Jade, Wine, and Turk training
By Kimetara
Multi-part
Disclaimer: FFVII belongs to Squaresoft. (Yep, boring disclaimer this time. I think I'll save my inspiration for the fic, lol) Yay, I got this out on time!
Chapter 10: Old promises
"Hello, Hojo?"
"Yes?"
"Our spies have found out the date of the wedding." The man on the other end of the intercom spoke rapidly, his nervousness apparent in every tone and shade of his voice.
"I see. And?"
"And?" the man asked, confused.
"The date of the wedding!" Hojo yelled.
"Oh! Oh, um, right, um...that's on, um, February 19th," he stuttered.
"Is there anything else I need to know?"
"No sir."
"Very well. Send up the escort."
"Yes...um..." The man racked his brain trying to remember what escort Hojo was talking about.
"The randomly chosen escort for Tifa Lockheart, you incompetent Third Class!"
"Right! Yes sir." The poor ex-SOLDIER seemed on the verge of a breakdown.
"Are you done?"
"Yes sir."
"Good. Don't bother me anymore, unless it's to inform me the capture of the wedding was successful." Hojo turned off his intercom, smirking contemptuously. *Fools. Like frightened little rabbits.* Their fear pleased him.
Soon, three vague forms became apparent in the shadows.
Hojo took note of their appearance. Two males, one female. All with the touch of Jenova in their eyes. All with the skill of the sword – one also comfortable with the gun, another a master of shuriken. *Excellent.*
"You are all First Class," Hojo stated, waiting for them to confirm it.
The forms nodded.
"You." Hojo turned his violet eyes on the blue-eyed male. "You were also the messenger, I believe?"
"That is correct." Jason's voice was, once again, emotionless.
"Good...less explaining. You three, along with one Third Class, will be the escort for Tifa Lockheart of AVALANCHE."
"Why the Third Class?" the woman asked – her tone making it clear it was not out of curiosity she asked, but duty.
"Use it for when you need an...expendable subject," Hojo answered tactfully, bringing his fingers together.
The woman gave a sharp nod, her fingers automatically going to the five pointed stars hanging from her waist.
"You shall meet with her at the Junon basin. Destroy 09. Do not harm Tifa Lockheart, and keep the Turk alive."
They all nodded.
"Dismissed." Hojo watched the three shapes turn in perfect unison – years of marching training. "Oh, and all of you know what will happen if you fail."
They gave no response, but Hojo could detect the slight stiffening in their forms.
Hojo smirked again. At times, it was as if he was in love with his fear-filled atmosphere...
~~~~~
Josh drove on, a pleased expression on his face. *Finally, got away from that fucking big-shot Turk...*
He chuckled, reveling in his newfound freedom. *Heh heh...tomorrow I'll be away from him for good.*
Tomorrow they'd reach the Junon basin, and Josh would be free to go back to his own job – who knows, maybe he could even work his way up a bit? Get up to 50 thousand gil a year?
Josh grinned. This was the last of his screwed up life, the last time he'd have to do something desperate for money. After this, he'd finally live.
For a split-second, Josh wondered about the "escort" Hojo had said he was providing, but quickly shrugged it off. *Who cares? Hojo promised that after this I'd be free of this whole mission...just need to get my gil and go.*
He looked forward to it.
~~~~~
Tifa stirred, her eyes opening. Blinking, the first thing she noticed was that she was thirsty. Very thirsty. Hey, she had barely drunk anything yesterday or today.
Gently, so as not to wake the Turk, Tifa twisted her upper body, taking care of the arm around her waist. Scanning his pockets with her eyes, she caught sight of the cap of another water bottle in his coat pocket. Slowly, she reached her hand out toward it...
...only to have her wrist clamped in vice-like grip.
Tifa's eyes widened. Reno was a lot faster than she'd thought he'd be.
"And what do you think you're doing there, babe?" his voice came down from above her, his tone mocking.
"Just getting some water," Tifa answered, grateful her voice didn't go into a pitch higher than normal.
"Oh... Okay." Reno released her wrist, then took the water out for her. "Here ya go."
Tifa took it, then drank until content. *Mmm...water never tasted so good.*
When she was finished, or more accurately, when the bottle was empty, Tifa gazed up at Reno, only to find his glowing jade eyes watching her amusedly. Tifa hastily looked away. "What did you think I was doing, Reno?"
"..." Reno shifted uncomfortably. In truth, that's where he kept his gun hidden, for the times when his Electro-mag Rod just wasn't the best way to go. All the Turks were trained in firearms, just as all the First Class SOLDIERS were trained in swords.
But looking back now, Reno was highly doubtful Tifa would have shot him, even if she did find the gun. *Still...better safe than sorry.* A lesson Reno had learned the hard way.
"Reno?" Tifa had returned to watching him, her eyes worried. "You all right?"
"...yeah." Reno blinked, the distant expression Tifa had noticed disappearing.
Tifa looked down at the floor. "It feels like the truck's stopped moving," she remarked softly, before scooting away from Reno. For a moment, Tifa thought she felt Reno's arm tighten around her, but that quickly faded as Reno's arm went limp, allowing her to easily move away.
Reno watched her go, for the moment ignoring the nagging feeling to depart. Once seeing Tifa stop moving, he gave in, and stood to leave.
Out of the corner of her eye, Tifa observed Reno swiftly unlock the door and slip out, before locking it, once again leaving six inches of an opening. She smiled gently, appreciative of the light, before it all dissolved into a sigh.
*Finding comfort in the enemy...in your kidnapper, no less. You've really hit rock bottom this time,* she scolded herself. Kidnapper or no, Tifa found Reno reassuring. She didn't doubt he'd kill her on the spot, and she didn't trust him as far as she could throw him... *well, less than that, considering I could probably throw him pretty far, but ANYway...* ...yet, he just made her feel safe. *Some sort of Turk trick, no doubt.*
Tifa sighed again.
*****
"Hey, let's make a promise."
"Umm...if you get really famous and I'm in a bind...you'll come save me, all right?"
"Come on! Promise me!"
"All right...I promise."
*****
A bitter smile emerged on Tifa's face. *Can't get more famous than the savior of the Planet, can you? And I'd think being kidnapped would be considered a bind...so where are you, Cloud? Still mourning over Aeris, huh...*
~~~~~
Once he'd exited the truck, Reno turned to see where he was, exactly. To his shock, they were right next to the Chocobo Ranch.
Reno gritted his teeth, then stalked off to find the missing truck driver.
AN: School's started, so...I don't know how often I'll get to write. :/ I'm in a honor's program, so there's a ton of HW...
Well, anyway, please review! =)