Author's Note: Disclaimer found below.

(Four)

Loz took her to another room further down in the building, and set her down on one end of a built-in window seat. Her eyes open wide and unblinking, she moved only to hug her knees to her chest, pushing herself as far into the corner as she could.

Loz quickly returned from an anteroom, nudging her with his elbow and offering her a piece of bread stuffed with meat. When she didn't move, he shrugged and laid the rough sandwich on the windowsill next to her, leaning against the wall to eat his own.

The sound of voices came from the hall, and then Yazoo and Kadaj entered the room. They paused a moment, but then Kadaj shrugged. "Fed the troops. That had better not be mine." He gestured toward the sandwich that Loz was about to take a bite from.

"Nah," Loz took his bite, then spoke around it. "Yazoo's."

The slight man's mouth slid into a half-grin, eyes narrowing. Evidently that had been a declaration of war. "We left the rare meat for you," he growled. But he turned away, following Kadaj into the adjacent room.

Loz took his time eating, eyes on the doorway - but as soon as the shadows within moved near the door, he looked away, staring out the window.

Tifa still didn't move. It was all she could do to keep herself from breaking apart.

Yazoo came back, flopping down on the window seat next to her and crossing his legs. "Liar," he said around his own sandwich, nudging Loz with his foot. His brother grinned, wolfing down the rest of his sandwich and heading off toward the side room, presumably for more.

Yazoo finished eating, wiping his mouth on the sleeve of his jacket and brushing the crumbs from his hands. He finally seemed to take notice of Tifa. "You don't look well, Little Sister," he mused, leaning closer.

Tifa tensed, pushing herself as far from him as the wall would allow. "Don't," she whispered, unable to flee any further.

"I don't suppose I can blame you," he continued, shifting closer. "You must be in shock, after what he put you through."

She couldn't help it. His words sounded so kind... She raised her head a little, meeting his gaze.

He was smiling, and his eyes were cold and sly. "Don't you think that you deserve someone prettier than that lug?" Yazoo purred, reaching out to touch her face.

She didn't have time to flinch away, but she didn't have to; his hand never touched her. He was grabbed up by the collar of his jacket and flung across the room.

Loz stood before her with his back to her, hands clenched into fists. Tifa couldn't see his face. She looked past him to where Yazoo staggered to his feet, bracing himself against the opposite wall.

"Kadaj was right," he spat, his face hidden by his hair. "Possessive..." And then he looked up, and she saw that he was grinning madly. "I was wondering what I'd have to do to get your attention."

Loz rushed at him, throwing a punch that he easily blocked, but pinning him against the wall. "Was that all you wanted? You could've just asked -"

Kadaj reappeared from the side room, carrying a canteen, which he swung out of the way as Yazoo threw Loz off of him. "Outside!" he snapped, scowling at them.

Yazoo had dropped into a crouch, eyes never leaving his brother. At Kadaj's command, he sprinted for the doorway, catching the frame on the way out so as to turn into the hall without having to slow down. Loz was after him instantly.

"There's rooms here that we can't even use anymore thanks to them," Kadaj sighed, taking Yazoo's place on the window seat and offering Tifa the canteen. She only tilted her head back, closing her eyes.

This was her well-deserved fate, then. She'd failed too many times, been too thoughtless and cruel. This was all she was good for now: being a plaything for these monsters. And the Geostigma - If she'd just fought harder, she could've kept Loz away, kept herself from being... branded like property... irreparably tainted...

Cloud must feel the same way all the time now, she realized. Impure and doomed and helpless... No wonder he'd left. Her arrogance had driven him away.

Her eyes were tearing up again. She couldn't stop.

"Eat," Kadaj commanded, glaring at her. The way he'd said it had been strangely powerful - and very frightening. She jumped, staring at him for a moment before taking her sandwich from the windowsill. The meat in the sandwich seemed to be unevenly cooked, like the animal it had come from had been hit with a Bolt spell several times rather than properly prepared. The bread was a bit stale.

When he offered the canteen again, she accepted. It was only water.

He stood as she finished, taking the canteen back from her. "I shouldn't have to tell you," he said in a matter-of-fact tone, "But... Don't become a problem. I don't want to have to kill you. It would upset Loz, and I hate it when he cries."

Tifa turned away, finally looking out of the window. She stared. The window overlooked a very familiar lake - it was where they'd laid Aeris to rest two years ago.

She laid her head against the curved wall, her breath catching in her throat as the tears began to fall.

Kadaj shrugged and walked away, evidently confident that she would attempt no escape.

He was right.

Disclaimer: Final Fantasy VII, its story, and characters are the property, copyright and trademark of Square Electronic Arts L.L.C., and no ownership or claim on said property, copyright or trademark is made or implied by their use in the work(s) of fan fiction presented here. This fan fiction constitutes a personal comment on the aforesaid properties pursuant to doctrines of fair use and fair comment. This fan fiction is non-commercial, not for sale or profit, and may not be sold or reproduced for commercial purposes.