Disclaimer: All the characters herein are property of Square Enix, except for any OCs, which may or may not appear.

**The Next Day**

The first thing Tifa noticed when she woke was the lack of warmth she remembered next to her. Her eyes flashed open, and she glanced around, wondering where Vincent had gone, and why he had left without waking her. Thinking something may be wrong, she jumped to her feet. She took several quick steps to the door, reaching for the handle to open it. She jumped when it opened of its own accord, and she stepped back, her hazel gaze colliding with a deep crimson.

"Vincent," she breathed, startled. She tried to plaster a smile on. "I was just coming to find you." Why did you leave without waking me? She was sure he could see through her fake smile, as his crimson eyes narrowed thoughtfully.

He grunted softly, seeing right through her mock happiness. "I just came to inform you that we are nearing our destination and Cid has called a meeting," he said quietly and impersonally. "We will be meeting in the cockpit in an hour."

Tifa nodded, hearing the indifference in his voice. She looked away as she excused herself to her room to change. She could feel her heart breaking as she stepped into the shower, as she began to realize that he meant what he said. She sighed as she let the hot water rush over her head. This was going to be a long flight.

** In the Cockpit**

Cloud could feel the heat from Vincent's smoldering gaze burning the floor, and he could have sworn he saw smoke. He continued to watch his friend for a moment, noting that he wasn't exactly angry, but he wasn't exactly happy. He watched as Vincent dipped his head a bit as he scowled, hiding his face further in his cloak. Frowning, Cloud stepped toward Vincent, wanting to know what was bothering him.

"I do not wish to explain to you why I am angry," Vincent snapped, his gaze unmoving as he spoke.

Cloud froze in his tracks, caught off guard, and slightly angered at Vincent's hostility. "You sure?" he asked, his frown deepening into a scowl. "You're not normally this pissy."

Vincent slid Cloud a scorching glance. Cloud could almost hear Vincent's thoughts, knowing he had really stuck his foot in his mouth this time.

"Uh, that's not what I meant," he said quickly, trying to cover up his slip.

Vincent arched a brow. "Then what did you mean?"

"Just worried about you," Cloud said, crossing his arms. "I wanted to be sure you were alright." His liquid blue eyes shifted to the floor. "Can't let you fight when your head's not in it."

Vincent's first thought was to be angry, but his crimson gaze widened as he realized Cloud was only concerned about him. "It is nothing to be troubled about," he said quietly. "I will be more than useful in the upcoming battle, and I do not wish to trouble you with trivial things, especially the ones that seem to invade my mind from time to time."

Cloud's face was expressionless as he gave his crimson-mantled comrade another measured glance, before he nodded and walked away, toward Cid, who stood vigilantly at the helm. He didn't bother to look at Vincent again as he resumed his examination of Cid's abilities to get them as close as possible to the reactor. He didn't look up again until the doors to the cockpit slid open, and Tifa and Yuffie entered, Yuffie chattering excitedly as normal, and Tifa pretending to listen intently. He watched them start toward Vincent, and he found it strange that Tifa suddenly seemed to shy away from Yuffie when she realized where she was going. He watched as she hesitated, shooting Vincent an anxious glance, before making a detour towards him and Cid.

"Mornin' Tifa," Cid said, his eyes narrowed slightly. He glanced at Cloud, who assumed he had noticed the odd exchange as well.

"Good morning," she said brightly, smiling. She turned her hazel eyes on Cloud. "Cloud."

He nodded, grunting softly. "Tifa," he said quietly, glancing at the map on the screen before Cid.

"So, what's the latest update?" she asked, following his gaze.

"Cid has managed to get the computer systems operating to full capacity again, and Shelke has performed a successful net dive," he said quietly. His mako eyes scanned the map thoughtfully. "We're going to have to enter from the air." He looked up at her. "You any good with a hover board?"

She shrugged thoughtfully. "How hard could it be?" she asked, thinking about it. She had seen Yuffie and Vincent ride them during the attack on Midgar, and it didn't seem like it was that difficult.

Cloud nodded, straightening. He looked at Cid. "Page Barrett and tell him we're ready to start," he said.

Cid nodded, looking to the soldier at the control panel to his right. "Hey! Tell Barrett to get his fat ass up here!" he yelled.

The soldier nodded, pushing a button on his control panel. "The meeting is about to begin," he said into a microphone that was hooked over his ear. "Your presence is requested on the main deck."

It wasn't very long before Barrett came stalking through the cockpit doors, seeming a little put out. "This had better be good," he said, running the back of his hand across his mouth. "I got food waitin' for me to get back to it."

Cid rolled his eyes. "Quit your whinin', ya big baby," he growled. He stepped from the helm, flipping the auto pilot switch. "Me an' Cloud have come up with a plan."

Cloud nodded, pressing a button on the map screen. The others watched as 3-D image formed in front of them, taking the shape of the Nibelheim reactor. He walked toward it, his arms crossed as he gave them a moment to study it. He glanced at the cockpit doors as they opened and Shelke entered, her calculated gaze fixing on the floor plans. She walked toward them, zeroing in on the easiest entry point. Cloud stepped aside and let her take the lead in presenting the attack plans.

"The main air intake duct," she said, pointing to an area on the left-hand side of the reactor. "This will be the weakest entry point." She glanced around at the six AVALANCHE members. "Should you miss the landing area," she shot Vincent a heated glare, "the second weakest entrance would be the secondary intake." She pointed to another area on the opposite side of the reactor. She glanced around at the group, watching them. "Please study the map carefully. It is imperative that you know the outside."

At this, Yuffie released a frustrated groan. "Of course," she said bitterly. "So what's it look like when we get inside?"

Shelke nodded, turning back to the image. "Computer, open image C-5."

The group watched as the image blinked, shifting into another map, this one more complex than the first.

"I have uploaded this to your cell's memory," Shelke said, walked around to the far side of the image. She pointed to a series of halls in what seemed to be the basement of the reactor. "According to the messages I intercepted and the data I recovered, Reeve and the others should be here." She walked to the map screen, pressing a button. A yellow line suddenly split the image. "This is the quickest path to the basement." She glanced among the faces of the heroes before her. "Though, I doubt it will be the easiest to take." She pressed another button, another line, this one red, appearing before them. "That's why I came up with an alternate route. I realize that Deep Ground will be expecting you, and that it may very well likely be a trap, so this secondary path may be the best to take. I made sure to pick obscure halls that are the most likely to be deserted, as they are far from the main halls." She walked to the image, her eyes narrowed in concern.

"Anything else we should know?" Cid asked, reading the expression on her face.

She glanced at him, before turning back to the map. "This area," she said quietly, pointing to a large open area. "This is the center of the reactor itself. You must navigate it to reach Reeve and the others. I was unable to find a safe pathway around it, so it is likely you will have to go through it." She glanced at Cloud, then shifted her gaze to Vincent. "This concerns me, though. You will be exposed to high levels of radioactive mako," Her eyes were locked on Vincent, "which could stir up the beasts living in your hearts."

Cloud's electric blue eyes narrowed. "What does that mean?" he asked.

Shelke turned her gaze to Cloud. "It means, while Chaos no longer has access to Vincent's physical body, there is still an imprint left on his brain of Chaos' presence," she said. She glanced around at all of them. "It simply means that the mako could affect Chaos' slumber, causing him to stir until you are away from it. If you are exposed for too long, the long term effect is ultimately his return." She focused her eyes back on Cloud. "The same goes for you. Though Sephiroth is no longer among us, his presence is in the lifestream, and inside you, because of the Jenova cells implanted in you. I worry that the mako will drive you two to the point of madness." She looked away, her gaze studying the floor as thoughts whizzed through her mind. "Perhaps the primary route is the best."

Cloud glanced at Vincent, feeling the eyes of their comrades on them. "No," he said firmly. "We can't risk being found. We're too outnumbered. Surprise is all we have. We'll just have to chance it."

Shelke looked at him, worry in her eyes. "Very well," she whispered softly, looking away. "I had guessed you would say that." She clasped her hands behind her back. "In that case, I have constructed something for you two. Come to the sick bay before you leave."

Cloud nodded, watching her leave, noticing that she seemed as if their refusal had some how insulted her. He glanced at Vincent once more, knowing he had sensed the same thing. "Then I guess that is all until we get closer," he said to the group, looking at each of them. "Any questions?"

Yuffie crossed her arms, pouting slightly. "If you and Vinny lose it in there, we aren't going to have to drag your sorry asses out, are we?" she asked, her stubborn hazel gaze demanding.

Cloud rolled his eyes, looking away. "Any other questions?" he asked, meeting Tifa's gaze. "Real questions?"

Cid grunted a laugh as he walked back to the helm. Barrett also chuckled softly. Yuffie, however, did not find Cloud's ignoring her funny.

"Hey!" she yelled, walking to Cloud and slugging his arm. "Answer me!"

Cloud glanced at her, frowning at having been punched. He rubbed his arm as he looked at her. "That kinda hurt," he pouted, feigning sadness.

"Oh, too bad!" Yuffie yelled, becoming quite irritated. She turned to glance at Tifa. "Make him apologize to me!"

Tifa laughed softly at her outburst and the scene before her. "For what?" she asked.

Yuffie growled in frustration. "I'm going to my room!" she yelled. She stalked to the cockpit doors, pausing as they opened. "Cloud, you're a jerk."

Cloud laughed softly, watching her leave. "It's too bad she feels that way," he said softly, glancing at Tifa.

Tifa nodded, a slip of a smile on her face as well. "Well, I think I'm going to rest up a bit before we arrive," she said quietly. She glanced at Vincent, who remained unmoved, before turning and walking to the door.

The three men watched her leave, before Cid fixed his sky blue gaze on Vincent. "Alright, what's goin' on with you two?" he demanded, flicking the butt of his cigarette at Vincent's feet to get his attention.

Vincent shifted slightly, his crimson gaze glancing carelessly down at the dying ember. "I'm afraid I don't know what exactly you're referring to," he said, turning to look out the bay windows.

"Oh, cut the crap, Vinny," Cid growled, flipping the auto pilot switch once more. "Somethin' happened 'tween you and Tifa, and I intend to find out why she looks like her dog just got eaten by a chocobo every time she looks at you." He walked toward Vincent, coming to a stop beside him. He watched as Vincent glanced at him out of the corner of his eye. "And don't look at me like that!" He huffed, crossing his arms. "It ain't my fault you probably did somethin' stupid that's hurt her feelin's."

Vincent's crimson gaze narrowed as he stared at the midday sky. He could feel a scowl on his lips. "Should I wish to divulge that information," he said, turning to look squarely at Cid, "I can assure you that I shan't come to you." With that he stepped around the steamed pilot, making his way to the door.

"Dammit, Vincent," Cid yelled, turning to face him, "it's not about you all the freakin' time! Think about it. Whatever it is that's goin' on between you two could have a major impact on how the two of you are able to do in the battle. And we need both of you in top form. So you better go apologize and make things right!"

Vincent bowed his head, closing his eyes as he tried not to lose his temper with the long-winded pilot. "I'll keep that in mind," he said darkly as he left the cockpit. He couldn't hide a bitter smirk as he heard the pilot growl in frustration as the doors closed behind him.