach gurgled. The next spoonful made him feel sick and the next spoon he wretched. Vincent and Yuffie both jumped out of the way. Vincent hurried to the bathroom for the trash can, handing it Yuffie. While Yuffie took care of Cid the gunman started some bath water and grabbed some towels. Making his way back into the room he found Yuffie pulling the top sheet and comforter off the bed. He took the sheets and handed her the towels, taking the sheet outside were Tifa said she would take care of them. Once inside and Yuffie had Cid cleaned up Vincent stood beside the pilot.
“I’ll take it from here Yuffie.” The ninja nodded and left the room. Vincent walked back to the tub and shut the water off.
“Cid lets get you cleaned up.” Vincent gently lifted the blonde and took him to the bathroom.
“Do you think you can stand for a second?”
“Yeah.” Cid replied as Vincent set him down. His legs trembled but he remained standing. Vincent made quick work of his clothes and pick the man back up lowering into the water. The touch of the warm water felt good to Cid.
“Tell me my friend. What has caused you to be in this condition?” Cid was completely relaxed and nearly jumped when Vincent spoke. He sighed and looked away.
“Many things. I don’t know why I am sick. Shera left five months ago saying she hated me and hoped I died. I guess she is getting her wish.” Cid stopped as if thinking.
“Vincent how come none of you came to see me until now?” Vincent frowned even more.
“We have Cid. All of us tried to come and see you but the mechanics and crewmen wouldn’t let us. Every time one of us called Shera would say that you were sick or gone. Finally we made the decision to come get you.” Cid shook his head in negation.
“No. No one called besides Yuffie. Why would Shera lie?” Cid frowning this time.
“Why indeed.” Cid washed himself and Vincent helped him up and dry off. This time Vincent allowed Cid to walk back to the bed with his help. Cid sat down and Vincent went to the drawer rummaging through it.
“Here these are big on me so they might fit you.” He made his way back over to the pilot quickly helping the man dress in a fresh pair of black silk pajamas.
“So this is your house Vincent?” The gunman nodded.
“Yes and I hope it will be yours too. Do you feel like going into the other room. I know everyone would be happy to see you.” Cid smiled for the first time in a long time.
“Yeah I want to.” Vincent took the blonde by the arm and helped him though the door. Cloud jumped out of a chair to give the pilot a seat.
“Hey Cid long time no see. You alright?” Cid smiled again the gunman catching it.
“I will be.” Cid knew he would be now that he was with his friends, his family.