CHAPTER 1: Bad news like a sucker punch blew me away
Nibelheim - Cloud's House
"Hello Mister Strife, my name is Leah Reed, your new probation officer. Could you please call me at..."
"Hello."
Her scream temporarily made his ear buzz against the receiver. After a few minutes of awkwardness, he cleared his throat.
"Are you available today?"
"Mister Strife, hi! I'm available at 11:30 am, is it ok for you?"
"Ok."
Cloud noticed how young she sounded on the phone. No surprise that the state gave her the most boring files to handle. Blue eyes scanned the mess around him, still groggy from his previous nap.
Tools, wooden planks, pipes, and bags of trash were scattered everywhere. He didn't expect that much renovation works to transform this old garage into a livable house.
After a black coffee and a cold shower, Cloud took his bike Fenrir and headed towards Arcadia city center. A few minutes later, he parked in front of the Central Administration building.
"Strife, I have an appointment with Miss Reed, my probation officer."
The receptionist eyed him darkly and muttered the instructions to the office. Her behavior didn't phase him as everyone despised former convicts even if they purged their sentence.
He knocked and a little auburn woman (definitely younger than him) appeared. Entering the office, they slalomed between many cardboard boxes before reaching her desk.
"Sorry for the mess. I didn't finish unpacking. I only got the keys 2 days ago. Anyway, it's a pleasure meeting you mister Strife. I'm Leah Reed but you already know that. Hum... maybe we can start with a quick introduction regarding your current situation."
"Cloud Strife, still 27 years old, still living in Nibelheim and still jobless."
She nervously flipped through the different documents and notes, hoping to find something to say to continue their current conversation.
"I've seen your previous evaluations, Mister Strife and they were quite good. I mean except for the last one but anyway, I'm sure you could find another job in a similar position as you were an investigator."
"No thanks."
"Don't worry about your status. We can recommend your profile to some organizations and you can follow rehabilitation programs."
"I don't need money so no need for me to find a job."
"If it is not for the money, psychologists say that it is always good to have something to keep your mind occupied. It helps with social reinsertion."
Cloud didn't give a shit about social reinsertion. After being sent to jail by his own manager, he didn't trust the state or any public organizations. He walked toward the door, indicating the end of this appointment.
"As I said to the previous probation officer, I don't need your help. This conversation is over. See you in 3 months."
"Please wait! Mister Strife!"
He disappeared behind the door leaving his counselor alone and confused. As he walked down the aisle, he did not notice the short-haired woman who was closely observing him from afar.
Arcadia - Homeland Security Department
He ignored the Scandinavian woman ordering him to not enter the office. He needed to talk to him as soon as possible and his brain found no reason to postpone that. In the room, the Director of Homeland Security Department was behind his desk, on the phone.
Emerald blue eyes and a raised silver eyebrow showed curiosity at his sudden appearance. Coming closer, he ignored the angry woman behind him and put a letter on the desk. Shifting the receiver, his ears finally registered his manager's voice.
"I'm sorry I've got to go. Something came up."
The man hung up and took the paper with both hands after nodding at his secretary to leave them alone.
"Commandant Leonhart, such an unusual behavior from you."
"What is the meaning of this?"
After fully reading the document, he could understand his Commandant's sudden outburst.
"Well, an internal inquiry is open about you. We are just following the procedure by laying you off. That's all."
"My question is why?"
Leon frowned and tightened his jaw. He knew that pressuring his chief was not a good idea for his record but he needed explanations.
"In case of heavy suspicions, it is possible to start an inquiry. But you already know that so don't worry Commandant Leonhart. For a man as talented as you who has done nothing wrong, this inquiry is a pure formality."
"You don't seem surprised at all."
Sephiroth stayed silent for a few seconds before slowly taking out a heavy folder from his drawer.
"These are all the administrative procedures going on within the department. You understand that I don't have time to question them all. I am surprised but I believe in your talent Commandant. Rest assured that I'll testify in your favor if needed."
"I'll keep that in mind. What will happen to my team?"
"Well, we are going to select someone to temporarily replace you but otherwise nothing will change. I mean, did you do something reprehensible?"
"How can you even ask me that question?"
"Then there is nothing to worry about. Let's cooperate with the Central Administration on this one."
He dropped his badge, his professional phone, his keys on the desk and left the office without looking back.
Few floors down, his teammates were waiting for him. They discovered the letter together and the news created a huge shock. Respected by all for his charisma, his leadership, and his wise decision: nobody understood the current situation.
When he came back, Barrett and Zell were the first ones to voice their frustrations and anger.
"That's bullshit! It's a conspiracy, nothing else! "
"Barrett is right Leon, we need to do something!"
Zack and Reno were agreeing while Rudo resumed drinking his coffee. Selphie hugged his right arm hoping to comfort him with this gesture.
"Where is Yuffie?"
His sharp eyes immediately noticed the young girl's disappearance. He knew how attached to him she was and her absence set his instincts on vigilance mode. Reno's next answer didn't reassure him at all.
"Isn't she with you? She said she wanted to escort you to Sephiroth's office. For moral support or something."
His expression must have answered for him as Reno quickly tried to call their teammate while another angry conversation animated his team. Leon cleared his throat, bringing back the calm.
"Listen! Don't worry about me. I've done nothing wrong so it's just a pure formality. I want you to continue your work as usual. Sephiroth will find you another Commandant while I'll be away. Please don't do anything stupid. We are investigators, we don't go against the law nor the rules. I'll be heading towards the Central Administration so that I can sort this mess out. In the meantime, feel free to call me if you need anything."
He was not known for talking that much but he hoped that the speech reassured his team and hid his own insecurities. Preparing to leave, he grabbed his vest while the boys carried his boxes for him to the underground car park. After packing his things in his car, he quickly said goodbye and left.
Kilometers away, Leon had a bad feeling thinking about this inquiry. Sephiroth's attitude didn't reassure him. For a split of a second, a familiar black bike caught his eyes before disappearing into the traffic. Blinking a few times he shook his head, soothing the tension in his neck.
"Great Leon, you have hallucinations now."
Nibelheim - Cloud's House
Before going home, Cloud stopped a few times to do quick deliveries. After spending half of his day sitting on his bike, all he wanted to do was take a shower and devour the Chinese takeaway he bought earlier.
Entering his street, he noticed the black car parked in a narrow alley nearby his house. The people living here were quite poor or modest and the mafia didn't come to this part of the city. Cloud's instincts were telling him to be careful.
Parking at his usual spot, he observed the garage and briefly saw a man looking behind the front window before disappearing against the wall. Cloud stopped in front of his door and hesitated before kicking it open. Knocked by it, a man fell on the floor holding his nose.
Probably the one who glanced outside. Cloud briefly saw someone sitting on his couch before another man launched at him on his left-hand side. Both men fell on the floor but Cloud managed to pin his opponent under him after latching punches. Ready to strike again, a woman's voice made him stop.
"Freeze or I'll shoot!"
Glancing up, he saw the barrel of a brand-new gun pointing at him. Slowly raising his hands, his blue eyes fell upon a short body, wearing white cargo pants, a khaki t-shirt under a black jacket. But when his eyes reached her face, he was surprised to recognize Yuffie.
Standing in the middle of his living room, Yuffie was looking at him with anger. He quickly assessed the situation: one man was leaning against the wall holding his nose while the other was still on the floor, arms and face bruised. Nobody else was inside so Cloud slowly stood up, locking eyes with her.
"Don't move or I'll shoot!"
"You won't do that."
"I said don't move!"
"You broke into my house without authorization with two kids visibly too young and not prepared. Whether you tell me what you want or I call the cops."
Yuffie couldn't do much: he was right. She hesitantly put her gun back in its holster and came to help her two rookies sit on the couch. Cloud retrieved his now cold dinner before going inside. He was putting his things down on the kitchen counter when Yuffie approached.
"I've got something to tell you, alone."
"It was worth coming to be beaten up!"
Her rookie's voice sounded funny as he was talking through his broken nose. Feeling no compassion, she threw a nearby empty can at him.
"Shut it! That's how we work and he is right, you are undertrained!"
Cloud led her toward his garden, leaving the young men having some rest. The moment they walked out, she spoke again.
"Leon received a letter this morning. He is under an internal inquiry, ring any bells?"
If it wasn't Yuffie, he would have punched her in the face for provoking him in his own house.
"So what? He gave in to the temptation?"
"Stop insulting him! Lee is innocent unlike you!"
"Whatever."
"Lee didn't cover you nor your dark secrets back then so now you are trying to take your revenge? I saw you this morning at the Central Administration. What did you say to them?"
"It's none of your business."
"You're a sick psycho! I won't let you do as you wish. I'll send you back in jail forever this time!"
She wanted to hit him hard to release her anger. Tears started falling from her eyes. And he silently watched her falling apart: her legendary joy was replaced by a deep sadness. He knows that many questions were left unanswered between them: many misunderstandings that destroyed their friendship with times but now he didn't care anymore. He was tired of being betrayed.
"Take the kids and get out."
She harshly swiped the tears from her face leaving a red blush across her cheeks and upper lip.
"You didn't answer my question. What were you doing at the Central Administration?"
"None of your business. That's my answer."
He sat down on an abandoned tire and lit a cigarette.
"By the end of this smoke, you better be gone."
"This is not over. I'll find out what you are hiding."
She went back. In the living room, the 2 rookies were asleep on the couch.
"Wake up, let's go!"
Still a little bit groggy, the two men didn't utter a word as they followed her.
The black car's engine roared through the empty street. In his garden, Cloud finished his cigarette, enjoying the silent atmosphere of the neighborhood. He felt the exhaustion of the day on his stiff shoulders and heavy legs.
Back inside, he couldn't contain a deep growl as he saw the giant hole in the middle of the front door and the doorknob shattered on the floor.