Tears soak my sleeves, my throat sore as my breaths catch and my lungs cry for air. It's dark, cold, and tight. The only light comes from the slats in the wood. I remember when Mike locked me in here all those years ago. I was, what, four? I was so scared, hearing those voices for the first time. I couldn't breathe, I couldn't see, and I couldn't break the doors open until my mother came home and scolded my brother. It was just the two of us then. I remember how big her belly was as she lugged the twins around. I remember that Dad used to stay sober back then.

Now, this closet is my only source of comfort. Here, I can listen to the voices in peace. I don't have to tell Tseng who my mother hit today or that I failed another test in school. My father can't tell me to shut up because his head hurts and the boys can't tattle to me as they push each other around. Here, I'm safe.

You need to leave soon.

I know.

I can help.

Let me figure this one out by myself.

I'll be here if you need me.

Thank you.

Sniffling, I wipe my running nose on the cuffs of my sweater's sleeves and lean back against the closet wall. I know Tseng will come looking eventually, but for now, I want to be alone. I can't be trusted anymore, and I understand, I guess. I don't know what he did or who his friends are, but no one ever came knocking to talk about Jake and Katie. Weird.

I jump when the door swings open, burying my face in my hands when the blinding hallway lights blare into my eyes. Mike grunts, grabbing my elbow and dragging me to my feet.

"Get up, toothpick." Turning his head back to the stairs, he shouts. "Found 'er, Uncle Tseng! She was hiding in the closet again." He lets go and I stumble, catching my balance on the railing.

"Mike, why can't you just leave me alone?" I sniff, letting my hair cover my face.

"Why're you crying?" he counters, slamming the door shut. "Talkin' to your voices again?"

"Why's it matter?"

"Why's it—" He scoffs, forcing me around by grabbing my shoulders and twisting sharply. "Kat, you've killed people!"

"It's not me—"

"Bullshit!" He laughs, bitter as he crosses his arms and walks away. Soon, I realize it's because Tseng's coming up the stairs. "What's next, us?!"

"I would never—"

"That's enough, Michael," Tseng interrupts. My brother, ever-adoring, nods obediently and heads downstairs to keep our younger brothers entertained. Sighing, Tseng turns back to me. "Are you alright?"

"I'd be better if you'd let me be."

"You know I can't do that."

"Tseng, I'm not the one—"

"It's your body, Anna. Take control."

"That's not how it works." I hug my arms to my body, kicking at the wood floor with my bare feet. Part of me prays I'll get a splinter. "Professor Hojo says it's in my cells."

"And you are those cells, Anna, so it is you." He shakes his head. "I understand, I promise. But that doesn't mean you can do whatever you want. There are consequences."

"For Dad?"

"Sometimes children pay the price for their parents." Tseng turns his eyes to the peeling paint on the walls. "But… I'm trying, Anna. I won't let you suffer."

"… Thank you."

I'll save him.

I close my eyes, and when they open again, it's bright. I shudder, heart pounding as I'm overwhelmed by the scent of smoke. The fire's dark and light at the same time, a violent, powerful force of nature that threatens to take me. I try to draw my arms closer to my body, but the object I hold stops them cold and my sticky, bloody hands raise the shotgun up to my chest. I can't breathe, my eyes are stinging, and my body is trembling.

What the...?

I step out of the elevator, freshly showered and ready for a new day. Well, sort of. My eyes are heavy and not even coffee could help the dream I had last night made it very hard to get back to sleep. I'm not even sure what's a dream and what's a memory anymore. I need to talk to Marx. No, I need to talk to Hojo. I need someone to explain what's wrong with me, and since Tseng's long gone, I have to focus on someone else. Sighing, I rub my face. It's just too much.

"Morning, Rudie," I greet, yawning as I step out of the elevator. He nods in my direction. "Where's Re?"

"Sick."

"Is he sick or is he just tired?" I ask, raising an eyebrow. "Rufus won't be happy."

"I won't be happy about what?"

I jump, nearly hitting myself in the face, and turn to see Rufus standing beside me. Swallowing my fear, I tuck my hair behind my ear and look him dead in his cold, empty eyes.

"Reno's out today."

"He's coming in or his pay is cut in half for the month." He looks me over sharply before carrying on his way down the hall.

"Want me to get him?" I ask. Rude shrugs and I roll my eyes. "Look, I know you're mad at me, but do you at least know what's wrong with him?"

"No."

"Dick," I huff, turning right back around and heading into the elevator I left mere moments ago.

Luckily, Reno's apartment is unlocked. I throw the door open, my heart fluttering when I remember what happened the last time I was here. Shaking the thought away, I head to his bedroom, pushing the cracked door open to see him curled up on his side, blankets hugged to his bare stomach and eyes glued to his phone screen.

"Reno, you gotta get up."

"Hn." He pulls the covers over his head. I roll my eyes and cross my arms.

"Seriously, Rufus said he's cutting your pay for a month if you don't come in today." A hand emerges from the covers with a single finger raised before getting sucked back under the covers. "Re, I don't wanna do this to you."

I receive only a grunt in response. Left with little choice, I rip the blankets off and toss them on the floor. He shivers, dropping his phone on the floor and pressing his face into his pillow.

"Reno, c'mon."

"Don't wanna."

"Re, I'm gonna beat your ass—"

"Shit," he hisses, reaching out and grabbing the trashcan beside his bed mere moments before he hurls. I crinkle my nose and sit on the bed, resting a hand on his back. It's sticky with sweat from his fever.

"Gods, you're burning up."

"Was waitin' for the day you'd call me hot," he grumbles before lurching again.

Sighing, I keep his skinny little ponytail—not rattail—out of his way until he's down. He turns onto his back, knees raised an arm flopped across his forehead. After catching his breath for a moment, he turns his eyes to me and forces a smile.

"Must've gotten somethin' that's been floatin' around."

"Must've." I know I have to get him dressed and out of here, but it's hard not to feel bad when he's shivering like he's naked in Icicle Inn's ski slopes. I reach forward and brush a few pieces of hair off his sweaty face. He takes my hand, raising an eyebrow smugly.

"You my mom now?"

"Gods, I hope not."

"That'd be weird, huh?"

"Yes, Re, it would be."

Humming, he closes his eyes and I prey my hand away, standing to find anything resembling clean laundry. After a moment, he forces himself to his feet and wanders across the hall to his bathroom. I toss his clothes on the bed and look up when I hear him resting against the doorway. He's scrubbing at his teeth, eyes half-open.

"Wear these, butthole."

"You come up with such charming nicknames, ya know?" He leaves to spit out his toothpaste and returns a few moments later, already out of breath.

"Are you okay?"

"No. That's why I was in bed, Princess." Reno tugs on his pants with an alarmingly empty expression, staring at the messy bed. "Good to know you care so much 'bout my finances."

"I didn't want you to get in trouble."

"Wouldn't be getting in trouble. Rufus wasn't gonna do shit."

"Sorry," I huff, crossing my arms. He shakes his head, glancing over at me.

"Nah, it's okay."

"You really do look like shit."

"Thanks. Feel like it too." As he shrugs his shirt on, he jerks his head toward me. "How's that thing with Reeve going?" Oh, you know, I endorsed him betraying Shinra and even offered my help. No biggie.

"He's not as bad as I thought he would be," I admit with a shrug. Reno's lips curl into a smile.

"Yeah? Big cock, or...?"

"Gross." I roll my eyes and catch a glimpse of my reflection in the dirty mirror on the wall.

"Heard all of Avalanche was taken at the Crater."

"Where'd you hear that?" I frown. "Did they take Reeve?"

"He wasn't there, Sweetheart, or doncha remember? You saw him yesterday."

"I know." I nod, sighing.

"Why would they take him?"

"He's sorta double-siding it."

"He ain't workin' for Shinra?"

"He is, he's just helping Avalanche out more."

"Hm." Reno snatches his rod off the side table and starts toward the door with a shudder. "Ready for a fan-fuckin'-tastic day at work?"

"If you don't puke everywhere."

"Aw, that makes up most of the fun, babe."

"Stop calling me that," I scoff, closing the door behind me and following him toward the elevator. It's slow going, and he's sweating and shivering the whole way, but we make it eventually.

"It's better than butthole."

"Anus."

"There it is," he mutters, laughing to himself.

The elevator stops halfway, and lo and behold, Reeve enters, eyes lighting up when he sees I'm there.

"Oh, thank the gods, Kat, I was looking for you."

"Why?" I frown. Reno hardly glances up, slouching against the glass wall.

"I've made my mind up about—"

"Great. Can it wait?"

"But you told me to—"

"Yeah, but not now." I huff, jerking my eyes toward Reno. "No one cares about the amount of cement you ordered, Tuesti." Reeve frowns, but he shuts up. "I'll see you in a few."

"Yeah…"

I grab Reno's arm and pull him toward the glass that divides us from the rest of Shinra. He huffs, staggering after me and looking absolutely miserable.

"C'mon, Re."

"Don't wanna," he mumbles, tugging at his earring with a scowl.

"Get into your office so you can sit down."

"And where are you goin'? Gettin' on your knees for Reeve?"

"Gross, Reno."

I push him in the direction of the offices and head to the stairwell, figuring it'll be a faster route to Reeve's office. I push into his office, wheezing, and cross my arms. He looks up sharply, having just sat down.

"Hey, Reeve," I greet, taking a deep breath. "Sorry about that. You really shouldn't talk about turning against Shinra in the Shinra executive elevators."

"You're right. I apologize, I just got excited."

"So…?"

"This situation is perfect for me to make good on my decision to help Avalanche." Reeve stands, tugging at his beard. "They were taken to Junon last night aboard the Highwind. The Crater was chock full of the Planet's Weapons. Unfortunately, we don't know where Cloud is and Tifa took a hard hit to the head. It's hard to know when she'll wake up."

"What do you need me for?"

"I need you to get them out of there."

"What?" I shake my head. "Reeve, I said I'd help you, not get my ass executed!"

"I know, it's crazy, but—"

"Crazy? This is fucking insane!"

"Kat, please—"

"If I make one wrong move, we're both as good as dead."

"Listen to me. Rufus plans to make a show out of their executions in one week to calm at least that bout of fears. Shinra will look like the hero and the people will trust Rufus again. He plans on using a gas chamber Scarlet made on Tifa and Barret. The others are scattered."

"What's the plan, Reeve?"

"Cait will be disguised as a reporter in the room with the gas chamber. Unfortunately, that leaves everyone else to you. Red XIII was taken to Hojo's lab in Junon. That should be the easiest one if you can get access. The Highwind is holding three more people."

"And they are…?"

"Vincent Valentine, Yuffie Kisaragi, and Cid Highwind."

"Okay."

"The crew onboard are still loyal to their original Captain, for controlling the ship shouldn't be too difficult if you can remove the Shinra loyals."

"How'd you figure all this out?" I shrug. "I mean, it looks like you've thought this out pretty well."

"Something will go wrong," he assures me, pacing.

"Yeah, and? Something's always going wrong, Reeve. If you set low expectations, you won't be disappointed."

"I'm not sure that's how I want to live."

"You do you. What do we do until then?"

"Until then, we're good, law-abiding Shinra employees."

"Gotcha."

"Just remember we're pulling this off next week."

"Right."

Leaving Reeve behind, I head back to the Turks' little separate world, getting a third cup of coffee and knocking on Rude's door. It's time we work this out. I hear him say something and peek my head in, eyebrows raised.

"Okay if I come in?"

"That's what I said."

"Okay, Sassy." I step inside and shut the door behind me, offering a small smile. He touches his shades and waits for me to speak. "Do you even have any more work to do at this point?"

"Not really." Never one to beat around the bush, Rude stands, tugging at his gloves. "What did you need?"

"Just wanted to talk since neither of us is busy."

"About what?"

"Rude." I sigh, setting my coffee on the edge of his desk. Taking a deep breath, I muster up my strength and look him in the eye. At least, as well as I can with those damn sunglasses on his face. "About me and Reno—" I cut myself off. The words feel strange coming out. "Reno and I? Reno and me? Me and… Whatever."

"Kat—"

"Listen, I know you don't like change, but I—"

"This isn't about change."

"Then what is it about?" Rude shakes his head, glancing at the ground. I huff, pushing away the hand that he raises to block me and plucking his shades off his face. "Look at me, Rude. What is it about?"

"Reno."

"What, you think he can't handle it?"

"No." He pauses, brown eyes reaching over my head to look across the room. "Yes."

"Which is it?"

"I don't think he can."

"Why?"

"Because of what happened." Rude sighs, reaching for the glasses. I step back, shaking my head. "Kat, you killed his only family."

"Yeah, well, he's not the only one."

"What?" He frowns, suddenly going still.

"I… keep having these dreams. I'm in my house, I hear the voices, something happens, and then suddenly everything's on fire and I'm holding my dad's shotgun." I chew on the inside of my cheek, staring at my shoes. "Every night."

"Kat…" Rude runs a hand over his bald head. "That's all you see?"

"Well, yeah. Something different happens between the lines, but they always begin and end the same way."

"Hm." He lifts my coffee cup and holds it out to me. I shake my head.

"No. Not until we get back to Reno."

"Reno… You have to know this was a long-term hope of his."

"Yeah, I figured that the way he's admitted half his past preferences over my appearance in the past few days."

Rude rubs at his beard, eyebrows pinched together. "Kat, he doesn't mean for this to be casual."

"Yeah, I got that." I cross my arms, frowning. "I'm not using him, Rude. He's my best friend. Hell, if it hadn't come to this, I might've considered him a brother."

"…"

"Not, like, in an incesty way. That's why I said if—"

"Got it." Rude plucks the glasses from my fingers and hands me the cup in return. "Just be careful."

"I know." I take a sip, my shoulder slumping. "Rude, what if it doesn't work? Like it's weird or we decide that we should just be friends?" Rude sits back down, frowning. "Would it break him?"

"Is that something you're considering?"

"I'm honestly not considering anything. I don't know what to think because I don't know what he wants."

"Why not ask?"

"Because it's Reno. You don't need me to say that." He nods, tugging at his gloves again before turning back to his computer. "So that's it? You don't know?"

"This is your problem."

"Right." I down the rest of my coffee and toss the cup into his bin. It lands with a soft crinkle of the plastic bag. "Hey… you're not mad anymore, are you?"

"I wasn't mad before."

"Rude."

"No." He glances over at me and I smile.

"Thanks, Rudie. Very good talk."

"Mhm."

Without another word, I abandon him to bother Reno, but not before I take a trip to a drink machine and get an obnoxiously blue sports drink. Re looks miserable when I open the door, hands crushing his head and eyes squeezed shut. He cracks them open to see who it is that's entered his office before closing them back up, spinning his chair.

"Isn't that going to make you sick?"

"If I puke again, maybe I'll get the nasty shit outta my system."

"I don't think that's how bugs work."

"Shh! I'm concentrating."

"Reno."

Reno does one last sharp spin before slamming his hands onto his desk to stop himself, staring hard at the door to steady his head. After blinking for a few moments, he looks up at me with a stupid grin.

"What can I help ya with, Kitty Kat?"

"Don't call me that," I huff, rolling my eyes and handing over the cold drink. "Brought you this."

"Thanks, Miss Kitty." Reno reaches toward the bottle and I pull it away, raising an eyebrow.

"None of that either."

"What do you want me to call you?" His whining is fraying my nerves already.

"Kat, Reno. That's my name."

"Damn, someone's feelin' snippy." When he reaches out, I hand the drink over. The lid cracks when he twists it open. I wander toward a boring photograph of Midgar that hangs on the dark wall while he chugs the sugary water. "Haven't had a smoke yet?"

"Haven't thought about it." But now that he has, my fingers are itching. I glance over at him and he laughs, capping the now half-empty bottle.

"Fuck, go ahead. We'll die here together."

"Fair enough." I don't waste any time lighting one up, tearing my eyes away from the picture. "Is that okay? I don't know what kind you like."

"They all taste the same to me," he shrugs, slouching in his seat and running a hand through his hair. "Thanks for it, by the way."

"No problem." I smile at his forced gratitude and sit on the edge of his desk. "You bored?"

"Would be if I didn't feel like shit."

"Yeah…" I take a long drag of smoke, staring up at the ceiling. "Rude's not mad at us anymore."

"No? What'd you say?"

"Nothing, really. Asked why he was upset, and he cooled off."

"Just wanted attention, I bet."

"Who, Rude?" I laugh, shaking my head. "Maybe."

"Guy's gotta get lonely bein' ignored all the time."

"He's the one who makes it that way," I point out, turning to look back at him. His eyes are shut, lashes casting shadows across the scarlet curves on his cheekbones. It really is chilling when he's calm, but not in a bad way. It pulls me right from the bubble of my own mind and brings my back into stark reality. Sometimes, it's refreshing.

"Yeah." He peeks one eye open. "Kinda like how you give off 'don't fuck with me' vibes."

"Reno, never say 'vibes' again." He laughs, grimacing.

"No?"

"No." I twist around and rest my elbows on the desk, letting my cigarette burn between my fingers. He leans forward and mimics my pose, so close that our noses almost touch. "Don't breathe your diseased air on me." In response, he blows into my face. "Re."

"Nope, can't call me that. If I can't call you Kitty, you can't call me Re."

"You're revoking my Re privileges?"

"I'm revoking your Re privileges."

"That's not fair. You have, like, other names to use."

"Life ain't fair."

"Damn, that's cold."

"Yeah. I'm learning."

"To what, be a dick? You're already good at that."

"Shut up."

He smiles, eyes brighter than they were before. Good. I smile back, annoyed when I feel my stomach flutter. It's just Reno. Why am I being like this? It's just Reno… Am I willing to risk illness? When he winks, I'm left with little choice but to erase that from my memory. Naturally, I do so by closing the gap. His laugh is quiet, bubbling up until he can't contain it anymore, pulling away to cackle in his chair, knees drawn to his chest and hands clutched to his chest.

"What?" I snap, embarrassed.

"The fuckin' look of disgust on your face!" he cries, laughing harder.

"Dude, chill. You're gonna make yourself throw up all those nutritious electrolytes."

"Yeah, yeah." He wheezes, scrubbing the tears out of his eyes and downing the rest of the drink. "You're doomed now, you know that?"

"Am I?" I stand, placing my hands on my hips. "I like to think I have a pretty good immune system."

"Don't matter. I think I'm fuckin' possessed."

"Reno, you're sick."

"Elixir gave me his demon." Groaning, he buries his face in his hands before peeking up at me between his fingers. "Mind doin' that again? Made me feel better." There go the butterflies again.

"No," I scoff, crossing my arms. "Don't wanna tempt fate."

"I thought you had a strong immune system."

"Well, yeah."

"So…?" He raises an eyebrow and I roll my eyes, putting the cigarette back between my lips.

"No, Reno."

"Fine, Kat. Thought you were trying to quit."

"It's been stressful." I let a puff of smoke pour past my lips and shake my head. "Thought you were trying to drink less."

"Touché." Reno leans back in his seat and laces his fingers behind his head, turning his eyes up to the ceiling. "Not less, just not here."

"So you replace here with more from home."

"Bingo." His grin fades fast and he frowns. "How've those memories been? You haven't said much about them."

"Well…" I sigh, sitting back down on his desk. "I still have no idea what Marx has to do with anything. I was just telling Rude I keep having the same dream of me inside my house. It's always on fire and I'm always holding a gun." Reno's eyebrows draw tighter together, and he looks anywhere but at me. "Re?"

"Not Reno, remember?"

"Reno. You okay?"

"Yeah. I just don't get it."

"What?"

"Why they had to take 'em. You said it was ten years ago, right?"

"Yeah… But I don't remember anything before those injections, either."

"Maybe you blocked 'em out on your own."

"Maybe…" I toy with my hair, irritated at my own inability to understand myself. "It's just so messy."

"What's with Marx, anyway?"

"As far as I know, I was being kept somewhere. A hospital or something. He worked there and somehow we wound up in a relationship." I shiver, my stomach churning. Gross. Reno scowls.

"Wait, he's old, though."

"Not old, but yeah…" I shiver again. "Reno, I was, like, fourteen."

"That's fucked up."

"Yeah…"

"You think he…?"

"Probably." I gnaw on my cheek. "It feels so fucking gross that he's still the one in charge of my past all this time later."

"Disgusting," he scoffs. His eyes meet mine and stay there. "So… I've never known you, or what?"

"You've never known me more fucked up than I am." Despite the topic, we laugh.

"Yeah, I guess. Always lookin' for an excuse to make everything harder."

"Are you? Then you've got the right girl," I tease. His smile grows smug and he cocks his head to the side.

"Don't have to convince me twice, Kitty Kat."

"Don't be weird, Re."

"Am I being weird?"

"Yeah."

"Hm. That's a vibe and a half."

"Reno."