Blood 27:

Making up

"This thing is fried."

Evan exhaled sharply at Rose's conclusion, raking his hands through his hair and walking away a few steps. "Can it be saved at all?"

"Not with my skills." Rose sat back, wiping her hands over with a rag. "I'm no mechanic, but even I can see this is going to require major surgery."

"So we're screwed."

"Basically. Unless you can find an engine doctor."

Evan cast a glance down the corridor, not favouring the idea of going outside at all, let alone to interact with the populace. "Don't like the sound of that rain." He changed the subject.

"Sounds like wild horses on the roof."

"Tap dancing wild horses, maybe." Rose didn't answer, stiffly getting to her feet and flexing her ankle. Evan was concerned. "Maybe you shouldn't be on that so soon."

"I can't see you getting much done around here without Tess. No offense, but you and Reeve aren't particularly skilled in all areas. You can't use a computer to save your life, and Reeve's not the strongest fighter I know. You need Tess to back you both up in both areas. Seeing as we don't have Tess, I'll have to do it instead."

"Rose, I am against this. I want you to know that."

"Duly noted."

"But I know that even if I tell you not to, you will. That's something I've learned at least." He started off down the corridor after her. "Just take it easy. Don't do anything you don't feel ready for."

"I won't." She halted, looking back over her shoulder with a thoughtful frown. "Do you want anything?"

Evan hesitated. "S'cuse me?"

"I'm going outside. Do you want anything."

He couldn't believe it. "Did you listen to a word I just said?"

"Yes. You told me not to do anything I don't feel ready for." She made for the lobby stairs. "I'm going to look for a mechanic. Before you say anything more, I'm not going out like this. I'm going to take a detour through the Turks' quarters and pick up some regular clothes. I left some here last time around." Obviously her confidence hadn't rubbed off on him. "I'll be fine."

"Like you are now?" To his surprise she snarled, throwing a punch into the wall.

"I know what I'm doing! Why can't you just trust me for once?! I am not a child Evan!"

"I'm not saying you are." He was stunned. Up until now her violent mood swings had seemed like a thing of the past. She still had those teenage rages inside it appeared.

"I'm going. I'll see you later." Without another word she started off onto the landing.

Evan made no move to follow, staring down the empty corridor with a blank expression. "Can't even control my own subordinates now. Well I'm making good of this situation." Shaking his head, he turned on his heel and wandered off towards the Presidential office.

---------

Cloud had tried to lump Cid and Red on her again, but not this time. For once Yuffie felt like working alone. She needed some alone time to gather her thoughts and plan an attack on Trey. He was a wily one, so it would take some serious planning. Turning a twirl as she walked, she looked up at the sky, wrinkling her nose as a raindrop hit her cheek. Yes the rain was coming down in big drops, but it didn't hurt when it hit; it just soaked through your clothes in no time and left you a little chilly.

Yuffie didn't care. The nice cool rain actually lifted her spirits rather than dampened them like it did the others. She leant against the pub wall, folding her arms across her chest. Speaking of the others, she hadn't seen Vincent for some time. Maybe he was off keeping an eye on Trey. He usually listened to her, even when the others said they didn't care, or they didn't want to hear it. Cid listened to her also, but usually kept up a pretence that he didn't want to know.

She smiled, remembering the time she went with Cid and Vincent to the Corel reactor, and the manic train ride that followed. Yeah she'd been scared. Terrified for a minute there, but in her heart of hearts she knew that Cid would get them out of it. He was a whizz with machines, no doubt about that. He was just a bit grumpy, and it was fun to play on it. He didn't really hate her either – it was almost a sort of game now that they called each other names and acted as though they despised one another; a kind of competition to see who could come up with a better insult. So far Cid was ahead by miles, but only because he knew every swear word under the sun, and every insult for that matter. Never mind. She had teenage tantrums up her sleeve. She could mix and match on the spur of the moment and find something truly awe inspiring.

None of that mattered right then. About to go on her way, she squeaked as someone grabbed her from behind and dragged her into the pub tunnel. The scenery went by in a blur, suddenly finding herself forced up against the wall, looking back at Trey and Vincent. This could not be good...

Trey looked as though he could murder her, a look of pure thunder on his face as he stared back at her with those piercing blue eyes of his. Vincent was the picture of serenity, standing back and watching Trey do his thing.

Feeling shaky, Yuffie looked at Trey. "What are you gonna do?" To her surprise, he took one hand off her arm and waved, flashing her a bright white grin.

"Hi Yuffie!" He sang, letting her go and taking a few steps back. Horrified, she sprawled up against the wall.

"What's going on? What are you planning?!"

Trey looked crushed. "Me? Planning? How could you suggest something so nasty?"

"Because you're evil!" She screeched back, snatching a cure from her materia pouch and hurling it at him. "Leave me alone!" She looked at Vincent. "Don't let him get me! He's gonna do something sneaky!"

Vincent smirked, turning his back on them and wandering away to pick up her discarded materia. Trey sighed. "Enough of this. I'm just gonna cut to the chase. Yuffie, I'm sorry about your hand."

She tilted her head, "Huh?"

"See, I'm not really interested in helping you guys out. I lost someone in Midgar, and I just want to find out if they're okay."

"Tell her the whole truth, Trey." Vincent commanded him, leaning against the opposite wall, rolling the green materia around the back of his hand.

Trey took a sharp breath, "Sure thing, boss." and addressed Yuffie. "Vinny and I used to work together, a long time ago. Don't get me wrong, I don't work with the Shinra now. I left the company more than twenty years ago. I just needed some way of getting to Junon."

Yuffie frowned, "Why?"

"Because if I know my boy, and I do, he'll head there. Never was a small town kinda guy. He'll go where the booze is."

Vincent broke away from the wall to hand her materia back to her. "Trey is Reno's father." He explained, closing her hand around the shiny green orb.

Yuffie stared at Trey in disbelief. "You're looking for Reno?"

He nodded. 'Mmhmm. He's sorta my responsibility. Besides, he's probably hungry by now, seeing as he didn't turn up for dinner." He rubbed the back of his neck in embarrassment. "I kind of feed him."

"You wouldn't believe it, but he loves Reno."

"Much as I hate to admit it, he's right. That's why-" He got down on his knees in front of Yuffie and clasped his hands, "I need you to keep quiet about what I did back at Midgar. The whole ex-Turk thing isn't good in itself, but if Dunderhead and the others find out I hurt you, it's end game."

Yuffie didn't know what to say. Here was her enemy, on his knees asking her a favour. This was so cool! "I'll think about it, but if I say yes it doesn't mean I like you. Get that into your dumb red head."

"Yes ma'am."

Vincent shook his head, not really happy seeing a grown man beg. In truth he never thought he would see Trey Henson begging, even if he had been put up to it. The important thing was that Trey and Yuffie were communicating, and although it probably meant Trey acting as her personal slave for the remainder of his time with the group, peace would remain.

Getting to his feet, Trey looked suddenly thoughtful, "Just wondering, but when you were charging round the train tunnels, looking for a way to Scarlet's little cannon, did you happen to see a lady? Green eyes, black hair, kind of striking lookin'?"

Yuffie shook her head. "Nup." and edged towards the tunnel entrance, "I'm gonna go and get to work." Before either man could say anything she was out into the square and gone towards the inn.

"You think she'll keep quiet?"

Vincent nodded. "When she says she'll think about it, it usually means 'yes'."

"I see." Trey cradled his chin, watching her go with a small smirk. "You know, I kinda like her. She's got spunk."

"Yuffie is... Yuffie." Vincent wandered off, trusting his friend would follow. "She'll probably tell Cid and Red XIII about you, but it won't go any further."

"You think?"

"Yes."

"Oh." Unconsciously, Trey shrugged. "You think we'll be hanging 'round this dump much longer?"

"That's up to Cloud."

"Oh joy."

---------

The streets of Junon truly were a mess. The rain had stopped and everything was slick and shiny. Though the rioting seemed to have subsided some, the place was still dangerous. As Rose walked she found herself ducking into shop doorways to keep clear of brawls that broke out for apparently no reason. People were fighting over food a little further down the street, a group of women laying into each other over a discarded bag of shopping.

For a second Rose felt as though she should try for it herself, suddenly hungry. She couldn't remember the last time she ate; until now it hadn't occurred to her that she hadn't. If she wanted the food, she could quite easily take it, the dual peacemakers at her hips an advantage none of the other women had. She shook her head, disgusted with herself for even thinking such a thing. She could make do without a little longer.

Clarity was what she really needed right then, and to remember everything she knew about the city. Before all this disorder, the place was crawling with engineers – a number of them needed to work on the various ships and planes that came in. A lot of them used to frequent a small diner. She remembered it as being full of tacky neon signs, and only serving Shinra employees. Tseng had liked the place also, and used to insist on going there whenever he was in town.

People tended to drink their problems away, and right now there would be a lot of troubled people. If the place was still in one piece, it was a good place to start.

She hesitated, suddenly aware of someone approaching her from the side. It was a man, probably in his early forties. She quickened her pace. Not about to put herself in a compromising situation.

"Hey you!" Her heart sank at running footsteps behind her, strong hands grabbing her arms and forcing her back against a store wall. "What's with ignoring me, missy?"

"I don't answer to 'hey you'." She spat back. Her captor eyed her, not making much secret of looking down her cleavage. She hunched her shoulders. "I'd appreciate it if you kept your eyes away from my private places."

He laughed, "Oh, a feisty one." raising an eyebrow as she struggled. "Quite strong too. Didn't think you would be by the look of you."

"Get your hands off me now!" Of course he paid no attention to her, pulling her away from the wall, annoyed as she fell over.

"Get up."

"I can't."

"for fuck's sake." He bent to pick her up, surprised as she rolled up on one shoulder and wrapped her legs around his neck. "What the hell are you doing?" Rose said nothing, tightening her grip on his neck, satisfied as he coughed. "Ease off!"

"Leg me go." She commanded him. "Now."

He did as he was told, getting to his feet. Rose crawled over to the wall, leaning against it to push herself up, her heel throbbing. Before she could stand her enemy had his hands around her neck, and her back against the wall. "Listen missy. I don't know if you noticed, but this place isn't much fun right now. I suggest you hand over your necklace, and we'll call it a day."

She clasped her crystal star in her hand, grimacing as the points dug in. "No."

"Hand it over."

"Piss off!"

He took one hand away from her neck and began trying to pry her fingers away from her necklace. "You don't listen, do you missy? You have any idea what I could get with this little thing?"

"Don't touch it. My mother gave it to me."

"Get her to give you a new one."

"She's dead, you bastard!"

"Sorry, but this is about survival." Changing his tactics, he yanked the chain and broke it, ripping the star out of Rose's hand to leave an angry red cut. "Thank you." He released her.

Shaking, Rose drew her peacemakers and aimed them at his head. "Give it back."

The thief looked at her, stunned. She was full of surprises it seemed. Not about to argue with pistols, he dropped her necklace on the floor and backed away. Rose picked it up, keeping an eye on him as she did so. "In future when a lady tells you not to do something, I suggest you listen."

"Look, it was nothing personal."

"I don't doubt it." She smiled. He was panicking.

"I haven't always been a thief. It's a case of finding some way to pay for things, and all the money round here's already been taken. I'm worried about the future."

"I don't want to hear it." She shook her hand. "Ah, you cut me."

"Sorry. It was nothing personal."

"So you keep saying." She huffed, holstering her pistols. "Get out of here. Don't think about trying anything with me again. I'm a quick draw when I want to be."

He didn't need to be told twice, turning and darting down the street. Rose watched him go with a frown, turning her attention on her star. In a way she blamed herself for that little encounter. Really she should have taken it off, but always wearing it as she did, it had never occurred to her to do so. 'Need to be more careful in future.' A little more wary, she started down the street towards the diner.

---------

Cid straightened and rubbed his back. Kalm wasn't in too bad a state, but the place was in disarray. Unlike Midgar the residents had stayed quiet at Meteorfall and watched. He admired their grace, all of them terrified, but none of them running riot with it. An example to be followed. Taking his cigarette from his mouth to yawn, Yuffie bounded up beside him.

"What you doin', Old Man?"

"Nothin' that concerns you, Bitch."

"Cool." Smiling, she bent to pick up one of the stones from the stairs. The force of Holy destroying the Mako reactor had also torn the stairs apart, strewing stones and wood across the square. A few windows had broken as a result, but no one had been injured. Cid grinned, Yuffie standing straight and huffing loudly. "I can't do it." She proclaimed, her hands on her hips. "How are we going to clean this place up quickly when half of us can't even lift this mess?"

"Give it another go. I'll help ya."

Together they managed to lift the stone into the nearby trailer. About four jeeps stood around, trailers hitched to the back for debris. Cid tapped on the back of the one containing his and Yuffie's stone. The driver started off, his second load of the day ready for the dump outside town.

Turning back to Yuffie, Cid dusted his hands off. "I'm thirsty. How 'bout a juice?"

She nodded, "I'm parched. All this dust's making my throat sore."

Cid sighed, shaking his head jokily, "Always complaining about something, aren't ya, Brat?"

"Complaining gets things done differently, Old Man."

Chuckling, he led off towards the bar, whistling and nodding to Vincent.

Trey looked up, a little surprised to see Cid and Yuffie taking time out. "Resting already? Disgraceful." He joked.

Vincent didn't reply, busy rolling a stone over to Barret and Red. Marlene kept out of the way, seated on Barret's broad shoulder. She had quite a view of proceedings from there, observing Cloud, Tifa and Elmyra on the other side of town, boarding up the inn's ground floor windows.

As expected, Elmyra had taken the news of Aeris' death hard, but she had insisted on doing her bit. The people of Kalm had made sure her stay was comfortable, it was the least they could do. She glanced across the square, meeting Marlene's curious gaze. When AVALANCHE decided to move out, there was something of Aeris' she wanted the little girl to have.

She didn't blame Cloud; it had been Aeris' choice to go with him and his friends. Despite knowing that, she blamed herself. There was so much more she could have done to stop Aeris from leaving, but at the same time she acknowledged that the world would be a very different place if she hadn't left.

Red wandered along beside Barret, nudging the stones with his head. Admittedly he was beginning to feel a little sore, but he had to keep going. It was his duty to help out the planet and its people. He halted suddenly, Barret swearing at him. He heard something from the bar. To his surprise, Cid and Yuffie returned with the proprietor, each carrying a tray of drinks. He noticed with some delight (and not a little annoyance) that a dog bowl sat among the glasses on Yuffie's tray.

"Listen up!" The ninja cried, drawing everyone's attention her way. "Me and the Old Man thought everybody needed a little rest, so drinks for everybody, and they're free!"

Not one person in the square wasn't grateful, Red giving a thankful whine as Yuffie set his bowl in front of him. "You're welcome, Red." She told him, spinning on one leg and darting off towards Vincent and Trey.

She offered one to Vincent, slapping Trey's hand as he reached for one. He frowned, "What's the big deal?"

"I made a special one for you." She told him, almost tossing it at him. Suspicious, Trey took the glass, holding it up and looking at it from all angles.

"I warn you," he mumured to Yuffie, his frown remaining, "I'm an expert at detecting poisons."

"You have to be, being you." Vincent muttered.

"I heard that."

"I intended you to."

Still suspicious, and not a little insulted by his friend's remark, he took a tentative sip. Yuffie stood on tiptoes, almost climbing him to see his reaction. "Well?"

Vincent tilted his head, "Well? Anything wrong with it?"

To both of their surprise, Trey cocked an eyebrow at Yuffie, "Did you put tequila in this?"

She nodded. "Uh huh."

Trey smiled, setting his glass on the ground and grabbing her in a hug and lifting her off the ground, spinning in a circle, "I love you! I love you and when this is done I'm taking you home with me!"

"No! No you don't! I don't wanna live with Reno!"

Trey stopped spinning then, looking down at her in his arms, "Reno doesn't live with me. He just comes over when he's hungry." He set her on her feet. Yuffie brushed herself down, waving her empty tray at him,

"I'll keep shtum about the whole Turk thing, just don't touch me again."

He saluted and clicked his heels together smartly, stepping back into a deep bow. "Your wish is my command senorita."

"Good. Make sure it stays that way." With that, Yuffie straightened her jersey and walked off, head held high.

Trey watched her go, standing straight when she was out of sight into the tunnel. "Impetuous tyke."

"Isn't that why you like her."

"That's a large part of the attraction."

"She's a thief."

"We're legal murderers. Who're we to judge?"

"You have a point."

Stretching and cricking his back with a loud crack, Trey turned back to the stones. "I guess we better get on with it if we're ever going to get out of here."

Vincent wasn't about to argue, not particularly enjoy hard labour. He steeled himself and got back to it.

---------

By the time Rose reached the diner her heel felt tight and uncomfortable. She leant against the wall a moment, adjusting her boot. She acknowledged it was a silly idea to wear heels with such an injury, but loathe as she was to admit it, she felt self conscious without.

At only 5'4 she felt they were necessary. As long as she could run and jump in them, they were okay. Seeing as she wouldn't be running anywhere any time soon, she figured they were all right for now. Composing herself, she walked through the door of the diner, favouring her injured foot.

The atmosphere in the place was close, a thick veil of smoke hanging in the air. It appeared to be originating from the bar. Not a smoker herself, Rose chose to stay away from its source and busy herself with finding an engineer.

Just as she crossed the room towards a group of likely candidates huddled around a table, she heard a familiar voice. "Hey! Serving wench! I'm running dry here."

She spun round, zeroing in on the red head at the bar. Now this was a surprise. Reno perched on a barstool; his spindly legs wrapped around the stool struts as he leant on the bar, practically nose first in his ash tray. He was also the smoke spring it seemed. Unable to stop herself, Rose started over to him.

"Now, that's what I call service." Reno smiled wearily, patting the waitress on the backside as she turned and walked away with her empty tray.

"Reno." Of all people he did not expect to see Rose looking back at him, dressed in civvies.

"Well, well. What have we here." He gestured towards the free stool beside his, "Pull up a pew in the chapel of fun."

Rose shook her head. "No thank you. I prefer to stand."

"Sit, stand. It's all relative."

Unsure exactly what state he was in, she tapped him on the shoulder, though he was looking at her, to gauge his reaction. Reno frowned, tilting his head at an awkward angle to see the spot she touched. "What? There something on me?"

"Mosquito. What are you doing here?"

"The same thing you are. Escaping the Shinra haters in Midgar, right?"

"I suppose."

"Good. Then as I said earlier – It's all relative." He knocked back his drink; some purple liquid that appeared to glow. "Mmmmm... There's something I've been meaning to give you for some time."

Rose watched, intrigued as he fumbled one hand in his pants' front pocket, his slow, dozy movements enough indication that he was drunk. After a minute he pulled out a round object and held it out to her in a closed fist. "Open your hand, hun."

A little apprehensively, she did as she was told, surprised when he dropped a glass eyeball with red blood vessels spidering around the outside into her palm. Perplexed, she picked it up between two fingers and examined it closely.

"It's an eye." She said flatly, arriving at the most obvious conclusion. Reno shook his head.

"It's what's attached to the eye."

"There's nothing."

"Ookay." He rummaged in his pocket again, this time bringing out a key on a broken chain. "The eyeball must have come off." Carelessly he tossed the key to her, slumping back on the bar quickly. "I'm gonna be sick."

Confused, Rose looked at the key, frowning to see some letters and a number inscribed on it: L1LLY. "Reno?" She looked up, wrinkling her nose to see him throwing up in the ashtray. Obviously he had reached his limit.

Gasping, he sat up a little, "That's the key to my bike. Trey told me to give it to you sometime. I'm not ridin' anywhere in a hurry. 'Scuse me." He got to his feet, clamping his hand over his mouth and making a dash for the bathrooms.

Rose stared after him a minute, unsure what to do. He was in no frame of mind to give her his bike. Surely he would regret it in the morning? She closed her hand around the key, remembering the eyeball in her other suddenly. She put it on the bar beside his recycled lunch and left the diner in search of this mysterious bike.

--------

The sky had begun to bruise. Evan idled at the entrance to Junon Branch, his stomach feeling uncomfortably tight. He knew that feeling all too well now. Worry, his old friend. Rose had been gone a long time. Too long in his opinion. Tessi and Reeve had started looking over the generator, the former not really too interested, the latter not relishing the idea of poking about heavy machinery by candle light. Evan couldn't blame them. There wasn't really much they could do.

He stood to attention, an engine approaching. Of all things he was surprised to see a motorcycle coming towards him. It was one of the old models that used to be commonplace around the towns below Midgar, now the slums.

It halted in front of him, Rose sitting astride it with a bemused expression. "What are you doing out here?" She queried, twisting the key in the ignition and pulling it out, hiding it away safe in her coat pocket.

"Waiting for you to come back. Where in the world did that come from?"

"Reno. I found him in that little diner. He gave it to me."

"I see."

She dismounted, dusting her coat down and straightening her scarf, "I found an engineer that's willing to help us too. Only thing is, we're going to have to pay for his services."

Evan looked thoughtful, "I see."

"No one else was interested."

"We have to make do with what we can get."

"Glad you approve." She wandered past him into Junon branch.

Sighing, Evan took hold of the bike and wheeled it in after her. There was no question of leaving it outside – any transport was a God send. He should have been relieved that she returned unharmed, and with an engineer's promise to boot, but something else preyed on his mind. 'Why hasn't Reno reported here yet if he's in town?'

(NOTE: Long chapter. The longest I've done so far for this story. I want to get on with the story as it's dragging a little in the shorter chapters.

Anyway. So, Trey and Yuffie, no longer mortal enemies. You didn't think it would last, did you:D and Reno's back, even if he is sicking in an ashtray. Not much more to say right now. I'm going all bleary-eyed because it's 5 o 9 in the am here. I've been writing this chapter on and off all day. Over the last few the writing quality deteriorated a bit. Should have done better this time around.

And there's finally a picture of Rose where you can see her face on deviantart. The first one I've drawn that I'm happy with. It is how Rose looks. stormus. deviantart. com . Next time everyone)