Final Fantasy - All Series Fan Fiction ❯ LevelHeaded ❯ Chapter 5 ( Chapter 5 )

I'm not so sure how well I'll be able to make daily updates, but I'll keep at it as long as I can. I have noticed that this chapter has tinges of a slightly different writing style, and that perhaps could be because it is a more Cid-like point of view. It's a bit more relaxed. Hm.

 

Welcome to Chapter 5! Here we get to meet the lovely receptionist of the Heaven's Cloud. This could possible be my personal favourite chapter so far.. Please enjoy!

 

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After living with one for the past year, Cid considered himself quite knowledgable in the art of waking a Vincent. He knew it's sleeping patterns and understood how easily woken one could be during the night and early morning hours. For the first two weeks after his patient moved in, Cid was constantly tackled and tumbled down the stairs because he was thought to be a burgular or nurse. The doctor also knew how ridiculously hard waking a Vincent would be between the hours of two and four. It was currently fifteen after three. Damn.

 

"C'mon, Vinnie," he coaxed, gently patting his companion's shoulder. "let's not make this too difficult.."

 

With a slight moan of protest, Vincent merely curled himself tighter against the window.

 

"Ah.. Jeez. Hey, Barret! Could ya' make yourself useful? C'mere, lazy.." Dr. Highwind's sentance trailed iff as the summoned driver scurried around the limo. Leaning into the car, he made a half hearted attempt to rouse Vincent from his slumber by shaking him a few times.

 

"Yessir?" He said as he withdrawled his arm.

 

"Could ya' carry that luggae into Tifa's for me? Thanks, bud." Cid motioned toward his mound of luggae and Vincent's few meager suitcases. "It looks like I'mma have to carry 'im into the Lobby."

 

"Uh.. Mebbe I could-" Barret offered, though the gesture was awkward.

 

"Nono. He'd probably flip his lid. Somehow he'd know the difference. It appears to be a subconcious thing." The doctor explained [1 as he clambered out of the car and around to his companions door. "And after all he's been through, it's understandable."

 

As Cid's last comment flew over Barret's head, the chuaffeur managed to pile the majority of the items into his burly arms. It might take him two trips, he then thought when half of his load tumbled from his grasp once he stooped to gather the remaining baggage. Frowning, he continued to fumble more luggage than he succeded to pick up.

 

With Vincent half-hazardly slung over his shoulder Dr. Highwind was somehow able to staggar to the Heaven's Cloud entryway. Even though he was exceptionally slender, Vincent's sheer height made carrying him awkward. And yet, Cid was able to reach the revolving door before his cargo was roused awake.

 

"Dr. Cid?" He questioned in a hushed tone. Still groggy from his nap, it took Vincent a few yawns before he could fully register the situation.

 

"Well, well. Fuckin' Sleeping beauty. Glad to welcome ya' back to the realm of the living!" Cid joked while shrugging Vincent off his shoulder and onto his feet.

 

His only reply was a light chuff as Vincent's attention was directed toward the reflective glass door. Studying his reflection more a mere second before grimacing. The dark locks of hair were tangled, while his eyes were bloodshot from the stresses of traveling. In short, Vincent assumed he mirrored a trainwreck.

 

"I look a mess, ighwind," He remarked, in what could be considered a joking manner, "and you wrinkled my one partially clean shirt."

 

Chuckling, Cid explained, "Don't wory about it, Vince. You can get cleaned up before anyone important sees you. Both Tifa 'n Cloud are in the bigger part of the city. The said somethin' 'bout getting a surprise?.." He let that sink in before continuing, "The only one here is their partime secretary. Yuffet. Yuffers.. Tuffie? Anyway.. She's just some damn kid. You just wait here while I tell her the guests have arrived!"

 

With that, Cid pushed his way into the revolving door, and into the lobby.

 

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As Vincent pressed his face to the glass, he could see Dr. Highwind stroll right up to the counter. His body languaged oozed self-confdence. He could also see how the young, short haired secretary sat behind the counter, paying little attention to Highwind. The loud and 'colourful' conversation the pair engaged in could even be heard through the glass walls of the lobby. Vincent listened intently.

"Good afternoon, Miss!" That was Cid.

"Your long-awaited guests have finally arrived." That was Cid gloating.

"What do ya' want, old man? I wasn't told to expect anybody, and i'm the secretary. Yuffie Kisaragi!" Vincent raised his eyebrows. The girl had some spunk if she planned to go toe-to-toe with Highwind.

"What do you, mean? I'm here with the fuckin' gurst of honour." He wasn't yelling yet; his word choice was of slight amusemant.

From behind the counter the girl stood up and re-adjusted her overly large glasses frames. "I'm sorry, pops, but I ain't heard nuthin' about you." Her face was smug, but not unkind.

'Now he would be angry.' Vincent nodded to himself.

"Now, you listen here. I'm the Dr. Cid Highwind! You should know that, little b-..witch! Tifa, yer boss, had made arrangements specifically for me an' old Droopy Dog out there." Cid wildly flung and arm toward the glass panels where Vincent stood. He in turn, gave a slight wave to Yuffie.

"Yea? Well, if my boss had made those sort of plans, she would'a wrote them on this post-it." Yuffie yanked the paper off of her desk and waved it at the Doctor.

"Lemme see it." Cid ordered as he yanked it from her tiny hands. she protested with a light shriek, but little else.

As he scanned over the paper, he noticed the first thing written at the top was his name, suite number and time expected to arrive. "Uh, did you even read this?" He questioned her in monotone.

"Yu-yes." She replied, snatching the paper back. As she held it close to her wrinkled face, she lifted up her huge glasses. "It says nothin' bout.. Oh. There it is. I guess my eye doctor was right. I really don't need a prescription. I got perfect 20/20, baby. Well, I guess I can give you this keycard now. Yours is number 4, got it?"

As Cid snatched the plastic card from her hands, he gave a tongue-in-cheek "thank you", and headed back out of the door. The secretary laughed in reply and scratched his name off the list.

"One down, two more guests to go. For I am the great secretary, Yuffie Kisaragi, on her way to a promotion! I just hope they don't like filling out those comment cards.."

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