Author’s note: This is just to let you know that you don’t necessarily have to read part 1 to know what’s going on. But wouldn’t it be nice to see how Vincent and Cid got together? ^_^ Okay…for anyone interested in ratings, this part has an NC-17 warning on it meaning, graphic sexual scenes between two males. If you have a problem with that, please turn back now…otherwise…ENJOY!!! Copyright © 1999 by Silver Rayne

Highwind 2: Lonely no more
By: Silver Rayne

"It’s over."

Cid glanced up towards the spot where their leader stood. Their young, impressionable, yet somehow tainted savior. Cloud Strife had done it. They had won.

"Are you sure?," came Tifa’s unsure response. "Can we truly be certain this time that he is…dead?"

For a brief moment in time, Cloud paused, glanced down at the caved footing beneath him. Not only was Sephiroth gone but his entire body had been wiped out of existence. "If you need proof, feel free to look for it…by yourself." He stumbled away from the scene, a deepening sickness rolling in his stomach. Soon, he would find himself choking from the nausea, holding back the tears. They threatened to spill forth but he held them back. It was all he could do with that last ounce of power left within him. "I need to be alone."

They watched him go, all beginning to form their own conclusions as to why their brave friend didn’t celebrate. His ties to their nemesis may have been more intimate than any of them realized. But for now, it was over. Until one of them desired to discuss this ordeal and bring to light any faults inherent in it; their trial had ended. Never to be spoken of again.

"We should leave. There is nothing else that we can achieve by lurking over the man’s remains." Vincent swung his tattered cape over one shoulder, closing his eyes for a second to respect the memory of a corrupted man. "He did what he felt he had to…as did we all. No regrets."

That last comment seemed to have been directed at Cid and not Sephiroth’s grave site. The pilot acknowledged that with a slight nostalgic piece of hope brimming over his heart. He loved Vincent, had admitted so before they went into battle. This relationship was his reward for surviving. For ensuring that his love did the same. He moved towards Vincent’s side only to be ignored. Instead of looking at Cid, Vincent followed Cloud’s route back the way they had come.

"Vincent?"

"Yes, Cid?"

He hurried to keep up with the man, scrambling over gaping wounds in the earth that might never heal. That was the extent of injury Sephiroth had imposed on them, their homes, their lives. Would it ever go away? Could anything they do ever make it right again?

"Is it my imagination or are you givin’ me the cold shoulder?"

The raven haired man stopped abruptly, his stockier companion running straight into his back. Vincent faltered, nearly tumbled down the steep incline but Cid’s arms clamped onto either side of his love. Holding tight, refusing to let go even after there was no danger to speak of.

"It’s your imagination, Cid. These past events would give anyone reason to act…unnatural. This entire battle needn’t have occurred. Her son is dead. Gone. Forever. What do I tell her?" He looked at Cid with red eyes that didn’t appear very bright. Dim. A light fading from them.

"Tell who?"

"Lucrecia. She never knew. She has a right to know."

"Vincent." Cid began very softly, embracing his slender love before any of the others were to catch up to them. Their friends were still unaware of any exchange between them other than friendship. That and a mild case of sarcasm and bitter insults to cover up any hurt or lost love between them. "You can’t seriously be blamin’ yourself for how Sephiroth turned out." His lips sought out Vincent’s, sealing the words away that he didn’t want to hear. "Shit! You weren’t his father. Hojo’s fucking responsible for all of this, not you. Just because one man didn’t have the guts or marbles to take care of his son does not mean that all that guilt should fall on your shoulders. Can’t you let it go?"

But he couldn’t let it go. "I loved her once…Lucrecia. I owe it to her."

"She was the one who abandoned you, not the other way around. I don’t want to say anything bad about her because of how I feel for you. But you must know that in the end, she was just as rotten as Hojo. She went along with it, Vincent. She let everything happen and not once did she try to stop it. Sure, she left him but in doing so, Sephiroth’s fate couldn’t be altered. You did everything you could. That prick shot you in the arm for gods sake! What more could you have done?"

Vincent pulled away from Cid, regarding a flashing meteor racing across the sky. On any other occasion, it might have been romantic. "I could have woken up sooner. But…I was selfish. Sleeping for an eternity meant never having to face reality. Taking no responsibility for inaction. That is, in some ways, worse than causing an incurable mistake. If I had at least tried and failed, it might not have turned out so bad. This gnawing pain inside of me would not exist."

"Can I ask you something?"

"Another question to trick me into realizing that I did everything I could? Please Cid, don’t patronize me."

"No. I wanted to ask…do you still love her?" His voice nearly broke with that inquiry. What if the answer was ‘yes’. Then what? Cid could not, would not compete with a woman he knew only from tales told by others. She was a ghost. May as well be dead because it was impossible for him to rival something like that. A memory. He was flesh and blood, as alive and healthy as any man had any right to be. Sure, he was not young anymore but what did it matter? He could touch Vincent in ways that Lucrecia never had, show him the true meaning of love. All the possibilities which the man deprived himself of. But Cid didn’t have a chance in hell if Vincent kept dwelling on his ‘first love’.

Amazingly, those red eyes sharpened with a keen interest. He had not expected that sort of question. "Do you honestly need me to answer that?" Vincent’s tone had become velvety, half seductive in nature. He couldn’t believe the nerve his friend had to consider that as being true. Vincent had grown out of his love for Lucrecia, noticed it for being something a little more and yet, a little less than what he first assumed. Not love. Pity. Not devotion. It had been an astounding loyalty and piercing sympathy for the woman which threw him into the line of fire time and again for her. His misguided protection had ruined him in the end. But now… he recognized it for what it was and erased any misconceptions he may have had.

*I was so naïve back then. And in some ways, Lucrecia used that against me.* Yes, she had been manipulative. How else could the woman have played his heart for a fiddle and then plucked out his strings just as vehemently? Twisted. She undeniably had been corrupted into siding with Hojo, giving into his whimsical delights. Sick. How very sad for her spirit to be squashed beneath the scientist’s heel. Some part of Lucrecia was as dirty and evil as Hojo himself.

"After all we’ve been through…I do. I’m sorry for making you uncomfortable but I have to know."

"Why? Is it that important for you to learn what a fool I have been? To see the faults of my mind, my past, my heart. Maybe you can use those details to erect your own sense of worth far above that of my own."

"Gods! Would you listen to yourself?" Cid gripped Vincent by his shoulders, shaking him firmly to get his attention. "Putting you on the spot like this doesn’t make me a bigger man. But I want to hear it from you, straight from your own heart. Because I know what you said to me a couple of days ago. I love you, dammit! With all of my blasted heart. I don’t want to go sharing your love with some bitch that trashed whatever was left of who you were. I know you’re a different man now. With your mechanical arm and the transformations you say are evil. They aren’t and neither are you. I love you now, and for the future. I want to know if you feel the same way."

"I told you…"

"I don’t give a shit what you told me. That was before Sephiroth nearly took your life…before you had to face death straight in the eye. At that time, you didn’t have Lucrecia and all this fucking guilt beating down on you."

The corners of Vincent’s eyes became moist but he neither blinked nor made any attempt to wipe away what turned into tears. "I do love you, Cid." He whispered, pressing up against the older man for the comfort of an embrace too tight to break out of. "Not Lucrecia. But you must understand why I have to see her one last time. It is the only way for me to ever be free."

"Okay. But I’m coming with you, this isn’t something that you should do alone."

"I thought you might say that. It is one of the reasons why I love you so dearly, Cid. Your devotion towards me nearly makes all the pain go away."

"We’ll have to do something to take it away entirely. Maybe take your mind off of this." His hand slid down Vincent’s back, between his shoulders, creating a trail over his spine. Just as he was about to move it over Vincent’s hip, they were interrupted by the sound of someone choking.

"Cloud!" Vincent blinked away his own misery to go in search of his friend. They spotted a spiky blond bush peaking up from the other green ones in the area outside the crater. Vincent was the first to get to his young friend, easing him out of the turmoil just as Cid had done for him.

~*~*~

The next day, Vincent was scanning a small cave with his keen eyesight. Searching in vain for a woman that obviously did not want to be found.

"What if she’s dead?"

"Lucrecia cannot be that old. If she is not here, then she must have left. Maybe she heard about Sephiroth and went looking for him."

Cid sighed loudly, stomping outside to get a breath of fresh air. This was not turning out the way he had imagined it to. He wanted so badly for Vincent to alleviate his sorrows and get rid of his guilt. It wasn’t going to happen unless the man could get Sephiroth’s death off of his back.

A small pool of crystal-clear water formed at the mouth of the cave. A plump, gold Chocobo was chomping up the green grass. Munching away on some flower petals, not seeming to have any particular taste for rich nuts at the moment. He pecked closer to the pool that trickled downwards into a sloping stream. The opening leading to that slope could not fit anything large past it. Only a very small child or perhaps a water creature, nothing bigger. That was why they had to travel to the cave by either submarine beneath the cave or by Chocobo. Both Vincent and Cid lacked a taste for underwater adventure so here they were.

"You’ve got it easy," Cid muttered to the bird. "When he comes out, you aren’t going to be the one he shuns."

"Wark!" The Chocobo raced around in a confused circle, flashing its beak into the air with striking movements.

"Now what for fuck’s sake?"

"Wark! Wark!"

"Stupid bird," he grumbled. That’s when he saw it. There, stuck at the opening of the stream was a flowing of hair. Long hair. A woman’s pale face, head bobbing up and down as the water shimmered under the daylight. "Lucrecia."

"I can’t find her, Cid. I don’t know where she could have…" Vincent exited the cave and came to a dead stop. "What is it? What’s wrong?"

"I’m sorry. She’s dead." He indicated the lifeless body struggling to go downstream. A light blue-white of flesh flailing and not of its own accord.

"Oh god!" A cape was tossed to the ground, boots cast off just as easily. Vincent waded into the water with a splash before Cid could stop him. He launched off from the shore, swimming against the current instead of with it. "I can save her. Help me, Cid! I won’t let her die…not like Sephiroth did. It can’t happen twice."

But Cid was not going to put up with one of Vincent’s hysterics. He raced into the water, plowing around the current after his love. *I hope you can swim better than I think you can.* Just as he was getting close, Cid’s fears were initialized.

Vincent threw his head up in a gasp for air, not quite filling his lungs with it. His clawed arm felt heavy, lead dragging him to the bottom of the pool. He fought, struggled, tried not to panic. In doing so, he grew even more agitated. *So many years…* How many years had it been since he last submerged his head under water? He couldn’t remember. He couldn’t summon even the vaguest references to swimming. His feet kicked beneath him, frantically attempting to keep afloat. Her body was nearly within his reach, if he could just…

Cid swore his mightiest curse, making it to Vincent’s side in one powerful stroke. But his love had sunk underneath the surface, all the while kicking and thrashing about.

"It’s all right. I’ve got you." Cid held Vincent up, felt his body quivering, lurching away. "Quit squirming around like a jackass. She’s dead, you idiot!"

"I have to…I have to save her." He coughed, sputtering on water, his claws sinking into Cid’s thigh.

"There’s nothing that you can do!"

In the middle of the pool, the depth was enough to drown several large ships on top of one another. If a human being were to sink to the bottom, there wouldn’t be any hope in hell of saving him. During their struggling, Cid realized that Vincent’s swimming techniques consisted of a new form of dog paddling. To release him, just for a split second, that would be all it took to lose him.

"Do you have any idea how many fucking monsters are lurking beneath our feet? We can’t stay in here any longer. Go limp and let me tow you back in."

"NO!"

"We can do this your way or my way. The only problem is that my way includes knocking some sense into you. Don’t make me do that."

Still, Vincent pulled away, his long jet black hair streaking out behind him as he moved in the water. Out of Cid’s grasp, the inability to remain afloat caught up with him. Vincent’s buoyancy quickly faded, dragging him downwards. Tugging at his ankles in the form of vines which cut off his circulation. Keeping his legs bound together and making his descent into the black abyss below a living nightmare.

So many things passed through Vincent’s mind as the last of his groping fingers became submerged in a heavy darkness. He couldn’t see, nearly screamed before deciding that it would be idiotic to do so. He held his breath, clawing towards the surface but his downward motion never slowed. Something was pulling him lower, keeping him trapped in a grip of merciless terror. When his eyes opened to painfully explore this new prison, Vincent’s heart leapt into his throat. *Lucrecia! Lord, no!*

There she was, a beauty of undisturbed evil, treacherous even in death. Perhaps she had never meant to turn out the way she did. But she could not rest, would not part ways with the living world. Not until her unfinished business came to a conclusion. Not before she paid back this man for what he had done to her. His demonic soul would follow her to the ends of hell if she forced him to. He would suffer, just as she had.

"Sephiroth," her blue lips groaned. Her eyes opened, revealing unseeing orbs of white. The flesh of her skin resembled an experiment gone dreadfully wrong.

Vincent shook his head frantically, pushing his arms through the water as if it were glue. All of his muscles ached from the restraint, the pressure of being tugged so deep below the surface. He needed air. To breathe. *Cid…please, help me.*

Then an arm clamped around his chest, just above his ribs, and pulled hard. He felt as if he were being torn in two. Between a woman he had thought he loved and failed; and a man that he knew he loved and returned his feelings ten-fold. Lucrecia’s hair was like a spider web, wrapping around his knees, his thighs, squeezing tightly. Vincent felt the arm from behind give up and his heart shuddered. He was beginning to feel light headed, weak and cold. He didn’t want to die, not here, not now. There were so many things he still had to do - to say.

A cold hand gripped Vincent’s jaw, turning his head sideways. Blue lips covered his own, a hot tongue forced his mouth open. Vincent drank greedily of the air supplied to his lungs from Cid, tried to hold the man to him. However, Cid pushed Vincent back and sharply headed back up for the surface. *No! Don’t leave me here. Cid, I’m scared. Please come back!*

"You took my son from me. You took my life. He was mine. And you damned him from birth!"

She was speaking again but it was hard to think, to make sense of it all. Vincent felt himself going deeper into her chosen grave, the pressure building in his ears and temples. His lungs craved more oxygen but there was none to be gathered here. *I won’t be blamed again. It wasn’t my fault.*

Lucrecia couldn’t hear his thoughts, was not able to see the pain she was inflicting on her former lover. She didn’t care either. She would not rest until the score became even between them. "Hojo, you will die with me."

That name drew all the blood from Vincent’s body, turned his face, arms, legs…everything blue where it would have been pale under a bright, august sun. He could hardly believe his misfortune. She wanted to murder him thinking he was Hojo? A greater insult could not be possible in his existence.

Time began to slip away from Vincent, his eyelids drooped closed, lips beginning to part in the unconscious action to suck in air. The only thing he would succeed in doing was to sentence his death sooner. But before he could complete the action, Cid was kissing him again, supplying him with more oxygen. Where had he come from? Vincent wasn’t interested, he didn’t know how much longer he could hold on. With or without oxygen. Then he saw it from the corner of one eye. One of Cid’s weapons, a long spear with a pointed end tied securely to it. It was sharp and reflected all sorts of peculiar shadows in these depths.

Nothing could have frightened Vincent more than witnessing Cid reduced to a violent killer. Of course, Lucrecia had been dead before they arrived for who knows how long. But to see the sharp object ramming into her ribcage, tearing up until several of those ribs cracked…it was a sight not soon to be forgotten. Her grip was lessening but not quick enough. Vincent would need to breathe again and soon. If he didn’t, there might be residual brain damage from the lack of oxygen getting to his brain. So, with renewed hope, he fought to remain conscious. To not give Cid anymore trouble in rescuing him.

*I won’t lose you.* Cid yanked out the weapon from her chest and swam closer, wrenching her up by her hair. He sliced the hair off in ragged patterns, letting the long strands fall free from Vincent’s legs. One more strike with the weapon and Lucrecia began to plummet downwards, a long staff impaled through her belly.

Cid latched onto Vincent, below his arms, and furiously kicked his legs until they began to near the surface. He broke through it with a long, inhaled gasp for air. Vincent was next, coughing and choking as Cid pulled him back onto firm soil. His wheezing brought Cid’s hands to his back, rubbing and patting him to increase the circulation. The man moved for Vincent’s arms and legs, fingers working insistently to get his flesh warmed up.

"Cid…," Vincent gasped, his voice thin and practically nonexistent.

"Don’t try to talk. Save your energy."

Peeling back Vincent’s shirt was not an easy task. His clothes were plastered to his body, dripping wet and laden with water. Cid’s fingers fumbled with the clasps of his shirt, finally giving up to tear it open. The last thing he wanted to do was let Vincent catch a cold or pneumonia. Instead of staying still, Vincent moved his hands to Cid’s shirt, trying to pull it up and over his head.

"Vincent, I’m fine. Sit back and relax while I get you warmed up."

"I’m sorry…I tried to…"

"You had to, I know that. But all she ever had on her mind was Hojo and how to repay him. In a way, by forgetting about you, she never held you responsible for what happened. She never had anything against you, Vincent. Lucrecia’s need for vengeance on Hojo drove her insane…committing suicide must have been the only release she could think of."

"Hmm…but is she any better now?" The shirt came away easily, leaving Vincent’s smooth skin naked from the waist up. He crawled into Cid’s lap, shutting his eyes from the exhaustion of the fight. Two wet arms encased in sleeves hugged him, testing his safer body heat.

"Who can really say? The point is, it isn’t up to you to decide that anymore. All you could have done was your best and you tried. You risked your life…but now, I think you know what you have to do."

"Let her go. It’s odd…" He cleared his throat, swallowing hard in the attempt to soothe the aching in his ears. "After all this…I think the person who really needed help was not Lucrecia."

"Oh?"

"Sephiroth had it worse than all of us. He never had a chance."

With one hand, Cid stroked back Vincent’s slick hair from his forehead, easing away his tension. The other one occupied itself with caressing the cool skin of Vincent’s stomach. Innocently testing how tight the waistband of his pants were. "Cloud let him off on several occasions. We can’t be blamed for Sephiroth either."

"I feel sorry for him."

"It’s over, darling. Try not to dwell on the past so often. There is more than enough in the present to occupy yourself with." He kissed Vincent’s neck gently, breathing in the fresh scent of sea water on his skin. "Do you what I’d like to do right now?" He whispered suggestively against the man’s ear.

"I can think of a few things myself." Vincent turned around so that he could face Cid, straddling his lap. Then their lips met and everything else seemed to fade away.

Long, tapered fingers traced Cid’s jaw line, feeling several days worth of stubble growing there. It was like sandpaper against his fingers, bristling with that feather-tipped contact. Vincent created a path of wanton lust with his descent, hands becoming somewhat more aggressive as they traveled lower. He gripped the bottom of Cid’s shirt with both hands and pulled it over the man’s head. Not noticing how intently the older man was staring at him, Vincent continued to undress his lover. Pausing to kiss him while he freed the body he longed for from the confinement of clothing.

Cid could barely stand how delayed their undressing seemed to be. He just wanted to ravish Vincent then and there. Forget the buttons, the zippers…just rip it all off. But he amused himself by admiring Vincent’s dedication. Moving his fingers into that soft yet soggy raven hair, he pulled his lover against him. It was a sign of impatience; something that the older man suffered from quite frequently. He sought out Vincent’s mouth once more, holding him still while stealing a long kiss from him. Their tongues met, clashed together then simply became a passionate tangle of desire. Cid heard Vincent moan faintly as he was lowered onto his back, cool palms gracing the warm smoothness of his chest.

"Have you done this before?," Cid asked cautiously. He wanted to be sure of what they were getting into. How this situation was to be approached to avoid any mistakes or hurt feelings. Of course, he was ready and eager to make love but did Vincent feel the same way?

"Not really." Vincent frowned slightly, indicating that he thought it made him less of a man. Had he done something wrong?

"It doesn’t matter to me, darling. Not at all." Cid kissed him again, moving over a bit to see into the man’s serene face. "Do you want to? I’ll respect your wishes if you aren’t ready."

That brought an amused grin to Vincent’s lips. "I’ve been ready for a long time. I just thought it would be best if I waited for you to make the first move."

"What?!! You mean all that time we spent together…I could have…" He groaned and kicked himself mentally. "Son of a bitch!"

Vincent almost laughed at his lover’s slip up but decided not to hurt the other man’s feelings. "Cid, have you…?"

"With women, not ever with a man." His ears tinged pink from embarrassment. "Although I’m pretty sure I can manage."

Vincent beamed from head to toe. "I’m positive that you are underestimating your affect on me."

"Really?" He licked his lips, more eager now than ever. "And what affect would that be?" Cid’s hands stroked up Vincent’s thighs, watching his reaction as they continued to innocently flirt.

Then, Vincent took hold of Cid’s hand, pulling him downwards. "I think it would be much nicer if I showed you." Then he smiled confidently at his lover, leading the man’s cool hand inside the confines of his pants. All at once, the sensations caused Vincent to stiffen, moaning deep in his throat as Cid took the initiative. Roughened fingers softly explored between his heated thighs. Searching until they came into contact with his hardening flesh. They tested at first, moving up his length with careful deliberation.

"I can’t believe we’re doing this." Cid moved closer to Vincent, grasping his cock more firmly within his fist. He gave it a few short strokes, circling his thumb gingerly around the head. The warmth and slick feel around it fascinated Cid. He hardly noticed when his lover began to wiggle out of the jet black pants. "Vincent…"

"Please don’t say you’re having second thoughts," Vincent pleaded, struggling to sit up as he kicked off his pants.

The unexpected motion caught Cid by surprise, made him stop his actions to appraise Vincent. "Gods! You’re so fucking beautiful," he gasped. His blue eyes followed every curve of the man’s slender body, memorizing every feature, every expression that crossed that pale face. There was not one thing that Cid could find about Vincent that was not gorgeous to him.

"It means a lot to hear you say that." Vincent was quiet for a moment, reflecting on how he himself was being examined like a work of art. Nobody had ever given him so much attention or praise. Very few even spared a conversation to get to know him better, for the person he was. Not for the metallic appendage that served as his arm. Cid gave him all that and so much more. He was like a protective puppy that just wouldn’t go away. Not that Vincent would ever desire to have the man leave him alone.

"I meant it." He was about to wrap his fingers around Vincent again when his lover backed up a bit. "What?"

"Have patience, Cid. I’m not going to sit here for you to play with when I have nothing to entertain myself." He grinned coyly, bending onto his knees to unzip Cid’s pants. The other man helped get the soaking material off to fling it some feet away. Left with only his boots, Cid looked at Vincent eagerly.

Cid waited until Vincent had gotten an eyeful before patting his legs for him to sit there. But those red eyes flashed insolence, instead moving to crouch between his legs. He gulped as Vincent touched the tip of his cock, tentatively. Testing, more curious to begin with. He anticipated the warm hand to satisfy him so he was not prepared for a wet tongue sliding up his length.

"Shit! Could you give me a warning next time?" Another lick and Cid found his legs trembling in response to that electrical charge. Vincent was pushing those shaking legs apart, drawing his tongue tantalizingly closer and closer to the head. He lapped at Cid’s cock, tasted a salty sweetness before engulfing that organ halfway into his mouth. "Gods!!!" Cid arched his back suddenly, reached down to yank a fistful of raven hair in his grasp.

Vincent surfaced, questioning with his eyes. He found himself on his back again, Cid lying atop him for a passionate kiss. His eyes closed briefly, body being wracked by vengeful caresses. There were a hundred different emotions churning in his heart at once. The fluttering nervousness of being touched so intimately for the first time, bold hands sweeping over his body at will. A twinge of modesty at their display in the open where any passersby could enjoy the show. Mostly love; a powerful, all encompassing love for Cid, of what they shared together and what was to come in the future.

Chasing Vincent’s tongue down in his mouth, Cid playfully teased him, wondering how lucky he was. To stumble across a man like this, and then be assaulted by tempting thoughts of how he could keep him. Somehow, Cid doubted that he would ever be able to let Vincent go.

"Should I…?"

Cid paused to study the lively expression Vincent was giving him. Half full of wonder and the rest mixed with lust. He brushed an errant strand of ebony hair from those eloquent eyes to just stare. It was comforting to look to the depths of Vincent’s soul and find himself being towed further towards it. No doubts. No regrets later on.

"Do whatever your instincts tell you to." And he would do the exact same thing. Cid pressed his body flat to Vincent’s, ducking his head at the man’s chest. His lips located a pink nipple, already partially aroused. He kissed it gently, going slow to feel his lover’s body quake beneath him. As his lips parted to suck the nipple into his mouth, he made use of his hands by massaging. Going up and down Vincent’s sides, his lower back, traveling to the man’s inner thighs. The torment began.

"Ohhh…Cid…" Vincent fought against those hands, raising his hips to rub against Cid’s stomach. But he could not distract the man from giving his other nipple just as much attention. Sucking onto his flesh, leaving it taut for the warm breeze to dry before moving lower. He could feel the damp grass beneath him, absorbing the sheen of sweat that glimmered on his flesh. The sun made him look less pale, revealed a healthy glow of creamy white that had his lover so fascinated. Beyond Cid, Vincent could squint his eyes towards that light, reminded of how fortunate they both were to still be alive. He would wake up grateful for his existence every morning after this. To be with Cid was to grace the high heavens with their mutual passion.

Cid began to kiss down Vincent’s stomach, worried about scraping his unshaved beard against that soft skin. In the past few days, he had been more concerned over sharpening his spear than shaving. But his lover shivered with the passing of warm breath moving lower on him. The contrast of Cid’s almost shy yet roughened caresses made Vincent’s body respond incredibly fast and strong. He found his waist being clamped downwards by Vincent’s thighs; a power far greater than what his nimble frame could have been capable of.

Arching his back again, Vincent grabbed onto Cid’s stocky shoulders to bring them back to equal eye level. They kissed, rubbing their cocks together gently at first but then increasing the pace more frantically. Flesh met flesh, sliding away clumsily, the friction mounting until neither could tolerate it.

"Fuck it! I’m not as young as I used to be," was Cid’s way of informing his lover that he could not proceed at a leisurely rate. He was too excited, too soon. It wasn’t like he had any ranking expertise regarding same sex activities. This was a lot for him to handle. These new sensations…feelings…desires; he could not gradually let them loose. His fingers edged underneath Vincent’s firm backside, fanning out to grip the man’s buttocks evenly. Then he lifted Vincent up, crushing his hips downwards at the same time. Vincent cried out in a choked gasp while clinging to his lover.

"Cid…my boot…there’s something inside it."

He peered into Vincent’s flushed face curiously. "What?"

"The oil I use to polish my gun."

"Oh." Cid blushed, removing one hand to scratch at his head apprehensively. "What about it?"

Their gaze slowly turned into an odd wavelength of comprehension. "I want you inside of me," Vincent clarified. He had become genuinely smothered in heat and the dampness of Cid’s body pressed to him. It was so hot. So hard to breathe - to think - but there was only one thought inside Vincent’s ardor infused brain that won precedence. He wanted this…to be joined fully with his lover in a way that he could only imagine. Dreaming about it was one thing but actually participating in it would break every boundary he had ever installed. To completely trust this man he called a comrade and loved with all his heart. Just to set his spirit free, to know and understand what ecstasy really meant.

"Are you bloody sure about that?"

"Yes. Entirely."

"I don’t need to be told twice." The boots were not far away and Cid had no trouble locating the small vile of oil strapped to one of the clasps. He unfastened it and popped off the cork. While two red eyes watched him intently, Cid began to empty the contents into the palm of his hand. "You do realize that after we’re done here, I can’t ever let you go." His words kept him steady as he stroked the oil onto his cock, lubricating it thickly with the substance. Every precaution would be taken to ensure that he didn’t hurt Vincent, not when their first time together was intended to be special. He hoped that Vincent would remember his vows as well as their lovemaking. "Damn…I mean I won’t let you go. I have one hell of a temper, darling."

"It isn’t without its charm."

Those pale red lips smiled at Cid, beckoning him further into the maze of mysterious emotions that only Vincent could create. Slender fingers aided him in his work, coating the hard erection with deliberate slow strokes. Having that taken care of, Cid emptied the remaining oil to probe between Vincent’s thighs. He moved lower until he found the tight entrance which would soon grant him access. Using one finger to begin with, he gently pushed it inside of his lover.

Suddenly, Vincent tensed, not really sure how he had expected to react to that breach. He took a few deep breaths, relaxing himself to enable that finger to explore deeper within him. Now too enthralled with what Cid was giving him, Vincent lay back to enjoy this new experience.

*Is this what I expected to happen?* Absolutely. Cid couldn’t recall one waking moment where he hadn’t craved to experiment this way with Vincent. This far exceeded any fantasy his mind could have conjured up. But his dreams lacked all the benefits of foreplay, Vincent’s quiet yet vocal assurance of their intimacy. How could one man turn moaning into a soothing and erotic sound simultaneously? Cid leaned over Vincent, stretching him to add a second finger into that tightness. He kissed that slender neck, drank in the vibrations of Vincent’s moaning with his teeth and tongue. "I’m not going to hurt you," he promised.

"You never could."

Cid laughed. "You’re a hard one to figure out, darling. All that damn noise to drive me insane but no chit chat to pass the time." He moved his fingers within Vincent, causing him to pant feverishly.

"If you don’t fuck me now I’ll shoot you in the head," Vincent threatened through gritted teeth.

"Which one?" He smirked proudly at this power he held. What had he done to deserve someone so beautiful as Vincent? "Okay." Withdrawing his fingers one by one, he lifted Vincent’s lower back off of the ground, parting those stark white thighs with one knee. "Let me know if you want to stop." He aligned the tip of his cock with Vincent’s virgin passageway and gently pushed. The first few seconds were unsteady and full of doubt when his lover tried to kick away from his erection. But he kept going slowly, carefully until he was halfway in. Vincent began to breathe laboriously, relaxing his muscles to accommodate Cid’s size. "How are you doing?"

"Amazing!"

"You can say that again." Cid pushed again, shocked when Vincent ground himself against his cock. In the blink of an eye, they were locked as close as they could possibly go. Cid rocked inside of Vincent, testing his lover who trembled all over. When he could no longer stand it, he started to thrust into that tightness, making it loosen and clench onto him. All of his control and restraint disappeared the higher his ecstasy took him. Vincent was crying out his name but he barely heard it. He was very content on satiating the desire to make love to him with all the damn passion he could muster up.

"Oh…gods…Cid…" Vincent threw back his head, gasping deliriously as the wonderful feeling of being filled assaulted him. He felt his lover thrust as far into him as was possible, nearly rendering him dizzy from it all. Then he was being hoisted onto Cid’s lap as the man sat up, the act too great for either to deny. Cid’s essence poured into him, a creamy river of heat that mixed in with the other man’s shout of triumph.

"Vincent!" Cid yelled out, slurring the ending of his lover’s name. A wetness running down his stomach upon Vincent’s release. They stayed that way for as long as they could until Cid was forced to pull out. He held his lover in a tight embrace, kissing him long after they had sunk back to the grass on their sides. "I love you so much I think I might go mad," he whispered. The sun was going down and the temperature with it. Finding a familiar red cape now dry from that heat, he used it as a blanket to cover Vincent with. A steady breathing pattern fell across his neck but he could only hear something murmured very quietly.

"I love you too, Cid." Vincent snuggled up against his lover even closer and peered up at him for a brief second. When he was sure that this was indeed reality, he drifted off to sleep.

One thing stayed at the back of Cid’s head as he watched those silky eyelashes flutter shut. *His eyes…* Cid tried to stay awake to think about it, to realize the implications but he was too exhausted. Their lovemaking had worn him out but left him with a very deep intimacy with Vincent’s body and soul. So, he lay back with his precious bundle warm in his arms and dreamt. Not once did he ponder over his beloved Vincent with gold flecked brown eyes. The red which had marked the man as something abnormal and evil was now erased. With the loss of Vincent’s physical innocence, he had regained that of his soul’s.

The End.