Author's Note: The last chapter was short, so I decided to upload another! :D
Disclaimer: I own nothing except my laptop and my ridiculous imagination! All else belongs to Square Enix.
Chapter 3: Negotiations
Tifa took a few deep breaths as she looked out of the tinted windows of the van, which was stopped in front of the high gates of the Neo ShinRa headquarters. She was beginning to think this was a very bad idea. She was trusting Sephiroth to keep his word.
Reno impatiently tapped the steering wheel. "Gods, the guy is so damn hot to trot to get his hands on ya, you would think he would have cleared our arrival with the front gate!"
Vincent turned and looked at him. "I think it's best we don't complain about putting off this confrontation."
Yuffie looked at Tifa and gently nudged her in the side. "Hey, if you've changed your mind, we sure as hell don't have to do this you know. We can just take off right now."
Tifa smiled at her friend, but shook her head. "We have to do this. I'll be fine. He can't hurt me anymore than he already has, Yuffie."
Yuffie squeezed her hand gently. "Yes he can."
Tifa was distracted from their conversation when there was a knock on the window. Reno sat up and unrolled the window.
"It's about fuckin' time, yo," Reno said irritably.
"Oh, I am so sorry for keeping this van full of terrorists waiting, but we have to check all vehicles for suicide bombs," the infantryman said with a smirk. "I didn't want to have to clean up the smear you'd leave after an explosion. Pull up to the front."
"You should be the PR rep for Neo ShinRa," Reno said with a smirk. "You have such a sunny disposition."
"Cock sucker," the infantryman growled.
"In your dreams, asshole," Reno said before driving towards the entrance. He glanced at Vincent. "Do I seem like the kinda guy that sucks cocks? Seriously, when you look at me, do you think, 'damn, I bet that guy sucks cocks like a pro'?"
Vincent narrowed his eyes. "Can you not say cocks anymore?"
Tifa smiled slightly as she and Yuffie stifled their laughter. Yuffie leaned forward and tapped Reno on the shoulder.
"If it makes you feel any better, I never pictured you giving blowjobs," she said with a smile.
Reno put the van in park and turned off the engine before turning and smirking at Yuffie. "Thanks, princess," he drawled.
Yuffie blushed while Vincent rolled his eyes. Tifa smirked and shook her head as she released her seatbelt. Reno pushed his goggles up onto his forehead and turned in his seat so he could look directly at Tifa.
"We can still leave if you want, babe," he said seriously. "I have no problem running that infantry prick down and making him just a smear."
Tifa shook her head and slid the van door open. "I'll be fine. Let's go."
The four AVALANCHE members stepped out of the van and began the climb up the stairs leading to the lobby of the Neo ShinRa headquarters. The doors slid open in front of them and they entered, Yuffie in front of Tifa and Vincent and Reno on either side of her. Kadaj, Loz, and Yazoo were waiting for them.
"Welcome to Neo ShinRa," Kadaj said with a smirk. "Brother is waiting for us."
The group followed the remnants to a private elevator and stepped in behind them. The remnants stood on the left and faced the AVALANCHE members, no one saying anything…everyone just stared at each other. The doors slid open and they stepped out, immediately finding themselves in a reception area. Tifa could feel her heart rate speed up as they approached the double doors leading to the room where her nightmare was waiting for her.
Kadaj moved to stand in front of the door, blocking the entrance momentarily. "Brother will only see you…alone."
"Now wait just a damn minute…" Reno began, but stopped when Tifa touched his arm.
"It's okay Reno," she said firmly as she straightened her posture. She looked at Kadaj and nodded. "Fair enough."
He smirked before opening the door for her, closing it again once she was in the large room. It reminded her of Rufus' office before the original ShinRa building was destroyed. The wall she was facing was almost all windows from floor to ceiling and in front of them was a large desk. At the desk Sephiroth was slowly rising to his feet.
"It's been a long time, Miss Lockhart," he said smoothly.
She clenched her jaw and forced herself to walk further into the room. "I was just thinking it hadn't been long enough for me, General."
He narrowed his eyes and smirked slightly. "Have a seat."
Tifa strode confidently towards the desk and sat in one of the two chairs facing him. "I asked for this meeting for one reason. Tell me what you want in return for releasing Cloud."
"You," he said simply.
Tifa had expected denials of Cloud's existence and imprisonment, and she had known he would want her to surrender, but his simple answer caught her off guard. "What?"
Sephiroth leaned back in his chair, his smirk never leaving his lips. "I didn't want to waste any time pretending I don't have Cloud when in fact I do. To be honest, I'm surprised it took this long for you to bargain for his release. I thought he meant more to you than that."
"He means everything to me and our son," Tifa snapped.
"Your son? The boy Cloud found wandering around the destroyed Sector Five slums?" he asked.
"Denzel is like a son to both of us," Tifa said tightly, resenting the condescending tone he was using in reference to Denzel. "As for not approaching you sooner, the death squads made me think you were more interested in killing me than anything else. My mistake."
"The death squads were for your friends, not you," he said. He leaned closer to the desk and rested his arms across the surface of it, his hands clasped together. "Cloud is free to leave with your entourage if you agree to stay here. That is my offer."
"I have some requests as well," Tifa said as she folded her arms across her chest.
Sephiroth raised an eyebrow. "By all means, share your desires with me."
Tifa narrowed her eyes slightly, but refused to rise to his bait. "I will come to you in whatever capacity you want, but you have to agree to give me time to adjust to my new…role in this world."
"Of course," he said with a shrug.
"And I want a bodyguard," she said before quickly adding, "One of my choosing and not from your ranks. I want one from AVALANCHE."
Sephiroth frowned. "What for?"
"I do not trust you or your remnants," she answered.
"If you are concerned about Loz…"
"Loz is not my concern," she said stiffly. "He is a fantastic fighter and I have a fighter's respect for him and his strength. Kadaj is my problem. He is unpredictable and definitely does not like me."
"Who would you want?" Sephiroth asked.
"Reno," Tifa answered.
Sephiroth was silent for a moment before nodding. "Done. But I have a few restrictions. You two will never be alone, he will stay in his own room, and he will not interfere with our…interactions. You will both have only minimal access to our computers and will be restricted from certain areas of this building unless you are accompanied by me specifically."
"Fine," Tifa said nonchalantly. "And I want the death squads gone."
"That is already being implemented," Sephiroth said. "In future, all conflict with AVALANCHE will be handled by NeoSOLDIER, headed by my remnants on a case by case basis with all final decisions regarding punishment, including execution, being decided by me."
"You're still going to pursue AVALANCHE if I surrender myself?" Tifa asked incredulously.
"Will your band of terrorists cease their activity against me now that I have you?" he asked as he tilted his head to the side and leaned back in his chair.
"We will stop you, no matter who you have prisoner," Tifa vowed.
"Then I will pursue all those who oppose me and attempt to destroy me," he said with a shrug. "After all, your friends are doing the same. If you turn down this offer, I will pursue you and your friends until I find you and you will all be executed for crimes against the state, and Cloud will stay where he is…in Professor Hojo's labs."
Tifa paled at the mention of the twisted professor. Now she knew she really had no choice but to accept his offer. To leave Cloud in the professor's hands would be cruel and unusual punishment. She drew in a slightly shaky breath as she forced herself to keep her gaze locked with Sephiroth's amused stare.
"If I tell AVALANCHE to stop all the destruction of Neo ShinRa's property, will you stop actively hunting them down?" she asked.
Sephiroth smiled slowly. "I will consider that an act of faith on their part and will stop the pursuit. However, let's not pretend that we don't know what the other is doing. Your friends will continue to build their resources until they think they have a chance of defeating me…just like I will continue to fortify my forces for the clash we know will eventually occur."
"Can I think about this deal?" Tifa asked.
"Do you really need to?" Sephiroth countered.
Tifa sighed as she looked away from him. "Not really," she murmured. She took a deep breath before returning her gaze to his. "Take me to Cloud and once he is on his way back with Vincent and Yuffie, we will have a deal."
The remnants glared at the AVALANCHE members and they glared right back. Kadaj turned his glare to Reno.
"How's your head, Turk?" he asked with a sneer.
"It's just fine, junior," Reno answered.
"That bruise looks good on you, Kaddy," Yuffie said with a smirk.
Kadaj narrowed his eyes and glared at Yuffie. "You'll look good with an open gash across your pretty little throat!"
"I know you didn't just threaten her, kid," Reno snarled as he got to his feet.
Kadaj got to his feet as well. "Then learn to control your girlfriend's mouth!"
Vincent sighed and got to his feet and stood between the two men. "Sit down."
Both men looked ready to argue until they saw the slight flash of yellow glow in his eyes, Chaos threatening to reveal himself. Reno and Kadaj traded one last glare before returning to their seats. Vincent sat down beside Yuffie who smirked up at him.
"Chaos is a pretty awesome and effective way of controlling the unruly," she said.
"Don't feed his already large ego," Vincent said dryly as they all resumed glaring at each other.
The doors suddenly opened and Sephiroth appeared with Tifa beside him. She stepped away from him and looked up at Vincent, who had gotten to his feet.
"I've taken Sephiroth's deal," she said. "You and Yuffie are in charge of getting Cloud home."
"You're releasing Cloud?" Kadaj sputtered as he looked at Sephiroth.
Sephiroth glared at the youngest remnant. "Silence! We have learned all there is to learn from Cloud Strife and quite frankly I'm tired of looking at him."
"Tifa, you're not seriously staying here?" Yuffie asked as she got to her feet and took her friend's hand in hers.
Tifa smiled. "We came for Cloud and he's returning. Something tells me he's going to need you guys."
"But you can't stay here with Sephiroth alone!" Yuffie protested.
"But she will not be alone," Sephiroth said with an unpleasant smile. "She'll have my favorite little Turk here with her."
Reno raised his eyebrows as he got to his feet. "What?"
"I hope you don't mind," Tifa said. "It was kind of a spur of the moment thing."
Reno straightened his posture and tried to ignore the decidedly predatory smirks he was receiving from the remnants. "Mind? Oh, hell no. I'm looking forward to the change of scenery, yo!"
"Come with me and I will take you to Cloud," Sephiroth said.
Vincent barely concealed his low growl when he saw the Hojo hologram bent over notes. He turned when the door to his lab opened and closed, smirking when he noticed Vincent.
"It's been a long time, Valentine," Hojo said with a sneer. "And how is Chaos?"
"He'd be a lot happier if he could rip your lungs out," Vincent said coldly.
Hojo laughed before turning to Sephiroth. "I take it Miss Lockhart here has agreed to you plans?"
Sephiroth smiled and nodded as he stepped forward. "Indeed she has. Is the sample ready for travel?"
"Strife is just through that door," Hojo murmured. "I will be sad to see him go though. So much research could still be done. Oh well."
Tifa glared at the hologram before looking up at Sephiroth. "May I see him…please?"
Sephiroth smiled indulgently and nodded. "Of course." He turned to the others. "The rest of you can stay here."
Tifa followed him into the room Hojo had indicated and had to stifle a cry when she saw him. He still looked like Cloud, but he was a little thinner and his body bore the scars of Hojo's research. She slowly reached out a hand and stroked his hair that lay upon his brow.
He stirred slightly and opened his eyes, focusing on her face. He smiled slightly. "You're late."
Tifa smiled through the free-falling tears and nodded, her familiar words being used against her. "I know. I'm sorry Cloud."
"Let me die, Tifa," he said as his smile disappeared, consumed by a heavy frown. "Don't stay here with him. He'll destroy you."
"Now, now, Cloud," Sephiroth chastised mockingly as he moved to stand behind Tifa. "You shouldn't talk badly of me. I am releasing you, after all."
"I'll be dead in a few weeks Tifa," Cloud croaked, ignoring Sephiroth all together. "I'd rather die knowing you are far from his grasp instead of knowing you're trapped here with a demon."
Tifa did her best to smile reassuringly. "And I'd rather be here knowing that Denzel and Marlene can have you back even if it is for just a few weeks instead of hiding and knowing the pain you're suffering could be avoided if I was just here. Cloud, I love you. You know that right?"
He nodded slightly. "I know you do Tifa," he answered as he squeezed her hand. "I love you too."
Tifa turned when the door slid open again as two lab assistants entered the room followed by Yuffie and Vincent. She turned and smiled down at Cloud before kissing him gently on the lips. "It's time to go home Cloud."
"Be careful Tifa," he said as she stepped back.
"You have seen Cloud and know he is alive," Sephiroth said coldly. "I am allowing you your bodyguard and your friends now have Cloud in their care. Do we have a deal, Tifa, yes or no?"
She looked up at him and nodded. "We have a deal, Sephiroth."
He smirked before stepping closer to Cloud. He leaned in and whispered something in his ear, which caused Cloud's body to stiffen as he muttered, "Bastard."
Sephiroth stepped back and nodded. "I am, aren't I?" He turned and looked at Vincent. "You may take Cloud and leave. As part of my deal with Miss Lockhart, you shall be allowed to leave and my people will not follow you nor stop you. If your group continues its attacks on ShinRa property, we will pursue you. If you stop going after what is mine, you will be left in peace…until we come together in the final battle I assume you are preparing for. Take that message back to you base and do as you please."
"Tell everyone I agreed to this cease in hostilities, Vincent," Tifa said quietly.
He nodded. "I will Tifa."
Yuffie hugged her friend tightly. "This isn't goodbye, Tifa. It's just a temporary separation."
Tifa smiled and nodded. "I know. Take care of Cloud."
Yuffie nodded before following Vincent and the lab technicians out of the room into the main lab. She stopped in front of Reno and threw her arms around him. "I love you Red!"
Reno allowed her to press her lips to his in what could very well be the last kiss they would ever share. He added a squeeze on her ass for good measure before releasing her.
"I love you too, you little klepto!" he said with a wink before watching her leave. He turned and looked at Tifa as she entered the room with Sephiroth. "I don't suppose you negotiated any conjugal visits for me, did ya Teef?"
"Sorry," she said quietly.
Reno sighed and smirked. "Don't worry about it."
"Kadaj, you and Yazoo take the Turk to my office," Sephiroth said. "I have a few ground rules to go over with him. Loz, come with me."
Reno winked reassuringly at Tifa before following the two younger remnants out of the room. Tifa reluctantly followed Sephiroth while Loz followed behind them, not really sure why he was invited to follow them, while his brothers were sent to deal with Reno. He watched his older brother as he surreptitiously glanced at the woman beside him several times.
They came to a stop in front of a door and Sephiroth turned to face Tifa. "You can wait here and once I go over the ground rules with your Turk, I will return and we too can set our boundaries." He opened the door and Tifa reluctantly entered. He shut the door behind her and locked it be turning and facing Loz. He dropped the keycard in his hand. "You are going to stay here and make sure nothing happens to her. And no matter what, you are not to 'play' with her, do you understand?"
"Yes, brother," Loz said as he watched Sephiroth turn and walk back down the hall.
Reno grunted as Kadaj's fist connected with his jaw and bent over Sephiroth's desk. He turned and glared at the youngest remnant. "I don't think your brother will be happy to find my blood all over his desk, man."
"He's right," Yazoo said with a smirk before pushing away from the wall he was leaning against. "We should search him for weapons, listening devices, and any other thing he could us against us."
Kadaj grabbed Reno by the lapels on his jacket and thrust him up against the wall. Reno automatically assumed a position typically seen when a suspect is being searched. Kadaj began running his hands over his arms and when he swung him around so they were facing each other, Reno smirked.
"Hey, I don't know you like that, yo," he said with a laugh as Kadaj ran his hands down his legs.
Kadaj straightened his body and glared at him before smirking. Without any warning he pulled his arm back and punched him hard between his legs, sending the red head to his knees.
"You fuckin' bitch," Reno groaned.
Sephiroth entered the room and narrowed his eyes when he saw Reno on his knees. "What happened to him?"
"This little Sephiroth wannabe just fucking punched me in the balls!" Reno gasped as he pushed himself into a standing position and glared at Kadaj.
Sephiroth rolled his eyes and moved to sit behind his desk. He smirked and gestured to the chairs facing him. "Have a seat Turk."
Reno gingerly slid into one of the chairs across from the desk, wincing slightly, and glared at Sephiroth. "Okay, what's going on, yo?"
"Tifa agreed to stay if she had a body guard of her choosing and that man was you," Sephiroth answered. "I know you Turk and I know your ways, so let's get one thing straight. You guard Tifa and that is it. If you are caught nosing around in the computers, you will be killed. If you interfere with our daily routine, you will be killed. If you try to sneak Tifa out of here, you will be killed…and so will she."
"So, is there anything I can do that won't result in me gettin' killed?" Reno asked dryly.
Sephiroth smirked. "Guard Tifa with your life and that's it. If I have even an inkling that you are up to something, I may even just hand you over to Hojo."
Reno shifted slightly. "Point taken, yo."
"I thought as much," Sephiroth said before looking up at Yazoo. "Take him to the living quarters on the ninety-fifth floor."
Yazoo nodded. "Come on."
Reno pushed himself to his feet and followed the remnant, turning only when he reached the door. "Sephiroth, I don't know what you've got planned for Tifa, but let me tell you something. I have been a Turk since you and I have known each other and you know I take my job seriously. If Tifa says the word, I'll gladly die to save her from whatever torment you have planned for her."
"I don't doubt it," Sephiroth said as he watched the two men leave. He narrowed his eyes and glared at Kadaj. "Sit down. You and I apparently have to have another talk about your place, little one."
Kadaj narrowed his eyes in a glare that matched his older brother's. "He's nothing! What does it matter if I have a little fun at his expense?"
"I have an important job for you and if I can't trust you within these walls, I can hardly trust you in the city," Sephiroth said lazily. "I need you and Yazoo to search this city and find AVALANCHE. I know they're here somewhere and I don't care if you have to rip this place apart, you will find them."
"What about Loz?" Kadaj asked.
"I need him here to keep an eye on Tifa and the Turk," Sephiroth said and raised his hand as Kadaj made to object. "Loz is the strongest of the three of you, and he has had previous dealings with Tifa. She seems to respect him and he respects her. If I am to get anywhere with her, I first have to get her to lower her defenses. Yazoo is too quiet and you are too unpredictable…plus she knows you don't like her."
Kadaj sulked slightly. "I would like her just fine if I knew she wasn't a weakness to you that could be exploited."
Sephiroth smirked. "Oh, she's not a weakness. I will kill her if I think I need to. But that won't be necessary. Cloud won't last two weeks. Tifa is here and so is Reno. AVALANCHE won't have them to lead them and they will begin to fall apart. They will make mistakes and we will find them. Then they will die…one…by…one."