"THEY SEIZED THE DRILLING RIGHTS!" Cloud had to hold the little flip phone several inches away from his ear not to lose his hearing to Barret's livid shouting. He'd only just called to let Barret know his cell phone was replaced and before he'd even managed a greeting, the former AVALANCHE ring-leader was venting his frustrations at him. Well, the number was still the same, so he imagined Barret knew who was calling before he'd picked it up.

Still doing his best to put a bit of distance between himself and the speaker, Cloud asked for clarification, "Who's done what was that, Wallace?"

"Shin-Ra!" Thankfully he'd switched to growling now, instead of unbridled shouting. "The company we bought the rights from was one of their subsidiaries. I guess they tried to break off after Meteor, but Shin-Ra's reelin' everything back in. Their enforcing their old contracts with these people, sayin' they had no right to sell us anything! Those fuckin' crooks!" Obviously Marlene was no where near by. "They still think they own the goddamn Planet, even after all this shit!

"It's cuz they still got those goddamn TURKs on their fuckin' payroll. Soulless lawyers and professional extortionists all in one neat package. I know that Tseng's been out here trying to buy out my staff! Not that anyone from North Corel would ever take a Shin-Ra paycheck after what happened before. Hey! You see that Reno again, you give him one in the teeth for me, eh?"

Cloud smirked slightly, glancing ahead to the fiery-haired man in question. Barret might be in the middle of a legal fist-fight with Shin-Ra, but at the moment the last thing Cloud needed was for it to all come to physical blows. Trying to blend in as normal civilians in the better part of Edge was difficult enough as it stood, without punches being thrown. "How's Marlene and Denzel?"

"Oh, good, good. Hyper little kids. They're learning how to ride chocobos since we use them pretty often as pack animals out here. Denzel's still lookin' real healthy."

"That's good. Give them my regards." Cloud hung up and closed the phone, slipping it into a holster on his belt. He felt a bit pretentious, carrying a cell phone like a weapon, but he didn't want to take chances with it flying out of his pocket again.

Beside him, Kadaj tracked the path of the little black phone thoughtfully. Looking up toward Reno himself he spoke up, "Where is my phone, TURK?" Not that he expected anyone to need to call him now… Perhaps Rufus Shin-Ra, but he could always get to Kadaj via one of the TURKs. But now that his niisan had a phone again… Well, if they were ever separated, it would be more convenient.

Reno looked over his shoulder, his expression souring a little further at the still leather-clad boy. "Busted. Leave it to you to wreck a supposedly indestructible prototype. …And it was Tseng's phone, you little thief," he added angrily. "If you want one of your own… Well, I'll talk to the president about it."

Kadaj rolled his eyes, used to Reno's infantile name-calling by now. He'd had to endure the childish temper all the way back to the bar, on foot, earlier this morning and was beginning to learn to tune the red-head out. He wasn't sure exactly what was irritating the TURK most: his unsupervised stroll through Edge with Valentine, or the apparent orders from President Shin-Ra that made Reno his personal style consultant for the day… Either way he was getting tired of it putting up with it, especially now that Reno was starting to act parental.

Kadaj had liked Tseng's phone though. It had all the private numbers he ever would have needed and was now certain never to be given. Especially to a certain phone, which he'd just like to try, just once, just to see… Damn the convenience of speed-dial. He should have committed it to memory.

"Here," Reno stopped and pointed to a building rising several stories above ground. Though the walls were just dull grey, the windows were set with mirrored glass that shone bright royal blue, and the front display mannequins, in their dark and decorative clothing, certainly looked interesting. "Seven floors of different shops. There's gotta be something in here you'll like."

"… Zeitaku yo ne …" Kadaj moved through the aisles of the mall's various stores, picking curiously at the articles of clothing. "So this is what it is, not to have a uniform…"

"Ah. We'd have brought yours except you lit your room on fire…" Reno sucked impatiently on the end of a cigarette, much to the chagrin of the sales people. None of them spoke up about the falling ash though, not one of them interested in further annoying the irritated TURK. Getting fed up with watching the kid inspect the lace detailing on a girls' blouse, he grabbed a couple things off the racks himself and pushed them at the boy. "Go. Take these to the dressing room and see if they fit. This is not a field-trip for modern Midgar anthropology, then." Reno snapped a couple impatient times and a girl in ripped fishnets and a pleated tartan miniskirt scurried over to help them.

While the boy begrudgingly complied with Reno's instructions, Cloud occupied himself with a similar inspection of the unique and extravagantly priced apparel. Even the t-shirts weren't simple, with deconstructed seams and intricate screen printing of delicate flowers, grizzly skulls, and obscure Wutain script. There were rings and studs on just about everything, and every piece of clothing was cut to cling close or drape gracefully, just so. He looked over to Reno curiously, raising one pale brow.

"Yeah, I know… It's wrong, huh? That I actually want him to look good?" He crossed one arm across his stomach, resting the other elbow on his wrist and looked away, taking a drag off his cigarette. The ex-mercenary watched the other for another long moment, trying to fathom what strange sort of creature one must be to get promoted into the TURKs… But then Kadaj was stepping out of the dressing room, and after that, Cloud really couldn't have cared.

The top was relatively simple. Black, sleeveless ribbed turtleneck with the deconstructed edges common to much of the clothing in the store. It was stitched in white thread and actually had a couple holes already torn just above the hem, which rode beautifully high on Kadaj's smooth abdomen. With the way the storm-cloud grey cargo pants hung, low on the boy's slim hips, it offered a tantalizing view of startlingly pale flesh all around. After that the pants simply skated over Kadaj's perfect body, flaring wider until they hit the floor, just managing to obscure his still booted feet. Here and there the fabric faded paler, just a bit, and the buttons of the ample pockets flashed silver, detailed scroll-work cast into the little metal disks.

Cloud could easily imagine the various silver and leather trinkets Reno would undoubtedly recommend. The red-head was already pulling a grommeted belt from a near by rack, with no apparent intentions for it actually hold up the cargo pants. "Hai," he didn't even give it to Kadaj, just threw it around his waist and fastened it himself so that it hung fashionably about the youth's angular hips. Kadaj regarded him with slightly guarded confusion, until the TURK followed the belt with his arm, suddenly drawing up close so their bodies lined up side to side. "How the hell is it you can kick my ass? Hosoi! I should be able to just snap you in two."

It was as though an electric current shot straight up his spine from the small of his back; Cloud could watch the swift progression as Kadaj tensed. "SAWARUNA!" The silver-haired youth had acted even before he spoke, breaking the hold and crossing half the shop in the blink of an eye. He stood, eyes trained on Reno, hackles raised and looking murderous. The TURK had already taken a defensive stance, left hand going for his nightstick, right arm thrown up in front of his face, but the fight seemed to fizzle in the air…

The look in Kadaj's eyes slowly shifted from immediate violence to a more meditative glare, promising prolonged cruelty, whenever he was able to finally carry it out.

For a moment, Cloud was completely lost, until Reno let go of the nightstick and pushed his shirt sleeve down. The Shin-Ra issue armlet shimmered softly with a studding of Materia and one was glowing particularly bright, fading out as its spell had already been cast and taken effect.

"You don't seriously think we're that stupid, do you? Oh, no, the President made sure both Rude and I were equipped to deal with your special little talents, after what you pulled with Bahaumut and that stunt back at Healin."

"Seal Materia."

"Close. Master Magic. Only the best, for Shin-Ra elite. But a quick Silence spell and Junior here is as harmless as a kitten," Reno conveniently neglected to mention that Kadaj had laid both him and Rude flat with out the use of Materia, or his sword, at Healin Lodge a couple days ago. Getting hold of Reno's electro-mag nightstick had worked to his advantage though, and the element of complete surprise hadn't hurt. Who'd have thought the kid would have walked back into that place of his own volition? Even if he was kicking down the door…

Kadaj glowered, fists clenched so tightly the whole length of his arms shook. As though the spell had actually been able to steal his voice he seethed in silence, and Reno's smug grin slowly melted into a vicious sneer. Crossing the empty space between them in three long strides he came within bare centimeters of Kadaj, glaring coldly down into the boy's jade eyes.

"Look, you little punk," he leaned his head in closer, nose coming parallel with Kadaj's. "I think you need to not be so goddamn sensitive about people getting in your space, y'know? There's not really much reason for me to be all buddy-buddy and go this easy on you, so you should be damned grateful. It could be Tseng standing here right now. And after what went down at the North Crater, if he was, you wouldn't be.

"See, us TURKs don't care too much for people fucking with one of our own, and messing with Elena was a big, big mistake. Shachou knows that, which is why you're stuck with me. I put it out of mind, because I'm on the clock. Don't give me any reasons to decide to take a break. Tseng would likely just straight out kill you… Make me think too hard about how much I hate my job right now," his fingertips traced their way just a little too softly along Kadaj's jaw.

"Reno," Cloud finally stepped between them, the TURK pushing the line. Reno's glare fixed on him suddenly, green fire snapping in his emerald eyes. But the TURK still had a job to do, and he hadn't forgotten that. Letting go of the momentary lapse in his professional cool, his lashes dropped and a smirk caught the corner of his mouth, and he finally stepped back from Kadaj.

Picking up a jacket from the rack beside them, he held it up against the boy's softly heaving chest. "Mm. You'd look good in this one too."

Cloud threw his arm up before Kadaj could make good on the return of his murderous glare. He was becoming quickly convinced that Reno's presence was only going to serve as provocation for the younger man, rather than being of any use as a guard. The TURK only took it as an excuse to whip out a shit-eating-grin and sauntered away smugly.

Kadaj let out a strained breath and a low growl, watching the red-head's retreating backside. Turning his gaze on Cloud he shook his head and went back for the dressing room to retrieve his armor. "Let him get whatever he wants, I'll be waiting in the car."

While he was thus occupied, Cloud took the opportunity to approach the TURK. "Vincent said they'd taken Elena and Tseng…"

For a moment, it didn't seem as though the other was interested in elaborating, busying himself comparing a couple hooded sweatshirts. At last, once he'd decided neither suited, he spoke up. "A job like ours is tough for women. Not because they aren't qualified. Elena was a flake when she was first promoted, but now, she's first rate. I don't even mind admitting, she takes this shit more seriously than me. Nearly right on level with Tseng.

"But men can be despicable creatures. When the brothers captured those two out there at the North Crater, they focused on Elena to try and break Tseng. Of course one of the TURKs' most important guidelines is you gotta be able to take it, if you're gonna dish it out. Because the people you hurt might someday strike back at you. Looking at either of those two now, you wouldn't know anyone had ever fucked with them. But that doesn't make those dogs any less the sons of a bitches that they are for even trying it."

"You reap what you sow," Cloud echoed Vincent's words in the forest. "Shin-Ra created them, raised and trained them. After Sephiroth, whatever made you think you could ever have contained them?"

"You think we should have just exterminated them, after Nibleheim, then…? Maybe we should-"

"I think you should take the proper responsibility for them. Rather than constantly pushing his nerves and tearing him down, you should try to stem the violence in him. I can understand your anger. He hurt several of the people I'm close to, too, but Kadaj sees that as revenge for the hurt we already caused him."

Reno turned and regarded Cloud in a moment of simultaneous consideration, and irritation. The would-be SOLDIER had a lot of balls to be confronting the TURK on this matter, in this way, but the red-head couldn't entirely say that he didn't see Cloud's point. "We, huh? What did you ever do to him?"

"Heh… Oretachi ha nakama darou? …Between Shin-Ra and AVALANCHE, we both had a hand in the defeat of Sephiroth and Jenova. We stood against the only family Kadaj believes he had. I struck the final blows. Of course I've wounded him."

Pursing his mouth and sighing in reluctant defeat, Reno shrugged his shoulders and went back to the clothing racks. President Rufus would hand him his ass if he fucked with the kid too much anyway. Best to just let it go, until such time as Shin-Ra tired with dragging out this Jenova Project bullshit. Eventually, it'd be open season once again.

Cloud left Reno to his mild sulking, following the now dressed Kadaj out the shop's wrought iron doors. The staff seemed infinitely relieved to see at least two of the confrontational customers go, though they still had the TURK to contend with.

When they reached the street Kadaj stopped, leaning against the building side, watching the traffic of people and cars passing back and forth before him. Cloud took up a place close beside, also watching the street a moment, before turning to look at his strange new companion. "You shouldn't let Reno get to you. He just likes trouble and attention."

Kadaj didn't look away from the street as he nodded, folding his arms across his chest. "I just… Don't want him touching me. I hate being touched. … The only person I've ever been able to stand putting their hands on me is you. When you caught me, when I thought I was dieing… Then you told me to hold on. And I didn't want to let go. It was the first time I didn't feel like I had to get away." He offered Cloud an apologetic smile, for what had happened in the shop, and his niisan returned it, understandingly. After a moment, Cloud reached out and laid a hand on Kadaj's shoulder, earning a wider smile from the boy, perhaps even a slight blush.

Then Reno was coming through the doors with the sales girl in tow, carrying all the shop bags for him.

Author's Remarks: More fun with Kadaj and Reno. I love pitting those two against each other, it's far too amusing to me. Evil grin Also a bit of a bonding moment between Kadaj and Cloud for those of you who've been asking for it. Ooooh, will I ever actually get around to some real CxK action? You'll just have to keep reading and see.

Translations:

"Zeitaku yo ne" – "Extravagant /decadent, huh?" Kadaj is mildly disgusted with humanity's obsession with unnecessary luxuries.

Hosoi - Thin

Sawaruna! – "Don't touch me!" Though with how pissed he is, it's probably more "Don't fuckin' touch me!"

"Oretachi ha nakama darou?" – "We're associates/comrades aren't we?" Reno asks this of Cloud through the door of the Healin Lodge when Cloud asks why the silver haired brothers attacked them.