A Meeting Over Coffee

Things were starting to get busy in work now, what with the Winter Festival getting underway. People were booking in for long stays to visit family, some as a passover to Midgar or Junon, but it was busy all the same. It kept us going; busier it was the faster the shifts went in. I was kind of glad I had tomorrow off so I could get my own plans arranged with my parents. Sure they lived like twenty minutes away but I should start making arrangements for the Festival and New Year.

I yawned, feeling exhausted after another night shift but I think I was the only one right now willing to do them. I suppose it just kind of suited for the moment but I didn't want to have to do it all the time. Just that time of year again.

I said goodbye to Elise as I passed reception. She was running late so I hung back until she got here and let herself get organised. I could feel that she was still flustered from being late so I gave her a reassuring smile before I left. She'd get back into the swing of it quick enough.

Kalm was pretty cold but there was no sign of snow, as much as everyone had hoped. It'd been a couple of years since I'd actually seen snow at this time of the year but a small part of me always hoped that some would appear. The streets were pretty quiet this time of the morning but it would get busy soon enough. I didn't have many plan beyond going home and sorting the next couple of weeks out for myself. I hoped to keep my options open though; sometimes I worry unexpected things will pop up.

"Finally done your shift, huh?" I turned when I heard the voice, already beaming in a smile. I noticed instantly Reno was out of his work uniform and in something more casual, as well as his left arm being in a sling. I went over and came him a hug.

"Reno! Hi, how you been?" I asked as I released the hug. "What happened to your arm?"

"Work related incident. Another day or something before I'm back on the field," he shrugged. "Had the day off so I figured I'd swing over. It's been a while since we caught up."

"It has actually, now I think about it," I agreed, noting something off under his tone. I knew there wasn't any malicious intent but I knew to keep a check if anything changed. I kept my smile and shifted the strap of my bag on my shoulder. "Still early, how about we grab breakfast?"

"Sounds good."

I was going to just buy something quick anyway so we headed down to a cafe a few blocks from the hotel. It'd be a good place as any to grab some coffee anyway. I looked around the streets, glancing quickly at faces but nothing really felt off apart from some sort of worry from Reno. It was quiet, stuffed into the back of his mind but it had the potential to grow.

Reno offered to buy breakfast while I got us a seat. I got one by the window at the more quiet side. I had noticed all the Turks did it, even off duty. I went over to the counter to help Reno carry the coffee and some breakfast muffins. Sitting down I took mine and held the cup in my hands, letting the heat from it warm them.

"So how're Rude and Tseng?" I asked.

"Got their hands full since this happened," Reno shrugged his left arm. "Eh like I said, not got long before they fix this then I'll be back."

"They couldn't just heal it normally or with materia?"

"Nah it was a pretty bad break; had to realign the bone first before they could do any healing, and it's in stages. This is the last bit of work before I can take this damn thing off."

"I know, and on your dominant side, too," I pouted a little in sympathy before drinking some coffee. "Nothing's been going on my end. Just been working, working, working some more. My life's not nearly as exciting as it should be." Or as it's been. After everything I deserved a break from it all.

"Come on, Nev, we're all allowed our boring spells," Reno's lips curled into a grin as he leant back on his chair. I felt the worry again from the conversation's turn but he had a good poker face, as always. I sipped my coffee, trying to look closer at the smaller details. He touched his ear and leant forward again. "So nothing's happened recently?"

"Reno, this isn't just a check in is it?" I asked. Neither of us liked beating around the bush but I understand why he was trying to make it feel less impersonal. "Has something happened?" Admittedly I was feigning ignorance at this point to gauge his reaction and to see if we were on the same page. He groaned a little, glancing around at the other tables.

"Rather not talk about it openly," he said.

"We'll go to my place then," I offered. We finished our things and I walked him to my apartment. It was a long, silent walk, filled with the occasional benign question to try and catch up and break the awkwardness.


We both knew my apartment was safe. The area it was in was quiet, the walls were thick and soundproof, the windows were reinforced glass, there was an emergency fire exit with easy access, and I had an electronic keypad on my own door. I pressed in the code and let the both of us in. I was fairly calm about the situation by the time we reached my home. I put my bag on the small table by the door and headed into the kitchen, going for the kettle and filling it with water.

"I'll make coffee. Black with three sweetener, yeah?" I asked, easing off the atmosphere ever so slightly. I went into the cupboard and picked two mugs. "So what is it you wanted to talk to me about?"

"Nev, why were you looking at the Nibelheim records?"

I paused at the kettle as I set the mugs down. I sighed, I kept calm. So we were on the same page. I turned to him, smiling softly, remaining nonchalant about the confrontation.

"You know I thought it would be either Tseng or Rude bringing me up for it," I said and went back to making coffee.

"Yeah, well, since this happened I've been behind a desk. And you're lucky I was the first to pick up on it," Reno said and joined me in the kitchen. His tone had changed now that were in the safety of my home. I could hear the concern and a little bit of annoyance there. I was trying to play it down but if he was annoyed then that meant there was more to it. "So how about you tell me why you were looking at the records after five years?"

I finished making the drinks and passed him his. I sighed, knowing I'd have to be honest and upfront with him. I mulled the question over, picking my words carefully.

"Reno, I... my friend died that day. I don't have any answers for it," I said, softening my tone, pulling my shoulders up slightly, eyes looking around the room for a moment. "And rumours have been going about Kalm recently about a man in a black cape and... well, you know I looked through those files too. I just wanted to see if there were any answers were none were five year ago."

"I get it; none of Shinra's data banks have a lot on Nibelheim," Reno agreed, his shoulders relaxing, his tone coming down as well. "But you were risking your neck looking at those files at this time. Tseng and Rude are on the field with the new recruit and, if my arm didn't get fucked, anyone would have noticed you accessing the files. I got you covered; you don't have to worry about Shinra busting down your door."

"Thanks Reno," I nodded. "But you don't have to worry I know what I'm doing."

"You're kidding, right?" Reno scoffed. "Shinra's in the air right now with the President dying and Rufus taking over, sightings of men in black capes, and rumours that Sephiroth's alive. Are you not worried this would be a repeat of what happened before?"

"I know what I'm getting myself into and I'm prepared for the consequences, just as I was before," I said and kept my voice level. The worry radiated off Reno terribly. I couldn't help but frown.

"Look, friend to friend: I don't want to see anything bad happen to you," Reno said, "but there's a huge chance that me and the guys aren't going to be able to protect you any more. Rufus is the President now, not his old man. If, hell when, he gets filled in completely about the situation, your name's going to pop up. That's when the Turks can't do anything to protect you."

"I know that all that you're doing for me is a favour to a friend, and I appreciate that," I said. "But if I wasn't prepared to face the consequences of my actions, then I wouldn't have looked at the files. But I needed to see if anything new had come about since these rumours of men in black capes started." I paused and drink half my coffee quickly. "A lot happened that night that I don't know about, and it's answers no one can give to me straight. I thought I could find closure and that's all that this is about for me. Nothing else." I kept eye contact with him, watching his unconscious responses. His eyes were steady, doing the same. It's a game Turks knew well, as did I. The mild stand off came to an end when he sighed and straightened his posture.

"I know you Nev," he said. "We'll do what we can, like we've always done. Clock's ticking though. They'll find out."

"And that's okay. I'm prepared," I shrugged. "Like I tell you guys every time: I know what I'm doing." I sensed the concern wasn't lifting. This was bigger than anything else we'd encountered previously. Things had shifted too quickly for Shinra and they were reacting as best they could to maintain normality. Any weaknesses could be abused by their enemies. There were no Soldiers, no Sephiroths, to stomp them out this time.

"I know I don't need to tell you this but... just watch your back, okay?" Was the last thing Reno told me before he left my apartment. We still had a good chat and catch up despite the horrid, dark feeling looming over us. It was a familiar feeling, one I didn't like but it was still familiar to me. Things would only get worse from here. Didn't take a genius to work that out.

After about twenty minutes, once I was certain I was alone, I went to my laptop and opened it up. After it booted up I headed into my saved documents, opening up everything I could on Nibelheim. And Soldier. And Avalanche. And I opened my back door into Shinra's files, covering my tracks as much as I could to provide Reno, or whatever Turk caught wind of my actions, minimal effort to clean up. I probably wasn't going to get any answers from five year old reports but I had to try. Something was wrong and I knew that the moment that group entered the Inn. It was Avalanche. Not many people had gun arms or were ex-Soldiers. Although that Soldier... he wasn't a Soldier.. He knew things he wasn't meant to from a position he was never in. He wasn't there. Something wasn't adding up and I had to find out what.