Final Fantasy - All Series Fan Fiction ❯ Alliance ❯ Chapter 1

“Alliance”

Chapter 1

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(Warning: Possible spoilers for all FF7 game/movie titles)

*Disclaimer: Final Fantasy and all related characters belong to Square-Enix. This fiction piece is strictly a non-profit exercise of creativity and entertainment for people (like me) who can't get enough of this world and the characters.*

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Reno lay on his back on top of his boss's desk, gripping the edge of it and moaning with pleasure as the president rutted over him. His legs were hooked over his lover's shoulders to allow greater penetration and his toes curled at the sensations he was getting. His new pants were lying in a crumpled heap on the floor with his shoes and socks. The hat that had come with the ensemble lay at the foot of the desk as well, forgotten in the heat of passion. The only remaining clothing that the Turk wore was the two-button blazer, which was hanging open to bare his chest and stomach.

 

Rufus took him with enthusiasm that bordered on being out of control and Reno made a mental note to send Cloud something nice for picking out such a seductive outfit for him. The president wasn't completely out of his mind with lust—Rufus somehow retained enough sense to support the back of Reno's head with his hands so that it wouldn't bump against the desk while he had his way with him. His handsome face was tense and flushed with passion as he gazed down at Reno and pumped his hips with hard, sharp motions.

 

“One of these days,” Rufus panted, “You'll be the death of me.”

 

Reno threw his head back and cried out as the other man emphasized his statement with an angled shove that slid hard against his internal gland. “S-Sir,” the Turk whined, locking his ankles behind the sandy-blonde head. He could empathize with Rufus, feeling like he'd die of pleasure himself if the man fucked him much harder.

 

“Wicked fox,” Rufus growled, panting through his teeth as he fought his impending orgasm. He reached down with one hand and gripped the base of his thrusting sex firmly, refusing to let the encounter end anytime soon. He continued to support Reno's head with his other hand while he rotated his hips and moved his stiff shaft around inside of him. Reno's eyes fluttered shut and he tossed his head as he cried the president's name desperately and pleaded with him. He was obviously trying his best to hold back until given permission to come but he was rapidly losing the battle as the blonde's thick hardness massaged him inside.

 

Rufus waited for a couple of moments, savoring the pained whimpers and moans of his subordinate. He looked down at that feverish, handsome face and finally took pity on him. “Let it happen, Reno.”

 

“Unh…Rufus!” Reno's back arched as he let himself go and spurted rapidly against the other man's torso. Rufus bent down to capture one of his pebbled nipples, sucking on it as he slid his cock forward and back inside of Reno's clenching ass. The stimulation and motions drew the orgasm out longer and when it ended, Reno felt like his bones had dissolved. He smiled with bliss and looked up at Rufus, who was still fucking him slowly and gazing down at him with tense features. The blonde was still rigid inside of him and Reno felt his curled fist pressing against him each time Rufus rocked forward.

 

“You gonna fuck me all night, boss?” Reno panted.

 

“I'm certainly…going to try,” Rufus answered with a pained smirk.

 

Reno closed his eyes again and swallowed as he caught his breath. It felt so damn good and he knew it wouldn't be long before the sensation of Rufus's cock sliding in and out made him hard again. Just as his breathing settled down, Rufus stopped his thrusting.

 

“Turn over onto your stomach,” the president ordered huskily. He slipped out of Reno's body, lifted his legs off of his shoulders and gripped the redhead's shoulders, urging him to do as he was told.

 

Reno obligingly rolled over, scattering what few odds and ends Rufus hadn't swept off of the desk before he'd pinned him to it. When his chest and stomach were lying across the surface and his feet were firmly on the floor, Reno crossed his arms over the desk and pillowed his face on them, waiting for his boss to resume where he'd left off. He purred as he felt the knob of Rufus's condom-sheathed sex pressing into him again and he pushed his ass back invitingly. His breath expelled in a whoosh as the other man drove into him with abrupt force, driving Reno's pelvis forward to bump against the edge of the desk.

 

“Sonofa—” Reno began tightly as the president's dick stroked the right spot in passing. His groin stirred again and he moaned. He'd be lucky if he could walk when Rufus was finished with him.

 

“Do we need a gag?” Rufus panted against his ear, brushing sweat-dampened locks away from the Turk's face.

 

Reno shook his head and whimpered. He didn't want to be gagged…he needed the freedom to cry out when the sensations grew too strong. Rufus was obviously in one of those moods where he preferred incoherent moans to commentaries and swearing. It wasn't easy for a blabbermouth like Reno to hold his tongue but he knew that his boss would force him to if necessary.

 

“Good,” Rufus grunted. He slid his hands over Reno's back, tracing the line of his spine through the blazer before running his hands down further to rub the smooth, firm mounds of his ass. He started up a steady rhythm and gripped the Turk's pale hips firmly, guiding him forward and back in synch with his thrusts. He knew the redhead was getting hard again when he heard a telling, shaken moan.

 

Rufus pumped harder and let his hands glide over Reno's body now that the slimmer man had caught on to the rhythm he wanted. He reached under Reno's torso and stimulated his nipples for a bit, before dragging his hands down to his stomach and tracing his belly button. He loved the feel of those lean muscles working under his hands. While Reno's agile, lanky build was well suited to fast combat moves and escapes, it was also quite useful in erotic situations. The redhead's body was honed for all of the muscles to work together with grace and his limberness was a definite bonus.

 

Reno's breath caught as his boss gripped his stiffening cock and began to stroke it. His other hand was rubbing his stomach in an oddly sensual way and Reno bit his lip and fought the urge to shout more obscenities. He groaned sharply when Rufus bucked with sudden, aggressive vigor and the tip of his cock began to lubricate with precum. Rufus stopped rubbing his belly to grip one of his hips again and the president changed his rhythm from hard, deep thrusts to rapid sharp ones.

 

“Oh god…oh shit, Rufus!” Reno howled before he could stop himself. His whole body felt hot with carnal bliss and he couldn't focus his vision. He half expected the blonde to stop fucking him long enough to gag him, but Rufus evidently decided to allow the outburst to slide. He kept up the pace, his rapidly thrusting shaft hitting Reno's gland with punishing force over and over again. After a moment he released the redhead's hip to squeeze the base of his cock again and Reno knew he was in for a long night.

 

Rufus kept jerking him off and screwing him until the Turk came again. When Reno's tremors subsided enough, the president stopped again and sat down in his chair. He ordered his lover to sit on his cock with his back to him and Reno obeyed, his legs giving out as Rufus's erection once again slid into his body. The president guided Reno to spread his legs, straddling Rufus's closed thighs so that the Turk could have some leverage. Once he was satisfied with the position, he instructed Reno to start bouncing on his cock. Whimpering, the redhead obeyed and Rufus fondled his softened prick while he rode him, making it harden again quickly.

 

“Boss,” Reno panted as he rocked up and down on the hard length of his arousal, “I dun' think I've got anything left!” He was trembling all over and his body was misted with perspiration. Speaking coherent words was an effort for him and he wasn't sure his announcement even made sense.

 

“Oh, but you do,” Rufus insisted in a seductive, husky voice. He thrust beneath Reno, matching the redhead's motions and driving himself deep into his gripping heat. His breath caught as the pressure again built alarmingly and he hastily reached under Reno's flexing bottom to restrict his cock again. He groaned as he barely managed to hold the tide back and he rested his forehead on Reno's tense back. Reno had stiffened to complete arousal again and he was shuddering as the blonde's merciless thrusts and fondling once again brought him steadily to climax.

 

Rufus moaned with him as Reno came in his stroking hand and clenched around his cock. Sheer power of will kept the president from opening his gripping hand and letting himself have the final ecstasy that his body so wanted. He snarled silently and panted as his subordinate whimpered and bucked with his orgasm.

 

“Again,” Rufus demanded.

 

“And ya say I'm gonna be the death of you!” Reno groaned desperately. Rufus began moving inside of him again and Reno tilted his head back and went with it mindlessly. The blonde lasted for another fifteen minutes before Reno climaxed once more and he gave in and came with him.

 

Rufus scooted the chair toward the desk as Reno began to topple with exhaustion, allowing the redhead to rest his arms and head on the surface. He was still buried deep inside of him and he laid his cheek against Reno's back and rested his hands on his pale, spread thighs. Neither of them moved from the position as they recuperated. Both men began to doze off and Reno was the one to break the silence.

 

“Yo, can I call in sick tomorrow?” Reno mumbled. “I don't think I'll be able to walk right and I'll probably have to buy one of those doughnut pillows if I wanna even sit down to do paperwork.” He yawned and wriggled a little in Rufus's lap.

 

The president sucked in a deep breath as the movement threatened to stir his groin again. He really didn't think that Reno could handle anymore tonight, so he cupped the Turk's ass and lifted him enough to slip out of his warmth. Once he was safely out of his lover's body, Rufus embraced him and stroked his chest.

 

“Take a hot bath and use a cure materia on yourself before bed,” Rufus suggested. “You've only recently returned to work and while I'm the owner of this organization, Tseng is still the head of the Turks. You don't want to make him regret reinstating you as second in command, do you?”

 

Reno sighed, practically sulking as his eyes fluttered shut. “You're cold, boss.”

 

Rufus chuckled and fought a yawn of his own. “Just stay here tonight. You can use my private bathroom and sleep with me in the office bedroom. That's an extra thirty minutes you'll have to sleep in the morning before you have to get dressed and clock in.”

 

“Unless you bone me again,” Reno said, tossing a smirk over his shoulder at the blonde.

 

“I promise not to `bone you' again until you've had sufficient time to recover,” Rufus said solemnly, though his eyes flashed with amusement.

 

~**********************************~

 

Nearly two months came and went. Cloud's business perked up again and Reno was almost back to his old routine. His eyes were still a bit brighter than they once were, but the unnatural Mako glow was practically gone. Reno's enhanced dexterity remained intact, though his marksmanship declined to a less supernatural level. The Turk and the fighter kept in touch with each other and met up sometimes on weekends to spend time together and satisfy their desires.

 

Neither of them spoke of Rufus and his abrupt change of attitude toward Cloud, but Reno sorely wanted to tell his golden-haired lover that the president's apparent coldness was nothing more than a sham created out of fear. If anyone would have asked Reno why it was so important to him for Cloud and Rufus to admit how they felt and act as at least part-time lovers, he couldn't have explained it. He was free to have both of them now, without either one trying to get in the way and that should have been enough for him…but it wasn't. It was possibly because he thought they were so good together or possibly because he just plain got off on the idea of two hot blondes going to town…he really couldn't decide what drove him.

 

The Turk was proud of himself. He kept his business and pleasure separate and despite his personal desires, he stayed out of Rufus and Cloud's relationship and simply hoped for the best. He knew the truth and he forced himself to be content with that. In the meantime, he spent his free time enjoying his lovers when the opportunity presented itself. Rude told him that he didn't understand how he managed to juggle all of them and his work, but Reno only laughed and explained it wasn't much different from what a lot of other guys did. At least he kept to the same four men. He knew guys that had a half a dozen lovers or more and somehow, they kept all of them from knowing about one another.

 

The relationship that Reno had was very different from the sort that the other guys with multiple partners had. He wasn't “two-timing” anyone. All of his partners knew about one another and even better, they had relations with each other as well. The only two that hadn't hooked up yet was Cloud and Rude. Reno wasn't concerned with that because he didn't sense a real spark between them. They liked one another and they were both quiet, mellow men. They had developed a comfortable friendship that might not ever become something more, but there was no rivalry and they were at ease with each other.

 

It was a little funny how they all had their little circles within the circle. Tseng kept mostly to Rufus, though he enjoyed dabbling with the others now and then. Rude was much the same, except his partner was his favorite. Cloud also kept mostly to Reno—but with any luck he'd spend more time with Rufus. The president favored Reno and Tseng the most and as for Reno…well…being the horny little devil that he was, he was happy to jump any and all of them whenever the opportunity arose.

 

Each of them had their own unique appeal to him. Tseng was exotic, patient and a bit awe-inspiring. Rude was his rock; the bald man was reliable and he always managed to make Reno feel safe and comforted when he was upset. Rufus was charming, sexy and tactical both in the bedroom and outside of it. Cloud was sweet and boyish yet wild and dangerous at the same time…a delicious contradiction that drew Reno's attention from the beginning—even back when they were rivals.

 

Yes, Reno knew he was a very lucky man. Most people never found lasting love with just one person in their lifetimes and he'd managed to find it with four. He couldn't imagine his life without them.

 

~**********************************~

 

Cloud began to realize something shortly after he'd returned home to his separate life: he slept a lot better with Reno beside him. He never would have imagined himself to be the cuddly sort—he was used to sleeping alone, sometimes on the bare ground. In his time staying with Reno, he'd taken the comfort of sleeping in his arms for granted and now that he only saw the Turk when they could arrange weekends together, he was painfully aware of how lonely his small bed was at night.

 

Tonight was such a night. It was always worse the first two days after Reno stayed for the weekend or vice-versa. They had to cuddle close to fit together in Cloud's bed and when Cloud stayed at Reno's place, they sprawled lazily over his larger bed. Either way, the difference between having the redhead next to him and going to bed alone was always achingly acute after the weekend was over and they returned to their separate lives.

 

Cloud squirmed restlessly and locked his fingers behind his head, staring up at the ceiling with tired blue eyes. He could hear Denzel playing his music downstairs and Tifa finishing up in the bar. He shut the sounds out and let his mind wander into his broken past, trying to recall good memories. He started thinking of Zack and he smiled a little as he began to fall asleep.

 

Zack. He hadn't been a bit like the other First Class soldiers. He always made Cloud smile one way or another and he still managed to do it even though he was dead. He'd always looked out for him and he'd always had a kind word or encouragement for him, even up to the very end and beyond that. Cloud thought of his handsome face, engaging smile and friendly, amethyst eyes as he drifted off to sleep. He still missed him.

 

~***************************************~

 

When he was in training, Cloud got called “Maggot” so often that he'd almost become convinced it was his name. Molding people into the perfect soldiers required breaking down their identity, first.

 

It was because of this that he managed to goof up and act like a dingy blonde the first time he ever met a real First Class member of SOLDIER.

 

“If there's a Mako reactor there, it usually means—” the black-haired First began.

 

“There's not much else around,” Cloud finished with him, and they both laughed.

 

“So what's your name?” Zack asked, his teeth flashing in a friendly smile.

 

Cloud took of his helmet and returned the smile. “Maggot,” he answered thoughtlessly. He immediately heard what had just come out of his mouth and he felt his face grow hot enough to melt the snowflakes that fell onto it. “I…I mean Cloud! Cloud Strife.”

 

The Soldier laughed and the sound wasn't at all mocking or forced. It was a genuine, lively laugh that lit up his eyes and warmed the atmosphere around him. “Basic training, am I right?” the Soldier asked with a grin.

 

Cloud nodded, still blushing. “How'd you know?”

 

The handsome First kept grinning at him in that engaging, friendly way. “Because I've been there myself. Don't feel bad Cloud; for the first year I was in training I thought my name was `Dirt bag'. Hey, we kind of fit together, now that I think about it. Maggot and Dirt bag.” He chuckled again and shook his head. “Ah, memories.”

 

“So what IS your name?” Cloud asked shyly, smiling with amusement at the other young man's sense of humor.

 

“The name's Zack,” answered the First. “Zack Fair, at your service.”

 

The two chatted for a while as they trudged to Modeoheim. Later that day, he got to see Zack in action for the first time and his admiration for him grew. It was a shame that the demonstration he witnessed involved Zack having to kill his own friend, but his skill and cunning were amazing to Cloud. Sephiroth was his original inspiration but Zack was tangible and real. He protected Cloud and Tseng and got them safely back to Headquarters for medical attention, even though he'd lost so much in the process of doing it.

 

Cloud's sleeping mind skipped past the memories of the pain in Zack's eyes and how much he'd missed having him around when the company sent him on a “vacation” to Costa Del Sol. He didn't want to dream about the sad times…only the good ones that made him smile. He'd done enough brooding over the sorrowful memories.

 

His dreams shifted to the time when he and Zack snuck out after hours and went to a bar together. Zack had been disappointed that he couldn't get Cloud sloppy drunk and it was then that Cloud informed him that the legal drinking age in his hometown was much lower than most other places. Beer was nothing new to him and he wasn't the lightweight that Zack had expected.

 

They got caught when they returned to Headquarters and Cloud would have ended up on toilet duty for weeks if Zack hadn't stuck up for him and taken full responsibility. Cloud smiled in his sleep as he remembered how fiercely his friend had defended him from the horrors of scrubbing urinals. He found himself standing outside of ShinRa headquarters, looking up at the familiar building silently.

 

“Hey, did you ever notice how many places and things built by ShinRa ended up phallic-shaped?” An amused, masculine voice said beside him.

 

Cloud smiled and looked at Zack. “Yeah, I noticed. I always wondered about that.”

 

“Think maybe old man Shinra was trying to make up for something?” Zack suggested with a wicked grin.

 

“You should talk,” A female voice said from behind them. They both turned as Aerith approached. “You'd probably have it all built to look like breasts if you were in charge, Zackary Fair.” Her sweet, teasing smile spoiled the accusation.

 

“See, there's where you're wrong,” Zack corrected with mock indignation, “It's like you don't know me at all!” He gave Cloud a conspiratorial wink. “I'd have it all built to look like butts. I'm all about the ass.”

 

“Looking at them or acting like one?” Cloud quipped with a soft snicker. He loved the brief moments he spent with his two friends, even if he really was crazy and just imagining them.

 

Zack gasped and gave him a staged, wounded look. “That's just mean, Chocobo head.”

 

Cloud shrugged. “You left yourself wide open, man.” He reached out and slapped the other man lightly on the back. It felt oddly corporeal…not at all like a dream. “So, butts, huh? You never told me that.”

 

“Oh yeah,” Zack confirmed with a glint in his blue-violet eyes. “I'm a sucker for a cute tushy.” He leaned over a little and leered at Cloud's backside, then did the same to Aerith as she came up beside the blonde.

 

“That's so inappropriate,” chastised the Cetra girl. “Look at what you're doing to Cloud!”

 

Cloud never knew it was possible to blush in a dream but he could literally feel his face heating up. Zack looked at him and laughed.

 

“Sheesh, you'd think I groped you or something, Cloud. Lighten up a little!” He reached out and caught the blond around the neck with one arm, dragging him against his chest despite his protests. He rubbed his knuckles of his free hand rapidly over the crown of the struggling blonde's head, generating static electricity and making the already spiky hair stick up even more.

 

Even as Cloud cursed and grappled with Zack's hold, he couldn't help but notice how REAL it felt. He could even smell the black-haired man's scent. Zack smelled faintly like sandalwood to him and he had almost forgotten that scent. The only explanation he could think of was that his imagination was working overtime and applying the memory of what his friend smelled and felt like to the dream. Outside of the trance world his friends had no substance at all when they visited him. Even in the trance world, when he touched them or vice-versa it was never this solid before.

 

“Hey, lemme go!” Cloud grunted.

 

Zack complied with a grin, holding the blonde steady as he stumbled. “I was just having a little fun, buddy. It's funny but I could swear you seem more solid to me than usual.”

 

Cloud stared at him with a severe frown. If his friends were really here then it couldn't be a coincidence. Zack could tell the difference, too. He looked at Aerith and decided to test it on her, too. He reached out and took her hand, squeezing it as he looked into her eyes. She smiled gently at him but the touch of her hand didn't have the mortal warmth that Zack's skin seemed to have. It was the same temperature as the air around them and he felt no lines or other mortal skin imperfections to make her touch…human.

 

Cloud shot a suspicious look at her and turned his head to look at Zack…who was suddenly less corporeal. In fact, he could see right through the former Soldier and though Zack's lips were moving, he couldn't hear a word he was saying.

 

Cloud released Aerith's hand and took a step back, looking from her to Zack's faded form. “What's going on?” he demanded, knowing beyond a doubt that something wasn't right.

 

Aerith was gazing at him tenderly, her green eyes briefly flitting to Zack. “Everything's okay.”

 

Zack regained solid form again and he looked just as confused as Cloud. He was patting himself down, obviously aware that he'd just faded momentarily. “Uh, okay. That was weird,” he said.

 

Cloud's frown deepened and his eyes widened. The distinctive criss-crossed scar on the left side of Zack's jaw caused by Angeal's strike was gone and his hair was different. His raven hair looked thicker and softer and Cloud realized that Zack looked exactly as he had when they had first met outside Modeoheim, before he'd been scarred both physically and emotionally by the battle with his friend Angeal.

 

“Aerith, what's happening to him?” Cloud asked, looking at the girl again. She knew something…he could tell by the look in her eyes.

 

“He'll be fine,” she assured him with a soft smile. “Don't get upset.” She looked at Zack and sighed. “We have to get going, you know. We've overstayed ourselves.”

 

Zack grumbled. “Can't we just break curfew? We never get to spend enough time with airhead, here.”

 

He was practically sulking, which made Cloud smile sadly. The blonde knew how his friend felt and he echoed his sentiments. He didn't understand why the rules were so restrictive either.

 

Aerith shook her head. “I wish we could, but you know that isn't how it works.”

 

Zack sighed and looked at Cloud, forcing a smile. “Well, I guess we'll see each other again sometime soon, Cloud. Take care of yourself, okay?”

 

“I will,” Cloud promised. “Uh, you too. Though I guess neither of you have to worry about getting hurt anymore.”

 

Zack's smile faltered. “Maybe not physically.” He scratched his head and looked uncomfortable with his attack of somberness. “I'll catch you some other time, kid.” He gave him the customary mischievous grin that he normally did.

 

“Get plenty of rest, will you?” Aerith said as she leaned in to give the blonde a soft, airy kiss on the cheek. “You and Zack will have time to catch up sooner than you think.”

 

Zack was already walking away and dissolving, so he didn't hear her comment. Cloud stared at her with a puzzled expression. “I know something's up. Why don't you just tell me?”

 

“I will if it goes how I hope,” she said evasively, smiling at him. “Like I said, it's going to be okay, Cloud.”

 

She faded after that, leaving him alone in the street. Cloud looked up at the ShinRa building that his mind had constructed and he sighed. Now he had a feeling of dread in the pit of his stomach, but he wasn't sure why. The scenery blurred and faded around him and his mind fell deeper into sleep, blessedly free of further dreams.

 

~******************************~

 

Rufus had just sat down after having a meeting with a client when his office phone rang. He sighed, setting his cup of coffee aside and pushing the button for the active line as he picked up.

 

“This is Rufus Shinra,” he said mechanically.

 

“Mr. President, it's Reeve Tuesti. I hope this isn't a bad time?”

 

Rufus relaxed a little. He'd come to genuinely like the engineer, though he kept his mannerisms cool and professional with him. “Good afternoon, Reeve. What can I do for you?”

 

“I just thought I'd call to tell you that you don't need to arrange for someone to pick up the package your people found in Midgar. I took the liberty of calling Cloud to get it and bring it to us, since he lives right there in the outer city. I figured he could use the extra money and it would save us some time and resources.”

 

Rufus went still, his mind racing as the words sunk in. “You…arranged for Strife to deliver THAT package? The one that was found in the Deepground ruins?”

 

“Well, yes.” Reeve's voice sounded puzzled now. “I thought it made practical sense. He can get it to us faster than the people who found it and while we could send air transportation for it, the guy could use a little extra business. Sir, is something the matter?”

 

Rufus had gone pale but he kept his voice steady. “I wish you had contacted me first, before getting him involved.”

 

Now Reeve's tone went into the authoritative “uncle” mode. “What's in this package, Mr. President? Have you started something we'll all regret?”

 

“Don't take that tone with me,” Rufus said coldly. “All you need know for the moment is that I'm acting in the best interests of the Planet. When we get the package and I can confirm what it is, I'll tell you more. I don't have time to explain further, I have to leave.”

 

“Leave, Sir?” Reeve's voice had lost its paternal tone and became mystified. “Leave for where?”

 

“Midgar, before it's too late,” answered the president grimly.

 

~***************************~

“Come on!” Rufus stood tensely and tapped his foot with impatience as he tried to reach Tseng. His first choice had been Reno but the redhead was out on assignment with Rude and he had his phone switched off. To Rufus's dismay, he got Tseng's answering service as well. Today was clearly a busy day for the Turks and he didn't have time to try and contact one of his preferred two pilots.

 

“I suppose I could commission a standard pilot,” Rufus mused as he tried calling Rude and failed to get an answer. He shook his head and nixed the idea. Tracking down an available pilot to fly him in a chopper would just take more time. He was the only one that knew about the danger because he was the only one that the retrieval team had been able to contact for a report. Rufus had called Reeve and asked him to arrange air transport to pick up the recovered goods but he hadn't expected him to involve Cloud in it.

 

“I have no choice,” the president muttered as he checked his weapons, keys and wallet. “I'll have to fly myself to get there.”

 

He knew how to fly, of course…but he wasn't practiced at it and he preferred for more skilled pilots to do the flying. It made him a bit nervous to think of getting behind the stick when he hadn't done so in years, but Rufus wasn't a man to allow insecurities to stop him when he was set on something. He locked up as he left his office and he hurried toward the elevators, informing his secretary that he was going out of town for the rest of the day and he couldn't say when he'd be back. As he got into the elevator he dialed the airport and ordered them to get a chopper ready for him.

 

~***************************~

A couple of hours later:

~***************************~

 

“Are you sure you can get this there unharmed?” The unfamiliar Turk and the WRO scientist beside her both looked very concerned and their eyes darted around nervously, as if expecting someone to jump out and attack them at any moment.

 

“I've got a good, solid storage compartment on my bike,” Cloud assured them. “I've never had merchandise get damaged in the transport.” He looked at the wrapped bundle in his arms and frowned at them both suspiciously. “This isn't anything flammable or poisonous, is it?”

 

He knew better than to ask what it was exactly and since the WRO was involved, he wasn't too worried about nefarious experiments, but it was still ShinRa he was dealing with and old habits died hard. There was that and the way Reeve had told him to retrieve it from organization officials in the privacy of an old Midgar sector. He did trust Reeve but he wondered if the engineer even knew himself what his company was doing. If they didn't want anyone to see him taking the package, didn't that mean there was something to hide?

 

“Oh no,” the scientist assured him. “Nothing of the sort. It's old data that we need to analyze. It could prove to be something useful or it could be something we'll need to destroy right away. We won't know until it's brought to the research department and studied.”

 

Cloud was surprised that he'd parted with that much information. He'd expected both the Turk woman and the scientist to be evasive at best, but neither one of them seemed concerned with telling him about the contents of the package.

 

~Maybe Rufus or Reeve had a talk with them and told them I could be trusted. I guess since they're being so open it's probably not anything bad.~

 

“Don't worry,” Cloud assured them. “Call your bosses and let them know I'll get it to them by tomorrow morning. I've just got to fuel up my motorcycle and I'll be on my way.”

 

“Good,” said the Turk woman, “The sooner you leave, the better.” She cast another look around the old sector and grabbed her companion's arm. “Come on, we have to get going.” The scientist didn't argue with her and they both hurried away toward one of the exits leading into Edge.

 

Cloud stared after them for a moment before looking down at the package in his arms.

 

~Hmph. Weird. It's like old Midgar has them spooked or something. ~

 

He still had his suspicions but he could ask more questions once he delivered the package. He tucked it under his arm and left the area. His senses were alert at first but when he found nothing suspicious, he shrugged it off as paranoia.

 

~**********************************~

 

Cloud could have given Fenrir a tune-up himself but he needed to eat before he left, so he took the bike to a trusted mechanic and paid him to do it while he bought a meal at a burger place a few blocks away. He'd already called Tifa and told her he might not be back home until tomorrow, just to be on the safe side. He'd learned to be more considerate of her and the kids when he wasn't going to be around for a day or longer. Marlene had informed him that it was just plain rude to take off for days without telling them he'd be gone, so now he always let Tifa know if for no other reason than to avoid a lecture from Barret's adopted daughter.

 

After talking to Tifa, he turned his cellphone off so that he could travel without interruption. Unbeknownst to him, his message box was filling up while he ate. He finished his food and paid the bill and then headed out the door to return to the mechanic shop where he'd left Fenrir. As soon as he walked out the door, he stopped in his tracks. Rufus Shinra was walking toward him briskly, hardly paying attention to traffic as he crossed the street. The president held his cellphone open in his hand and he was looking down at it with a frown of concentration. He looked up when he stepped onto the sidewalk before Cloud and for a moment, the two of them stared at one another.

 

“Do you ever answer your bloody phone, Strife?”

 

The fighter cocked his head in puzzlement. “What are you doing here?” He started to reach for the sword strapped across his back through habit but he stopped himself.

 

“I'm picking you and the package up,” the other man informed him. His gray eyes glanced around casually as he closed the distance and took Cloud by one arm. “Come along, Cloud.”

 

“Uh, my bike's the other way,” Cloud said with confusion. “Wait, why are you doing this? I mean, why did Reeve even give me this job if you were just going to come and get the package yourself? Where are Reno and the others?” He looked around for the Turks, finding it hard to believe Rufus had come alone. “How did you find me so fast, too?”

 

“My Turks are all out on assignment,” Rufus explained as he changed directions and urged Cloud to walk with him. He decided to practice a little white lie until he could get them both to safety and explain further, “Reeve didn't know that I was already prepared to retrieve the package when he called you. I found out on my way to the airport and I decided to make the journey a bit easier for you.”

 

The president frowned at something over his left shoulder and his pace increased. His grip on Cloud's arm tightened and he urged the other blonde to move faster too. “Don't worry, you'll still get full payment,” he assured him casually.

 

“That's…great,” Cloud said, looking at Rufus with furrowed golden brows, “Why are we in such a hurry? You didn't answer my question about how you found me so fast, either. It's a big city and you just walked right up to where I was.” Rufus was moving faster now and pulling Cloud along with him, nearly jogging.

 

~Is he on something? Or is this data so important he just can't wait to get it back to his people? ~

 

“You're still using a company cellphone,” Rufus said with a sidelong smirk. “Thank goodness for that. I was able to track you with mine.”

 

“I knew I should have tossed that thing away,” Cloud grumbled. “Er…Rufus…why are we running?”

 

“There's never a bad time for exercise,” the president answered in such a solemn tone it was almost comical.

 

Cloud ogled him, sure now that he was either under the influence of some kind of drug or keeping something vital from him. It was then that the fighter sensed it; someone or something was closing in on them. Cloud had been too disoriented by the abrupt appearance of Rufus and his odd behavior to notice it before. He started to reach for his weapon and Rufus was now dragging him at a full-on sprint.

 

“Tell me what's going on,” Cloud demanded as he tried to free his weapon from its sheath and keep from stumbling at the same time.

 

Instead of answering him, Rufus suddenly shoved him rudely into an alleyway and whirled, reaching for the pistol under his blazer. A shot rang out just as he drew it and Cloud shouted with alarm as the president was hit on the right side of his torso. Rufus staggered from the impact but he didn't stop his action. He returned fire in the direction the shot had come from and civilians began to scream and scatter in all directions.

 

Cloud picked himself up off the concrete and yanked his sword out roughly. Rufus ducked into the alley before he could move to help and the president caught him around the waist and pulled him against the wall. Once that was done, Rufus held his weapon in both hands and turned his face away from Cloud toward the street. He was panting softly but there wasn't any blood on his suit around the bullet-hole that Cloud could see.

 

“You okay?” Cloud asked, staring at the other man with huge blue eyes as he held his sword ready.

 

Rufus released one hand from his weapon and tugged open the first two layers of his suit to reveal the bullet lodged into the protective vest he wore beneath. He smirked without looking at Cloud. “Do you still think I wear too many clothes, Strife?”

 

Cloud didn't know what to say. True, Rufus was protected around the torso but the man had literally taken a bullet for him and he couldn't have known it wouldn't hit an unprotected part of his body.

 

“What the hell's going on?” Cloud finally asked.

 

“The package you picked up was stolen,” informed Rufus. “My people were sent to investigate what remained of the Deepground headquarters for any medical research that could prove beneficial. They discovered that the organization isn't completely dead after all and the remaining factions have been living here as citizens since your team and the WRO dispatched them. They were discovered before they could finish their investigation. That's all I can tell you for now.”

 

Rufus ducked around the corner of the wall and fired a few more shots. He grabbed Cloud's arm urgently when he was satisfied that he'd bought an opening. “Come on. The crowds will offer cover for us.” He was as cool and calm as if discussing the weather.

 

Cloud didn't argue. Together, they ran into the street where people were charging in all different directions to seek cover. Cloud spotted a figure pacing them on the rooftops across the street. He stopped abruptly and gathered energy into his body and through his blade.

 

“Cloud, what are you doing?” Rufus hissed, skidding to a halt to stare at the other blonde with more impatience than alarm.

 

He had his answer when the swordsman heaved a grunt and slashed downwards with his weapon. A blue streak of energy raced from the blade toward an abandoned building across the street and there was a rather impressive explosion as it hit the structure and sent it crumbling down—along with one of their pursuers that Rufus hadn't spotted until now.

 

“Destruction of city property,” Rufus said dryly. “Effective, but as subtle as a behemoth in a glassware shop.”

 

“The dust'll buy us more time,” Cloud barked as he started off again and grabbed Rufus by the arm. Indeed, the billow of dust and debris that resulted from the collapsing of the building quickly filled the street. Rufus narrowly avoided getting bowled over by a panicked citizen as he and Cloud's positions were reversed and the fighter dragged him along. They ran for two blocks, keeping an eye out for signs of the enemy. Considering that the Deepground remnants looked like regular civilians it wasn't easy to tell who was a threat and who wasn't.

 

“How many are there?” Cloud asked as he pulled the president with him through the doors of the mechanic shop.

 

“I've got no idea,” Rufus said. “I didn't even know they existed until I was contacted about the package. We lost three people in the data retrieval. The team didn't know there was still active members of Deepground until they found the data and the surviving two only had time to inform me about it. I was going to send someone to pick them up but I made the mistake of keeping information from Reeve and he assumed it was an ordinary retrieval…which is why he called you.”

 

Rufus hushed up when one of the mechanics came around from the back and he shot Cloud a warning look. The fighter understood and he greeted the mechanic.

 

“Is my bike ready?” Cloud asked as the guy stared from him and Rufus to the spectacle of people running back and forth outside.

 

“Uh, yeah…what the hell's going on out there?” The mechanic eyed Cloud's thick, formidable weapon with amazement.

 

“A building collapsed,” Cloud said. “I had to block some of the debris to keep it from hitting anyone.” It was a perfectly logical explanation and thankfully Rufus had already put away his gun to reduce suspicion.

 

“Wow, things are never dull around here,” the mechanic chuckled nervously. He reached into his pocket and produced a set of keys, which he tossed lightly to Cloud. The fighter caught it and the mechanic went to the checkout desk and wrote on a piece of paper sitting there. “That'll be one-hundred and seventy-five gil, Mr. Strife.”

 

“I've got it,” Rufus said.

 

“No you don't,” countered the fighter as he nudged in front of Rufus and pulled out his wallet. He tossed some bills onto the counter before the president could argue with him. “Keep the change,” he said to the mechanic. The man looked at Rufus and a light of recognition lit his eyes.

 

“Hey, are you Rufus Shinra?”

 

Rufus stopped on his way out the door behind Cloud. He smiled over his shoulder at the mechanic. “No, but I get that a lot.”

 

~**************************************~

 

“Wait,” Cloud said as Rufus got onto Fenrir behind him. “Tifa and the kids. We can't leave them here.”

 

“Those people are after us, not them,” reasoned the president.

 

“Yeah, and if they're after me they probably know about them too. I'm not going to take the risk that these guys will use them as leverage. We've got to stop by my house and get them.”

 

Rufus grimaced, annoyed with himself for not thinking of that. It was odd how Cloud could be so clueless one moment and so sharp the next. “Very well, Strife. There's plenty of room on the helicopter for them but I wonder how you intend to carry that many people on this motorcycle.”

 

“Tifa's got a car,” the fighter said as he looked around furtively for any suspicious characters. It seemed that he and Rufus had shaken off the pursuit, at least for the time being. He started up Fenrir and advised Rufus to hold on tight. The other blonde embraced him from behind and Cloud suffered a brief moment of inappropriate warmth toward the president. He peeled out onto the street and kicked the bike into gear, heading for the bar/house he shared with Tifa and the kids.

 

~I hope this Deepground shit doesn't start all over again. I want to know what kind of research they snagged from those people to get them stirred up like this. ~

 

~********************************~

 

-To be continued