Chapter Eight

The Truth Begins

A/N: My only hope is that people are still interested in this story. I'm hoping to update at least once more before the next game installment comes out next month.

Disclaimer: Final Fantasy VII does not belong to me. I own Alia, any other OCs, and this fanfiction. I hold no copyright over direct quotes from FFVII, FFVII: Remake, or FFVII Advent Children.

~ oOo ~

"Well, good morning, peaches."

Alia blinked several times, rubbing the palm of her hand against her eyes before opening them for good. Her vision was blurred, but as her sight adjusted to the morning light filtering through the curtains, she could see Reno's flaming red hair come into view. The man was propped up on his elbow, staring downward at Alia, still wrapped in the confines of the warm comforter. Smiling lazily up at the man, she stretched both arms above her head, rolling on her back as she arched and popped her spine. Yawning, the woman wrapped herself again in the blanket, not ready to leave the comfort of Reno's bed.

Reaching forward, Reno gently traced his fingers along Alia's cheek. "What, you wanna already go back to sleep?" The woman smiled and shook her head, mumbling an inaudible answer. Chuckling, Reno muttered, "Alia…you've been asleep for a long time."

Opening one eye to stare at him, Alia whispered, "…how long?"

Turning around to glance at the clock on his nightstand, Reno shrugged. "Can't say. I got home a little after eleven last night, and you were knocked out on the couch. Since it's almost ten right now, I'd say…probably twelve hours."

Eyes opening wide, Alia's mouth fell slightly. "Damn," was all she muttered, slightly bewildered.

"That's kinda what I was thinking. You're not one to sleep past eight. I'd say this is a record for you."

Curling her body close to his, Alia nuzzled her face into his chest. "And I slept well, thank you very much." She giggled.

Watching the beautiful woman, Reno ran a hand through her hair. "Were you wanting to run today like you did yesterday?"

Her head shook. "No, not really. I'd rather not mess with the same thing that happened yesterday. Not really in the mood. Guess I'm just feeling lazy after that."

Reno's heartbeat quickened. "It very well could've been, yo." He continued to stroke her hair, hearing Alia groan in response. She loved it when he played with her hair, which was always relaxing, one of her favorite lazy pastimes. There had been times she had to beg Reno to play with her hair while they were watching TV, but he obliged each time. "Alright, what's on the agenda for today, peaches?"

She shrugged. "I didn't have anything planned."

"Me neither; I was hoping you would think of something."

Deciding to move, Alia uncurled herself from Reno's side, sitting straighter as the comforter fell from her shoulders. Leaning against the headboard, she stretched her still-tired legs. "Hmm, I mean, we could…"

She was about to suggest something fun, but Reno's phone vibrated on the nightstand behind him. Annoyance crossed his face as he turned around to grab the damn contraption, face falling when he noticed the Caller ID. The groan released from lips deepened in-depth, Alia shivering beside him. "Damn, it's Rufus."

"So answer it," she breathed calmly.

"Aw man, do I have to?" He looked her in the eye, and Alia narrowed her eyebrows, giving him her silent answer. He sighed and swiped against the lock screen, placing the device against his ear. "Sup boss, whatcha need?"

"I hate to ask this of you, Reno, but I need you to come in today."

The redhead groaned again, running a hand through his messy hair. "Seriously, boss? I thought you said we were given a few days off while Elena heals?"

"I know what I said, Reno, but this is important. We…received another one."

Reno stayed silent for a while, his brain registering Rufus' words. "Oh…shit. When? How?"

"Within the last hour. That's why I need you to come in. I'm sending Rude with the helicopter, so he'll be there within the hour to pick you up."

Reno sighed, knowing this was something important. "Alright, boss. I'll be ready."

He could hear his boss sigh on the other end as well. "I'm really sorry, Reno; I didn't want to call you in, but…this is something you'll need to see."

Stealing a peek at Alia beside him, Reno was making sure he didn't say anything suspicious that would gain her attention to the matter at hand. "Understood, sir." He ended the call, shaking his head the entire time. Now, knowing why Rufus had called, the redhead didn't hold any anger at his boss. Quite the opposite. He was now angry that there was another video they would have to dissect, another video about Alia and what this person had against her. When he fully turned his attention to Alia, Reno held a tight smile, hoping the woman wouldn't realize it was forced.

"So…why do you gotta go in to work?" Alia cocked her head to the side, wanting to know why.

"A-Ah, well, you know…Rufus wants to brief us on what happened during our last mission. He probably could've done it the other day, but he was probably letting us have some time together. It shouldn't take all day, at least I'm hoping." Reno cupped Alia's cheek, rubbing his thumb over her bottom lip. "Are you mad?"

Smiling, she shook her head, kissing his finger. "Nah. I knew what I was getting into when we got together. I'd be mad if it were another mission, though…That's what would piss me off."

"Trust me, I would be pissed too."

Jumping slightly, Alia turned toward her phone as her ringtone started going off. Grasping the device, she glanced at the screen, smiling when she saw it was her brother. "Oh, it's Cloud!" She held a finger toward her lips as she answered it. "Hey, big brother!"

"Morning, Alia. Did I wake you?"

"Nah, I've been awake for a little bit. For some reason, I decided to sleep in this morning."

She could hear her brother chuckle on the other end. "That's odd, coming from you."

"Heh, yeah, I know."

"Still, I'm glad you got some sleep. But, anyways…do you have a minute?"

"Anything for you, Cloud! What's up?"

"Remember that order I was telling you about the other day? The shipment came in sooner than expected, so I need your help delivering it."

"Ahh, no problem!" She smiled.

"Good. I know you're in Kalm, but can you meet me here in an hour? Would that be possible?"

"That's no problem at all, Cloud. Where exactly are we taking this delivery?"

"There's a farm on the outskirts of Kalm, about an hour away from the city. I know you're already in Kalm, but I need your help before we leave. I'm sorry about making you drive out here."

"Oh, don't be. I agreed to help you before my friend called me the other day. Our promise comes first. How much of a delivery are we talking about?"

"We're taking the truck instead of our bikes."

Alia whistled. "Damn, you rarely use the truck."

"That's because it's a bigger package."

She shrugged. "Makes no difference; I'll still be there."

"Thanks, Alia, I appreciate it. See you soon."

Hearing the faint click as Cloud ended the call, Alia set her phone aside, turning to Reno, who was staring at her.

"So…you gotta be somewhere today, too, huh?"

She nodded, smiling at the thought of spending a few hours with her brother. "Yeah. The day you came back, Cloud asked about me helping with a delivery. He wasn't expecting the delivery to come in today, which is why he needs me now."

"Ah, I see." He scratched his chin. "But, Alia?"

She tilted her head. "…yes?"

He cupped her cheek, leaning in closely. "Promise me you'll be careful?"

She copied his movements. "I promise, Reno, nothing is going to happen."

"Wanna make a bet on that?"

She narrowed her eyes curiously. "Are you…saying that I might get hurt today?"

"N-No," he stammered slightly. Licking his lips, he added, "You seemed so sure yesterday that nothing would happen." Alia puffed her cheeks; her skin grew red as her anger grew. "Hey, I don't wanna start a fight, yo; I just don't want to see my peaches get hurt again."

Rolling her eyes, Alia, instead of something to retort against his words, angled her next to kiss the palm of his hand. "Don't worry, I'll keep a sharp eye on my surroundings. And I'll have Cloud with me as well. No problems there; he'll help me, Reno."

The redhead leaned down and looked into her different-colored eyes. He knew he couldn't keep her locked up in the apartment without a proper reason. And there was no way in hell he would explain why he didn't want her leaving the city. After yesterday, he feared what these people could do and, more importantly, what they would do. For now, Reno had to trust that Cloud would keep his peaches safe. "Alright, go deliver that package with Cloud. But I've got my cell on me, so if anything happens, call me. You understand? Whether it's you or Cloud, I expect a call."

He received his answer in kind by her lips forming against his.

~ oOo ~

Precisely one hour had passed since the couple had stood from the warm confines of their bed. Showering separately and dressing in their attire for the day, they said their goodbyes; Reno headed toward the roof, whereas Alia headed to the underground garage. Before they left, however, Reno pleaded with Alia to take her Master Cure. She obliged, merely to ease his fears more than anything else. She firmly believed that nothing would happen, but Reno was right in that she had said the same thing yesterday. Still, she decided to humor him, nothing else.

Taking the elevator to the parking garage, she walked beside Shiva, checking the weapon compartment for her scythe blades. Straddling the bike, she ignited the beautiful engine, moving the beast of a vehicle outside of the garage. Halting the motorcycle as she exited, Alia glanced upward, catching a glimpse as the Shinra helicopter took flight, taking Rude and Reno back toward Healen. She could faintly see the outline of the two males through the glass, leaving her behind as she angled her bike to take her to the bar.

It was a clear, bright day with a gentle breeze. Alia's hair flopped back and forth with how she drove her bike as she zoomed between streets and rounded the corners. It took practically no time at all for her to reach Seventh Heaven. Pulling up to the front of the bar, Alia could not see her brother, so she moved her bike to the back alley. There, she found Cloud maneuvering several packages into the back of his truck. Parking beside him, Cloud nodded in her direction as he heard her engine cut off.

With a shake of his head, Cloud grunted, "Why are you the punctual one in the family?"

She quickly glanced at her phone to see that it had been almost one hour on the dot since her brother had called her earlier. She rolled her eyes and replied, "Hey, at least you got the perfect hair. The way your spikes stay all net and everything."

"Tch, what're you talking about?"

"Come on, Cloud, seriously? Your hair is always perfect, even when it gets wet!" She crossed her arms and huffed. "It takes a lot for me to get my hair the way I want."

"Don't be like that," Cloud pleased softly. Moving from his position beside the truck, he stood beside his sister and grabbed a section of her waist-length hair. "Aliana, your hair is beyond perfect; I don't know what you mean. You've always had a natural curl to it. See?" He lifted the ends of her hair, the woman's eyes following as she could see he was right. Now, she knew her hair and the natural curl she held. She just…didn't know that's something her brother seemed to like.

Grabbing the section from his hand, she stared, following the strands to see how the curl gradually dissipated the closer the strands grew to her scalp. Smiling, she loved these little moments with Cloud. She knew how he understood certain aspects about himself, but he never revealed what he noticed. "Thanks, Cloudy," she mumbled while smiling. Cloud offered her one of his rarer smiles. Being his sister, Alia knew this one was genuine, one he had been displaying more and more throughout the last year. Wrapping her arms around his shoulders, she squeezed. "Aw, I love you, big brother!"

The blonde rolled his eyes again. "Love you too, Alia."

She let go, knowing he was slightly embarrassed despite them being the only two in the back alley. Looking to the ground and then the back of the truck, she whistled. The main package in the back was relatively large and would not have sat on the back of Cloud's bike. "Damn, you weren't kidding. What'd the person order, anyways?"

Cloud shook his head. "No clue, but you know I don't care as long as I get paid."

She shrugged. "Eh, that's true." She clapped her hands together. "So! What's left?"

He pointed to a small pile in the garage. "There's only a few left. Besides the main delivery, there are a few others we have to deliver to residents over in Kalm, so I figured we'd kill two birds with one stone. Sound good?"

"You got it, boss. You have the paperwork on hand?"

"Nah, it's still upstairs."

"Alright, grab that, and I'll put the rest in the truck." Nodding, Cloud left through the bar's back entrance. Once gone, Alia set to work. Her brother was right in that there was only a tiny pile left, and by the time she had finished, Cloud made his way back outside, a small folder in hand. "That everything?"

"I think so, but can you check to see if I have the correct paperwork? You were always better at that than me."

Chuckling, she grabbed the folder and glanced through, making sure all the manifests were there, along with the slips the customers would need to sign. Nodding, she closed the folder. "Everything's good on our end!"

"Good, let's hit the road. We might be able to make it back at a decent time."

Before heading out, Cloud and Alia grabbed their weapons from their bikes. From their previous fights, they knew full well that it was better to travel prepared than not. There were still monsters between Edge and Kalm. Though any were likely to attack a moving truck, it was still better to be prepared. With their weapons placed in a position where they could be easily grabbed from the backseat, Cloud took the driver's seat while Alia sat beside him.

With the newly developed freeway up and running, people could easily and reasonably quickly travel between Edge and Kalm. Cloud and Alia could travel the distance with their bikes in about forty-five minutes. The trip took them over an hour with the work truck laden with heavy packages. Alia didn't think this was bad, considering it could have taken them much longer before the freeway was built.

Nearing Kalm, Cloud decided they would deliver the packages to the customers within the city before delivering to the farmer who lived on the outskirts. Entering the first of several addresses into his phone, Cloud drove through the growing city as Alia admired the inhabitants of the town she was just in just two days prior.

Just as they had done with previous deliveries, Alia would handle the customer and the paperwork while Cloud dealt with the packages. Having traveled all over the city, they had met exciting individuals with the packages they delivered. With each one, Alia would smile and have the customer sign the form saying they accepted their package before it was handed over to them. Following the same procedure until most of the packages were delivered, Alia realized they had only been within the city for almost two hours. By the time they delivered the last package inside the town, Alia's stomach growled, realizing it was lunchtime.

Cloud chuckled, looking at her from the driver's seat. "You, uh, hungry over there?"

Sheepishly glancing away, Alia scratched her cheek. "I, uh…might've skipped breakfast this morning."

All Cloud did was sigh. "…what am I gonna do with you."

"Nothing because I am your sister, and you love me regardless."

"I do love you regardless," Cloud quickly replied. "But sometimes you suck at taking care of yourself. Especially when it comes to making sure you eat," he snarled lightly, peering at her through his peripherals.

The woman merely shrugged. "I mean, is eating really that important?"

"Yes!"

She rolled her eyes. "So you say…" Cloud slapped the woman against her arm several times, Alia raising her hands in defeat. "I yield!" She chuckled. "Damn, and you're driving too."

"Whatever. So what sounds good?"

"I'm fine with anything."

Cloud hung his head. "That doesn't help…how 'bout burgers?"

The woman lit up. "I can do a burger. Oh! I know this great stand that's actually around the corner!"

Taking a much-needed break, the two siblings ordered food from the small burger joint and ate in the truck. Bonding over greasy burgers and soda, the male and female laughed and joked against one another. They were enjoying their time, feeling like they hadn't had time to spend in the last few weeks. By the time their meal was empty wrappers, the two realized it had been almost an hour since they stopped. Knowing they still had one more package to deliver, Cloud entered the last address and made their way out to the small farm on the east side of Kalm.

As they drove through the lush countryside, Alia sighed, loving the sight of the greenery surrounding them. There was grass and different colored flowers, and they had even passed by a large, winding river. It was heavenly to her. It reminded the woman of her mother, and Alia was also reminded of her dear friend Aerith, whom she missed dearly.

Almost as if he sensed his sister's sudden difference, Cloud reached over with a hand and cupped hers, squeezing tightly. It was probably a twin thing they had, but Alia never had to explain certain aspects to her brother. Just like Reno, Cloud just…understood her sometimes.

Before long, they were driving past long rows of crops. Several chocobos could be seen inside the pastures off in the distance. Smiling at the yellow bird, Alia had an inkling of grasping the red chocobo keychain as she was suddenly missing Reno. Ignoring the thought, Alia shook her head. If Cloud noticed, he didn't say anything. Driving the rest of the way on the dirt path, they reached the beautiful farmhouse quickly.

Like the other deliveries, Cloud worked on finagling the package from the truck while Alia took the folder to the front door. Knocking on the wood four times, the woman waited patiently. When no one answered, the woman was about to knock again when a faint "I'm coming!" echoed from within. Soon, a young female was opening the door as she wiped her hands on her white apron.

Smiling, the woman said, "Hi, can I help you?"

"Hello!" Alia greeted her with a smile. "I'm sorry to bother you, but I'm from Strife Delivery Service. I have a package to drop off for…" Stealing a peak at the last slip in the folder, Alia finished her sentence with, "…Terra Auberny?"

"Ah, yes! That's me!" The woman smiled brightly. Glancing over Alia's shoulder, Terra mumbled, "Oh geez…it's bigger than I expected. I also wasn't expecting it this early!"

"I hope that's not a problem…?"

Terra only smiled more. "Oh no, dearie! This is wonderful!" Watching as Cloud carefully placed the package on his dolly, Terra continued by saying, "You see, it's my husband's birthday in a few days. I was told this wouldn't arrive until after. Oh, I am so excited about this!"

Her words had Alia laughing just as Cloud stopped before them. "Ma'am, would you like me to take this inside?"

"Yes, please!" Stepping inside so Cloud could enter, Terra showed where she wanted the item placed. The woman was beaming as Cloud rolled the dolly back to the truck. She was practically jumping on her toes. "I cannot wait to see my husband's face."

"I am sure he will be excited. You are all set; we need a signature on this line." Alia gave the woman a pen and showed her where the signature was needed. Signing away, Alia and Terra shared several more words before the woman parted, the door closing softly between them.

Just as Cloud had everything packed, secured, and ready to go, Alia stepped beside the truck, reclaiming her seat at the front. Smiling, she turned to her brother. "Alright, I think that's everything!"

Cloud nodded, checking the time on his phone. "Not bad," he mumbled. "We'll make decent time if we head back now." Seeing as how his sister held her thumb up had the man chuckling. Her antics were foolproof in placing a smile on his face.

The drive home would take over two hours since they left the furthest delivery for last. Neither complained, as they would still drive back to Edge before late afternoon. Calling that a win, Alia leaned back and stared at the scenery before her. Memorizing what lay before her, she would soon be surrounded by dust and dead earth. Oh, she wished she could change the damage the Shinra Electric Power Company had done to the planet. She and her friends had done enough two years ago, but there was more she wished she could have done.

Lost in thought, Alia wasn't sure how long it had been since they reclaimed the road back home. The conversation between her and Cloud had grown into a comfortable silence they had perfected since they were children. Smiling, Alia was ready to close her eyes and rest the entire way home. Content with the drive, she closed her lids, allowing the gentle hum of the truck's engine to lull her into a peaceful slumber.

That was all taken away when Cloud suddenly swerved off the side of the road.

Nearly thrown into the dashboard, Alia reeled, eyes franticly searching around them. "What the hell! Cloud, are you alright?!"

Fingers grasping the steering wheel tightly, Cloud only moved his eyes. First, peering right and then left. Alai was about to speak again when her brother raised his hand. "We're being followed."

Mouth closing, Alia did nothing but turn her attention to stare at the side mirror. Her thoughts were immediately taken back to earlier that morning when Reno told her to be careful and to call him if anything were to happen. Well…fuck. If we are being followed, I'm glad I brought my weapons.

Curiosity getting the better of her, she opened the truck door and stepped out, Cloud's hand reaching out to stop her a little too late. Taking in their surroundings, they were a good fifty feet from the freeway, barely any cars driving by. From what Alia could see, it was just the two of them.

Her thoughts were suddenly cut short when Cloud's raspy voice interrupted her.

"Alia! Duck!"

She turned her head and instantly recognized the swiveling curved edge of the same dagger that had poisoned her yesterday. Dropping to her knees, the woman took extra precaution by flinging her back down to the ground, watching as the weapon flew precisely where her head had been. The dagger then fell to the ground several feet away, and Alia stared at the damn thing. Knowing the perpetrator behind yesterday's attack was most likely here, she regained her footing and stood. A flash of black caught her attention as she cast her head off to the side. A large boulder, probably removed during the freeway's construction, stood off in the distance, but that's when Alia realized they weren't alone.

Standing atop the rock was the same male from yesterday. Despite the difference between where Alia stood and the person on the boulder, the woman just knew it was him. The man raised his hand high, and the blade thrown at them was called back to its master. "So!" He yelled across the distance that separated them. "It would see you healed quite nicely from our fight yesterday, Alia."

Cloud's truck door slammed, and he approached Alia's position. "What the hell is going on?" He asked worriedly.

"Tch, I thought Reno and I taught you a lesson yesterday!" Cloud quickly glanced at his sister when she yelled the Turk's name, though he brushed it off. "He kicked your ass, which should've been your clue to leave me alone!"

"Ah, so only Reno fought me yesterday? Not you?"

"Oh, I did fight you, you fucker. I'm the one who shattered your goddamn wrist."

He waved his previously broken hand, Alia assuming materia had been used to heal him. "But…I don't see your lovely Reno here with you, right?" He noticed the absence of her argument. "I'm right; he isn't here this time, is he, my sweet Alia?" His words sent another chill down the length of her spine.

But it was Cloud's turn to speak. "What do you want with us?"

"Ah! Well, if it ain't the infamous Cloud Strife, older brother to the notorious Aliana Strife."

Alia growled, not liking where this was headed. "What the fuck do you want this time?"

Jumping from his current location, he leaped until he was on the same ground level as the Strife siblings but still kept a distance away. "You're healed, and I want another match. I want to see your true strength."

This gained Cloud's attention, and he turned to his sister. "What the hell is he talking about, Alia?"

Not knowing what should be disclosed, Alia merely shook her head before daring to peek into her brother's eyes. "I…I honestly don't know. Just let me fight him. It's me he's after anyway."

"What do you mean…?" But the woman shook her head.

"Are you ready, my sweet?

Keeping her eyesight on the male, Alia moved backward until she reached the back of the truck. Running her hand inside, she grasped the handle of her elongated scythe blade. Each blade was long and curved, with an attachment mechanism at the end of the handle. This mechanism meant both blades could connect at the hilts to create a double-sided weapon. It was the perfect weapon for Alia because she could dual-wield two weapons or manhandle one; she had perfected both styles.

Moving away from the truck, Alia knew this would end in another fight. Remembering the one from yesterday, she was ready for this man's attacks. He was sneaky and liked to use his surroundings to his advantage. Not only that, but he favored his throwing knives, which were also covered in poison.

Best to avoid those again, she thought.

"Think you'll be able to provide me with a worthy fight today, my sweet?"

Beside her, Cloud shivered, not appreciating the way this man was talking to his sister. And what was he talking about, another fight? What had happened yesterday that he was not made aware of? Taking hold of his sister's arm, Cloud squeezed the flesh to gain her attention and eyes. "Aliana, what the hell is going on? What is this guy talking about?"

Eyes briefly glancing at her brother, she shook her head. "Now's not the best time, just…let me fight him." It's not that she wanted to. Oh, the complete opposite. She wanted to be rid of this asshole completely. He had shown up out of nowhere, demanding to fight her so she could demonstrate her strength for the hell of it, but in reality, he was testing her.

That and, well, he had tried to kill her.

Alia had had enough people in her life who had tried to kill her. She was sick and tired of the meaningless fighting and just wanted to live her life with Reno by her side. So be it if she had to go through this guy to get that.

The man before them guffawed. "You are taking too long, my sweet!"

"Stop calling me that!" Alia screamed. "I am not your sweet!"

The man grinned. "You may not be mine, but you are Reno's."

She tensed, not daring to peek over at her brother. She knew he had to have heard that.

"Come on, you have to admit the truth. You are Reno's sweetheart, are you not?"

Alia growled as the man continued to laugh maniacally. Fed up with the situation, Alia threw herself in the male's direction. Using her blink ability, she zapped herself from beside Cloud to shoving her face into the man's surprised facade. Slamming her fist into his face, the male was thrown backward, landing about ten feet off into the distance. The man was not expecting Alia to initiate their fight as his back slammed into the nearest cliff. Falling toward the ground, he then instantly returned to standing on his feet, though he did clear his split lip of any leaking blood.

He chuckled once more. "Starting things off quick, huh, my sweet?"

Alia threw herself in the man's direction, fist raised once more. "I told you - I am not your sweet!"

He soared toward Alia, who was barely given enough time to dodge his attack. "You may not be mine, but you will be my master's!" Taking hold of one knife in each hand, the male stared into Alia's eyes as both pushed with all their strength. Throwing one blade in her direction, she easily dodged the weapon with a slight tilt of her head. Calling back the weapon, he snatched it back in his hand. "Ah, I see. Your reflexes are quicker than yesterday."

"I am not weak like you called me yesterday.

"You're still gonna have to prove me wrong, my sweet."

"You fucker!" Alia screeched, sending another right hook, connecting directly against his face. Was this man taking her hits simply because? Was he playing with her? What was his end game? "Stop calling me that!" Shoving the man away, she slashed her blades, barely nicking the man's arms as he kicked her away with a jab to her gut.

Alia was already tired of this person. Whoever he was, she was sick of him following her around and declaring that he deserved to fight her. Even then, it wasn't him fighting, was it? He was doing so based on the orders of his 'master.' Still, Alia rushed toward the crazed man. When she was close enough, she detached the blades, holding one in each hand, and slammed one deep into the earth. Keeping her eye on the man, she screamed, "Bolt!" She mentally thanked Reno that he had persuaded her to take several of her black magic materia with her. And, just like all her other materia, these were also mastered.

A wave of powerful electricity coursed across the ground straight toward the man. But as it neared his position, he jumped away and into the air, effectively avoiding the attack. However, Alia anticipated that he would evade her attack. Kicking her legs off the ground, she beelined toward the man, hand outstretched as she neared his position. Her fingers barely grazed his chest as she screamed the spell once more. The crackling essence of the electrical surge trickled through the air before it hit the man directly, right into his chest. His eyes found hers the instant her attack landed. He screamed bloody murder as waves of electrical madness consumed his body.

Body growing numb as the seconds passed, the man slowly fell back to the ground. Alia wasn't one to prove when she had crossed the line between being mad and 'pissed off,' but this man was showing he knew how to crack her lid. Just as he was falling, Alia took one of her blades and thrust downward, wanting to plunge the weapon into the man's arm to emphasize that he should not mess with her again. Succeeding, her blade met his shoulder, just as he had attacked her yesterday, further forcing his body to the ground as they fell from the sky together.

As they neared the ground, Alia muttered her black magic materia once again, sending another bolt through her blade, the same that was wedged into the man's shoulder. The smell of burning flesh enters the woman's nostrils, making her aware she has finally done some damage. The male continued to scream in agony, causing Alia to be the one to smile wickedly. Alia knew she shouldn't, but something about this person screamed that he represented something evil. Whether he was evil still needed to be questioned, but the fact that he had been there, not just once, but twice, to initiate a fight with her told Alia more than she wanted to know.

Not wanting to risk the man moving, she shoved her curved blade further into his shoulder, ripping muscle and tearing flesh. What felt like hours passed in seconds, their bodies colliding into the ground, cracking the planet's surface while creating a small crater in the hardened dirt. As they landed against the earth, Alia tore her blade away, jumping further back to stare at the damage she had inflicted.

Standing some twenty feet away, Alia's knees shook. It wasn't that her body was strained; something about this man instantly sent a wave of unknown fear coursing through her body. Whenever she looked at him, she was reminded of a forgotten past she fought hard to place behind her, one she swore never to return to.

"Y-You…have changed much since yesterday, my sweet."

Rolling her eyes, Alia cracked her knuckles. "Fuck…why won't you stay down?!" Alia glanced at the male as he staggered to his feet, struggling to stand. Her magic was still coursing through his body as he slightly twitched here and there. Smiling, Alia felt a small victory, knowing she had damaged him just as he had done to her previously.

Muttering to himself, the male said, "No, I can't d-die here…not yet. There's still so much that needs to be done. Like this!"

And he was gone.

Alia blinked, eyes and ears searching for where her attacker could have gone. This was something he had done several times yesterday, even when Reno came and joined the fight. Just as she had turned to face her brother, the woman was shoved to the ground. She was landing directly on her ass as she skidded against dirt, billowing dust around her. Flying in her direction, the male grasped her throat tightly, tearing her away from her position as he threw her against the closest cliff. Just as she had created a crater by thrusting the male into the ground, he had done the same to her. Back connecting against stone, Alia screamed, rocks flying all around as she quickly opened her eyes. The male's hand was still gripping her neck tightly with such strength she struggled to breathe.

But as the male blinked in her direction, Alia reeled, her eyes widening upon realization.

"Y-You're…SOLDIER?!" She was barely able to speak as her throat was pinched shut.

Acknowledging the similar color of his eyes that reflected her own, she knew. No other individuals held make colored blue-green eyes other than those initiated into SOLDIER.

The man growled as his eyebrow rose. "I was," he answered honestly. "But I have a much better job now than working for Shinra." Releasing his hand on her neck caused Alia to gasp, coughing as air was suddenly engulfed into her lungs. But as he let go, he quickly took hold of her wrists, pinning them above the woman's head.

"ALIA!"

Alia could hear her brother's cries from across the way. Slightly dizzy from lack of air, all the woman could do was tilt her head back and forth to try and glance at her brother from behind. At this point, Cloud had grabbed his blade from the truck and was rushing in her direction, yelling obscenities at her attacker. The man turned his head slightly, lifting his other hand, and harshly muttered, "STOP!"

Cloud froze the moment the spell left the man's lips.

Alia didn't foresee the man having his own set of materia. Grinning as the male's attention turned back to Alia, he said, "Now that your brother can't interrupt us, we must continue."

"…c-continue?"

I don't want to fight anymore.

Alia blinked.

I've been fighting all my life.

Alia sighed.

Why can't I just live my life?

"Yes, continue, my sweet." The male stroked her cheek. One hand held her hands above her head as the other pressed against her throat. "Yesterday, I said I was to assess your abilities. I must say, you have impressed me, my sweet. My master will both be pleased and disappointed."

She was tired of the bullshit. She was tired of the confusion, this stupid fight, and this so-called 'master.' With her quickened speed, the red-eyed woman first jammed her knee into the man's stomach and then tilted her head to sink her teeth into his hand. With only a second to spare, Alia twisted her body out of the man's grasp as he howled. Rolling out of the way, Alia flung her body toward her dropped weapon when she was sent rolling in the opposite direction.

"Why can't you just stay still?!" The man screamed.

"Why can't you just leave me the fuck alone?!" Alia countered.

"Because I have my orders!" Connecting his fist with her face, Alia's head flung to the side, blood pooling past her bottom lip. "Why do you have to be such a bitch?! Why did Z…!"

"Zane, stop this! What do you think you're doing?!"

"Taking what's rightfully mine!"

"No, stop! STOP!"

"Why do you have to be such a bitch?!"

Blinking against the harsh sun, Alia's head was flung left and right, the male's fist repeatedly meeting her skin. Screaming with all her might, she launched herself forward, slamming her forehead into his, halting his movements as she twisted and rolled, bled and feared, cursed and ran. Fingers grazing the hilt of her blade, a hand attached itself to the back of her neck, dragging the woman backward. Face scratching against the rocks and dirt from the ground, Alia flailed her body, doing everything she could to escape. There had only ever been one time she failed to run.

And no, it wasn't the time Hojo had captured her.

A sudden CRACK echoed into the air as a vicious scream tore through the woman's throat.

Alia's left arm had been twisted around her back while she wasn't paying attention. Instead of holding her in place, the male bent her wrist at a flawed angle. Not only had he effectively broken the appendage, but Alia's arm had been dislocated from her shoulder at the same time.

"GET OFF OF HER!"

The weight on Alia's back suddenly lifted as the male was thrown across the ground. Rotating her face, Alia could see Cloud smashing his fist repeatedly into the man's face, yelling and screaming with a murderous rage she'd rarely ever seen. The only other time she had seen her brother act in such a way was with…

Zane.

Eyes closing at the unwanted memory, Alia sniffled as a tear fell from her eye. Whether the tear was from the memory or her pain, she cared not to understand.

The pounding of flesh is what brought Alia back to the present.

"LEAVE. MY. SISTER. ALONE!"

"…Cloud," she called out to her brother.

Back tensing, Cloud turned toward his sister, leaving behind his victim as he ran to her side, sliding on his knees until he was beside her. "Alia!"

There wasn't more he could say as maniacal laughter entered their ears. Bloodied and bruised, Alia's attacker stood on shaky legs. "Ah, the elder Strife intervenes! Ever the loving brother you have been!" Protecting his sister behind him, Cloud pounced to his feet, blade secured in his hands. "But why? Can you not see how weak she has become?"

"Enough of this! My sister has proven she is not weak!"

The man continued to laugh. "I highly doubt that. But she could be more!"

Cloud's stare faltered for a moment. "M-More?"

"Ah, interested, aren't you? Curious that your sister needs more anger to achieve her greatness?"

Cloud had no idea what this man was talking about. Instead, he pointed the sharp end of his blade toward the man. "I'll repeat this: leave. I don't know who the hell you are, but you've done enough. Leave my sister alone, and we won't continue to have a problem."

The man only smirked. Staring murderously at Alia, who could barely maintain eye contact, the man waved before vanishing into thin air as several black feathers floated where he once stood.

Dropping his weapon, Cloud turned to his sister, falling to one knee as he assessed the damage. He found her eyes, the woman softly groaning in pain, though she held her imperfect facade. Not knowing what to say first, Cloud settled with, "Hey…are you ok?" The male knew it was a stupid question.

But Alia never missed a beat. "…I'm just peachy."

Her words caused Cloud to chuckle. Leave it to his sister to find sarcasm in any situation.

Quickly assessing the damage, he could see her wrist was broken and her shoulder was dislocated. Fun. "Alia, this…isn't going to be easy. We'll focus on your wrist later, but we have to realign your shoulder right now.

Groaning, the woman breathed heavily. "Right now?" She asked weakly. It wasn't necessarily the fight that had taken her strength but the memories that tackled her simultaneously. They were always immobilizing, no matter the situation.

"It'll only worsen if we don't take care of it right now."

"Fuck…" Another tear escaped, and the realization hit as the pain grew worse. "Alright…where do you need me?"

Glancing around at their surroundings, Cloud nodded toward the truck. "I'm gonna pick you up and place you in the truck bed. Just…bear with me, ok?" She nodded. As careful as he could be, Cloud rolled his sister over before carrying her in his arms. Cradling the woman against her body, he could feel her shake from the pain, quiet sobs escaping past her tight-lipped mouth. Cloud jumped as he knelt before her, placing Alia in the truck bed. Bracing one hand against her clavicle and the other behind the dislocated shoulder, Cloud muttered, "Ready?"

Though he never gave his sister a chance to answer.

Shoving his hand, Cloud instantly forced her shoulder back into place. The SNAP was loud, though Alia's shriek was deafening. Arching her back, she let loose a blood-curdling scream; her tears were instant, forcing their way down her cheeks. Cloud brushed away the tears, though he knew he could do nothing. She silently cried for several moments; the only sound was her sniffles as Cloud moved to sit beside his sister.

"Thank you, Cloud." Her voice was strained, yet she still managed to talk despite the pain.

"Hey," he smiled lightly in her direction. "You're my sister; it's my job." Alia stifled a laugh but then immediately regretted it. The pain was still burning in her shoulder, and she still had her wrist to consider. Thankfully, her Cure materia was in the arm that wasn't broken, so she called the magic within as she started healing her broken wrist first as that and the shoulder were on the same arm.

Silence crept between the two siblings as Cloud closely watched his sister. Above them, puffs of clouds crawled across the sky. Time had passed slowly during the fight, but it had passed.

Eventually, Cloud broke the silence and finally asked, "So…should I be questioning what just happened? I mean, I should be concerned, right?"

"Heh, your guess is as good as mine." She groaned and quickly shifted her back against the truck. Knowing her brother deserved to know, Alia sighed, her hand hovering slightly over her wrist. From experience, she knew her wrist would heal in about ten minutes; then, she could move on to her shoulder. "I went for a normal run yesterday, and just like today, that guy appeared out of nowhere, claiming he needed to fight me. Said something about…needing to test my abilities."

"R-Really? Then, why'd he come back today?"

Alia wanted to shrug her shoulders but opted not to, for her shoulder screamed in pain. "Dunno. Guy's a creep?"

Looking over at his sister, he could see the worry etched into her face. "Ok, I'll let this one go."

"Thanks," was her reply.

Instead, Cloud angled his body toward Alia, eyebrow raised at what he was about to ask. Sensing her brother's stare, she turned her eyes, and the moments their sight connected, Alia knew that Cloud now knew the truth. "So…you and Reno, huh?"

Despite the realization that he had known, Alia's eyes still widened. It was one thing for her to assume Cloud knew about the relationship she shared with Reno, but for him to come out and ask about it was different. Surprising herself, she giggled. "You've known this whole time, haven't you?"

Cloud nodded. "I mean, the guy kinda gave away a clue, but, yeah, before that, I had a hunch."

"How long?"

"Well…pretty much since we defeated Sephiroth two years ago. You were hung up about Reno before we left Midgar the first time, and I just assumed you continued to see each other after meteor almost hit."

"Tch, yeah, well…you're not too far off." Alia turned her head away. "When Weapon caused the Shinra Headquarters building to collapse, I thought Reno had been inside, so…I thought he died. But, a few weeks afterward, I got a call from a number I didn't recognize: Reno."

"He just called out of the blue?"

She nodded. "They were able to save Rufus from the rubble, but he was one death's door, and…he called to ask if I could save him. Reno knew about my ability to use Mastered Materia and thought my cure would help." Halting her materia usage, Alia glanced down at her wrist, moving the bones slightly to gauge how healed she was. Discerning her bone was healed, Alia moved to her shoulder, body sagging against the truck as she sighed.

"…you've been together ever since," Cloud suddenly filled the quiet void of silence.

"Yeah…it'll be two years in a matter of weeks, actually."

"Damn, Alia, that long, huh?" She could only nod. Crossing his arms, Cloud dropped his head. "…why didn't you say anything to me?"

She sniffled, knowing the waterworks was close. "I…I have a reason and don't at the same time. Part of me thought…that it didn't matter since it was my life but at the same time…I kept telling myself that you or the rest of the group would hate me if you knew. But I'm at a point right now where…I'm happy, so I don't care who finds out." Tilting her head, she stared long and hard at her brother. "Cloud…I love Reno. It might be hard to hear, considering it's Reno of the Turks, but I love him with all my heart. I couldn't ask for a better man."

Listening intently to his sister, Cloud inhaled her statement, though he still sighed when she was done. He'd had his assumptions all this time. Just as she didn't want to say anything to anyone, he didn't want to mention anything to her. Deep down, he had accepted his sister's choice. Even then, hearing her talk about Reno the way she has only confirmed Cloud's initial thoughts that he was perfectly fine with her being in a relationship with the man. A part of him was slightly angry, mainly because he felt his sister didn't trust him enough to be open and explain her situation. However, he completely understood why she remained quiet on the subject. "Does he treat you right?" Cloud blurted his words without first thinking of what he said.

She gave him a loving smile in return. "He treats me so perfectly."

Exhaling a deep breath, Cloud was unaware he had been holding his breath until his lungs started to burn. Smiling softly to himself, the man closed his eyes briefly. "Good, that's what I wanted to hear." Ruffling his hair, he released another quick breath. "Look, Alia…" Reaching over, Cloud took Alia's spare hand in his, staring at the difference in size: brother and sister, male and female, the Strife siblings. "I'll admit, this still makes me feel a little weird that you have connections with the Turks and Shinra. But…I can tell he makes you happy, so I'm willing to push aside what I feel for your happiness."

Alia smiled again, the corners reaching her eyes, and she could feel the muscles stretching in her cheeks. "You mean it, Cloud?"

He nodded. "I just want you to be happy."

She could feel a lone tear fall down her cheek. "I am…I am so unbelievably happy with Reno."

Smiling, Cloud let her hand go, dropping his arm into his lap. "Then, where have you been all those times you said you needed to help your friend in Kalm?"

Laughing sheepishly, Alia avoided eye contact. "First off, Callie does exist and live in Kalm. There were only a handful of times when she needed my help. All those other times, I was with Reno."

"Then, where were you the whole time?"

"With him, in his apartment. If I'm being honest, most of my belongings are at his place."

"That…kinda explains some things," Cloud muttered, more to himself than his sister. "Ok, so…I have another question for you. Has he ever…well, you know…"

Confusion grew on Alia's face. "…has he ever, what?"

"…has he ever hurt you?"

Her first response was to shake her head quickly. "No, never. At least, not intentionally."

"Then, has he ever hurt you, you know, in that way?"

Head snapping upward, she tilted her head. "In what way?"

Cloud rolled his eyes and huffed. "In…you know…" He clapped his hands together for emphasis. "In that way!"

Seconds ticked by as Alia's face grew redder. "Oh…ohhh! CLOUD!"

"Hey! I'm your older brother! I have the right to ask these things!"

She reached over and smacked his arm. "You're only seven minutes older than me!"

"That's still seven minutes I have over you, younger sister!"

The woman huffed, turning her head away. "We are so not having this conversation! It's not like I suddenly up and ask you about your sex life with Tifa!" Cloud turned his head away, blots of red tinting his cheeks. The reality hit her instantly. "No way! You've already…?!"

"Why wouldn't we?" He stated calmly. "Isn't it perfectly natural to have a sexual relationship with your partner?"

Alia fell against the truck, mouth slightly open for another reason.

"Wait…" Recognizing the frozen stare on her face, Cloud knew what this was all about. "Alia, does Reno even know…?"

"No!"

She didn't mean to snap. She didn't even want to snap at her brother. But the thought that she knew what her brother was about to mention had bile crawl up her tightened throat. She didn't even realize she had started to shake. Feeling a hand on her thigh caused the woman to glance down and into her brother's eyes.

"Aliana…" She nearly winced at the same of her name. "It's been almost two years, and you haven't told Reno?" Afraid to use her voice, Alia merely shook her head, the locks of her hair swinging back and forth across her face. "Aliana…" Cloud repeated her name softer this time. "I, I just…"

"You, what, Cloud?" Tilting her head back, Alia gave in. She gave in to the sadness, the memories that had once again grappled her mind during the fight. The one she remembered yesterday was so prevalent in her mind. It had eventually faded from her dreams, though it occasionally made its appearance once in a while. In a deadly whisper, she admitted, "…I've never once mentioned it to Reno. How could I?"

"I don't know," was Cloud's quick reply. Reaching to take hold of the woman's hand again, the man scooted closer to his sister. "I…can't even imagine keeping this to yourself for so long."

"I mean, you know."

"Yeah, but…" Cloud shook his head. "I may not be you, but if I were in your shoes, I'd want my significant other to know."

Alia found herself nodding in agreement, the tears starting their course. The memory from two nights ago crawled to the front of her mind. She and Reno had just gotten home and were talking about their dinner. She had been so fucking close to telling him what had happened all those years ago. She so desperately wanted to share a different level of intimacy with Reno, but this blockade prevented her from speaking about it.

"I almost told him the other night," she admitted.

"What…stopped you?"

Swallowing, Alia took a deep breath. If she was ever going to tell Reno about her past, she might as well practice with her brother. "…I told Reno I'm broken."

Cloud scooted even closer and wrapped his arm over her shoulder, careful not to hit the one she was still healing. "Why would you say you're broken?"

"Because that's what I am, isn't it?"

"No, no! Aliana…you are not broken. You are…" He moved a strand of hair away from her face. "You are wonderful, and if Reno is a smart man like I know he can be, he'll see that too."

"But…Zane, what he did…!"

"What happened in the past does not define who you are today." Curling against his sister, Cloud touched their heads together. "Alia…if I could take back what Zane did, I would. You have come so far since we were in Nibelheim; please don't go back to that place. You have me, your friends, and Reno here with you. We won't use or abandon you."

"I just…how can I explain this to Reno? Surely, you must've heard what he was like when Midgar was still alive." Cloud shook his head. "He was a womanizer."

Understanding lit in Cloud's eyes. "Ah, I-I see…so, you're afraid, what…that he'll use you?"

She merely shrugged, careful of her shoulder. "I dunno, to be honest. I get so scared. I have…no experience while he does. What if…I disappoint him…?"

"Then the guy's a fucking loser."

Head snapping at her brother, Alia's mouth fell. "C-Cloud!"

The man held a hand up. "I only said that because that's what Reno would be if he ever thought that way about you. Alia…I can't tell you what to do or when to do it, but if Reno's been with you this long, especially with everything we dealt with when trying to stop Sephiroth, then I think he's the one you can be honest with. I don't see Reno leaving you over something like this."

"…and if he does?"

"Then I'll either kick his ass or kill him, one or the other."

"Cloud!"

"No, none of that 'Cloud' crap with me. The man doesn't deserve to live if he's gonna toss you aside."

"We don't know if he will."

"Oh, I don't think he will; I was just saying."

Alia released a heavy breath. "Geez," she swapped at the tears still lingering on her face. "Don't scare me like that."

"Alia, listen…" He knocked his head gently to hers. "Trust your gut. You're the only one who knows what's best for you. All I'm saying is that…if you want to push your relationship further, doesn't Reno deserve to know and understand what's holding you back?"

"…he does," she stated softly, quietly. "I want him to know…so badly. I want…I crave that next step with him." Catching his glance from the corner of her eye, she added, "If that's something you and Tifa have experienced…I want it, too."

"Just don't force yourself. I want to believe Reno will be careful, but you went through something traumatic, and I don't want you to go back to how you used to be afterward."

"I don't think anything could cause me to return to where I was when it happened." Letting the hand curing her shoulder drop, she slowly tried moving the dislocated shoulder. It was still painful, but it was much better than ten minutes prior.

"How's the arm?"

"Better," she groaned, still in pain. "I still need to heal it, but I should be ready soon."

"There's no rush. You take as long as you need."

Watching as Cloud pulled out his phone, Alia was suddenly hit with something Reno had said that morning. "Oh…Reno wanted me to call him if we ran into trouble."

Cloud narrowed his eyes suspiciously. "Did he know something was going to happen?"

"No…at least I don't think so. He was paranoid this morning after what happened yesterday. The man wanted to fight me, but he was fighting like he also wanted to kill me."

"Motherfucker…" Cloud whispered.

Pulling out her cell phone, she swiped at the screen, hovering over Reno's contact info, then handed the device to her brother. As he dialed the number, Alia called upon her Cure materia again, her hand glowing a soft green as she began healing her shoulder. The pain had died down, and she could feel a difference now that she was using Cure once more. She heaved a relaxed sigh once the magic began kicking in. Beside her, Cloud held the phone to his ear, the device continuously ringing before Reno finally answered.

"Alia! I was wondering when you would call. You and Cloud done in Kalm yet?"

Though she was not the one to hold the phone, she could hear her red-haired lover's voice from where she sat. Cloud had to pull the phone away from his ear and shake his head. After a silent moment, Cloud returned the device to his ear and said, "This isn't Alia, Reno."

"…Cloud? Where's…Where's Aliana? Is she ok?"

~ oOo ~

Reno and Rude exited the helicopter as its blades gradually ceased from thunderously spinning. The ride had taken roughly fifteen minutes to reach Healen once they left the apartment in Edge. Reno had fidgeted the entire time; he couldn't focus on the flight, something that usually was able to calm his nerves. Rude had to talk the whole flight to calm his partner down. Rufus hadn't gone into much detail when he had called that morning, leaving Reno unsure of what to expect once they arrived. Rude wasn't saying much either, leaving Reno's thoughts to run amuck alone.

Leaving the helicopter on the landing platform, they entered the facility and walked through the building toward Rufus' office. There, they were greeted by Tseng and Rufus himself. Elena was still hauled inside her medical room.

Looking up from his desk, Rufus didn't smile as his eyes found Reno's. "I'm sorry to interrupt your time off, Reno, but this just couldn't wait."

"This is in regards to Alia?"

"Sadly, yes."

Reno sighed. Rufus had said the same thing over the phone but felt compelled to ask to make sure. He didn't like that they were still receiving information from an unknown sender about his girlfriend. It seemed too coincidental that she had been attacked just yesterday, and they received another video.

Something's not quite right, Reno thought.

"Reno, you called yesterday and explained that Alia was attacked. I was hoping this wouldn't happen, but…"

"Rufus, please don't sugarcoat this. Why the hell am I here?"

His boss released a heavy sigh. From the corner of the room, Tseng stepped forward. "We received another video from the unknown sender. We have yet to watch it, but the title indicates it's talking about what happened yesterday."

"You've gotta be fucking kidding me…" Reno ran a hand down the length of his face.

Beside him, Rude muttered, "We've been waiting until you got here to watch it."

"Ok…then what did they title it this time?"

Glancing at his computer, Rufus read, "The So-Called Hero Is Weak."

Reno growled; a deep, animalistic sound vibrated within his throat. Turning, the man slammed his clenched fist into the wall, leaving a small mark on the white plaster. "What the fuck is their plan? Why the hell are they doing this to her?!"

"Reno…" Rufus rubbed the back of his neck, now knowing what to say. None of them knew what to say.

Alia had become extremely important to all the Turks. She had somehow crept into their hearts and left a mark that would never disappear. And currently, knowing someone was after the female, the Turks were at their wit's end trying to determine who the potential assailant was. It was killing all of them, and the Shinra President couldn't even fathom the emotions coursing through Reno, nor what he had felt these past few months.

Clicking a button on the projector remote, Rufus turned the device on to connect with his computer to display the video. "Are you ready to see this?"

Reno had no choice despite shaking his head. "Just play it before I smash the damn thing." His boss nodded and pressed play. The Turks circled the main desk and watched the projected screen on the opposite wall. Standing beside his partner, Rude placed a comforting hand on Reno's shoulder.

The video started to play, and there was nothing but darkness for the first thirty seconds. But then, a bright light coursed across the screen, displaying an empty room save for a lone chair directly in the middle.

"To all the Turks watching this video…just know that you are in deep shit."

The fucker…Reno thought, eyes widening. It's him!

The Turk could recognize that voice from anywhere, memorizing it from all the times he had watched and replayed the previously sent videos. Reno wanted nothing more than to murder the male in the video. Like in all the other videos, walking into view claimed the seat. And like all the other videos, the bright light was lit behind the chair, leaving the face of the person black as it could not be seen because of the light. That was the only reason the person's identity had been kept hidden.

"All of you dogs who work at Shinra are bullshit liars. Everyone claimed that Aliana Strife was an extremely talented fighter and skilled individual because of her skill with the blade and materia." The man clicked his tongue. "I am, indeed, disappointed. I had sent one of my loyal workers to seek out Alia and test her skills. But it pains me to say that my employee claims she is weak. And from the report I was given, I must agree with everything I've been told."

Reno growled again. He couldn't stand there and hear this man talk about Alia in such a way.

"I find this unacceptable. I have heard countless rumors of her inhuman strength, resulting from her time spent in mako and her soldier training. Even the time she spent in Professor Hojo's care."

The four people in the room gasped. Only a few people knew that Alia had once been a test subject from the infamous Professor Hojo.

Leaning forward, the man rested his elbow against his knees. The lower portion of his face could be seen ever-so-slightly, but all Reno could discern was an evil smirk.

"Reno, I hope you're listening to this." Reno's ears perked at the call of his name. "Be on your guard. I will not stop until she is in my clutches. The hero of this planet must become stronger, and for that to happen…" All four males stared at the projector screen. The man's evil smirk, as Reno noticed, turned…eviler. "We'll just have to attack her more."

"NO!" Reno yelled toward the screen as his body lurched forward. Rude grasped the redhead around the shoulder, keeping him in place. The male in the video laughed deeply, menacing, and cruelly. The act alone sent a chill down the backs of all the males watching.

"Yes, be upset, Reno. That means you better keep an eye out for your little girlfriend. You don't know what we've planned - the dangers awaiting her. So what're you going to do about it?" The man stood from the chair and walked toward where the camera was placed. "Ah, that reminds me, Reno…do you know where Alia is now? How do you know I haven't sent my employee after her as we speak?" The man laughed again. "Take care of her, Reno. Because if you won't…I will."

It was then the video went black.

As silence filled the room, Reno's shoulders slumped. Rude let go of his partner, watching different emotions cross the redhead's face. The male's blue orbs were glued to the projector screen, watching the stupid play button as if replaying the video would do something, anything. His brain was confused with all the new information he just gained, but at the same time, it felt as if he hadn't learned anything at all. Whoever this man was knew what he was doing and how to creep under the skin of his prey.

But Rufus' voice brought Reno back to the moment as he repeated his name several times. "Listen, Reno, I know that…was exceptionally hard for you to hear…"

"Hard to hear…? Hard to hear? Do you know what this is doing to me, Rufus?!" Reno turned back to the wall and threw all his might into another punch, landing where it had before, effectively adding a giant hole to the tiny crater. His action silenced all others in the room. Reno's entire body was shaking, feeling the pain behind his eyes as tears threatened to spill. "You have no idea what it's been like. Knowing that someone is out there searching for your significant other, wanting to hurt them, knowing they want to use her for their evil plan that we know nothing about…it's fucking kill me, Rufus!" He turned back toward the President. "And because you don't want me to, I can't even explain to the woman I love why her life is in danger! Oh, and better yet, we don't even know why!"

"Reno!" Rufus cried out as the man stood. "You cannot lose your cool right now! We, especially Alia, need you to remain level-headed so we can gather more information."

"Information to do what, sir?!"

"…that's the thing, Reno," Rufus sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I don't even know." The President was growing aggravated with each passing second. Like his fellow Turks, he was disturbed by the video and didn't even know what to think. "Would you rather sit in my chair and make the decision?"

The redhead sighed. "…I wouldn't know what to do first," he admitted quietly.

"Then how do you think I feel about this, Reno? I'm having a hard time figuring out what to do. That video disturbed me, as well as Tseng and Rude, and will most likely scare Elena. But based on what I have seen and what has happened so far, this man seems one step ahead of us. Do you agree?"

"It would seem like that, yes," Tseng offered, stepping forward. "It's almost as if he has everything planned out before he executes his actions and that he has our reactions included in what he wants to happen."

"That's what I'm afraid of," Reno said. "We're falling into a trap, and there's nothing we can do about it."

After dropping his head, Rufus rubbed his temples. "Ok, I think this is what we'll do - " The phone in Reno's pocket started emitting a catchy tune, signaling that Alia was calling him. Seeing the Caller ID did indeed say "Alia" on the screen, Reno shared a look with Rufus. "Is that her?"

Reno nodded. "Let me answer this real quick." Stepping a few feet away, Reno swiped at the screen, answering the call. "Alia! I was wondering when you would call. You and Cloud done in Kalm yet?"

"This isn't Alia, Reno."

The man's heart fell in his chest. "…Cloud? Where's…Where's Aliana? Is she ok?"

~ oOo ~

"…Cloud? Where's…Where's Alia? Is she ok?"

"Reno…something happened with Alia, and I don't think you'll like it."

"Dammit, Cloud, just get to the point!"

Inhaling deeply, Cloud glanced at his sister, who was still healing her shoulder. Her hand blazed a soft green as she moved the appendage in the area surrounding her shoulder; the tension on her face was beginning to fall, and she was glad to see she was returning to the way she was before the attack. And before their discussion.

"We were headed back to Edge and were attacked about twenty minutes ago." Reno was about to interrupt Cloud, but the blonde cut the redhead off before he could mutter anything. "Hey, before you rant about this, just listen: Alia is perfectly fine. This stranger came out of nowhere, practically demanded to fight Alia, and she kicked his ass before getting some hits on her. The bastard, unfortunately, broke her wrist and dislocated her shoulder - "

"He did WHAT?!"

Pulling the phone away from his ear, Cloud looked at his twin, who giggled softly. "Is he always like this?" He whispered to her.

"Only with me," was her reply.

"Cloud, besides that, is she ok?"

"Trust me, Reno, she is perfectly fine. I intervened before he could do anything else, and then he just…vanished." The male Strife could hear the redhead sigh on the other end. "Reno, is there something going on that you're not telling me?"

Reno sighed again. He didn't want to lie, especially to Cloud - Alia's brother - of all people, but he had to keep this up. "No. It's just…after this stranger attacked her yesterday, I was somewhat leery about her going anywhere without me. Especially since I was called in to work today."

"But…it was a simple fight, wasn't it?"

"She could have died from poison if I hadn't gotten there when I did."

"Ah…she didn't mention that," Cloud sneered in her direction, but all the woman did was shrug.

"Cloud…can I talk with her?"

He mumbled a reply and then handed the phone to his sister. "He wants to talk to you."

Releasing the materia energy in her hand, Alia grabbed the phone and held it against her ear. "Hi, Reno."

"Oh, Aliana…it's so good to hear your voice. Cloud told me what happened. Peaches, are you alright? Do I need to bring anything home for you later?"

The woman shook her head, then thought it was silly because he wasn't there to look at her. "No, I'll be ok. Cloud placed my shoulder back into place, and I've healed my wrist. I'm working on my shoulder right now, which is better than it was. I need a few more minutes, and then I'll be as good as new!" She graced her brother with a smile, who copied her movement in return. He knew she was trying to persuade Reno that she was ok. The male sibling knew better.

"Are you sure?"

"Trust me, baby, I'll be fine." She could hear Reno breathe heavily on the other end, and his smile gradually fell. "What's wrong, Reno? It was the same stupid person. I don't think there's anything we need to fear. Besides, it doesn't take that much to heal me anyways!" She giggled, but on the other end, Reno frowned.

"I know, it's just…it was one more attack, but it was one too many for me. I never want to see you in the condition you were yesterday. It scared the living hell outa me, yo. And knowing you were attacked again with me not being there…I worry about you, peaches."

"You don't need to be so scared."

"Try being in my shoes if our places were swapped."

Alia thought for a moment, and her features softened. "Touché." Now, it was her turn to take a deep breath and release it. "Listen, we'll talk more about this later, ok?"

"Ok. Are you two coming straight home?"

She looked over at her brother, who nodded. "Yeah. We'll probably rest for a bit until my shoulder is perfectly fine. Then, we'll head out."

"Good. Listen, I want you to hang out with Cloud until I get back if you beat me home. I don't think I have much left to do here, so I shouldn't be that long. I'll text you when I'm back at the apartment. Ok?"

"I think I can manage that."

"Promise?"

She smiled. Sometimes Reno could be a little overprotective, but that characteristic reminded her of Cloud, and she had to smile. It only increased the love she held for the man. "I promise."

"Good. Listen, I love you, Aliana. I don't want to lose you."

Alia felt her heart constrict by Reno's words. She had heard those three powerful words many times before, but right now, they fell differently in her heart. "I love you too, Reno."

"Can I talk to Cloud again?"

"Sure, no problem. Here he is, ok? But you stay safe, too, whenever you head home."

"No worries, yo."

Alia handed the phone back to her brother, who, into the phone, said, "What do you need?"

"Just a quick word. I asked Alia to stay with you when you return to Edge and that I'd message her when I'm home. I can assume she can stay with you, yes?"

"Duh," Cloud said bluntly. "Technically, where I live is her home, too." His words had Reno chuckling.

"Just thought I'd ask. And, Cloud…?"

"…yeah?"

"Thanks. For everything."

~ oOo ~

When Alia felt her shoulder was back to its original state, it had only been approximately fifteen minutes since the call with Reno ended. Cloud waited patiently for his sister as they conversed in conversation to pass the time by. The woman was happy her brother was by her side. When she was ready, Cloud helped Alia from the truck bed to the ground, where she tested her shoulder and wrist. Content with the progress, they hopped inside and began the trek back to Edge, continuing their journey where they had left off.

By the time an hour had passed, Reno had messaged Alia, stating he was on his way home. When she gave their position and how they were about half an hour away from the city, they agreed that Alia would meet them back at the apartment. Back then, Cloud did not once question his sister more on what they had already discussed. He felt his sister, if not her, then Reno knew more than they explained. He knew, one day, he would get an answer from them, but he accepted that today was not that day.

Once they made it back to Edge, it was nearing late afternoon. Pulling into the back alley behind the bar, Cloud parked the work truck in the garage, allowing Alia the space to reverse Shiva so she could go home. Holding the woman tightly in a hug, Cloud whispered words of encouragement to his sister that everything would work out the way it was meant to be. Smiling brightly for her brother, Alia agreed, knowing Cloud was right. Because, in all their years together, Cloud had always been right.

At least when it was most important.

Waving goodbye to the other blonde, Alia made her way to the heart of the growing city, pushing past the central portion of Reno's apartment complex, where she parked in the underground garage. Only in the elevator did Alia take a deep breath. She didn't know how the rest of the evening would pan out, but there was one thing she knew for sure.

She was ready to tell Reno.

She was ready to tell him everything.

Her reason for leaving Nibelheim, her reason for joining SOLDIER, and her reason for not seeking intimacy as she desperately wanted to.

In the reflective metal of the elevator doors, Alia watched herself. Inhaling deeply and exhaling, the woman ran a hand down the length of her face. Nerves were starting to pile high upon her beating heart. The organ was thumping against the inside of her ribcage, and she knew not how to calm it down.

The subtle ding of the elevator brought the woman back. Stepping out, she maneuvered down the hall length to Reno's penthouse. Inserting the key into its designated lock, the woman faltered just as it was about to turn.

Muttering to herself, she said quietly, "There's no going back."

Turning the ket the rest of the way, Alia opened the door to see the brightness of the living room; the window blinds were still open from earlier that morning. Setting her keys in the bowl on the stand beside the door, closing the door behind her as she walked inside. "Reno?" She called out, wondering where the redhead was.

That's when his head poked out from around the corner into the kitchen. "Aliana?!" He called frantically. Quickly moving into the living room, Reno dropped his beer onto the table before engulfing the woman in his arms. She fell against him, whimpering into the crook of his neck. Her arms weaved around the man as they held each other close. "Oh, Alia…" The man rubbed his hands up and down her back.

She breathed in his scent. "…Reno!" She cried.

"Shh, shh, I'm right here, peaches." He kissed the top of her head repeatedly. They fell silent for a few moments as Alia tried calming her nerves, more from what she was about to do than what had happened several hours prior. Stepping back, Reno cupped the woman's face. "Hey, do you…wanna talk about what happened?"

She nodded, wanting to talk about that rather than what was on her mind. "It was the same guy from yesterday; he just…appeared out of nowhere. Cloud was driving then suddenly pulled over feeling we were being followed, and then he was just there."

Reno stroked her cheek. "I bet you put up one hell of a fight."

His words gave her the courage to smile. "I know I did…I got some pretty good hits on the guy and made him bleed before he could hurt me." The frown on Reno's face grew. "I healed myself just fine, you know."

"It's not that, Alia, but…" He dropped his forehead against hers. "I wasn't there. I couldn't protect you. The thought of losing you scares me to death, peaches."

She gently kissed his lips. "It scares me too, Reno." Cupping his hands, she held them in the space between them. "Listen…there's much we need to talk about what happened, but…there's something else I need to say."

Pulling back just enough to glance down, the man raised an eyebrow. "Yeah? And what would that be?"

Biting her lip, Alia's eyes jumped across Reno's face, studying his lips' softness and skin texture. Reaching a hand upward, she traced the contour of his lips, sudden fear enveloping her to the point she was trying to distract herself. "I-I…there's something I need to tell you." Her voice struggled to speak, wavering back and forth between robust and frail.

"Whatever it is, I'm right here, peaches."

Peeking over the man's shoulder, she meekly asked, "Can we…sit on the couch for this?"

Glancing back at the sofa, the redhead nodded. She followed him as they sat close together, knees grazing against the other. Leaning forward on her elbows, she rested them on her knees, chewing on her fingers. Reno watched her, seeing how quiet she had gone and how she avoided the topic. Reaching over, Reno ran his fingers up and down her spine, doing what he knew to try and calm her down. She smiled at the gesture, sitting straighter.

"Remember…" Her voice was quiet as she tried speaking. "Remember the other night I told you…that I thought I was broken?"

"Yeah, I do." He tilted his head to stare at her. Lifting his hands, he trailed a finger down her face.

"W-Well, I-I…" She swallowed. "I want to…add on to that sentence." Feeling the tightness of her throat, Alia glanced away, terrified of what she wanted to speak. The thought of talking about what had happened to her made the woman sick, but it was the onslaught of the memories that made it that much worse. Just imagining herself saying what she needed to speak was enough to bring tears to her eyes.

Alia hadn't even known she was crying until Reno removed the tears from her cheek.

"Aliana…" He called her name gently. He, too, was afraid of what she needed to say. He wouldn't rush her, but his patience to exude was killing the man, but he would wait. At one time, he had to wait for her. He would always wait for whatever Alia needed and give her whatever she sought.

With a stare so blank, Alia turned to Reno. Her eyes were red from silently crying, the waterworks flowing down her cheeks. The man wanted to comfort her but didn't feel it was right. Something was holding him back; something was saying Alia needed her space.

"Reno," she called his name. The man had never heard his name fall from her lips, laced with so much pain. "When I lived in Nibelheim before joining the Shinra military, I…" Fully turning in his direction, Alia stared wide-eyed at Reno, her mouth forming a sentence and closing before she could speak.

But the moment she did, Reno could do nothing but freeze. His gut burned and ached, not for himself, but for her, for the woman he loved.

"...I was raped."

~ oOo ~

What a huge jump compared to what the original story had.

Please let me know your thoughts! They make me happy :)

DragonGoddess629