Being Vincent, Being Cid
Part Two

Rating: PG
Category: AU
Pairing(s): Cid/Vincent
Warnings: Cid’s in it. What else do you want me to say?
Summary: Vincent is rudely forced out of his daze.
Notes: If you have not already read Part One, Click here

We skipped the light fandango,
turned cartwheels 'cross the floor.
I was feeling kinda seasick,
the crowd called out for more.
The room was humming harder,
as the ceiling flew away.
When we called out for another drink,
the waiter brought a tray…
- Procol Harum, ‘A Whiter Shade of Pale’.

“A club!” Aeris squeaked, clapping her hands and hopping up and down. “The Gold Saucer has a club now! Oh how wonderful. Let’s go clubbing, can we puh-leeeeze go clubbing? Just for a while.”

“Yeah!” said Barret. “I haven’t had a chance to sit back with a drink and listen to music in ages.”

“Sounds like fun!” Tifa turned to look at Cloud. “Let’s go!”

Cloud looked dubious. “We’re just supposed to be getting the Keystone from Dio and leaving. We’re supposed to be going after Sephiroth.”

“Well we have to stay the night anyway!” said Yuffie. “It’s early; there will hardly be anyone there. We can stay for a while and still have lots of time to get the Stone and make it to bed with time enough for a decent night’s sleep.”

Cloud sighed. “Why do I have the feeling that if I say no then I’ll have a riot on my hands?”

“Because you will!” said Aeris, and giggled.

Cloud gave a rare little smile. “Okay. But no one get too drunk, okay?”

“Promise!” said Tifa, then noticed Vincent slowly drifting away, creeping like a cat with a guilty conscience back towards his hotel room. Tifa ran up behind him and caught him in a hug.

“Oh no you don’t, Mr. Valentine! You’re going clubbing too!”

Vincent turned his head slightly to look over his shoulder at her. “No,” he said quietly.

“Yes you are. Just for a little while. Okay?”

“Tifa, I…”

“You’re going clubbing and that is that. We promise not to make you stay too long. Just have one drink and if you hate it we’ll let you go. Deal?”

Slowly, reluctantly, Vincent nodded, and permitted Tifa to lead him back to the group. Together they made their way to the Gold Saucer’s only club. As Yuffie had predicted, there were very few people there. They were, in fact, the only patrons. They spied a table large enough to hold them all as soon as they entered and went to it, seating themselves. Within moments a server arrived to take their order, just as Yuffie caught sight of a small stage.

“Hey they have live music here!”

The server smiled. “The band will be on at eight. In the meantime we have a DJ playing tunes,” she said. She then departed to fetch their drinks.

Cid glanced over at Vincent, not liking the distant look in his eyes. He was still locked far away in his own thoughts, lost in his own head. Even getting grabbed and subsequently destroying the tent three days ago had not made a difference. Mentally he was a million miles away, and Cid had just about given up on the idea that Vincent would ever notice him. In the background the music came on; played through the huge speakers near the stage. Yuffie immediately rolled her eyes.

“Oh GAWD they’re playing geezer music! I hope the band is better.”

Cid glanced at Vincent, but if he had heard her, there was no indication. He sat sideways on his chair, one long leg drawn up, chin on his knee, hands loosely draped around his ankle, eyes distant. Wherever Vincent was, it was not in this room. Cid reached out to move a bit of his hair aside. Vincent did not react, but Cid no longer thought that was because he liked him. He thought he could hear his own heart breaking, and made himself look away. He was almost relieved to see the waitress return with a tray of drinks. Beside him Vincent turned his head, watching the woman set out glasses and bottles. A slight smile touched his lips.

“When we called out for another drink, the waiter brought a tray.”

Cid looked up, surprised to hear Vincent speak. “What was that?”

Vincent looked at him briefly with distant eyes, as if wondering if Cid existed. “It… it’s a line from a song. One I really liked.”

“What was it called?” asked Aeris.

“It’s forty years old. You don’t know it,” said Vincent quietly.

He looked at his beer and seemed to ponder something. Finally he unbuckled his shoulder cloak and let it fall to the back of the chair, then next opened the cloak beneath it., letting it also fall to the chair. He was extremely slender, and his long mantle of tangled black hair made him look frail and waif-like. Cid felt an urge to draw him close and protect him, but didn’t think Vincent would appreciate the gesture. Barret looked around the room.

“Just us in here,” he remarked.

“That’s fine by me,” said Tifa. “I don’t like clubs after they are too packed. You can’t dance and it gets too hot.”

“I like clubs,” Cloud admitted quietly, and grinned.

“You mean Reno likes clubs,” teased Aeris as she got up from the table and walked over to the DJ booth.

Cloud smiled and shrugged, he and Tifa watching as Aeris stood on her toes to address the DJ through the small window in his booth.

“I hope she asks for something good,” said Yuffie.

“It’s Aeris,” said Cid, lighting a cigarette. “She could very well be asking for the Chicken Dance.”

“Oh hell no,” said Barret. “If I hear the Chicken Dance I’m leaving.”

Aeris came back to the table after a minute, looking very pleased with herself. She glanced around, eyes becoming large as she noticed everyone at the table was staring at her.

“What?”

“We are all deeply concerned that you requested the Chicken Dance,” said Cloud.

Her eyes lit up with delight at the idea. “I didn’t think of that!”

Cait Sith groaned aloud. “Take me now, great clockmaker in the sky!”

“Gladly,” said Cid. “Vincent, loan me your gun.”

Vincent didn’t seem to hear. He raised his glass and had a long swallow of beer. Cid noticed Aeris watching him, studying him, as if expecting a reaction of some sort. The last strains of the song faded away as Vincent set down his glass, then the smooth distinctive sound of a Hammond organ started up, and Vincent jolted in his seat as if he had been shot. His eyes snapped to Aeris, the expression in them seeming to ask why in hell she would do this to him. The thought seemed to suddenly dawn on Aeris that maybe what she had done was not such a good thing.

“Vincent, I was just…”

He stared at her, his carefully constructed wall falling away in ruins, leaving his emotions raw and vulnerable. He got out of his chair, looking around, as if trying to find something, perhaps a hiding place. Then he simply walked over to one of the huge speakers, resting his folded arms on its black surface and lowering his head. Cid watched him go, then snapped his gaze to Aeris.

“What did you do?”

She was hurt and defensive. “I just asked the DJ what song from forty years ago had the line ‘when we called out for another drink, the waiter brought a tray’ and did he have it. He knew the song and agreed to play it. I didn’t know it would upset Vincent, I thought it would make him happy! He said he liked it!”

“Yeah he looks just fucking thrilled to pieces,” growled Cid.

He smashed his cigarette out in the ashtray and stood up, walking over to Vincent, coming to stand by his side. He watched him briefly, trying to decide what to do. Finally he cautiously reached out to rest a hand on his back.

“Hey,” he said gently. “The evening is supposed to end with someone crying on the speakers, not start that way.”

Vincent drew a shuddering gasp, not even trying to hide the tears. He did not object as Cid drew a little closer.

“Vincent?” Cid asked, worry in his voice.

“I was seventeen,” he said, still face down, brow resting against his folded arms. “We were at a school dance. There was a group of us, all friends. They must have played this song a half-dozen times over the course of the evening. And we all swore we would be friends forever. And… it was all taken away. Everything. All the things and people I loved. They all think I’m dead, and I am. How could I go look them up after thirty years? They’re not the kids I went to school with. They wouldn’t know me. Not my friends from school, not the Turks I worked with… they’re all gone. The people I loved, the things I knew… it was all taken away. I never wanted to hear this damned song again.”

Cid gently took hold of Vincent, drawing him close, letting him cry on his shoulder as he wrapped his arms around his slender frame.

“Is that why you walled yourself off?” he asked quietly. “So no one could do it again?”

“I didn’t even know I had shut myself off. It’s all just been so much to deal with. So much loss. I didn’t know where to start. So I didn’t.” Vincent held Cid tightly. “I feel like I’ve been shot in the stomach all over again…”

Cid squeezed him gently, rocking him comfortingly. “If you don’t cry, you don’t heal. Even I know that, and I’m an insensitive jackass.”

“I’m afraid to cry. I think if I really started I’d never stop. I really didn’t want to hear this song.”

The rocking became a slow sway. Cid ran his hand over Vincent’s hair. “It’s a pretty song. Never heard it before.”

“It used to be my favourite.” Pause. “Cid, are you dancing with me?”

“Sorta. You want me to stop?”

Vincent sniffed. “No. It’s nice. I forgot how much I liked to dance.”

“So we’ll dance.”

Cid caught the DJ’s eye, and made a motion for him to play the song one more time. There was no one else in the club, so the DJ shrugged in acknowledgement, and when the song ended he played it again. Cid placed one hand on Vincent’s back, the other hand holding his.

“You’re leading,” said Vincent. “I’m taller, I should lead.”

“Yeah but I’m the man.”

Vincent raised his head and glowered at Cid, face wet, hair hanging damp and lank.

“Dumb thing to say,” said Cid. “You lead.”

“No. You lead. I don’t know where I’m going.”

Cid smiled, and the two began slow dancing, Vincent pressing his face close to Cid’s neck. They gently swayed to the music, Cid closing his eyes, enjoying the feel of having Vincent finally in his arms.

“It’s been a long time since I danced, too,” said Cid.

“You dance?”

“Are you kidding? My high school had exactly two extra-curricular activities; dance and homemaking. I sure as shit was not gonna take homemaking.”

Vincent smiled. “My mother was a dancer. I took dance from the moment I could walk.”

“Well then we can spice this up a bit.” Cid slowly twirled his taller partner, then dipped him.

“You’re good,” said Vincent.

“Course I am.” Cid caught the briefest glimpse of a smile on Vincent’s face. “Now don’t you feel better now that you’ve let some of the crap out?”

“I suppose. There… there is just still so much more inside. I feel selfish venting it when we have so much on our plates.”

“Yeah, I can understand that. But… y’know… I really like you.”

“Oh for god’s sake why? I’m a mess.”

“You’re beautiful. And not just on the outside. I see something in you that draws me, like a moth to a flame. I’ve been dying for you to see me since I first set eyes on you. I just didn’t know how to get your attention.”

“The ice-cold hand between my thighs worked.”

“Yeah sorry about that.”

Vincent smiled faintly, then admitted quietly; “I kept the little yellow weed-flower you offered me later as an apology.”

“Did you really?!” Cid’s voice brightened with delight.

Vincent nodded, and sighed as the song once more wound down. “This is lovely, Cid, but… I can’t hear this song again. It’s ripping me up. It flows across the floor with a thousand ghosts, and I’m not ready to face them.”

“Well maybe something a bit happier then. Can you swing?”

Vincent raised his head to look into Cid’s eyes, surprised. “Of course I can swing. Can you?”

“Like a chimpanzee.” Cid grinned at him. “What say we blow some minds and cut a rug, daddy-o?”

Vincent smiled, and this time there was genuine warmth in it. “Then you request the song while I take off the brass footwear. I don’t think the proprietor would appreciate me slashing the floor to splinters. These shoes are meant for combat, not dancing.”

“Right. Meet me back here.”

***---***

The five people, one red animal, and animatronic cat watched as Cid and Vincent ceased dancing, temporarily parting ways. Cid approached the DJ as Vincent walked over to the table, seating himself in the chair so he could remove the brass fittings over his black leather shoes. He placed them on the table, where they gleamed coldly, deathly sharp. He then began removing his gauntlet.

“Vincent…” began Aeris quietly.

He shook his head, not wanting to talk. “Don’t worry about it,” was all he said.

He set the gauntlet down and walked away, Yuffie immediately picking the thing up.

“I wonder if he ever forgets he’s wearing this and, like, picks his nose or something?”

Barret winced. “Don’t be sayin’ stuff like that.”

“I think you have to be alive to have boogers,” said Cait Sith, toying with a glass.

“Someone should apply for a grant and find out,” said Tifa. “This could be vital information.”

“YECH!” said Aeris.

Cloud watched Vincent walk onto the dance floor once more, met by Cid. They stood and faced each other, Cid grinning.

“What do you suppose they are up to?” he asked.

The group gathered at the table watched as the pair faced each other and waited. When the music finally did start, Yuffie was about to crab that this song was even older than the others, but was stopped before she could utter a word when Cid grabbed Vincent by the hand and the two started to dance. They moved fast and smooth, keeping pace with each other as if they had been dancing together all their lives. Jaws dropped in unison as the pair whirled in perfect precision to ‘In The Mood’.

“I am not seeing this,” said Yuffie, as beside her Barret just stared with his mouth open.

“Then we’re both not seeing the same thing,” said Nanaki as Cid picked Vincent up and began tossing him with the finesse of a long-time ballroom dancer.

They stared, unable to comprehend what they were looking at. Cloud just shook his head.

“If I hadn’t seen it, I would have never believed it.”

“They’re wonderful!” exclaimed Tifa, delighted.

On the floor Cid and Vincent danced together as if nothing else mattered. And at the moment, nothing did.