Executives shooed to their respective suites, Veld made his way back to his own, mind racing.

He wasn't surprised to find it occupied already, though the scent of blood was a little alarming. "He hit you?"

"He always was a good shot," Vincent said. There was a bandage clumsily tied up on his upper arm, which he grudgingly allowed Veld to inspect. "It's fine, it's half healed already. I just didn't want to bleed on anything."

"Still." Veld examined the wound for himself, finding it was indeed already healing considerably, faster than even a First Class would. Not for the first time, it crossed his mind that he needed to find time to read the project files, and find out what had been done to his partner. Somewhere in his abundant free time. "Thank you, for taking care of that."

Vincent hummed in acknowledgment, inclining his head. "Rufus took that well."

"Maybe not as well as he thought he would," Veld said. "Rupert was a failure as a parent, but he was still his father."

"I suppose so," Vincent said. "But it's always easier to sell a lie, when there's a grain of truth in it."

Veld nodded. The board would believe he was grieving, which would help them sell the idea of Reeve taking over even if it was on the understanding of it being temporary. As long as they didn't agree to a specific time limit, they were in the clear; once Reeve was in the chair, it would be much easier to keep him there. At least long enough to get things settled down.

"I don't suppose you intend on getting any sleep tonight?" Vincent asked.

"There's what, four hours before I'd get up?" Veld said, checking

"I seem to recall someone lecturing me about the awful habit of living on coffee," Vincent said mildly.

"Yeah, well, that was someone who didn't understand the burden of leadership," Veld said, heading for the kitchen to do exactly that.

"Veld."

"Nope."

"I can go watch the operation," Vincent said. "And wake you if necessary."

Veld hesitated, glancing at him. "You're a little out of practice."

"I think I can figure out when to call the director, assuming your people weren't already well aware," Vincent said. "You're going to need a clear head going into tomorrow."

"I have a clear head for the first thirty six hours," Veld said. "And I can catch a nap, if I have to."

Vincent grunted in disapproval, watching him put the coffee on, but didn't protest further.

He'd just finished getting the reservoir filled when his phone went off, startling them both. He went for it immediately, frowning. "Yes?"

"Chief, the hitman got there first. He's taken out Fuhito," Ruluf reported.

Veld bit back a curse. "And AVALANCHE?"

"Scattered. We're dividing up monitoring equipment to try and find which hideout they're headed for next, but no one would be surprised if they left Midgar entirely to regroup."

"Which probably means Junon." It was the next best place to hide a group that big.

"Probably. We've got some places to look into there, too. We could try to watch the exits, but we might need more manpower."

Veld thought quickly. Usually it was Heidegger's troopers watching the city access points, but the last thing he wanted was to get him involved in this. That was a death sentence for his daughter. But there might just be a loophole.

If he asked SOLDIER to do it, they were still technically Public Safety forces. They didn't have to know the details. And they'd already said flat out they didn't want to answer to Heidegger.

"I'll make arrangements with SOLDIER, and see if Reeve can have some of his people in customs keep an eye out," he said. "Do what you can with the monitoring equipment."

"On it. We'll let you know when we find something."

"Do that. I'll let you know who I've got for you to work with as soon as I know," Veld said.

"You got it, Chief."

This close, enhanced hearing was enough for Vincent to overhear the entire conversation. He watched Veld a moment, seeing the tension running through him. "What do you want me to do?"

A good question. Vincent was a valuable resource, if placed correctly. The problem was, Veld wasn't sure where he would do the most good. He was a damn good tracker, but he hesitated to send him in blind without any context for AVALANCHE's abilities. Or his own, for that matter.

"I want you to read Felicia's files," he said slowly. "Find out what he did to her. She's got SOLDIER strength, but there was no glow in her eyes. It's something related to materia, but if Hojo had considered it a success she wouldn't be the only one."

"And yet there's some level of 'success' if she's alive and as powerful as you say," Vincent said. "And not locked up, for that matter."

Veld grimaced at the reference, but had to admit he had a point. "I want to know what happened, as much as we can. And I want to know how she ended up with AVALANCHE, instead of coming home."

"She may not have felt safe doing so," Vincent said. "If she believed ShinRa supported what Hojo had done."

"She could have come to me," Veld said.

"She may not have known you were alive," Vincent said softly. "It would be all too easy for him to have told her the same lies he fed you."

Veld grit his teeth, nodding. As much as it hurt, it was better than the alternative. If she'd thought for one moment that he'd have sided with ShinRa over her -

But haven't you? Haven't you always chosen your job over your family?

His wrist burned.

A hand on his shoulder startled him, and he looked up to find Vincent looking at him, not with pity but aching understanding. "I'll find out, Veld. And we'll find her."

Veld swallowed thickly, and managed a small, tight smile. "Thanks, Vin."

"Go lay down," Vincent said softly. "Even if you don't sleep, you can get some rest. There's nothing you can do for her now, but you can be ready for tomorrow."

Veld nodded, having to admit he had a point. "Alright. But I'm taking my phone, in case someone calls."

Vincent smirked. "Of course you will."

Veld swatted at him, turning the coffee pot off, and went to lay down.

Morning came too quickly, and he jerked awake with his alarm.

"Easy." A hand on his shoulder startled him further and he turned to find Vincent had come and perched on the bed at some point during the night.

No wonder he'd slept. "No updates?"

"Not from your team," Vincent said. "I finished reading through the folders and made some notes. I'll need to look up some of the terms, but I was able to make some educated guesses."

"That's part of why I asked you," Veld said. There was a reason Vincent had been chosen for the Nibelheim mission, and not just because Gast liked him; he could have followed in his father's footsteps, if he hadn't balked at being stuck in his shadow. Alex knew he was their best bet at understanding just what Gast and his people were up to.

Of course, he'd also asked Vincent because no matter what he'd been through, he was still Vincent, and Veld would trust him with anything without thinking twice.

To judge by the way his eyes softened, he knew it. "You can look over the notes later. I think you have a morning board meeting to run?"

"Something like that," Veld agreed. "To orchestrate, at least."

Vincent nodded. "You think Rufus will play along?"

"Only because it's Reeve," Veld said. "If I'd suggested anyone else, he'd fight me on it every step of the way."

Vincent arched a brow. "Why not Reeve?"

Veld chuckled. "Reeve doesn't want it, and would happily hand it over the second it's actually an option. Rufus knows this isn't the end of the matter."

"Do you think there will come a point when it's safe to hand it over to him?" Vincent asked.

Veld sighed. "I want to think so."

Vincent didn't miss the wording. Kindly, he didn't push it. "I suppose we'll see."

"I suppose we will," Veld agreed. "I have to get ready. Answer the phone if it's anyone from my team, Reeve, or Rufus."

Vincent nodded, taking it gently and setting it beside him as he went back to the notebook he'd borrowed.

Veld watched him a moment, struck by how familiar it was, his partner settled on his bed leafing through paperwork with a frown of concentration on his face, and felt a rare warmth ease the knot in his chest. He'd never expected to have that again. Whatever happened, he wouldn't take it for granted.

Once he'd left, Vincent let his eyes raise from the notebook, drifting to the closed door. He would do what Veld asked of him, of course. There were benefits to what had been done to him, he could already tell he had strength he'd never had before and seemingly endless stamina, he could go places and do things his partner could not. If he could make something good come of his torment, then he would gladly take the opportunity.

But he also knew, no matter how much the years and trials had undoubtedly changed Veld, some things hadn't changed. And he knew that look in his eye. Someone needed to keep an eye on him, and there was a very good chance that even if the people he was around recognized it, he wouldn't let them do anything about it, too insistent on keeping some distance as the leader. Which meant it fell to him.

Just as well. He'd always had Veld's back, and he didn't intend to let that change.