Clipped Wings

The soft crinkling of a turning page was the only sound that pierced the comforting silence as Vincent happily read his book. He shifted slightly, pulling the blankets a little closer. Okay, so maybe Cid was right. Maybe it was nice to just stay in one’s pajamas and sit in bet while reading a good book. It was warm and cozy and comfortable and…

Valentine!

Vincent let out a soft sigh as he palmed his forehead. Well, at least it was quiet. He bit his lip as Chaos came running into his conscious thoughts.

“What Chaos?” The ex-Turk mumbled, doing absolutely nothing to hide his mild annoyance. Chaos simply ignored the obvious irritation and looked up at his host desperately, looking like a child who had to go to the bathroom.

You’ve gotta help me!

“Why?”

Because! You just gotta! Vincent sighed and rested his head in his hand.

“What did you do this time?” Chaos bit his lip and whimpered softly, sounding like a child who had been caught red-handed doing something he shouldn’t have been doing.

Well, I got bored here so I left and while I was in the Lifestream, Omega was there and he was being mean and he said I was being annoying and he clipped wings! Chaos said rather quickly, whining slightly. Vincent rubbed his eyes and sighed.

“And why do you need my help?”

Because I need you to fix my wings! You can fix anything! Vincent winced slightly as Chaos’ whined like an upset five-year old.

“I cannot. Remember the truck incident?” Chaos simply groaned and rolled his eyes.

Okay fine. You can fix almost anything. But still. I need your help.

“Why should I? You seem to be perfectly fine.” Chaos groaned louder and bit his lip.

Because if you don’t help me, then I’ll be annoying. Vincent raised one perfect eyebrow.

“Not possible. You’re already annoying.” The demon smirked slightly.

I’ll be worse.

“Somehow I doubt that.” Vincent mumbled as he marked his page and put his book on the nightstand. Chaos simply huffed slightly and retreated further into Vincent’s mind, leaving the ex-Turk to sigh and reluctantly get out of bed. So much for the whole “stay in bed and read a good book all morning” idea.



~Day 1~

Surprisingly the day was relatively peaceful. Vincent happily stayed in the hanger as Cid worked on the Tiny Bronco, helping the pilot when he was needed. They ate lunch, ate dinner, and at around 10 PM, went to bed. The entire day was completely uneventful, save for the occasional and rather amusing incidents where Cid had accidentally done something stupid, and as the day wined down, Vincent began to highly doubt Chaos’ threat to be even more annoying that usual…or at least he did until 2 AM.

Vincent shifted slightly and pulled the blankets closer around himself. He smiled in his sleep as he felt Cid wrap his arms around his waist but groaned when he heard someone whisper something softly. “Hmm? Yeah Cid?” Vincent mumbled softly as he rolled onto his other side and propped himself up on his elbow so he could look at the sleeping pilot next to him.

Cid merely grunted and rubbed his eyes. “What Vin?”

“You said something.” Cid looked up at him, confused.

“No I didn’t. I been asleep.” Vincent looked at him, just as confused.

“What? But…”

“Look, ya mighta just dreamt it. Now go back ta sleep.” Cid mumbled as he gently wrapped his arms tighter around Vincent’s waist and went back to sleep.

Vincent waited a moment before lying down next to the pilot. Maybe he’s right. Maybe I did just dream it…

Yawning softly, Vincent curled up next to the pilot’s chest and closed his eyes, drifting on the verge of sleep. But before he could fall asleep, a loud noise jolted his awake.

Vincent quickly sat up and scanned the room. “What the…?” Cid groaned softly and looked up at the gunman.

“Hey. Ya alright Vince? Ya have another nightmare?” Vincent glanced down at him the up at the room, unable to speak.

Cid propped himself up on his elbow and gently rubbed between Vincent’s shoulder blades, thinking his companion had had yet another nightmare.

“Hey, it’s alright Vince. It was just a dream. Don’t worry ‘bout it. Now, come on. Go back ta sleep.” Cid gently pulled Vincent back down and pulled the gunman close, gently kissing his forehead. “It was just a dream Vince. Go back ta sleep. I’ll take care o’ ya.” The pilot turned on some light background music, knowing that if often helped to fend off nightmares, and soon went back to sleep.

Vincent merely shifted slightly and awkwardly wrapped his arms around Cid’s chest and curled up against him. “Yeah…just a dream…right…” Vincent closed his eyes and began to fall asleep again, taking comfort in the soft piano music and Cid’s steady heartbeat.

Inside Vincent’s mind however, things weren’t quite so peaceful. Chaos smirked slightly as he went around to the other demons and woke them up.

Alright. 1…2…3… Without warning, all four demons burst into a rather annoying version of one of Yuffie’s favorite TV show theme song.

Vincent jumped and sat up straight in bed. “What…? But he…” Cid was jolted from his sleep when the gunman had jumped and looked up at him.

“Hey, ya alright? Is that nightmare really the fuckin’ bad?” Vincent simply rubbed his eyes and sighed softly, knowing exactly what Chaos was doing.

“No, I’m alright Cid. You go back to sleep. Don’t worry.” The pilot nodded slightly and went back to sleep within seconds.

Vincent sighed softly and laid down next to him, gently pressing his back against the pilot’s chest. He buried his face in a pillow as the loud, obnoxious song continued in his head. ‘Note to self: never underestimate Chaos’ threats.’ Vincent pulled the blankets tightly around himself and prepared for what he was sure was going to be long, sleepless rest of the night.



~Day 2~

Vincent groaned loudly and stuffed his head into his pillow. Chaos’ song had lasted all night long and had prevented him from getting any form of sleep. He simply laid awake all night, trying desperately to make the demon stop, to no avail.

Instead, the ex-Turk simply gave up sometime around 5 AM and reluctantly subjected himself to the mental torture that was Chaos.

He unburied his face slightly and glanced at the clock. 10 AM. It was official. He gad gone a full 24-hours without one ounce of sleep. Which wasn’t so bad, except for the fact that he had gotten used to actually sleeping.

Sighing to himself, Vincent reluctantly pushed himself up and glanced around the room. Cid had gotten up several hours ago, not bothering to “wake him up” and had gone downstairs, undoubtedly waiting for him.

Vincent reluctantly slid out of bed and got dressed, preparing himself for a long day without the sleep he had gotten so used to. He calmly grabbed his beloved Cerberus and quickly holstered the weapon, doing his best to ignore his demon’s annoying song. ‘Will you please be quiet?’ Chaos simply ignored the request.

I warned you. Vincent sighed and buried his face in his hand as the demon continued to sing the over joyous theme song.

The gunman bit his lip and clenched his fists as he tried to stay calm. According to everyone else, he could get extremely…touchy when deprived of sleep, and Vincent was beginning to believe them.

After a few agonizing moments, Vincent’s temper refused to take a back seat to his torment and took over as he pulled out his Cerberus and pointed the three barrels to his own temple.

“If you don’t shut up now  I swear I’ll shoot!” Chaos simply looked at him like he was crazy.

And you do realize that you’ll be shooting yourself, right?

“It’ll be worth it if it gets you to shut up.” Vincent hissed as his grip on the handgun tightened.

Unknown to both the demon and the gunman, Cid had been standing on the other side of the partially closed door. The pilot sighed softly and walked in, ignoring the shocked look on Vincent’s face.

“Cid?” Said man simply walked past him and grabbed his jacket off of the back of a chair before stopping next to the gunman, pulled the gun out of his hand.

He calmly emptied the handgun of its bullets  and put the gun back into Vincent’s hand before walking to the door, completely unfazed by the whole incident.

Vincent simply looked down at his Cerberus then up at Cid. “But Cid…it doesn’t have any bullets.” The pilot looked over his shoulder at him and smiled slightly.

“Yeah. That’s the point.” He smiled again before pulling on his jacket and continuing downstairs and to the hanger.



~Day 3~

3 days. It had already been 3 days of long hours and sleepless nights but luckily for both Cid and Vincent, the gunman had, by some way, found a way to ignore the annoying demon for roughly an hour at a time, which Vincent usually spent sleeping. But on the rare occasion, Vincent would stay up, despite his body’s pleas for rest, and read, which was exactly what he was doing now.

He sat on the couch next to Cid with book in hand. Completely ignoring almost everything else around him, Vincent bit his lip as he began to reach the climax of his book. He clutched the hardcover tightly as he began reading faster and faster until…

Vincent jumped when Chaos burst out with the annoying theme song again, resulting in the ex-Turk falling off the side of the couch and landing hard on his back with his book lying on his stomach.

Cid leaned forward and looked at the exhausted gunman, a small smirk on his lips. “Book really that good?” He asked sarcastically.

Vincent simply ignored the comment and glared daggers at Chaos.

I was at the good part! Chaos simply smirked at him.

I know.

Then why did you pick now of all times to…Wait. How did you know what part I was at? Were you reading over my shoulder again?

Of course I was. When am I not? Vincent simply stared at him and pushed himself up.

And dare I ask how you can do that while singing that horrid song? Chaos just smirked more.

I’m multitalented. Unlike you.

Shut up. I am too multitalented.

Oh yeah right. You can’t even concentrate on your book without being distracted by either me or your pilot. A light blush creeped up Vincent’s cheeks at the comment and he glared daggers at the demon. He opened his mouth to argue, but quickly closed it, knowing that this was an argument that he wouldn’t be able to win. Especially since it was true that he couldn’t concentrate on any book, regardless of how good it was, if Chaos or Cid decided to be distracting. He glared darkly at the demon and changed the subject.

Be quiet. I haven’t been able to read more than two pages of my book because of you and I would like to finish it sometime this life time. Chaos simply snickered to himself as he watched his host get to his feet and sit on the couch, book in hand.

Whatever you say Valentine.

Vincent leaned against the soft cushions as he reopened his book and continued reading. He quickly found his place and continued. He began reading even faster as he bit his lip, only to be interrupted yet against by Chaos’ obnoxious song.

The ex-Turk jumped again and like before, fell off the couch, landing on his back. He groaned loudly as his book fell closed at his feet.

Cid leaned over again and looked into Vincent’s bloodshot eyes. “Vin?” The gunman pulled himself up using the side of the couch and Cid’s knee, and buried his face in the pilot’s knees.

“Cid, I need you to do something for me.” The pilot nodded and looked at him.

“Yeah, sure. Whatever ya want.” Vincent simply looked up at him, the dark circles under his eyes seemingly that much darker.

“I want you to send me to a psychiatric ward.” He said calmly, earning him a severely shocked look.

“What?! The fuck would I do that?” Vincent simply folded his legs underneath himself and buried his face in Cid’s knees again.

“Because he’s driving me crazy. I don’t know how much more I can take of this torture.” He mumbled pathetically into the pilot’s knees.

Cid merely smiled and gently pet Vincent’s ebony hair. “Alright, ya wanna tell me what the fuck’s been goin’ on fer the past couple o’ days?” Without looking up, Vincent explained everything. Why Chaos had started annoying him, what the demon was demon, what song he felt the urge to torture him with, everything.

Cid merely sat there and played with Vincent’s hair, silently urging him to continue, and listened. He smiled warmly once the gunman had finished. “Alright. Let me talk ta him.” Vincent looked up at him and blinked, one eye turning to a piercing gold as Chaos took partial control

“Yes Highwind?”

“Alright, let me git this straight: yer annoyin’ Vince just ‘cause he didn’t help ya after Omega clipped yer wings, right?” Chaos simply nodded and Vincent huffed slightly, looking to the side.

“Not like there was anything I could have done.” He mumbled. Chaos glared at him and turned to the left to “look” at his host.

“Yes there was. You could have at least attempted to help me. My wings were clipped and you didn’t even make some attempt at caring.” Vincent turned to the other side to “look” at Chaos.

“You were fine when I saw you. Besides, even if you were hurt, I couldn’t have anything. I’m a gunman, not a doctor.”

“Why you…” But before Chaos could finish his sentence, Cid sighed and shook his head.

“Alright ya two. Quit it. Lemme see yer wing.” The demon hesitated a moment then slowly let one of his wings fold out of his host’s back. Cid calmly kneeled in front of him and examined Chaos’ wing. Yes, there was a thin scar on the joint where Omega probably did clip the demon’s wing but there was not open wound or any kind of wound that would impede the demon’s ability to fly.

“Chaos, there ain’t no wound here. Yer fine.” Vincent’s eyes widened as his mouth fell open.

“He’s what?! You mean to say that you’ve just been doing this to me sheerly for the fun of annoying me?!” Chaos bit his lip.

“Oh hell…” Vincent’s temper finally boiled over.

“What do you mean ‘oh hell’?! I haven’t been able to get any real sleep in the last 3 days and the only reason you’ve been annoying me is just because you felt like it?! Do you have any idea what…” But before Vincent could continue his exhaustion and temper fueled rant, Cid leaned forward and gently pressed his lips against his own.

Vincent blushed deeply and happily kissed back. Chaos however, simply stared at them in disgust and tried desperately to retreat into his mind, only to be stopped by Vincent.

What are you doing?! Let me go! This is disgusting! Vincent merely smirked at him.

You deserve this. Vincent tightened his grip on the demon’s arm and kissed Cid more, making sure to fully torture Chaos in the process before letting him go.

Chaos quickly stumbled into the deepest parts of his host’s mind, completely disgusted by the whole display of human affection.

Vincent smirked to himself as he blinked, his eyes no both crimson and wrapped his arms around the pilot’s neck. Cid smiled and broke the kiss, looking up at the gunman. “So, everythin’ better now?” Vincent simply nodded and gently buried his face in Cid’s shoulder.

“Much better. He’s gone and he’s quiet.” Vincent mumbled quietly as his eye began to get increasingly heavy. The pilot simply kissed his companion again and gently pulled the tired gunman down so he was lying comfortably on the couch.

“Git some sleep Vince. Ya look like ya need it.” Vincent didn’t need to be told twice. He immediately curled up on the couch and unclasped his cloak, using it as a blanket.

Within seconds, Vincent was dead asleep under the thick red fabric. Cid sat on the arm of the couch and absently played with Vincent’s hair as he flipped open his cell phone.

Cid quickly scanned through his txt messages to find what he wanted. On the small screen was the confirmation of his newest sent video txt message, appropriately titled “Vincent v. Chaos.”

Roughly five minutes later, Cid’s phone began its over joyous ringing and the pilot quickly answered it before Vincent could even stir.

Cid snickered slightly at the shocked reactions he got from Cloud, Tifa and Yuffie about the…interesting video txt concerning Vincent and Chaos’…recent argument.

Cid bit his lip and leaned against a pillow, glancing down at the sleeping gunman. “Yeah I know. Ya jus’ shoulda seen it in person.” He snickered softly at the reactions he wrung from the others.