CHAPTER 06 – PARENTAL RESPONSIBILITIES
It had been quite a challenge to keep everyone quiet that morning, especially with Cloud sleeping in the reclining chair. He was a light sleeper, normally, but exhaustion had finally overtaken him. Nothing seemed to be disturbing that deep sleep he so desperately needed, and that was a good thing. Tifa made a mental note to guide him towards sleep more often.
The barmaid wasn't sure how Cloud's talk with Angel had gone, but she certainly seemed much happier. When Tifa woke up this morning, the silver-haired girl was already awake and making breakfast for the kids. It actually gave the brunette a chance to sit down, relax, and drink her coffee... which Angel had already made for her. Once the kids were ready, Angel volunteered to walk them to school, explaining that she wanted to stop by Aerith's community garden for some flowers. Before leaving, Angel brewed a fresh pot of coffee, so Tifa made Cloud a cup and brought it into the living room.
She stood there, staring at him for a moment, a smile slowly creeping across her lips. Setting the coffee down, she gently sat herself down on his lap...
Hmm... no response.
She held her hands up in front of his mouth to check that he was still breathing, and then gently ran her fingers over his lips before leaning in and delicately kissing him in an attempt to stir him.
The first thing he noticed was the pressure on his lap, but he tried to ignore it, not wanting to fully wake up from the peace of oblivion. He had been in so much pain, but a good night's sleep had done wonders, though he still wanted a bit more. He could afford a lazy day at least once a year... right?
He felt something brush his mouth before a familiar sensation overtook him, and his hands, automatically moving, took her in his arms as he opened his eyes and kissed her back. He pulled out of the kiss to smile at her and stroke the side of her forehead.
"Who needs breakfast in bed when I have you?"
And he came in for another kiss.
As their lips met, she smiled, running her hand through those spiky blond locks. Brushing her lips along his cheek, she whispered in his ear, "Who needs a bed when we have a recliner?"
She leaned into him, playfully planting a light kiss near his neck. She was determined to win their game this time and didn't hold back.
He felt the hairs on the back of his neck rise as he fought the urge to blush. She would not beat him so easily again. He saw his chance as she was still kissing his neck; he leaned in close to her ear and whispered her name, making sure she could feel his breath as he said it with such love and gentleness.
Damn! She once told him that the way he whispered her name sent shivers down her spine. She regretted revealing that now... but at the same time, she was oh, so glad she did. She willed herself not to blush, but it was really difficult when he was pulling out all the stops. Just the emotion alone that he put into whispering her name made her happy she hadn't been standing up...
Oh, to hell with the game... She pulled back, finding his lips with hers and kissing him with every ounce of her heart and soul.
It definitely wasn't sunburn from traveling in the wastes that gave his face that red tint, but he intended to return the favor. Just like any challenge, he charged into the thick of it and delivered a kiss so powerful it would never... ever... give her any doubts about his convictions or how he felt about her. He lived solely for Tifa, and she deserved to know that. And he would prove it to her, every day, every night, every waking moment, with every breath he drew.
And there it was, the flush of his skin. For a moment, she thought she had won... but that kiss... she could feel fire in her cheeks. It didn't matter. She wanted to make certain he knew without any doubt. There would never be a question... a misunderstanding... She lost herself, falling blissfully towards what she knew was going to be the best morning ever...
...and then there came a knock on the door. As she heard it, she froze, and every part of her screamed to ignore it. She tried to, not allowing him to acknowledge it either.
"Ignore it," she whispered urgently between kisses. Whoever it was, they could come back later. Crisis averted...
He couldn't hear the door at first. His own strong heartbeat and hers, both in perfect sync had overpowered the knocks, but when she said to ignore it and realized what it was, he definitely planned to obey her, until the moron with a death wish kept knocking. He was so tempted to take his sword and throw it at the door. Maybe then they'd get the point.
By the third or fourth time, (maybe even the fifth?) he grumbled in annoyance as he regretfully pulled his lips away from her neck and glared at the door. He debated which would be the safer route for the stupid idiot to deal with. Both of them were irritated, but it was simply a matter of choosing the lesser of two evils. He might be less violent, but she had better people skills... or at least, keeping a polite smile when internally she wanted to murder them. Lucky for him, he could always tell the genuine one from the false one.
Tifa groaned in disappointment.
"If that's a salesman, he's getting a fat lip," she said in a tone that suggested she just might be serious.
"So, who gets the honor of greeting our pest?"
She put her face right in front of his.
"If I answer the door, I will not be nice at all," she smirked at him, giving a quick peck on the lips.
His face flashed with a deeper shade of red before he returned her smirk. "That's still a tie."
He picked her up in his arms as he stood, spun on his heel before setting her gracefully down on the chair in one swift motion. He pulled back, but not before planting a final loving kiss on her forehead and then turned to greet their annoyance while he could still manage to pull himself away, which was an impressive feat in and of itself. With a deep sigh to regain his stoic composure he straightened his now messy spikes up by slicking them back before opening the door.
"Can I help you," he asked, civil but not at all cheerful.
Standing at the door was Mrs. Rogers of Child Care and Services, the very same woman who had helped with Denzel's adoption and who took care of the complaint lodged by Billings.
"Hello, Mr. Strife," she greeted cheerfully.
Cloud's demeanor changed quickly, if the drop in his expression was anything to go by. "Mrs. Rogers? Sorry, I wasn't expecting you to drop by...normally you'd call."
He checked his phone... and then realized he hadn't charged it because he had passed out the night before after the fight... crap.
"Please, come in."
He opened the door wider and stepped aside so she could enter.
"Thank you, Cloud," she smiled, taking his invitation. "I did call you, but it just went straight to voice mail. I figured since I was heading this way that I would stop by. I hope I'm not intruding. I do hate to surprise people with my visits."
As soon as she was inside, she waited for him to direct her.
"Intruding? Not really," he fibbed as he led her into the living room. "Tifa and I were just enjoying a good breakfast, right Teef?"
He couldn't help but offer his fiancé a knowing smirk.
She shot him a glare that promised swift punishment once they were alone before turning on her pleasant face.
"Mmhmm," she smiled at woman. "To what do we owe the pleasure, Mrs. Rogers?"
"Well, it has come to our attention that you have a third child living here," she began, "going by the name of Angel. I'd like to talk to you about her, if that's all right."
Cloud was instantly on alert. It felt no different from facing down a pack of guard hounds, but without a sword... or materia... he still found himself preferring the pack. "Yeah, it's... it's fine. Is there a problem?"
"Now, Mr. Strife," she began in her sing-song tone, "You know I have no issues with you taking in children that need care. And I realize she is someone with... special... circumstances. My concern is that she has no formal education."
His defensive walls fell a little as he acknowledged the issue and took a seat in the chair (that was still warm) and sighed.
"We've had that discussion, me and Tifa. We wanted to let her settle in more before we focused on getting her started with education. We have been helping her learn a few things."
He smirked as he thought back to when they were being helped by the Turks. "When we first found her, she could barely form a complete sentence, but with some help from a friend of mine she has no trouble communicating now. I asked her what she wanted to do, now that she was in a better place, and she wants to help others. We know she needs education, but it's not easy for her when she looks like an adult."
She nodded as he spoke, clearly understanding the problem. "Yes, that would be very awkward for her, the poor dear. And don't misunderstand me; you and Tifa have done wonderfully with her, I'm sure."
She reached into her satchel and pulled out a sheet of paper, handing it to him. "That is why I did some research and found you an alternative. Have you considered getting a private tutor for her? I printed out a list of names for you of the best ones available."
Cloud accepted the paper from her and scanned through the names.
"Honestly, that hadn't come to mind," he admitted. He looked up at Tifa with a hopeless expression. They had finally gotten their wedding expenses in order the other night, and now they'd have to redo it all over again with the price of the tutor thrown into the mix. Money wasn't tight; they had a lot of breathing room. They just didn't want to start blowing every bit of gil they had.
She sighed. "I know the two of you are the best home and guardians for the child, but when I spoke with Reeve about Angel, he mentioned that he didn't know what your plans for her education were. I'm sure you can understand my concern."
He offered the woman a true smile then. "We can understand the importance behind it. I can't really call myself a hero if the ones I'm responsible for aren't well cared for, right? And you're just doing your job. No one can fault you for that. Besides, I'd much rather have this conversation with you than someone who only goes by what's on the paper and ignores the moral deeds and history. If there was ever a reason where I couldn't provide for my family, I would be the first to admit it."
Mrs. Roger's smiled at him. "There is a woman that I use for the special needs children at the orphanage. She is a truly remarkable woman, and the children simply adore her. She's certified for teaching all the way up through high school, and she charges about half what all the others do. Her name is Damira Nihan. I could give her a call for you, if you like."
Cloud offered her a thankful nod. "That would be great; we both appreciate the help."
While she was here, he decided to fill her in on the other good news.
"Denzel found out it was official a few months back, that I adopted him. I would have told him sooner, but I didn't think it mattered, considering he knew he was already part of the family regardless, but..." he smiled, "when he realized he had a father again... it was like I had given him the world."
"For any orphaned child, getting a family is just the greatest treasure," she stated and then smiled so genuinely, "Oh, that must have been such a happy moment for him!"
She allowed herself to be swept up by the emotion and then cleared her throat. "Well, I'd best be going. I still have a few stops to make."
She walked towards the door, stopping before she left and turning around. "I'm so thrilled for you and Denzel. Your family just keeps getting bigger."
He nodded after her, that smile still present, even as he slowly came to a realization with her words as he thought over what he had just said, 'When he realized he had a father again...'
"I hope it keeps growing, Mrs. Rogers."
He saw her to the door and then headed back into the living room, looking over at Tifa. "You know... Angel told me something a few nights ago that I had been wrong about my entire life."
He sighed, hoping beyond everything else that it would work out. "She said... my father was alive."
Tifa walked closer to him. "But your mother told you he died, didn't she?"
He looked down at the floor, as if it had the answers. "Maybe she thought he was... or maybe she was trying to protect me. I don't know, but Angel says he's out there... and I believe her."
He looked over at her, and he felt like she could see the timid uncertainty in his eyes. "I want to find him, but... what if he wants nothing to do with me? I don't know if I could handle that."
He knew he could handle it if it came down to that, but at the same time, Angel had gone to such lengths to heal his damaged heart. He didn't want it to crack once again.
She cupped his face in her hands and kissed him. "I don't believe that for a second. If he hasn't been in your life up to this moment, then I am pretty sure something kept him from you. And I don't believe your mom would lie to you. She probably thinks he's dead. From what I know of you, Cloud, there's just no way he wouldn't want to be with you."
She kissed him again, more softly this time. "Whatever happens, we'll face it together."
Tifa pulled him into an embrace, stroking his hair lovingly.
He closed his eyes as he wrapped his arms around her, leaning his forehead against hers after they kissed.
"I really don't deserve you," he said to her with a thankful grin.
She shook her head, staring up at him, her eyes full of adoration and passion. "No... we deserve each other, Cloud. And I'll never let go."
His eyes widened at her words and the mischievous light was back. "You just earned yourself a special delivery, Ms. Lockhart."
He picked her up and carried her bridal style towards their bedroom, making sure to leave a tie on the doorknob as he closed it behind them and locked the door.
*FFTT-FT*
Bella stood at the alley way where she was attacked the previous evening. The pool of blood had dried, though the deeper parts of the puddle still retained some of its moisture. There was no blood trail, so the woman she had found was shot at this location. The bullet also went straight through the woman. If Bella could find where the bullet had lodged, she could trace the trajectory back to the origin.
This was one part of being a Harkon that Bella missed... investigation. She loved a good mystery and enjoyed discovering the elements. Putting them together to form a full picture was its own reward.
She searched the walls, looking for the indent and after a few moments, she found what she was seeking, being extra careful not to touch it. Her expert eyes calculated the angle, estimating the origin of the shooter to be an abandoned apartment building about 200 meters away. Before that, she thought about the agreement between her and her father... the one that mandated either a phone call or a text check in. She sighed, taking out her phone and sending a text to Genesis.
"Found building for original shooter. Going to investigate."
Making her way to the building, she took out her double-bladed staff; this time, she was prepared for any kind of assault. The humiliation of being caught unawares still freshly burned in her memory. She hated being the damsel in distress, and she would be damned if it happened again. Admittedly, she was a bit rusty and somewhat sore from her impromptu workout this morning, but once she had begun practicing the katas, it came back very quickly.
The door to the building was off its hinges, so she simply walked through it, checking in every direction for any kind of threat. The smell of rotting wood and mildew filled her senses. Carefully, she made her way up to the roof of the building, keeping herself primed in a defensive stance.
Her phone buzzed, indicating she received a new text. Taking it out, she looked at the screen.
"You're not going in alone; wait for me."
She sighed. He was being a little over-protective, but to be honest, she kind of liked it. No one had ever shown that level of caring before, not even her own mother when she was younger. As much as she protested the treatment verbally, she secretly craved it.
She doubted anyone would be foolish enough to remain behind after attempting an assassination, but she would do it her father's way. She was about to backtrack when she heard the click of someone loading a gun.
She spun around, brandishing her weapon towards the would-be attacker. It was a woman with light brown hair, tied back in a ponytail, and brown eyes. Bella memorized the features for future use... if the ex-Harkon had a future.
"Hey!" the woman warned, aiming a gun at her. Bella was pretty good at fighting (even if she was rusty), but her bullet deflection lacked precision... and practice. She briefly wondered if she should bluff.
"Drop your weapon," the woman demanded.
"Not gonna happen," Bella replied, dropping back a bit to give her some fighting room. The woman had her cornered at the door, and there wasn't enough room to use her staff. Flicking a lever in the middle of the weapon, she broke it into two pieces.
"I will shoot you," her voice rose in volume.
"You'll try," she challenged. "and if you're one of the people who shot my father, your suffering will soon begin."
"Your father..." the woman repeated. Recognition suddenly lit her eyes. "The man dressed in red... last night... that was your father?"
Confirmation. If she wasn't involved with the shootings last evening, then she was, at the very least, aware. How she wanted to hear this woman choke on her own blood for the misery and humiliation she put her father through... not to mention Bella herself.
"I'm very sorry, young lady," she said.
An apology? Unexpected...
"Not as sorry as you'll be when I'm through with you," Bella growled.
"I'm sorry we'll have to leave you without a father," she went on as if the ex-Harkon had said nothing.
Bella was about to respond to this, but she heard movement behind her as the door swung open. She spun around to meet whoever was there, cursing her idiocy for allowing herself to be in such a strategically inopportune place. She saw two men there, each with some kind of injection in their hands.
Great... a bullet or an injection.
"Don't worry... we don't kill normal people," she continued while Bella kept her weapons trained on the two in the doorway.
They don't know I am enhanced?
"The stuff you shot me with almost killed me," the ex-commander informed her.
"It only paralyzes you," she argued.
"Yes, genius..." she snapped, "It paralyzes everything... including your lungs and your heart!"
The woman's face faltered; apparently, she didn't know how a paralytic worked. What infuriating ignorance!
"We... we didn't know..." she stammered, quite upset over the revelation. The two men with the injections held their ground, however. Bella kept her vision focused on them, but still listened for the woman who stood behind her.
"Orders?" one of the men asked.
Orders? Was this woman in charge?
"Ness, she's seen our faces..." the other male suggested.
"We don't kill the unenhanced!" she heard the woman say with force.
"No, we don't..." the other male continued, "but we could use her to draw out her father."
Like hell you will!
"Fine," the woman said, "Take care of it."
She turned and left.
Both men lunged at her with the injections, and Bella took a half-step backwards, slashing at them in an attempt to knock the injections out of their hands. It only half worked, but at least one of them had been disarmed. The second one still held on, so she backed away to avoid it. The two pressed forward, one with the needle and the other pulled out a dagger.
They backed Bella into a room, where she had a little more space to maneuver. The two men circled her, trying to coordinate their attack. She knew Genesis would be there any minute, so disabling them became her top priority. She never wanted to see him suffer like that again. They weren't amateurs; that much was certain. But at least they weren't brandishing guns.
The one with the syringe came at her with the sloppiest attack she had ever seen, and she defended it easily, disarming him in one smooth motion. Once she did, though, she realized her mistake. The second man had latched a hand into her hair, yanking back roughly, placing the dagger's blade at her throat.
"Stop moving..." the man told her, almost bending her all the way back. She couldn't get leverage to stand up straight.
The man suddenly let go of her completely and dropped the knife as a glowing red sword stuck out through his chest, sticking next to Bella, but not threatening her in the least.
"Why don't you stop breathing instead," came the floating, elegant voice of Genesis Rhapsodos as he pulled Rapier out of the man and watched him fall to the ground. He looked between his daughter and the remaining man.
"I thought I told you to wait for me," he lightly scolded as he prepared to go for the other man.
She sighed, playing the rebellious teenager. "I was already in the building when I got your text."
She put a hand on her throat where the knife had been, feeling a small burn. The other man widened his eyes.
"She's enhanced, too?" he exclaimed, and his intent was clear. He wanted to flee the fight to let the others know.
In a single instant, Genesis realized what the man's words meant and took no chances. Taking his sword, he threw it straight as if he were throwing a dart and struck the man clean through the back.
"I don't give a damn if they send an entire army after me," he growled as he approached where the man fell. "but there will be hell to pay if anyone targets my daughter."
He wanted so badly to set this place ablaze, but he cursed the fact that they were going to announce the revival of SOLDIER and it wouldn't look good if he was seen setting a fire in the middle of town.
Damn it!
Still, he turned and tossed Bella his mastered barrier.
She caught it with ease. She felt so stupid now. Why hadn't she brought her own materia? She should have known that there was the chance for danger. She was seriously getting sloppy. She activated the barrier and then did the same for him.
"I'm sorry," she apologized, "I didn't believe anyone would really be here, let alone their leader. As soon as I got your text, I meant to leave the building and wait for you."
She looked down at the dagger on the floor. "They've made melee weapons that do the same as the bullets, apparently."
Genesis nodded as he pulled his sword free and swung it, clearing off most of the blood and picked up the dagger by the handle, giving it a closer look.
"It looks like any normal blade," he commented.
Carefully, he brought it closer to see if it carried a distinct scent, being careful in case the blade touched him. "No odor. If they dipped it in something, it either has no smell or it's within the metal itself."
He wrapped it in a small cloth, a habit he still had to carry a roll of gauze from when he suffered degradation. He then took the wrapped-up blade and tucked it away in his coat pocket.
"We'll let Reeve examine it later." He wanted to turn and leave this place while they still could and then turned back to Bella. "You said their leader was here?"
Bella nodded. "Some woman. I got a very good look. They called her Ness."
She connected her staff back together and slung it on her back, following him out of the building. Once outside, a thought struck her.
"Father... they were going to try to use me to draw you out." she told him, "Don't ever let them do that. Don't let them turn me into a weakness."
A dim glow flickered in her eyes.
He turned to her and smiled. "Sweetheart, you will never be a weakness. If they were stupid enough to try, I would only fight harder."
He took her into a strong embrace. "You have only been a strength to me from the day I realized you were mine."
He pulled away and softly caressed the side of her face. "Bella, you are my gift from the Goddess."
For one of the few moments in her life, her expression softened, standing there in front of the one person she had sought for her entire life.
"And you are mine, Father," she whispered.