"… And that's where we stand at the moment." Sice sighed. "Better get moving – it's about time we got you back to Valhalla."

"Well." Serah blinked. Snow and Lightning already together and Vanille on the way? "That sounds… easy."

"Don't get me started." Sice held up a hand. "I wish it was."

Serah grinned. "But it's not as hard as I thought! How long until I see them? When do…" She felt a wave of nausea and cleared her throat. "Um."

Sice blinked. "Wait. Oh, you nuisance."

Serah wobbled on her feet and another presence revived her strength. Took over.

"She's not going." She meant to look around for the source of the voice, but couldn't move her head. "It's time your meddling ended."

… The voice was hers.

Serah screamed, but no sound emerged. Sice stood before her, and the world appeared as it should, yet she couldn't move any of her limbs and Gabranth dictated her speech.

"Oh?" Sice raised an eyebrow. "You're one to talk, possessing people against their will. How did you even get inside this one? Ordained vessels aren't exactly easy, are they?"

"Would you know?" She thought she caught a glimpse of eternity.

Sice bounced her head back and forth in thought. "Actually, I have no idea. But the gods have Their plans, and we're smart enough to not mess around with that."

"The gods." It sent a shiver down her spine to hear her voice repeat words that Gabranth would use. "Yet you serve the ones that would take over this cosmos for themselves?"

"Mwynn doesn't want to rule." Sice placed a hand on her hip. "She's dead. All She wants is to get her Power divided up and bestowed where it'll do some good. Hell, we're trying to take Bhunivelze while we're at it – isn't He the one you don't want running around?"

Image of a massive crystalized being, shadowed in darkness and the void. Merged as they were like this, Serah could see into the Other mind. "Yet we know not what you would seek with that same power. I would betray my own conscience to keep it out of the wrong hands."

"We're the only hands, you idiot! If it doesn't go to it, it scatters across existence and chaos takes over! Do you want beings like Cosmos and Chaos to multiply and repeat their shenanigans forever?"

"It's a trifling comparison between them and the Light. Bhunivelze would destroy all for His own purposes and ignorance."

"But we're not working for him! King, help me out here!"

Serah moved without thinking. Gabranth thought to stop and she stepped forward with power coalescing in her hands. Power that wasn't magic, but a mist that breathed through her lungs.

It came up dry and Sice whipped about faster than Serah could process. She pummeled Serah in the stomach and sent her crashing against the concrete. It tore at her arm, but otherwise she noticed no damage.

"I'm not here to cause trouble! Jeez!" Sice threw her head back. "I swear you all gave me the hardest job."

Serah struggled to her feet and inwardly cursed at the unfamiliarity with this vessel. If she could remember her old strength, bring up her weapons…

Screamed again.

Gabranth relinquished control and Serah took it back.

But not without glimpsing a torn body on the blood-stained wood floor and feeling like something tore straight from her chest. Explosion of green against the black of space.

She doubled over and her vision pulsed in and out for a second.

"See what I said about that possession nonsense? It's not good, especially not for the vessel."

"Gabranth knows what he's doing." Serah squinted her eyes shut. "And I'm less fragile than the average human. I think? Ah, this hurts my head. I need to lay down."

Apologies. You're still human, and thus the effects leave their mark.

"Serah!"

Tifa ran their way. Sice swore to herself and turned away.

"Denzel is…" Tifa huffed for breath. "He's gone. He didn't follow you or anything, did he?"

Gabranth's presence seized up and Serah caught his worry. "Did you check his work?"

"Yeah." Tifa shuddered and gripped her knees. "Cloud went to the auto shop first, but there's no sign of him."

"Well," said Sice. "Ain't that timing just a bitch."

Serah squared her shoulders and looked at Sice. "I'll get this taken care of and then I'll go with you."

"Works for me."

Tifa heaved herself upright. "Serah, we've already checked the most obvious places, and time matters in cases like this. I'm asking you to use your time power to find him."

Serah drew up short. "Is that a good idea? After last time-"

"You're in control, now, aren't you?" Tifa glanced between them. "Isn't this different from before?"

"I guess, but…"

"If you're worried about it," Sice said, "then I don't see why. It may not be as familiar to you as fire and water and stuff, but it's still within your control. It's still like any other element."

"I don't like it." Serah shook her head. "What if I instead trap Denzel in a loop? Or Marlene? Cloud? You're immune now, but no one else is."

"I am." Sice nudged her. "I can babysit you if you're so freaked out."

Serah opened her mouth to object again, but Tifa took her by the shoulders. "I'm sure it's nothing," the other woman said, "but it would make me feel a lot better if you tried."

Serah swallowed. "Okay. But let's get back inside. I'd rather not work in front of strangers."

"Fair enough."

Sice and Serah followed Tifa back to the house and Gabranth finally returned to her. His presence wavered and Serah felt a distant worry gnaw at her, one she didn't feel was hers.

Gabranth was worried. Repeatedly echoed, Bring him home.


The place that Tseng, as Aerith called him, took Denzel to turned out to be a modest home not three blocks away. Aerith kept very close, but also very quiet. She said little to nothing on their trip here and kept her eyes on Tseng.

And there was a sleek, new model of a bike outside with custom plates and exhaust pipes. "Is that a SHIN-7-13?"

"I wouldn't know."

Denzel held his breath as Tseng opened the door to reveal-

… -A normal-looking house.

They stepped into the entryway, marked with a block of tiled floor that turned to a carpet hallway with a few feet, and a staircase greeted them to the left. It didn't look his old home in Sector 7, but with some organizing of clutter and the touch of homely things, he could see it turning into something nicer.

The fallen sun cast long shadows across the floor and left a darkness about the place that dispelled with a switch of the light by Tseng.

"You're back early," came a deep-ish, smooth voice. Denzel jumped.

A man dressed almost entirely in white and holding a glass of golden liquid emerged from a side room. Tseng gave a small, quick bow. "Found something on the street you might be interested in."

"Rufus Shinra," whispered Aerith.

Shinra lowered his eyes to Denzel and squinted. "A stray child?"

"Cloud's."

"… Oh." The white man gripped his temples. "Well."

"I thought the same." Tseng guided Denzel further inside and they entered a cluttered living room. "Slum area."

"And you didn't think to take him home?"

"He won't go."

Shinra went quiet again. Denzel wondered if he was the same as the president of the fallen company.

"Then we have a problem, don't we?" Shinra pulled out a phone. "I'll call Cloud."

"No!" Denzel took a step forward. "I mean, please don't!"

Shinra cast him a surprised look and traded another glance with Tseng. Aerith moved about them and inspected the two up close. Denzel swallowed and that pressure returned to his chest.

"We'd best listen to him for now," said Tseng. "At his age, it's hard to tell why they do such things."

"And it would be better to hold him here than return him to his parents who know such things better than we do?"

"Yes. If nothing else, we can use him in the meantime."

"I'm surprised at you, Tseng." Shinra pocketed his phone. "But I trust your judgement."

"Idiots," muttered Aerith, floating back Denzel's way. "I'll keep close, okay? You'll be safe with Tseng for now. Physically." She vanished in a wisp of light and Denzel sucked in a breath at the tingling sensation left by her disappearance.

"Let's not wait here all day." Tseng gestured toward the stairs. Shinra waved a hand and disappeared back into his room. "Best find you a place to sleep for tonight."

Denzel hesitated, a chill overtaking him at the sight of the level above them. No lights showed past the door and more shadows spilled down the stairs.

Tseng climbed a few steps before he paused and looked back. He said nothing. The house was dead silent, without a single motor or ventilation system to provide white noise. Denzel never thought he would miss that about Seventh Heaven.

He licked his dry lips and took slow steps after Tseng.

They entered a dark hallway, untouched by windows thanks to closed doors all around them, and Tseng opened one room and hit the light to reveal a room full of dangling wires, scattered beams of metal, and various electronic components like motors and exposed… were those CPUs? To the side sat a small couch.

Tseng left the room for a moment and returned with a pillow and blanket. "This should do the job, I think."

Denzel watched him prepare the couch as a makeshift bed. "… Thanks."

"This is temporary." Tseng straightened and looked him dead on. "We're not your family."

A loud crash sounded downstairs and Tseng shot his head up. Voices clamored in the entryway.

Denzel's blood ran cold. "Who's that?"

"A problem." Tseng stepped to the doorframe and leaned out. The ruckus continued and footsteps pounded further inside. "Wait here."

Denzel couldn't help a tremor in his neck and arms. He took shaky steps toward the door as Tseng calmly descended the stairs.

"You took a while," Tseng said. Denzel didn't see who he was talking to.

"Rude couldn't make up his mind!" whined a man. "We got stuck in traffic thanks to his indecision, and-"

"No excuses."

Denzel snuck a few steps downstairs and risked a peek into the room. Three people joined Tseng, one blonde lady, a large, bald man, and a red-haired skinny one.

"Elena," came a distant voice, "Rude, and Reno."

"Oh?" Elena turned his way. "What's this? He's quiet."

"Who's-?" Reno followed her gaze and jumped back. "Ah! It's a kid! What's that doing here?"

Shinra came out and gave them an irritated glance. "Please keep it down, I'm working in here."

"Can we keep him?" Elena asked, turning to Shinra. "Please, say yes!"

"He isn't ours to keep." Shinra flipped out a communicator. "He's Cloud's."

"But Cloud lost him, looks like! Finders, keepers!"

"It doesn't work like that, Elena. Reno, the Corneo boss has confirmed a meeting for tomorrow?"

Reno threw his head back and moved to the cupboards. "Not him again! Hate that guy – he's too slimy, even for my tastes."

"We need his money." Shinra kept his eyes on the phone. "He doesn't want any police or officials involved, of course. In fact, he wants you completely alone, no backup. If that's a problem-"

Reno popped some pills in his mouth and moved to take a seat in the living room. "No worries, man. He's an easy one to manipulate, at least."

"Have you eaten?" Tseng turned to Denzel.

"Uh…" Denzel clutched his pole closer. "Not since… this morning. I think."

"Do we have enough?" Elena turned to Reno. "How much did we get?"

"Plenty," said Rude, holding up two bags. "He's too small to make a difference."

"But you got specific meals," said Tseng. "Someone will have to share."

Quiet. They all looked at each other before Elena put up a hand. "I got extra."

"How about we all sacrifice a piece off our meal?" Shinra didn't look up from his phone. "It would be much more efficient, and the kid will still get enough to eat without you all going hungry."

"Oh, fine." Reno groaned. "But only half of a sandwich from me!"

Next thing Denzel knew, he was sitting on a box by their cluttered table and facing a plate made up of one part Wutai-style fried noodles, half an egg-and-ham sandwich, a couple bites' worth of salad, a spoonful of rice, and various other items and vegetables and sauced things he couldn't identify.

"Miss Elena, could you pass the salt?" he asked.

She grinned and did so. "Of course!" Then looked at Tseng. "You told him our names already? I didn't know you cared!"

Tseng narrowed his eyes at Denzel. "I didn't."

Denzel froze, salt shaker still in his hand.

"Cloud maybe told him?" Elena offered.

Denzel bit his lip. "Aerith did."

"You knew Aerith?" asked Reno, skeptic.

Denzel looked to where she would normally stand beside him. "No. She just talks to me sometimes."

Reno froze, sandwich halfway to his mouth. "She what?"

"That's not good," Elena whispered to Tseng.

Denzel felt safe enough to put his pole down, but kept it within reach just in case.

Shinra didn't seem to register he had food nearby – instead he focused on his phone with a serious face. "Hallucinations aren't uncommon for Geostigma survivors."

"Hallucinations, no." Reno scarfed down his sandwich and leaned back. "But this one taught him Elena's name."

"And yours, Reno." Denzel picked up his half-a-sandwich. "And Rude. Rufus Shinra. Tseng was good friends with her."

Shinra looked up from his phone and blinked. "Well, now. That is a problem."

"Why?"

"People aren't supposed to be talking to the dead like that," said Reno with a wave of his hand. "Might mean some nasty things."

"Like what?"

"Possession." Rude leaned over his salad. "Haunting."

"The Lifestream's caused problems before." Reno shook his head. "Is this the Geostigma, round two?"

Elena took a bite of her noodle-dish. "Or Cloud and Tifa gave our names and that fed the hallucination?"

Shinra set his phone down. "We'll not worry about it for now. File it with items to report to his parents."

"Anything else from our contacts?" asked Tseng.

Reno leaned his chair back on its hind legs. "A lot of them got quiet after the power shift in the East Corner. We should account for changes in allegiance and all that junk, watch out for moles."

Shinra went quiet for a moment. "I've exchanged correspondence with some of our contacts in the Garden and they've given differing stories."

Elena swore and Rude set down his fork.

Denzel looked between them. "What are you trying to do?"

Reno started, "Just taking over-"

"It's a work in progress." Shinra stood, his food untouched. "Nothing for you to worry about."

Reno frowned and stretched. "Welp. Are we taking your food, then?"

Shinra waved a hand. "I care not." Then blinked. "That is to say, I'm not hungry." He didn't leave.

Denzel pulled out his phone to see the time. A couple of hours had passed since he left the Strifes.

"Gimme that." Reno snatched the phone before Denzel could protest. "Kind of a dinky little thing isn't it?"

"Hey!"

"Take a look, man." Reno tossed the phone to Rude, who caught it with ease. Denzel let out a breath of relief, though he tried to tell himself he didn't care. Not like he'd be calling the Strife residence any time soon, after all. "Think you could do something with that?" Reno asked.

Rude hummed, a low and dangerous sound. "Easily. The materia is a nice touch."

"There we go." Reno draped his arms behind his chair. "We'll get you connected in no time."

"Connected to what?" asked Elena.

"To us. Best resource he could have if he's gonna go wandering about such sketchy places. And he has to pay us back for food, doesn't he? May as well use some precautions. Hey, how about he deals with the Don for me?"

Rude stood and took Denzel's staff.

"Wait," Denzel blurted, "what're you doing with that?"

"Adding some features." Rude left with both the phone and staff in hand.

Denzel swallowed and turned to Tseng. "What's he gonna do?"

Tseng looked between him and where Rude left. "I wouldn't worry about it."

"I would." Elena turned back to her food. "What if he sticks a bomb in a melee weapon?"

Reno leaned his chair back, using one foot on the table to keep himself from tipping. "Rude's not that stupid."

"He did it to my dagger once."

"You throw that thing. It's not melee."

"Not always." Elena shot him a glare. "I might not have thrown it and instead gotten my hand and face blown off."

"I'm sure he knew."

"You said you had a job for me?" Denzel asked. "That I could work for you guys?"

Reno perked up and leveled his chair. "Yeah. You up to it?"

Denzel nodded.

"Are you sure about that?" Shinra asked, still standing. "The Don may not be the best starting point."

Reno took Shinra's plate. "We'll train him first. Do some smaller errands, build it up, you know."

"You really want to do this?" Shinra asked, directing his attention to Denzel. "Our line of work isn't much suited for children."

"I do." Denzel clenched his fingers over his lap. "I want to do things. I want to help."

Shinra glanced at Reno with something hard in his eyes. "Only gopher jobs. Nothing serious."

"Wouldn't exactly be effective." Reno shrugged and gestured toward Denzel. "We'd only irritate people if we sent him to do hit jobs. Also fry our own hides."

"Good." Shinra looked between them. "I'll be in my office. No one disturb me."

"But!" Elena leaned in. "It wouldn't be quite so insulting if we trained him to be good."

"You mean make him a bada-"

Elena snatched Reno by the hair and he yelped. "Watch your language!"

"How should I start?" Denzel swallowed hard. "Do I need to-"

"Just leave it to us, kid!" Reno wrestled free of Elena's grip and yanked Denzel's chair out from under him. Reno ignored Denzel's shout of surprise. "Let's get you started with some basic techniques."

"Like strangulation!" Elena punched her open palm. "That should be an easy one for someone your size! Oh, this is gonna keep me awake for once!"

Denzel found no time to protest before Reno came barreling at him.