Awakening - Chapter 1

Disclaimer: I do not own FFVII and I do not make any money with this writing. Characters belonged to Square Enix Inc.

Yazoo opened his eyes; blinking several times, getting used with the strong white light. Lifting his body without great efforts, he sat on the bed, still feeling dizzy. Instantly, he veered his head and sighed in relief. Nowadays, whenever he woke up, he looked for his brother and fortunately; Loz was there, heavy sleeping by his side in another bed.

Life was not being so good for them as if it were ever had been before. They should have run while they still had the chance, but now; well now it was just impossible to get out of where they were. Actually, they were in huge need of a hospital when that creepy Vincent Valentine found them under the pile of debris, weeks later after the explosion.

Before that, everything seemed fuzzed on his mind. Off course, he had his memories and no brain damages, however, the motives seemed lost, the battle, futile.

Two things he remembered very clearly well, Kadaj's body glittering towards the sky and the face of the redhead Turk that planted a bomb in the road to kill them. Along with those memories, Yazoo felt sadness for the first one and rage for the last. "Hmpf."

Reno was the first person he saw soon after waking up at the Shinra's hospital. He opened his eyes and the redhead, with goggles and all, was almost infecting him with his breath, so close he was from his face. Apart from the tremendous fright at seeing his enemy's face, Yazoo did not think twice. He grabbed Reno's neck with one hand, pinning the Turk's arms behind his back with the other and demanding him to let them go. He had not seen Loz in the room; the consternation, the fear of had lost another brother, made him increased his grip on man's neck. He would choke Reno to death if he were not hit by a shot of tranquilizer.

Unnecessary to say that after that incident, their interaction became worse than before. Not a surprise for none of them. The redhead bullied him whenever he got the chance and Yazoo spent the awaken hours thinking about thousands of painful ways to kill him.

Sighing, Yazoo turned his gaze from Loz at himself; examining the dark bruises on his forearms. How they survived, Yazoo really could not answer the question. Loz was the first one who realized he was alive and not dissolving inside the lifestream as it was expected. Why? Jenova's cells according to Shinra's scientists. As Geostigma was finally cured; the Lifestream, felt obliged to spit back any being that still had those ill cells to be saved. "Who in the hell said I wanted to be saved? The damned nice planet that will chew us like a gum."

On Yazoo's point of view, they just had losses, however, Loz believed exact the contrary; destiny somehow gave them another round, the opportunity to build something for themselves. Not because of old goals, but because they were humans and they were alive. Loz was very positive and barely naïve, hoping for a 'refreshed life' allowed by the persons they wanted to eliminate in the past. Yazoo shook his head while staring at his still sleeping brother. "Don't cry later Loz, but we are doomed."

Feeling thirsty and getting closer the bedside table, he reached for the glass of water. While drinking his water in one gulp, Yazoo noticed something different; they were alone in the room, no guard neither Turk was outside watching them. The walls were made of glass and everything he could see through it was a busy staff working on their daily duties. Then, Yazoo's eyes landed on the bedside table again. He raised one silver eyebrows. Odd, very indeed, for a hospital like that, some doctor or nurse forgot to grab the medical files. It was displayed above the table, carelessly as if it was purposely to catch his attention. Yazoo glanced back at the glassy wall and still, nobody was paying attention at him. He stretched out his body in an attempt to look at what seemed a tip of a photograph. Getting closer he gasped, giving a long breath.

"Mother?"

A pale blue forehead with a metallic helmet. Yazoo remembered the image, probably implanted by Sephiroth's memories about her. They were searching for that head. It seemed so weird to think about this in that way, laid in a hospital's bedroom after they had an epic failure. However, he did not have a clear idea about how she would look like, except for her head on his memory. Not even Kadaj had seen it, what he could grasp from 'Mother' was only the remaining cells, dripping out from its broken vial.

Yazoo contracted his pupils; carefully he pulled out the photo by its tip with a tighten heart.

Indeed, it was Jenova, full body, attached to several wires inside a Mako tank. Her eyes were opened and it cast a pale green shimmer. She did not look dead either alive. A sort of broken wing on her left shoulder and she had no arms, but some sort of tentacles also cut off.

It was a gloomy, nauseating and sad image. Even though, Yazoo gulped and obliged himself to print on his mind all the details of the picture. From his brothers, he was the one that most resembled at her, almost as a male version of Jenova. The thought that very soon he would meet Kadaj crossed his mind in a glimpse. He and Loz were not only clones but something beyond, locked between alien and human.

"So gross."

The weird thing Shinra's scientists concluded was that Yazoo, Loz, and Kadaj were siblings, no related to Sephiroth but with the same alien cells on their genome, whence came their similarity with the former general. No other relatives were found out. The weirdest; they were humans with artificially enhanced bodies. How did they get into that stage? Well as everything on Yazoo and Loz's case lead to the old team of Shinra's scientists playing with experiments on humans, they were Shinra's products the same as Sephiroth. Surely, the power company would pull great efforts to cover their dirty secrets from the public, especially the press. That was why Yazoo grew suspicious day by day in leaving that hospital through the front gate.

Vincent Valentine, the man who looked like a vampire or a demon, maybe both, paid regular visits at them. He assured Yazoo and Loz that Avalanche would be fostering them along with a chair in the new department created to rule…situations like themselves. No harm would be done and they would be readjusted to a new life with all support they may need. Valentine also told that a couple of weeks more and the dreamed release from the labs would come for them, fully healed from the alien intoxication that plagued not only their physic but also their minds. Yazoo looked once more time at the photo wondering how and why that confidential pic had ended on his hands. Veering again his head at the glass wall, he took the file and tried to read what it could be of his interest, but everything wrote was a medical analysis of his exams. Nothing more and Jenova's picture. He put back the photo inside the papers and he was up to return the file to the bedside table when a voice startled him.

"Ain't you gonna put on a frame?"

The mocking smirk and the careless posture, leaned on the door's frame, staring at Yazoo's face, Reno. The question about who had let the photo there was totally answered; it had been a prank from the annoying, prejudiced, idiot of that red-haired Turk. Since the first day, that Turk was there, nagging him with his sarcasm, making it clear by his speech that Yazoo and Loz should not be there, constantly teasing him because he knew the other could not hit back. Yazoo looked at him with disdain.

"Why did you give me this photo?" Yazoo glared at him, clenching his fist under the blanket, and not even be able to fight the man, made him felt even angrier. He did not have a clue about his rights and the penalties he and Loz had on their backs, but something told him, the redhead Turk was wrong on his attitudes towards them. Reno did not have the right to bully Yazoo and Loz with that picture. It was not only ugly but depressive indeed, disrespectful with a corpse, even for Jenova.

"Who told you it is my gift?" Reno pushed himself out of the door and paced towards Yazoo, hands on his pocket. He stopped in front of his bed and then gone check if Loz was awakening.

"Because it has your signature of imbecility."

Reno made a 'tsk', the corner of his mouth had raised and he tilted his head, still looking at Loz. "As soon your brother awakes, Dr. Cissnei will come to speak with you. We had two months of peace and now… Poor of us. Yep, they will free you two in the wild, baby."

"Don't call me that. Step away from my brother Reno."

Yazoo followed the man's steps around Loz with his eyes. Reno pulled Loz's hand, lifting his arm in the air and then letting it down on the bed.

"Totally blacked out."

"Stop this, get away from him.

Then, Reno veered his head at him and slowly paced towards his bed. Unconsciously, Yazoo tensed his body his heart racing as if preparing himself for a fight. Imaginary combat where he would not win, not allowed in defending himself.

"What are you doing here? Where're the doctors?"

"Hush baby. So, yeah I wanted to give you a souvenir. Is it from where do you came from right? You can hang it out on a wall or…" Reno said pointing at the photo, already inside the files.

"I would love to give you my souvenir on your chin. Coward."

Yazoo spoke between teeth, cutting Reno's speech and gripping an amount of the sheet's fabric on his hands, in a huge effort to control a punch straight to the redhead's face. He felt his face burning, but if it was true what Reno said, he would no longer have to deal with him. He would control himself and endure whatever insult the man would shout on his face. Reno had his eyes fixed at him, hands on his pocket and speaking in a low voice, he came even closer Yazoo's face.

"Oh Am I hurting your feelings? I know you are sensitive to your 'mother', but I thought you would like. At least is full body, not only the rotten head of Jenova. Don't throw it away before showing it to your weirdo brother. I'm sure he will enjoy Mommy's pic. "

Reno blinked at him and then imitated with his hands what seemed a masturbation act; his mockery giggles filling the room. It was enough, Yazoo tilted his head and his former self-controlled hand got mad and flew in the air, faster than he would rationally think about it and landed on Reno's chin, causing the man to fall in the other corner of the room. "Still in shape!"

"Motherfucker, you weren't even supposed to be alive! Fuck you, miserable clone!" Reno tried to stand up; he was seeing white spots with Yazoo's punch and lost his balance while trying to stand on his knees.

"I'm not a clone, bastard and yeah I beat your ass, again. Moreover, I will not let you speak about my brother in this way. "

It was an empiric fact; Yazoo and Loz were not clones, also he had hit Reno again with a punch without even leave his bed. In seconds, the security and doctors invaded the room, obviously first containing Yazoo and one of the nurses already had a sedative ready to shoot on Yazoo's neck, even though the young man did not flinch out of his bed. His luck was Dr. Cissnei coming in immediately after them.

"This is not necessary, nurse. Yazoo please remain in your bed."

The securities obeyed the doctor, releasing Yazoo who cast down his eyes at her in a total acknowledgment that he was in big trouble. Reno massaged his chin, spitting blood and shoving away one of the securities who tried to help him stand properly. He glared at Yazoo with such hate that the young felt his guts squirming inside him. Of joy.

"Reno please out and report yourself to Tseng." Dr. Cissnei rolled his eyes at him, clearly irritated with his colleague.

"I'm here."

Already on his feet, Reno gasped and straightened himself when he saw his director stepping inside the room. The stoic posture and the cold dark eyes made even Yazoo gulped. He could not say how regretted he was in had lost his temper, again and remained mute, thinking that he probably let slipped out of his hands the right for freedom. "I'm doomed." Seconds later after this finding, Yazoo felt his heart so tight that it almost stole his breath. He not only had jeopardized his freedom as well his brother's one.

It amazed Yazoo that Loz did not wake up, sleeping like a child with all that noise.

Tseng walked until the bedside table and saw the picture of Jenova's corpse. He took it and veering his head at Reno, he commanded him with a nod of his head to leave the room.

"He attacked me, again!" As the stubborn Turk kept on his spot pointing at Yazoo with angry eyes, Tseng sighed.

"Leave Reno. I want a report on my desk."

Reno tilted his head, with a glare at Yazoo that warned; payback would come someday. It was impossible not to form an imperceptible smile on his lips at seeing the Turk's bruised lips and jaw. Reno but no one else in the room noticed the subtle grin.

"See, he's mocking at me!"

Cissnei and Tseng looked back at Yazoo who looked at them with questioning eyes but they did not notice anything.

"Leave us. Now."

Tseng glared at Reno, never raising his deep voice and the man gulped, he was boiling of rage, mumbling curses against his aggressor, but with no other solution than left the room as ordered.

Once obeyed, Tseng turned his glare at Yazoo.

"How did you get this picture?" Tseng's voice was soft, but Yazoo was afraid. People with that kind of voice were worse than the devil itself. He knew it because he had this voice tone.

"It was inside my files."

He answered looking at the doctor desperately seeking for support. Cissnei circled the bed and stopped by his side. She nodded at him when the youth's eyes grew huge in concern. Tseng remained on his spot, in front of his bed; his face did not show anything, nor anger, neither compassion. A total blank expression, impossible to read.

"Yazoo what exactly happened and why did you attack Reno?"

Yazoo gave a long sigh, mentally cursing himself, Reno and life. Tseng and Cissnei exchanged looks.

The short version was a formal apology from Reno and his removal from surveilling Yazoo and Loz and the long version was one year of weekly visits on Shinra's headquarters. Only for Yazoo, of course, because Loz was free. After all, his brother did not punch a Turk on his face. Twice.

***One Year Later***

Tseng greeted him for his accomplishments, with a polite nod of his head and Yazoo gulped, imitating him. The man never had argued with Yazoo once and somehow that cold behavior always put him in the alert mood.

"Good luck Yazoo and enjoy your second chance."

It was not as bad as he had been expecting but it surely did not mean it was good neither. Dr. Cissnei was ok; she even had brought him a cupcake for their last session. He was living with Loz in a shabby house in the desert what suited them very well. Loz worked on Seventh Heaven and Yazoo on Shinra's garage. Not so bad, not so good only boring as hell.

"Thank you. Have a good day."

Very satisfied, he fast-walked alongside the security mentally saying goodbye forever to the creepy building, when the annoying red-haired Turk came.

Reno dismissed the security, hanging his rod over his shoulder and blinked at Yazoo, assuming the task of escorting him to fetch his bike. "Damn, they insist to bring him. Keep your mood Yazoo probably it is a test. You are close the main gate and when it opens, freedom. You will never have to deal with this moron again. Never."

They gazed at each other and walked side by side. It was thirty precious seconds of silence until they stepped outside the building and Reno started to chat.

"I've never got the chance to thank you for the small vacation you provided me. Along with my paperwork, out of the field. What do I love to do." Reno emphasized the last sentence, staring at Yazoo, clearly implying Yazoo's fault.

Without move his head or stop his march to his motorcycle, Yazoo remained in silence, imagining if Turks would follow him everywhere since now he had no obligation to come at Shinra's headquarter. Especially if 'he' would do it, peeking on his life, imposing his presence as some sort of condition in order to have his citizen's rights recognized by Shinra. Ok, they had not gone to jail, but if they were, how Shinra would explain their 'intoxication' with aliens cells, which led them to associate with Sephiroth? Better let them free and keep the leash even if it were larger, but if it would require Reno's presence, it would be a hell for Yazoo's patience.

"Is it your birthday or something?"

"No."

"You will hurt the doc's feelings…Not that you seem to care." Reno fast paced trying to keep one step ahead, walking in front of Yazoo and interrupting his steps when he tried to change his way.

"My God, why are you here?"

"You forgot your cake, moron. Here it is." Reno rushed his path and stood up in front of Yazoo, forcing him to stop, shaking a small brown paper bag with the Shinra logo in red, which he had not noticed the man was carrying before.

They stared at each other, exchanging glances as if they were in a bad western movie, in the middle of the empty parking lot. Reno's blue eyes narrowed at Yazoo, the ironic grin on his lips, swinging in the air the bag as an infant with the best to not insult Shinra's…uh...Protégé.

"You should have some classes of manners as they're releasing you into the wild, poor of us."

"I do have manners; I just don't like to waste it. Thanks." Yazoo caught the bag in the man's hand heading his way to his bike. He had heard the same sentence out of Reno's mouth in the past, but he would not let that disgusting man take his chance again. He would not fall on his prank and fumbling his pocket he took his bike's key.

"The good thing Yazoo is that you're not under Shinra's protection anymore, keep it in mind." Reno followed Yazoo's steps to his bike, walking one-step behind.

Then Yazoo stood already in front of his bike, veering his head at Reno with a glare that made the redhead straighten his body, tapping the electric rod on his shoulder, the ironic grin lurking on his face.

"Are you threatening me Reno?"

"Will you threaten the world again with that bullshit of Jenova's rotten head, bringing Sephiroth or whatever back?"

"I guess that I will have to draw for you, I was just released by Shinra and it grant's me citizen's rights. Keep it in mind."

"For what? Start some cult?"

"Who knows if I'd start a campaign against imbecile people like you…or even better; a hunt?"

Leaving the redhead without time to answer back, Yazoo mounted on his bike, turned the machine on and circled to get the way out of the parking, pointing his middle finger at him. Yeah, he was a quick learner about human's insults expressions. He fast drove his bike towards the main exit, where more security would x-ray him and the bike until he finally could get the freeway.

"Fuck you too, bitch…"

Reno stayed at the parking, following the man with his eyes. It did not matter the fact that he and Yazoo probably would never get along at all, but Tseng especially because of that, never released Reno from babysitting Sephiroth's clones, uh…affected ones.

They went hand-to-hand twice inside Shinra's quarters last year. Tseng gave him an advertence for the first time, the second one; he suspended Reno from the service but Helena asked for a swift transfer. Therefore, he was back on the task with the promise of not lose his temper towards Yazoo or lose his job. Reno knew he was crossing the line, but he could not help to look at Yazoo thinking on their last battle when he was beaten by Sephiroth's remnant. Always violent, always showing threatening eyes at him. According to the docs and scientists, Yazoo was free to go. Even though, it did not quiet Reno's desire to fight him this time without magical powers, only raw strength. Only to rip that snob air of his face. Rude kept saying it was just his hurtful pride and he must let it go. However, Reno could not deny he pictured Yazoo's face always he was fighting an enemy on his duties or even working out to release his tension in the boxing's classes. Once he was outside, Reno lit a cigar taking a long and satisfying drag, that middle bastard was not his problem anymore. Perhaps Rude was right, what the eyes can't see the heart does not feel, and it could soothe his appetite for revenge.