Final Fantasy - All Series Fan Fiction ❯ Coming Home ❯ Chapter 4 ( Chapter 4 )

Chapter 4: Falling

 

“Rise and shine sleepyhead!” Tifa called to Lilli through her bedroom door.

“Ohhhh… Nooooo… go away!” She moaned from under the covers. Tifa rolled her eyes. “Sweety, the next time I tell you NOT to discuss theology with Vincent, maybe you'll listen to me!”

She had been up half the night talking to both Vincent and Red… poor girl.

“Yeah, yeah go away!”

Tifa laughed. “You wanna go with me to Rocket Town this afternoon?”

Lillis eyes flashed open from under her sheets. Rocket Town? Where have I heard that name before?

Hearing no reply, Tifa shrugged. “Ok! I'll just tell Cid you said hi then!”

Lillis green eyes flashed. OH!!! That's right!!!

“Ok I'm getting up!”

Tifa laughed even harder as she walked away, down the hall.

 

 

“Ow! Shit!”

Cid adjusted his shaded goggles as sparks flew, burning his arms every so often. Damn propellers on the Highwind needed attention again. Pausing, he leaned closer to inspect his progress.

Hearing the sound of the hanger door open, he stopped his welding to look down.

“Cid?”

That voice rattled his brain and he stood up straight.

“Lilli?”

She appeared below him, Tifa beside her.

“Hey, Smokestack!” Tifa waved. “I gotta pick up a shipment of Gin… Lilli wanted to see you so I just came in to show her where you were.”

Highwind leaned over the deck railing, smiling down at them.

….The hell? Wanted to see him? What's a pretty thing like her want with a rotten jerk like me for? Despite his thoughts, his ego couldn't help but feel a wee bit stroked.

Tifa waved again. “So anyway, I'm out! Be back in about 30!”

Cid waved, his eyes on Lilli.

“Oh, and Highwind?”

“Yeah?”

“You treat her right… you hear?” Cids ears burned. He could tell by Tifas face and voice that she was not joking. His past was still there… bitin at his ass like a hemorrhoid.

He nodded. “Will do!”

When she was gone, Lilli spoke up. “Whatcha doin?”

“Damn propellers got nicked up again!” He thrust a thumb at his work. “You wanna come up here and check her out?”

He laughed inside at himself. Yeah… sure… Highwind you idiot hopeful there ain't no way in hell she'd wanna-

“Sure! How do I get up there?”

Cid blinked in surprise. Holy Shit…. No fuckin way!

“Uh... well hold on ta yer britches I'll be down in a jiffy!”

He hurried off the lower bridge scratching the back of his head. Holy hell! She actually wanted to see the ship!

When he emerged onto the landing deck where she stood, he felt a rush of blood to his head… like he hadn't seen her in weeks… when it was really just the other day.

He yanked the grease rag out of his hip pocket and wiped his hands off as he walked towards her.

“So, ya wanna come on up then do ya?”

She nodded, an excited smile on her face. “You bet! I can't believe…” she paused to look up at the ship. “How immense she is! She's beautiful!”

Cids heart picked up a pace or two as he watched her. She looked radiant today. He cleared his throat. “Well, come on then honey, don't just stand there a gawkin! This way!”

He directed her to the entryway onto the ship and together they rode up in the elevator to the first deck where Cids work awaited him. When they stepped out, Lilli strode over to the railing and leaned over unafraid. Cid watched her reaction as he walked past her to start working again. He smiled, pulling his goggles down over his eyes.

“Ya like her?”

She looked back at him. “Yes! This is amazing! I can't believe how high up we are!”

“Heads up girlie!”

When she turned again, he tossed her a pair of extra goggles. “Best to wear em… wouldn't want yer pretty eyes gittin messed up now would we?”

She threw him a smile and put them on carefully. Once they were adjusted, she held out her arms. “Well, how do I look?”

Cid chuckled… a deep hum that tickled her ears. “Honey, ya look like a damn fly.”

His chuckle grew to a laugh as he saw her reaction. “Alrighty then, back to work!”

He picked up his tools and started on the last nick on the huge propeller.

Lilli took the liberty of sauntering over to the stool beside him and stole two cigarettes. Ha-Ha! She thought… Snatch!

“One a them better be for me.”

Her mouth dropped open as Cid smiled, never once stopping his work.

She lit one and leaned over, then under Cids arms, sticking the smoke in his mouth.

He curled his lips to take a puff and drawled. “Much obliged sweets.” Smoke rolled out his nose and mouth as he spoke, which for some reason caused Lillis stomach to do a flip. She stood carefully, not wanting to get in the way of the thousands of sparks that flew from Cids blowtorch.

After lighting her own cigarette, she leaned back against the railing to watch him.

Cid was hard at work, but his mind was far from it.

Go on… he thought… say yer bored girlie… I know you wanna go… there aint no way in hell ya could be content in all this shit. No way.

But as the minutes ticked away, she didn't once succumb to his thoughts. Instead, she bombarded him with questions like, what do those propellers do? How do you control this thing when it's flying? And where do you go to the bathroom when your 400 feet in the air? It was almost too good to be true…she seemed like she wanted to fly one herself!

By the time Cid was done, it was time for another smoke. He perched his goggles on his forehead and spun around in his seat to face Lilli.

This whole time she'd wanted to ask him a question… one that had been bothering her.

“Cid?”

The engineer focused on lighting his cigarette.

“Hmm?”

“Do… do I look like Shera?”

Cid choked on his smoke, which made him jump to his feet. He turned away from Lilli in a fit of coughing. When he'd finally contained it somewhat he turned back to face her.

If she knew about Shera… she knew about…other stuff.

His eyes were like daggers, but his voice soft.

“H-how'd ya know about her?”

Lilli took in a sharp breath. Oh boy… now I've done it.

“Tifa told me… I just-“

He held up a hand to silence her. Tifa? Then she DID know everything…All this time… he thought she never knew… he felt shamed… embarrassed and a bit hurt.

“Naw… I don't wanna talk `bout it.”

His face looked pained and he swallowed hard.

“I-I didn't mean to-“

“I said,” Cids voice boomed throughout the hanger. “I don't… wanna talk `bout it.”

With that said, he turned to walk back inside the ship, his whole body felt numb.

“Might as well go get Teef… take you two home.” He muttered.

Before she could say anything, he was gone.

For a reason unknown just yet, Lilli began to sniffle… to cry and then after a while her full blown sobs echoed throughout the hanger. Her chest hurt… what was wrong with her? Why hadn't she just let things be? He was nothing like his past said… and she was happy with him just the way he was… I'm a stupid girl… I've gone and ruined everything and now he hates me.

 

When Cid arrived at the Rocket Town shipping docks, Tifa was surprised to see him… alone. And the fact that he seemed flustered told her he'd gotten riled up for some reason.

It all made sense though when she saw a swollen, pink-eyed Lilli sitting on a box on the deck by the Highwind. She knew something was wrong.

After a silent ride to Edge, Cid just leaned over the wheel of his ship, his elbows resting on it. Lilli was the first to leave.

God, get me out of here! She thought as she scurried down to the elevator. Tifa though, had different plans. She stood firm in the hull of the ship, her arms crossed.

“You mind telling me what happened back there?”

Cid raised his head slowly to look at her and Tifa felt all her anger drain away. He looked so different. He looked drained… and somber. His eyes were lightless and bleeding… like two open wounds. He shook his head slowly as the corner of his nose wrinkled. “Naw… cuz yer gonna tell me why the hell you told Lilli `bout Shera.”

Tifa felt her cheeks getting warm. Dammit Highwind… why not just TALK to her?? It wasn't like he'd just gotten divorced yesterday or anything… it'd been at least 1 year… What…. Oh Planet! Now Tifa knew… she looked at Cids face and all Vincent spoke of the other day hit her. Cid loved that little girl… he really did.

“Well… what was I supposed to do? Leave her hanging?”

“Naw… ya shoulda told er to come ta me… `stead a tellin her all that shit! Bad enough I gotta watch my ass with you and Cloud.” He stopped abruptly to stand straight, rubbing his face with both hands. “Now I gotta watch what happens `tween me an her now.”

“Cid, I didn't tell her every detail about why Shera left… I made sure she knew you've changed… what is so wrong? Sooner or later you'd be telling her just what I did, on top of that, you married her!! Hell, you named one of your ships after her!!”

Tifa threw her arms out in exasperation before letting them drop to her sides. She sighed.

“Honestly… I think you've wasted enough of your life letting guilt kill your existence.”

Cid looked offended at first, but then his face softened and he nodded his head. Tifa was stunned. Holy Chocobo! He wasn't going to argue her!

She smiled at him, her arms crossed.

“Now that you've found your heart again Cid… use it.”

With that, Tifa left the hull and exited the Highwind

 

 

Cid sauntered up what his friends had come to call “Clouds Hill”

It was an area overlooking Midgar, Edge and the vast land surrounding it. Cloud came up here sometimes to think… next to the grave of Zack… The pilot looked over the weather-beaten Buster Sword sticking out of the ground.

He took a stance, leaning against his weapon; he gazed out at the city before him.

He bowed his head. Shit… what am I doin here anyhow? Was a stupid notion to come and yap at thin air.

Cid shifted his weight and sniffed. With a heave, the dragoon stood straight and stuck his lance in the ground before sitting down on the dusty ground.

“I come to say goodbye.” He murmured quietly. “Been comin up here last few months… justa clear my head… hopin you could hear me.”

He licked his lips and scratched his cheek. “Ya know… I said I'd never forgive ya for leavin… and the more I think bout it… the more I see it like I didn't wanna forgive myself.”

He cleared his throat, rolling his shoulders.

“Hell I coulda changed Shera… coulda helped ya round the house… Coulda kept up on stuff so's ya didn't hafta… cripe!”

He reached up and gruffly ripped his goggles off his head before speaking again.

“I'm sorry Shera… I came here hopin maybe… wherever ya are you could hear me n forgive me… cuz I've moved on.”

Cid wiped his nose which suddenly felt itchy. “I realized once I changed, you'd want me ta move on… not dwell on the past like some God damn lost soul.”

He nodded to himself and sniffed. “I came here ta promise ya… promise ya that I aint gonna make the same mistake twice… I aint who I was.”

Cid stood up, brushing the dirt off his pants and pulled his lance out of the earth. He propped it back on his shoulder as he always did. Closing his eyes, he reached into his pocket and pulled out a worn picture of a young woman. The portrait was faded and the corners almost completely worn away.

Cid smiled to himself as he took one last look at it. Holding it above his head, he released it from his fingertips. The wind caught it and soon it was out of his sight.

“Goodbye Shera.”

Turning, he walked slowly down the hill… feeling lighter then he had in years.