Hello and welcome to Chapter Two! I greatly apologize for the lateness in which this chapter is being posted. Life and Death unfortunately, in the case of my grandfather, has kept me busy and a little lost over the past couple weeks. I do have chapter three written though and already sent off to my beta reader. I promise to post it as soon as I get it back.
Onto brighter subjects I thank every single on of you who Favorited, Alerted, or Reviewed chapter one. Its wonderful to know I'm writing this for more than a challenge and that people actually enjoy what I'm putting out there. Although, as with most writers, I love the Reviews most. Hearing what you liked or possibly did not like about the chapter really keeps me motivated.
As a aside that you need to know about this chapter. Half way through this chapter there is a change to third person POV. I apologize to those of you who hate that but it was necessary in this case.
Please give a large round of applause to my patient and kind Beta reader DragonGirl323. Without her this chapter would be a very big mess as I had troubles witting it.
Disclaimer: I do not own anything from the Final Fantasy VII Universe.
And without further ado I give you Chapter Two: Spiders and Phone Calls.
Early morning sunlight shone through an uncovered window, illuminating the darkness behind my eye lids. Letting out a slight groan, I opened my eyes just in time to hear footsteps running past my door and down the stairs. The bar's phone started ringing loudly, but not loudly enough to block out Yuffie's sudden ear splitting screeches.
"EEEKKKK! IT'S A SPIDER! GET IT OFF, GET IT OFF, GET IT OFF!"
"Dangnabbit, woman, stay still! I can't fucking kill it if you won't stay fucking still!" Cid's voice roared after Yuffie.
A gun shot rang from down the stairs followed by another of Yuffie's shrieks. "Thank you, Vincent. There, it's dead, Yuffie!" Cid exclaimed. "Now shut the hell up so I can get some peace and quiet for my damn hangover!"
Tifa's voice rang through the bar louder than both of them together, causing me to wince because of my enhanced hearing. "ALL OF YOU, SHUT UP! I AM ON THE PHONE! VINCENT, SO HELP ME IF YOU SHOOT THAT GUN INSIDE ONE MORE TIME I WILL TAKE IT AWAY AND SHOOT YOU INSTEAD OF MY WALLS!"
Eyes falling closed once again, I sighed at all the chaos that was usual now days. The phone call was most likely a delivery for this morning; that would mean very little time to get ready. So I slowly got out of bed, and after collecting some warm clothes, made my way to the bathroom, looking forward to a relaxing shower. Thoughts of Zack still rang in my head and the dream haunted my thoughts. Was it a dream? It felt so real...but then, I was never really good at discerning reality from dreams.
My thoughts and speculations chased each other well throughout my morning routine and down the stairs into the bar. Tifa waved at me from where she was inspecting a new hole in the wall. "New delivery for Kalm this morning, Cloud. The package address and your keys are by the door."
I gave an affirmative noise and nodded as she went back to surveying the damage. I had a feeling Vincent would be the one to repair it later. Yuffie had obviously gone out for work already with Vincent in toe, but he would be back latter. Reeve had probably left before I even got up. Barrett and Cid were still in bed or, in Cid's case, back in bed, while Reno was sitting at the bar nursing a cup of coffee and looking like he got the worse of last night's drinking game.
Grabbing my own cup of coffee, I sat down at the bar and closed my eyes slightly. Reno looked over at me with an obviously sly smile. "Hey, Cloud. Did you have a good time last night? You know, besides the big announcement and all. Don't get why you're so against SOLDIER this time around. In fact, you'd be a big help to the cause."
A groan of annoyance left my lips and I opened my eyes to give the red headed Turk a sharp look. "My answer is still no, Reno."
His laughter rang throughout the bar. "Hey, can't blame a guy for trying. Oh yeah, Reeve wanted me to pass on a message to ya. He says sorry to leave before you all got up. Also that he may not be here for New Year's like he promised. Apparently, he had to leave because of an incident with one of our programs back in the office."
"I thought Rufus was the new vice president of the WRO? Why couldn't he take care of it?"
Scratching the back of his head, a sheepish grin found its way onto Reno's face. "Yeah, well, Rufus is not really allowed to mess with this project. It's an agreement of sorts that's been established with a partner in the project. Even now not everyone trusts Rufus, you know."
Nodding at Reno, I then gave a silent nod of thanks to Tifa when she came over to refill my mug. "I know, I'm still one of them."
Clutching his heart dramatically, Reno leaned backwards in his seat. "Oh, Cloud, that really hurts, yo. Rufus really is turning over a new leaf. Is that why you won't join up with the WRO?"
"I'm just happier with my delivery business. Reeve has recruited some men from the newly discovered race of Angels, right? He can do without me."
Sighing, Reno shook his head. "None of them have saved the world though, Cloud. In fact, Reeve has almost been regretting the decision to employ some of them. You see, most of the WRO has named them cowards, barring those who were enlisted as SOLDIER or helped quietly. I mean, I understand them being afraid of Jenova and Shinra scientists like Hojo, but others don't, Cloud. We need someone that the SOLDIERs trust and know to lead them. Not some new race that never put their necks on the line."
Looking down at my coffee, my frown deepened. Angels... they are a race even I still don't completely understand. Aerith had been mute on the point too. They started coming out of the wood work about six months ago and have left Gaia floundering. Like the Cetra, Angels are connected to the planet. However, instead of being messengers, they are Gaia's protectors. Like the Weapons were, only more numerous and less powerful. Afraid of what Jenova had done to their Cetra cousins, they hid themselves quietly among the masses and destroyed all mention of their existence. All who found out were bound to secrecy or killed. Even now only about a hundred Angels still exist. In a way, I understood Reeve's need for my presence in the WRO, but I just could not be the hero he needed me to be.
Finally breaking the silence that had descended between us I murmured in a tired voice, "No, Reno... I won't play the hero again. I'm just a delivery boy now. SOLDIER is a dream long gone for me."
"Yeah, but, Cloud, the-"
"No, Reno, let the Angels prove themselves to the public. They have a lot to make up for."
Finishing up my coffee, I scooted off the stool and made my way out the door, grabbing up my keys, the newest dispatch, and some other packages on the way out.
Reno was exasperated as he sat at the bar alone. "Damn it, Cloud, why do you have to make everything that much harder, yo."
Tifa walked over and sat next to where Reno was sitting with a smile. "Cloud is Cloud. You should know that by now, Reno."
"Yeah, I do know that, but] it does not make things any easier on me yo. Don't know how to deal with him sometimes. I mean, most of you are on board with the new SOLDIER program, so why can't Cloud at least accept that we need more fighters?"
"I think on some level he does accept it, just like Vincent does. But both of them have seen a lot more evil in this world and don't take kindly to change. Most of AVALANCHE agrees that this new SOLDIER might do Cloud some good, but it could also do some harm,"Tifa explained delicately.
Sighing, Reno's head fell into his hands as he stared into his empty mug. "Not sure about the harm part sans monsters. But Reeve, Rufus, and I all think the program could do Cloud a world of good. To be honest, though, his reaction to the SOLDIER program and past conversations don't exactly paint a positive picture for our success, Tiffs."
Tifa leaned over and rested her head on Reno's shoulder. "Don't give up on Cloud, alright? He has such a big heart,byet sometimes his ghosts really get the better of him. It's taken me a long time to get him to open back up." With a sigh of her own, Tifa sat up from Reno's shoulder and continued in a tired tone, "There was a SOLDIER named Zack that really meant a lot to Cloud. I think you knew him? Zack's death hit Cloud really hard. Even harder than Aerith's. So SOLDIER does not paint any kind of pleasant memory for him either."
Interest perked within Reno and he smiled at Tifa. "Really? So Zack meant a lot to Cloud, huh? That explains quite a bit, yo. More than you could imagine actually. I'll be sure to keep at it and see what I can do to make Cloud have a change of heart." Giving Tifa a one armed hug, he smirked. "Thanks again for the info, hot stuff. Reeve will want me back in the office soon. Even if it's just delivering paperwork again."
Slipping out of the bar before Tifa could pummel him over his parting comment, Reno pulled out his phone. Dialing Reeve's number he waited for a few moments hoping the boss would pick up. Reeve did answer, but it was in a slightly pinched and stressed voice. "What is it, Reno?"
"Hey, boss man got good news for ya. I think know how I could convince old Cloudy to join up with SOLDIER and even fix an ongoing problem of yours in the bargain."
A sigh came across the line and Reno could almost imagine Reeve rubbing his temples. The issue this morning must have been really big for Reeve to be this stressed out. "What miracle might that be, Reno, and which ongoing problem?"
"Well, it's kinda a risk on both accounts, see. I know you said to keep the LSRP project top secret until we were done and all, but I think it might just be what sways Cloud's decision. I don't think she would mind him knowing either, ya know? Problem #15 might just fix itself."
"I have just received reports that problem #15 was resolved as of six this morning without Cloud's help. Not sure what caused the near 180 in performance, but it is no longer a concern." A heavier sigh filled Reno's ears after that statement along with a long stretch of silence. "Give Cloud one week to think it over by himself. If he has not come around by then you have my permission to tell him. We should, for the most part, be done with the project by then anyway. Bring an example of the project with you; knowing Cloud he might not believe you otherwise."
A large smile spread across Reno's face. "That sounds perfect, sir. I know just the example to bring too. It's great that the problem fixed itself, but I still think that it could have a factor in Cloud's return."
The sound of shuffling papers came from over the phone as Reeve said, "Yes, I agree. Very good. Now when you get back, head up to my office, there are some documents I need you to run down to Tseng. He will know what to do with you from there."
The smile faded off Reno's face as he gave his own heavy sigh. "Yes, boss, I'll get right on that."
Well thats has to be all for now. Chapter 3: Decisions and Difficult Turks will be much longer at around 3000 words so be on the look out for it in a week or two at most.
