Disclaimer: Same old song and dance; all Final Fantasy related characters used in this are copyright to Square Enix and Tetsuya Nomura; filler characters are copyrighted my creative mind.
AN: Just a heads up...this may be the last chapter for a while. Pending on whether or not later today or tomorrow I can crank out Chapter 29 which will glance over what goes down between Nicholas and Crew against Sephiroth and crew...I was going to tail out this chapter with the set up of Nicholas approaching Sephiroth and crew...but...that'll be part of the stuff in Chapter 29. Sad to say...I hate having to put Cloud and Sephiroth into the upcoming situation in the next chapter...I've never been as cruel as I'm going to be with 'em.
Legend: The first couple of paragraphs or so, particularly the stuff of Angeal and I believe...Raechel, don't get all, "...I can't understand this flow for this...why is it here and not in the previous chapter" on me. I put it here as a semi filler here for this chapter and semi setting up the scene for what comes about in the later half of this chapter. Either way. If I don't get you guys Chapter 29 or 30 later this week, it means my Anti Virus ran out on the 10th and I don't dare jump on to do anything such as working on MS Word out of chances something will come up w/o protection. So...I'll get Chapter 29 and 30 to you if not this week.
There is always calm before the storm, but that calm, there are warning signs or emergency alert systems put into effect should the need for warning people before the storm hits shores. Perfection was dotted about the city streets; nothing could ruin the day. It had all started out perfect. Once the incident at Sephiroth's apartment had been sorted out and calls made to those who were most worried about what had happened; Zack had been caught up and was calmed by knowing the details Cloud divulged to him. Everything seemed to be normal once again.
As normal as it could be.
In the few hours following Cloud's phone call to the house; Angeal's cell phone began to ring from the bedroom. Zack had stepped out to get things for dinner that night, leaving Angeal to hobble his way into the bedroom; flipping open the phone after identifying the number and the caller.
Genesis' sister.
"Whatever it is, Pauline, I'm not going to listen to it…Genesis has made his bed more then once and he's where he deserves to be," Angeal felt being short with the girl was all she deserved for guilting him into testifying on her brother's behalf to allow for Parole, "I don't want anything to do with him anymore. I'm starting to get back to normalcy and want to do that without him being held over my head."
Soft puffs of air could be heard over the receiver, she was letting him ramble and get it out on the open, "I understand that, Angeal, but…Genesis has…he's changed. I don't know what it is, but some things changed about him. The Guard that oversees him has said in some way, he's changed for a changed man…"
Hard to believe that such a man as Genesis, the flamboyant prancing pony of their High School that was on the arm of a new guy or girl, had one of the two, or both, on his arm every other day…could change. Angeal had had a feeling that some way, or even, someday, Genesis would change back to the happy go lucky guy he used to be before whatever force of change hit him in High School. But as he watched Genesis go down a dark path that he never seemed to turn from; he could watch and wait for Genesis to realize that what he was doing wasn't right. It seemed, being put away for harming someone he had wanted so long ago years later, the guilt of what he had done, seemed to have gotten to him and had changed him.
"He's told me that in the last months he's been there; he's been working to become a Detective, or even a Counselor. He wants to give back and make up for what he did to you…"
"Angeal, are you still there?"
His gaze had turned now and again for the front door; he didn't need Zack asking who he was on the phone with and flying off the handle for talking with the person that nearly killed Angeal. At the best of times, Zack was still touchy about what happened, especially when he helped Angeal do his Physical Therapy at home; it was only at home because Zack had about had it with the one who had been helping Angeal. From Zack's point of view, she was getting a little too friendly with Angeal that had Zack all but dragging Angeal out of there without his walker. As long as Angeal didn't interact with Genesis' family when Zack was around, he was safe from having to calm Zack from going off the deep end about his interactions.
"I'm still here…I'm glad to hear that he wants to do something with his life; he never seemed to have any goals in life aside from climbing up the hierarchy of the guys and gals at school…" Angeal had to laugh at that; when they had been kids, Genesis had always made the stand that he would be a stereotypical Firefighter or Police Man, "…I guess he's finally going to fulfill a childhood career dream…"
This got a laugh from the young woman, "I guess he is…"
Sounds of a key turning in the lock of the front door of the apartment caught Angeal's attention, "I have to go…I guess, send Genesis my congratulations on him changing his life. Maybe…one of these days we'll have to sit down and talk one on one…"
"I would like that, and I'm sure Genesis would too…"
Things have a way have a trickle down effect, as it is created in the example of one single ripple on the calm surface of a lake as they fan out and become bigger and wider. Raechel had been ready to tear Sephiroth apart after he had all but chased out the paramedics once they had showed up before the police. It was only Cloud's tears of worry that stopped Sephiroth from tearing the men's heads off and possibly tearing Raechel apart for even suggesting that the Paramedics check on him. But, as they always were, Raechel always got her way as she had sat there and watched them stitch up Sephiroth's head. But what she didn't see while they worked on him; was the imagery going through Sephiroth's head of a scantily clad Cloud dressed in a Nurse's outfit attending to him. Kissing the blow to his head that was moving to other regions of him that if he didn't have full control over his urges to be turned on by the idea of his boyfriend dressed in a scanty clad Nurse's uniform; he would've had to explain why he had pitched a tent in his pants.
A blow to his head would've been the least of his worry at that time, but, the day dream he had playing in his head would serve him well later on when he and Cloud had time alone to themselves.
Raechel hadn't been heard from since locking herself in Sephiroth's Study to work on things related to the novel; it wasn't like she didn't have anything she could be doing somewhere else. She didn't trust leaving Sephiroth alone at the moment, but as it seemed, she could hear the clatter of keystrokes. Leave it to Sephiroth to keep working even after getting knocked out unconscious, but after a while, she stopped hearing the keystrokes.
"Sephiroth?" she whispered as she poked her head out, not receiving any sounds of the man answering; she made her way out into the Living Room where she found Sephiroth curled up with Cloud on the sofa, "…I think I'll just leave. I'll be in touch…"
As she headed down the stairs to her car, a phone call started to buzz on her phone, Great, I'm not five minutes out the door and there's another emergency…
"Hello?"
"Hello Raechel…It has been a while, or have forgotten about my surprise visit to you that one night in the alley…" a dark chuckling smile could be heard on the end of the line as Raechel's fear level started to reach intensity, "You know who this is, don't you?"
She didn't want to answer, "Yeah, a sick little bastard who doesn't have the balls to nail down a real woman because what woman would want a man with a penis the size of yours. Whatever it is you want, Nicholas, you stay the Hell away from Sephiroth. He has not done anything to warrant your form of harassment."
"Oh, but I think he has, you see…he's not the perfect little author you assume him to be…he's a lying, cheating, manipulative plagiarizing bastard…If you don't steer clear of him, let's just say. A bump to his head will be the last of his worries," Nicholas' fingers began to twirl about a small knife through his fingers as he flicked it at picture of Cloud and Sephiroth together on his wall, "He'll have to worry more about some paying a little visit to that cute little friend of his…so innocent, so pure…But I'm sure Sephiroth's always plucked that flower…no harm in someone else having a few play plucks at that plucked flower is there?"
"…Stay. Away. From Them." Raechel ground out; she could hear her back teeth grinding together, "So help me, I will have the police at your front door faster then you can escape out the fire escape of your building. And yes, I do know where you live. Let's just say, I like keeping an eye on anyone that tries to hurt my investment."
A dark chuckle erupted from Nicholas' lips as he threw the knife at the picture, catching Cloud right between the eyes, "I'd like to see you try and fetch the cops on little old me, I have a friend that's an ex-cop and I'm sure he has some connections to make sure that anything you say against me gets…oh let's just say…lost," he could hardly contain his laughter, "I really must go, Raechel, I've got another call on my other line coming in…tell Sephiroth and his little boy toy 'Hi' for me. I'll be seeing them really soon."
"NICHOLAS!"
The line had gone dead as Raechel yelled the man's name, "Damn it! Damn, damn, damn. Shit!"
Can my life be any worse?
Her phone rang again, "Whatever the Hell else you have to say Nicholas, I'm not into listening to you!"
"I'm sorry, did I catch you at bad time?" it was the Printers calling to confirm about the displays for the upcoming novel and the other papers that had been printed up in lieu of the book's release, "I can call another time if you need time to compose yourself."
"I…I'm so sorry, I'm just having an off day; have you finished the fliers and other items I asked for?" Raechel tried to compose herself as she climbed into her car, "Oh good! I'll be by to get them right now! And I apologize again for chewing you out…I just have a lot on my plate at the moment and a condescending one night stand that doesn't know when to leave me alone. Or get the hint that I'm not interested him."
Carlton hadn't been in a Police Station since his days as a uniformed Police Officer, being in the Station now was making him itch seeing as how he was connected with seedy underground activities. There was reason to be worried that someone might spot him and bust him for his activities which would blow his chances of helping Matthew nail the guy he had been hired to do harm to Sephiroth and Cloud. All he could do was keep his head down and hope that no one tried to make eye contact with him.
Less suspicious that way.
How much longer you going to be, Matthews? It's not like you guys are that busy, I should know…
A door to his left opened as the young officer stepped out, Police Standard issued pistol cradled in the holster under his arm, "Glad you could make it, Carlton…come on in; easier to talk in private, away from prying eyes and ears that can pick up on anything."
"Seems like you've made a real name for yourself," Carlton saw the gold plagued name plate on the man's desk, "So you work alongside the Chief of Police? Nice going, kid."
Matthew chuckled, Carlton had called him "kid" when they had first started out together on the force; he was not willing to work with the man, but there was something that seemed to strike a chord between the two of them. The love of saving lives. Matthew had joined the force shortly after his Mother had been killed in a Drunk Driving accident; she had been in the wrong place, at the wrong time. It didn't help that at the time, the Police Force was as corrupt as a crumbling block of stinky cheese which was soon tossed out and replaced. It had been will hidden that the real reason behind the accident was a Police Pursuit that had gone horribly wrong; his Mother had been caught in the cross fires that instantly killed her and had put the suspect in traction for months. Carlton had joined because, as it was, every man in his family had been a Police Officer; his brother had failed his Father by going for a career that agreed with his "lifestyle". He had gone for being a Fashion Designer that had all but sent Carlton's Father into an early grave, but to save his Father from that end. His brother had moved out even with his Mother begging him to not leave. Different tragedies as they may seem had brought the two men together, and now, an avoidable tragedy had brought them back together; even though, the reasoning was not under circumstances that were of the most happiest circumstances.
Matthew chuckled, "It's not anything huge or big, not as big a deal as you made it when I used to work with you; I can almost remember the one time I remember seeing you almost salivating over this position. You wanted this position so badly you could almost taste it, I think that's something you said once…" he turned his attention back to a photograph on his desk, "Anyway, down to business…"
"Always down to business as usual, huh? You haven't changed Matthews…no matter how old you get."
Both men had to laugh at that, "Yeah, but now its for the greater good, now, let's get down to the matter at hand regarding you helping us nail this guy…"
A file folder found itself sliding across the desk to Carlton's hands, "Nicholas? Doesn't this guy have a last name?"
"We think he does, but no one can drag one up because this guy has several aliases for his line of work."
"And what's that?" Carlton asked as he thumbed through the papers that weighed down the folder, "Whoever this guy is, he's got quite a rap sheet of sorts; unlawful entry, assault, assault with a…camera? What does this guy do for a living?"
A pile of photos ended up on the desk as Carlton was shocked by the photos, "He's a photographer?"
"No, the guys he works with are photographers; he just the creep who writes the smear articles to go with these photos," Matthew pointed out as he popped a tape into the VCR of the T.V. in the office, "Do you see the news about the known Romance Author, Sephiroth Maximus and Co. being attacked at a local outdoor Patio some months back?"
"I might recall seeing snippets of here and there…"
Matthew jabbed his finger onto the face of the man in question that the file was of, "Let's just say, this little sick bastard ordered his guys to do everything, even attempt to kidnap Mr. Maximus' young friend, who was later identified as his "boyfriend" and who knows what the guys he was with might have done aside from kidnapping this guy," he sat back in his chair, "This video is footage from one of the officers that was off duty at the time and luckily had a phone with a video camera on it. He turned it into the News and we got our hands on it after the fact to use it in the case between the two in the incident. We, more like myself, I have reason to believe he's the one that's hired you to take on Mr. Maximus and Co. again."
Carlton burned into his brain the face the man whom had hired him for his last job; to think, a man this sinister and sick as this was roaming the streets. If he and his wife had still been together, who knows, the young man in the photo could've been his own son. But there was always a rule each of the officers put into play when dealing such cases as this; keep all personal feelings and emotions for the individuals involved to yourself and out of the job. Hard to do so when you're the sick puppet being put into play to do the sick puppet master's work so that his hands stay clean of any spilled blood. He had all but burned the image into his mind as well nearly destroy the file had it not been for Matthew's hand shaking Carlton's shoulder.
"I still need this file; if Shelly in Records found out this saw a beating like you were giving it, she'll never let me borrow records again, no matter the case and in fact," he placed the file back on the desk as he moved behind it, a heavy sigh in his voice, "I haven't told her that I've been in touch with you. As much as she hates to admit it, she misses you Carlton…"
A heavy groan of a sigh left the man's lips, "Doesn't matter. She drew her line in the sand years ago; me or the job. And guess what I chose? Back to business or is there something else you aren't telling me?"
As if fate was not enough of a fickle bitch to rain on Carlton's parade, the momentary sense of guilt for his own personal woes poked its nose through the door, "I wasn't aware that ex-police were allowed to work on a case as minimal as this, let alone be a snitch…"
"Hello Jonathan, I see you finally ate your way up the food chain of command," Carlton heard a soft chuckle come from Matthew; it was a well known joke between them that the man in front of them had a hunger for snack cakes, and it showed on his waist line, "Matthews asked if I'd help out seeing as how I was the hired "thug" of sorts to be in on this little venture you're scratching off as minimal. Have you not read over this little ass' previous arrests? Harassment, assault charges, breaking and entering, unlawful entry with a weapon?"
"He plead no contest to those charges, did his time and got off for good behavior and a slap on the wrist," Jonathan remarked as he started to fish around in his pockets for a Twinkie, "Besides, its not like he actually means to do any harm to a lonely little romance novelist. He's just looking to scare the guy and cause a ruckus enough to get a good few shots for his smear magazine. No harm, no foul. Am I right?"
If only it was that simple.
"Matthews, I want you to meet a new member of our Office; let's just say, I wouldn't have wanted him in the office after what it was he was put away for after getting out on parole, but it seems he's made better of himself. Rhapados! Get in here and say 'Hi' to a couple of good friends of mine…"
Carlton looked to Matthews, whispering, "Rhapados? As in Genesis Rhapados? I thought he was put away for good for the sexual assault charge put against him about five years ago?"
"You didn't hear?" Matthew whispered back as they waited for the man to make his grand entrance, at which he did; a sweeping one at that, "He went after an ex lover of his and about nearly killed the guy. In my own way, I wouldn't mind dying in bed after having sex with the Missus, but let's just say…"
Genesis was just as proud a peacock as the day he started strutting about the High School campus, proud to come out as Bi to all that wanted to hear it. Dressed in the finest suit he could afford on the minimal salary he had been earning as a Clerk at the Prison as he had worked his way into a Degree to work within the Police Force.
"…This guy took to all new level. About paralyzed the man from the waist down, don't know what became of his victim, but all I can say is, if there is one way to catch the scum bag you've been hired by. I'm sure this guy could smell him out before he makes his first false move when we send you to meet up with him later."
Soft amber eyes swept to Carlton and Matthew, "Gentlemen, it'll be pleasure getting to work with you; I've heard nothing but glowing recommendations about you both, especially you Mr. Carlton, I believe it is…" he stretched out a hand to the man, "I'll be monitoring your conversation with Nicholas. The minute he spills anything about going after Mr. Maximus or his acquaintance, we'll move in and get you out of there before he tries anything funny."
"Thanks, I guess…"Carlton the proceeded to shake Genesis' hand, "I hope you'll be of a big help to us all."
Raechel was holding back all her joy as they came around the corner, the car almost on two wheels as she pulled up in front of the store where the display was, "Here it is!"
"Its…amazing," Cloud was at a loss for words; Sephiroth was more or less in an unenthusiastic awe, "You think anyone will buy it, Raechel?"
"Tch, you give me too little credit, Cloud, word has been spreading like wildfire through out all the known book stores in every county, even every State, heck, the other side of the World knows of it too!"
Sephiroth chuckled, "Raechel takes all of this very seriously; you should've seen her on the novel that almost didn't make to it the shelves because I became gravely ill and almost had to be hospitalized."
A faint roll of Raechel's eyes didn't go unmissed by Sephiroth, "And I forgave you for pushing me into the end of the work…"
"Thank you."
"I know I'll be buying a copy," Cloud beamed as he wrapped his arms around Sephiroth's waist, "Because I know that getting it free from the man behind the work wouldn't be fair…"
A soft chuckle left Sephiroth's lips as he wrapped his own arms around Cloud's waist, "Believe me, you're getting something better then a free book…"
"And what's that?"
Leaning his lips down to Cloud's ear, he whispered the words, "…My freely given love to you, and maybe a little bit more."
"Alright, alright, love birds, we're going to miss our dinner reservations if you two start trying to make out in front of the store front; save it for the wedding…" Raechel chuckled as she watched Cloud blush with Sephiroth following in close second as he sighed, "Come on, I'm hungry! And you promised me you'd take me and your lovely young man out for a celebratory dinner to raise a toast to the future success of the book's release."
Nicholas could be patient; he had learned to be patient around a Mother such as his. She had all but ingrained into him, more like, whipped, it into him to be patient especially when it came to meal time. His Mother was anal retentive about Dinner being eaten at a particular time; his Father called Anal Retentive Disorder, Nicholas had called it annoying. Professionals called it Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, or OCD for short; everything had to be how she wanted it and if that meant waiting till the exact second to serve Dinner as well as eat it.
Then that's how it was going to be.
His gaze was transfixed on a clock near the closest lamp post; he was waiting on his lead attack dog to show up. They were going to discuss details regarding the attack tonight; it had to go down without a hitch and to make sure that he wasn't going to be ratted out. He had his own men with him to check Carlton out for anything that could be used as a recording device. He needed to be able to cover his tracks without anyone being able to pin the attack on him. It was getting late and he didn't like waiting.
"Maybe Carlton ain't going to show up, Boss," one of the men remarked as he picked as his teeth, "You think he got cold feet and chickened out?"
A hard gaze turned upon the man; it didn't show any signs of forewarning that he was going to be beamed as he was then done, "You getting cold feet? You want to chicken out?"
The others stayed quiet as they watched him tweak the man's ear.
"AH!"
"I said are you getting cold feet? You want to chicken out?"
"N-No…no sir…"
Nudging Nicholas then would've cost the man his hand, but it seemed appropriate, "Boss?"
"What is it?"
Pointing a finger across the way; he pointed out Sephiroth, Cloud and Raechel preparing to climb into Raechel's car, "…Perfect."
"Alright, Carlton, can you give us a MIC Check?" one of the men asked as he readied the equipment; Matthew and Genesis had finished wiring him up, "Just say something into the MIC."
Treating me like I've never done this before
As if Matthew could read Carlton's mind, "Just go along with it…it'll make it easier to do this and the faster we nail this guy, the faster we all get to go home…"
"Testing 1…2…3…"
Given the thumbs up, Carlton closed up his shirt as he took a deep breath in and then out, "I'm ready if you guys are..."
"Alright, we're going to drop you off a little ways away from the meet up spot so he doesn't sus-"
"Sir, don't mean to interrupt, but we've got movement at the Meet Up spot…I think Nicholas is on the move."
"Shit!" Matthew swore as he started making motions, "We have to roll out before he gets to close to the targets!"
"MOVE! MOVE! MOVE!"
(Secondary AN: ...Be prepared for Chapter 29; its going to be a bit of a doozy. And its going to test my limits on not wanting to make it retarded and screw you guys, the readers, out of a descent chapter. Much drama coming up in the tail end of this story. Chapter 30 is going to be the Epilogue which gives everyone a happy ending they deserve and punishment given to those who deserve it. As was mentioned above. If you don't get anything of 29 or 30 this week, it may be a while before I get around to it after I receive my new laptop. )