All Sephiroth wanted was a pint of milk for some tea but apparently that was too much to ask for; he'd gone in the store, like any person would, picked up milk and taken it to the check out. That's when the whole thing had gone so very wrong.
The punk behind the counter and questioned his payment card, asked for ID, then he'd demanded he remove his shades. So much for his disguise, his eyes were recognisable anywhere, the shop keeper had tried hard to hide his nervousness but the quivering of his pupils was beyond his control. Sephiroth rolled his eyes at the inevitable. Now, he was ducked behind a shelving unit, the room filling with smoke. The keeper had let off a smoke grenade before hitting the panic button. He could hear sirens in the distance, racing to get there before he could make his escape.
Blood pounded in his ears, he swallowed a cough, his breath catch in this throat. Glass smashed as shots were fired into the supermarket. "Give it up! We know you're in there!" It was Reno's voice. He should have known Rufus would send the Turks for this.
Sephiroth spluttered, the smoke was thickening by the second, it wouldn't be long before he passed out, black spots swam in front of his eyes. "You'll have to come in here and drag me out." He coughed again, finding it harder to clear his lungs.
"You'll die if you stay in there."
"You'll kill me if I come out!"
"Got me there." Reno said. Sephiroth could picture the nonchalant shrug as he spoke. It was time to escape. "Tell you what, you come out here with your hands in the air, we can talk it over, like old times."
Sephiroth's vision swam and he coughed once more, this time it was a choking cough, hard to fight off. It was a tempting offer but not one he could take, no, there was still so much to achieve… like the cup of tea! He grabbed the milk bottle and pushed himself to his feet. The smoke would provide the perfect cover. "All right. I'm coming out the front." The sirens were closer now, much closer. Sephiroth turned and fled towards the back of the store. All places like this had a loading bay and it was there he aimed for. There is was! He dodged around the shelves and ploughed into the door, slamming it open with his weight. An alarm went off. Damn. "He's going out the back! Don't let him escape."
Sephiroth ran, there was nothing else for it. It made his lungs choke, his breath dragged into his chest like a chore but still, he ran. He ducked down between two alleys and vaulted over a low fence. There was one thing about the Midgar slums; they were a maze. The sound of the sirens receeded, the pursuit fell further and further behind. It looked like he'd get that tea after all.