Title: The Delivery Service

Rated: M (Violence, language, possible sexual situations)

Pairing: Definite Cloud x Tifa. Just might take some time.

Summary: "What are you, exactly?"

Cloud Strife looked down at the man, his crew standing behind him. He extended a hand, helping the wounded one up.

"We're a delivery service."

A/N: Well… shit.

Chapter Eighteen: Business as usual

Brnggg! Brnnng! Brnnng!

Tifa threw the papers down in anger. The phone had not stopped ringing since that morning, and she was beginning to lose her sanity. If it wasn't a newspaper asking for an interview, it was a business asking if Strife Delivery Service was still in business. She decided that, for now, she was going to ignore the phone and get a drink.

She pushed through the house and down to the bar. Tifa looked around the empty place and bit back tears. Since Cloud's arrest, she had to make some changes. The bar, which had been suffering for a long time, had finally met its doom. Tifa slammed a big 'CLOSED' sign on the front door a week ago, grabbed a bottle of firewater and went into her room. The next morning, she had a horrendous headache and another business she had to take care of.

The local deliveries were easy enough to take care of. Cloud had purchased an old truck a few months back and now Tifa was using it every day to satisfy the customers. Meanwhile, customers in Junon, Wutai and everywhere else were calling and trying to place orders… or asking where their orders were.

Tifa felt tears fill her eyes but she quickly blinked them away. There was no time to feel that, she had to find some help. She grabbed a bottle of beer and began her trek back to the office.

"Hello!" The front door had opened and in walked Reno, the red headed Turk with a swagger.

Tifa bit her tongue and ignored him. She had too much work to do; she did not have time to deal with whatever Shinra was planning.

"Teef? You home?" He called out.

Tifa placed the bottle down on Cloud's desk, not to gently. "I locked that door." She called out.

Reno laughed and appeared in the doorway to the office. "Locks can't simply hold me back. How you are doing, kid?"

Tifa scoffed. "Tell your boss I'm fine."

Reno looked hurt, genuinely hurt. "Jeez. Take a girl out a couple times, develop a friendship- the second shit hits the fan she turns on you."

Tifa went silent. She bit her tongue and kept her eyes trained on the desk in front of her.

Reno leaned against the desk, taking in the brunette's profile. "Seriously. Are you okay?"

Tifa nodded. She made eye contact with Reno and kept nodding her head. He followed suit and nodded his head as well, slowly turning it into the negative shake and Tifa followed suit. She let out a strangled laugh, hearing tears behind it, and covered her mouth with the back of her hand. Tifa cleared her throat and went back to the papers on the desk.

"Okay. Okay." Reno pulled her away from the desk and enveloped her in a hug. "Now I see why boss man sent me over."

Tifa was surprised at his tenderness but accepted it all the same. She was not mad at Reno. She wasn't mad at Shinra; the past was in the past. It was something she preached to Cloud for the last few years.

"Why did Shinra send you?"

Reno let her go and leaned back against the desk. "Heard a rumor that Strife's business was still operational. Wanted to know if you needed help."

Tifa gave a sigh of relief. "I do. I need to put out a flier for a delivery person."

"Say no more, I'm right here!" Reno said, holding his arms out.

Tifa just looked at him. "Don't you have a job? One that pays way more than what I could pay?"

"Absolutely. Where is my first assignment?"

"You cannot be serious." Tifa said and laughed at him.

"I'm dead serious! Listen, you need help. I'm able and willing to drive all around the planet for you. I'm willing to do it for free, I can handle a few monsters, and did I mention I am free?"

"But why would Shinra send one of his trusted peons to help me out?" Tifa asked.

Reno went serious. "Boss man said he has a lot to atone for. Wants to make amends. Finally saw an opportunity to make it up to you and Strife."

Tifa gently shook her head at Reno. "Rufus Shinra doesn't owe us anything."

"I can't argue with the bossman."

Tifa gave him an evil smile. "I thought I was your bossman now."

"Right. Where am I going now, boss?" Reno asked, getting off the desk and turning around to look at the papers.

"Uh…" Tifa looked around quickly and picked an assignment. "How about this? Deliver these straws to Costa de Sol."

"Straws? Really?" Reno asked.

"Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't know that you didn't like going to tropical paradises, where they just opened a nude beach…"

The paper was pulled quickly out of her hand and the red head rushed out the door.


Reeve had had a headache for the past week. He was busy interviewing lawyers for Cloud's case; most of them had decided not to touch Cloud Strife with a ten-foot pole. His case seemed airtight- there were witnesses, Cloud was seen destroying a locked door to get into the business. A sword was the murder weapon. Cloud seemed to have no possible way to win his freedom.

The young man had willingly given up all his weapons, his motorcycle, and given detailed accounts of what had happened. He even admitted the reason that he was there; that he believed Renaldo was connected to the recent rise of X-Mack use.

Reeve sighed and rubbed his head, trying to get rid of the ache in there. If only he hadn't been the one to suggest that Cloud take on extra jobs… if he hadn't been the one to ask him to start looking out for the city of Edge, he would not be in this position. Cloud could be home, with Tifa. He probably would be fine with his successful delivery business.

Without shame, Reeve let the tears fall from his eyes. The guilt of hurting his friend was almost too much to bear. Yet he had to continue. He had to help his friend now, the best way he can.

Even Rufus Shinra was being active in clearing Cloud's name. The man had his Turks investigating the case; he even told Reeve to not worry about money. Anything to help Strife.

Anything to help Strife.

Not for the first time, Reeve was curious as to why Shinra cared so much. It was possible that Cloud had taken on a few jobs for Shinra here and there; but the young man tended to avoid Shinra, if he can.

Reeve collected himself, cleaned his face, and took a deep breath. He had one more interview, and it was with the best lawyer in the city of Edge. This time, he was prepared to overpay them.

Brnng! Brnng!

"Tuesti." Reeve answered the phone, then smiled. "Excellent. I will bring her there within the hour."

Reeve hung up the phone and quickly left his office. He did not even bother calling for his driver, grabbing his own car keys and hurrying out the door.


Barret had not bothered going to the office for the entire week. First, he had to make sure that Marlene was okay… the child had taken the fact that Cloud was arrested hard. Then, he had to start roaming the streets, looking for any clue that might help Cloud in his case. He paid an ungodly amount of gil to many dead ends and rattled quite a few brains in searching for the truth. Unfortunately, there was not much to tell. Cloud was the last one seen with that man. The man was killed with a sword.

It seemed like Cloud was caught. Barret had seen the man kill plenty of times, but before, it was always in self-defense. They were fighting a war. Casualties were expected… and Barret felt his heart twinge, remembering the past. They were supposed to be better now.

They all were supposed to be better now.


Vincent had remained in Edge, though no one knew of it. At first, he was here because Shinra was starting to become active in the community again, providing work and promises of a better future. When it came to Shinra, Vincent was always cautious. Though in the past he would not care, the future was… a little different. Despite his best efforts, a few select people had burrowed themselves into his heart. Now he vowed to protect them all, even if he was doing it without their knowledge.

But Cloud… there was something special about Cloud to him. It was like the man was a younger version of himself; serious, mature, willing to jump into situations with both feet. But there was a light in Cloud that Vincent had never had; a light that Vincent did not want to see extinguished… especially now, when Cloud had just started to be the man he was always meant to be.

Now he was quietly pacing around Reeves' office. He had snuck in and was now waiting for the leader of the WRO to arrive. Vincent had no idea where he was; there was no indication that he was in a meeting, or that he had left for good for the day.

So, he decided to wait. There was a lot to discuss. Starting with what he had found in the secret safe, ensconced in the wall.