Elena looked around. The classroom was empty except for Cloud, who was once again gazing out of the windows down into Midgar. The classroom was again split in two, but today the divide was more apparent. The same tables they had practiced on mere days ago were pushed against the wall and the entire expense of the concrete practice floor was left exposed. Looking at the previously ignored targets lining the opposite wall apprehensively, Elena realized what their third and last lesson was going to encompass.
She wedged herself through the gaps between the desks to reach Cloud who was seated on the window sill, one leg extended up onto it and the other hanging off, foot flat on the floor to keep his balance. The window was open wide and Elena thought the blond looked a bit like a bird, precariously perched on the sill like that. Just one push and it would all be over.
She took a precious moment to examine her – can she call him a friend? She had only known him two weeks and only saw him in class- she examined Cloud. His hair was overgrown and he had taken to messily tying the locks back into a small tail to keep it out of the way. One hand came up to play with an errant lock absently. The other elbow was resting on a raised knee. The open window let in gusts of wind that blew the blond hair back and forth and whistled in the room. Elena looked out the window as well when Cloud didn't acknowledge her calling his name softly, afraid to startle him off the sill.
The sky looked the same as always to her. It was grey and sooty. A layer of smoke perpetually covered the city. Since Midgar's eight Sectors were split into the below plate slums and the above plate, only the Plate residents ever got to see the sky. Not that it made a difference. Midgar was eternally cloaked in a veil of smog that only worsened below plate. It never rains, or snows, or hails. That was a good thing too. Any rain would be acid rain. There was no wind either, to blow the smog away. It just settled like sewerage sludge down into the slums.
"Cloud," she called again. No response. What a moody guy. First he laughs at me, now he ignores me. She huffed.
"It's going to rain." She looked out again.
"It never rains," she contradicted impetuously. Cloud turned around to look at her. Elena was hit then by how young Cloud was. He was clean shaven, and Elena thought he probably didn't even need to shave. He had high cheekbones and a pointed chin. No baby fat anywhere. And that tuft of feathery golden hair. But his eyes were so shaded now. Weary. They were still bluer than the sky that Elena had almost never known. Elena shivered. Elena almost opened her mouth again to ask something insensitive when the rest of the class trickled in. The moment was lost. Cloud rose from the sill and closed the window, abruptly silencing the whispers of the wind.
"So it doesn't." He replied.
Elena does not see him for a long time after that class. In that time, it did not rain in Midgar.
III. Revisit
"Let me get that, ma'am." A quiet voice with a bit of a country accent said from behind the graying woman, who was slowly bending to retrieve her paper grocery bag where it had fallen after three teenagers shoved past her on their skateboards as they ran out of the train station. The dumbapples rolled out of the bag and across the street. She sighed to herself. They were all bruised now and the cart she had been pushing to get her groceries home was lying on its side, one wheel hanging loose from its axel.
Ruvie had been ambling her way home from the grocery store when she passed in front of the station. A train just pulled up to the platform, and she wasn't paying much attention to the passing crowd when she was mowed down by the hooligans. No one stopped to even look. She pushed back a strand of silver hair that had escaped the confines of her bun and straightened her back gingerly. She dusted off her navy blue and white daisy print dress and wiggled her toes back into her comfortable walking shoes. Then, she turned to see the train pullout of the station again, hissing and puffing then tooting out a loud whistle.
She could hear that train going about business every day from the comfort of her own kitchen. She never needed an alarm clock because the train tracks ran right past her house and she would be woke by the whistling and humbug of the seven o'clock rush. Her son had asked her to move several times now to live with him in the quarters set aside just for Shinra employees, to a better neighborhood.
"It's not a good neighborhood anymore, mom," he would plead, "You live so close to the station. All sorts of people take the train now and it's the first stop coming up from the slums. It's not safe."
"Nonsense," she had replied, "Your father and I raised you in that house. Those Shinra houses are so close to city center, I can't even see the sun when it's finally out. How am I going to plant my flowers?"
Looked around at the groceries spilled across the sidewalk and her overturned cart, Ruvie wondered for the first time if her son might have been right.
A lightly calloused hand extended down and grabbed the few fruits that rolled away to the curb and deftly plopped them into the neglected paper bag before a boy stood up with the large bag in his arms. Peeking above the edge of the bag, Ruvie is greeted by large, bright blue eyes and spiky blond hair. Shaken faith restored, Ruvie gave the blond a grateful and warm smile.
"Well, that was very nice of you, hon. I wish boys these days were all like you instead of those rowdy ruffians…" She smiled as she reached out for the bag, only for the blond to hold it tighter.
"That's alright, ma'm. I can help you carry it." Ruvie smiled. The thought occurred that the boy might be a bandit, who would follow a helpless old woman home and rob her blind, but Ruvie had faith still in humanity and decided to take the chance.
"Well, if you don't mind." The blond shook his head. "Please follow me. My house is not far, but please excuse these old bones- I cannot walk as fast as I used to."
The boy shook his head. "I don't mind, ma'am."
"Oh! Please call me Ruvie, dear. Ruvie Tuesti. And you are…?"
"I'm Cloud Strife, ma'am."
"Cloud, is it?" What a cute name for a cute boy! Ruvie let out a little girly squeak that drew Cloud to blink up at her with an expression of puzzlement.
"Yes…ma'm?"
"Oh, it's nothing dear." Cloud tilted his head to one side, much like an inquisitive bird, and then glanced at the card lying sideways on the side of the street. Ruvie followed his gaze to look sadly on the little cart her son made for her two years ago when she began to suffer greatly from her arthritis and had trouble walking.
"Don't worry about that, dear. Will you come this way?"
The odd duo only made it a block when Ruvie was forced to sit and rest. "I am terribly sorry. I am in a bit of pain after that nasty fall earlier and my knees are not so young anymore." Cloud placed the groceries next to her on the bench, his brows furrowed in deep worry.
"Can I get you something for the knee?" Ruvie laughed and waved, gesturing to her knees.
"These old things? Oh no, no. It's a problem with getting old. I have some pain medication at home." Ruvie reached for the bag and realized that she could barely lift it. "My…I hadn't realized how heavy this is! I've always had my cart…." Clouds brows rose and then he faintly smiled. My, thought Ruvie, he will grow up to be a looker despite an unfortunate case of shyness. She giggled to herself.
"I don't have a problem with it." As if to prove it, he leaned down and picked up the grocery bag again easily despite its bulk. "You can lean on me if you want… so you can take your weight off your knee."
"Oh, you are so precious!" Ruvie reached out and pinched a cheek and then laughed at the red blush that the boy tried to hide behind his fly away hair. She cheerfully recounted her son's crazy inventions when he was at Cloud's age as they slowly waddled their way to her house together.
The two stopped in front of a quaint two story house with a well cultivated little yard in the middle of a Shinra employee district. After jiggling the door open, Ruvie clear the kitchen table so Cloud could set down the groceries.
"Oh thank you so much, dear."
"No problem, ma'am. I'll best be going now." Cloud turned around to leave. Ruvie closed the door pointedly.
"Nonsense, dear. You helped me with the groceries. I need to pay you back somehow." Cloud shook his head.
"That's alright m-"
"If you are not going to take my gil, then at least stay for dinner." Ruvie said sternly, hands on her hips. When Cloud shook his head again, Ruvie grinned.
"You aren't going to make a poor old woman cook this all by herself will you? Please, call me Ruvie."
Ruvie was quite proud she manipulated the boy into helping once more. In exchange for a home cooked meal of course.
Reno only half listened to the board meeting as he leaned lazily against the door, ignoring the glares that Tseng was giving him and the silent reminders of "Stand up straight, Reno!" Fuck that, yo. And fuck you, Tseng.
The Turks already have enough on their plate with this recent cyber-attack. They left the compromised computer in the hands of the geek squad and were tracking down leads in the slums. Veld had already briefed the President and the Board on progress, which is disappointingly little for two weeks of work. So why in hell were they still standing here next to Veld when the topic changed to this stupid Wutai War briefing?
"It's one step forward, and two steps back," Lazard was saying with a frustrated sign, rubbing the bridge of his nose. Next to him, the screen showed pictures of several charred army vehicles and video footage of Soldiers being carried out on stretchers from a camp that had been hit by Wutai explosives. Reno whistled quietly. Whatever was in that explosive? Powerful stuff. Reno would love to get that bomb maker into his interrogation cell.
"Somehow, their scouts where able to find Soldier encampments and sneak in several improvised homemade explosives. It was completely unexpected and entirely different from Wutai's typical tactics."
That's true, Reno thought, that sounds more like something the Turks would do. Up until now, the war has been frontal confrontations with both sides suffering heavy losses in open battles.
"That does not sound like the honorable Wutai warriors that I have fought against," Angeal added with a frown, having been recently recalled from the battle front, "They are not known for subterfuge and prefer to die fighting to protect their honor. It is something to be respected and feared."
"Yes," Heidegger agreed behind the cigar in his lips, smacking them loudly as he took another drag, "Godo has changed tactics it seems. I think we have backed them into a corner and they are desperate. It is only a matter of time now. If I was in charge, I would have said attack now and quickly, when the enemy has exposed their desperation." Sephiroth shook his head from where he was seated. Everyone knew that Heidegger was gunning for Lazard's position. The head of the Military Police sought the Soldier directorship ever since Soldier was established.
"I disagree. Now that the Wutai army has vanished entirely into the bush, we have no idea where to strike. The last two encounters have both been traps," Lazard defended before continuing. He tapped some keys on his lap top to pull up an annotated map of the Wutai Archipelago, a chain of islands off the Wutai mainland. "The Wutaiians have also somehow taken over some of our older scuttled boats, and have been launching attacks on trade routes. It has cut off several supply lines. The water routes here are complex and we have no dedicated Navy to root them out of hiding."
"Has the aerial reconnaissance turned up anything concrete?" Sephiroth asked.
"No," Scarlet answered, "The natural caves and lava formations make it almost impossible to have reliable aerial intelligence. The volcano on top of Da Chao mountain has also been more active recently, and the rising ash is obscuring our cameras and making the air travel dangerous." Reno had some very uncharitable thoughts about the Head of Weapons Development; though that didn't stop him from looking down her dress whenever she leaned down a bit. What she was wearing to the board meeting was hardly professional, but no one is uttering a complaint in her earshot. Rumors were that she may be an illegitimate child or relative of the President. After all, no other woman had ever made it to an executive position, especially not as fast as she did. And very few people have that shock of blond hair. Other rumors say she was gracing the President's bed at night.
Either way, Reno decided, she was one hell of a mean bitch, but also the bitch that supplies Shinra with its helicopters and fancy gadgets. So Reno wasn't gonna complain. She has voiced several times that she wants to shut down the materia research funding in the mako science department and integrate the important parts into the weapons department as "weaponized mako technology". The science division thankfully vetoed the idea vehemently enough that the President finally stopped considering it. A power hungry bitch. It always seems to go hand in hand.
"The cliffs around the main continent make it impossible to flank the Wutaiian forces, and is causing us to bottleneck through only the southern beach front when landing our troops. Right now, even our hold on that is quite tenuous."
"This is all old intelligence," Veld finally grimaced, pushing the Wutai reports in front of him to one side and resting his elbows on the desk in front of him fingers cross, "Which leads me to ask why the Turks have been included in this meeting. For the past two years, we have been more focused on anti-Shinra movements around Midgar."
"Because," Lazard answered from across the table, "The Wutaiians have been displaying great skill in espionage and surprise attack. Awfully reminiscent of Turk tactics."
"Are you suggesting that we have anything to do with Wutai's increased resistance?" Veld growled.
"You misunderstand Direct Lazard, Direct Veld," Sephiroth interrupted coolly, "We are asking for your expertise in this matter." Veld sighed and leaned back.
"Our tactics work for us in an urban jungle, General Sephiroth. That is quite different from fighting in the Wutai jungle. All of our agents rely on blending in with people when needed, not trees." Veld finally responded after some thinking. "However, in some ways their so-called ninja divisions are highly reminiscent of the way the Turks work. They have a home field advantage on the Wutai continent and know the land well and thus can vanish and strike at our troops easily. We have no ability right now to disappear and strike in Wutai."
"Can you think of any ways to counter these tactics?"
"We are severely handicapped against fighting in forest settings. I can only say restructure the training with greater emphasis on survival and small group maneuvers, rather than frontal assaults. Make sure all gear is camoflaged and weather proofed. In addition, we must quickly find and disable their command centers. The Wutaiian military is notoriously disciplined and organized, but still require competent command to remain a cohesive fighting unit."
Sephiroth nodded.
"Anything else, Director?"
"It is imperative that we keep this fight contained in Wutai. If any of them have managed to get into Shinra cities, the fight can easily come to Shinra soil. Then, no man, woman, or child in Midgar is safe."
"Heidegger," Shinra commanded, "Increase security in and out of Midgar. We do not want these insurgents to strike here."
"Of course, President Shinra. We have already installed security scanners on all trains in and out of the slums."
"Security robots are also in place on most Shinra floors," Scarlet added, "Professor Hojo, however, has objected to any surveillance."
"They are unnecessary in my labs," Hojo rebuked, "and in light of the recent security leaks we are experiencing, I do not think I will ever feel safe with my experiments being watched. I have already made large concessions when I allowed the science department to move to sharing a common server with the rest of headquarters."
"Yes," Shinra interjected before Hojo began one of those long megalomaniacal rants he was known for, "I am sure we all appreciate your cooperation in this matter. Speaking of the leak, what is the progress in improving security on the plate?"
"Slowly," Veld answered. "Perhaps Director Tuesti can provide more details?"
"Oh, yes." Tuesti sat up. Reno had been wondering what this man was doing at a war council. Guess the Head of Urban Development does mean something. "We have added security measures to all Reactor access points. Each one now requires two people with the proper codes to enter the inside chamber. We have reprogrammed the system so that each floor above floor sixty now requires a different keycard. After reviewing the plate building codes, I also detected vulnerability in the plate design and I would recommend reinforcing the pillar-"
"That will not be necessary," Shinra cut in, "I only need to know that the topmost floors of the headquarters is secure."
"Father," Rufus cut in, "Should we also not consider your relocation? The Headquarters is a Shinra landmark and paints an uncomfortable target. In addition, we still have only tenuous control over the organized crime on the lower level. Perhaps Junon-"
"That is unnecessary, Rufus." The older Shinra replied, "The Headquarters is the most secure place in the world right now." He took a moment to cut and light a cigar.
"Lazard, Scarlet, approve development and shipment of more terrain worthy supplies to Wutai immediately. Heidegger, brief your men. Does anyone else have anything to add?"
The board looked at each other silently.
"Good. I have an appointment for dinner." Shinra stood up and exited with his son. Veld nodded to Reno and Tseng, a clear dismissal, and Reno slouched and exited the door as well.
"I hate getting stuck in those meetings, yo," He whined as soon as the door closed behind them, "It always stinks in there. Must be all the cigars and assholes."
"Be more professional." Tseng chided. Reno clicked his teeth.
"I'm off duty, yeah?"
"Don't get into trouble." Reno scoffed and pressed a button. The elevator doors opened with a "ding" and he stepped in and turned around.
"You know me, yo!" He saw Tseng turn around as Veld exit the conference room. The doors shut on their conversation.
In the lobby as he headed out of the building, Reno dug is PHS out of his pocket and dialed a number that was quickly becoming familiar.
"Oi, Cloud!" Reno yelled into the cell. "Wanna go grab that drink now?...Whadaya mean 'you've got plans'?"
"Sorry I'm late, mom. We got called to an emergency meeting again," Reeve called as he hung his blue suit jacket on the hanger and closed the closet door behind him, pausing only long enough to kick off his loafers before turning into his mother's kitchen. To his surprise, no one was in. It smelled delicious, and a peek into the pot warming on the stove top told him his mother made beef casserole. However, the house was silent.
"My, it's such a beautiful color- I don't know where best to plant it!" He heard his mother say from the gardens, and he walked up to the open door next to the refrigerator that separated his mother's modest kitchen from the back yard. Watching from the screen door, he watch as his mother marveled at something shown to her by a blond kid whose back was turn to him. "Where did you say you got this again?"
"My friend in the slums. She can somehow make flowers grow down there."
"Oh! Your girlfriend!" The kid sputtered.
"No! She's just a friend." Ruvie's laughter reached Reeve's ears.
"Haha, I'm just teasing, dear." She comforted, "Although you do seem to visit her quite often."
"Mother!" Reeve finally interrupted.
Both Ruvie and the blond kid spun around, and Reeves saw that the kid was hugging a flower pot to himself. In it, shockingly bright orange geraniums seem to be trying to burst out of the confining little pot.
"Reeve!" Ruvie laughed, "Come down here and say hi to Cloud!"
Reeve opened the screen door and walked outside, still in his business attire. He offered his hand to Cloud, who set the flower pot down and wiped his hands on his raggedy jeans. He took Reeve's hand and shook it once with an amazingly strong grip before dropping it and nodding once to him.
"Now Reeve here is my son," Ruvie introduced. Cloud gave him a small smile.
"Pleasure ta finally meet you. Ruvie talks a great deal about you."
Reeve chuckled.
"And my mother has said nothing about you."
"Oh Reeve," Ruvie answered for Cloud, "He's the nice boy I told you about- the one who helped me with groceries and fixed the cart last month. You keep missing each other every time you come visit this old woman." Reeve's eyebrows raised above his hair line.
"That was a good piece of work, Cloud." He complimented to the slightly blushing youth, "I hadn't thought to motorize the cart." Cloud shrugged and didn't say much.
"Where did you go to school, again?"
"I'm studying mako science right now at the Shinra Academy, sir," Cloud answered.
"And the cart?"
"A side hobby, sir."
"Well don't stand there!" Ruvie interrupted impatiently, "Reeve, help me decide where we should plant this. Then we can all go have dinner." Reeve sighed and resigned himself to getting dirt on his dress shirt and pants. Cloud simply laughed at his put-upon expression, feeling some sympathy as Ruvie conned both men into more work.
Version 1.1
Revised 3/14/2014