It wasn't common knowledge among the people, but a year after the battle with the Remnants, it was discovered that said Remnants could come back.
Reforming their bodes after death, just like Sephiroth.
Though theirs didn't take nearly as long.
Nor did they need any special circumstances to do so as Sephiroth did.
Reeve had casually pointed out that it was probably due to the fact that they were weaker copies of the man himself after the first confirmed reports of sightings had come in, but that did little to ease the tension in the room.
We all spent the next 6 months waiting, battle-ready at the WRO headquarters, for Rufus and the Turks to tell us that the Remnants were making their next move.
Whether to try and revive Sephiroth again or just causing trouble in general. But as Reno had bluntly put it-
"They ain't even doin' nothin! It's boring, yo!"
And from the sounds of it over the speaker phone in Reeve's office, Tseng had promptly smacked him on the back of his head for his whining, gaining a few smirk and chuckles around the room at Reno's usual laid back behavior on the job.
Eventually though after continued reports of them doing absolutely nothing outside of traveling and 'having fun' with the local wildlife, the tension within the group turned into uneasy confusion instead, questions immediately being asked.
What were they doing?
Were they not going to resurrect Sephiroth?
Wasn't that their only purpose?
To which Cid had growled, "Tha' hell they gettin' at?! It's like they know wer' watchin' and just playn' around with us!" in response; sending an immediate sense of forbodng through the rest of us that he may have been right.
After 3 more months though, our constant state of tension through everyday life just seemed ridiculous. So with the promise to let us know immediately if something started to happen from Rufus and the others we relaxed and resumed our usual day-to-day activities, but with a sense of battle-readiness always present just in case.
Which left me where I was now.
Stopped at the familiar cliff overlooking Midgar's ruins, Zack's Buster Sword stabbed in the ground in front of me glinting off the rising sun in silent promise as I sat on Fenrir, letting the quiet and the gentle breeze sooth my tired mind as I stared at the sky beyond with unfocused eyes.
The usual weeks run with little to no sleep had taken its toll.
I could already tell I would be stopping by Aerith's church later to get some sleep before heading to Seventh Heaven to visit Tifa and the kids. Grabbing more deliveries and heading back out once again when I was done.
Much to Tifa's continued displeasure, I knew.
But staying busy kept me from doing something reckless.
Like chasing down the Remnants myself and demanding answers to what the heck they were doing.
Their actions, or non-actions really, left me more of a confused mess than it did the others, which worried me greatly.
Why was I so obsessed with what they were doing now that they returned?
It was more than enough to turn my usually emotionless expression into a troubled one, brows bunched together over downcast eyes and a small frown gracing soft lips in thought.
As distracted as I was I didn't hear the approaching roars of engines until they were almost to the cliff, pulling me from my thoughts instantly as I tensed in recognition.
It was just my luck to be caught out here alone again.
Sighing at the soon-to-be disturbance I stayed facing forward on Fenrir, wanting to enjoy the sunrise a little longer as I resumed my usual emotionless expression.
I knew better than to lay my raw emotions bare for them to see as they came to a stop in a lose formation behind me, their engines going idle before turning off as I heard the middle one dismount, boots stepping lightly onto the hardened dirt before turning and making their way towards me with a predators grace.
I frowned as my back muscles tensed tighter at the sensation, but refused to turn around in acknowledgment.
Their current behavior was... odd.
Nothing at all like the last time we met.
I couldn't sense their desire to fight me like they had last time, and they weren't even asking about 'Mother' yet either.
Something the others would definitely be interested in knowing once I got back.
Which I was tempted to just start Fenrir and take off anyway.
Or just grab my sword and get the fighting over with as my whole body was practically humming with the tension of an approaching predator.
But I didn't want to be the first one to start the fight if I could get the answers I've been wanting to know first, so I resisted the urge to grab my sword from Fenrir's side compartment like I wanted, just kept my muscles ready as the familiar form of black and silver stepped up softly beside me.
I could feel him glance over in contempt, his eyes seeming to rake over my form for something, and the swords of First Tsuragi within easy reach, before he finally broke the silence.
"Still traveling by yourself, Brother? I thought you learned after the last time we ambushed you."
His lightly scolding tone traced with amusement sent my fingers twitching with the urge to grab my sword against my better judgement anyway; The way he talked too reminiscent of a different silver-haired man for comfort.
But I suppressed it.
...Barely.
Not seeing the need to explain myself to him I simply glanced over, blue meeting slitted green evenly as I gave a small nod in acknowledgement.
"...Kadaj."
My quiet response seemed to irritate him though as his lips twisted into a familiar sneer.
"Still as distant from us as ever I see." A mask of indifference slid over Kadaj's face before he gestured casually back to the bigger one of the three, who had crossed his arms with a pout. "You know, Loz here thought you'd react differently towards us this time. Especially after all that fun we had together in the Forgotten City."
I flinched involuntarily at the memory.
...I should've expected that. But then again, I didn't expect to run into the very group that I had been resisting the urge to chase down, either.
"It was rather fun." The quieter of the three, Yazoo, says with a soft smile, noticing my flinch in response to Kadaj.
Seeing it too Loz's pout turned into more teeth as his lips twisted upwards into a grin. "Yeah Brother, we had fun. Wanna play with us some more? You wont be slowed by Geostigma now, so we can go all out."
...I take it back.
Their actions may have been different this time, but they were still clearly the same.
With nothing more than a glance and a frown at the other two Remnants for their words I focused back on Kadaj, ignoring the exchange of- "Big Brother doesn't seem to like you Loz. Maybe you should go cry him a river with those tears of yours."
And the- "I'm not crying! I just got something in my eye!" that Loz sniffled back in response behind me.
Obviously still the emotional one in the group.
"...What do you want Kadaj? I have deliveries to do."
My voice was low, but the other two immediately quieted down and focused back on the two of us as Kadaj shifted closer, hands clasping behind his back almost childlike as his lips twisted into a sharp smile.
"Oh, no, not I. We. We want you to settle something for us, Brother. You see we were talking earlier-"
"Arguing." Yazoo correctly quietly, but Kadaj ignored him. "-about you and your precious Fenrir here, and Loz rather insists that we could easily win in a race against you-"
"You cant." My response was immediate, cutting off the rest of his sentence with finality.
I didn't even have to question it. In a straight up race, I was confident in Fenrir's abilities.
The three Remnants exchanged looks of varying amusement at my words, grinning broadly at each other in some sort of silent exchange before focusing back on me.
"Are you sure Brother?" Kadaj started.
"We've gotten upgrades since last time, ya know." Loz finished for him, his eyes gleaming in excitement and something else that made me frown.
Was this really their reason for finally coming back to Edge?
To find me and have me settle some stupid argument?
As if in response to my thoughts Yazoo made a soft noise, drawing my attention to him as he tilted his head to the side in amusement, hair shifting around his face and framing his eyes in the process.
"Humor us Brother."
His quiet request had my eyes going stormy, brow bunching slightly as I glanced between the three of them wearily.
No. That definitely wasn't the only reason for their suddenly seeking me out, a part of me felt certain of that now, and yet...
Why did I feel compelled to answer their words in kind anyway?
Something felt wrong. But I couldn't tell what.
Only that I wasn't feeling nearly as alarmed by their presence as I should've been. That I was actually starting to relax the longer they talked.
They were starting to feel a little too... familiar, within the fuzzy edges of my mind.
Like friends.
Or something just as disarming.
Brothers.
It was that silent revelation that had me making up my mind to leave as quickly as possible and informing the others of this encounter.
I definitely needed to get some distance between us until I could figure out what was going on.
"...Not interested." I finally say into the quiet that had settled over us, my voice firm with resolve as I reached up for my goggles, ready to put them on and leave. "Find someone else to settle your argument."
Moving in a blur Kadaj quickly grabbed my arm reaching for the ignition, his eyes narrowing slightly even as his smile remained.
"Bet. It's a bet between us, Brother. One we rather insist you settle for us before you leave."
My eyes snapped back over to his wearily, easily hiding the surprise at how fast he had moved as I lowered my hand from the goggles, the desire to put them on suddenly forgotten as I pulled my other arm from his grip and crossed them in front of my chest defensively, my entire body thrumming with tension now.
I knew it.
Something was definitely up.
Why were they so insistent on my involvement with this bet of theirs?
"...Why?"
Hearing my weariness but seeing me make no move to leave again Kadaj shifted back slightly, giving the sense of space between us while staying within easy reach of me as he crossed his own arms in a seemingly aloft manner.
A disarming manner, I dimly realized.
"It's part of the bet Brother. Yazoo found a special kind of Materia while we were in the Forgotten City last week, and, well, we had a little disagreement over who should be allowed to have it amongst the three of us."
"So we decided that whoever won a race against you would get to keep it for themselves." It was Yazoo who finished the explanation quietly as Loz nodded in agreement.
...Special Materia? From the Forgotten City?
That didn't sound good at all.
Why hadn't anyone told me they were there? And so close to Edge?
...Actually, all those missed calls and unanswered texts lately might've been just that...
With a mental reminder to check my messages after I was done here I raised my brow slightly in response to them.
"...Oh? What kind of Materia?" I asked with an air of disinterest, but from the looks they shared at my question they knew I was fishing around for information.
Surprisingly they didn't seem to mind though as Kadaj gave a small nod to Yazoo, drawing my attention back to the smallest of the three as he pulled a glowing orb from his for-arm, holding it up for me to see.
Clearly the Materia of their obsessions.
And now that I was seeing it I could understand why.
What kind of Materia was that?
It looked earily similar to the color of my eyes, a mix of blue and unnatural green that glowed from within. It almost seemed to call to me. Compel me to take it from them.
I resisted the strange urge as I tried to guess what kind of Materia it was.
I'd honestly never seen one like that before.
And it had me more than a little concerned that they now possessed it.
What kind of powers did it wield?
That they now possessed in turn?
Most things discovered from the Forgotten City always seemed to be stronger than anything else of its kind, and some even entirely unique in their functions.
If they did get it from the Forgotten City as they claimed, then I really didn't like the thought of them have it.
I glance between the three hesitantly, knowing they were watching me closely, waiting for my response.
"It's... beautiful," I admit slowly. "But what does it do exactly?"
Yazoo's eyes flashed knowingly as he gave me a small smile, putting the Materia back into his for-arm with a soft glow before it faded from sight. "Don't know, we haven't tried it yet. Why, interested?"
He was clearly teasing since they could already tell I was, so I didn't respond as Loz flashed his teeth at me in challenge.
"Entertain us Brother, and if you manage to win the race, you can have the Materia instead."
...Wait ...what?
They wanted me to join in on their bet now?
That was... a compelling offer. Way too compelling of one.
With a small frown I look back to Kadaj, his own knowing smirk in place and arms still crossed as his slitted eyes flashed in silent challenge as well.
...Okay Cloud... just... think for a second.
If I thought about it reasonably, I was thinking about getting that Materia away from them anyway and having Reeve take a look at it, so... playing along for now certainly seemed like the best way to do that without fighting all out for it.
And if they lied about handing it over afterwards?
Well, I could still fight them for it then if it came down to it.
Mind reluctantly made up I faced forward and released the remainder of my tensed muscles, shoulders slumping down slightly in resignation as I rubbed at the beginnings of a headache.
"Fine." I agree softly. "We'll race. But just this once. Then you'll leave me alone so I can finish my day and get back to my deliveries."
I missed the smug looks the three exchanged at me finally agreeing, Yazoo making a sound of contentment and starting his engine quickly, Loz following suit with a happy smirk as the roars settled into rumblings that echoed through the valley before us almost hungrily.
"I believe you have a deal, Brother."
Hearing Kadaj's all-to-pleased tone I quickly glanced back over to him with a grimace, a part of me already wanting to take my words back as the other two pulled up and flanked us, one on each side of Fenrir as they braced themselves up easily with a leg, sitting idle as they waited for me.
But I couldn't go back on my word.
A deal was like a promise, wasn't it?
I tried not to break promises anymore.
Not wanting to think about the verbal lashing Tifa was sure to give me when she found out I agreed to a bet with the Remnants, I focused on the task at hand and started Fenrir as well, the familiar vibrations as it roared to life between my legs unconsciously bringing a small smile to my lips as the combined vibrations of our engines thrumming up my back sent my adrenaline racing.
Even though I was reluctant to do this, a part of me was thrilled to finally have this challenge to both Fenrir and myself. Though I'd never admit it out loud.
Fenrir and its sheer speed and maneuverability had become highly known after I built it as it left challengers that came forward in the dust time and time again.
So there really was no one out there anymore besides the Turks in their choppers that was even willing to try and challenge me as long as I had Fenrir.
It was a nice change for once.
Lost in euphoria at the sensation I didn't even think to question why Kadaj hadn't mounted his own yet and joined us, but I didn't have to as the silent question answered itself only moments after.
The feeling of Kadaj suddenly mounting behind me was like a Blizzaga down my spine.
I immediately went rigid, surprised by what he was doing as he shifted behind me and slid closer against my back, wrapping his arms lightly around my stomach almost teasingly as he felt me instinctively stiffen further.
What...
My brain had sputtered to a halt, neurons misfiring as only a few words could manage to pull themselves together and make a semi-coherent question within my mind.
...The hell...?
My expression must have been hilarious to look at at least, cause all of a sudden the other two Remnants started snorting and laughing, Yazoo grabbing at his sides as Loz almost leaned off his bike entirely from the effort.
I managed to swallow nervously when Kadaj tightened his hold further with a light huff of laughter of his own, everyone but me clearly amused by the situation.
Okay... wait a minute... what the actual hell was with this turn of events?
My mind finally seemed to kickstart back up in a rage as I struggled to make a coherent sentence out loud and voice my unease.
"...Kadaj? What are you doing?"
There. I made words. Quiet words, but words all the same. That was good.
"The bet to race you was between Yazoo and Loz, Brother." Kadaj smirked in response when I glanced over my shoulder at him; like I should've known already. "My part of the bet was on something else entirely. I'm simply coming along to see the results."
Oh.
"Then ride your own. You'll see the results all the same."
I was surprised that I was managing to get more than one sentence out about the matter, my voice as rigid and unmoving as my spine.
Though honestly, anything to get him off and to stop holding on to me so casually like we were actually brothers, not the enemies we clearly were, would've been great at this point.
I was even beginning to think asking the other two Remnants for help on the matter was actually a great idea.
I was clearly getting desperate.
Kadaj simply snorted at my words though, somehow turning something that sounded so childish into something reprimanding instead as he gave me an arrogant sneer. "And miss the looks on their faces when you leave them in the dust? Hmm, no, sorry Brother, but I don't think I will."
More laughter came from the other two before Yazoo finally spoke up and drew my gaze over to his still hunched and slightly shaking form, though I could barely make out his words as he huffed through his silent laughter.
"Just leave him there Brother. We have a race to finish."
Loz just laughed loudly, not bothering to hide his open amusement at all. "Hah! A race to lose, you mean. I'm gonna leave big Brother and his little toy in the dust, with you trailing after Yazoo."
...Toy?
My mind snapped out of its rigid daze as a rush of adrenaline returned and sent smoldering fire through my veins and irritation through my heart, the block of ice cold awkwardness forgotten instantly at his smug words.
Oh, he did not just call Fenrir a toy.
No one insulted Fenrir like that and got away with it.
No one.
I sent Loz a particularly heated glare as I reached up and slid my goggles firmly into place, not even caring that Kadaj would be riding with me anymore.
Which should've been my first warning to calm down and think about what the actual heck I was doing, but I ignored it as I muttered quietly.
"The only thing you should be worried about is catching more than flies in your mouth when I leave you eating Fenrir's dust, Loz."
I said his name with disdain, getting the feeling he'd take offense to that for some reason.
And he did.
I ignored Loz's sputtered shout of anger as a strange sensation feathered across my conscious, called my attention back to the now straightened Yazoo.
Not liking the sensation but somehow unable to bring myself to worry about it too much, I raise a weary brow in question at him as he smirks in something akin to playfulness.
"Shall we put him in his place together Brother?" He asked softly with a slight tilt of his head. "It'll be twice as fun."
I hesitated for a moment at what he was offering before I slowly gave him a nod.
The thought sounded strangely appealing for some reason. Strangely... Fun.
Yazoo's smirk brightened considerably at my quiet agreement, eyes flashing in some sort of silent victory.
"Hey! Don't side with him you meanie!" Loz was back to pouting angrily now as he crossed his arms again.
Kadaj just laughed at the sudden switch of loyalties.
Clearly enjoying himself at his brothers expense.
Shaking my own head in silent amusement at their childish behavior I leaned forward slightly, the others taking that as the signal and leaning forward as well, Yazoo smiling sharply and Loz huffing in anger.
They actually reminded me a lot of Denzel and Marlene for some reason.
Which only lowered my guard more subconsciously.
"Be sure to hold on tightly." Feeling suddenly generous I call back quietly to Kadaj in warning. "If you fall off I wont be stopping."
"Charming as ever Brother." Kadaj chuckles before giving a hum of acknowledgement. "Just be a dear and don't forget to drop me back off here once the race is over would you? I'd rather not be stuck riding back with one of them afterwards. They'll be furious at losing, so they'll just be pouting the whole way back."
He made a sound like just the thought of having to listen to them disgusted him.
At that random omission on his part a surprised gasp of laughter threatened to bubble up out of nowhere, making my stomach muscles tighten convulsively before I quickly suppressed it.
Instantly denying that I had found that bit of information funny for some reason.
Or that Kadaj had probably felt it anyway through his hold around my stomach.
Nope. Not gonna think about it.
But driving him back though?
That was kind of pushing it, wasn't it?
...Hmm... I suppose I'd be getting yelled at by the others anyway, right? And If I was already going this far with the bet, then... Why not?
After another moment of hesitation I give a small nod in agreement.
With a pleased sound Kadaj's hold around me tightened significantly, a clear signal he was ready and that we could go ahead and start, earning a faint twitch of a genuine smile from me as Yazoo, Loz, and I all reached for our throttles as one.
"Well then..."
My hands tightened around the handles.
"Let's mosey."
~~AUTHUR'S NOTE~~
This is a story I'm writing in private for myself, but I figured I'd go ahead and upload the first chapter here anyway, just to see if anyone else would be interested in reading it too.
If you'd like to read more as I write it then please leave a review and follow/fav the story, so that I'll know others are interested. :)
(Also I switch between my stories when inspiration hits, so none of them are ever abandoned, just slow at updating sometimes. I apologize in advance for that. ^.^')