I do not own Final Fantasy VII or any of the characters.

Bad News

Cody yawned, reaching his right hand up to rub his eyes before blinking several times and looking down at Jessie, who was still asleep on his chest, her armor still sitting on the floor beside the bed, leaving her in just her tight purple top. He looked at his watch and saw it was a little past noon. The others would probably be blowing up the reactor soon. He sighed, setting his left hand down on Jessie's side, staring out the window as his hand absentmindedly trailed his fingers up and down her side lightly.

"You sleep like the dead," Jessie said, eyes till closed when he looked down at her. "They blew up the reactor and you didn't even stir."

"How were the fireworks?" Cody asked.

"No smaller than last time," Jessie said. "I don't understand why, though. I used a smaller blasting agent, so it shouldn't have caused the damage it did."

"It wasn't your bomb," Cody said. "Like I told you last time. It wasn't your fault."

"I guess," Jessie said.

"Have you left the apartment at all?" Cody asked.

"No," Jessie said. "I just went to your bathroom. I hope you don't mind."

"That depends," Cody said. "Was it a number one or number two?"

Jessie jabbed him in the chest and he sucked in a breath, gently rubbing his sore scratch. "Asshole."

He yawned again, then used his Healing materia to finish sealing his scratch, then healed her ankle of whatever was left of the sprain. "Let me up. I gotta take a shower."

"Is that an invitation?" Jessie asked, smirking.

"Only if you want to see if showers and Lightning materia mix well," Cody said. "You'll have to use your own shower if you want one."

She sighed dramatically. "You're no fun. Fine. I'll meet you at the bar. The others should be back soon anyway."

He grunted, grabbing some clean clothes and a towel and walked into the bathroom, hearing her leave. However, not for minutes after he was in the shower, the door suddenly burst open and slammed shut again. He narrowed he eyes. Either Jessie took his key, or that wasn't Jessie. He stepped out, toweling off and pulled on a pair of boxers before stepping out of the bathroom and aiming at the door, only to let his arm fall as he saw Jessie pacing in front of the door.

"You took a key to my room?" Cody asked.

"We have bigger problems," Jessie said worriedly.

"I beg to differ," Cody said.

Jessie grabbed his remote and turned his TV on to the news, which was playing a video of the director of Shinra's Weapons Development director, Scarlet, talking about the bombing of Reactor Five before playing a short video of everyone but Cloud and Tifa sneaking through a gate while escaping from Reactor One. It was all damning too. There was Wedge's bandanna, shotgun, and stomach, there was Biggs's pistol and shoulder mags, as well as his messy hair, there was Barret's Gatling gun arm, Jessie's armor, and Cody's mask and goggle combo. He swallowed hard. It would be enough. They'd know it was him.

"Can they ID you from that?" Jessie asked.

"Easily," Cody said. "I'm surprised they're not here yet. Dammit. Let me finish my shower and we'll find somewhere more secure to hide."

Jessie nodded, and he ducked back into the bathroom, beginning to quickly finish cleaning himself. "They're saying we're working for Wutai."

"Figures," Cody said, shutting the water off and drying himself before getting dressed. "They're trying to start another war at the same time as make the entire city turn against us." He brushed his teeth quickly before pulling his mask back on and stepping out, picking up his gun from the bed. "Ready?"

"Yeah," Jessie nodded.

They left quickly, heading to the bar first, finding Barret inside with Marlene. As soon as he walked in, Barret's gun was aimed at them, only for him to sigh, lowering it.

"We got played," Barret said.

"I noticed," Cody said. "I assume they had a trap waiting?"

"Yeah," Barret said. "Some huge robot with an upper body attached to some kinda hover device. They called it the Airbuster."

Cody nodded. "How'd the reactor blow up so well? Jessie said she was going to use a weaker blasting agent."

"That damned robot caused the extra damage," Barret said. "Blasted damn-near everything, then blew up itself."

Cody nodded. "And Tifa and Cloud?"

"Cloud fell," Barret said. "Not sure if he's alive or not. Tifa's fine, for now, but she went to Wall Market to see why Corneo's got men sniffin' around lookin for me."

"Probably because of the video of us all leaving Mako Reactor one after the explosion," Cody said. "Speaking of which, I'm expecting the Turks to ID me from that video. They'll probably show up here soon."

Barret nodded. "I figured as much. I been more or less waiting here for something to happen, or for Tifa to get back. Can't really do much else. Pretty much everyone in the slum refused to turn us in, so Biggs and Wedge are on Neighborhood Watch duty today. They'll let us know if anything happens."

Cody nodded. "Suppose I could get a bite to eat?"

"Ain't much," Barret said. "We ain't had the chance to restock since that celebration we had, but if there's anything here, you're welcome to it. Least I can do after you risked your life fighting that SOLDIER during your secret run to the munitions depot last night."

"Uh, you heard about that?" Jessie asked.

"Course I heard," Barret said. "Biggs told me just as soon as the sun rose. I'm not happy you did it, but what's done is done, and this rat kept you all safe for it. Guess this rat ain't so bad after all."

"Oh, please, stop with the soft stuff, Barret," Cody said sarcastically. "You'll make me cry."

Barret huffed. "Suit yourself."

Cody made himself a cold ham sandwich to munch on and sat on one of the bar stools. Barret was right. It wouldn't be long. And it would be horrible, whatever reprisal happened. He sighed, getting himself a bottle and three glasses, pouring each of them a drink and passing them out.

"One for the ride so far," Cody said, holding out his glass.

"It's been great," Jessie said, holding her glass to his.

"And may the ride be nice and smooth all the way until our destination," Barret said. "The end of mako being used as an energy source."

All three drained their glasses.

"No getting drunk today," Barret said.

"Don't worry," Cody said. "I have no intention of impairing my ability to fight. If and when Shinra shows up, I have every intention of putting them down. I'm not going to drink enough to get drunk, just enough to pass the time."

Barret nodded as Cody poured himself another glass, Jessie sitting beside him and holding out her own glass, Cody poring some for her as well.

"I didn't mention it earlier, but you look really good in underwear," Jessie said as he was taking a drink, grinning and winking at him.

He rolled his eyes, pulling his mask up. "Have I ever told you how much I enjoy having you around?"

Jessie's face brightened. "Nope."

"Oh, well I guess I don't have anything to take back, then," Cody said.

Jessie punched him in the shoulder. "You're such a jerk!"

Cody chuckled, rubbing his shoulder before taking another drink. "Says the girl who just punched me over a joke."

"Keep it up and I'll punch you again," Jessie said.

Cody chuckled. "You're just jealous that I'm the only person that can outsmart you."

"Yes I am," Jessie said. "It's freaking annoying."

Cody shrugged and took another drink from his glass, then stood, walking to the dart board and taking the darts out of it, beginning to play, Jessie joining in to challenge him after a moment.

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