Final Fantasy - All Series Fan Fiction ❯ Alliance ❯ Chapter 18

“Alliance”

Chapter 18

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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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Later that night, Cid had to help them with Zack because the man had no alcohol tolerance in his new body and he couldn't stand upright on his own. His wings manifested…which probably would have given Cid a heart attack if the booze hadn't numbed his reactions. Cloud explained the phenomenon to the pilot as best he could as the three of them half-carried Zack out of the bar and to the elevator. With Cid's help, they got him into Cloud's room and on his bed. Zack was so out of it he just laid there, humming off-tune and chuckling.

 

“I should have expected this,” Cloud sighed as he peered blearily at his inebriated lover. “The only other time he's had a drink since he got back was when we shared that pitcher of beer. How many shots did he have, Reno?”

 

“Uh, about eight,” the Turk guessed. “Maybe I should have gone a little easier on him, yo.”

 

The drinking game had been Reno's idea, of course. Something wicked had taken hold of him while they were playing it and every time he got the coin in the glass he made poor Zack drink. At one point the black-haired man had tried to get up to visit the restroom and he fell on his ass and asked a passing waiter if he was all right. Reno had been overcome with snickers but Cloud decided then and there that they'd all had enough to drink.

 

“Thanks for helping us with him, Cid,” Cloud said to the pilot.

 

“Well there was no way you two were gonna get him here by yourselves,” grumbled Cid. “Not with those wings of his in the way, anyhow. Hmph, so he can really fly?”

 

“Yeah,” confirmed the blonde. “He's gotten pretty good at it, too.”

 

“We just gotta make sure he doesn't try doing it tonight,” Reno said with a frown. “Can't have bird-boy jumping out the window in his condition.”

 

“That's a good point,” Cloud agreed, shooting a worried look at the bedroom window.

 

“I'll leave you guys to work it out,” Cid said. “I'm going to get some shut-eye so I'm not too hungover in the morning.” He waved at them and turned, heading out the bedroom door.

 

Alone now, Cloud and Reno pondered their dilemma. They could take shifts through the night but that would deprive them both of much-needed sleep. Of course, they could always sleep on the way to the Northern Continent if they had to. The strike force was going to be even bigger this time so they would once again be relying on sea travel to get there. It would take several hours by boat.

 

Reno stuck his hands into his pockets absently and his fingers came into contact with a pair of cuffs he had stashed in there. He grinned as an idea formulated in his mind. “Hey Cloud, I know one way we can make sure he doesn't take a dive out the window while we're sleeping.”

 

Cloud looked at him as he pulled the cuffs out and dangled them before the blonde's eyes. “No.”

 

“You said that pretty fast,” argued the redhead, “but what happens if you wake up in the morning and find your sexy black wolf dead in the street below, man?”

 

The sapphire gaze wavered as Cloud looked from the cuffs to Zack's oblivious form. “I don't know how he'd react to being cuffed to the bed.”

 

“Who says ya gotta cuff him to the bed?” Reno snorted. He grabbed Cloud's hand and slapped one of the cuffs over his wrist. “Cuff him to you. I'm sure he wouldn't mind that.”

 

Cloud looked at the metal enclosed around his wrist before meeting Reno's blue-green eyes. “I don't know if I'm getting kinkier or you're getting more practical, but that plan makes some sense.”

 

“Run with it, baby.” Reno winked at him.

 

Cloud really couldn't think of a better idea, so he climbed onto the bed with Zack and cuffed the black-haired man's left wrist to his. Reno joined him, wriggling in on Zack's other side and grinning.

 

“Hope Zack doesn't mind,” the redhead yawned. “I've had too much to drink to try driving home and he makes a good pillow.” The wing that was spread out beneath him felt good against his body…comforting, like a feathery embrace.

 

Cloud couldn't quite hide his own little smile. “I'm sure he won't care.” He laid his head on Zack's chest and Reno did the same. They smiled at one another and Cloud impulsively scooted a little closer to give the Turk a goodnight kiss before treating Zack to the same.

 

“Is that all I get?” Reno whispered in disappointment.

 

“Well, we can't really do more with Zack passed out between us,” Cloud muttered.

 

“Sure we can, we've just gotta be inventive.” Reno leered at him.

 

“Go to sleep, Reno,” sighed Cloud.

 

“Killjoy,” the redhead grunted.

 

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

 

The sound of Cloud and Reno's phone alarms going off simultaneously woke Zack from his sleep. His eyes popped open and he groaned softly at the resulting throb in his head. He felt weight on his chest and he looked down to find two heads nestled there. His dark brows shot up with surprise and he grinned. He'd expected to find Cloud sleeping on him but he hadn't expected Reno, too. They were all dressed so he knew he hadn't missed out on anything too thrilling in an alcohol-induced blackout.

 

Cloud stirred first, mumbling incoherently as he started to reach out for his phone. It was then that Zack realized the two of them were cuffed together by the wrist. Zack snickered helplessly as he resisted Cloud's efforts to lift his hand. The confusion in those cornflower blue eyes as they blinked open and looked at him was just priceless.

 

“So I'm asking myself why I've got a chocobo cuffed to me,” Zack murmured conversationally. “And I'm drawing a blank.”

 

“We were afraid you'd try to jump out the window or something,” Cloud explained in a sleepy voice, “you were pretty wasted.”

 

Another chuckle burst from Zack's lips. “Why the hell would I jump out the window, Cloudy?”

 

The blonde shrugged. “I dunno. Reno said you might decide to take a drunken flight and it made sense to me at the time.”

 

Reno. He should have known. Zack looked down at the Turk, who was blissfully ignoring the alarms and sleeping like a log. “Hey cinnamon buns, wake up,” Zack muttered as he reached for the redhead's shoulder with his free hand. He gently shook him and Reno grumbled and burrowed his face into the spot where Zack's shoulder met his neck.

 

“He's hard to wake up, sometimes,” Cloud informed with a yawn.

 

“Yeah?” Zack murmured. “Guess I've gotta use my imagination.” He blew into Reno's ear and the Turk absently scratched at it with a little moan of distress. Zack grinned and did it again, making Reno curse and sit up.

 

“Shit, what time is it?” Reno grumbled, looking from Zack to Cloud with heavy-lidded eyes. He saw his cuffs binding the two fighters together and he smirked. “I'll bet you're wondering how that happened,” he said to Zack.

 

“Apparently I strike you two as the kind of guy that'll jump out the window when I've had a few drinks,” Zack said dryly. “Cloud explained it to me.” He ran his fingers through his mussed dark hair and grimaced. “Does anyone have some aspirin? I'm going to be useless if I've got this monster headache when we make it up north.”

 

“I can go get some from the general store,” Reno offered. He clutched his head and moaned faintly. “As soon as the room stops spinning, yo.”

 

“I'll get it,” Cloud said. “I didn't get as trashed as you two last night.”

 

Reno didn't argue. Instead, he searched through his pockets until he found his keys and he unlocked the cuffs binding Cloud and Zack's wrists. After replacing the cuffs in his blazer he plopped back down on the bed beside Zack with a complete lack of modesty or concern. Zack looked down at the vivid red hair that was again lying on his chest and then he looked at Cloud.

 

“I think he's comfortable with me,” the black-haired fighter announced softly.

 

Cloud smirked, pleased with how easily and trustingly Reno lay with Zack. It could just be a symptom of exhaustion making the redhead so tractable, but he had a feeling his lovers were taking the first step into expanding their relationship with each other.

 

“I'll be back in a little while,” Cloud said as he stood up. “We'll have to start getting ready to go, soon.”

 

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

 

After taking a dose of the aspirin Cloud brought up from the company general store, Zack went to his own suite to shower and get changed while Reno and Cloud did the same in his. The Turk only had one change of clothes in Cloud's closet, so after having a very pleasant shower and a quickie with the blonde, he had to make a trip to his apartment a few blocks away to get more clothes for the trip. There was no telling how long it was going to take for the allied forces to defeat Deepground, so it was important for everyone to pack suitably for it.

 

When he returned, Reno declined Cloud and Zack's offer to join them for breakfast.

 

“There's something I've gotta do before we go,” the redhead explained. “Something important…for a friend.”

 

Cloud watched him as he went to the elevators and the blonde frowned. “That was strange,” he muttered.

 

Zack watched the Turk as well, mentally reviewing Reno's words. “He wants to do something for a friend…who do you think that would be, Sunshine?”

 

Cloud shook his head. “I've got no idea. Trying to predict Reno is like trying to predict the weather without satellite equipment.”

 

Zack grinned at the analogy. “Guess it's not our business. Don't look so worried, kiddo.”

 

Cloud's expression of concern didn't fade. “You don't know Reno like I do. He's got that look in his eye that usually means trouble.”

 

“So what are you saying…you want to follow him?” Zack watched the Turk disappear into the elevator with a frown of his own.

 

Cloud looked at the black-haired man with a guilty expression and bit his lip. “I know, I should trust him, right? It's just…Reno doesn't always have good judgment and I don't want him to get into trouble.”

 

Zack grimaced. He didn't like the thought of sneaking around spying on Reno but Cloud seemed genuinely worried. “He's your guy, Chocobo. If you're worried about him then I'm worried. Let's see what floor his elevator stops on and try to track him.”

 

Cloud gave him a tentative smile. “Thanks, Zack.”

 

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

 

Reno went to the medical ward and located Cissnei's room. “Hey Ciss. How ya feeling?”

 

She looked up at him and forced a wan smile. “Okay, I guess…all things considered. The doctors say I can start having physical therapy soon and I might be able to walk again.”

 

Reno swallowed and nodded, wishing with all his being that he could have stopped this from happening to her. “What do ya say you and I take a little spin before I head out to fight those bastards, eh?”

 

“What do you mean?” she asked suspiciously as he unfolded the wheelchair that was propped against the wall. “They won't let me leave the building, yet.” She flinched involuntarily as Reno approached and gently lifted her out of the bed.

 

“I'm not taking you out of the building,” he explained softly, trying to ignore the way she trembled in his arms. “I'm just taking you for a little walk. I've got a present for ya, doll.” Her arms went around his neck and he felt a little better. He smiled at her. “Trust me?”

 

Cissnei nodded. As crazy as Reno was reputed to be, he and Elena were the two Turks she trusted the most. “I hope you aren't planning something that will get you in trouble,” she said seriously, fighting against her body's instinctive fear of his masculinity. Reno was her comrade, not her enemy.

 

Reno set her carefully in the wheelchair and unhooked her IV bag from the rack to hang it on the one attached to the wheelchair. “You know me,” he said with a shrug. “But if this pans out, it'll be worth a spanking or two.”

 

Cissnei blurted a giggle…her first laugh to utter since she'd been assaulted. Reno grinned at her again and began pushing her wheelchair out of the room. A nurse stopped him and asked where he was going with the patient and he flashed his ID badge and told her he was just taking Cissnei for a little stroll through the building. Having enough sense not to argue with a Turk, the nurse reluctantly let him take the young woman down the hall to the elevator.

 

Reno took her to the holding cell area and as he was wheeling her down the hall toward the cell where her assailant was being held, he sensed his audience. The redhead stopped and leaned over to whisper in his charge's ear.

 

“Just wait here a sec, Cissnei. I'll be right back.”

 

She nodded, looking at him with puzzlement as he walked away to the end of the hall.

 

“Ya might as well come out, guys. I know you're following me.” Reno tapped his foot impatiently and waited.

 

Cloud and Zack emerged from the T-intersection, both looking boyishly guilty. Reno rolled his eyes at them. “For a couple of dudes with military training, you're kind of clumsy in the stealth department. I heard you two arguing from inside the fire escape.”

 

“Told you we should have just come out and said something,” Zack muttered to Cloud.

 

“I'm sorry,” Cloud said, closing the distance between he and Reno. “I should have just asked what you were up to.” He tilted his head and frowned. “So what are you up to, Reno?”

 

“I told ya, I'm helping a friend.” Reno nodded Cissnei's way, daring the blonde with his eyes to interfere.

 

“By bringing her to see one of the guys that raped her?” Zack said incredulously.

 

Reno drew his gun and shook his head. “No, by letting her blow the fucker away.” He clicked off the safety and started to turn back to the young woman in the wheelchair.

 

Cloud reached out and grabbed his shoulder, “Wait a minute…have you thought this through?” he demanded softly. “Do you think she can do it?”

 

Reno looked over his shoulder at him, his pale features set and stern. “She's a Turk, man. If everyone keeps treating her like she's just a victim, that's all she's ever gonna be. I'm giving her the chance to take her power back, Blondie.”

 

Cloud and Zack stared speechlessly at him. Both of them had forgotten that the sweet, ravished young woman was also a Turk. Both of them had forgotten that if any rape survivor could pull the trigger, a Turk could. As much as their morals questioned Reno's plan, they couldn't deny that there was some merit to it. The gun would provide distance, allowing Cissnei to take revenge on her attacker without having to get close to him.

 

“I'll watch the door,” Zack said with a set jaw.

 

Reno nodded at him and returned to Cissnei's side. She looked at him in confusion when he gently laid the gun in her gowned lap. “Reno, what's going on?” she whispered.

 

He moved around to the front of her chair and knelt before her, looking into her eyes. “This is the holding cell area, doll. You know one of your attackers is in here, right?”

 

Her breath caught and she paled. “I…I don't understand.”

 

“I'm giving you the chance to pull the trigger,” Reno explained. He glanced at Cloud and Zack, who were coming up behind Cissnei. Cloud looked uncertain but Zack had an expression of grim resolve on his features. “My buds and I are going to be right here by your side, Ciss. That fucker won't lay a finger on you and if you wanna be the one to send him to hell, you've got your chance. It's your choice, though.”

 

Cissnei looked at the gun in her lap and she reached for it with slender, trembling hands. Her hold on the weapon steadied as she lifted it up and her bow-shaped lips pressed together with determination. She looked up over her shoulder at Zack and whispered his name questioningly.

 

“I'll kill him for you if you ask me to,” Zack said earnestly. “You're calling the shots now, Cissnei. This guy's going down eventually one way or the other and it's up to you whether you want to be the one to do it.”

 

She steeled herself and nodded. “I want to,” she said.

 

Reno took his blazer off and draped it over the young woman's lap, concealing the gun she held. “Let's get the show on the road, then.”

 

He wheeled Cissnei to the holding cell and told the guard to unlock it. The man looked at Cissnei and then at Reno, Cloud and Zack with a wary expression. “Isn't she the one he…you know?” he whispered to the redhead.

 

“Yeah,” Reno said. “She wants to look him in the eye just once before he's executed, man. You can make yourself scarce if you're afraid of getting in trouble.”

 

The guard handed his key over to Reno. “Just give it back to me when you're finished,” he said with a gulp. “I'm going for a bathroom break. I never saw you.” Evidently he'd guessed that this little visit wasn't just for a look at the prisoner, despite Cissnei's weapon being concealed. His gaze was on Zack and the way the former Soldier's jaw was tensed. Clearly he thought the black-haired man was going to be the one to do something.

 

“Right, never saw ya,” Reno agreed. “Now scram.”

 

The guard hastily made his retreat, leaving the two Turks and their companions alone in the hallway. Reno handed the key to Cloud, who unlocked the door and pushed it open. The redhead pushed his female comrade's wheelchair through the door while Zack stood outside and watched for intruders. The sable-haired fighter glanced up and noticed a camera. He swore softly and asked Reno for his blazer.

 

“Just in case,” Zack said as the redhead took the garment from Cissnei and handed it to him. Zack draped it over the camera to blind the device. “We probably don't have much time,” he warned, “Even without seeing what's going on, security's probably going to come down and check when they realize the camera's covered.”

 

“Don't need much time,” Reno said with certainty as he watched Cissnei stare at her attacker. The rapist was sitting on the cell bunk, looking back at the Turk girl with recognition.

 

“Well, look at this,” the rapist said. The slight tremor in his voice hinted that he knew what was coming, but he was too proud or too crazy to let fear rule him. “Did you come back for more, ShinRa bitch?”

 

Cissnei didn't answer him. Instead, she raised her borrowed gun and took aim. It happened faster than Cloud or Zack expected it to. There was no hesitation at all and both of them were vaguely thankful that Reno's gun was equipped with a silencer as Cissnei peppered the rapist's body with bullets. She fired until the chamber was empty and she kept clicking the trigger even when she was out of ammo.

 

Shouts of alarm rang out through the hallway and Zack was struck with the instinct to flee or fight as security guards came running, with Tseng following in their wake. They piled into the cell and stared at the bullet-riddled body lying on the floor. Cissnei was staring blankly at the corpse, having finally stopped pulling the trigger. Tseng came in behind Reno, assessed the situation and nodded to the security guards.

 

“Clean it up,” the Wutaian ordered. He turned to Reno and looked at him with deceptively neutral eyes. “Explain this. Now.”

 

“I gave her the chance to send him off,” Reno shrugged, holding Tseng's gaze bravely. “She deserved the right, boss.”

 

Tseng's eyes went to Cissnei, who had lowered the gun and was watching the security guards drag the body out with detached satisfaction. He circled around her chair and knelt before her, much the same way that Reno had done when he'd made his offer to her earlier. “Cissnei? Is this what you wanted?”

 

She looked at him and for the first time since the attack, he saw some life returning to her soft, brown eyes. “Yes Sir. This is what I needed.” Her stress on the word “needed” was all the conformation necessary. Tseng nodded slowly and stood back up.

 

“Take her back to her room, Reno,” ordered the Wutaian. He looked at Cloud and Zack thoughtfully. “I'm a bit surprised that the two of you were involved in this without protest.

 

The two fighters exchanged a look. “I think I can speak for both of us when I say sometimes, justice is served best by the hand that was wronged,” Zack said grimly.

 

Tseng was impressed and he was forcibly reminded that Zack was no stranger to unsavory ends justifying the means. Cloud looked a bit more disturbed by the event, but no less resolved.

 

“Words to live by,” agreed Tseng softly. “We're to be deployed within the hour, so if you want a hot meal I suggest you have it now.”

 

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

 

They had breakfast in the cafeteria with the other Turks and Cloud's friends before they boarded the ships at the harbor. Rufus had the remaining Deepground prisoners transported to a more secure prison before they left. The woman spy that Zack had discovered was given special treatment, as promised. She wasn't free to go—Rufus wasn't about to take that risk—but she was given private quarters and personal guards for now, until it could be determined that she wasn't a security risk or the threat was ended.

 

By her own request, Elena stayed behind to watch over Cissnei and help her recover. Given how close the two Turk women had grown to one another over the years, Tseng couldn't bring himself to refuse her request. It was actually refreshing to know that Cissnei would have a trusted friend at her side while the rest of them fought to end the Deepground threat.

 

Most of them napped through the journey, when they weren't visiting with each other. There wasn't a lot to do on the ship and Reno ended up snuggled with Rude on one of the sleeping bunks for the first few hours. Word had spread that Zack force-fed the prisoners cat litter to make them talk and he got looks ranging from amusement to disgust from people in passing.

 

“Geez, I'm never going to live that down,” the black-haired fighter complained as he and Yuffie passed a female WRO agent that grimaced at him.

 

“Live what down?” Yuffie asked, looking up at him with a faintly dreamy expression on her pixie-like features.

 

~Damn, this boy is hot. I wonder what him and Cloud get up to when they're alone? Ooh, don't go there, Yuffie. Oops, I went there. I'm still going there, too. Hmph, I wonder if guys know girls think of them together sometimes? You'd think they would since they're always talking about girl on girl action. Hmmm…naked Cloud and naked Zack…together…nice!~

 

“I made some of the Deepground punks eat cat litter to get them talking,” Zack explained.

 

Yuffie stopped in her tracks, her fantasies about the handsome fighter and Cloud dissolving to be rudely replaced with the unsavory mental picture. “Oh. My. Gawd. That's like…yarg! When did you do that?”

 

“The same day you guys made it to Junon,” Zack answered with a chuckle. “Torture wasn't working on them so I took a gamble. Hey, it worked, didn't it?” He looked a little embarrassed.

 

“Yeah, but…ew! I hope you had a shower afterwards!” Yuffie shuddered, hugging herself.

 

“I wore gloves and I got cleaned up afterwards,” Zack assured her. “What kind of a slob do you think I am, kitten?”

 

“Bleh,” Yuffie grimaced. “Better you than me. So that's why everyone keeps looking at you like a celebrity or a villain!”

 

“Yup,” Zack sighed. “I'm now `kitty litter man'. I can think of about a hundred other ways I'd like to go down in history, too.”

 

She felt sorry for him. “Hey, you were just trying to get information. Like pulling fingernails out isn't gross too…people can be such hypocrites. Oh look, there's Barret and Cloud!” She ran across the deck to her friends, who were standing by the railing and talking to each other. Zack felt a little better about his status as a poo shoveler and he followed her with a smile.

 

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

 

“Rufus, we've got reports coming in that Icicle's been attacked,” Reeve entered the president's private quarters with Vincent following closely behind. Normally he would address the man with more respect but he was shaken by the news and he forgot about formalities.

 

“Attacked in what way?” Rufus inquired grimly, wondering if Deepground were rounding people up again.

 

“It's hard to tell for certain with the information we've gotten,” Vincent explained, “the transmission was broken but it seems they've begun testing their biological weapons. People are evacuating, trying to get far away from the Icicle area.”

 

“We probably won't know the details until we arrive and see for ourselves,” Reeve added. He exchanged a look with Vincent and sighed. “It seems they broadcasted a warning just before striking the town. They've declared that normal humans must be `purged' or `turned', whatever that means.”

 

“Are they currently occupying Icicle or have they retreated back to their base?” Rufus asked.

 

“They went in, struck and withdrew,” Vincent confirmed. “They took those they didn't kill…just as before when they were trying to raise Omega.”

 

“But Omega is gone now,” muttered the president thoughtfully. “They have no reason to take prisoners except to increase their own numbers.”

 

“I'm pretty sure that's exactly what they're doing,” Reeve said. “These people are fanatical in their hatred of humanity, Sir. I have a theory that by `turned', they mean mutated. As I said before; we won't know for certain until we can investigate ourselves but this whole thing sounds to me like they want humans dead or made to be like them.”

 

“And that could be where the biological weaponry comes in,” sighed the president. “So we don't know the effects of this tactic, yet?”

 

Vincent shook his head. “Those who lived to tell about it aren't staying behind to give details. The best we can hope for is that the residents of surrounding communities get out before they too are attacked.”

 

Rufus nodded, glad that they had prepared somewhat for biological warfare. “I want our people immediately equipped with gas masks when we arrive,” he ordered. “Until we know what to expect, I'd rather not take chances. See if we can locate the frequency that Deepground is using for communications as well. We should press every advantage possible.”

 

“Right away, Sir,” agreed Reeve. He and Vincent excused themselves and left Rufus alone with his thoughts.

 

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

 

“What's this?” Reno stared at the mask his partner held out to him. They had just docked and the WRO was unloading the transport vehicles, aircrafts and weaponry.

 

“A precaution,” answered the bald man. “The president wants everyone wearing them until the fighting's over.”

 

“But we're gonna be fighting from the air,” protested Reno with a distasteful look at the mask. “Why do we need these things?”

 

“Because if Deepground's weapon is some kind of air-born virus it can still get us,” Rude explained. “Come on, partner.”

 

With a heavy sigh, Reno took the ugly thing and strapped it over his face while Rude did the same with his own mask. The redhead felt a little better about it when he spotted both Rufus and Tseng walking toward them from the ship, each of them sporting gas masks over their noses and mouths as well.

 

“Get ready to board your helicopter,” Rufus said. His voice was distorted by the mask but coherent.

 

“You're really putting yourself in the middle of this?” Reno asked, his eyes showing his concern. He knew Rufus desired a more active role but he'd expected him to stay at the base to monitor communications and give orders. By the look of it, he was going straight into battle with the rest of them. He had abandoned his usual sharp business suit for WRO combat gear and body armor. While the navy-blue getup looked delicious on him, it left no doubt that Rufus meant business.

 

“I'm going to be Tseng's copilot in this fight,” Rufus said with a nod. “Provided it goes well, I'll continue to fight alongside my Turks and the WRO. I'm done with sitting behind a desk while others do the work.”

 

Reno's senses were awash with admiration and he was reminded of why he loved this man so damned much. “Hey boss, can you come with me to my chopper for a sec? I want to check something out.”

 

Tseng and Rude were probably quite aware of his true methods as the redhead guided their president away but neither of them said anything. As soon as they were behind the chopper and out of immediate visual range of others, Reno pulled his mask off to hang around his neck and he did the same with Rufus's.

 

“Just in case things go sour, baby,” the redhead murmured before he slid his fingers into Rufus's ash-blonde hair and kissed him deeply. Rufus returned the kiss, smiling a little against his mouth with pleasure.

 

“I won't shatter in a fight,” the president murmured when his subordinate ended the kiss.

 

“I know,” Reno said with a shrug. “And you've got the stuff when it comes to marksmanship, boss. I just don't wanna have any regrets, yo.”

 

Rufus stroked the Turk's spiked, vivid hair and nodded. “We won't. We've lived through worse than this. Just don't do anything particularly reckless, Fox.” He brought his mouth to Reno's for another passionate kiss, refusing to admit to himself that he feared it might be their last.

 

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

 

When they arrived at Icicle, the scene was like something from a nightmare. Scouts reported that there was an entire army of Deepground forces to the east, in the process of retreating to wherever their base was. The town of Icicle was in ruins and the state of the bodies was enough to turn even the most iron stomachs.

 

“What in the hell did they do to them?” Zack said through his mask as he knelt beside a pile of bodies. He stroked the blond hair of a deceased child in a futile gesture, his eyes fixating on the tentacles that were once her legs. All of the deceased had grown some sort of abnormal body part or stared blankly with Mako-bright eyes at the sky. Their bodies were twisted as if they had died in agony, their mouths opened in silent screams.

 

“I suspect the survivors are now amongst their retreating forces,” Vincent theorized, his crimson gaze fixed on the masses to the east. The Shera hovered above with the ShinRa helicopters, waiting to attack. He looked up at them, narrowing his eyes against the sun. “Reeve, shall we go after them now or wait?”

 

Reeve was so heartsick at the fate of the townsfolk left behind that he didn't immediately answer. Vincent approached him and rested his human hand on his shoulder. “Reeve,' the gunman repeated softly, willing the engineer to come back to his senses. The other man's dark eyes met his and they were dilated with shock. “We need you to hold together,” Vincent murmured softly.

 

Reeve's mouth worked and he tried to pull his thoughts together to decide what to do. These were by far the worst casualties of war he'd ever seen and the number of small bodies lying amongst the adult ones made his throat close up. “How far away is the enemy?” he asked tightly.

 

“A couple of miles,” answered Vincent. “We should give chase soon. Odds are, they've already seen us and are attempting to make their escape now.”

 

Reeve never got the chance to make the call. As Cloud watched, Zack straightened up and glared in the distance at the line of retreating Deepground forces. His eyes were bright with unshed tears and he clutched the ribbon that had been in the little girl's hair at his feet. His wings emerged from the back of his tailored combat gear and though his mouth was covered by the gas mask, Cloud was sure he was snarling beneath it. The dark-haired fighter spread his wings and launched into the air.

 

“Zack?” Cloud said…but he already knew where this was going and he mounted Fenrir and started the bike up. Zack was flying toward the enemy, not bothering to wait and see if anyone would follow him. There was no other choice.

 

Completely by accident, Zackary Fair set the charge in motion. Cloud followed Zack and as their loyalty dictated, his friends followed Cloud and so did Reno. Because of their own loyalty not only to Reno but also to Cloud, Rufus and Tseng followed and once they were off, the rest of the WRO and ShinRa forces joined in.

 

Cid flew overhead in the Shera, keeping an eye on Cloud's small form below. Barret, Yuffie and Tifa were on board with him.

 

“I didn't hear them order the charge,” Tifa said dubiously.

 

“The kid's going in with his buddy and so are we!” Cid shot back over his shoulder. Yuffie hooted with excitement and Barret checked his prosthetic gun-arm, ready for action.

 

In Reno's chopper, the two Turks exchanged confused look before Reno set the aircraft in motion, flanking Cid's airship. “Maybe communications are fucked or something,” the redhead hypothesized, assuming that Zack and Cloud's advance was a result of an order he and Rude never got.

 

Meanwhile, Tseng and Rufus watched from their helicopter and they glanced at one another. “Did Reeve give the order?” Rufus asked in puzzlement.

 

“I missed it, if he did,” Tseng answered calmly as he piloted the chopper to flank the other side of Cid's airship. “Either way, this is starting now. Are you ready, Sir?”

 

“Of course,” answered Rufus coolly. He pulled down the targeting visor and readied the weapons panel.

 

Reeve stared out at the snowy field with wide eyes, his voice trapped in his throat as Zack Fair's charge prompted the entire contingent of allied forces to action.

 

“Well, I suppose my job's done,” the engineer said to his lover, who had readied his hover board and stepped onto it.

 

“Stay behind,” Vincent ordered, his ruby eyes narrowing on Reeve. “I don't want you in the middle of this.”

 

Reeve watched him speed away and he sighed, reaching up to activate the remote censor hanging from his neck. “Of course, love. Who says a part of me can't participate, though?”

 

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

 

-To be continued