Three S

Title: Three S
Author: Enide Dear
Pairing: Valenwind!
Rating: cute
Summary: Vincent doesn't like the beach
A/N: for who won the second kiriban! The prompt was Valenwind and beach.



"I don't like the beach." Vincent crossed his arms and pulled himself deeper into the red cloak, like a turtle trying to hide from the world.

"Ya'll love it." Putting tanned arms around his tall lover, Cid hugged the slimmer man gently. "We need ta get away a bit, jest the two of us. Damn Avalance is getting on my nerves. Ain't a one of them that ain't got personal problems the size of Ruby Weapon. They're mental, one and all."

Vincent couldn't help but quirk an eyebrow at that comment even as he moulded himself into the embrace.

"Oh, and the two of us are so stabile and sane?" He asked mildly.

"'Course we are." Cid grinned up at him. "Demons and addictions are bloody normal in this bunch of mofos. So, what ya say? What to go get some triple S with me?"

Deep inside, Vincent shuddered. The three S – sand, surf and sun – pretty much constituted his worse nightmares. That and the sheer amount of people in Costa del Sol, all pressing close, all happy and bright and drinking horrible drinks. He opened his mouth to say no, but did the mistake of looking Cid in the eyes as he did so. The words died at the sight of azure puppy eyes looking up at him.

"Oh, alright." He heard himself say. "If you insist."


Cid did insist, and had apparently been planning this in secrecy for some time. He didn't even allow Vincent the time to pack his bag – not that he had much to put in there but some old books he was reading and a hairbrush – but as soon as the gunman had reluctantly agreed, Cid grabbed his flesh hand and dragged him along towards the Highwind.

"Where are you going?" Cloud almost fell of his chair as the two rushed past.

"On vacation, see ya in two weeks. Have fun, kids, now yer elders are gone. Don't burn down the house and don't hold any orgies." Cid waved and grinned even as the girls' laughter followed them both out the door.


The Highwind rose slow and ponderous into the sky, Cid at the wheel and the crew having some time off. Vincent stood by the huge window, staring down as the green countryside became sea, the blue sky became grey and heavy with overcast. He frowned, and turned to Cid.

"This is not the way to Costa del Sol."

"Did I say we we're going to Costa del Sol. I bloody didn't. Ya made that up yerself, in that lovely worse case scenario brain of yers. I jest said we were going ta the beach." Cid's grin was positively smug as he put in the autopilot and went down to the bridge for some snuggling. "Ya know I wouldn't do that ta ya, don't' ya? Ya hate Costa del Sol. Ya need a vacation, not a panic attack."

"But…" Vincent blinked confused. "Then we're we going?"

"Ya'll see when we get there."


The skies grew darker, the sea getting more violent and cold and restless. A gloomy land stretched out before them, held high over the hungry sea by sheer rock cliffs, empty moors and heathlands as far as the eye could see. Vincent pressed against the glass, staring. Something in this land vibrated to the very tune of his soul – desolate and alone, but with breathtaking strength and hidden beauty.

"That's we're we'll be staying. I've rented the place for two weeks. The next neighbour is several hours drive away, but there's a huge library and a decent wine cellar." Cid pointed as something dark and spiky rose from the land, close enough to the seaside that it almost shook as the waves crashed against rocks deep below.

It was a burg. There was no other word for it. It wasn't big, but it was solid rock, dark and foreboding, with a tower rising at one end. You could almost hear the wind holwing ouside the thick walls.

It was, for Vincent, love at first sight. Cid lit a cig and stood next to him.

"Ya can go for walks along the cliff or sit reading. I can finish up some of my old blueprints I haven't had time for, and there's a couple of whiskey distilleries around I might visit if I get restless. Heard there might be a monster in a lake around somewhere that might need fighting. Or we can jest stay around, in front of the fire. Anything ya want. It's our vacation."

More touched than he could describe Vincent turned to the pilot.

"I though…the three S…" he stammered.

Cid snorted and hugged him tighter.

"Don't ya think I know ya by now? Fer ya, the three S don't' mean sand, surf and sun." He pulled down his face for a kiss. "It means Solitude, Sex and Cid."