3rd POV:
''I don't understand. The bomb shouldn't have caused so much destruction. It was meant to detonate at a smaller radius,'' Jessie murmured, not really in a celebratory mood like all the others in the bar.
''Can I get my payment?,'' Cloud asked and crossed his arms.
''Shut your mouth, merc! Can't you see we celebrating? And you'll get your damn money when we are done,'' Barret slammed his glass of beer down. He would have liked to kick him out of Tifa's bar, but he was her friend. And he guessed he did save their asses back there in Reactor 1.
''Also, where would you even go at this hour? Come on, don't you want to hang out with your friends?,'' Aerith leaned towards him and teased him making Zack snicker and Tifa smile a little.
Cloud looked a little unsure, especially with her intruding his space so much. Or applying push back.
''This is just business. You're wasting my time,'' Cloud grumbled.
''And time is money. No?,'' Nox guessed and thanked Tifa when she gave him his drink. He also paid her.
''Exactly,'' Cloud agreed.
Nox' mouth twitched and he shared a look with Zack and Aerith. He noticed and looked back. After a while it clicked.
''Hey, Cloud. If you can't handle your alcohol. Just say so,'' Zack assured him.
''Yeah. There is no shame in being able to handle your alcohol. I mean, look at me,'' Aerith cheerfully held her soda up.
''Yup. I remember having to carry your ass back home, because you're such a lightweight,'' Nox smirked and took a sip from his drink.
''I'm not a lightweight! Tifa, give me what you gave me last time-,'' Cloud ordered and made his way to the counter top sitting between Zack and Aerith.
''No. Give him a real drink. The Cosmo Canyon,'' Nox interrupted. He asked Tifa and Aerith. Cloud had whiskey last time. And while Shalua didn't say anything about alcohol, when the four met, before the rest came back from Mako Reactor 1, they did agree to manage Cloud's intake of anything and anything else that could mess with his mind.
Tifa nodded and began mixing.
While she was doing so, Cloud suppressed a frown. 'A real drink'. Last time he asked for something strong. He ordered the same thing again and yet Tifa was making another drink, having stopped making the first one. Did that mean this one was stronger? Then why didn't she give him this one? Did she think him not capable?
''Here. On the house,'' Tifa replied and put the glass down in front of him ripping him out of his overthinking.
The others booed at that. Tifa wasn't handing out free drinks anymore, after all.
Cloud looked at the glass and picked it up, holding it up between him and Tifa.
''Beautiful,'' he thanked her, staring into her eyes through the glass and then took a sip. Tifa blushed a little and turned her head away from him.
Cloud stared at the drink after that. Huh. This is one is much more to his tastes. But... he felt as if there was something missing. Was it not supposed to burn? Actually...for the life of him, he doesn't remember drinking all that much alcohol.
Huh.
''Smooth,'' Aerith leaned over to whisper in Nox ear. The two SOLDIER's hearing it thanks to their enhanced senses, making Cloud grunt softly.
''Indeed. It seems she's been hit by, she's been hit by a smooth criminal,'' Nox closed his eyes and went through the motions and whispered back. The others engaging in their own chatter.
So far things didn't change too much, despite him having changed a few things.
But the butterfly effect was absolutely real. And those small changes would rear their head.
''There you go again, with on of your weird sentences. Is this also a reference to something?,'' Aerith asked him.
''Yup. A song. Picked it up during my travels. Don't remember it all that well except a few lines that just ... stuck I guess. Felt fitting,'' Nox replied. Aerith nodded.
''Felt kind of catchy though,'' Aerith complimented him. At least that is the impression she got from that one verse.
''I do like your singing more though,'' Nox turned to her and propped his chin on his fist.
''Really? Thank you,'' Aerith said happily.
Nox smiled and nodded. Then he turned to Jessie to address.
''Stop moping. Your bringing the whole mood down,'' Nox told her earning some looks.
Ok.
Warranted.
But still ouch.
He was trying to do better.
''You don't understand. I have to understand WHY the bomb delivered a bigger payload then it was supposed to. If I don't find the mistake something could go wrong again and people could die again, next time,'' Jessie huffed. They didn't seem to understand.
''Screw that! The only things that matter is that we shut down that Reactor, bought the Planet more time and we all made it back home safely. I'll say, all's well that ends well,'' Barret slammed his gun arm on the table.
Biggs and Wedge raised their glassed to that.
''Bought the planet time for what? The planet is still suffering a death by a thousands cuts, you just slowed the cuts down by a bit. In the grand scheme of things your contributions to humanity and the planet amount to a grand total of zero,'' Nox told him. He would have wanted to say, that the planet would have been still there and healed. Only with humanity gone. But that argument only applied to his past world.
Not here. Here green juice was important and seemed to be in everything. It was a cycle. Things die. They return to the planet. And then they get ...'reborn' somehow. Not even Aerith understands that one quite yet.
Shinra was putting an end to that cycle by burning up Mako, stopping the souls from returning to the planet. The consequences of that all around Midgar to see.
''He is right, you know,'' Cloud added his input and took a sip from his drink.
''Well. At least I'm doing something!,'' Barret slammed his gun arm down on the table and stood up.
''I'm fighting for the planet. What have you been doing? If you think you can criticize us so much, then why don't YOU do it better? Huh?,'' Barret confronted them.
Aerith opened her mouth a little anxiously and then closed it. She looked at Nox to see what he would do. Was this a plan or something? He said the words, she knew he meant them, but there didn't seem to be any real bite to them.
Not in the way there usually was, when he was annoyed or displeased.
''You should put that gun arm down. At least when you are not fighting. It is distinct,'' Nox changed the subject on a whim.
''No. I waited long enough for it. I always planned to replace my prosthesis with it. This...is a reminder of what I have lost to Shinra. And a vow. I will not put it down till my battles and my mission are done. For Marlene... and everyone else,'' Barret shot back.
The bite in his voice left him as he was overtaken by a somber mood. Memories resurfacing.
''Barret...,'' Tifa tried to comfort him, but then gave up.
Nox sighed. Yeah, that is what he expected. Just like the last time. That is exactly why he hadn't offered them a place in the Black Knights. Yet. Until they fix their faults, that is.
''Jessie. Tell me how you made the bomb,'' Nox ordered her, his voice leaving no room for argument.
He startled her, but she quickly gave him a description on how she made the bomb.
''It is a standard IED. You're right, the bomb should not have packed such a punch and you should be more confident in your own skills. Think about that. If you can't see it, then it should not surprise you why I don't want to join AVALANCHE,'' Nox shook his head, finished his drink quickly and left.
He wasn't just saying that with the benefit of hindsight or the fact that Shelke had a recording of Shinra's robots triggering the bigger explosion. He was saying that because he was familiar with bombs. He didn't ask her last time, but he knew himself enough to know that had he done so, he would have arrived at the same conclusion/suspicion as this one.
''Nox!,'' Aerith quickly drank her own soda and then tried running after him. She stopped at the entrance of the bar.
''Good luck with Reactor 5. 'Night,'' she waved and then left.
''He is right. You clearly don't see the bigger picture. In any case, you know where to find me when you finally have my money,'' Cloud stood up and left.
Barret slammed his gun arm down, this time much harsher then all the previous times.
''Barret. Come on. These are Tifa's tables,'' Biggs warned him.
''Shit. Sorry, Tifa,'' Barret replied subdued.
''It's fine. I don't mind a few scratches,'' Tifa reassured him. Well... she did a little. But she didn't want to anger him more then he already was.
''You! Soldier boy, you know what that was all about?,'' Barret asked Zack.
''Uh, give me a moment to think,'' Zack adopted a thinking pose.
He knew how evil Shinra was, but...Nox said something about the bomb not being able to trigger that kind of explosion that was in the news... And he asked him to stay here. And he asked Barret to drop that distinct gun arm.
Oh!
He only had a suspicion, but...
Should he tell them?
Or should he trust in Nox' plan, whatever it was. He was clearly doing things in the shadows, not telling any of them except maybe Aerith about it.
...
...
After some time, Zack slowly shook his head.
''No. I've got nothing,'' Zack lied.
Nox better owe him a huge favor for this and NOT make him regret putting his trust in him.
''Pah. Then screw his cryptic bullshit, we can handle ourselves just fine without him. And you guys. Sleep well. You'll need your rest for tomorrow,'' Barret replied making Biggs, Wedge and Jessie nod.
''Will you hire Cloud for tomorrow as well?,'' Tifa asked him.
''No. Screw him. He can go choke on his money, while the real men and women fight for the planet,'' Barret dismissed. For a moment he even wanted to not pay him at all. But he quickly calmed himself down. That was just his anger talking and a man without his word was nothing.
...Also he did see Cloud fight.
---
''Sooooo, what was that about?,'' Aerith asked him after the left the bar.
''Nothing,'' Nox calmly replied.
''It is not 'nothing'. But ok. I get it, you don't want to talk about it right now. Soooo,'' Aerith leaned very close to him.
''So?,'' Nox asked her leaning, himself, a little forward.
''So? Did you also pick up how to make bombs on your travels?,'' Aerith asked him curiously.
''Yup,'' Nox nodded.
Aerith pouted.
''I'm starting to think you're only saying that when want an excuse not to go into detail,'' Aerith accused him.
Nox gasped playfully.
''You're learning. A miracle,'' he smirked.
She shoved him away playfully and laughed.
''Remember how you said you don't mind me keeping some secrets-''
''Yup. So long as you don't mind me having my own privacy,'' Aerith reminded him.
''-Of course. I'm not THAT much of a hypocrite. I can't talk about everything, but I will one day. I can talk about somethings though. I don't mind telling you how I learned about bombs,'' Nox told her.
''Yes?,'' Aerith took his hand in hers and she listened carefully.
''You know what we do. Believe it or not, I wasn't too different from AVALANCHE when I decided on my path. There is not that much to it. I simply stole a book and read through it. Made and used a few of them too.
But then... I guess you could say, I met an old men-''
''You guess?,'' Aerith wanted some clarification.
''I don't know. All people looked old to me as a child or teen. He didn't have grey hair, if that is what you are asking. We stumbled on each others path. Point is, he fought in a war. 'I recognize that fire in you, son. Things won't play out the way you imagine.' He said that it was a similar enough expression he saw in Wutai. He used to be a bomber, he told me. And I asked him if they worked.
They didn't. Not at all. All it did was harden the Wutaians resolve to resist. Time and time again.'' Nox trailed off and looked into the distance.
''Then how do you use bombs? Why even use bombs at all, if they are counterproductive?,'' she asked him.
''Because, the DO sap the enemies strength and forces them to fight under limits or restrictions. Make no mistake that carries with it it's own issues, and it will still harden their resolve, just not as strongly as the other one.
You don't attack cities or civilian hotspots. You don't attack physicians or temples. You attack supply routes. You block tunnels by collapsing them. You go after infrastructure, military outposts, NEVER civilians. And whatever you do, don't flatten everything. Leave at least a few of the aforementioned targets intact. During war, if your enemy is stupid, they may even try to force a way through that path and you can expect them easily and set a trap.
And once the war is over people need to rebuild. But if you destroy too much of said infrastructure, many of their people will die because too much critical infrastructure is missing and then you are back to square one. Only this time their resolve will fester like a wound, waiting for the opportunity to pounce,'' Nox explained.
Aerith rubbed her forehead.
''All I'm hearing is that war is complex and multifaceted,'' Aerith sighed.
''Yeah. That guy looked miserable and full of regret. I dropped the idea after that,'' Nox told her.
''You know...In a way I'm glad. All the choices you made, brought you to me,'' Aerith told him. No. Maybe that was not entirely true, the planet would have wanted her to find him eventually, but she doubted they would have had the opportunity to fall in love with each other under THOSE circumstances.
Nox gave her a sad smile. He sighed and pulled her close to him to hug her. She immediately hugged him back tightly.
''I get it. I get you,'' Nox told her. She didn't need to explain. Not now or last time.
People sometimes possessed incredible strength and resilience. Aerith was just such a person. She was strong, perhaps not in body, she isn't there quite yet, but in character.
After all, a burden shared is a burden halved.
It was her way of thanking him that he became a source of her strength.
He was...admittedly a little jealous of her. Sure he found his own strength in her, but it took a LONG while. He didn't really have that luxury at her age and for a long time after that. Always having to carry everything alone.
His mental age? His actual age? His something age?
Actually, Nox no longer wanted to think about that topic so he immediately stopped thinking about it.
His bodies age was the same as hers. And people could be more mature then their bodies would indicate. She herself was very mature.
There was no reason he should make it weird for himself.
''Thank you.''
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
'Aerith' was 50...No! 60% sure that Nox watched the plate fall.
(Mostly guesswork, since she didn't have any indicators if her assumption was right. The Planets were kind of picky about what they chose to share or share not with her. Anything that wasn't directly linked to her mission she had to figure out for herself.)
And... he didn't talk to Aerith about that. A small part of her was disappointed for her variant. But she also understood that talking about time travel was no simple matter.
Still...
Not that she had any room to talk. In both cases she let the plate fall. Sure, she tried her best in her own world and caused evacuations to kick in early so not everyone died. But that was a small consolation. Unlike the 'original' world where she (another Aerith variant) didn't know the future and everyone died.
And now...the planets wanted her to ACTIVELY guide her variant down that same path.
What happened in Midgar was far too important to change too much about.
So far, she didn't seem to need to make any changes.
---
Yup, there is the Whispers attacks on Jessie to wound her leg and force Cloud back on track. Tifa decided to come with, since the two didn't know what those thing were, they just saw an invisible force harm their friend and Tifa didn't want to risk losing Cloud. Zack stood behind and watched over the bar and the rest. 'Aerith' wondered if Zack being here would change too much.
Probably. Maybe not. It really depended on Nox, she felt like.
Well, back to being a creepy ghost she goes then, since she doesn't need to interfere.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
''You think he is alive?,'' Cloud heard a voice and felt something pocking him.
''Stop pocking him with a stick, Nox. That's rude,'' a female voice chastised. If the man was Nox then the female must be Aerith.
Hm. Chastised.
His mother often chastised him. He suddenly saw a memory of how he visited her, when he was on the mission five years ago. At least... he got to say goodbye to her and saw her one final time.
''In recent news, scientists have discovered that water is wet.''
*Poke*
''He could be injured.''
''Nah. He has a SOLDIER's physique. And he drew blood from me and slayed Sephiroth. A fall from the upper plate won't kill him.''
*Poke*
Cloud felt a little warm at the praise.
*Po.*
''Stop poking me. I'm up,'' Cloud groaned and stood up. He let go of the stick shaped floorboard and watched Nox throw it to the side.
''Mission didn't go so well?,'' Aerith asked him with some concern. She didn't yet get a call from Tifa about the mission.
''It wen't well. Mission accomplished,'' Cloud replied defensively and dusted himself off.
''That's good. Now could you please carefully step away from the flowerbed?,'' Aerith asked him politely.
''Huh?,'' Cloud asked and looked down.
''Oh. Right, sorry,'' Cloud fulfilled her request,'' Sorry about the flowers.''
''That's fine. They are more resilient then they look,'' Aerith knelt down and tended to the flower a bit.
Nox meanwhile held his hand out and made a grabbing motion.
''What?,'' asked Cloud confused.
Nox simply pointed to the second hole in the ceiling.
Cloud froze up a bit. He didn't want to part with his hard earned money! He didn't even have a lot of it to begin with.
Come to think of it. How come? What happened to all the money he had before coming to Midgar? Did he lose it? Was he robbed when he was unconscious before Tifa found him?
Cloud frowned and held his face a little as his head started hurting.
''I'm just messing with you,'' Nox slapped his shoulder playfully.
''Oh,'' Cloud sounded distant.
''By the way, if you got split from the others they must be worrying for you. Especially Tifa. You should call them and reassure them,'' Aerith told him and stood up.
''Why would they worry? These kinds of risks come with being a merc,'' Cloud replied dismissively.
''Speak: He doesn't have a PHS,'' Nox slammed his fist in his palm in playful realization. That's right. He only gave Zack a PHS. Not Cloud.
''Is that true?,'' Aerith asked Cloud with wide eyes.
Cloud felt his face heat up. Can these two not give him a fucking break? Ruining his ... flow and shit.
''Hey. Relax,'' Aerith waved her hand playfully and winked,'' I can call Tifa for you. And then we can start making our way to Sector 7 for your payment.''
A little early, but...well he was a merc. And she and Nox didn't really mind helping out people a little every now and then. It would be like a fun little adventure.
Cloud eventually nodded.
---
Reno scowled from his vantage point as he saw Nox be near Aerith again. He had the 'glorious' task of evacuating the Ancient to safety. Which meant risking a confrontation with Nox. And none of the Turks have forgotten how he slayed a Black Dragon by himself or how the Second and Third Class SOLDIER's who were sent could keep up with his speed. Maybe a First Class, but Shinra was all out of those, because of what happened years ago and none of the Second Class rose to First Class, so they still haven't recovered.
The only reason why Shinra as a whole didn't know that the figure who slayed the Black Dragon was Nox was because Tseng didn't want to push Nox in a corner and have him desperate. His instincts warned him not to do that.
Reno wondered if he will ever experience what Tseng was talking about.
Whatever.
There wasn't yet an exact plan, but President Shinra wanted to punish the rats in the slums. If he felt the need to evacuate the Ancient then whatever way he wanted to retaliate in could not be good.
He was working on a timer. They already visited Don Corneo and tasked him with finding a man with a gun arm for them. Despite some...minor setbacks here in the slums, aka an unidentified mob head in Sector 4 and 8, the Don was still their best mole and resource in the slums.
It shouldn't take too long for Corneos men to find AVALANCHE and then...Aerith better not be down here.
President Shinra also probably wanted to advance his other plans and for that he needed the Ancient anyway.
Only problem was of course Nox.
Reno let his head fall back and he loudly groaned. He would have to wait until an opportunity presents itself and he could evacuate her.
''We are ready to engage, Sir,'' an Infantry Trooper approached him.
''Eh? Oh, yeah, be on stand by and await my orders,'' Reno shooed him away and looked at him briefly.
After he saw the Trooper salute and begin making his way back to the others he turned back around.
Wait!
He watched as Nox and Aerith waited for someone and finally a third figure walked out of the church.
Was that Cloud Strife!?
Did that mean Zack was alive too?
The dead Infantry army certainly suggested so. And wasn't that one also a blow to their military might. Then again, one can't expect nothing less from a First Class. After all the gap between Second and First Class was MUCH bigger then the gap between Second and Third. He couldn't imagine anything less, causing that kind of destruction anyway.
''Tseng?,'' Reno immediately pulled his PHS out,''There has been a development.''
---
Nox walked briefly with his eyes closed and then subtly looked at where Reno was hiding. They may be the Turks, but he was no slack himself when it came to espionage. If anything, he felt confident to say he was better then them, even IF they were on a playing field. They had an entire government at their back and call from which to draw resources from. He danced around an entire government with nothing but lip stick, hair wigs and and a gun and made it fall.
(Okay, he was being a bit hyperbolic here and he hated the Turks. While that certainly was true, he didn't bring the government down with JUST that. Eventually he did upgrade to getting himself an army.)
''Nox!,'' Aerith called after him,''We found a few thing to do.''
''Coming.''
His PHS rang.
''But give me one moment,'' he quickly back tracked from his agreement.
'Don Corneos men are snooping around Sector 7 after AVALANCHE,' said the message.
'Got it keep me posted about what Shinra wants to do with that Info,' he wrote back to reply to Shelke.
Then he began making his way towards Cloud and Aerith.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
''So? You made quite a bit of money. No?,'' Aerith asked Cloud.
''Hm. Yes. But you didn't have to bother. I could have managed on my own,'' Cloud nodded as they were all walking towards Sector 7. They were still in Sector 6 and would just need to cross the gate.
''You are saying no to free advice and help? Pretty kind for a merc, since most would take it readily and hope for more,'' Nox teased him.
''...I have standards,'' Cloud crossed his arms and replied defensively.
Aerith smiled at the banter, but then widened her eyes as the gates opened and she saw Tifa getting escorted via a carriage to somewhere.
''Wait, guys. Is that Tifa?,'' she asked. Not that she waited for an answer and immediately ran up to it. She easily caught up to the carriage, since it didn't move fast anyway. The two men easily keeping up with her. Aerith widened her eyes a little as she saw Tifa in that revealing purple dress they once tried out when they went to hang out.
She could understand if she was wearing it for Cloud, but why NOW?
''Guys?,'' Tifa who looked a little apprehensive till now, suddenly looked a little more relaxed and moved forward to be closer to the end of the carriage.
''Tifa. What is happening,'' Cloud pushed Aerith away and asked her with concern, barely paying attention to her get up.
''It is good to see you all. And Cloud I'm glad you are unharmed,'' Tifa told him with a smile.
Sure Aerith told her that Cloud was fine, which allowed her to relax and be less stressed throughout the day. Until THEY came. But seeing is believing and sometimes the brain worried over nothing.
''Forget that. Explain yourself,'' Cloud demanded.
''Right,'' Tifa nodded and got down to business,''After we bombed Rector 5 and we got separated and we got Aerith's call about you, some time passed.''
It was in the morning when they bombed Reactor 5 and now it was almost night.
''Then some people came around and began asking questions in Sector 7. We found out they were Don Corneos men. They were asking around for AVALANCHE and a man with a gun arm. Shinra hired them. So we planned that I will sneak into Don Corneo's mansion and find out what Shinra has planned and then stop it,'' Tifa continued to explain as briefly as possible.
''You've got guts to want to suffer a man like Don Corneo in your presence. Whether you can or cannot handle yourself makes no difference. Their very nature is offensive and repulsive, even if they don't manage to do you any harm,'' Nox shook his head, like a well rehearsed act.
''I know. I heard the rumors. But I HAVE to do this,'' Tifa told them. The carriage rattled a bit and walls became visible. The kind that earned Wall Street it's name.
''Guys. You need to go to Sector 7 and reinforce our strength. You are our strongest fighter and I don't think Zack is enough by himself. I will catch up after you. Now go,'' Tifa instructed them and game them an encouraging smile.
Cloud frowned but let go of the carriage and stood still, watching it go off into the distance and past the walls. Nox and Aerith stood beside him.
''Where are you going?,'' Aerith immediately asked him when he turned around and began walking.
''Tifa is right. She is capable and can handle herself,'' Cloud told them.
''So? Nox can handle himself, but I still would jump in to help him if he were in a bind,'' Aerith challenged him.
''It is not the same between me and her,'' Cloud shook his head.
''So you don't care about Tifa at all?,'' Aerith challenged him further.
''Of course I do. But she is capable,'' Cloud repeated his previous point. Didn't she understood or what was her problem.
Aerith shook her head.
''I'm disappointed. Tifa called you her hero and an amazing person. Right now she needs you and yet don't live up at all to the type of guy she described you as. Fine go worship money or something, Nox after me,'' Aerith huffed displeased and walked where the carriage disappeared to.
Nox gave him a disappointed shake of his head. Where was the loyalty? He quickly walked after Aerith to catch up with her.
Cloud clenched his fists. What the hell? He wasn't abandoning Tifa. Tifa was strong! Hell, she survived and thrived after Nibelheim by herself. It was a sign of trust that he took her at her word that she could manage her own business.
If anything he would insult her by calling her incapable by going after her, because he would be implying that she wasn't strong enough. Or that he didn't trust her at her word.
But...Nox didn't look embarrassed or insulted about Aerith coming to his rescue. Not at all. In fact he nodded at her words.
Well...maybe she did need some help. From everything Nox and Aerith told him about Wall Street and the Don, Cloud could guess that it didn't matter how strong Tifa was. The Don would not fight fair, their type only ever fought dirty. Against that type more people usually meant better chances.
And....he did make her that promise. He technically fulfilled it when he saved her in Nibelheim and stopped Sephiroth, but... then again they never specified if there was a warranty on that promise or was a one time occurrence.
So, he guessed he could go after her.
Just in case.
He hoped she didn't take his actions the wrong way.
He quickly began running after Nox and Aerith only to immediately freeze up and grab his Iron Blade.
''Sephiroth?,'' Cloud asked. Again?
''Cloud,'' Sephiroth smiled playfully and began walking towards him, Cloud ready to defend himself, but Sephiroth just walked past him and rested his hand on his shoulder.
''Go after her. It would be a shame if I don't finish what I started,'' he whispered in his ear.
Cloud tightened his fist.
Sephiroth was just in his mind. Nothing more. He knows he killed him.
He blinked and found Sephiroth gone.
Right. Back on track.
...
''We need to find the Dons mansion,'' Nox and Aerith heard behind them.
''My words got to you?,'' Aerith turned around and smiled a relieved smile.
''We are wasting time. Let's go,'' Cloud walked past them.
''The Dons Mansion is the other direction. We already asked around,'' Nox nodded behind them. Not really. They both knew where it was and were just waiting a bit to see if Cloud get his priorities straight. They were just trying him to spare him from completely embarrassing him.
Cloud, with his back turned to them, quickly wiped his embarrassed look from his face and then turned around.
---
''We can just force our way in. Why did you pull me back? Between me and Nox a few goons with guns shouldn't be a problem,'' Cloud pointed out frustrated.
''Yes, but that could put Tifa at risk. Maybe they could take her as a hostage or something. It's better not to risk it and sneak our way in,'' Aerith explained to him.
''Well in that case that shouldn't be a problem. Between you and me, we can sneak in this muscle head with us,'' Nox replied.
Cloud raised and eyebrow and looked between the two of them. Aerith didn't seem to disagree.
Right when she was about to say something and open her mouth 'Aerith' spoke.
'You could do that. But would you want to miss out on the chance to see Nox in a girls dress?,' 'Aerith' asked her. And she also wanted to see Cloud in a dress again. He rocked that dress and the way he complained and blushed in embarrassment was just too cute.
Aerith blinked. She did request that Nox do that, ever since she found out about his 'extracurricular' activities. But he never wanted to do that, since it takes much more effort to disguise himself as a female then as a different male.
''We could do that. But ... I was more thinking along the lines of you two disguising yourself as women. I will sneak in with your gear and all that, since you will probably be patted down and then stripped of any weapons,'' Aerith told them.
No, actually. Nox had to wonder how the Don was still alive despite that security flaw. Oh, sure. Other people were patted down, but not the brides. Which meant that he and Cloud could just take their weapons with them in a Store Materia. Like always, anything that didn't make sense, Nox just chalked up to Mako influence. For his own sanity.
Moving on.
''What? You must be joking,'' Cloud said with disbelief. He looked at Nox to see if he would agree with him.
''You just want to see us dressed as girls,'' Nox raised an eyebrow.
''Yup, yup,'' Aerith enthusiastically nodded.
She was not supposed to agree this quickly!
Last time Nox provided much more resistance and push back. But he did give up in the end. Now, he could say the lines again. But banter without sincerity just wasn't the same, unlike all the other activities. Probably one other, but he didn't do that with Aerith yet, so he wouldn't know and didn't want to find out.
''Sure. Let's do this,'' Nox nodded. This time around he even brought his own make up.
HE WASN'T SUPPOSED TO AGREE TO THIS THIS QUICKLY!!! Cloud wanted to scream. What they hell where they doing?!
Nox supposed the way Aerith's face sparkled with joy was a good consolation prize as any. Just as well as the way her face lit up in victory after their banter, last time.
''In that case, we better find a way for you and Cloud to appear as women,'' Aerith joyfully ran back into the markets.
Wait! He didn't agree to any of this. He didn't agree to any of this!
Cloud was pulled by Nox by the shoulder and he followed defeated.
These two were dangerous and getting him into all sorts of trouble, Cloud whined in his head.
Still, he followed after them.
---
''Are you seriously riding this monstrosity like a bull?,'' Cloud asked him with disbelief from where he and Aerith were.
They walked all over the place and gathered one of the two needed approvals. But the third one was their final chance to get the two approvals needed. The trio will remember Chocobo Sam's actions.
So ergo, to get Andrea Rhodeas approval they would need Madam M to put in a good word. And she would only do that if they make her some money. Technically, on top of the good word to Rhodea she would also give them her approval. While she hasn't give it YET, Cloud didn't care about that little detail. With him and Nox here none of these contestants would prove an actual challenge here. Then again, he was proven wrong for underestimating Aerith. She herself was pretty much a powerhouse. Only with her magic, but still.
''Who said I'm riding it. It's a robot your dumbass,'' Nox shot back. He slammed two daggers into the roof of the Hell House and jumped off.
That was her cue and she shot lightning at the daggers, straight into it's chassis and past the outer protections.
Cloud scoffed as the audience began booing them. All the fights were short and too quick to satiate their bloodlust. He wasn't here to put on a show anyway, so he didn't care for their booing.
Huh? The audience went quite as the Hell House twitched.
''Of course it has a second phase. All the troublesome enemies do,'' Aerith sighed in frustration. Could they maybe...not? It was tedious and was just dragging out the inevitable.
''Nox, Cloud. I have an idea. Follow me,'' Aerith told them.
''Sure,'' Nox readily agreed. Cloud quickly nodded, since it was two against one.
The Hell House stood up and gave a mechanical screech.
None of that now. Aerith just wanted to end this quickly. The more time they wasted the more likely they would not arrive to Tifa's help in time.
She spun her staff and slammed it down on the ground freezing the entire ground. The Hell House fired several rockets, but she just pushed them all away with a gust of wind.
Meanwhile Nox and Cloud began sliding on the ice. Both using their blade to change direction. While Aerith drew it's attention with spells and focused the rockets on herself Nox took that opportunity to slide under it's belly and pull out a leg from under it.
Previously with the leg being positioned under it's belly, they couldn't really attack it. But now with it out? Cloud jumped and then slammed his Iron Blade down, electricity coursing through the sword as it cut the leg.
The Hell House used It's arm to gain momentum and spin while the other transformed into a saw. Nox pulled Cloud away in time.
Finally stopping and aligning itself in their direction with it's face, it opened it's door and began trying to suck them inside the house, like a vortex.
Aerith spun her staff and shot ice into it's mouth, which shortly after that exploded and filled up the insides of the house and stopped it's attack.
Then she created a wall under their feet. They were already sliding again, but with the ice they couldn't jump as high as before. It provided the appropriate lift for both of them to land on the rood again and slam their swords in. Unlike the daggers, these ones should go much deeper.
Then they jumped away, before the rockets could hit them.
Previously, the Hell House jumped on the walls a lot, but with the ice on the ground that was no longer a possibility. So Aerith was free to charge up her attack without worry that it would evade the attack.
Although it did try to use it's arms crawl away, Nox kneed it back in place and Cloud punched it back since Nox hit it too hard.
Meanwhile Aerith spun her staff again and a massive ball of lightning formed above Hell House. Then she brought the staff down and with it the lightning.
Suffice to say, that with the attack being much stronger then all the previous ones and the blades digging deeper it was enough, this time, to destroy the Hell House and it exploded.
Nox and Cloud picked up their swords and THIS time the audience celebrated. Not that it meant much to any of them, even if Aerith waved at them, but at least they have their first approval.
''Come on, guys,'' Aerith held up her hands in the air.
Nox wasted no time in giving her a high five, but Cloud hesitated a little before giving her one. He did give Nox a fist bump since he felt a little more confident after that.
---
''I though I was supposed to make two men into a vision of beauty?,'' Andrea Rhodea asked Cloud.
Kill him. Why did he agree to this? Oh, right. For Tifa ... and because Aerith knew no boundaries and Nox saw no shame in having to dress as a woman.
''He said he absolutely had to go take care of something. Just tell me what to do,'' Cloud replied. He was forced on the dance stage, but he had yet to hear what his task was. He would fulfill it alone even if he was bitter that Nox would let him force this alone after he was the one that brought him into this mess in the first place.
And the fact that he risked Andrea not giving them his approval for the Audit, because one of them was missing.
Andrea sounded disappointed.
''Very well, you will do then,'' Andrea told him.
The lights dimmed and only some lights turned on. Rhodea spun away and music began playing.
''Follow my movements, sweetheart. Impress me and I will give you what you want,'' Rhodea told him.
Kill him, Cloud prayed.
...
Las time he let Rhodea dress him up as a woman after forcing him to dance too, just like Cloud.
He was not impressed. That is why he brought his own equipment this time in the Store Materia and found an isolated room in the club.
Rhodea was clearly an avid enthusiast. No offence to him. And he did good work.
But Nox was a professional.
And professionals had standards.
Welp, time to get to work.
Huh? He pulled out his PHS after it rang. Ah, yes, it was around this time that Shelke warned him what Shinra planned on doing.
'THEY PLAN TO DROP THE PLATE!'
'Got it. I'm on it,' Nox wrote back.
But first, either way, they needed to get Tifa out. She did need support since they used drugs in there.
...
Aerith clapped her hands and laughed enthusiastically. She was a bit disappointed that she wouldn't get to see Nox dance, but that was fine. If she was right, she would still see him dressed as a woman. She assumed as much even if he didn't say anything and only said that he will be back shortly.
Around the time Andrea began applying make up and dressing up Cloud, after they had a dance off, someone sat near Aerith.
Aerith briefly looked at the woman.
She was dressed pretty elegantly. In heels, wore black pants and a stylish white blouse, her breasts seemingly the same size as hers. She wore gloves with red painted finger nails. A bit redundant to pain gloves red around the finger nail area, but oddly enough the woman made it work. There was a black streak of hair going through her white hair and she had red eyes.
Huh.
Aerith turned back to look at Cloud. Only to immediately widen her eyes and snap her head back toward the woman.
''Nox?,'' Aerith asked her...HIM with disbelief.
Nox smiled sultrily and crossed his legs. He put his arm on the upper leg and rested his chin on his palm, while his fingers hid his mouth. He scrunched his nose at her playfully, totally TOO comfortable with the situation. Like he has done it a thousand times before.
''Impressed?,'' he asked her in a smooth feminine voice.
''I feel my pride as a female slighted. HOW are you prettier then me?,'' Aerith asked him with disbelief.
She blushed when Nox put his index finger under her chin and dragged her to his face, their lips almost touching.
''I may be pretty, but I vastly prefer the original. The truth, the female body, aka you,'' he kissed her making her taste the strawberry on his lips. She blushed fiercely due to the circumstances he kissed her in.
She was startled and Nox let her go, when the people around them began clapping enthusiastically. She turned to look at Cloud, who was now in a pretty blue dress and looked a little more feminine.
Rhodea offered him his hand and then spun him around after Cloud took it, both of them ending with Rhodea supporting Cloud by his back, not letting him fall while he was staring at the ceiling.
Rhodea pulled him to let him stand and stretched his hand at him.
''True beauty is an expression of the heart. A thing without shame to which notions of gender don't apply. Don't ever be afraid,'' Rhodea told him and then pulled his arm back to make a heart shaped gesture above his heart.
''Cloud! You look very pretty,'' Aerith ran up to them and complimented him. Her female pride was a little restored.
Ok, so it was just Nox who was unreasonable pretty in a dress.
''I concur. Now, about the approval you were hoping fo-,'' Rhodea trailed off as Nox walked over to them.
''Nox?,'' Cloud asked with disbelief, forgetting his mortification.
''Teach me,'' Rhodea pleaded.
''I'm busy. The only thing I can tell you is that there is still room for improvement in your craft. Now about those approvals?,'' Nox asked him.
Cloud was floored at how feminine Nox sounded right now.
''You break my heart, darling. But you also lit a flame of passion in my chest. Now, I know that the skill ceiling is much higher then I believed. Please, instead of seeing it as a transaction for services rendered, consider it instead a thanks for opening my eyes,'' Rhodea told them.
''Does that mean we have your approval?,'' Cloud asked.
''Of course. Go save your friend,'' Rhodea encouraged him and handed him a piece of metal.
Rhodea sighed forlorn, watching Nox depart.
Right. He better gets to improving his craft now. No time to waste.
---
''Don't say anything,'' Cloud warned her, stumbling over his feet, unused to walking in heels. How Nox could do that was beyond him.
''You both are so pretty. I kind of wish I would have brought my red dress, then we would have made a killer trio,'' Aerith lamented and stared at her pink dress. Alas, she had a different kind of duty to fulfill.
''Can I take a photo of you with my PHS?,'' Aerith asked.
''Hell no!,'' Cloud hotly replied. After today he never wanted it mentioned again.
''Sure. But make it quick. We are on a timer,'' Nox agreed and posed as Aerith immediately began taking pictures of him, respecting Clouds boundaries.
''How are you fine with all of this?,'' Cloud asked with disbelief. How was he not embarrassed.
''I feel pretty secure in my masculinity. Not that I consider it a humiliation in any way anyway. Besides, there is nothing more masculine then being comfortable in your own skin and being reliable, regardless of what others think. Strike your own path, Cloud ,'' Nox replied and shrugged.
That shut Cloud up and made him think.
''Alright. Thanks. Now,'' Aerith said as she pocketed her PHS,''Your Store Materia and your weapons.''
She held her hands out and both deposited their Materia in her hands. Nox had no issued with that since he imbued the Black Materia in his glove. The Black Materia behaved a little differently when it was imbued in something then all other Materia. It was truly hidden. And he didn't even need weapons all that much, considering his Mako Strands. So he just let Aerith have her fun.
''Try not to alarm everyone before we find Tifa and got the information from Don Corneo that she needs,'' Cloud told her making her nod.
...
Leslie sighed when the doors opened again.
He could recognize the blond guy easily enough. The ONLY reason he recognized the white haired guy from before, was because he assumed he had to be, because he was with the blonde guy previously here too.
At least the ACTUAL female wouldn't have to suffer the Don.
''You gotta be kidding me,'' he rubbed the bridge of his nose and said nothing more.
''You know I can only let you in if you have the approval,'' Leslie told them.
Now he could raise the alarm himself. But he did see them fight in the coliseum. He doubted they would be any weaker just because they didn't have their weapons. And if they were THIS persistent then he will just have to let them in and save their friend. Because if he didn't... Yeah. They would absolutely turn violent, because they will be backed into a corner.
''Alright, then go in,'' Leslie waved them in after they did present the approvals.
Leslie sighed watching them disappear behind the closing door. Yeah, this was not going to end well one way or another.
---
Nox and Cloud were barely affected by the gas that was released, but Nox instructed him to pretend that they were delirious, which he easily agreed to seeing the logic in that.
They would have needed much more then that to knock them out, but that quantity would have killed normal humans.
''Uh? Huh, that's a first. Usually they are unconscious by know,'' one thug entered with a gas mask and remarked upon seeing them. He grabbed Nox roughly by the face and twisted it to look at him.
''Hey! How come-Urgh,'' he was suddenly shoved forcefully away from Nox.
''What the hell do you think you're doing being rough with them? If you damage the merchandise then the Don will have your head. Just be patient and we will have our turn with the other two. Now, come on,'' the other thug ordered him.
The first thug scowled, but obliged and gently guided Nox down the stairs to the other candidate. The other thug guided Nox.
...
''Are you alright?,'' Tifa asked the women after the thugs departed.
In retrospect, maybe it was an ill thought plan. She didn't know the Don would pick ONE from three candidates.
''Tifa. Are you alright? Did they do something to you, while you were knocked out?,'' Cloud asked her, stopping to pretend the moment the thugs were gone. Tifa was startled with how quickly their drowsiness disappeared.
''Wait a moment,'' Tifa took a closed look at them.
''Nox? Cloud?,'' Tifa asked with disbelief,'' You two are...''
''Nailed it. I know. Moving on,'' Cloud told her with not too much heat. What Rhodea and Nox told him sticking with him a little bit.
''Don't worry. Aerith will sneak in our weapons. Now, about the Don,'' Nox began.
Tifa blinked a little. She felt her pride as a woman sting a bit. Nox looked GOOD as a woman.
''Right,'' she froced herself to move on,'' It is actually a good thing you are here. I didn't know there would be two other candidates, but now, no matter who is picked, we can definitely get the information.''
Tifa smiled at them feeling relieved, no longer having to worry.
And it was also nice that she had familiar company right now.
---
Aerith climbed up the side of the building and began sneaking around the rooftop. She just needed to find an entrance point.
---
''Hey. You seem familiar. Have we met before?,'' the moderator of the coliseum remarked upon seeing Cloud.
Cloud just stared at the guy defiantly.
''Hm. Maybe not,'' the guy said.
''Hey! The Don is coming and if you are wasting his time he will have your head. Come here,'' another thug said and waved him over.
Tifa clenched her fists in preparation. That is fine. It is not the first time she would have had to deal with lecherous gazes. She could handle this Don.
The three of them stared at the desk and chair until finally a man popped his head from behind it. He wore the most ridiculous hair style and get up he ever saw.
''Oh? Mmmm,'' Corneo rubbed his hands against each other and licked his lips.
''We have very good ones this time, guys,'' Corneo joked making the others cheer.
''BUT, there can only be one miss Corneo,'' Corneo turned his back to them and declared with his index raised up.
Well, until he gets bored of her that is.
''So which one shall it be? You?,'' Corneo slithered forward and inspected Tifa who turned her head.
Ok, she underestimated the matter. It wasn't just a lecherous gaze, it was a rapey gaze. He didn't see her just as hot, but as an object with no rights whatsoever.
''Oh? I can tell you work out. Hm, yes. Flat stomach, big breast, thick thighs,'' Corneo shuddered in delight and then moved on to the next.
''I usually like a dress on my woman, but you look really good in that suit. Maybe I should diversify my tastes a little,'' Corneo commented. Or maybe not. The Trio knew what his tastes where. They had no business dictating whether he tries something new or not.
Yup. That's decided. He will punish them even if he did pick the white haired chick.
He patted her arms a bit.
''Oh? You're like the other one. You must be working out a lot too. I do like healthy women. Now, how about you?,'' Corneo moved on to the blonde and inspected her.
''Much more muscles then the other too. But very cute. Ooohh. I can't decide, I really can't. All three of you are absolutely my kind of women, but like I said there can only be one Miss Corneo.
You know what? Any volunteers? Anyone want to step forward,'' he decided to torture them a bit and have them squirm.
''Pathetic,'' Cloud couldn't help but mutter under his breath.
''What was that?,'' Corneo asked sharply and stepped in front of her.
''He called you pathetic,'' Nox repeated, his feminine voice echoing through the room. He has seen enough to make a personality profile last time, he just needed to wait for the perfect opportunity again.
Thanks Cloud.
''Because that is what you are. Looking at you, it is not wonder that this is the only way a woman would ever deign to approach you. You have no pull game, so you force people by leveraging your power, because no matter how hard you will try you are obscene and repulsive. I'm sure not even your mother must have loves you,'' Nox continued impressing some of the thugs with how stupid she was.
Corneo stared at her briefly in disbelief and then immediately slapped her as hard as he could.
Nox let him and then turned his face back to him, moving his hair out of his eyes.
''I will enjoy breaking in your mouth. Guys, you can have the other two. I will teach this one some manners,'' Corneo grabbed her by then hand and pulled harshly. Nox provided some resistance so the jig wouldn't be up.
Corneo turned around and slapped her MUCH harsher. Nox let his defenses down a bit so his lips could be split. He was grabbed by the hair, thankfully not the black streak and was guided to Corneo's chamber.
''Well, poor girl. I've never seen Corneo so furious,'' one thug commented.
''Screw that. The black haired one is clearly the best among them. Dibs,'' another thug said and they all began guiding the two away.
The watched Nox in concern, but he just turned his head a little and winked at them. That was the last thing they saw before the doors to Corneo's chamber closed.
''I don't know. The blonde one gives off the impression of a tomboy and I love tomboys. I call dibs on that one,'' yet another thug replied.
Tifa couldn't believe what she was hearing. She was no stranger to how dirty some people behaved in the slums, but this.... This was on a whole another lever.
Cloud clenched his fist and swore he would kill them all at the first opportunity.
These people disgusted him.
Now, it was Aerith's time to do her part.
---
Aerith arrived at a glass like dome embedded in the roof. It allowed her to nicely look into the mansion.
Seeing the guys down there she brought out her staff and readied herself to cast Sleep on all of them.
But right in that moment she saw Tifa and Cloud being escorted from one room to another and she narrowed her eyes. Then Nox was picked. In that case, she better hurry. Whether he could handle it or not, she wanted to be there for him as quickly as possible.
She slid open a window and cast Sleep once a few thugs exited the room where Tifa and Cloud where guided.
Leslie, who was tasked by the Trio to sneak in some similar looking weapons for the candidates, quickly stopped himself from opening the door fully the moment he saw the thugs in there fall on the ground out of the blue. He closed the door a little just watching through a slit in the door.
Aerith waited a moment to see if anyone would come and used that moment to observe the distance between the roof and the ground. She could MAYBE make that jump, but...she had a better idea.
Leslie saw the bodies getting pushed away as the brunette from before slowed her descent to the ground from the ceiling with an Aero spell.
Well, maybe The Trios orders were reduntant, he thought as he watched her run up the stairs to where the 'leftovers' were guided after Corneo had his pick.
---
Cloud snapped the neck of the final thug and let him fall down.
Tifa was a little shocked, but she supposed they were very evil people.
''Cloud!,'' she exclaimed in shock when he moved to snap the neck of the guys who she knocked out with her kicks. She dragged him away from the unconscious men and let go when he turned around and saw his expression.
It was down right murderous. Even if she knew it was not directed at her, it still scared her.
Before they could say anything more, the doors opened making them enter their combat stance. They quickly relaxed when they saw Aerith.
''Here,'' she threw the Store Materia to Cloud and he quickly pulled out his sword.
''Where is Nox,'' Aerith asked them.
''After me,'' Tifa replied and quickly bolted back the way to Corneos chamber.
---
''Now, let us teach you some manners,'' Corneo said after he closed the door and turned around.
Before he could say anything more Nox slammed his palm into his face and gripped it, keeping his mouth shut, fingers digging in his cheeck.
He flailed and tried pulling out a weapon.
The he tried screaming and found he could only make some muffles. The woman was so much stronger. He usually could overpower them. So he couldn't even call for help or get her to let go.
''Why do you think I wore these gloves?,'' Nox dropped his feminine voice. He didn't want to come any more in contact then he had to with this... beast.
Corneo stopped struggling when he heard the masculine voice.
Nox pulled him closer and taunted him.
''Crime pays... until it doesn't,'' he smirked and moved his other hand near his throat. Corneo resumed his struggling, trying in vain to do anything or to offer some money at least for his life. He surely could pay more then whoever this guys contractor is.
Nox waited a bit, to let the hopelessness seep in just a little more.
All these petty creatures. They are all the same in their final moments.
Nox sliced his straight hand through his throat and decapitated him. He turned his head a little so the blood wouldn't hit him in the face.
He sat down on the bed, at the very edge and crossed his legs as he bounced the head in his one hand.
He smirked.
That does bring back memories. The good kind.
The doors burst open and Aerith, Cloud and Tifa poured in.
''Please tell me you get the info from him before you killed him,'' Tifa immediately asked after she saw the situation. Meanwhile Aerith threw the Store Materia at him, which he caught.
There was no way, after all they were gone just a few moments. No one can rip the truth from someone that quickly.
''Shinra plans to drop the upper plate on the Sector 7 slums,'' Nox told them and threw the head away.
''What?,'' Tifa faintly squeezed out with shock.
''T-there is NO way. Even Shinra wouldn't sink so low. Right? Right!?,'' Tifa turned to Cloud and when he turned his head in shame, she turned to Aerith. She shook her sadly.
''We...We NEED to hurry. Warn everyone. Evacuate everyone,'' Tifa scrambled for a course of action.
''Definitely. But first, could you give me and Cloud the room please? So that we can changed?,'' Nox asked them.
''Oh, of course,'' Aerith replied and pulled Tifa by the hand. It was better to find something for her as well. She couldn't fight in that pink dress.
After she closed the door, she pulled up her staff as she saw Leslie in the hallway.
He held up his hands defensively. And then slowly dropped a bag at their feet. Aerith nodded at Tifa to get it while she continued to watch him.
''I was tasked with getting some equipment and clothes to you,'' Leslie elaborated.
''He's is right,'' Tifa confirmed and closed the bag. She looked at Aerith who nodded and she quickly left to change her clothes, while Leslie and Aerith continued to have their stand off.
''What happened in there?,'' Leslie asked.
''We will wait for the others, then we can talk...or not,'' Aerith replied.
''Ok. Fine by me,'' Leslie easily agreed. He could be patient a little.
---
Cloud briefly looked at Nox. Ok. Seeing all that stuff he was pulling away from his body, including a corset, which made him groan, a wig, lots of see through plastic and gods know what else, he could see WHY he looked so feminine, despite having a more masculine build.
He did not how he stored the gloves in the Materia though.
Then they quickly changed in their previous clothes and Nox and Cloud wiped the make up from their faces.
''Wait,'' Nox held him up, when he wanted to to exit.
''We have to hurry,'' Cloud reminded him calmly.
''Yes. But you are a mercenary and I have a job for you. I'll pay you ...10.000 Gil,'' Nox told him, making him widen his eyes.
''What the... Type S-Class monsters can earn someone less money. What do you want me to do that would make it worth paying that much for?,'' Cloud asked him.
''I want you to wear this on your belt. A miniature camera,'' Nox pulled out a small object from the Store Materia.
''You don't think we can stop Shinra,'' Cloud concluded,''You want to record their crimes.''
Then again. He himself didn't have confidence in them being able to stop them. Shinra... he knew just how many resources they had at their disposal.
He shook his head.
''That won't work. Shinra controls all news outlets and any other type of media, really,'' Cloud explained to him.
''I have a plan. Do you want the job or not?,'' Nox asked him.
Cloud looked at him for a moment. He has a plan? It didn't matter if he said it so confidently. He KNEW Shinra. There was not much one guy could do to stop them. Did he plan on helping people evacuate? That would be a waste of his time. He was much better used while fighting whoever Shinra planned to send to drop the plate.
Cloud sighed after a while.
''I'll take the job,'' he said.
Nox nodded and and then attached the camera on the belt around the area of his chest.
''Now, here is what I want you to do. Don't mention that camera. Don't try to hard to focus on capturing footage, just focus on fighting and I will pick whatever I can from it and use it. Try to act natural. Got it?,'' Nox said.
Cloud nodded. and received a pat from Nox on the side of his arm.
---
''So? Can I finally know what happened to the Don?,'' Leslie asked them, when he saw Nox and Cloud finally join the three of them.
''I killed him. Decapitation,'' Nox replied.
Leslie frowned and then a brief hateful look overcame his features.
''Oh?,'' Nox commented upon seeing that.
''Sorry,'' Leslie quickly backtracked. He pulled out a pendant and showed it to them.
''I'm gonna stop you right there since we are on a schedule. So let me guess quickly. You had a lover or a family member, Corneo did something and the two of you split or they died. Ever since then you tried to get revenge and began working for him to get his trust, waiting for the opportunity to do him in and I just robbed you off your closure,'' Nox guessed.
That didn't happen last time with Leslie. Last time Corneo pulled the lever and they all went down the trap door into the sewers. But he could guess easily enough.
''...Yeah,' Leslie affirmed and pocketed the pendant,'' She was my fiancee in fact. She was a candidate for his bridal auditions. But on the night of the audit she disappeared. Her name was Merle and I....''
Leslie sighed.
''Now I have nothing left. Still, I guess I'll take his death as a consolation prize. Even if not by my hand,'' Leslie tried to cheer himself up.
''Can I see the pendant again?,'' Aerith stepped forward to ask.
''Yup. I recognize that flower. It symbolizes reunion. You know what I think? She escaped and this was her way of telling you to look after her,'' Aerith told him.
''You think so?,'' Leslie asked her a little hopeful.
Aerith took her time and prayed a little. Asking for a Merle. Finally she opened her eyes.
''I fully believe that,'' she told him with conviction when she didn't receive an answer. It was one thing getting answers for herself, but usually people did want to say their final words to their loved ones and used her as a medium.
Leslie smiled and nodded,''In that case, I better not make her wait too long.''
He stepped aside letting the others pass him by.
''Good luck with your fiancee,'' Tifa told him kindly.
''Thank you. And you all good luck with whatever it is you need to do,'' Leslie called after them before they began running.
Well, he better get going then. With a power vacuum here now, thanks to their actions, people may fight to get the Dons position. Or The Trio can make some sort of alliance and manage things peacefully. But he was done with Midgar.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
''Come on. We have to hurry,'' Tifa intructed them. It was just a short way from Wall Street till Seventh Heaven. Even if it took a bit longer on foot then with a carriage.
''Just call Barret or something with a PHS,'' Nox pointed out making her nod.
''Oh no!,'' Tifa exclaimed when she saw the time.
''We're almost past curfew. The gates won't open again after that,'' Tifa told them.
''It's fine. We now of a secret way through the sewers. It is almost as quick as going through the gates,'' Aerith told them,''It is right next to the gates too. Follow me.''
Tifa nodded and she finally called Barret.
''There is no time. Listen! Begin evacuating everyone. Shinra plans to drop the plate on the Sector 7 slums... THERE IS NO TIME FOR YOU ANTICS!,'' Tifa replied loudly in the phone when he began cursing. Every second counted. Usually she wouldn't act like this, but she was extremely stressed.
''Just start evacuating the people. And send people to defend the pillars,'' Tifa told him.
She hung up when the finally arrived at the manhole cover under an amusement contrcut in the form of an elephant.
''We just need to crawl under it's belly and lift the man hole cover,'' Aerith explained and Cloud nodded being the first to crawl through.
When Tifa entered Aerith tried to go after her, but Nox stopped her.
''Nox?,'' she asked him with concern.
''I have a plan,'' Nox told her. Now that they new what Shinra planned he could tell her about his plan. Was it a bit shitty to spring the plan on her now? Yes. But at least he didn't have to talk with her about time travel. He didn't want to talk with her about it for a long. If ever.
But at least he consulted her.
''Yes?,'' Aerith asked him quickly.
''...I don't think we can stop Shinra from dropping the plate. Too many things work against us. Look I can't tell you everything now, with how pressed for time we are. But can I leave things in your hands? Do you trust me to leave you alone for a bit? During these times, I mean?,'' Nox asked her.
''...Yes. But where will you go?,'' Aerith asked him. She didn't like it, but with how hectic everything was, there was no time for everything going according to plan.
''Remember my time after Weiss and Nero joined into that giant construct? If I go now I will make it in time back and then whether the plate falls or not I can help. I know I can stop it. And then afterwards I plan for the Black Knights to make a debut on the open stage,'' Nox quickly explained.
''You want to turn the public against them over this?,'' Aerith guessed.
''Yes. So?,'' Nox asked her. He hoped she said yes, because then he would either have to come up with a new plan or proceed with the plan anyway and then it would suck.
'Aerith' was about to open her mouth and urge her to agree. But as it turned out, there was no need.
''I agree,'' she told him and grabbed his collar to pull him closer so they could look each other in the eyes.
''You have a plan. Yes? You promise?,'' she asked him she looked for any spark of deceit.
''I do. I promise,'' Nox replied.
She slammed her lips on his and kissed him deeply, her hands tightened around his collar while doing so until finally they parted.
''Then go. Try not to be too much of a hero and come back to me,'' Aerith requested.
He nodded and turned around before he quickly disappeared as he ran much faster then before. He planned on finding a quiet place and changing into Zero before flying the rest of the way.
And with that all the puzzle pieces and small changes he made should align.
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Flashback:
Nox slowed his walk down to a halt. When he finally stopped he looked up at the the steel sky, the Sector Sevens Plate underbelly.
He released a despondent sigh and then picked up his PHS.
''You want me to run interference?,'' Shelked asked him, getting straight to the point.
''No,'' Nox kept his answer short. He was mentally not all there yet, so he had to be careful not to say anything incriminating. Of course, that was a bit of a moot point since he was so CLOSE to his checkpoint, but still.
''Is this some sort of 3D chess, trying to force them to join the Black Knights?,'' Shelke asked him.
''Yes,'' Nox replied and began walking. He needed to buy a camera and tinker with it, so he better start making his way to the top side, aka the train station first.
It was also pointless her running any interference since the way Shinra found Barret last time was through his gun arm. Sooner or later he needed to address that too.
''Have you tried... asking? You know, the way normal people do? You're lucky that your stunt with me did ultimately result in me joining our little groupie,'' Shelke advised him.
''You make it sound so altruistic. You joined for revenge, nothing more,'' Nox reminded her. Not that he was shaming her for that or anything. He himself did lots of stuff and harmed many people for his own revenge. He just preferred calling it what it was.
Revenge.
The fact that said revenge results in something good is also important, but always secondary to acknowledging things as they were.
He was a bit of a stickler on that, since people ignoring important stuff or presenting it in a false light, resulted in the status quo of his previous world until it eventually boiled over.
The first step in solving a problem is recognizing there is one.
Essentially.
''That is true. But whether you believe it or not, I'm starting to believe in this goal of ours. Making the world a better place. Shalua found a possible solution to our issue. About kickstarting the exothermic fusion reaction. Only theoretical, but still vastly better then nothing,'' Shelke told him. Shalua asked her to not tell him anything yet, but like she would listen to her. Especially when her reasons where stupid for doing so. And since the topic arose, she decided to explain herself to him.
Also... a small part of her was scared of her own sister due to her experience in Deepground. Nox had his faults, but he did not seem to tolerate lots of shit. She feared that Shalua may go the way all mad scientists went (though she didn't warrant the adjective as of yet) and think she knows better. And maybe she did, that is why Nox hired her after all, but Shelke wanted some sort of system of checks and balances on her.
Of course, she had her Synaptic Net Drive, but she also had some small physical enhancements thanks to the experiments done on her. It's just...despite being scared, she was still her sister. And she did try as best as she could to look after her, unlike her parents.
Maybe telling him, was an attempt to ensure things would never escalate to the need of someone needing to put Shalua down.
(The chances of Shalua going mad were very unlikely, but never zero. And Shelkes fear made use of that, by hyperfixating on the issue.)
''If she needs anything for it, she just needs to ask,'' Nox immediately offered her.
''Calm down. She didn't want to tell you and give you any false hopes, since she still needs to run the numbers and do a bunch of other stuff that flew over my head. But bottom line is that she MAY have found something, we just need to be patient,'' Shelke played the matter off a bit.
Nox hummed.
''But seriously? Can't you just ask them?,'' Shelke asked him. If he was really insistent she wouldn't push the matter. He was the boss. But she wanted to at least ensure his heart was in the right place and he wasn't doing that just out of stubborness.
Nox looked at the upper plate, silent for a few seconds in contemplation.
''AVALANCHE does not impress me. And their Modus Operandi leaves much to be desired. I want them disillusioned with that group so that their heart is fully in it when they join,'' Nox explained as he began walking again.
Huh. Last time the conversation was much shorter. He didn't mind, but he was pressed for time needing to prepare some things. The sooner the better, even if he knew he had at least a few days. Two to be precise.
''...You suspect Shinra will catch them pretty soon?,'' Shelke guessed. That could be the only reason why he didn't order her to run interference.
If that was the case, then it was pretty cold hearted from him.
Nox hummed.
''...And you suspect Shinra will do something? Something terrible? You want to use that against them?,'' Shelke guessed.
Nox hummed.
''Will people get hurt?,'' Shelke asked him.
''No, they won't,'' Nox told her truthfully.
''...Ok. Then I will trust you,'' Shelke told him eventually.
Nox looked again at the plate. Briefly. Before he moved his eyes back down on the path he was walking.
Yeah. He was not an angel. That didn't mean he couldn't do his own kind of good.
''Actually. I DO want you to run interference. Obscure their face and words. But leave Barrets gun arm visible. It's pretty distinct, wouldn't you say?,'' Nox asked her.
''I guess. You know that even if no one dies, they will still see it as a breach of trust,'' Shelke pointed out to him.
''That's alright. I'm willing to suffer the consequences of that. Oh! And do make sure to record everything for us to make use off,'' Nox further instructed.
''I'm starting to see where the wind is blowing... Nox, you better mean when you say there won't be any injured or dead. I...don't think I can continue to believe in the Black Knights, if you break your word,'' Shelke revealed.
''I get it. That's fair. I repeat, they WON'T,'' Nox firmly replied. Fuck it, he was willing to end the 'round' himself if it came to that. Regardless of the memories lost.
Now? No matter how many 'rounds' the memories will always be tainted a bit. So nothing truly stops him from undoing something. Although he was still mad about that. He will deal with Jenova with extreme prejudice for that.
At least THEN he didn't have to suffer his friends disappointment in him on top of that. Some disappointment he did not mind. But not the disappointment that came with people's deaths, should he allow the worst case scenario to run it's course.
''Alright...,'' Shelke sounded apprehensive. The way Nox talked about it sounded bad. He wasn't revealing anything, so she didn't know what exactly prompted him to make such a conclusion, but still...
''Ok. Ok,'' she said the second word more firmly,''Then let's do this and go with your plan.''
''Good,'' Nox nodded and hang up.
After a while he called someone else.
''Zack? You on a job?,'' Nox got straight to the point.
''Yes? Wymer asked me to kill a few creatures. In the sewers, but also on some spots on the surface level. Why?,'' Zack replied.
''Look... I can't explain stuff...But could you not take any jobs for tomorrow, the day after tomorrow and one additional day after that? I need you in Sector 7. You can stay in Tifas bar,'' Nox requested and began speaking much lower then he already did, nearly kissing the spot the microphone was located on the PHS with how close he held it to his mouth.
''...Is this on a 'need to know basis'? Dude, I though I was done with that after I left Shinra,'' Zack complained.
''I know you don't like it. But it is important,'' Nox insisted.
The train arrived quickly, just shortly after he arrived at the station. He boarded it and sat down somewhere.
While doing so he could hear Zack growl in frustration on the other end.
''It has to do with Shinra. Doesn't it? It's because we let Cloud go on that missions. I knew we should have stopped him,'' Zack guessed.
''It is because of Shinra. But no, actually. It has nothing to do with what Cloud did,'' Nox reassured him.
''AVALANCHE then. He is connected to them. We all are, really,'' Zack corrected his guess.
''Zack. It is important. I will pay you, if you want,'' Nox bargained.
''What the hell? Don't insult our friendship! I will do it, but I really hope you tell me how you know and what is or will be going on,'' Zack replied sounding insulted.
Nox doubted it. He was already playing with fire. And while he wasn't shying away from doing so, he preferred to do it with more...preparation and subtlety. But he was on a very short timer.
''Thanks. I owe you one. Really,'' Nox replied with some relief.
''I'm not saying no to a favor though,'' Zack joked, trying to lift up the mood a bit.
Nox huffed.
''Use it wisely then. See you, Zack,'' Nox told him.
''See ya,'' Zack replied back and then hang up.
...
After a while he exited the train and began making his way to an electric store.
Time to steal a recorder. Though this time he could leave some money behind to cover for the items. Unlike all the other times where he stole from the mafia or thugs. The only thing that mattered was that he was not registered as having bough a recorder, even if he would tinker with it.
Let the games begin.
Flashback End:
(A.N.: 13403 words. Sorry it took me this long. I had a killer head ache over the weekend. Sorry if there are more spelling mistakes the usual, since I wrote even faster then I do normally.
Anyway.
Hope you enjoyed reading it. Cheers and stay safe out there.)