#nero x cid

[punningway]

The Inescaevable Subtlety of Nero Scaeva - Ch 22 - Fulsome

The Inescaevable Subtlety of Nero Scaeva - Ch 22 - Fulsome is up! Spicy chapter, with some emotional poignance as well. Their first threesome finally happened! This chapter rated E for Explicit.

[moonymangos]

First Meeting (FFxivWrite: Noisome)

(curtain opens, showing what seems to be a small room. There are two beds, one on the western and one on the eastern wall. Between them are two tables, only barely separated, with a boy around age 12 sitting at them. One has short blonde hair and wears clothes that aren't broken, but clearly look worn, as if handed down multiple generations. The other boy has white shoulder-long hair, wearing fine brand-new clothes.)

(Both are writing what seems to be a letter.)

Dear uncle Gaius, most dearest dad

Honored benefactor

There's been some small issues Over rooming at the Academy

    But of course, I'll study properly

But of course, I'll still enjoy myself

For I know that's how you'd want me to respond Yes, there's been some small issues For you see, my roommate is

Incredibly and unusably strict And in general incredibly unpleasant to endure

    A Garlond

What is this feeling Filling my chest to the brim?

     I felt it the moment      I laid eyes on him

My pulse is rushing

   My head is reeling

My face is flushing

What is this feeling?

Fervid as a flame Does it have a name? Yes!

Envy

Unadulterated Envy

For your skill

   Your name

Your excellency

Let's just say that I envy it all! Every little trait and every sound Makes my very heart begin to pound

With simple utter envy There's a strange ecstasy In such total jealousy It's so pure! So strong!

Though I do admit it came on fast Still I do believe that it can last And I will be envying, envying you My whole life long!

Precious Cid, you are just too good! How do you stand it? I don't think I could! He's a bore! He's a peasant! We don't mean to be fallacious But Cid, you're so gracious!

Well, we’re here to learn, not make friends, right?

Poor Cid, there's a simple rule of thumb Dealing with someone whose so prude and glum Don't think it's your fault That one is just noisome! We share your

What is this feeling, filling my chest to the brim?

Envy, unadulterated envy

I felt the moment I laid eyes on him

For his skill, his name, his excellency

My pulse is rushing, my head is reeling

Let's just say we envy it all

Oh, what is this feeling?

Every little trait and every sound

Does it have a name? Yes!

Makes our very heart begin to pound

Envy

Envy

There's a strange ecstasy

Envy

In such total jealousy

Envy

It's so pure, so strong

So strong

Though I do admit it came on fast Still I do believe that it can last

And I will be envy

Envy...

For forever envy

Envy...

Truly deeply

Be envious you

Envying you!

My whole life long

Envying!

[sephirthoughts]

Vincent's New Kid Just Dropped CH 15: (fucking finally)

prev. chap here

back in the present, sort of ollie-centric, reeve is bewildered, nero gets several surprises in a row

RATING: teen and up there are several swears

WARNINGS: baby drooling a lot, giant spiders

NOTES: er-ge (ahr-guh): second elder brother, gege (guh-guh): elder brother affectionate. ollie's baby babble uses these terms

this man needs several lifetimes of vacations

darkness tentacles cause i think they're neat

“Stop that,” Sephiroth scolded. “What are you doing?” 

“I’m getting some juice,” Nero replied.

“If you want something, ask politely.” 

“Why is it more polite to ask someone else to pass me something, when I can get it myself?” 

“Because it’s rude to reach across the breakfast table with your disgusting tentacles.”

Cid, who had never heard Sephiroth sound even mildly annoyed since he’d begun constantly being here, looked up from his bowl of eggs and rice. “What’s goin’ on, you two?”

“My brother is jealous because I slept with our father,” Nero cheerfully announced, as one of his darkness tendrils poured juice into his glass, from the carafe.

Cloud choked on his coffee, Ollie burbled gleefully, and Vincent pretended not to hear any of it, from behind the week-old edition of the Wutai Times, he was reading. 

“Don’t say ambiguous things to intentionally cause misunderstandings,” Sephiroth said, tugging the carafe from the tentacle’s grasp.

“You know, Sephi had a duel with my brother Weiss, once,” Nero intimated to Cloud.

“Your older brothers fought each other?” Cloud asked curiously. “I didn’t know that. When?”

“It was years ago, when Weiss was sixteen. Shinra broadcast it on live television.”

“Holy shit. How’d that go?” 

“Sephi was the favorite to win, but Weiss nearly killed him,” Nero smiled beatifically. “In the end, he had to cheat. Isn’t that right, Sephi?”

“What did I just say about intentionally causing misunderstandings?” Sephiroth replied flatly. “You are mischaracterizing the situation.” 

“Oh? Then do correct me.” 

“I never wanted to fight Weiss. I was called back from an important mission and forced to participate in a product demonstration, for the executives. Hojo deceived him and used an implanted control chip, which was the product, to cripple him, halfway through the fight. The point was to demonstrate its effectiveness to the board.”

“And how very effective it was,” Nero sneered. “By the way, did you know that Genesis visited us, in Deepground, before the fight? He sparred with Weiss, and gave him tips on how to beat you. He said it was time you were knocked down a peg.”

Sephiroth’s brow knit and his jaw tensed, but he ignored the taunt, and spooned some cubed peaches into Ollie’s bowl. 

“Nero, that’s enough,” Vincent’s deep voice said from behind the newspaper. “No reason to needle your brother’s old wounds.”

“Sorry, father,” Nero replied dutifully.

“I liked it better when you sulked in your bedroom all day,” Sephiroth muttered.

Breakfast continued in silence, but for Ollie’s cooing and babbling, and the occasional rustle of Vincent turning the page of his paper. All the while, unobserved by anyone, a spider-silk-thin strand of darkness had been creeping along under the dining table, climbing the leg of the baby’s high chair, like a vine.

Now, it slithered up and coiled around a chubby ankle, disappearing inside a lavender sock. Ollie gave a loud squeal and kicked her legs, but when Sephiroth looked, assuming she’d dropped some peaches into her lap, there was nothing amiss. 

“Are you all done, Ollie?” Cloud asked. “You want to go play?”

“Mama,” Ollie agreed, reaching out her little hands, which were dripping sticky peach juice. 

Nero rested his chin in his palm “Why does she call you mama, when Sephi is clearly the maternal one?” 

“Uh…” Cloud looked at Sephiroth, who was carefully cleaning the baby’s face and hands with a damp cloth, while she wiggled and refused to cooperate. “Who knows. Maybe because I’m small?”

“Why are you so small?”

“You know we’re the same size, right?”

“Yes, but I was born in prison, and suffered from severe malnutrition, as a child.”

“I was malnourished, too. Grew up poor, with no father, in a tundra climate. My mother and I hunted, as much as we could, but…we weren’t welcome in the men’s hunting parties. They’d clear out most of the small game, before we got a chance. Got pretty rough. Especially in winter.”

“So, it was just you and your mother against the world,” Nero sighed. “You must miss her.”

Sephiroth stood abruptly and left the room.

“Why do you have to say shit like that?” Cloud said irritably, after he’d gone. “You know it’s a sensitive subject.”

Nero looked genuinely taken aback. “I was only asking casually. I didn’t mean to—”

“It’s fine. Whatever. Come on, Ollie. Let’s go find gege and we’ll all play a game.” So saying, Cloud gathered up the squirming baby and left the dining room. 

“I know you didn’t intend to be malicious,” Vincent said, folding up his paper. “Just be more careful, from now on.”

Nero crossed his arms sullenly. “I was being careful. No matter what I say, it’s wrong.”

“How d’you think Sephiroth’s gonna act, when you been primin’ him with all that shit talk?” Cid pointed out. “He’s got no reason to give ya the benefit of the doubt.”

“He’s just too sensitive,” Nero groused. “I don’t cry about it, if people mention the horrible things I’ve done. I don’t care.”

“But he does care,” Cid said. “He ain’t you. Can’t judge other people by how you feel.”

“People are so confusing,” Nero said dolefully.

“Tell me about it,” Vincent snorted. “I’ve spent my entire life trying to learn how to interact with other humans, to little avail. I’m afraid I’m still as lost as you are.”

The doorbell rang just then, and Cid got up, tossing his napkin into his bowl. “That oughta be Reeve.”

Vincent nodded. “Go ahead. I’ll join you once I’ve cleaned up, in here.”

“I’ll do it,” Nero said, at which both men turned and stared at him. He scowled. “What? I’m not an idiot, I can figure out how to deal with a few dishes.”

“Well…alright,” Vincent said tentatively. “Thank you, Nero.”

Still looking understandably dubious, the two men exited the dining room. 

Rather than get up to begin clearing the table, Nero remained sitting exactly as he was. Instead, several dozens of darkness tendrils snaked out of his skin markings, waving and wriggling, like the fronds on nightmare anemones. 

At a thought from him, they descended upon the table in a writhing swarm, and sucked up every item: plates, bowls, coffee cups, half-full glasses of juice, even the napkins and silverware. 

Having enveloped everything, the tendrils darted off to the kitchen, with lumps of various shapes visible in their ‘throats’, as if they were pythons that had swallowed prey. Only the prey was shaped like forks and mugs and bowls, and the like. 

The leftover food and other refuse never reappeared, but the flatware and dishware were all spit back out, into their proper places in the cupboards and drawers; every single item sparkling clean, as if they’d all been scoured and polished (which they had been, by the ravenous darkness of the all-consuming void).

The entire process took about sixty seconds, and that was only because the tentacles didn’t know where everything went, and had to figure it out by trial and error. Meanwhile, a few of the larger ones slithered all over the table, leaving it immaculate, as well, while Nero sat perfectly still, apparently in deep concentration.

His mind was not on the mundane task, however, which the tentacles were perfectly able to complete without his attention, but on his father. Despite his taunting Sephiroth with it, he was still reeling inwardly, from the flying lesson in the rain, with Chaos, the other day. And even more so from having awakened, the next morning, to find he’d been sleeping in his father’s arms. 

His knee-jerk reaction was anger, with himself, to have been so weak and vulnerable, in front of the man. But he couldn’t deny that he was moving closer to his goal. The red-cloaked bastard was even beginning to trust him, a little. His reaction when Nero upset Sephiroth, just now, was proof enough that he at least wasn’t considering him guilty till proven innocent.

Though, to be fair, Vincent never treated Nero that way. From the moment he set foot in this house, he was pretty much unsupervised. They’d even let him go out to a grocery store full of civilians. Since he was finished cleaning up, he sent a few thread-thin tendrils slinking into the living room, to listen in.

“Good to see ya, Reeve,” Cid’s voice was saying.

“Thank you for coming,” Vincent’s added. 

“Anything for you two,” replied a pleasant, mature, male voice. “Sorry it took me a couple of days to get here. I was in Midgar, with Rufus, putting together a redevelopment plan for the city’s infrastructure. It’s going to be a hell of a lot of work.”

Cid sounded dubious. “Why do you look so happy about it?”

“Well…I love my job. I mean, my real job as an engineer, now that i don’t have to be Shinra’s single voice of sanity. Rebuilding is going to keep a lot of people employed, for many years, and the result will be a safer, cleaner place for everyone to live. What’s not to be happy about?”

“You’re a weird dude, Reeve,” Cid observed. 

“Yeah, I get that a lot,” Reeve laughed.

“Nothing wrong with being weird,” Vincent’s low-toned voice put in. “Nero, if you’re going to eavesdrop, anyway, you may as well come in here and meet our guest.”

Shit. Busted. 

Having no choice, now, Nero retracted his spy tentacles and went gloomily to the living room. The visitor looked pretty much exactly like he’d sounded. A tall, forty-something man, with greying, dark-brown hair and a neatly kept beard. A little older than his picture in the Shinra company directory, but good looking, overall.

“You must be Nero,” he said. “I’m Reeve Tu—”

“I know who you are, Director Tuesti,” Nero cut him off icily. “What’s a Shinra dog doing in my father’s house?”

“Sorry, Reeve,” Vincent interposed. “Nero wasn’t aware that you’re a friend. Nero, Reeve is with the WRO now, not Shinra. And even when he was, he worked with us and helped us.”

“Reeve, hey,” Cloud’s voice said, from the hallway arch, as he came in, carrying Ollie. “Been a while.”

“Oh, Cloud, it’s good to see you,” Reeve answered cheerfully, then his expression changed and he went white as a sheet, stumbling backward. “S—Sephiroth! Sephiroth’s right behind you!”

“It’s alright,” Vincent said, materializing beside him, to steady him on his feet. “He’s not here to make trouble.”

“You’re…serious,” Reeve faltered, looking around at the perfectly calm group. “What exactly is going on? How is he here?”

“Uh. This is going to take some explaining,” Cloud said. “You may want to sit down.”

Nero was pretty curious as to how Sephiroth was here, too. From what he could tell, the man wasn’t really alive. He was full of the planet’s pure life force, though, which made no sense at all. Dead things can’t interact with the Planet's energy.

Thus, he listened attentively, while in a clear, concise, and perfectly calm manner, Sephiroth related the entire story to Reeve, in broad strokes:

Jenova’s control over him, his madness and death, his becoming conscious in the lifestream, with no memory left but for those Jenova hadn’t torn away, which were all of hatred and pain. His eventual overpowering of her will. His confrontation with Cloud in the ruins of Shinra Tower, using the life force of the remnants, to manifest himself. 

Then his fight for his very existence, when Chaos and Omega awakened, and how, after they returned to the Planet, he was forcibly rejected from the lifestream. How Cloud found him, how they reached an accord of forgiveness, and how the dormant seed of love, buried deep in both their hearts, sprouted again. 

“It’s a new seed,” Cloud interjected. 

“What?” Reeve asked, bewildered.

“Seph claims the seed was already there, for him, but it wasn’t, for me. It’s a new seed.”

“So you say, now,” Sephiroth returned. “I happen to know that you were already in love with me, when we first met.”

“Yeah, the idea of you. Not the very real asshole you turned out to be.”

Sephiroth tossed his head. “I was not an asshole. Not until the incident.”

“Either way, the main point is that Sephiroth is sane, now,” Cloud said to Reeve. “Oh, shit, I forgot to explain why he’s here, specifically. He’s Vincent’s son.”

Reeve nearly fell over again, despite being seated on the sofa. “He—he’s what?”

“Sephiroth is my biological son,” Vincent confirmed, from where he was leaning against the wall, with his arms crossed. 

Reeve passed a hand over his brow. “So, you have three children? Two of whom are augmented former Shinra personnel?”

“That we know of. Hojo used my DNA to conceive Sephiroth before I died, and Nero afterward. There’s no telling how many others he made.”

“Sephiroth wasn’t conceived…you know. The traditional way?”  

Vincent didn’t answer. 

“Uh. Sorry,” Reeve said sheepishly. “That was a weird question.”

“Speakin’ of weird, why’d ya bring the cat-bot?” Cid piped up.

“She has the database you wanted.”

Cid squinted at the perpetually cheerful-looking feline robot. “Uh…she?”

“Why don’t we go out to Cid’s workshop, to talk about this,” Vincent cut in. “I’m sure the boys are tired of listening to us old men.”

This was an obvious excuse, since it had been Sephiroth doing most of the talking, but it was good enough. Carrying the cat-bot on his shoulder, Reeve followed the pair out the back door.

“So, you are some kind of ghost,” Nero said to Sephiroth, when they were gone. “That explains a lot of things.”

“I am not a ghost,” Sephiroth replied tranquilly. “My original body was destroyed, but I never died. This body is just as real. It’s made of physical matter and sustained by my will, as well as the Planet’s life force. Technically, I am more alive than you are.”

“Unless your connection is severed,” Nero said, narrowing his eyes shrewdly. “Right?”

“Nero, don’t,” Cloud warned.

“But I wonder, is it enough to be remembered? Or must you also be loved?”

Sephiroth’s eyes flashed. “What are you implying?”

“You say your body is sustained by your will, but is that true? Is it not actually…his will?” Nero turned his scarlet eyes on Cloud. 

“Mama,” Ollie put in helpfully. 

“All the pain he caused,” Nero went on. “All the destruction and suffering and death, and still, you didn’t let go. No matter what atrocities he committed, you couldn’t make yourself let go of him. Could you.”

Sephiroth opened his mouth to say something, but Cloud interrupted. “No. I couldn’t.”

Nero’s catlike pupils dilated imperceptibly. “And you don’t regret it, do you. Even knowing that you holding onto him, acting as his tether to existence, cost thousands of human lives.”

Cloud’s blue eyes were glistening, but he set his jaw defiantly. “No. I don’t regret it. Not for a goddamn minute.”

“I think…I'm beginning to understand you, Cloud Strife. We are both people whose love outweighs every other consideration, including so-called righteousness and morality.”

“Love makes its own law. Isn't that what you believe?”

“It is. I'm glad to know that you believe it, too. For my brother's sake.”

Nero turned to go upstairs, but at that moment, he felt something he hadn’t, in a long time. It was a tug! Through the darkness! It was extremely faint, almost undetectable, but it was a tug! That was the way Weiss used to connect to him, he’d never mistake it! 

He stopped where he was, breathless, quivering with anticipation, every nerve fiber on high alert, waiting to feel it again. Unfortunately, Ollie had begun jabbering loudly in Cloud’s arms, and it was quickly evolving into a fussy noise, which was frustratingly distracting. Nero needed to go to his room, where he had at least marginal privacy. 

He stepped onto the bottom stair, but as he did, he felt the tug again, and froze in place. This time he caught hold of it, and connected to the darkness. The world around him dissolved into inky blackness.

“Weiss! Weiss!” he shouted, into the formless void. “Brother, where are you! I felt your pull and I came! Brother! Weiss!!”

As he was calling out for his brother, he felt a tickling sensation and looked down. There, at his ethereal feet, grabbing at his shin with its forelegs, was a black spider, the size of a housecat.

Its legs were rather stubby, its carapace was covered with thick, plushy, black fuzz, and its eight crimson eyes were too large, in proportion to its head. The result was that it looked weirdly adorable, despite being an abyssal abomination. 

Nero curled his lip in disgust, shaking the thing off his spirit projection’s leg. “What the fuck are you? Why are you here?”

The big, glowing eyes blinked stupidly up at him, but he felt a wave of exuberantly friendly intent, coming from it, as it reached up and began to prod him with its palps, again. It must be a juvenile, and unable to communicate in more complex terms. That would explain its inane cuteness.

“But how did something so small and stupid escape from Chaos, and get into my void?” he asked, rhetorically. 

The thing kept batting his shin and shooting waves of idiotic enthusiasm at him. 

“I’m looking for my brother. You haven’t seen him, have you?”

When he said the word ‘brother’, he felt a strong pulse of affectionate intent, from the thing, and its forelegs smacked him even more excitedly. 

For half a second, he almost thought the creature might be Weiss, but dismissed that idea, immediately. Weiss wasn’t a spider, on the other side, and this thing was made of darkness, like him. It was probably just some random anomaly, generated by Chaos.

“Why don’t you go away?” he said irritably. “I’m here to look for Weiss, I don’t need any annoyances tagging along.”

The thing stopped jabbing at him, pushed itself up on its hind legs, then toppled theatrically onto its back, where it proceeded to flail its legs about, exuding unbearable woe, as if nine generations of its ancestors had been wronged. 

“Fine, whatever. You can hang around with me, just don’t make any noise,” Nero said, as his body warped and expanded, swiftly becoming the massive, nightmare spider of the void. “And don’t annoy me, or I’ll toss you out of here.”

The little spider vibrated with joy as it skittered up one of his enormous legs, and positioned itself happily on top of his head. It was physically impossible, of course, for a thing the size of a cat to traverse his planet sized body, but this was the void, and they were conceptual beings. When he grew, the little spider grew, in direct proportion, so it still seemed the same size, relative to him.

For time untold, the colossal spider traversed the endless darkness, with the little spider perched atop his head, searching desperately for any trace of Weiss. But no matter how he called out to him, there was no answer. No sign of his light, to be found. 

Sensing his deep dejection, the little spider (who he’d entirely forgotten about, till that moment) wiggled its legs and radiated comfort, like a miniature hot-water bottle. Or an impossibly titanic hot-water bottle, depending on one’s perspective.

“Maybe he’s not strong enough, to keep up the connection, and had to drop it right away,” Nero sighed, as he shrank back down to his humanoid form. “All I can do is wait, and hope he’ll reach out again soon.”

The cat-sized spider on top of his head patted his face sympathetically, with two fuzzy, clawed forelegs. He pulled the thing off and set it on the (purely metaphorical) ground. 

“I’m going, now. I don’t know how you got in, but don’t wander around this place, alone. You could get lost.”

The thing bucked up and waved its pedipalps, sending an impression that it understood. With a nod, Nero winked out of the void.

In the material world, he was still standing with one foot on the bottom stair, and no more than a few seconds had passed. Ollie was yowling and Cloud was trying to soothe her, while Sephiroth hurried away to warm a bottle. 

“It’s ok, Ollie, gege will come back in minute,” Cloud reasoned.

“Ah-guh,” she wailed piteously. “Ah-guh guh guh!”

“I think she wants you,” Cloud said to Nero, who looked back with a sneer. 

“How can you tell any of that drool-machine’s noises apart? Half the blabbering she does sounds like that.”

“Guh! Guh! Ahhh-guhhh!” Ollie howled, even louder, stretching her little hands toward him and struggling in Cloud’s arms. 

Nero almost laughed at the stupidness of her stubby arms and legs flailing about, but then he was struck dead-on by a sensation like stepping off a short stair, and finding it’s a cliff. 

“Oh, fuck. Chaos is going to fucking kill me.”

Cloud didn’t hear him, over Ollie’s howling. “What?” 

“I said…I’ll h—hold her,” Nero managed to make himself pronounce aloud.

“Are you sure?” Cloud asked, doubtfully.

“Yes. Just give her to me,” Nero said, sticking his arms out, and trying not to grimace too obviously.

The squirming bundle was pushed into his arms and Cloud adjusted his grip to the proper position, before he let go. There. He was doing it. He was holding a human infant. There would almost certainly be some horrifying or disgusting consequences, but—

“Hey, it worked,” Cloud said. “She stopped crying.”

“Ah-guh,” Ollie’s suspiciously chipper voice squeaked, close to his ear. 

Nero realized he’d had his eyes shut and opened them. Cloud was grinning smugly, and Sephiroth was standing beside Cloud, with the bottle, thunderstruck.

“What are you doing?”

“Holding my baby sister,” Nero retorted. “What does it look like?”

“But…why?”

“I thought it sounded like she wanted him to,” Cloud explained. “Seems like I was right.”

“Gege, ah-guh, mamamamama,” Ollie babbled, grabbing handfuls of Nero's long, jet-black hair.

Nero very clearly and distinctly felt impressions of Sephiroth, himself, and then Cloud, as she made each of the sounds. “So, you really are calling him mama. Huh.”

“Ah-ah-ah guh-guh-guh,” she said, and blithely stuffed a chubby fistful of his hair into her mouth. 

“Cut it out, gremlin!” Nero protested. “I don’t want your gross slobber in my hair!”

Ollie looked at him solemnly, then spat out the lock of hair with an explosive ‘pffbbbt!’, spraying drool all over his face.

He stood frozen, blinking in stupefaction, while Cloud nearly went blue stifling his laughter.

“Well, I couldn’t possibly separate you two, now,” Sephiroth said. “You’ve clearly bonded.”

Nero glowered at him, as darkness tendrils snaked out and indignantly cleaned the drool from his face, which made Ollie squeal delightedly. Before anyone could react, she grabbed one and yanked joyously on it.

“No, Ollie, don’t!” Cloud exclaimed, but Sephiroth stopped him. 

“It won’t harm her. She’s a child of Chaos.”

“And I wouldn’t let it, anyway,” Nero scowled. “What do you think of me?”

Cloud squinted. “Uh…do you really want to know?” 

Nero ignored him.

Sure enough, the tentacle appeared to have no ill will toward the infant. It just lay there, wriggling helplessly, as Ollie held onto it with both hands and gnawed on it with her pink gums, like corn on the cob. It looked rather disturbing, but the upside was, no matter how much she drooled all over it, the tendril would just absorb it, so it was far less messy than all her usual chew toys (which included but were not limited to, her actual teething rings, her other toys, her own hands, and people’s clothing and hair, especially Sephiroth’s).

“Well, it looks like Ollie has a new favorite,” Cloud sighed. “I guess I’m just an old shoe, now.” 

“Nonsense,” Sephiroth reassured him. “If you were an old shoe, she’d be chewing on you, right now.”

[snotsloth]

XIV Rarepair Week Day 6: Fight! Feat. Cid and Nero.

This is kind of stretching the definition of rarepair, but even though everyone seems to agree that there's something here, I hardly ever see fanworks focused on them.

#gpose #ffxiv #xivrarepairweek #xivrarepairweek2024 #cidnero

[otherworldseekers]

FFXIVwrite2024 Day 5: Stamp

WoLNero 383 words Nero has a new toy and with Severia off to investigate the Void, Cid is the one who has to deal with it.

“Garlond!” Nero shouted as he burst into his nominal boss’s office. “Show me what you’re working on.”

“Seven hells, Nero, why?” Cid questioned him, knowing it was likely futile.

Nero didn’t answer him. He grabbed the first schematic his saw from Cid’s out tray and began to peruse it. “Hmmm. Yes. Yes. I see. Not bad, not bad at all.” Placing the sheet flat on an empty part of Cid desk, Nero took a small object from his pocked and pressed it against the schematic. Then he triumphantly handed it back to Cid. 

“What in the…” Cid held up the violated schematic and saw blazed across the top in brilliant red letters the words “THE NERO SCAEVA STAMP OF APPROVAL”. The lettering was surrounded by a frankly tasteless amount of gears and other bits and bobs one might associate with the engineering profession. “Godsdamnit, Nero, why would I need your stamp of approval? I’m in charge here. And where did you get that anyway?”

Nero brandished the stamp in question and smirked. “Severia had it made for me for my nameday.”

Cid gave a long suffering sigh. Once at the very beginning of Severia and Nero’s relationship, he had held out some hope that the Warrior of Light might have a calming affect on his old friend. But as time passed it became apparent that quite the opposite had happened. For some unaccountable reason, Severia Zetsuen was tremendously fond of Nero Scaeva just as he was; brash, arrogant, reckless, ambitious, proud, the whole nine yalms. In the end, her affection for the Garlean deserter only spurred him on to greater heights of achievement and assholery. 

And Nero didn’t really consider anyone but Severia and Cid to be worthy of his time or attention. So Nero got to be Cid’s problem whenever Severia was off on one of her planet saving missions or some such. Just like her to give him a toy like this and then scarper off to the Void. 

Cid rubbed his temples as Nero rifled through the other papers in his trays looking for things to approve. He’d never been a religious man for obvious reasons, but just then he was willing to pray to any god for Severia to get her ass back to Eorzea as soon as possible. 

[jojowentbananas]

MOOOM, the guncles are flirting again 🙄

Here’s the second pair of my FFXIV chibis! I love Cid and Nero so much, I just had to draw them as soon as possible ❤️

[janzoo]

The Ironworks Gang Hands Out Starlight Gifts

Read it on AO3 above (registered users only) or under the readmore below -

Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: Final Fantasy XIV Rating: General Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Cid nan Garlond/Nero tol Scaeva, Maelie/Ronantain Characters: Warrior of Light (Final Fantasy XIV), Named Warrior of Light (Final Fantasy XIV) - Character, Male Warrior of Light (Final Fantasy XIV) - Character, Cid nan Garlond, Nero tol Scaeva, Biggs (Final Fantasy XIV), Wedge (Final Fantasy XIV), Maelie (Final Fantasy XIV), Ronantain (Final Fantasy XIV) Additional Tags: Oneshot, Original Male Character(s) - Freeform, Christmas, Starlight Celebration (Final Fantasy XIV), Nero tol Scaeva being Nero tol Scaeva, Fluff, Funny Summary:

It's Starlight in the Firmament, and the Ironworks Gang is joined by WoL Kyler Drake in handing out gifts!

Oh wait, what's this? NERO TOL SCAEVA WITH THE STEEL CHAIR?!

                Kyler smirked as he watched Cid fiddle with his Starlight hat again. “You know, it would probably sit better if you removed your goggles.”

                Cid shrugged. “It’ll stay long enough as it is. We’re nearly out of toys, anyway.”

                A fair point. Kyler’s toy sack was considerably lighter, and from the looks of it, Cid’s, Biggs’, and Wedge’s were, too. Wedge waved farewell to two children as they departed with new toys in tow. His toys had been particularly well-received, being a new invention: a toy airship that could shift and click until it transformed into a warrior. He called them Changers, though he could’ve called them anything and the children still would’ve been clamouring for them. Kyler’s toy toolsets came in at a close second in popularity. He took a particular note of pride and hope in inspiring the next generation of craftspeople and engineers, especially in the Firmament. After one thousand years of destruction, Ishgardians seemed ready and eager to see what they could create.

                “Thank you for joinin’ us, Kyler,” Biggs said as he placed a hand on Kyler’s shoulder. “Means a lot to the wee ones, getting’ a gift from the Warrior of Light and all.”

                Kyler nodded with a small, sincere smile.

                Biggs continued with his other hand raised in a pointed finger. “And that’s what this whole kerfuffle’s about, ain’t it? Much as Jessie says that this’ll help promote the business as well, it’s worth doin’ even if there weren’t no business to promote in the first place.”

                “Oh, I’m not so sure about that.”

                Biggs’ eyes widened beneath his goggles. “Nero?”

                Their gazes turned to Nero as he approached. Two mammets carrying a large sack followed in his wake. Judging from the corners jutting against the heavy fabric, and the uniform shape, it contained several boxes.

                Nero smirked and removed his sunglasses as he came to a stop. “Come now, genius and generosity are not mutually exclusive. There’s no reason why we can’t show off while being charitable at the same time. Especially when we’ve so much to show off in the first place. Well, I do, at least.”

                “Happy Starlight to you too, Nero,” Cid replied, deadpan.

                “What’s that you’ve got with you?” asked Wedge, one hand to his chin in curiosity.

                “Why, Starlight gifts, of course. Made by me.” Nero paused to look around. “Where can I find more children? This would be far more convenient and economical if they gathered someplace where we could find them instead of the other way around, but I suppose I can only expect so much from Eorzeans.”

                “There’s two over yonder, by that statue,” said Wedge, pointed to them.

                “’By that statue’ in Ishgard could be anywhere,” Nero remarked and put his sunglasses back on. “Come along, then. All of you, not just the mammets.”

                As fate had it, they weren’t just any children – at least, not to Kyler. As they approached, they overheard Ronantain pleading with Maelie.

                “You will be welcome in our house, Maelie, I promise.”

                “Are you sure? I don’t know nothin’ ‘bout fine dinin’, and I ain’t got anything fancy to wear.”

                “My uncle could teach you the basics of proper dining etiquette. And we could buy you a dress. Consider it a Starlight present.”

                Kyler’s smile widened as they reached the children. “Hello Maelie, Ronantain.”

                The children looked to him. Maelie gasped. “Kyler!” she exclaimed, throwing her arms in the air. “Happy Starlight!”

                “Happy Starlight,” Ronantain added with a smile and a bow of his head.

                “Happy Starlight,” returned Kyler with gentle laughter in his voice. “Can we have a moment of your time?”

                The children nodded with Maelie’s “uh-huh” and Ronantain’s “very well”.

                “Judgin’ from those Saint hats most of you are wearin’, are you all Helpers?” asked Maelie.

                Kyler nodded.

                Nero stepped in with a flourish of his arms. “I hope you children are ready for the greatest Starlight gift you’ve ever received. Everything before will pale in comparison, and everything to follow will be rendered underwhelming. Kyler, if you wouldn’t mind…” He indicated to the sack the mammets were carrying.

                Wedge nudged Nero’s leg and hissed under his breath, “You’ve got some nerve asking him of all people to be your bag boy!”

                Nero glanced down. “We’re Helpers today, aren’t we? Why wouldn’t Kyler want to help me bestow these children with gifts?”

                “It’s fine, Wedge,” said Kyler. “Today, at least.” He gave a pointed look at Nero, who shrugged with a victorious grin. Kyler retrieved two of the boxes from within the sack. He handed them to Nero, who handed them to the children.

                Ronantain read the text printed on the top of the boxes: “’Nero tol Scaeva Presents The Simple-Serve Oven’.” He arched an eyebrow. “Do you mean to say that there is an entire oven in this box?”

                “I do. Well, a miniature one, inspired by the cooking sets used by those of the Culinarians’ Guild but designed to be so simple that even tykes such as yourselves can use them.”

                “’Tykes’? With all do respect, ser, we may be children, but we are not infants,” Ronantain countered, his brows furrowed.

                Nero shrugged. “Children these days, my goodness. So ungrateful.”

                Maelie finished prying open the top of her gift box and cooed. “Ronantain, I think this really is a wee little oven.” She looked to him, excitement brightening her features. “We can bake treats for the patients at Ser Vaindreau’s!”

                Ronantain blinked at her. “Oh, I-I don’t know how to bake.”

                “I can show you! I remember baking with my mum when I was little…I think. It’s not so hard – you just put the ingredients together, mix ‘em up, and put ‘em in the oven.”

                “I can share a few easy recipes with you next time I come to Ser Vaindreau’s,” added Kyler. “I’m sure the patients will love them.”

                Maelie smiled at Kyler before turning to Nero. “Thank you so much for the gift, Mister Helper! We’ll put it to good use. Won’t we, Ronantain?”

                Ronantain cleared his throat, composing himself. “Aye, that we shall. Thank you very much for these gifts.”

                “Much better,” said Nero. “You’re welcome. Run along, now. You’ve got treats to bake and, uh, more of whatever it is you children do.”

                Both Maelie and Ronantain looked at Nero with a confusion-pinched brows for a moment. Then Maelie shrugged.

                “Let’s take these to Ser Vaindreau’s and set them up. Charlemend is there already, I’m sure he can help us if he’s not too busy already,” she said. “Bye Kyler! And Kyler’s friends! Thanks again!”

                “Farewell for now,” added Ronantain. As the children walked away, Kyler and company heard him say to Maelie, “Speaking of my uncle, he and I really would love to have you over for our family’s Starlight dinner. It wouldn’t be any trouble at all.”

                “It does sound nice. And…you’d really be willin’ to buy me a fancy dress for it?”

                “As fancy as you please. Like a sentinel tree ornament.”

                The last they heard of Ronantain and Maelie’s conversation was Maelie giggling.

                Biggs, Wedge, and Kyler fell into a conversation about what to do with the dregs of their toy bags – if they should combine them all into one, where to go next to finish them off, where to go afterwards for a good drink to celebrate. Cid stood next to Nero as their discussion began.

                “I’m impressed,” Cid commented as he put a hand on the back of Nero’s arm. “Even if I’m also waiting for the other shoe to drop.”

                “There’s no other shoe. I suppose you could say that the Saviour of Eorzea is rubbing off on me. Fighting alongside him instead of against him in Garlemald had me thinking. This is my gift to him, in a sense.”

                “That and showing off your genius is something of a gift in its own right, isn’t it?”

                “Oh, very much so. And speaking of gifts…” Nero reached into his coat and withdrew a once-folded piece of paper, which he handed to Cid.

                Cid eyed the paper for a moment before taking it. “Nero, if this is another invoice…”

                Nero smiled.

                Cid unfolded the paper. His brows furrowed. “This is a…a reservation confirmation for The Bismark?”

                “For two. In two day’s time.”

                Cid looked to Nero. “I don’t know what to say…and I haven’t gotten a gift for you yet.”

                “Just be there. And remember to wipe the grease and dirt from your face this time.”

                Cid chuckled sheepishly. “Right. That much I can do.”

                “I know.” Nero lowered his glasses, winked at Cid, and put them back into place. “Ah, ‘twould seem that Kyler’s spotted some more rugrats.” The two of them – and Nero’s mammets – began following Kyler. Nero looked to Cid as he noticed him fiddling with his hat. “That would likely sit better if you remove your goggles.”

                Cid removed his hat and offered it to Nero. “Perhaps you’d rather wear it instead.”

                “I’m not feeling that generous.”

[ivorystand]

"No, you are NOT putting weapons on the airship!"

Cid loves his partners dearly, but they certainly test his patience 😂😂

I started working on the airship stuff for the FC I made on Cactuar, and I knew just who would be in charge of it in the fic. A certain Garlean polycule with two engineering degrees... and Novia, she's there too 😂

[koukouture]

"So... does this mean you guys are getting back together?"

"Don't be stupid."

"No."

"Awww..."

...

"I'm hungry."

"So go eat Alpha-"

"You can have some of my lunch, Ely."

"Oh so you're offering the kid lunch and not me? This is why we broke up, Garlond."

"She's a growing girl-"

"Cid, I'm twenty three..."

[minarcana]

cid gently kisses nero’s cheek. for valentione’s, then he goes back to ignoring him.

After Nero had shown up at the Ironworks out of the blue (his excuse was that he was bored, but the more correct answer was that he missed being able to more directly annoy Garlond and Co., and Jessie would still cut him paychecks for what she called 'comedic value'), he set right about inserting himself into proceedings despite pretty much everyone's pleas and threats.

It's important to feel like a valuable part of the team, and what's more valued than being better than everyone else to motivate them to try harder! Nothing. Exactly. You're welcome, Cid. Now, ask no further questions about Nero returning the absolutely exorbitant "tip"-- reasonable compensation-- he withdrew from Cid's funds after the Omega venture. Speaking of Omega, he's currently on a venture to recreate the Omega automaton that Biggs and Wedge had created, though with less sentience and more adaptable weapon capabilities.

He can tell Cid's footsteps from the sound of them, which is normal and the correct, average amount of attention to pay to your stupid rival. Nero intends to make Cid behold his artistic supremacy, the vision and mechanical skill required to make a tiny yet operable laser gun atop Omega's diminutive frame, and even gets the first few syllables of such out of his mouth.

The train of thought derails fantastically. Destruction on the tracks. Cid could probably be given a medal for actually putting Nero at a loss for words, even if it is a short-lived affliction. "Nh-- gweh-- what?"

Yet no explanation is forthcoming! Cid just leaves! He doesn't even turn his head at Nero's question! What was that about! Gross! Disgusting! Does Garlond think Nero's standards are so low as to accommodate him?! Nero's rival?! His motivation and favourite person to trouble and vex and--

Look, the moral of the story is that Nero's standards are obviously above where Cid not-even-that-great-is-he Garlond stands! And yet! There he goes, casual as you please! "Garlond!" Not even a flinch from him. The audacity! Nero's already scrambling up and out of his chair to pursue this cad. "Explain yourself! Not even a 'hello' or 'incredible contraption, my friend, you are certainly the best engineer on the star, better even than I'? At least buy me dinner!" It's the first step, Garlond!!!!! Wine and dine him first, you useless-----

[punningway]

The Inescaevable Subtlety of Nero Scaeva - Chapter 21 - Grave

[spidersfanfics]

Third Time’s the Charm

Cid nan Garlond x Nero tol Sceva | Confession | Kismesisstude

Nero, as he is prone to doing, tries to leave mysteriously in the night yet again. But this time, Cid catches him.

Taking place in a nebulous, probably not canon-compliant space after Shadowbringers? Because although I have not gotten there yet (pls no spoilers), I can only assume Nero continues the trend of his little disappearing act. 

“Leaving us already, Tol Scaeva?”

Nero froze in the midst of packing his suitcase and sighed heavily. “Have I been caught?” He asked without turning around. Not that he needed to in order to pinpoint that familiar voice. Cid nan Garlond, the bastard.

Cid chuckled from where he stood. No doubt leaning smugly against the door frame. Blocking the exit with his stocky build. Burly arms crossed across a broad chest that had filled out infuriatingly nicely since their youth… Nero was going to give him the satisfaction of turning around first though. Or admitting any of that. Especially since he was still talking. “You’ve pulled your vanishing act often enough that I figured I’d beat you to the punch this time.”

“Oh gods, I’m becoming predictable,” Nero lamented dramatically and forced himself to focus on the conversation at hand. “Look what you’ve done to me, Garlond.”

“What I’ve done to you?” Cid repeated incredulously, barely containing laughter. “Nero, I’ve never once met anyone who could do anything to you that you didn’t want.” The door clicked shut audibly and footsteps approached. Nero tensed up instinctively, awaiting whatever was to come. But Cid stopped a little ways away and sighed. “Which is why I’m not going to try and convince you to stay right now.”

Nero blinked, well that wasn’t what he was expecting. He clenched and unclenched his fists a couple of times. “What are you here for then?”

A hand appeared in Nero’s peripheral vision as Cid reached around to place a gentle hand on his chin and tilted his face around. “Nero,” he said firmly but softly, “Can you look at me, please?”

Nero allowed himself to be manhandled for just long enough to face his dearest rival before pulling away with a scowl. “Don’t baby me, Garlond,” he sneered. “Just tell me what you want so I can be on my way.” He hoped it wasn’t clear how much he was shaking and he crossed his arms behind his back to try and hide his nerves. He tried to tell himself that he just wasn’t used to Cid being so forward. But it was hard, standing so impossibly close to this lovably insufferable boy scout. “What’re you scared to miss me? I know my stunning intellect and roguish charm are hard to come by around here.”

Cid laughed again and shook his head. But did as he was told and backed off a little. “Just wanted to look you in the eyes for this next bit. But I guess with your sour attitude I may as well have gone to the kitchen for a lemon and asked it to listen.”

“Oh well aren’t you clever with your words,” Nero scoffed. He straightened to his full height so he could properly tower over Cid but for once it didn’t do much good. He suddenly felt impossibly small. “You’re still stalling, Garlond.”

“Quite the astute observation.”

“Cid.”

The man in question widened his eyes. Nero just about never called him by his first name. He must be really irritated. Better get this over quick then. “Right, right, sorry. It’s just that. Twice now you’ve escaped right when I thought we’d finally learned to get along. And twice now that means I worked up the courage just a touch too late to say what I’ve wanted to say. I wasn’t going to let a third chance slip through my fingers.”

Nero shifted his weight uneasily from one foot to the other. “We do get along,” he said, purposefully dodging the point of Cid’s explanation. “Or at least, I like to think I get along just fine. You’re the one who keeps rekindling our childish squabbling.”

Cid smirked, “If you say so.”

“I do.”

“Whatever, that’s hardly the point.” Cid reached up to run a hand through his hair as he considered his next words. “Ever since we ended up more or less back on the same side of this conflict, I’ve wanted to have a proper talk. But we’ve been so busy helping the Warrior of Light that the time never seemed right. Which is when I realized, the time was never going to be right. Not in the way that I wanted it. So I’m just seizing the moment now and seeing what happens.”

Nero blinked, “What in the world could be so important that you of all people would fret over talking about it? I often feel like I’m doomed to listen to your lecturing for the rest of eternity.”

“You’re one to talk,” Cid retorted, “You can’t get enough of your own voice. Though I guess the irony here is that you’ve also been avoiding this talk. So I just have one question for you. When are you finally going to stop running away and address this thing between us?”

“I don’t run away. And there is no thing,” Nero snapped. Then, when Cid just shot him a silent, unimpressed look, he cleared his throat awkwardly and added, “Even if there was, what makes you think I want to talk about it?”

Cid rolled his eyes with an amused smile, “Well what if that’s what I want? Really Nero, would it kill you to think about someone else for a change?”

“I told you not to make fun of me,” Nero frowned.

“I’m not.”

“Of course you are,” Nero insisted and at this point he was starting to actually get angry. Who was Cid to just barge into his room in the middle of the night and try to tell him how he should feel? Even worse, he might be right. But he would never give Cid of all people the satisfaction of knowing that. He’d sooner see his life’s work destroyed than admit that he was in love with Cid nan Garlond.

“Coming in here and acting like you know anything at all about how I feel. Meanwhile I know very well you hate me so what’s the point in me liking you?”

Well shit. Time to get out the torches and burn his workshop to the ground, he supposed. Because there he goes again running his big mouth before thinking for more than a second. “You really think I hate you?” Cid asked. “For someone so smart you can be such an idiot sometimes.”

“Ah, so you admit that I’m smart.”

“When have I ever not,” Cid laughed, “Certainly not with you snapping at my heels all throughout our youth. Success meant nothing if it wasn’t to keep up with you, Nero. But you’re changing the subject again. How are you so sure that I hate you?”

Nero’s unshakable confidence was faltering. The walls that he’d worked so hard to build around his heart were crumbling in the space of an instant and for once he had no idea what to do about it. “Don’t you?”

“Of course not.” Cid smiled gently, his eyes filled with adoration. “I am who I am because of you. How could I hate you? I find you a nuisance and a brat and a reckless fool. But I do not hate you.”

Nero scowled, “Well you should. Because I hate you.”

“Do you?” Cid chuckled, “That’s not what you said a moment ago.”

“Shut up,” And now it was Nero’s turn to grab Cid by the face. Although his grip was far less gentle. He wrapped his hand around the lower half of Cid’s face and pulled the man towards him. “You and I are rivals. That’s the point. That’s how it has to be.”

Cid grinned as best as he could with Nero’s fingers digging into his cheeks. “Why is that?”

“Because if we were anything else we might tear this world apart,” Nero answered. “As it is, all we do is tear each other apart.” His breathing was heavy and his last words felt like a confession. “And for now that seems so much safer.” Maybe it was.

“Nero,” Cid’s voice had an exasperated tone that was oh so familiar. “Can’t we have just one civil conversation without someone ending up in the chirurgeon's wing?”

“Nope.”

That coaxed yet another laugh out of Cid. Nero was really on a roll tonight, despite his best efforts. “Well then why don’t you go ahead and test your hypothesis? See if the world explodes if you just take what you want for once. Rather than what you think you should want.”

“I can’t.”

“You can.”

Nero growled in frustration and pulled Cid even closer. Finally crossing that last ilm between them. And he kissed him. Open mouthed and hungry. That growl of frustration quickly morphed into one of need and want. He needed Cid and he wanted to stay. Or rather, he wanted to want to stay. But when they broke apart panting, Nero’s poker face had already returned. “I can’t stay here.”

“Why not?”

Nero shook his head. “It’s too suffocating. I just can’t do it.”

Cid sighed then reached up to run a comforting touch across Nero’s cheek. “I understand. Go, do whatever it is that you do when you’re not with us. And then, when we need you most, you’ll be back. Right? That’s how it always seems to be with you. Until then I’ll be waiting.”

“Gar- Cid. I lo-”

“Shh,” Cid shook his head. “Save it. Tell me when you mean it. Don’t make any promises you can’t keep. For now, I just want you to know your options. And I trust you’ll be smart enough to pick the right one.”

“So you do think I’m smart.”

“An absolute genius.”

[otherworldseekers]

Fluffuary Day 1: Banter/Flirting

Cid: I can't take much more of this.

(I wanted to write a scene, but my brain is not cooperating. So have a few simple shots of Severia and Nero ignoring the situation to flirt during Omega.)

[shalnarkryuseihh]

Mmh… You’re going too deep Cid-Sama…! 🥺🎀

drawn by admin sailor posted by admin vinx

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