Chapter 7

Chaos was already perched at the skylight when Kadaj arrived, even though he himself was early. It made him wonder just how much time the winged being spent at Seventh Heaven. The monster silently acknowledged him as Kadaj took a position next to him. Below them, Cloud was speaking to the habitually still Vincent, who stood with his arms crossed at the back of the bar.

Kadaj sighed. He had come directly to the bar from Johnny's Heaven – an encounter that had not gone as well as he had hoped. In appreciation for Chaos' aid in regaining Souba, he had decided to apply for a job at the redhead's bar. Right now, the redhead was the closest person he had to a friend other than Chaos, and that wasn't saying much. It had started off well enough:

"Hey, Cranberry Man!" the redhead greeted him enthusiastically as he entered the bar, causing the few patrons occupying the place to turn and look.

"Perhaps you could call me something else?" Kadaj let his distaste for the nickname show on his face.

"Like what?"

Johnny's question caught him off-guard. He supposed now that his return was out to the Turks and AVALANCHE both, there wasn't any huge reason to keep his name a secret from the friendly barkeeper. "Kadaj."

"Good enough. What can I get for you? More cranberry juice?" His smile was rather infectious and Kadaj found himself smiling tentatively back.

"Sure. But… I'm also here to inquire about a… job." He brought his voice down almost to a whisper. Why did he feel so awkward asking that? It wasn't like having a job was a shameful thing, and it wasn't like he was asking for charity, but he definitely felt embarrassed. To cover his emotions, he sipped the drink the bar-keeper deposited before him.

"Well, we aren't all that busy. But what can you do? Are you any good at mixing drinks?" The bartender swung his eyes towards the rows upon rows of bottles behind the bar.

"I could… learn?" That response earned him a dubious look from the bartender. This was humiliating. He didn't owe Chaos this. He wasn't sure he owed the monster anything, but certainly not this. He turned to go.

"Wait… you could sweep and mop the floors. Anyone can do that. I can't pay much, but it would be something."

Two hours later – and a fair amount sweatier – Kadaj had more than earned his first honest paycheck. He was pretty sure that kidnapping was preferable. Janitorial positions were officially off his list of prospective careers, and he wasn't going to continue working at the bar. There had to be something else.

An outburst from Cloud brought Kadaj back to the moment at hand.

"Vincent, how is he not dead? I watched him enter the Lifestream. Will this nightmare never end?" The blond swordsman's voice would have been audible on the roof even without enhanced hearing. He was not receiving Vincent's information well.

Kadaj recoiled from the lash of those words. Rejection. He had been right about Cloud. How naively foolish of him to have hoped Cloud might help find his brothers. He was just like everyone else. Kadaj's fist clenched around Souba's hilt. Baring the blades, he jumped lightly down from the roof. He reached for the door, but a rubbery wing blocked his way. He hadn't even noticed Chaos following him off the roof.

"Give it a moment."

"Get out of my way, Chaos," Kadaj growled.

With a shrug, the monster obliged and Kadaj swept into the bar. He crossed the room, headed straight for his blond nemesis. Cloud blocked Souba's strike with his own swiftly drawn sword.

"Outside. Take this outside!" Tifa had come from behind the bar and was gesturing for them both to get out.

Kadaj made a mock bow in her direction. "Join me outside, brother?" Kadaj backed to the door and Cloud followed his lead. Vaguely, he noted that Vincent, Chaos, and Tifa crowded the doorway after them to watch. None of them offered to interfere, though, and he kept his attention riveted on his rival.

Once outside, Cloud immediately launched a slashing attack. Kadaj deftly matched him. He was aware that both of them were agile and skilled swordsmen. Excitement coursed through his veins at crossing swords with Cloud once again. Kadaj may not have inherited all of Sephiroth's memories, but he had retained nearly all of the muscle memory of his predecessor. His so-called brother had beaten him before, but here was his second chance.

Their fight ranged up and down the narrow, dirty street in front of Seventh Heaven. Seeking an advantage, Kadaj leapt up onto an archway above the street and Cloud followed with every bit as much ease. A life-sized statue of an angel separated them, looking down impassively on their struggle for supremacy. Kadaj leaned against it with his right arm to counterbalance his weight as he struck at Cloud with Souba in his other – his dominant – hand.

He wasn't simply fighting Cloud – no, not anymore – he was fighting every bad thing that had happened: every betrayal, every abandonment, every disappointment.

"You think you are so much better than me! But you're just a puppet too!" Kadaj leapt back down to street level, followed closely by Cloud, who pressed relentlessly for an opening.

"I. Am. Not. A. Puppet!" Cloud's words were punctuated with decisive lunges at Kadaj. The metal of his sword rang as it struck Souba again and again.

The final attack flipped Souba out of Kadaj's hands and sent it sailing out of reach. Cloud quickly pressed his advantage, cornering Kadaj against a building.

"You were and you hate me because I remind you of that fact!" Kadaj spat the words at Cloud with all the venom he had. He might be cornered and he might not survive this fight, but he would say his piece, regardless of the consequences.

"Cloud?" Tifa questioned from the sidelines.

His sword still holding Kadaj at bay, Cloud took a deep shuddering breath. When he raised his head, he met Kadaj's eyes squarely. "It's not..." He trailed off and then started again, "I… just want to have a normal life. Every time I think things are starting to work out, Sephiroth is there to turn it upside down again. I finally have a chance to make things right… to have a family… and here you are to make sure it can't happen." Cloud was trembling, and the sharp edge of his blade pressed more firmly against Kadaj's chest.

"And what is it you think I want? Can't you believe that I want to be normal too? That I want family? All you see me as is a parasite. A larval Sephiroth. A bug under your almighty shoe. But you don't know me!"

Dropping his head slightly, Cloud removed the edge of his blade from across the front of Kadaj's chest and took a step back. Kadaj thought he detected a hint of the compassion he had sensed in Cloud before. "Perhaps… you're right. I don't know you. All I know is the pain and suffering Sephiroth has caused. Always." The swordsman halted, seeming to consider his next words carefully. Raising his head again, Cloud met his eyes with a quiet resolve. "So… you've got a chance to show you're different, but you only get one shot at it, so don't mess it up. If we cross swords again, I will kill you." With a decisive nod of his head, Cloud took another step back, placing more distance between them and effectively releasing Kadaj from against the wall.

Tifa stepped forward from her place by the door. "Why don't we go back in now, huh?"

Kadaj collected Souba from where it had fallen, but hesitated to follow the AVALANCHE members inside. Chaos stood to the side, apparently waiting to follow his lead. Finally, Kadaj ducked back into the bar, rolling his shoulders inconspicuously to relieve the tightness. He declined the seat Tifa offered – standing, he would be in a better position to defend himself in the tense and crowded atmosphere of the bar. He kept Souba in readiness as a further safeguard should events escalate.

"So… Kadaj, what are you going to do with yourself now?" The dark-haired martial artist smiled gently as she asked. He supposed it was sweet of her to try to diffuse the tension and break the ice with small talk, but his mouth was dry and he wasn't sure he could make small talk as if he and Cloud had not just been battling in deadly earnest in the street. He cleared his throat, hoping his voice would cooperate.

"I'm, ahem, going to find my brothers. And, I guess, a job." Kadaj glared at the AVALANCHE members, daring them to challenge his assertions. Daring them to laugh at his ambitions. But they did neither and a short silence hung in the air.

A meaning-filled look passed between Tifa and Cloud. It was awkward being around people who had such a close bond. Kadaj didn't have anyone anymore with whom he could communicate simply by a look. The horrid feeling of being alone rose up again, threatening to choke him.

"Uh… Kadaj… um, Strife Delivery could use another currier. You could come to work… for me."

Cloud's offer took him by surprise. Was this an olive branch? Kadaj looked up at his blond brother-of-sorts. No, there was an ulterior motive here.

"You just want to be able to keep an eye on me, isn't that right?" It made sense. So why did it hurt so much?

"I… won't deny that… supervision may play a part in wanting you close, but I… really do want to help you."

"I don't need your charity and I certainly don't need you for a babysitter." Kadaj moved towards the door. He had had enough of this. Enough of Cloud and his superiority.

His progress was immediately blocked by Tifa. "Kadaj. This is my bar and you are welcome here. I hope you and Cloud can work things out, but, either way, please, think of this as a refuge for hurt souls." She pulled down a yellow flyer from the bulletin board and handed it to him. "If you won't take Cloud's offer, take this." Tifa paused, but did not release him from her gaze, "But know this… if you ever harm anyone I love again…" She let the warning hang in the air before smiling again and stepping out of his way. Kadaj and his brothers had once faced a mother Mugbear with her cubs up near the Northern Crater and just then Tifa reminded him chillingly of that encounter. He blinked wordlessly before he continued towards the door without looking at the flyer she had given him.

At the door, his progress was halted yet again – Vincent Valentine this time. "Kadaj, this may prove useful to you." The ex-Turk proffered a cell phone in his outstretched hand. Kadaj met his eyes – unusual eyes that somehow reminded him of Chaos, even though they were of a completely different hue. No smile, but no malice there either. "I've taken the liberty of programming in some numbers."

Kadaj felt his anger bank marginally as he took the small device and weighed it in his hand. Valentine had gotten him – him, not Chaos, strangely enough – a phone, without even knowing how this encounter would play out. He was oddly moved by the gesture and ducked his head in brief thanks before exiting the bar. He sensed Chaos following in his wake, but had nothing to say to him.


Thank you so much to the wonderful people who took time to leave reviews for Chapter 6: Luna and The Moss Stomper.

I hope you enjoyed Chapter 7.

Kadaj can be a little... prickly, can't he? Leave a review if you would like to let us know what you thought of his meeting with Cloud and Tifa. Honestly, it's a complicated relationship for both Kadaj and Cloud, but we'll have a chance to look at that a little more in depth later on.

Also, there is a small piece of irony in this chapter that I am curious if you readers noticed, so leave a comment or pm me if you think you know what it was.

As always, thanks for reading. Have a great two weeks, and we will see you back here for Chapter 8.

Vendetta

7/31/15