Chapter 23: What's Going Down Under There?

Summary: Machinations and double-talk at Shinra. Then Cloud gets to deal with Genesis who has his own verbal flair.

In other words, things are discussed, plans are made, and chocobos are tracked down.

Tseng reminded himself that he was a professional, that he had chosen to remain a Turk, and that meant he had chosen to interact with Shinra's executives.

It didn't stop him occasionally wanting to shoot them.

Just a little…

"The president's instructions were quite clear," he repeated with emphasis. "You are to move yourself and your key personnel to Junon until a full inspection of the city's support structure has been completed."

Hojo cackled. The only one who seemed happy with the forced move.

It was disturbing.

"It really isn't needed." Heidegger's insistence made Tseng think that the general had also known of Deepground.

"It's just a medical facility." And what Heidegger knew, Scarlet knew.

Tseng tipped his head a fraction. "And Reactor 0 powered nothing but the Shinra Tower," Tseng said evenly. Not a twitch or blink revealed how deep the sarcasm ran.

Tuesti cleared his throat. "The fact that the tower has tilted–"

"Barely a centimetre," Scarlet sneered.

"Twelve millimetres," Tuesti corrected. "Considering the explosion occurred just before noon, that is an alarming change."

Scarlet managed to sneer even harder. "I still say it's ridiculous. If we all leave everyone will think we're afraid."

Tseng managed not to sigh. He'd already explained this. "Since President Shinra will be holding a parade and other events to celebrate his ascension to the president's seat–"

"That hasn't been confirmed!" Heidegger practically shouted.

Tseng had no interest in in rehashing this argument. "The Turks back Rufus Shinra. Unequivocally." Meaning they would get rid of anyone – anyone – who fought his takeover.

Tseng didn't say that part of course, but everyone heard it anyway. Scarlet narrowed her eyes, Palmer looked scared, and Tuesti looked thoughtful. Only Heidegger blustered objections, but they were without teeth. In the end, Heidegger was nothing but another yes-man.

As usual, Hojo looked like he was thinking of something completely unrelated to the discussion going on around him. However, he roused himself enough to speak. "Yes, yes, Rufus will be president. It makes little difference to me, but Junon…. Junon is a wonderful idea. Yes, very useful."

Useful for whom and for what? Tseng wondered.

He stored the questions away for later and turned to the rest of the board. "You will be needed to oversee the event's security," he said to the so-called general. To Palmer: "You will be arranging the events." Palmer at least didn't even pretend to have a spine.

"And my role?" Scarlet's eyebrow lifted in a dare.

Tseng didn't take her up on it. She had enough spine for all the rest.

"You need to oversee the transfer of your most important projects," he said mildly. "We will continue manufacturing here in Midgar for as long as possible, but you should start thinking about what you would need to continue your work elsewhere."

"Are we going to organize an evacuation of non-essential civilians?" Tuesti asked.

Scarlet and Heidegger immediately vetoed the suggestion. Tseng didn't actually care about their opinion, but Rufus had also dismissed the idea. He didn't want to risk a panic before all the facts were assembled, so Tseng shook his head at the engineer. "Not at this time. We will await your report."

Tuesti paled. "Then I'd best prepare the team."

"You will have a Security Forces escort as it's my understanding that there are enhanced fighters in the Deepground facility."

Heidegger slammed his fist down on the table making Palmer's teacup jump. "Where did you learn this? Who told you?"

"Do you really think Roman Shinra didn't tell me what we were recruiting for?" He hadn't, but Heidegger didn't know that.

This time Heidegger stood up and leaned over the table. "Why he thought you worth trusting when the Turks consistently betrayed him…!"

Tseng could've pointed out that Heidegger's failures cost Roman Shinra more, much more, than anything the Turks had done. After all, the "general" had failed to take Wutai. He had failed to capture Rhapsodos or Hewley. He had failed to defeat Avalanche, and he was failing to quell the growing rebellion in Fort Condor.

Tseng could've said all that, but he didn't.

"There are many things the former president didn't deem it necessary for you to know."

It wasn't a lie and it shut Heidegger up.

Tseng looked around the table. Palmer wasn't an issue, Hojo was remarkably agreeable, and of course, Tuesti wasn't leaving Midgar. However, Scarlet looked like she had resigned herself to the move, and that meant Heidegger had no ally on the board.

Tseng allowed himself a small smile. "If you require assistance moving your files – in whatever format, general, I will gladly provide a couple of my people to assist you." And their assistance would allow them to access, copy, and analyze all the man's personal financial records and the Turks would finally know just how much money the self-important blowhard had diverted over the years.

Tseng knew Heidegger wouldn't accept, but at least the threat finally put some fear into the director's eyes. "That won't be necessary. I'll go to Junon and talk to Rufus–"

"The president," Tseng corrected.

Heidegger glared. "I'll talk to the president myself when I get there." He would try to get Rufus to disband the Turks – exile or execution for all members.

Tseng heard the threat and dismissed it. The general was a good bootlicker, but he'd either ignored or despised Rufus for many years. Though he'd hidden his feelings from Roman Shinra, he hadn't been as careful in front of the son. At one point, he'd even tried to have Dark Nation euthanized.

One thing about Rufus Shinra – he could hold a grudge far more effectively than his father, so Tseng's position, and that of the Turks, was secure.

For now.

"That sounds like a good idea," Tseng agreed mildly.

Scarlet's eyes narrowed as she realized Heidegger's threat hadn't worried him. He looked at her, silently daring her to go with the general. He lifted an eyebrow to say the two of them together wouldn't succeed either.

A corner of her lips lifted. Challenge accepted.

"Come, General," she said. "We have a lot of work to do if we're to make the transition smoothly."

"I should also go," Palmer huffed, jumping down off his chair. "So little time to make this the biggest celebration ever seen!"

Soon only Tuesti remained. He waited until the door closed. "How bad is it really."

"I haven't seen it myself, and I'm not an engineer."

"You're worried though."

Tseng disagreed, "Turks don't worry. We gather information and we plan." He lifted one hand and waved Tuesti towards the door with a slight bow. "Can you have your team ready in two hours, Director?"

"Yes, Director. I can."

Tseng just nodded. Two hours was plenty of time for him to assemble the security team, and to call Zack.

Rufus had agreed to Zack's proposal, with a few… alterations to the execution. Tseng didn't particularly like, or agree with, those changes but it wasn't his job to argue. It was his job to convince Zack that their deal would be advantageous for all of them.

He was good at his job, he reminded himself. He was Tseng of the Turks, and that meant he got the job done. No matter what it cost.

.o0|0o.

When the helicopter let them off just outside the Sector 7 gate, the first thing Cloud did was to whistle. It was a distinctive whistle that could carry about 5 kilometres on the flats, but much less in the crowd of Sector 7. Still, if Deza heard it, he'd come running if he could.

Zack and Red had continued on to Sector 5 with Aerith, so Cloud had only Tifa and Genesis as companions. Neither of them looked impressed by the noise but Cloud didn't care. He'd had Deza for just over two years (his second big purchase after Iron Blade) and he wanted the chocobo to be alright.

If his apartment had been affected by the cave in, and Deza had gotten out, then the green would've climbed up the nearest hill, equating height with safety. Cloud scanned the piles of debris and garbage that separated Sector 7 from Sector 6 but didn't see anything green.

"Come, Cloud," Tifa said, touching his arm. "We'll go to your place first."

Reluctantly, Cloud tore his gaze away from the hills. There were still lights on in the sector. Not as many as usual, but enough in the early evening's light.

"Should go to the bar first," he said. "S'where everyone'll be looking for you."

He could tell Tifa wanted to be nice and insist they look for the green, but Deza was just a bird to her, and Marlene and Barret, and Jessie, Biggs and Wedge, were people. They'd always rate higher.

"Go," he said, lifting his chin to point towards where Seventh Heaven used to be. "I'll catch up."

Tifa gave in like he knew she would. A sharp nod and she took off at a run.

"She's very impressive for a non-enhanced."

Cloud had forgotten Genesis Rhapsodos. Why hadn't the man gone with Zack? "From Nibelheim," he explained shortly.

"Ah yes," Genesis said, his voice nearly a purr. "The place where Hojo did all those experiments."

"Been thinking Hojo might've released mako deliberately to see what would happen." Cloud followed Tifa's path at his normal pace, forcing the redhead, to lengthen his stride. Genesis kept pace easily, so he was probably almost completely healed.

He hummed agreeably. "Yes, he would've done that. All of Shinra was amoral."

Cloud had heard of Rhapsodos, of course – couldn't have not heard of him when half his squad had worked with The Crimson General at least once, but grunt gossip couldn't compare to Zack's insider knowledge. Zack had tried to be kind, but his disapproval of the SOLDIER's actions had been obvious. Cloud had no reason to think Rhapsodos was any more reliable now than he'd been then.

"Including yourself in that?" he asked.

"Oh, yes. Definitely." Genesis chuckled sadly. "After all, I invaded Wutai for no better reason than I was bored."

Cloud shot him a look, dodging a couple loitering gossipers. "Shinra ordered it, though." Genesis shrugged uncomfortably.

Cloud wasn't surprised when he changed the subject. "So, this is the slums."

"Ground floor or Lower Midgar," Cloud corrected. "If you don't want to insult people."

"It is possible to use the truth as an insult," Genesis mused. "Though, I suppose, I'm not exactly seeing it at its best."

"Doesn't get much better," Cloud said with a shrug. "Not like Shinra spends any money down here. Taxes it, though."

"Shall we agree that we both despise our former employer?" Genesis suggested after a moment. "That way we don't have to waste time telling each other how awful they are."

This time Cloud hummed agreement.

He took a moment to look around the sector again. This time he looked in all directions.

There were a few gaps in the skyline closer to the central pillar, but no sign of large fires. There was smoke, sure, but not much more than normal. Lot of places down here used barrel fires for cooking and heat.

Really, though, it didn't seem as bad as it could've been, which meant that Deza was probably still safely under his apartment. As long as the plate didn't fall, they should be good.

He looked up. Was he far enough out if the plate fell? Was anyone in the sector?

Deza then Wymer, Cloud reminded himself. Just like he'd promised Zack.

He walked a little faster forcing Genesis to give a little hop to keep up.

"Who's Deza? Another one of your wonderful gang of mercenary misfits?"

"Chocobo."

The redhead rolled his eyes. "May I just say that you are a scintillating conversationalist. The pictures you paint with your words – unimaginable!"

Cloud ignored him.

They'd reached the cross-street down to his place. People were sweeping up glass and picking up flowerpots, but it seemed to be intact otherwise.

"I haven't yet said thank you for rescuing me," was the next thing Genesis said. It was like he didn't know how to be quiet. "There is no hate, only joy; For you are beloved by the goddess. Hero of the dawn, healer of worlds."

Cloud turned to stared at him. "What're you on about?"

Genesis also stopped. "It's a quote. From Loveless. Surely you know it."

Cloud continued to stare at him. "Know of it. Don't go around quoting its melodramatic drivel at weird moments, though."

"Drivel?" Now Genesis's eyes were wide. Maybe in horror.

Cloud raised his eyebrows. "'Beloved of the goddess'? 'Hero of the dawn'?" He snorted. "Not like I saved the world."

Genesis gave an exaggerated wince. "That puts me solidly in my place." He lifted a brow. "However, I am still grateful."

"You're welcome," Cloud said simply. He turned around to keep walking down the street. The lane had cleared out, only a couple people some ways away tidying up bits, so Cloud gave another whistle and waited for any response.

"A little warning next time, if you please," Genesis said plaintively. "Some of us have enhanced hearing."

A head had popped out of a window. "And some of us are trying to sleep!"

Cloud ignored them both and kept walking. He turned right into a narrow path that snaked between the buildings. It was more uneven than the main streets, but as long as he didn't trip, it'd be faster.

"So. What arrangement was Tseng talking about?" Genesis asked. His voice was extremely mild – so mild that Cloud shot him a look.

It was a tell that he regretted as soon as Genesis smirked at him. "They were very careful not to discuss details, but Tseng mentioned that he would speak to Rufus 'about the arrangement', and I thought to myself: 'what kind of arrangement would need to get Baby Shinra's approval?'" Genesis looked at Cloud expectantly. Cloud kept walking.

Genesis huffed. "Oh, come on! You and Zack seem pretty lock-stepped, so I know you know what it is."

Cloud wasn't sure Zack would want Rhapsodos knowing the details, so he kept his answer short. "Wants to hire us."

Genesis waited for more. Cloud didn't offer any.

The redhead rolled his eyes. "Sooo many details, I can hardly keep up."

"Don't have any," Cloud said. "Not been hired yet."

"Nuh-uh-uh." He waved a disapproving finger. "This isn't a low-level contract. If they wanted you merely to hunt bombs in Sector 4, Rufus wouldn't be involved.

Cloud kept silent.

Genesis did not.

"There's no way the president-elect would be involved in the initial stages of a deal, so the terms are essentially set."

Cloud kept walking. Genesis kept talking.

"Now, what strikes me as most unusual, is that the Turks are outsourcing the assignment," he said. "Although, I suppose, Tseng has always had a soft spot for Zack, as much as a Turk can anyway, but the puppy's no longer part of Shinra, so that should be a huge impediment to using him, but it doesn't appear to be."

He paused for Cloud's comment.

Cloud refrained.

Genesis tapped a finger on chin. "Of course, the other reason they might be willing to hire a former SOLDIER is if Zack's only pretending to be 'formerly of Shinra'."

"He's not." Cloud couldn't stop himself.

Genesis gave a little bounce at having got a reaction. "You believe him! What am I saying? Of course, you believe him."

They were nearly at his place, so Cloud went back to ignoring the redhead.

"Actually, I believe him as well," Genesis sighed. "Fair is nothing if not open with his feelings – always has been. He doesn't know how to lie."

It was a stupid thing to say, and a foolish thing to think, but Cloud decided not to argue.

"So the question becomes, why would Zack agree to be hired by Shinra?" Genesis mused. "It would have to be something that appealed to Zack's honour, his heroic streak."

Cloud wondered how soon Genesis would give up.

"He wouldn't fight Shinra's wars. He'd probably cheer on Shinra's enemies." Genesis paused. "By the Goddess!"

Not soon enough.

"It's Sephiroth – or whatever's walking around as Sephiroth."

Cloud turned the final corner and saw his home. It wasn't awful. The upper level was still where it was supposed to be.

He gave a soft whistle.

No movement. No noise.

Cloud started to jog.

There was no need to panic, he told himself. Deza could be hiding…

Genesis' voice finally broke through Cloud's worry. "I said, if you're going after Sephiroth, I'd like in."

Cloud barely spared him a look. "Why? You couldn't defeat him before."

Genesis finally stopped: stopped talking, stopped walking. Cloud took advantage and jogged ahead.

Genesis didn't stay quiet for long. "You can be a little shit, you know that!" he shouted.

Cloud ignored that too, holding his breath until he saw that there was no green-feathered body on the hay-covered floor. The gate was closed, but the pen was empty.

There was a piece of paper fluttering from the door of his workshop – the door that was inside the locked pen.

"So where's your bird?"

Cloud's hand shook as he unlocked the gate, but he got it open. It only took two steps for him to reach the paper and grab it. He read it and sighed in relief. Wedge had come by to borrow some of his tools.

"Did someone steal him?"

Cloud pushed past the former SOLDIER. "Kinda." When Wedge'd opened the gate, Deza had slipped out and refused to go back in. Since Wedge was some kind of animal whisperer, he'd convinced the chocobo to follow him to Stargazer Heights. Wedge ended his note with a promise to keep the valuable bird safe.

And, as an afterthought, to return the tools he'd borrowed.

"You really could talk a little more," the redhead complained. "It's not like words cost gil."

Cloud turned on him. "If you wanted conversation, why didn't you go with Zack?"

Genesis stared back.

Cloud didn't flinch. He wanted to know if Genesis had really changed from the man in Zack's story, or had he come with Cloud because he figured Cloud was the easier target?

Genesis lifted on his toes, as if to gain height. He was only a little taller than Cloud to start with, so the height gain was hardly intimidating.

Genesis broke first. His eyes shifted down and away. He cleared his throat. Cloud waited.

Finally, he huffed. "It was obvious they wanted to be alone together."

Cloud snorted. Even if the pair managed to get alone time together in Elmyra's house (unlikely), Genesis didn't seem like the person who wouldn't interrupt them. His behaviour with Cloud was proof of that.

"Try again."

Genesis opened his mouth. Closed it again when Cloud just watched him scramble.

The older man shuffled his feet like a kid, before sighing. "Zack hates me," he said simply. "As he has cause to do."

Cloud blinked. Not what he'd been expecting, but at least it wasn't evil.

"Hojo, he hates," he said after a moment. "You, he just doesn't trust."

Again with the eyeroll.

"I don't trust you either," Cloud added.

This time he got a smirk. "But you have less reason than Zack, so there's a chance I can change your mind."

Good tactics, just like Cloud had thought.

"You think Zack hates you, wait 'til I introduce you to Barret."

"I quiver with anticipation."

It was said with so much sarcasm that Cloud had to smile. "C'mon, Rhapsodos. Let's go find the remains of a bar."

"Does that mean you're going to buy me a drink on this, our first date?"

The man really was incapable of being quiet. Cloud gave a little shrug. Let him talk, it wasn't that long to Seventh Heaven.

Or it hadn't been this morning when he'd returned from the Kalm job.

As they got nearer to the square, there were more ruined houses and more people packed into the streets. Some of them were salvaging the remains of their ruined households, but a lot of them shook Cloud's hand and said, 'hi' or 'glad you survived'.

"You didn't tell me you were famous," Genesis said. He didn't sound happy about it.

" 'm not," Cloud said. "Lived here a while though."

Genesis snorted in disbelief. "I suppose I hardly look like myself. Green, after all, isn't my colour."

That was when Cloud realized that Genesis was unhappy that no one had recognized him. "War criminal, traitor, and supposed to be dead," Cloud reminded him.

Genesis just hummed unmollified, but Genesis's hurt feelings weren't Cloud's problem. He pushed his way past another couple guys who were just standing doing nothing. One of them recognized him and grabbed his arm.

"Hey Cloud! Heard you were in Seventh Heaven when it went down! Dude! You're okay."

Cloud vaguely recognized him from the Neighbourhood Watch but couldn't remember the guy's name for the life of him.

"Where's Zack?" the person asked, giving Cloud's new companion a suspicious look.

Cloud didn't do tact, didn't do small talk, and if he'd liked this guy, he woulda remembered his name. "I gotta retrieve my chocobo," he said before turning away. He remembered to tack on an apology at least, but the guy huffed, as if Cloud had interrupted him.

It didn't help Cloud's mood to see Rhapsodos sniggering behind his hand.

Genesis waved a negligent hand. "Don't mind me. It's merely a pleasant realization that I am not the only person who elicits your disdain. Please, carry on. I'll keep your adoring masses at bay."

Cloud stopped, rethought. There were a lot of people out, standing in the narrow streets, blocking them. "Wolf nuts," he cursed.

Genesis sneered. "And people complain about me quoting Loveless."

"Feel like hitting the roofs?"

"Won't people complain?"

Cloud gave him a look.

Genesis's sneer grew into a smile. "Fine. Let's be ninjas."

It was a quick side trip to Vendemen's Pocket, a tight cul-de-sac built around a water tower. In the early days of Midgar, it had pumped water up from an aquifer. Now it relied on run-off from the upper plate. The Vendemen family made a good living purifying and selling it.

The ladder to the tower was the easiest way to get up on the roofs – once they'd jumped over the fence and outrun Otis, the guard dog.

"You could've warned me," Genesis complained as they climbed.

"Legs're healed," Cloud said instead of an apology.

They jogged across the mostly flat rooftops of Sector 7. There was one jump across an alley that Cloud worried Genesis wouldn't make, but the First hopped over like he hadn't been wobbly like a newborn only a few hours ago.

At the end of the buildings, just before they had to jump down, Cloud stopped. The square was filled with people. There were simple tents where the mildly injured were being treated, and there was a food line serving stew and bread.

"Ms Lockhart wasn't exaggerating when she said her bar had fallen into the ground, was she," Genesis said with a surprised laugh. "A two-story building and you can barely see the roof."

Cloud looked at the hole again and had to admit it was… something. Impressive? Scary? Reprehensible? Shinra had put all of the sector at risk by its burrowing.

"Zack's right," he said, surprising himself. "Shinra's gotta go."

As if his statement had summoned his ghost, Cloud's PHS lit up with a call from Zack.

"Cloud! Tseng just called."

He moved to the side, but there wasn't much room up here. At least Genesis pretended to not be listening.

"And?"

"They're going for it." Zack's voice was filled with giddy disbelief. "Ten million. Half now. Half when we find him."

"Find?" Cloud asked. "Not capture or kill?"

"Tseng wouldn't commit," Zack admitted. "He asked what bank we wanted to use."

Cloud blinked. "To handle five million gil?"

"Uh-huh."Zack said with a laugh.

"None down here." Cloud's voice was flat. "The only banks that'll take that kind of transfer are all owned by Shinra."

"I know," Zack said with a disbelieving chuckle. "It's not even subtle. We'll be in the middle of the western continent and facing down dragons, or something, and the bank will quietly fold taking all it's money back to Shinra."

"Hmm," Cloud agreed.

"Get it in gemstones," Genesis said abruptly. Cloud shot him a look, and he shrugged. "They're portable, and a perfect emerald can be worth a couple hundred thousand per carat. Rubies and pink diamonds are worth even more." Halfway through, Cloud had tipped the PHS away from his head so Zack would have a better chance of hearing Genesis's advice.

"It's a good idea," he said when Genesis was done.

"Absolutely," Zack replied. He sighed. "I can't believe they went for it! For fu-fish sakes, I asked for so much so Rufus wouldn't agree."

"Asking for gems might make them back out," Cloud said. "Be harder to steal 20 carats of gems from us than gil from the bank."

"True, true." Zack agreed.

"Maybe get a million in cash though. Shopping money," Cloud suggested. "Split between us it's not a dangerous amount."

Zack laughed out loud. "You've never taken Aerith shopping." There was a muffled thwack and Cloud figured Aerith had been in earshot for that comment. Then he heard Aerith's voice telling Zack to ask about Sector 7, which he obediently did.

"Not bad away from the central pillar. Not great around it," Cloud said. "How about Sector 5?"

"Nothing where we are," Zack replied. "Heard some talk about damage close to the station, though."

That made sense. The trains from Midgar only came down as far as they had to, so they were always close to the pillar.

"I want to come along," Genesis said, stepping close enough that Cloud could feel his breath on the hand holding his PHS.

Zack laughed. "One last chance to beat Seph in battle, huh?"

Cloud gave Genesis a look and he backed off.

"I'm still a SOLDIER." His voice had bite.

"Was pretty handy today with the materia," Cloud agreed.

Zack hummed. "We talk to the team first. Maybe they'll all say no to the deal."

"Hard to say no to Shinra," Cloud pointed out. "Dangerous even."

"Ugh!" was all Zack said. Cloud figured he agreed. "So, Beginner's Hall tomorrow early?" Zack said.

"It'll be filled with people who've lost their homes. No privacy."

"Shi-oot. Elmyra's is too small," Zack said. "Plus, she's not happy with us for putting her daughter in danger. She might poison the pancakes." There was the sound of another thwack. It was followed by a kiss, so Cloud figured Aerith wasn't that mad at Zack. There was a smile in his voice when he continued, "There's places in the scrapyard we can go, but we might have to clear out the monsters first."

Cloud knew one place that was very private, but did he want to expose himself that way? Would Andy? On the other hand, there were lots of people – below and above the plate – who'd target them for the chance at getting a gem worth only a thousand gil.

"Might know a place," he said reluctantly. "Need to make a call first." He checked his watch. It was heading into the first show but maybe that was better. "Lemme call you back."

"Okay," Zack said and hung up.

"Told you they were going to be smooching."

Cloud was saved from glaring at the SOLDIER First by his call going through. "Hello, Luka," he said after the receptionist had finished his official greeting.

"Mr Cloud! I'm glad to hear your voice." And Luka did sound glad. "We heard that Sector 7 had some kind of natural disaster…?"

"Disaster, yes. Natural, no," Cloud answered. "Reactor under the central pillar blew."

Luka's breathless, "I beg your pardon?" was nearly lost under Genesis's hoot of laughter.

Cloud shrugged at Genesis. People he cared about lived down here, and they deserved to know. To Luka he said, "Underground lab, monsters – all true."

"Goddess!" Luka said in prayer.

"Not going to collapse anytime soon, I don't think, but might want to move far away from the core."

"Indeed." Luka cleared his throat, and Cloud could almost feel him draw his professionalism around himself. "Did you call just to warn us, or is there another purpose? Not that it's not always lovely to hear your voice."

Why did people say things like that? Cloud wondered. He never knew.

"Need a room tomorrow," he said, deciding to ignore the rest. "Private."

"A private room, here. At the Inn?" There was a load of horrified offence in Luka's tone. Like he thought Cloud was bringing a lover to the Inn.

Shit...

"Whole team," he hastened to say. "Six people. Gotta complicated offer we need to discuss."

"Oooh. A well-paying job?" Cloud made an affirmative sound. Luka's voice was much warmer. "Well then, I'll make sure the Hydrangea Room is prepared."

"Okay," Cloud said uncertainly.

"Hydrangeas represent good fortune and abundance," Genesis said with a smirk.

Right. Genesis could hear everything.

Cloud took a few more steps away from the SOLDIER. "Timing's bad, but is Andy available?"

"I'm sorry, Mr Cloud, but it is the last week of October," Luka said. "The Autumn Colours show closes this weekend, and then there's rehearsals and preparation for the new winter show. I'm afraid Mr Rhodea won't have a private moment for quite some time."

"Oh. Yeah." Hard to believe it had been over a month since he'd rescued Zack.

He took a quick look around, making sure Genesis had kept his distance and there wasn't anyone close.

They were on a rooftop. Of course, there wasn't.

He dropped his voice anyway.

"Tell 'im…." He cleared his throat. "Tell Andy 'm thinking of him. Up on the stage."

This time there was a smile in Luka's voice. "I will definitely tell him."

When Cloud finally shut his PHS and turned around, Genesis was staring at him. "What?"

An elegant eyebrow went up. "So how does glorified messenger boy know the star of the Honeybee Inn?" Genesis asked. "No offense, but it doesn't seem like an environment that you'd fit in."

Cloud clenched his fist, tight. "Just do."

He shouldered past the redhead, making sure to knock him aside, and jumped down onto the overhang and then to the ground.

Genesis landed beside him, one jump.

"Oh come on," he said. "You're a fighter. Ex-Shinra security force infantryman, if I heard Tseng correctly."

Cloud ground his teeth.

"Which I did," Genesis continued. "Back when I was one of Shinra's prize possessions, on the cover of magazines, etcetera… Well, even then we had to wait six months for front row seats for one of Andrea Rhodea's performances. And you just call him up to say hi? It's hard to credit."

They were nearly at the square. There'd be other people to drag Rhapsodos's attention away.

"It has been a few years, though," Genesis went on. "Maybe the standards at the Inn have dropped terribly. After all, I'm not the only one who's six years older."

"That is offensive," Cloud said bluntly.

It didn't stop Genesis talking. "Ohhh. Maybe you had a side hustle as a Honey? Now that I can believe."

When Barret Wallace shouted at him to get his ass over to the wreckage and give him a hand shifting debris, Cloud was actually relieved.

"Barret," he said. "Meet SOLDIER First Class Genesis Rhapsodos, former traitor and betrayer. He can help too."

The redhead's annoyed squawk and Wallace's angry bellow were glorious.

End note: I spend way too much time looking things up and not writing. For that I apologize. But, I now know a lot more about glass blowing than I'll ever need, so…. Bonus?

BTW, thank you all for your kind words of support. You may think they're small things, but they did help.