CHAPTER 11:

BONDS RENEWED AND STRAINED

"…Okay, so, just to be sure, you didn't actually see me at Nibelheim? Just Zack?"

Tifa nodded, toying with her glass as they sat in the bar. "I did see you helping me, dressed as a Shinra Trooper, but I was delirious from pain and blood loss from Sephiroth slashing me with his sword. I chalked that down to a near-death experience, confusing you with someone else. While I can't say for sure that Harry didn't diddle with your memories, I've known him for long enough to believe that he wouldn't do that, not to a friend of mine at least. Besides, Aerith wouldn't allow him to. She's not as pure as you'd think she was on first blush, she's very much a slum girl at her core with all the toughness that entails, but she's still one of the nicest people I have ever met."

Cloud looked to his own drink. A mocktail, but the fruit juice helped with his fatigue. The blonde's thoughts were in turmoil, understandably. "Even then, I'm still not sure what's real, and what isn't. Though at least Harry had the good grace to tell me he was in my head. Do you think we should have a private wake or something for Zack? And for the others in Nibelheim?"

"Sure," Tifa said. She seemed to consider something, before gathering her courage for a confession. "…Did you know my father never really liked you or your mother? He kept trying to keep me away from you, and he did the same for your mother after you left for Midgar. I ignored him, and Claudia and I used to talk about you when I could sneak past him."

"…That doesn't surprise me," Cloud said quietly. He decided to make a confession himself. "Actually, remember when your mother died, and you had an accident climbing Mt Nibel?"

"…Yes, actually. I came out of it with almost no memory of that day, though. Why?"

Cloud scowled. "Those brats egging you on blamed me for doing that, and your father tore strips off me, told me to stay away from you. It wasn't long after that that we had that talk on the watertower. You know, that night, before I left for Midgar?"

"I remember it well, Cloud," Tifa said with a smile, one that soon drained away. "Dad told me to stay away from you, but never gave me a reason. We had more than a few arguments about it, and our relationship soured somewhat for a while. Even when we mended bridges, I could never mention you without him acting like you were scum. Zangan's training helped me with some of the anger management."

"Yeah, I met him briefly, even if I had the helmet on. Nice guy, if a bit intense. And Tifa, while I will admit I resented your father and his asshole attitude to me and Mom a lot, he didn't deserve what happened to him. Nobody back home did." Cloud sighed. "So…I'm sorry I couldn't be the hero you wanted me to be, Tifa. I wasn't one back then, and I'm sure as hell not one now. Zack died because I couldn't save my own ass, let alone his own. And Aerith is in mourning now."

"I don't think you can control how badly Mako Poisoning affects people, Cloud. If you've been subjected to it for years…it's amazing that you're lucid now. I have a friend whose father recently got subjected to Mako Poisoning, and he's in a coma he may never wake from, and he was only immersed in Mako for a few minutes before they fished him out. Besides, if you couldn't be a hero working for Shinra, well, that's no skin off my nose. The best mercs are considered local heroes down here in the Undercity."

"Hmm. Well, I definitely need to make some Gil, and I'm not going to work for Shinra ever again, not if that's the typical severance package looks like," Cloud remarked. "Zack gave them his all, and yet, they treated him like a fucking guinea pig, before shooting him like an animal. He deserved better, as did everyone present at Nibelheim when Sephiroth snapped. Of course, I should avoid mentioning I worked for Shinra."

"That might be a problem. Those eyes are pretty distinctive, and only members of SOLDIER are supposed to have them," Tifa said. "You'll probably be mistaken for a former member of SOLDIER, and that Buster Sword…aside from Zack, I think Angeal Hewley used the same type of sword. Sunglasses might help for the eyes to a degree, but the sword?"

"We'll cross that bridge when we come to it," Cloud said. "I'm still nowhere near 100%. I might be able to do a few small jobs here and there, but even a single mistake against monsters can be lethal. Once I'm ready, I'll do those jobs. I don't need to be at 100%, just ready."

"I'll take your word for it. I'll hire you for a few errands myself. There's always something needing to be done in the Undercity, even if some of it seems menial or trivial. Harry does a lot of that stuff in Sector 5."

"Yes, Harry…what's his deal? How is he able to read minds, or teleport in that way?"

"It's a long story, and an unbelievable one. But it's his story to tell. Don't worry, I'm sure he'll tell it once he's ready…"

The next morning, Harry, Delphi, and Aerith had gone to the church. She had spent much of the previous evening crying to herself. And while still clearly in mourning, she wanted to do something constructive, hence why she was at the church, tending to her flowers.

Unfortunately, some time after they began, an unwelcome presence made itself known. Tseng, Cissnei, Reno and Rude entered the church. But even as Tseng seemed to consider what he was about to say, Aerith said, "I already know. That Zack's dead. Murdered."

"Doin' that spooky Ancient shit again, huh?" Reno said, only for him to be elbowed sharply by Cissnei, who shot him a glare.

But it was too late. Harry watched as Aerith surged to her feet in anger, and stormed over to Tseng. "What have you got to say for yourself, Tseng? How many more good people will be murdered by Shinra while you not only do nothing to stop them, but even enable them?"

Tseng only looked startled briefly, before he calmed himself. "Heidegger wanted Zack dead, at all costs. We had…orders from elsewhere to bring him in alive, and not from Hojo either. Unfortunately, the army got to him first."

"…Unfortunately? Is that because you couldn't fulfil your mission? Or did someone order you to let him die?"

"Hey, we searched high and low for your squeeze and that vegetable he was dragging along with him!" Reno snapped. "We wanted to keep their sorry asses alive, and for your sake! We're professionals, not fucking perfect!"

Aerith's hand snapped out in a slap that sent Reno reeling, clutching his face. "Firstly, mind your mouth, as there is a child present," Aerith said in a tight, seething tone. "And secondly, you, a professional? The only thing about you that is remotely professional, Reno, is your ability to do Shinra's dirty work!"

Harry was astonished to see that Reno's face, rather than looking angry, was shocked, even dismayed. Tseng eventually said, "Rude, Reno, outside, now."

Reno seemed about to protest, before shaking his head, leaving with Rude. As for Cissnei, she pinched the bridge of her nose. "…Aerith, believe me, I would have done anything and everything I could to get Zack back to you, alive. I know how much he meant to you, and vice versa."

"Did you? Did you really?" Aerith asked acidly, tears trickling down her cheeks. "And what about his parents? Are they ever going to learn of their son's death? Or are you going to cover it up? My father, my mother, my boyfriend…how much more is Shinra going to take from me? Or from anyone else for that matter?"

"…Unfortunately, that is not up to us to decide," Tseng said quietly.

Harry scoffed, following Aerith in storming up to them and glaring at them. "You know, I used to have a mentor. He was manipulative, too fond of hoarding secrets, and sometimes, I truly hate him for doing what he did to my life. But he said more than a few things that I've taken to heart. And one of them is that there are times when one must make a choice between what is right, and what is easy. Tell me, both of you…how many times have you chosen what is easy?"

"More than we'd like, less than you'd know," Tseng said evenly, even as Cissnei flinched. "Right or wrong does not come into it when working for Shinra, unfortunately. We are professionals, we do not have the luxury of morals. What's more, after our former leader Veldt turned traitor, we are under more scrutiny than ever. We had to stop an even worse incarnation of AVALANCHE than the one currently nipping at Shinra's heels from destroying all life on the Planet. An incarnation that sought to kidnap Aerith, and subject her to gods know what."

"Just like, I am sure, Hojo intends to do to me, when he decides he's had enough of me being at liberty," Aerith retorted. "Tell me, what's the difference between AVALANCHE and Shinra? Shinra has at least the façade of legal and political authority, but that's all it is. They use money and violence to buy or extort legitimacy rather than earn it. And yet, even those who work for them willingly aren't safe from them."

"Enough!" Cissnei snapped, her own eyes glistening. "Do you we think us ignorant of this? Do you think we're not mourning Zack just like you are? We tried to save him, Aerith, but we failed, and that failure will haunt me at least for the rest of my life. He was a good friend, to both of us, he didn't deserve to be gunned down like a rabid dog that had slipped the leash. And the same fate awaits us if we leave. Resignations are not accepted from the Turks, not unless our severance package is a bullet to the head, if we're lucky. The view must look pretty good from that high horse of yours, Aerith. Keeping tabs on you is considered one of the better postings amongst us. At least we can keep our hands clean."

"Cissnei," Tseng chided. As Cissnei subsided, Tseng added, "Hate us if you must, Aerith, you and your new friends. But Cissnei is right. We are mourning Zack, in our own ways. Cissnei, I will leave it to you."

As Tseng left, Cissnei sagged down onto a pew, rubbing her head. "…I'd say I'm sorry, and Reno was being an insensitive moron, but do you really think we're callous monsters?"

After a moment, Aerith shook her head. "No, not you at least, and Rude has his moments. But…is it worth it, working for Shinra?"

"…Not anymore." Cissnei shook her head. "Officially, I've been given an indefinite posting to watch over a training facility in Gongaga that has been playing up recently as well as the destroyed Mako Reactor. In other words, I've been effectively shuffled sideways, supposedly on compassionate grounds. It's a fancy way of saying I've been taken off duty permanently, without actually resigning, because as I said, if you resign from the Turks, you resign from life."

"And unofficially?" Harry asked, picking up on her wording. He was still angry with her, but she also seemed like one of the more decent Turks, from their prior meetings.

"I'm basically being sent to watch over the Fairs," Cissnei said. "Not by Shinra, but by Tseng. I know Gongaga well enough. I very nearly apprehended Zack and Cloud there, but let them escape. I'd been told that they were 'rogue samples'." She wrinkled her nose in disgust.

"Hojo's wording, I'd bet," Aerith said.

Cissnei nodded, only to look up at her, meeting her gaze evenly. "I…I had feelings for Zack too, you know," she confessed quietly. "But I knew he only had eyes for you. And I would have done anything I could to bring him back to you, had I the power, simply because it would have made him happy. I'm sure you'd think otherwise, but…"

"No." Aerith's declaration was quiet. "Cissnei, I haven't met you until recently, but…Zack spoke of you a few times in passing. He considered you a friend. And if you were really like that, like a psychotic stalker, you would have killed him yourself. Or else taken me to Shinra, to Hojo."

"…I wouldn't do that, not unless I was ordered to. And I'd hate myself for it. More than I already do. But sooner or later, Hojo's patience will run out, and he's been examining and re-examining specimen samples taken from your mother's body for years, so the rumours go. Heidegger, Scarlet, the President, they're all despicable, but Hojo…I'm sure you don't need me to tell you, but he eclipses them all. What he does in what he claims to be the name of science…" Cissnei shuddered.

"He gives a bad name to scientists everywhere," Aerith said. "My father was a scientist as you may know, and yet, Mother said he was a truly kind and compassionate man. Science, by necessity, is based in objective, rational logic and analysis, but it can be coupled and tempered with empathy and compassion. Hojo, however…he's not even an objective or rational scientist. He delights in causing misery and destruction. And yet, President Shinra has him working on horrors that even Heidegger or Scarlet would blanch at."

"You're not wrong. Those two are pretty nasty, amongst the worst kind of people, and yet…Hojo creeps them out." Cissnei sighed. "All I know is, I shouldn't have to deal with them anymore, I hope. Honestly, I'm a little nervous about this 'mission'."

"Why's that?" Delphi asked.

"I grew up in a Shinra-run orphanage in the Undercity," Cissnei confessed. "I don't know who my parents were. I joined the Turks at 15, seven years ago now, and I hold the record for the youngest to join the Turks. I thought it a great honour at the time. Even 'Cissnei', which means 'swan' in an ancient language, is not my real name, but a codename. So, you could say that being part of Shinra is all I know. This'll be my last time watching over you, though."

"Just out of curiosity, why did Tseng not assign you to me before?" Aerith asked.

"Aside from my being assigned to tracking Zack a number of times over the past year, well, he knew you and I both had feelings for him, and he thought it might get in the way. We'd either end up fighting or colluding. But with Harry and Delphi here, he thought they'd act as buffers." Cissnei shrugged. "That's a moot point now, really. Oh, and one last thing. Zack was not alone in coming to Midgar. He was accompanied by an infantryman called Cloud Strife. Blue eyes, blonde hair looking like a Chocobo's feathers, 21 years old, born in Nibelheim. Reports from the troops sent to deal with them state that he died by succumbing to acute Mako Poisoning, but we found no corpse, so he may be still alive and wandering through Midgar. Now, in the unlikely event that you meet him and he's lucid…tell him to stay out of trouble, to stay under the radar. Zack died trying to keep him safe, I'm sure. I don't want Zack's sacrifice to go to waste."

Harry schooled his features as much as he could, and Aerith and Delphi did a decent job themselves. "If we ever see him, we'll pass on that message," Aerith said.

"Thank you. Now, if you've got more work to do with your flower bed, I'll just be quiet and let you get to work, okay?"

With that, Cissnei moved away, watching from more of a distance, while Harry, Aerith, and Delphi returned to the flower bed. Zack's death still cast a shadow over them, especially Aerith. But now that the air had been cleared a little, they were in better spirits, even if only a little.

But even so, a grievous wound had been opened on Aerith's heart. And Harry wasn't sure what he could do to heal it, not without fucking things up. All he could do was be there for her, like Delphi, like Sephiroth, like Elmyra…

CHAPTER 11 ANNOTATIONS:

So, Cloud and Tifa have caught up, while Aerith has vented at the Turks, and Cissnei has some news.

Cloud and Tifa are still going to have their moments of ups and downs in their relationship. Tifa's got the trauma of having survived Nibelheim and the survivor's guilt that entails. Cloud's got that, plus being Hojo's lab-rat, being subjected to Mako Poisoning, and survivor's guilt from not being able to save Zack, not to mention his uncertainty about his memories. But he's also in a much healthier state than in canon. He's probably closer to how he was in Advent Children, only more willing to open up, to Tifa if nobody else.

Incidentally, Tifa is alluding to Jessie's father when she discusses Mako Poisoning. Yes, I know Jessie gets annoyed when people know of this without her permission, but Tifa was only alluding to a friend, not naming Jessie. In addition, she was trying to assuage Cloud's guilt, so I reckon Jessie would be fine after the initial anger.

I should point out that in canon, Cissnei apparently never met Aerith. Aerith doesn't seem to recognise her in Rebirth, AFAIK. I found that odd, but I chalked it down to Tseng being worried that either Cissnei and Aerith would get into a catfight over Zack, or else would team up and plot to prank him and the Turks. However, Cissnei was sent on a few occasions after Harry's arrival because she'd be good with kids like Delphi.

Aerith's outburst against the Turks may seem OOC, but we don't know how well she handled the news in canon. I'd like to think Tseng had the courtesy to visit her and tell her the truth in the two month gap between Crisis Core and the main game. Aerith doesn't get that angry, not in shouting and ranting, anyway, but given what she went through in life, she must have a wellspring of resentment and anger, especially towards Shinra. This is my take on what I thought might have happened in canon to some degree.

Cissnei discussing her upcoming mission might seem odd, but she's trying to mend bridges with Aerith. They're not exactly friends by any means, especially now she failed to save Zack, but Cissnei wants to part on decent terms. Plus, she wants them to keep an eye out for Cloud and help him if they can, not knowing that they've already met.

BTW, sorry about the late posting, but this website decided to chuck a hissy fit. First, I couldn't upload anything, and then, the latest reviews couldn't be viewed.

Review-answering time! L: When does it say Tifa actually believed the accusations? I know there's a bit in Rebirth where we see something of her memories after Cloud attacks her in a paranoid state, but I am yet to play that part of the game, and I might have missed that part when I watched a cutscene on Youtube.

As for Cloud's attitude, he still has the rather blunted affect and the slightly cold attitude, but he also is more willing to smile, as well as meet people halfway. He's not as callous either. He's still practical and pragmatic, he's just less likely to brush people off, or at least as coldly as he did.

ZLC genesmith: It won't be until either just before or else just after the Reactor Bombing that Harry will learn the truth about Barret and company. I'm still deciding. I did have some ideas for either this fic or my Harry-in-Cloud story that could mitigate AVALANCHE's worst aspects…

waytodawn0: As far as I can tell, the timeline diverged somewhat, with AVALANCHE getting involved in events before Zack and Cloud made it to Midgar. I think part of it is due to Sephiroth's intervention, but that timeline is hinted to be one where the world would be ending soon, and there's possibly one other timeline. I haven't played through enough of the game yet (I stopped playing shortly before the Gongaga arc) to get a handle on it…

TOWTWUKER: No, because then I couldn't make a shout-out to Final Fantasy VII Machinabridged.

No numbered annotations this time.