Chapter Twenty-Nine

Tailed

December 11th, [ μ ] – εγλ 2000

The train station was empty, not unusual for such a cold Midgar morning. The few people to brave the cold December weather huddled in their coats, keeping close to the shelter as they waited for the train to come. The snowfall during the night was just starting to be cleared away, squat trucks with flashing amber lights roaming the streets as they worked.

In the off-white world devoid of human life, it wasn't surprising that he spotted Reno immediately. His shockingly red hair stood out like a cherry on a navy blue sundae. Cloud moved around the shelter, wishing that he had been smart enough to bring a hat. The Turks had been increasing their surveillance — probably on the President's orders — and it was foolish to think he could keep slipping them so easily.

"Hey Cloud! Wait up!"

It looked like Reno was planning to be about as subtle as Cloud's hair. He gave up on trying to hide himself behind the shelter and walked out in the open to greet the jogging Turk, who had barely enough time to slow down to avoid barreling into him. Reno looked uncertain for a moment, like he had no idea what to say now that he had caught up.

"Hey, uh… where are you going?"

"Just… meeting someone down in the slums."

"Well, I'm tailin' you today," Reno said without a hint of irony. He shoved his hands into his pockets and gave Cloud his usual shit-eating grin. "C'mon, let's get going."

Cloud looked back over the station, to where the fetid, soot washed snow was slowly melting on the tracks. "Sure," Cloud said, gesturing to where the train wasn't. "I'll race ya through the tunnel."

Cloud shot Reno a wry grin, and though Reno huffed, he returned it.

"Yeah, yeah. Wait for the train. Got it."

"You're my assistant still, right? You could always carry me."

"Real funny…"

"I thought so."

They heard the train before they saw it, of course, the mako powered engine hissing steam and the screeching steel cacophony of locked brakes reaching them well before the black metal monstrosity turned the final corner into the station. It thundered to a stop before the waiting passengers, who filed into the carriages as mechanically as the locomotive that would take them to their destination. Reno lead Cloud down to the last carriage where on a few people had decided to sit. A stern glare from Reno and a glance at his blue suit were all that was needed for them to decide that a seat up front was a brilliant idea for this journey.

"Much better," Reno said with a smirk. He kicked back in his seat, resting his feet on the seat in front. Cloud slouched into the seat next to him, feeling that mixture of ease and tension that always came from being near Reno. Future Reno, anyway, though the feeling was bleeding back into this one.

"Well, I kinda have a confession to make," Reno said.

For once, the puckish Turk looked thoughtful, almost pensive. He twirled the handle of his baton in his hand and looked everywhere but at Cloud.

"When we first met, I got asked to look into ya."

Cloud snorted, "I know what Turks do."

"Yeah," Reno said with a brief, but hollow chuckle. "You would."

Cloud raised an eyebrow. What was that supposed to mean?

"I found your locker. The one in the slums."

Cloud's heart skipped a beat. His mind immediately set about cataloguing what he had stored there and what trouble it could cause him. His clothes… a bit unusual but nothing incriminating. His…

"I saw your phone, and… well, ok, it sounds stupid saying it, but… you're from the future, right?"

Of course. He knew his phone would give it away, that was precisely why he hadn't taken it to Shinra with him. Not just the technology of the phone, which wouldn't be developed for another five or six years, but the pictures and videos he'd taken with him just in case… well, just in case he had to prove he was really from the future. Way to be careful, Cloud.

"Yeah," Cloud admitted, "I am."

"And we…?"

"Yeah."

"Damn."

Reno's gaze stayed fixed on the floor as he slowly shook his head. The train was slowing down for another station, the cabin filling with the sound of tearing metal.

When it was over, Reno asked, "Can you tell me what happened? I mean, I saw a lot of shit, but… I don't know why, y'know?"

Cloud ended up telling him everything on the ride down, starting from him waking up on that bloodstained cliff overlooking Midgar. Their chase of Sephiroth all over the world, the death of the President, the rise of the Weapons and the fall of Midgar. He even made sure to include some extra stories about the Turks, particularly the change of heart they had over that year, as Meteor approached, and their work with Rufus to repair the damage Shinra had caused.

"So, what's your plan?" Reno finally asked.

"My plan?"

"Yeah. You know all this shit's gonna go down, so you're gonna stop it, right? Take out Shinra or something?"

"I don't really have a plan for that," Cloud answered, only half-truthfully. "I'd like to stop my friends from dying… keep Denzel safe. That's about as far as I got."

"Well, I'm in, right?" Reno said, finally looking Cloud in the eye. He folded his arms and took a deep breath. "I'll try to get the other Turks in, too."

"I don't want people knowing I'm from the future," Cloud said.

"Why not?"

"It's awkward. Having to explain the history… future, whatever, of the world. Having to prove it happened. Besides, if some people find out…"

"You mean Sephiroth?"

"Any of the SOLDIERs, really."

"Well, I'll try, ok? You can count on me."

"Thanks, Reno," Cloud said, well aware that Reno was the sort of person he definitely could not count on. Especially if involved the line 'pay you back in a few days'.

The train entered their station with its usual wail. The air was warmer in the slums, the plate above 'protecting' it from the outside climate — and fresh air. If human misery had a smell, you could experience it in the slums of Midgar.

"Look, I gotta go…" Reno said, with a slight nervous shuffle of his feet. Cloud snorted. So much for tailing him. "We've gotta track down an escaped prisoner."

Cloud raised an eyebrow.

"It's uh… OK, I guess I shoulda told you," Reno said. He refused to meet Cloud's eyes. "Cissnei was looking into your hometown, and someone followed her back. We were questioning her, but… she escaped. Disappeared, really… right out of her cell."

"Reno. Who?"

"Uh… your friend. Tifa. Tifa Lockheart. Uh… hey, Cloud… you alright?"

Cloud clutched his head. Of course, how could he ever escape ruining Tifa's life, no matter what world he was in? "When did it happen?"

"Coupla days ago," Reno said. He dithered at the edge of the station platform, looking back to Cloud. "Sorry man… I, uh… sorry."

Cloud sank to the steps, burying his head in his hands.