#three guards

Not even the Buster Sword could cut the tension in the group as they traveled through the Mythril Mines, a simple intermediate requirement to reaching Junon. The massive Condor flew overhead, blocking the sun for a single moment as it soared through the sky. 

“We talk to the locals first. Then we decide who goes where: Northern Continent or Western continent,” Strife explained. 

“Why both?” Aerith asked with a tilt of her long swirled braid. 

“We have a few friends in the West. We just need to meet them first,” He answered simply. “We need to reach Gold Saucer, Cosmo Canyon, and Nibelheim.”

“Nibelhiem is gone,” Tifa muttered, the slightest tinge of hatred and memory. 

Aged blond hair shook slowly as he tried to hide the wound at the memory. “Shinra rebuilt it as a coverup.” 

“Then who could be there?”

Strife shrugged. “You won’t believe me if I told you. But he’s one of our best allies”

“If you already know them, shouldn’t you be the one to recruit them?” 

“I don’t think I recruited anyone.”

Genesis scoffed. “Certainly not with that attitude."

Their conversation was interrupted by a mindless groan coming from one of many men in tattered black cloaks. The exhausted man only mumbled with slow and staggering steps as he passed. 

“...and in the North?” Aerith spoke up hesitantly. 

The silver haired brothers turned away. The smallest gripped Cloud’s hand harder. 

“Sephiroth…” Yazoo mumbled before Strife could answer. Thankfully, the group did not hear the child. 

But Strife pursed his lips and paused. “...Jenova landed in the Northern Crater. Sephiroth learned what he was in Nibelheim. Both locations are important to him. He will return to one of them.” 

“He’s too strong for us, even as a complete group,” Cloud countered. 

Genesis scoffed. “Well, you might have trouble-”

“There’s too much at stake,” Strife explained. “We’ll struggle at first, but that won’t stop us by the time we reach our destinations. Especially with all the wild fiends.”

“How would we get north, big brother?” Loz asked, but the look he received in return made him look away. 

“I’m still figuring that out,” The wolf glanced at Genesis, “Hopefully there’s a method other than one person transportation.”

The man in red rolled his eyes. 

“Until then, the usual,” Barret interrupted, walking ahead of the blonds. “Check out the local chocobo ranch to see what’s goin’ on around here.”

Cloud rolled his eyes, unable to think of why talking to a farmer would help them get off the continent. Scanning the land, he noticed a clear ocean, only a single Shinra cargo ship between the shore and the horizon. 

Something wasn’t right. 

Cloud wasn’t sure if it was the result of the post Zormer conflict while he was blacked out, the passing presence of the black cloaks on land, or if something else caused the small chill down his spine. 

Something pressed against his leg before retracting. Cloud looked down and saw Kadaj with head hung low and an uneasy countenance. 

“Everything alright?”

The boy met his gaze, but the expression only evolved to concern. 

“Are you sure?”

Kadaj faintly shook his head, grabbing his own sleeve tightly. 

Cloud nodded before addressing the team, “Stay on guard. Something’s up.”

His future self was the first to answer. “Is it Sephiroth?”

“No, not him. It’s…” Cloud didn’t know. 

“...wrong,” Aerith finished for him, planet green eyes wide and worried. “Just wrong.” 

“Perhaps it’s the mako exhaust in the water,” Genesis offered. “The underwater reactor usually has leaks.”

Aerith shook her head, the slight breeze swaying her bangs as she looked back across the cliffs. 

* * * 

Cloud wasn’t sure he could call this Chocobo Ranch a ‘ranch’ with the rocky terrain and minimal vegetation. Clearly reused rollers once used by package transport littered the field on the old tracks. A few skinny chocobos picked at the vegetation while others slept in perfect circles by the roller activation levers. Stone retention walls lined the path between the few buildings. Despite the desolate atmosphere, they heard laughter from the stables. 

“Well, that makes finding the owner a lot easier!” Barret announced. 

Strife squinted, scanning the area. 

“Let’s not waste any time, then,” Tifa suggested. 

Cloud and by extension Kadaj were the first to open the door to the stables, the smell just as overwhelming as the ranch in the Grasslands. 

“Can we bathe Clara next?” Came the voice of a little girl. 

“Of course, Angela. She’s your favorite!” Followed the joyous sound of an older man. 

It felt too kind of a moment to interrupt with questions about Shinra and the obvious impacts to the land. 

“Hey!” Someone called from behind the group, suddenly a woman behind the sales stand. “Sorry for the wait. What brings y’all here today? Lookin’ for anything specific?”

“Hello, lovely lady,” Genesis immediately claimed the conversation. “We have no specific items in mind, but we are certainly looking for something.”

“Try me.” She taunted as she fixed her baseball cap. 

“My friends and I are new to the area. Just passing through. Are there any odd jobs you need done in the meantime?” 

“Well,” She rocked her head from side to side. “Depends on what y’all are willin’ to do.”

Barret interrupted, “We’re at least gonna need a few Chocobos. Five barely worked last time. I’m not tryin’ to knock anyone off this time, ya know?” 

She thought for a moment. “...We only have four available for rent right now. We’ll have to ask you to find our rebellious group and bring them back.”

A muttered groan came from Strife, followed by the question ‘why does this keep happening’.

“But even then…” She seemed regretful, counting seven adults, “there won’t be enough without Clara.”

“Is she not for rent?” Barret asked. 

The woman took an exhausted breath. “Normally, she would be…” she turned away, curled and protective. “Do y’all in the city have… ghosts…?”

The team glanced at each other. 

“Yeah, we have ghosts,” Aerith answered simply. “They haunt the old train graveyard.”

“Okay, but are they like, ‘normal’ ghosts…?” She gestured oddly. “Flowy write robes, closer to a sheet costume than a human?”

Aerith shrugged. “I think so. Right, Tifa?”

“Yeah. They were flowy.” 

The woman shook her head. “It’s different then. Damn it…” 

“What are you talking about?” Cloud chimed in. 

She only pointed to the barn. “If you can convince my father to rent you Clara, I’ll explain.” 

Strife muttered tiredly, “Why do people always want things…?”

“I’ll talk to him,” Barret stepped in. “One father to another.” 

The store owner didn’t say a word and simply closed up shop, returning to the small home. 

After sharing a few shrugs, Barret led the way to the barn, opening the door before announcing himself, “Now where might someone rent a chocobo around here?” 

The team heard an exchange of ‘hold on, sweetie,’ before an older bald man stood at the entrance to the last stall, clothing worn from years of hard work. “You came to the right place, but all rentals should be made with my daughter at the store.” 

“She sent us here,” Cloud explained. 

“We need seven. She said somethin’ about not having enough?”

The old man looked back at the stable before speaking to the group. “...Y’all can take six.”

A little voice came, high in pitch and terribly innocent. “Dad, it’s okay,”

His voice was kinder as he turned into the stable. “But she just got to see you again…” 

“But she loves to explore! She’ll be back and I’ll be here.”

There was a pause before the owner shouted, “You still have to find the others!” 

“Got any clue where they are?” Barret responded. 

“Out by the abandoned mine carts to the west. Reach Junon proper and you’ve gone too far.”

“We’ll get them once we clear up what’s going on here,” Strife interrupted. “We heard you might have a ‘ghost’ problem-”

“There’s no problem here,” came the instant, cold reply. 

Strife scanned ahead and walked forward. Someone on his team grabbed his arm. 

Aerith. Of course it was Aerith. “Maybe it’s best to leave this be?”

His hard scowl made her hesitate and surrender despite the pain it caused him.

“Take another step closer and y’all are gettin’ NONE of our birds!”

Barret stood in the way. “Strife, just stand down before you screw this up for all of us.”

Cloud’s voice broke through the air, “Something’s wrong.” The same phrase as before as the child at his side gripped him tightly. 

That simple sentence seemed more than enough permission for Strife to walk forward despite the group’s protest. 

The rancher rapidly looked around but clearly saw no escape. He held up his hands, and odd black bruises leaking puss revealed themselves on his wrists and forearms as the sleeve slid down. “Look buddy, it’s not what you think.” 

Strife drew his sword and the old man ran into the stable. The wolf’s hands were shaking when Barret and Genesis pulled him back. 

“Calm down, Strife!”

The blond man turned away from the rancher and out of their grips. The rage in his eyes made Cloud block the smallest remnant. Without breaking a step, he grabbed the remaining two remnants and dragged them out of the building. 

“What happened…?!”

“Big brother, wait!”

He ignored their pleas and the attacks on his back from the team. He pulled them into the empty hills of Junon. “Was this your plan?”

He felt the fire balls deflected by his blades as the kids looked for support at each other but found none. 

“Last warning!” Cloud demanded. “Let them go!”

Strife lifted them to their feet but did not release either child. “They look innocent. They’re not. They released geostigma.”

The tallest boy yelled in absolute confusion, “Mother’s invitation!?”

The middle boy shook his head in denial and shock. “That’s not possible…”

The smallest turned away. 

“Explain. Instead of hiding it from us. But if you lay another hand on them, we’re leaving this continent without you.”

Strife glared. “Geostigma is a disease that didn’t exist in my world-”

“Your Zormer didn’t catch up to the chocobos. Your world is different-”

“Not this different.”

“Bullshit.”

“Sephiroth didn’t have either the power or the motive to do this.” Strife stated seriously. “Geostigma is the disease that he made in order to weaken the Planet and humanity.”

“Maybe you brought it here!” Cloud countered. 

Strife winced but stood his ground. “I couldn’t spread it to Junon even if I did.”

Tifa placed a hand on Cloud’s shoulder, finally catching up. “Cloud, he’s you. You wouldn’t do this without a reason.”

Cloud glanced away from her large crimson eyes. 

Strife adjusted his grip and growled at the children. “What did you do?”

“Nothing! Honestly!”

Yazoo rapidly searched for an answer, a difference, some event that could trigger the invitation early. “...Mother…” 

Both Loz and Kadaj suddenly locked onto the middle brother. 

“Mother’s dead here… Gone… Could that cause something new…?”

Strife glanced at Aerith for confirmation, but he saw the look in her eyes. 

She remembered something, even if Strife wasn’t there to see it. Aerith saw Jenova’s black Lifestream flow from the charred body down to the vulnerable planet. 

Strife targeted Kadaj, but the youngest was protected by his past self.

Kadaj shook his head, further hiding behind the SOLDIER uniform. 

“You caused this.” 

Cloud drew the buster sword at Kadaj’s defense. “He’s not working with Sephiroth. It doesn’t matter who caused it. How do we fix it?”

Strife clenched his own sleeve, consciously covering his arm. “...I don’t know.”

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To be continued…

Three Guards Chapter List

Inspired by the prompt by @im-totally-not-an-alien

Chapter 13: City Escape

The elevator rang as the party entered the second highest floor of Shinra HQ. Without hesitation, Genesis and Strife sprung into action, knocking every receptionist and security guard unconscious, and Barret destroyed the security cameras. 

“Tie them up,” Strife ordered as he aided in the task he commanded. Red and Barret looked at each other and shrugged. Tifa stepped up, Loz following and helping as they collected wires. Aerith watched Yazoo with a hand placed on his shoulder, the engraved nameplate still firmly within his grasp. 

“We need to find a way down,” Red mentioned, almost leaning toward the glass elevators. 

“Gotta go up to go down,” Barret explained. “The president's keycard’s the perfect way to do it.”

“Then let’s not waste any time.” Their leader stepped forward, moving the staff members to the center of the hall with his right hand, the smallest silver child still supported by his left. “What do you know about the president’s office?”

“It's a large waste of space with one desk near the helipad,” Genesis answered first. 

“Oh good, it didn’t change-” The older blond cut himself off, blue eyes wide. 

“What’s wrong?”

“...Let’s find out,” Strife avoided the question as he, Tifa, and Loz tied the employees together for one final measure. Once again, Strife and Genesis led the group, Barret at the ready to block out visuals. Though in all honesty, they didn’t have too much extra time. Security would only be delayed with their preparation, not prevented. Someone would notice the camera malfunctions. It was only a matter of time. 

The group climbed up the final staircase, red carpet muffling their steps. Strife pushed open the double doors at the top, revealing the massive office decorated with thick pillars and black tile. At the far window sat the president’s desk, President Shinra shocked and scrambling the moment he caught sight of them. 

Genesis practically flew across the room, grabbing the president around the neck and forcing him to step away from the desk. “Ah ah ah, can’t have you grabbing any weapons, can we? Or maybe trigger the silent alarm?”

Bullets destroyed the security cameras. The party stepped forward. 

“Genesis Rhapsodos. What a surprise. Aren’t you supposed to be in the gutter with all the other failed lab rats?” The commander in chief feigned strength but failed to contain the fearful crack in his voice.

“Good to see you too, Mr. President. How’s your son doing? Still trying to learn how to fight? Say, do you think he can take on a former First? I’d love to see him try.”

“We didn’t get to talk much last time,” Barret joined in. “Feelin’ like listenin’ now?”

As the group zeroed in on the Shinra, Strife glanced between the man and the doors repeatedly. 

“Pathetic,” President Shinra huffed, trying to wriggle out of the SOLDIER’s grip. With Tifa’s encouragement, Loz hopped behind the desk and searched through the drawers. 

“Look. I’ll let you off easy today. Make a simple statement about how Shinra knows it’s killin’ the planet, and get us a car to get outta here. Sound good?”

The silver child handed the redhead two computer cables. 

“Perfect. Thank you.” Genesis immediately restricted gilded hands. The extra silence the president.

Loz turned back to the group, holding up a retractable lanyard with an ID slipped in a plastic pouch. “Found his keycard…” his voice was still shrouded in grief.

“Thank you, Loz,” Tifa gave an attempt at a smile. Luckily the boy reacted with the same fluttering confusion as always. At least that was still effective. 

“This is wrong,” Strife stated, nearly in shock. 

“What is?”

“He’s supposed to be dead already.”

“Who kills him?” Strife’s young self questioned immediately, and if Strife was in his shoes, he would do the same. 

“Sephiroth.”

“Who disappeared after Mother did…” Yazoo finished at barely a whisper, clutching the metal closer.

“But what would that change?” Aerith asked. “He's only one person.”

Strife thought for a moment, wishing he could word his next statement softly. “...This is the president that approved the fall of the Sector Seven Plate. And the Sector Five Plate. Just because we stopped them doesn't mean they won't try anything like it again. Keeping him in charge is…dangerous. The current Vice President won't allow plans of mass casualties. Trust me.”

“He's more useful alive than dead,” Barret countered. “He can at least shut down a few reactors!” 

“We don't have enough time.” Cloud adjusted the boy in his arms. “We need to get out of here before security arrives.”

The president grunted before attempting to open his mouth, but the wire muffled his voice. 

“But who's going to do it…?” Tifa realized softly. “I mean, even in AVALANCHE, killing the president wasn't the goal. It's not going to stop the other directors from running the same reactors…”

“I'll do it,” The Crimson Soldier volunteered, though the cat-like playfulness vanished from his voice. 

“Hold on a minute-”

“This man allowed the science department to ruin the lives of everyone I knew, including myself. I've done many horrible things, but as they say, you regret the things you didn't do too, yes? And I regret letting you live just as much as all I did.”

The group looked at each other. The flower girl that cherished life found herself turning away, guiding the long haired boy who followed her every caring command. The bartender held the largest boy's hand and led him down the stairs of the desk. The gun armed man glanced at the red furred creature they rescued from the labs. The beast shrugged, a pitiless stare given to the Commander in Chief. The smallest silver boy balled his hands in the purple SOLDIER sweater. The blonds nodded to each other before nodding at the Crimson Soldier. 

“To become the dew that quenches the land

To spare the sands, the seas, the skies

I offer thee this silent sacrifice.”

With a swift slash of a crimson blade, the gilded corpse fell to the ground. 

“Now how are you planning to get out of here?” Genesis questioned casually. 

“In my time, we used the Hardy Daytona and three wheeled pick-up truck in the lobby,” Strife explained before glancing around. “...Shoot…”

The group looked at each other. There were simply too many of them for one truck and one motorcycle. 

“I can take one of you, but I’m afraid one is my passenger limit.” The man in red mentioned. 

“We won't have to get far with all of us…” Cloud thought aloud, his hand absently trailing the child's medical robe. “If I can get one of security's motorcycles…”

Aerith turned to Genesis, her bow bobbing with a tilt of her head. “Can you take any of us? Any at all?”

“Of course.”

The girl in pink glanced at the man with a gun for an arm.

There was a pause. “Oh hell no.”

Tifa perked up. “She's right. Barret, if space is the issue-” 

“I don't know this guy! Why can't he just take the boys?”

Genesis glanced up, almost reminiscent. “It would be a very rough ride. Especially once Shinra starts firing on us.”

“Ride on what?” 

Even Strife didn't know the answer to that question. 

The Crimson Soldier let out a small sigh before extending his arm, a massive crooked wing expelling from his back. Ebony feathers gently glided through the air. 

Everyone stepped back. The two older boys nearly hissed. 

“What the hell?!” Barret's question boomed through the office. 

“Strife found me in a secret underground lab and you’re still surprised? Shinra's experiments did this to me. I'll explain when we are not actively running out of time. According to Strife, you ran to Kalm after escaping Shinra in his time. I'll fly west to divert the army and we'll meet you in Kalm when things die down.”

“Barret, you don't let anyone talk down to you either. You’ll keep him in line,” Cloud mentioned, softening the father's resolve. 

“If you try any funny business, pretty boy, I'll blow your head clean off.”

Genesis brushed his hair into place. “I’ll take that as a yes.”

Cloud and Strife glanced around the room. There were still so many of them. Cloud, Red, and the three boys would barely fit in the truck. But it would have to do until they could steal another vehicle. 

Loz opened his mouth, but Yazoo grabbed him, silencing him with stern eyes. 

“Let's put this keycard to use,” Tifa held up the item as she spoke. See you in Kalm, Barret.”

“Good luck,” Barret grumbled as Genesis opened the doors to the helipad. The rest of the group claimed both elevators and rushed down to the lobby, half ahead and half waiting behind to catch Shinra’s forces off guard. 

* * * 

The first group obeyed the command to freeze at the bottom level of the lobby, completely surrounded by troops ready to fire. The head of security walked straight through the defenses and mocked the escapees. The team stood at the ready, waiting for Strife’s entrance. 

“Tell me, what is this ragtag group of misfits I see before me?”

“Ex-SOLDIER.”

“Local florist.”

“Lab-rat dog.”

The boys didn’t even answer, Loz clutching the vial of ashes as Yazoo tightened the headplate. Kadaj barely moved, only tightening in Cloud’s hold. 

“And the ‘Sephiroth Remnants’ Hojo wants back,” Heiddiger spoke for them. “Where are the others?”

“Wouldn’t you like to know, meanie!” Loz shouted.

“Adorable. Very mature.” The director barked a laugh before ordering his men, “Capture the children and the Ancient. Feel free to kill the rest.”

Aerith took Loz’s right hand and Yazoo’s left, blocking the clear path forward. The director scowled at her sacrificial display before a rumble suddenly rang through the room. With a rev of the engine, Strife sprang into action on the Hardy Daytona, knocking down all units as he maneuvered the bike like an extension of himself. Each troop fell to his sword and skills as Tifa started the truck. Only the director remained standing when Strife turned away.

“Get in!” Tifa yelled once she was close, throwing the door open. The largest child launched into the bed, but the middle one was taken by the red beast by the scruff of his clothes. Both boys sat against the glass to protect what they could of Mother. 

The flower girl took the passenger seat before holding out her arms. “Let me take him, Cloud. He’ll be safer up front.”

Kadaj strained the fabric of Cloud’s sweater, his breath strained and audible. 

“Just until we’re home free. I promise,” The ex-SOLDIER quickly but carefully lowered the boy into Aerith’s lap, deliberately removing the child’s hands. She swiftly moved the boy between her and Tifa on the seat and slammed the door. Cloud hopped into the bed as Kadaj shivered, curling into the tightest ball the boy could manage. 

They barely fit, but for now, it was enough. 

Strife led the charge, knocking back the last security officers and shattering the glass with the fusion sword. Red and Cloud tried to shield the boys from the shatter as they launched through the air and roughly landed on the abandoned expressway. 

“Everyone okay?” Aerith turned back. 

“Can’t complain,” Red answered immediately. “No one is injured.”

“We’re not in the clear yet. Take a breather but be ready.” Cloud watched the skies and the onramps. Drivers kept their eyes on the road, but passengers adjusted within the larger vehicle. 

Yazoo slowly placed the headplate into Loz’s lap. At the protest and surprise, he simply lifted his pistol and glanced at the road. 

“Are you sure?”

“I have better aim and we both know it… Keep it safe…”

Loz nodded softly, holding both of Mother’s remains to his chest. Red gave the boys a curious, sorrowful look, but when turning to Cloud for an answer, none was given. The ex-SOLDIER remained on watch.

In the front cabin, Aerith slowly revealed a green materia to the child at her side. 

Once mako blue eyes caught the orb, he shook his head frantically, squeezing into himself. 

“Just a small, normal healing spell, okay?”

Another shake of silver hair. 

“I can control this spell way better than the other one. You’ll be safe. And I’ll stop it right away if something happens, alright?”

Kadaj ducked, holding his head against his knees. 

“One cure,” She pushed. “Just one and if you even feel a little itchy I’ll stop, okay?”

The boy didn’t move. Three seconds passed without a proper response before the orb in the flower girl’s hand began to glow, and a soft green swirled into the boy’s heart. The driver cringed in preparation, but the boy did not make a sound.

He glanced at the girl in pink, silent and confused. 

“See? Now we can heal you up once we’re out of here. I’m so sorry I hurt you.”

Tifa sighed in relief, but Kadaj looked down. 

“We've got company!” 

Drivers checked their mirrors, and passengers turned back, watching Shinra approach on multiple motorcycles and fully armed trucks. Helicopters whirred in the distance, out of sight but certainly on the hunt. 

Fusion Sword and Buster Sword at the ready, anyone who could prepared for the fight as the drivers stepped on it. Beyond the capacity limit, the pickup truck could not accelerate as quickly or maintain as high of a velocity as the Hardy Daytona, and Strife needed to fall back in order to protect them. 

“I'll keep them away,” Strife shouted as officers drove up from behind. “Focus on the road!”

Bullets shot through the air, Strife weaving and drifting through the expressway to take down every last enemy on the road. The occasional shot from the long haired Sephiroth remnant no doubt aided their escape. Everything was the same until the helicopters caught up with them, launching explosives to catch their party in the blast. Tifa swerved repeatedly, trying to avoid the fires while maintaining top speed. 

It was only a matter of time before flames surrounded them for a moment, most occupants yelling in pain and bracing for impact. 

“Tifa, get close to one of the troops,” Cloud commanded. 

“What?! Are you crazy?!”

“Too much is going on. You need to keep everyone safe. We can draw their attention. They won't have the manpower to aim for all of us.”

Strife knocked another troop off of a Shinra sanctioned motorcycle and caught the handlebars with his blade. “Get on!”

Cloud launched, the truck jostling as if hitting a bad pothole from the force alone. 

“Be careful, Big Brother!” Loz shouted from his spot next to the red creature before ducking under a new wave of bullets.

The blond landed on the vehicle and Strife swiftly removed the blade. Every second they wasted on this transition meant more firepower focused on the truck. Cloud grabbed the handlebars with his left hand and the Buster Sword with his right. Together they swept through Shinra's ground forces, men knocked off their vehicles and rolled on the unforgiving pavement. 

Yet again, the company adapted. 

“Brace!” Red yelled, pinning the two boys against the cab with his body. Tifa tried to swerve, but the rockets landed in an impenetrable line on the road. 

Everyone screamed as they ran through the fire. 

“Tifa!” Cloud shouted first, barely acknowledging his own pain from the flames. 

“We're okay! For now… I don’t know how many more hits this thing can take!”

Cloud turned to his future self. “Can you reach those helicopters?”

Strife scanned the curved walls of the expressway and tightened his grip on his sword. Not enough. “Stay in the back. I'll disperse the fires.”

“That won't be enough.” 

“Do you have a better idea?”

He didn't. With multiple helicopters communicating attacks at once, each reload threatened everyone's lives. They couldn't turn back. No exits existed on this decommissioned highway. They needed a miracle. A guardian angel. 

Bullets rained down upon the circling aerial blades, one helicopter colliding with the other before another attack launched. The team looked up, searching for the source. A man in red with one black wing carried a one armed man through the air. 

“Long time no see!”

“Barret!” Tifa couldn’t help but look.

“We couldn’t just leave you with these assholes!”

“You looked like you required assistance.” Genesis flapped his wing and the two rose in the air, ready for the next strike.

From both above and below, their party was unstoppable. From the smallest troop to the latest and greatest in weapon technology, the team shook Shinra’s defenses and met in the plains beyond the city of mako. 

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To be continued…

Three Guards Chapter List

Author’s Note: Well, this is the end of Remake! I made a plan long before Rebirth launched and I plan on continuing it. Some Rebirth elements will appear, but the whole ending just does NOT fit with my plan. …for now at least. I won’t go into spoilers without warning at the beginning of a chapter. For now, you’re all safe! I hope you’re enjoying this story. It’s a lot of fun. 

I’m starting my first real job soon! I won’t be able to update as much but I’m very excited to enter the workforce. I won’t be abandoning any of my current stories. I promise.

Inspired by this prompt by @im-totally-not-an-alien .  

Please Enjoy!

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Chapter 1: Punishment

This wasn’t part of the plan. This was one hundred thousand percent not part of the plan. They were supposed to use Mother’s cells and become Him. It was that simple. Basic. Elementary. And they almost had it. How did everything go wrong? Why was it so complicated? 

If that stupid president didn’t make that shot. If Mother's box stayed intact. If they took a different turn and avoided the decommissioned mako reactor. If they didn’t slip off the ledge. If that black sheep of a big brother didn't gain the upper hand. If he managed to save them from falling into the remaining Lifestream. If that brother was successful. 

If.

If.

If.

These scenarios wouldn’t help them now. They couldn’t waste time thinking about ‘possibilities’ when reality screamed in front of them. 

Big Brother needed help. After submersion in the Lifestream, the three of them found themselves spit out somewhere in the wasteland surrounding Midgar. The entire city stood proudly, Shinra Tower and the Sector Seven plate unified and composed and supported. Like the city itself was reborn along the horizon. Whatever it was, it would be a long walk back. And was it just them, or did everything seem… bigger? Even the few cliffs and rogue plants in the ruined land seemed larger than before. They turned to each other for explanation and…

…What?

What?! 

They looked like children, short and small! As old as the children they healed! What did the Lifestream do to them?! They understood some kind of retaliation was coming but why this. 

Great. The oldest was about to cry again, completely panicked and losing his very loose grip on his emotions. The middle was far too calm, but even that facade started to crack when he noticed none of them had any weapons. The youngest, in all honesty, was ready to strangle every living thing, but that would have to come later, when they eventually made their way into the city. Making it across this worthless plain would be a lot harder as pint sized packages with no vehicles, but they didn’t find any other options. Was the Planet trying to ‘walk’ them to death?

Well, no. They quickly stumbled across a body, skin a soft green and birds picking at the rotting flesh. It must’ve been dead for at least a day. The man had black hair, a SOLDIER uniform, dozens of dried bullet wounds that vultures took full advantage of, and a solid blade of the sword Big Brother fought with. The same one they found, and kicked to the ground, when pursuing him. The eldest grew curious. Approaching without hesitation, he broke the grip of the corpse and lifted the blade, though holding it to attention forced his body to shake in struggle. 

“Put it down,” The youngest spat. The older one dropped the sword immediately in surprise, the hunk of metal clattering and ringing as it fell. The birds scattered, flying nearby for the moment these children left. 

“Don’t scare me like that!” 

The youngest rolled his eyes and stayed silent, knowing that if he said a single word back, they'd all have to deal with his tears. They didn’t have time for that.

“Hey, Kadaj…?”

“What now?” The boy immediately turned to the other brother, annoyed and tired of all the weird stuff that kept happening today. A strong part increasingly frustrated at his failure to carry out Mother’s plan before suddenly appearing outside Midgar.

“Is that… Big Brother…?” 

Kadaj’s face soured with confusion and he moved to observe the being. But his breath hitched the moment blonde spikey hair came into view. At the silent response, the eldest followed, eyes wide and completely lost upon seeing the man.

It was. It was him, his body leaning against the rocks and his head low. Like them, he wasn’t the same either. He was younger and clearly weaker to start. His skin was dangerously dry, his lips peeling around rapid shallow breaths, his eyes sunken and darkened. The middle child moved his arm and lifted his head in analysis. 

“He seems dehydrated…” He stated simply, his voice naturally quiet and lulling as it had been before. “He might die out here…”

Kadaj stared at the unconscious body. All his questions about this punishment snapped into place, completing the puzzle with a single realization. Too much had already changed. They couldn’t risk any greater ‘butterfly effect’ without risking wherever Mother was. “Loz, pick him up. We’re taking him to Midgar.”

The eldest acted immediately. “I got it.”

“Do you think he knows where Mother is…?”

“No. But I think he’s our best chance at finding her. He always seems to be around- what are you doing?”

Loz managed to lift Big Brother’s arm over his shoulder, but the other half practically dragged through the dirt. 

Kadaj glanced at the middle sibling. “Yazoo.”

He nodded, already adjusting to help.

“No, I got it,” Loz grumbled, turning the body just out of reach.

“You do not got it. Everything’s a mess.” He countered with a snip in his voice, approaching the blade. “I’ll grab his sword. Let’s go.”

Yazoo aided as much as he could with his slightly shorter height than his brother, balancing the blonde between them. Kadaj picked up the hilt, dragging the tip on the ground, not wasting energy trying to lift it or prevent the horrid wear on the blade itself. They needed water, food, probably gil, and any weapons they could get their hands on, if they wanted a chance at saving Big Brother.

It was a long way to Midgar.

* * * 

The smell of garbage and rot under the plate always filled the air, smog skewing the natural light from the gaps within the structure. The dirt roads and barely functioning homes were just a part of life here. A roof was almost a luxury. Afterall, it wasn’t like they got any rain or snow here. Monsters within the dumps were usually problems, but communities set up watches and hunting sessions to protect the normal civilian life.Life was, to an extent, peaceful. 

Besides the resistance the black haired woman housed under her bar, a bar she currently needed to stock. 

Upper plate always had the best product anyway. This was routine by now. Every Monday and Thursday, she made her way to the train station, took it to Sector Zero, collected what she needed, and headed back. An ever mundane task compared to the actual looting of Shinra facilities her friends conducted at night, and housed spoils beneath her workplace. 

Today, this simple life flipped on its head. 

She dropped the empty box in her arms. There was no mistaking it. He changed. He grew, but he still kept his blonde hair spiky as a palm tree. He was taller, stronger by the shape of his muscles, clothed head to toe in SOLDIER fatigues, just as he promised all those years ago. His skin was pale, but he still had color in his face. His mako blue eyes were open but empty, lost, hollow. But it was still Cloud Strife in front of her, leaning against that platform.

But…who were the three boys with him? 

All of their hair shined with perfect mercury. They couldn’t be older than ten, shorter in stature, but stronger than they seemed at first glance. One had long hair, one only had it to his shoulders, but the last, and the bulkiest, had his cut short and pushed up. 

For a moment, she felt herself distracted from Cloud, when the smallest glared daggers directly into her eyes, mako blue inhuman needles staring straight into her soul.

He looked like Him. They all looked like Him.

They figured someone would come for Big Brother eventually, but he couldn’t be left alone. Nor would they let him be alone. Occasionally, he mumbled incomprehensibly, calling out to something or someone. They just ignored it. Yazoo acted caringly and offered bottled water directly to his chapped lips, but he always took too small a sip than he needed, if he drank any at all. Loz stayed close while surveying the people disembarking the trains, watching for someone to recognize their brother. Kadaj did the same with the crowd coming from the slums, which is how he alone found himself locked in a staring contest with one of their enemies. 

He tensed his hand, ready to whip out the pocket knife he found in the rubble and garbage. “What do you want?” 

The other two looked over immediately. 

His voice cut her like a knife, the anger, almost malice behind her catching her off guard. Dark. Cruel. Burning. “I- I…” Her heart suddenly pounded in her chest, reacting to her memories and leaking panic slowly into her mind. For now it was just anxiety, but she felt it growing. She needed to protect Cloud. She needed him before she let this show. “Is- Is that Cloud?”

They nodded, still skeptical, still defending. Loz approached as well, blocking part of her view but observing carefully. 

“H- How did you find him? Is he okay?”

“We found him unconscious in the planes beyond Midgar…” Yazoo explained, earning a soft glare from Kadaj. “It didn’t seem like he would make it, and well… we chose to bring him here…”

“I can help him,” She explained quickly as she took a step forward, but the two in front of her blocked her path. “I live nearby. I can take him from here and make him better.”

“You are not taking Big Brother!” Loz demanded, clenching his fists and standing at the ready. 

Big Brother? Bewilderment claimed her expression. Cloud didn’t have any siblings. That didn’t make any sense. “What are you talking about?”

“Ti…fa…?”

Her breath hitched, and all of them snapped their eyes to the stirring blonde. 

“T-Tifa…?” Cloud pushed himself to his feet too quickly, stumbling forward from the unbalanced blood rush. Yazoo grabbed his arm to stabilize him. Once on his feet, he didn't react to the boy at all. His blue eyes instantly glued to the black haired woman. 

The two guarding boys parted and let Tifa run to Cloud. 

“Cloud, it’s really you!” She was so happy she almost jumped into his arms, but he was a bit wobbly on his feet, his mind still partially dull with weak vertigo from his time in the wasteland. 

His body nearly collapsed on her, and she found her arms wrapped around him in support rather than a hug. “S-Sorry…” His eyes blurred as he tried to lift himself back to his feet. 

Did he really just apologize for fainting?

“I’m glad you’re okay…”

Tifa squeezed him softly before adjusting him over her shoulder. “Don’t be sorry. Come on. We’re going to my place, okay? I’ll patch you up there…”

He gave a reluctant, embarrassed nod. But he lost consciousness immediately after, the moment Tifa took her first step away from the track.

Now, all three boys blocked her path in a single impenetrable wall. A shaky and unnerved sigh that left her breath. She didn’t like them. She didn’t like the feeling in her gut or the memories they brought. But, they did save Cloud, and they clearly protected him from anything they could. Maybe that ‘big brother’ statement was just a story they fabricated to stay with him, especially since they look nothing like him. Maybe, since they brought him all the way to Midgar, they wanted to confirm that he was okay. She hoped they’d leave after that. She prayed.

“You guys too. Come on.”

All three remnants surrounded her and Cloud, the smaller two in front and the largest behind. They still acted like guards. But at least the long haired one picked up the box she completely forgot about as they headed for the bar in the Sector Seven slums.

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Thanks for reading!

Author's note: It's my first time writing the remnants! I've been wanting to for a while but I never knew how to apply their personalities to most situations. I also have a very nostalgic attachment to Advent Children (music, fight scenes, some of the voice acting) so I wanted to do this right, not just a joke and not where I need to fill in most of the world, at least to start. Thus: another adapted time travel AU. 

Please enjoy!

Chapter 4: Anxiety

Big Brother was different in this world. They just knew it. His lack of strength was expected, but his personality seemed to change too. He used much more emotion. He lied about the planes. He lied about being an ex-SOLDIER. The remnants had no idea why. But that didn't stop them from practically attaching to his hip. 

Yet his annoying friends kept trying to separate them. 

Jessie, Wedge, Barret, and Marlene all left after settling on a plan to find Biggs and find a new mercenary if Cloud could not fill the role. Jessie would work on 'circuitry' while staying with her parents to heal, a well hidden mission under those words that would easily fly past the boys if they truly were the age they seemed. None of the adults seemed too concerned for Biggs’ safety, especially considering the runaway mercenary wasn’t even strong enough to help Jessie. They just wanted to confirm he was okay and see if he was willing to join the next job. 

Now the five of them remained, the two childhood friends and the three children that brought them together. It felt weird to Tifa, so many people in her bar long after closing with no place to stay. Cloud insisted he could make due and find a place to sleep for the night, but Tifa refused to let him. She made a phone call to the landlady and all of a sudden Cloud had a new apartment. 

But where to put the boys. Tifa couldn't just leave them in the bar. And they didn't have nearly enough gil for any kind of inn even if they would leave Cloud's side. Her face scrunched in thought as she watched them analyze Cloud. Something about them, beyond their looks, just felt wrong to her. Something about their silence. Something about their mannerisms and determination. Something. 

“We're okay with sleeping on the floor,” Loz stated for the group, both others nodding in confirmation. 

Tifa gave Cloud an almost begging look to make the boys give him some space. But he didn't. Why didn't he? Why was he like this?

“They can stay in my apartment.”

The glint of concern in Tifa’s eyes nearly broke him. 

Thankfully, he turned and addressed the brothers. “If, you stay in my room while I talk to Tifa.”

They stared daggers at him, the youngest nearly igniting a flame with his glare alone. 

“I will come right back. Promise. Okay?”

They kept their glare for another second before looking at each other and silently communicating an answer. 

“Okay…” The eldest agreed for them with genuine sadness in his voice. 

Finally, Tifa thought, a moment alone. 

Another quick walk to Stargazer Heights and the boys visibly relaxed upon learning Big Brother’s apartment was right next to Tifa’s. This meant they could still protect him, clearly hearing everything beyond the thin walls due to their superior bloodline. Of course they did not tell Big Brother or Tifa any of this. They simply sat on the far side of Cloud’s apartment to keep suspicion low. 

“Cloud,” Tifa called in the calmest voice she could, but her heart was pounding and anxiety slightly muffled her control. “I know you feel obligated to help them since they helped you, but how long do you plan on allowing this?”

He took a breath before answering, “Tifa, you should’ve seen them. They did more than help. They gave every resource they found towards my recovery. I don’t know where I would be without them.”

“Are you trying to repay a debt? Or get them back home? Is there a goal or are we just waiting for them to end up in mortal peril and save them before we let them go?”

He shook his head. “I just don't want to abandon them. They're weird, and they're afraid. But I don’t think they have a home, Tifa...”

A shaky exhale left her lips. “Cloud…” fear leaked into her voice and she nearly whispered as if hiding from them even now, “They look like Sephiroth…” 

Before she continued, Cloud cut her off. “I know.” He seemed sincere. “I know what he did… I remember the fires the same way you do. But can we really blame them for something they definitely did not do? They’re kids.”

‘Kids’. Gods they were tired of people calling them that. 

“How do you know about Nibelheim?” She questioned breathlessly, terrified of the answer. 

“Because I was there?” He answered with slight confusion. “…Are you okay?” 

Tifa did not answer, probably frozen by Cloud’s knowledge of memories he should not have. 

“Hey…” The care in his voice almost made the boys gag. “Are you alright…? …Should I stay…?”

“Y-yeah…” She lied again. What was with these people and lying to each other? The remnants guessed they shouldn’t complain. They were certainly using it to their advantage. “Just… are you sure we can trust them? What if they’re his kids? What if they snap like he did? What if they’re lying to us and they’re actually super strong and they burn down Sector Seven-?”

They didn’t know what they heard as Tifa suddenly started sobbing and Cloud moved towards her. They had no idea he was holding her in a caring hug against his chest. Cloud stayed quiet to try to let her process her emotions, but he couldn’t deny the hell that was her pain. He would do anything to make it go away. 

“Kadaj already talked about burning monsters to the ground,” She stumbled through tears. She was holding it back all day, damming every shard of trauma stabbing at her sides each time she saw one of them. Every time they entered her gaze, no matter what they were doing, she saw him. She saw the man that killed her father. “What if- what if-”

Cloud only held her close and listened to every pained gasp. He didn't shush her. He didn't mumble breathless 'it's okay's. He didn't feed her any comforting lies. He just held her through the horrible wave that finally crashed against the shoreline. 

He did, however, hold her too tight, but she only told him when her breathing finally began to regulate. Though he completely let her go, she kept her hands on his biceps, trapping him close to her for a bit of balance as her body shook from the exertion. She didn't know what to say. 

Thankfully, Cloud finally found the right words. He spoke softly, his voice barely moving through the room to keep the calm silence undisturbed. “Worst case scenario, they're other experiments on the run from Shinra. Even if they are, they were hiding in the planes. They have no resources and no assets. I can't just abandon them. They haven't done anything. Not yet at least.”

She tightened her grip in silent protest.

“If they're too much and we can't find them anything or anyone, we bring them to an orphanage. Okay, Tifa?”

It took everything they had to growl low enough that Big Brother couldn't pick up on it. They couldn't leave his side until he found Mother. They would hunt him down if he abandoned them. 

A finally shaky sigh left Tifa's lips. “Okay… Okay…”

With hesitant agreement, the childhood friends stayed in silence for a bit before finally heading their separate ways. When Cloud finally entered his room, all of the boys visibly relaxed. 

“What did you guys talk about…?” Yazoo questioned shyly to hide their enhanced hearing. 

“Just what we're going to do tomorrow and how we'll handle it,” Cloud lied. He didn't want them to know the truth, but they recognized that immediately and said nothing. 

Without many more words, Cloud gave them the single bed sheet the apartment came with, besides the fitted sheet compressed to the mattress. Surprisingly the boys didn't fight for it. The youngest grabbed it first, and the two others shrugged before simply adjusting to the floor using their leather coats. for comfort and pillows.

* * * 

Each of them slept soundly before waking all at once to the sound of something collapsing to the ground beyond the wall, literally jumping to their feet. Cloud slowly placed the Buster Sword on his back. The brothers simply held their degrading knives at the ready as a pained groan followed. They looked to Cloud for what to do next. 

“I’m gonna check on them,” He spoke calmly. “You guys-”

“Are coming with you,” Kadaj interrupted and finished without missing a beat. “I saw him earlier. He’s very weak. Probably injured.”

Cloud was thankful for the advice. “Then just stay behind me.” All of them knew they wouldn’t listen, but they nodded anyway before their current party of four left the room. Even in the little time it took them to reach the neighbor’s door, more groans slipped through. Cloud practically scooted them out of the way when they tried to turn the handle. The blonde knocked. “Hey. You alright in there?”

Nothing but the same rough moans responded. The youngest looked up at Cloud and lined himself against the wall near the opening of the door. The other two stayed behind the adult.

He took a breath. “I’m coming in.” Carefully, slowly, he opened the door, scanning the apartment from the bed to the floor. But when they all looked up they saw him. 

Black leather coat. Perfectly long silver hair. Silver bands around gloved wrists. All of him stalking towards them with a menacing stare and a smirk on his face. 

Cloud tried to slash the threat with the Buster Sword, but it was immediately stopped by the doorframe. When he looked back at the enemy, it was tackled and pinned to the ground by the three brothers. The distraction gave him just enough time to readjust the blade and swung forward. 

“CLOUD, STOP!” 

Tifa’s voice knocked him out of his terror just long enough, but the blade slashed against the floor before he could stop it completely, just missing one of the boys that saved him. All of a sudden, the man before them blinked away, a tattered black cloak on a weak body remaining behind. 

What the hell just happened. 

Cloud didn’t get the chance to answer her coherently, stuttering through an attempted response. The boys went quiet as Tifa rushed to the doorway and saw her neighbor pinned to the ground. 

“What did you do? Get out,” Tifa commanded as she helped the man up, the boys scattering and reforming around Cloud. “This is Marco’s apartment. He’s got a few problems, but he’s not a bad guy. What did you do?” 

Cloud stuttered a response. “W…” his panic was still flowing through his veins, lessened but present. “We heard him fall and…” He couldn’t explain what he just saw, especially not to her. The boys didn’t aid him either with their silence. 

Tifa took a deliberate breath. “The landlady asks me to check on him every once in a while. Can I ask you to do the same?”

They all nodded. 

“Sure…” Her friend was the only one to respond. 

It didn't take long after that to settle Marco back into his apartment and get Tifa into hers. However, sleep was the last thing on Cloud’s mind as he herded the children back into his room. This time, he made absolutely sure his door was locked, and when he turned to face them, each one was rigidly flat against the back wall, glancing at each other out of the corners of their eyes for any kind of help. If these ‘kittens’ had tails, they’d be puffed beyond belief. 

They knew exactly what they did, and though Cloud desperately did not want to bring this up, their similar appearance to the war hero of his nightmares was far too great to avoid now. “What happened back there?”

They didn’t know how to answer. They just locked eyes with him and stayed silent. Was Tifa right? But if they were like him at all, why would they save him?

“Just…” He tried a calmer tone. “Guys, just tell me the truth. What happened?”

They shook their heads.

“What happened to you?” Kadaj countered. Both remaining brothers gained a sinking feeling in their stomachs at the challenge.

“This isn’t about me; this is about you.”

“Clearly, this is about Marco.”

“You said you saw him earlier,” Cloud stated sternly. 

“And when I did he didn’t look like that!” 

All eyes landed on the shortest brother. He didn't mean to say that. Why was he slipping up?

“Keep your voice down,” The ex-SOLDIER commanded. They already proved what could happen with such thin walls tonight. “What did you see?” 

“What did you see?” 

“Stop trying to turn this on me-”

“I'll stop if you stop.”

He crossed his arms. “I will if you answer my question.” 

“You know the answer already-”

“I need to hear it from you.”

He violently shook his head of mercury hair. 

“Kadaj.”

“You saw something too! Why don’t you tell us what it was then?”

Yazoo silently vowed to never let his brother answer anything ever again. 

“Well I figured you’d know considering what he looked like.”

“What he looked like doesn’t change anything.”

“Clearly it does because you all attacked a man that looked exactly like your father-”

“HE IS NOT OUR FATHER!”

The air froze and deathly silence claimed them all. The entire sector could’ve heard that boy’s scream. Now they could hear a pin drop a block away. 

Cloud stared, completely confused by the outburst and trying to find an explanation. 

The youngest brother’s hands were shaking and he crossed them tightly over his chest, his head bowed towards the ground and his bangs blocking his eyes. He was trembling, clenching his teeth, and when the middle brother tried to place a hand on his shoulder, he batted it away and curled further into himself. They already lived with the pain of being unwanted. They already failed Her once. They didn’t need more constant comparisons and constant reminders of what threw them in this world in the first place. “He is not our father…” He repeated with panting breaths of rage and containment. He wanted to run, but they needed to stay by his side. They couldn’t risk leaving now. This was his idea. 

Finally, the brother's came to his aid, Yazoo immediately spinning a tale to cover them. “Our father left Mother just after we were born…” They needed to use Big Brother's heightened emotions against him before it was too late. “Mother’s from Nibelheim…”

Cloud’s eyes widened. 

“We never knew our father… But we know what he did…” Yazoo continued as Loz tried to comfort Kadaj. 

All Loz got in return were more snippy reactions. Eventually he gave up on attempting soft touches and hugged him so tightly and so suddenly he couldn't wriggle out no matter how much he physically and verbally protested. 

“We don't care what Shinra tells us… We get that comparison a lot… Forgive us for our reactions…”

“No.”

They all looked up fearfully. Loz dropped Kadaj instinctually.

“I don't forgive you because you have nothing to apologize for.”

All the boys breathed a sigh of relief, but Kadaj was still trying to calm his emotions. 

Cloud exhaled and looked at them softly. “It’s been a long day for all of us. We should get some rest.”

They all agreed and returned to the same places as before. Cloud stared in confusion because he absolutely could not justify why any group of people would sleep like this. Loz was under the end of the bed. Yazoo slept diagonally in the middle of the floor like a psychopath. Kadaj had stolen the only sheet and burritoed himself literally along the bottom of the front door. The blonde found himself shaking his head softly at their choices. He could only assume it was a result of being on their own for so long, taking up sleeping shifts and covering every angle they could for protection. That at least seemed a little reasonable to him as he finally made his way to the bed and rested the buster sword back against the wall. 

* * * 

The next morning, Cloud proved how much he recovered by taking out the monsters within the garbage heaps. Now finally making some gil, he gave a share of it to the boys that definitely should not have followed him into monster infested mounds of trash with nothing but pocket knives. Surprisingly, they did manage to hold their own with the tiny and absolutely unprepared weapons. The brothers immediately spent all their given gil on new weapons. Kadaj bought a short sword. Yazoo purchased a gun. Loz struggled to force adult sized martial arts gloves onto his hands but eventually made it work. 

Cloud found himself thinking back to how they slept the previous night. Even the way they fought picked up where the others’ styles left off. They genuinely fought well together and Cloud found himself a little impressed, and a little afraid, of what they could do. 

The three remnants tried to act like perfect little angels when around Cloud. Well, to the extent they understood. At his side or in battle they listened to his every command, but asking them to go anywhere just resulted in angry glares and hidden hisses. It… could be worse. Both Tifa and Cloud were relieved they at least let him use the bathroom alone. 

Still, they were weird and did the strangest things sometimes, the most miniscule situations getting stuck under their skin. Well, Kadaj’s skin specifically since he was always the first to react, to impulsively react. 

The first time they showed it was when the entire group returned to the neighborhood watch. For reasons no one understood, they hated Chadley. 

“Cloud. You were the first to gather the data I requested. Here is the rest of your payment. I have developed new materia. Would you like to see it?” Chadley was certainly a weird teenager, but he was chipper and seemed willing to help. Though he said he was working for Shinra’s Research and Development department, he claimed he was working against them. 

Cloud observed the new materia for himself, rotating the orb in his hand before agreeing to purchase it. All three boys glared cautiously at the glasses wearing one. 

“I plan to develop more materia in the future. Together, we can harness enough power to take down Shinra. I'll be preparing more battle intel reports, which I hope you will assist me in completing,” He spoke in his naturally excited voice. 

“Thanks,” Cloud spoke a bit more indifferently. He was finally sounding closer to the Big Brother they knew now that they’d taken on a few monsters. 

“You talk weird,” Loz pointed out with scrunched brows, the other two waiting for a response. 

“Hey,” Tifa scolded, “what did I say? Be nice.”

The teen in question simply waved the statement away. “It's not a problem. I'm still perfecting my speech pattern. Thank you for your valuable feedback.”

Yazoo tilted his head. “Something is… off… about you…”

Again, Chadley showed almost no change in emotion. “I assure you, I'm only here to aid in your progress and test out more effective magic.”

Kadaj glared hard. “If you do anything to hurt Cloud-”

“You're all perfectly capable of defeating me here if you wish. If you were old enough, you'd all be perfect SOLDIER candidates.”

“You analyzed us?!”

He nodded simply. “Of course. It merely determines your strength and abilities. You may even purchase materia if you wish.”

“And how do we know this information doesn't go straight back to Shinra?”

“If you doubt me at all, you can take me down.”

Now they were talking in circles and they absolutely had better things to do. Cloud grabbed the youngest's arm and began dragging him along. “We're done here. Let's go.”

Kadaj angrily reset his steps and walked alongside Cloud normally, and Loz followed behind immediately. 

“You're not human…” Yazoo stated before suddenly being yanked away by Tifa. 

Thankfully, nothing like that happened again. The rest of the day consisted of nothing but more hunts, destroying any monsters in their path. All of their skills certainly grew throughout the many battles, including the efficiency of the three boys with new weapons. By nightfall, Tifa returned to run the bar, but Cloud and the boys nearly cleared the bounty board. Cloud wanted to be absolutely prepared for tomorrow's mission. 

Before heading back to his apartment late into the night, Cloud asked Tifa for one final update. Biggs was found in Sector Four safe and sound, claiming the mercenary wouldn't be a problem anymore, and that they should not hire anyone they don't absolutely trust for the next mission. Jessie decided to stay with her family on the upper plate while her leg healed. But both Biggs and Wedge worked on her orders, and they had the materials for the next reactor mission. Everything was ready to go.

Tomorrow marked the start of the Mako Reactor 5 bombing mission. 

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Thanks for reading!

Author's notes: Welp. It got angsty. Why? Because it's me. Also I am swamped with exams so life is just doing its thing. Thanks for reading! 

Inspired by this prompt by @im-totally-not-an-alien .  

Please Enjoy!

…

Chapter 2: Cure

The three boys marched like soldiers the entire way to the bar, obviously glaring and staring down any person that even thought about approaching. Tifa saw friends and customers more unsettled by the boys than willing to offer her aid, but for Cloud’s sake, she took the parting of the crowd as a relief to arrive at her bar faster. 

Once they entered Seventh Heaven, all three of the boys pulled stools off of the table closest to the bar. The middle sibling actually grabbed a stack of her folded napkins and laid them out like a pillow. 

“Can you grab the first aid kit from behind the bar?” Tifa attempted to ask politely as she leaned Cloud against the table and removed the incredible weapon attached to his back. “And there are dish towels near the sink. Can you run them under warm water?”

They all nodded, Kadaj rushing around the bar to find the targeted box while Loz and Yazoo swiftly ran to the sink. 

She was surprised but thankful they left Cloud’s side, allowing her to gently lay him on the table and scan for wounds. There were no external injuries, but his dry skin screamed dehydration to her. She wasn't sure if that same cause created his extreme weakness. 

Too many questions flooded her mind. Too many concerns for the singular man in front of her for her mind and thoughts to function completely straight. 

He needed Cure, magic, materia. At least then she might know what doctor he needed. Maybe he just needed water and rest. She hoped it was that simple. She hoped. 

Water may not be enough to rehydrate him either. 

Tifa glanced up at the sound of rapid movement as the boys rushed Cloud's sides. 

Two of them carefully applied a moisturizer to the chaffing skin before placing the wet cloths on his forehead and chest. She didn't even think of the damage water could do to dry skin, or the pain it could cause from seeping into the cracking the surface. They seemed to know exactly what to do. Correction, the long haired one did, silently scolding the larger one for being too rough with a simple glare and the occasional nudge. 

She heard a click as she moved Cloud's hair out of the way before the smallest one returned with the first aid kit. A first aid kit she always kept her strongest healing materia inside, in case of emergencies. 

“Did you guys try any materia?” Tifa needed to confirm before she tried the spells herself. 

“No. We couldn’t find any,” the youngest explained harshly. 

“He’s been in and out of consciousness for the past two hours…” The long haired one explained, his eyes still on his task. “A Cure may allow him to rest…”

Tifa needed no further information and held the orb in her hand, its green glow so bright it nearly blinded the eldest who accidentally looked up. She casted the strongest spell she could, both the ring and the light consuming the room as the magic wove through Cloud’s body. 

His breath finally calmed, and after a few seconds, his eyes opened again. 

All three boys immediately stepped back, but neither one of the childhood friends noticed. 

Tifa was too entranced by the light that returned to his now mako-blue eyes.

His hand landed on her arm softly and he forced himself to sit up. He gave her an embarrassed look, his eyes barely able to remain anywhere near her as he spoke, his mind clearly still fogged but he pushed through it to speak. “Thank you… Tifa…”

A weak smile pulled at her lips, her gaze filled with care as she placed a hand atop his own. She nodded. “Feeling better?”

“A bit… I think I can-”

“Nope,” She cut him off, knowing exactly where he was going and finally gaining his eyes. “You will talk, and you will rest, and you will do nothing more until you're ready.”

“But I-”

“No buts,” Tifa scolded, and the eldest of the silver haired brothers struggled to hide a laugh under his hand. She shot a glare at them, and they all silenced and stood at attention immediately. 

Cloud chuckled softly, her attention returning to him. “You’ve changed a lot in five years…”

Five…?

“Yeah…” She felt the lie leave her mouth before she thought it. “But Cloud, what happened to you?”

He looked away again, his eyes hardening at the ‘memory’. “I was heading back from a mission… And that behemoth took more out of me than I thought… I’m sorry, Tifa…”

“Cloud, why are you sorry?”

He tensed slowly. “...my promise…”

The water tower. “You didn’t break your promise by getting hurt. It’s okay.”

“But I should’ve had enough supplies to get back…”

“Hey. I said no buts. Next time you prepare more. That's all.”

Cloud winced a bit at the scolding before his eyes landed on the three boys. An unreadable expression claimed his gaze. “Thank you for your help…”

They all gave a soft nod. 

“How did you- nh…” The blonde grabbed his head, soft pained groans forcing their way through his body, his exhaustion catching up to him once again. 

The long haired one spoke first as Tifa brought one of the warm towels to his forehead, “You need rest…”

Cloud clearly hated the idea, but he couldn’t ignore the look in Tifa’s eyes. 

“Come on. I’ll take you to my place.” 

He nearly pouted before his breathing started to slow again. 

Something dinged as a mechanical whur suddenly rumbled through the room, only getting louder and louder. Cloud shot to attention and tried to grab the hilt of his blade, but Tifa stopped him, a hand gripping his own to silently tell him it was safe. However, her message did not make it to the three boys who currently crowded around the source of the sound with rusty, worn down pocket knives they absolutely found in the trash. 

As the platform rose along the metal rails, a large man none of the three recognized came with it, along with a blooping pinball machine. 

They nearly jumped him without question, and the only thing that stopped them was Tifa’s yell to wait. They froze but they did not move, their blades barely a centimeter away from his skin.

The large man inhaled sharply before clearing his throat, his hands automatically in the air the moment he saw the boys behind him. Well, one hand, and one gun. “Uh, Tifa?” His burly voice came with utter confusion. “Mind explainin’ what’s goin’ on?”

“Guys, he’s a friend,” She called them off, and they immediately ran and formed a wall around Cloud, still staring daggers and all but hissing as the man slowly turned to face the room. “Sorry for that, Barret.”

“Look, Tifa, I'm pretty big. I'm used to scarin' little kids.”

All of their glares hardened.

“But what’s goin’ on here?”

Tifa sighed before explaining everything she understood: finding Cloud, who Cloud was, healing him, and her plan to take care of him, but she brushed over the topic of the boys other than the fact that they found him. Barret had eyes. Barret hated Shinra. There was absolutely no doubt in her mind that those boys looked familiar to him too. She also didn’t have a clue how to justify that ‘big brother’ statement from the station, so she chose to withhold the comment for now. 

“Cloud’s gonna stay at my place until he heals up,” Tifa finished, gaining a small groan of protest from the blonde in question. “Cloud, you need to rest.”

“I just need to get back in the game…”

“You can barely stay awake.”

“I just need some action. Then I'll be good to go.” He actually managed to steel his voice, almost sounding like his normal self. 

“Don’t hurt yourself,” the smallest of the triplets demanded, and the blonde adult actually glared away, defeated by a small child and relaxing his body. 

Tifa sighed before looking at Barret once more. “Can you do me a solid and watch 'the place' while I get Cloud over to Stargazer Heights?”

He took a glance over at the three kids that were one thousand percent ready to stab him a moment ago, and although they tried to look intimidating, they kind of reminded him of angry kittens, tiny and afraid. Despite who they looked like. “’Course, Tifa. Not a problem at all.” It was still midday. He had plenty of time before he needed to pick up his daughter from school, and he figured the other members of the crew below would be grateful to not be stabbed the moment they came up to use the bathroom, or came up to get a drink of water like he did.

“Thank you.” After giving a soft nod and a small smile, Tifa returned to Cloud’s side and helped him stand. 

However, the moment they made it to the door, the three brothers literally followed them in a line like lost chocobo chicks. 

Tifa winced a bit, adjusting Cloud's arm over her shoulder as she called back. “Boys, why don't you stay here?” 

They immediately countered with protests, speaking over each other without remorse. 

“Absolutely not!” 

“We won't make a sound…”

“He needs protection!”

“I’ll be okay…” Cloud mumbled insistently. 

“Now, now,” Barret immediately came to Tifa's aid, using every shred of the parental tone he usually saved for Marlene to herd the brothers. “Tifa's apartment is pretty small-”

“Then we’ll wait outside!” The smallest barked. 

“-and she lives right up the road,” He finished with a slightly harsher tone from the interruption. “You’ll get in the way. Hell, probably hurt Cloud more as a result. You don't want that, do ya? He's in safe hands. All you gotta do is wait here.”

At the middle child’s slight contemplation, Tifa finally opened the door. 

The little one practically teleported to stop them. How did he run that fast? 

“Kadaj-” She tried to scold. 

“I take up the least space- I’m going with him.” 

“No fair!” The largest one yelled, but the middle child grabbed his arm and gave him a look of soft apology. 

“Kadaj has a point…” Yazoo explained simply. “If he goes, we’ll know Big Brother is safe…”

Again, neither adult audibly questioned the ‘big brother’ comment, only keeping their inquiries to themselves. Whatever they were talking about, if it let Tifa leave, then it was fine with them.

Tears immediately left the eldest’s eyes, the middle one sighing and the youngest rolling his eyes. Surprisingly, Loz didn’t protest, finally giving Tifa a path of least resistance to escape. 

“Okay. Come on, Kadaj. Hold the door open.”

The smallest brother immediately did as she asked, and they left the remaining two with the man with a gun for an arm. 

An awkward bead of silence passed through them before Barret suggested the two boys sit at the bar, and he’d get them age appropriate drinks.

They seemed hesitant, but they did take the suggestion, both of them glaring slightly at the height of the bar compared to their respective sizes. Even though Barret only handed them glasses of water, they downed it like alcoholics. Without even asking, he refilled both drinks, and again they were gone in seconds. 

“Damn, kids. When was the last time you guys ate?”

Loz glanced at Yazoo for an answer. Any sustenance they managed to scrape together since the moment they arrived in this situation went to Big Brother. 

“Yesterday…” Yazoo chose to answer honestly. 

“Yesterday!?” Barret echoed in bewilderment. 

Did they give the wrong answer? They only told him the truth. 

“You poor things! Let me make you somthin' to eat.”

Again, they weren't going to stop him, even though all he grabbed were four slices of bread and two slices of packaged yellow cheese. They watched silently as he took the two ingredients and literally handed them both cheese sandwiches on napkins. 

Guilt creeped into Barret’s expression before the snacks even hit the bar. Tifa would kick his ass for wasting any of her products, but especially since he couldn’t pay her back with a mission so soon. However, the feeling vanished when the eldest devoured the innocent meal. 

“Thank you…” The long haired one showed the slightest shred of self control by expressing any gratitude before annihilating his own. 

Alright, maybe he could owe Tifa a couple gil for a few weeks. These kids were starving. He gave them various fruits, more cheese sandwiches, and basically anything else he knew he didn’t need to cook and could restock in a short time. 

Eventually they both calmed, no longer scarfing down each offering like each would vanish in seconds. 

“Thank you, Mister,” the larger one finally spoke. 

“Feelin’ better?”

They both nodded. 

“Mind explainin’ a few things?”

They nodded in allowance. 

Barret cleared his throat before asking his first question. “What were three boys your age doin’ in those planes?”

The two brothers, mainly Yazoo, spun a tale of how they were basically small bounty hunters, and Midgar’s planes usually have weaker creatures that they could handle and make a quick gil off of. He claimed they found a monster they barely managed to defeat, at the cost of all of their weapons, and how they happened to spot the monster Big Brother killed before finding him. He stated that arriving in Sector Seven was just luck. 

None of the remnants had any idea why Big Brother lied, but it gave them the perfect opportunity to fabricate a backstory around it. If they were going to keep an eye on him, they needed to stay close, especially considering their current sizes. And of course Big Brother had a life under the completely fallen plate before the order.

“Is he really your brother?” Barret inquired. “He don’t look like you.”

Loz glared away and crossed his arms, having no choice beyond silence. 

“We didn’t want anyone taking him away…” Yazoo lied a half truth. “And he’s not old enough to pass as Father…”

The man with a gun for an arm squinted in small analysis before letting out a quick laugh. “That’s fair. You’d have an easier time convincin’ someone Sephiroth’s your daddy.”

“He is not our father,” The eldest muttered.

At the confused look on the adult’s face, Yazoo explained with slight darkness in his usually neutral voice, “Our apologies… We get that a lot…”

Barret sighed and shook his head to take the blame himself, yet it reminded him of something. It was a topic he should have brought up sooner. “Do you guys wanna call home? See if your mom can come pick you up? We appreciate the help with Cloud but-”

The middle child tilted towards the older one, who was already failing to hide tears at the reference alone. “Don’t cry, Loz…”

He quickly turned away and swiped the unwanted streams off his face.

Now it was Yazoo’s turn to look away. “We can’t find her… She went missing two months ago…”

Suddenly, the details of their story wove together to a lie Barret truly believed. Three boys, living on their own, trying to make money any way they could, without any parents to take care of them. They came across someone who needed help, and they refused to allow someone else to be taken from them or feel the abandonment they subconsciously felt. He came to those conclusions on his own, and the remnants couldn’t be more grateful for the false belief. 

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Thanks for reading!

Please enjoy!

Chapter 3: Growing Pains

Cloud's soft groans lulled through the one bedroom apartment, barely whispers above his breath. Though Tifa insisted he lay on his back for efficient rest, he kept turning to his side and burying his face in her pillow. She did, luckily, manage to convince him to remove his armor, his gloves, and his boots. Seeing him curled up inside her blanket was almost a relief, almost snuggled like a burrito under her covers. She was thankful for his compliance to finally rest and heal. 

However, she couldn't relax with inhuman eyes watching her from the corner. 

Kadaj stood away from them as instructed and promised, practically pushed against the wall, silent as a ghost. He did not interrupt, speak, or even move most of the time. He only stared, watching the blonde like a hawk and scanning the brunette for any harmful intentions. 

Tifa hated the feeling of those reptilian eyes on her back, but she sucked it up for Cloud's sake. Her friend didn't look like he would wake any time soon. Regrettably, she didn't have time to stay by his side all day. She needed to run her bar, especially with everything going down tonight. They needed the money. And she wasn't leaving a child in her tiny apartment. Especially not a child that looked like Him. 

“Come on,” She spoke softly to avoid waking her blonde friend. “Let's let him rest.”

“I'll be quiet,” He whispered in response, repeating the same promise as earlier. 

She shook her head. “It’s not about being quiet. It’s hard to sleep when someone’s watching you.”

“Then I’ll stay outside,” He insisted, but again, She shook her head. 

“I’m not leaving you here alone. You’re too young.”

“I can wait with my brothers-”

“Kadaj.”

He instinctively silenced at the scolding tone, glaring away in defeat. 

She softened a bit as she explained, “Cloud is safe here. The land lady's a friend and she won’t let anyone in this apartment. Promise.”

He was still stubborn, pushing himself against the wall. But he did not respond beside a frustrated pout. 

Tifa offered him a hand and a weak smile. “Let's get you back to your brothers.”

He moved his eyes to Cloud and did not take the offer. 

But she did notice his resolve failing a moment ago. “Now, Kadaj.”

Again, that tone, for whatever reason, made him obey her request. She took his hand and the two left Cloud to rest in the apartment. Though not a long walk, the latest train completely flooded the streets with commuters and returning families from the upper plate. The inherent chaos of the crowd forced her focus on arriving at the bar rather than the boy in her grip. Well, she thought was in her grip. When she reached the stairs of Seventh Heaven’s front balcony, she realized he was gone. 

For gods sake. What was this stupid kid thinking? 

She audibly groaned before grabbing her phone and quickly maneuvering the menus before putting it to her ear. 

“Tifa,” the kind voice hit her ears through the old speaker, “my dear dear girl. What are you doing calling me in the middle of the day? Everything alright?”

She let out a short chuckle of breath in reassurance. “I’m alright, Marle, but I do need a favor. Can you check the door to my apartment? Is there a little boy with silver hair and black clothes?”

“Oddly specific. I’ll take a look. But you better explain later.” 

She nodded. “I will. Promise.” The shuffling and crackling of movement slid through the speaker as her landlady presumably began the request. She waited until it stopped before hearing the muffled speech of both a young boy and the old woman. 

There was an audible pause before a response came. “Yeah, he’s here. Angry little thing but he’s here, Refusing To Leave.” The woman put far too much emphasis on those final three words, clearly complaining over her shoulder. 

Tifa let out a sigh of relief. “Yeah, that’s definitely him. His name is Kadaj and he’s… well, a ‘friend of a friend’. Can you check on him like once an hour for me? He won’t cause any trouble. I’m just worried about something happening, you know?”

“Of course, Tifa. I’ll keep an eye on him.”

“Thank you, Marle. I owe you one.”

“Oh hush. This is nothing. Just be careful tonight, alright?”

She paused for a second. She knew Marle was a friend of the cause, but she didn’t know she knew the date of the next mission. “...I will.” Just because Tifa wasn't going on the mission tonight didn't mean she should make the old woman worry. 

After some quick goodbyes, she finally made it inside her own bar. Barret was cleaning plates in the sink while the two boys rushed her and immediately asked for updates on Cloud's condition. They didn't seem concerned about their actual brother in the slightest. She couldn’t figure out why, but she explained everything to them all. The boys seemed relieved and did not question further when Barret decided it was his turn to explain, along with said boys, how they found Cloud.

But afterward a thought hit Barret like a truck. 

“You said the little one's still at your place?” He needed to confirm, concern bleeding through his voice. 

She brushed him off kindly to relieve any worries. “Don't worry about it. Marle's keeping an eye on him.”

“Has he eaten anything?”

Tifa's mind stalled for a second. She didn't expect any questions about his diet. “I didn’t give him anything.”

All their eyes went wide. 

Loz explained first with slight concern, “He's hungry. Really hungry.”

“He hasn't eaten since yesterday…” Yazoo added. 

Now it was Tifa's turn for shock to drain her face. Was that why he was so quiet? Because he was physically in pain from hunger but refused to leave Cloud's side? They had more than just these kids to worry about. Barret had less than six hours to find a mercenary for the mission that night. The conditions were perfect, just enough personnel away from their posts for this to work. They couldn’t lose this chance. Their ‘all hands on deck’ attitude was supposed to start the moment Tifa returned from her errands on the upper plate. There simply wasn't enough time for her to complete her task and for Barret to prepare with these young kids that won't leave. 

The boys most likely weren't spies, but they could easily let their location and gang name slip while in public. They needed the brothers out of the bar. That's when a bad but effective idea came to Tifa. If these children survived a day in the planes on their own, they could survive a walk up the road. 

“Here,” She spoke as she rushed behind the bar and grabbed one of the take out containers, immediately filling it with any random but not required to cook food from her pantry. The boys followed and she shoved them the container and a bag. “Take this to your brother and stay with him until I come and get you, got it? He's right up the road on the second floor of Stargazer Heights.”

Loz took the package and Yazoo headed for the door. 

“Thank you…” The only one with real manners spoke before catching a water bottle that apparently Barret tossed to them. 

“Gonna need this too,” The large man explained. 

“Thank you, sir. Thank you, Tifa,” Loz finally expressed a bit of gratitude, although he truly forgot the other adult’s name. 

Both boys literally ran out the door before anyone could get another word in. 

* * * 

Kadaj utterly devoured the meal the moment it landed in his hands, all but licking the container clean. None of the remnants realized how much they needed food until it landed in their grasps. For hours, the three boys rotated through shifts of protecting the door and listening for any groans from Big Brother. In the meantime, Yazoo informed Kadaj of their fabricated backstory and the two ironed out a few details before confirming with Loz. They were nearly caught building their lies by the landlady, but their deliberate speech gave off the air of a children’s game of pretend. They hated speaking like this, but it was the perfect way to hide their intentions. 

All three of them agreed to stay by Cloud’s side because for whatever reason, Cloud always found his way to Mother. The remnants didn’t know this world or this city in their prime. None of them developed any other plan for finding her, especially not when they were so weak. Staying by big brother’s side was currently their only option. 

Eventually, the landlady informed them of Tifa’s return to Seventh Heaven, and that she would have a friend there as well. Though they didn’t know who she referred to, the boys split apart again for Cloud’s safety. Yazoo and Loz returned to the bar and awkwardly avoided the little girl in a pink dress. They kidnapped her in their original world, and for unknown reasons, she absolutely wanted to play with them. Kadaj, as before, stayed behind. 

But he was tired. 

The exhaustion of the day began creeping up on him, and he found himself sitting on the ground with his arms and head on his knees. It almost claimed him entirely when he finally heard a groan, his attention clicking back to reality when the sound repeated. The source was just too far to be Cloud. He sighed and relaxed for a bit before the door at the far end of the balcony opened. 

A weak man in a tattered black cloak slowly slinked out of the apartment, and Kadaj instantly jumped to his feet and flicked his pocket knife open. 

Still, the man walked by as if the boy wasn’t there. 

Kadaj watched him until he left his view, holding the railing to see as much of this man as possible. He didn’t understand what that meant. The man almost, almost, reminded him of something. He must’ve been too on edge after everything that happened and found himself slumped against the door again. He hated the idea of needing rest already, but he felt its necessity. Just as he dared to close his eyes, someone shuffled behind the door. 

Movement of sheets. Movement of armor, of boots, of a massive weapon. 

He hopped up and knocked on the door. “Cloud, are you alright?”

Cloud stuttered a bit before responding, clearly startled by the sound, “Y-Yeah. I’m feeling a lot better.” There was a pause before he spoke again. “Why are you outside?”

“Because Tifa dragged me out,” He hissed at the memory. 

Another pause. “How long have you been out there?”

“Six hours.”

Cloud mumbled something along the lines of ‘for gods sake’ before finally unlatching and opening the door. Sure enough, a clear look of belief claimed his expression when he saw the black sky of green light pollution. His brows squeezed in confusion for a second before speaking to the boy. “Thank you for your help.”

Kadaj brushed off the obligatory response. “Tifa and my brothers are at the bar.” ‘My brothers’. It felt so wrong saying that aloud to him, but they needed the cover. They needed to separate ‘big brother’ from their vocabulary if they didn’t want any suspicion. 

“Can you take me there?”

The boy nodded. 

* * * 

Tifa positively beamed with excitement at Cloud’s recovery, completely ignoring the now four children sitting in her bar as she questioned him. Where had he been? What had he done? What else happened when the brothers found him? 

Cloud answered these as best he could, but his answers didn’t match Tifa’s truth. 

Something was missing, broken, fragmented, but she didn’t correct any of his odd claims. It took everything she had not to crush him in a crippling hug. She was just so happy he was okay. 

However, their joy together didn’t last. 

Barret and another man carried a woman with a red headband through the door, each one of them holding one arm. 

Kadaj groaned two words under his breath: “Not again...” All three boys immediately ran to their aid; one pulling over a chair, the other grabbing a wet cloth, the final snatching the first aid kid. 

“That ain’t gonna work,” Barret informed as he set her down. “Already tried that.”

“She needs a cast,” Cloud explained immediately, scanning the wound and only seeing one option for healing. 

Tifa shook her head, and her and the boys ripped open the first aid kit. “I don’t think I have any casting supplies.”

Yazoo grabbed a sealed bag and read it before ripping it open, taking out what seemed to be green mesh. “You do… This should work well enough if we wet it… It’s definitely expired but it shouldn’t be a problem…”

“Good enough for me,” The injured woman hissed. 

“Jessie, I am so so sorry. I should’ve stayed with you,” The new man insisted, practically bowing in apology, his voice whiny and pitched just too high. She waved him off just before he was hit in the head with something soft. He turned to the object and the attacker. “Hey! What was that for?”

“Wrap her leg in that first,” The smallest boy commanded without a hint of empathy. 

“Unless you want to cut her when removing the cast…” The long haired one explained while the largest ran to wet the plastic bands in the sink. 

“Okay be nice,” Tifa scolded as she rearranged the kit. “Both of you.” 

Though Kadaj absolutely deserved it, Yazoo stared in silent confusion, trying to figure out what he did wrong. Kadaj groaned before grabbing the spool of gauze he threw at the bumbling man with a handkerchief around his head and snappily handing it to him.

Soon, her leg was wrapped, Cloud doing a final inspection of the cast before introductions began once again. Once they were finally over, Tifa could ask questions. 

“Wedge, where's Biggs? Weren't you two-”

Wedge groaned loudly at the memory. “He ran after that merc the moment we set off the bomb-” There were four kids in the room, and he just realized that meant he needed to be careful with his words. Though he knew Barret's daughter, Marlene, wouldn't mind, he expected some kind of reaction from the tree boys. 

They didn't seem to care, and that alone grabbed the attention of all the eyes in the bar. Human pupils staring straight into snake's.

“What?” Loz spoke first in an annoyed and confused tone. 

“We've had to do a lot to survive without Mother… We understand extremes…” Yazoo covered with more half truths. 

“And some of the best solutions to any problem are to blow it up or burn it to the ground,” Kadaj stated far too factually, hoping they would mistake it for referencing monsters in the plains. At the concerned look from Cloud and Tifa, he explained, “Like fighting monsters? Fire materia is usually very effective.”

That slightly calmed their concern, but only slightly. 

Yazoo elbowed his little brother in the side. Kadaj winced but didn’t retaliate, for once. Gods he was tired of scoldings.

“Why don’t you kids wait outside while we explain, okay?” The injured woman suggested. 

“We are not leaving Cloud’s side,” The eldest countered immediately. 

“This is adult stuff. You don’t want to hear about it.”

“We saved him… We are not leaving him…” 

“You’re not leaving if you just sit on the porch.”

“I stayed outside his apartment door all day. I am not doing that again. We’re staying here.”

Tifa looked to Cloud for an answer, a solution or compromise, as the boys kept bickering with the gang. Cloud just shrugged. He didn’t have any ideas. 

“Cloud,” Tifa called, “Can I talk to you after this? Alone?”

The boys practically hissed at the suggestion before Cloud could even process it.

But Cloud nodded.

Whatever Jessie said to them after clearly pissed them off, because Cloud suddenly found himself completely surrounded by the three boys like guard dogs. 

Not a single one of the brothers spoke a word, all of their harden resolves visible in their glares. 

Wedge sighed, “Can we just stop arguing? Look, you guys can stay if you can keep a secret. And you cannot let it slip to anyone.”

They all nodded in agreement.

“Not a word…” Yazoo reassured. 

They hoped the simple silence from three children was enough, especially considering how much Marlene already knew. Wait a minute. 

“Marlene? You here, baby girl?” Barret called, and immediately she came out from behind the bar. 

“Daddy!” She yelled as she ran into his arms and he lifted her immediately. 

“There you are! Why were you hiding, sweetheart?” 

“Jessie was hurt and I didn’t wanna get in the way,” She explained, gaining a tight hug for her honesty. 

“Let’s get back on topic,” Jessie interrupted. They all silently agreed. 

Wedge finally cut the details in his explanation. “Long story short, Jessie got caught under debris. The merc wasn’t strong enough to get her free. Barret and I came back to help her, and the merc ran the moment we weren't looking. Biggs chased after him but we couldn’t help without leaving Jessie in the re- well, where we found her.”

Tifa gave a soft sigh. “So if we do this again, we at least need another merc.” They looked at her a little weird, so she specified, “We'd need another merc.”

So they were only down a single team member.

“I'm a merc,” Cloud suddenly spoke up, more like blurted, and he had to glance away when Tifa's perfect red eyes met his own with both worry and excitement.

“You’re a merc?” Barret questioned. 

“Yeah. Ex-SOLDIER. I can handle anything Shinra can throw at us.”

“Cloud-”

“Tifa, do you remember our promise?” He countered. 

The water tower. Of course she did. But this was the second time he used that memory against her. 

She sighed a bit, not wanting him to use this moment with that promise. “Of course I do, but-”

“I might not be fully recovered yet, I know. Is there anything I can fight down here to prove that I am?” 

Wedge perked up. “The neighborhood watch.” 

Cloud’s gaze immediately asked for the clarification.

“They basically do monster control around the scrap heaps. I know a few buddies that would love the help if you’re offering.”

“I’m offering.”

Tifa winced at Cloud’s answer but had a feeling he wouldn’t change his mind. She also knew she could handle the monsters without too much issue. It would be the perfect place to test Cloud’s abilities. “Okay…” She accepted hesitantly. “Tomorrow. 7:00. Don’t be late.”

Cloud nodded. “I won’t.”

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Thanks for reading!

Please Enjoy!

Chapter 5: The Mission

They knew no matter how well they prepared for this mission, new road blocks waited for them ahead. First it was Jessie’s fake IDs failing on the train, making them walk along the rails to try and find their way to Sector Five’s plate on foot. Cloud wasn’t sure how many times he was willing to follow the ‘AVALANCHE dog’ before he looked for his own path. However, Tifa and Barret convinced him to keep going. And it’s not like he’d ever say no to Tifa. He would complain about it though, but even then he was far more pleasant and accommodating than he was when they were kids. He was still kinder than she expected, yet that didn't reflect his swordsmanship in the slightest. 

Cloud was a beast on the battlefield. 

Every enemy in range met their end quickly with their little party of three. Barret even made a joke of ‘where were you on our first mission’ before giving him a hearty laugh. Cloud rolled his eyes, but the smallest of a playful smirk played on his lips. Things were starting to get back on track before they wasted even more time trying to understand and activate the correct sunlamps to continue their way. Who designed something like this? This probably wasted more energy than it saved. 

Luckily, things looked more familiar when they entered the reactor. Various elevators, twisting paths, endless rooms filled with security robots and personnel, all expected obstacles they were well practiced in taking down at this point. Cloud’s SOLDIER healing was absolutely something else. At very least, Tifa swore she saw bullets that didn’t break his skin. He wasn’t a perfect fighter, but he was leagues better than any mercenary in the slums. Shinra’s defenses had certainly changed since the last mission though. But since this was Cloud and Tifa's first one, neither noticed the difference. 

Despite their skills, Cloud found himself looking back after nearly every battle. This may not be the stealthiest operation, but he kept seeing things moving at the very end of his periphery, only to completely vanish when he turned. He was understandably on edge in general, but this only added to it. If Shinra wanted to attack, they would wait until they were vulnerable, especially after destroying every machine thrown at them. And yet, he brushed the feeling off as they entered the mako chamber, convincing himself it was just first mission jitters. 

He was wrong. Very. Very. Wrong. The blobs from the corner of his eye finally slipped into sight after failing to silently climb down the ladder in mako storage. Correction: one of them failed, landing with just enough force for Cloud's SOLDIER enhanced hearing to catch. The other two were still on the ladder, but they instantly realized it was too late. 

They were supposed to be at the bar. 

They were supposed to be watching Marlene. 

They were supposed to be under the Sector Seven plate without causing any trouble, like they all agreed to. 

“What the hell are you doing here!?” Cloud’s voice boomed up the high walls of the reactor. Only after hearing Cloud’s call did Barret and Tifa turn to assess the threat. Neither one of them expected to see the three boys that saved Cloud in the middle of the mission. 

“What is wrong with you three?! Did you abandon my baby girl!?” Barret yelled next. “Are you three tryin’ to die an early death? Because if she has a single scratch on her-”

The brothers stood silently, looking at Tifa for the final questions to be thrown at them. However, the eldest’s eyes were already watery from the scolding. 

Tifa just stared in shock at the three silver haired boys in black within the mako glow of the chamber. Her hands started shaking, her eyes on the sword the youngest used. 

When they realized she wouldn’t respond, they answered the father’s questions first. 

“We left Marleen with Marle to be safe… They’re both at the apartments…” Yazoo answered first. 

“We told you we’re protecting Big Brother,” Loz spoke after swiping off his tears. “No matter what.”

“And do you have any idea how easy it is to follow you guys when you take out every security measure in the building?” 

“Don’t be smart with us,” Cloud scolded, fury in his eyes. Yes, he was kind to them before but it was borderline suicide for three ten year olds to go on an ecoterrorist mission, no matter their skills. “You could’ve been killed. Can be killed.” 

“By what- all the broken machines?” 

His mako glare sharpened. “What did I just say?!”

Shoot. They really pissed him off. His increased emotions were acting against them now. They needed to be careful with their next words. 

“We just wanted to protect you…” 

“Y’all ain’t protectin’ anyone if Shinra kills you boys!”

They all looked away, shutting their mouths from the next snippy comment to come out of their mouths. 

Cloud growled a sigh, frustratingly accepting this absolute mess of a scenario. Yet before he spoke, Tifa grabbed the back of his arm, her hands still shaking. He looked at her and all his anger vanished. Her head was down, blocking his eyes from hers with her head and her hair. She was nearly cowering, clinging to him in protection. “Tifa…?” He spoke as softly as he could. “Are you alright…?”

She should’ve been the angriest after everything these three put her through. She should’ve scolded him for his ridiculous ‘eye for an eye’ mentality, to protect them because they protected him no matter what they did. She should’ve thrown them to the first orphanage she could find long before this mission began, but he was the one that stopped her from trying. Yet she was quiet and trembling, not an ounce of frustration boiling in her. “Let’s just finish this… Please…”

I’m sick of this…

I’m sick of all of this!

The memory hit Cloud like a truck and he wrapped his arms around her in comfort. Their hometown. The fire. Her father. The reactor. 

“Let’s just set the bomb…”

He wanted to obey, but he glanced back at the three boys that weren’t supposed to know any of this. 

“It's too late now. Just set the bomb and let’s get out of here,” She steeled her voice against her emotions. 

“Okay… Yeah…” Cloud hesitantly agreed, trying not to upset her any further. “We’re too deep in this now. We have to pull through.”

“You three are gettin’ one hell of a scolding when we get back.” Barret glared at the kids again before setting up the bomb. 

“Is it a timer or do you have a remote?” Cloud questioned. 

“Remote controlled,” Barret stated almost proudly while holding up the controller. “Gives us plenty of time to get out. Especially with this extra cargo.”

The youngest brother nearly hissed, his eye twitching once at his frustration towards them and the truth he couldn't reveal. The other two just glanced away like disobedient children. 

After they set up the bomb and double checked everything worked, they headed back to the lone ladder they all came down. But the ladder quickly lifted up the second they were in reach. 

Shinra was watching them. The director of security, Heidegger literally laughed at them and put the group on the news, stating that they were not only the ecoterrorists responsible for destruction surrounding Mako Reactor One, but that they also used child soldiers as backup, brainwashing and forcing them to obey. Of course none of the boys cared about the comment, but it absolutely painted AVALANCHE in a deadly light. The director sentenced them to death and told them exactly where it waited: the only exit in the reactor.

As a group, the six members made their way through the remainder of the facility, sending sections of the incomplete mech to a defective equipment room in order to limit its attacks. The boys tried to climb directly on the rails guiding the remaining equipment to destroy each one directly, but the adults all informed that messing with the assembly line itself could let Shinra catch wind of their plan, so they jumped down and hunted for key cards in every room they entered. 

Everything was relatively normal until they all finally made it to the catwalk on the way out of the reactor. Multiple drones suddenly flew past them before projecting a cyan hologram of President Shinra himself. Regardless of the weapons before them, the three brothers surrounded Cloud and nearly growled in their battle stances. Guns out, blades in hand, fists at the ready. The drones scanned each of the adults first to give the president a perfect view of his enemies. 

“Oho. The eyes of one who has bathed in mako…” Clearly Cloud caught the president’s attention. “Which would make you a SOLDIER?”

Cloud drew his blade, the slightest scowl on his face. “Ex-SOLDIER.”

“Once a SOLDIER, always a SOLDIER. Though not, alas, for very long.” The president continued as Tifa looked to Cloud in concern, “Accelerated cellular degradation being the most common cause of death by far. This is classified, of course, but every SOLDIER knows the truth.”

Cloud’s eyes hit the ground before he forced them back up with a glare. “...That’s right.”

“Yet knowing that, you still…” He cut himself off, clearly recognizing something. “...How did you find these children?”

“It doesn’t matter how,” Kadaj snipped. 

“It most certainly does. Those are more than mako eyes. You three should go back to the lab, where you belong.”

“We’re staying here!” The eldest barked.

“We’re not your property…”

The president scoffed. “Everything involving him is ours.”

Kadaj immediately slashed the closest drone in two, rage already staining his breath. He was very tired of everything in every world circling back to him. “We’re not his either!”

The reaction made him raise an eyebrow, far more than anything else they got out of him. “Still, you’d make fine additions to SOLDIER. Where you belong.”

All of the boys nearly hissed at that.

“Think you forgettin’ someone!?” Barret finally pulled the president’s attention away, going on his usual rant about mako, the planet, and the Lifestream. The president brushed him off as pawns, his company’s propaganda spinning AVALANCHE’s little story as he saw fit. 

Despite Barret’s back talk, the time for talking was over. Heidegger took over the hologram and released the Airbuster, giving the order of execution barring the three silver haired boys. The children were to be taken alive. 

They instantly broke into pairs to take down the massive mech. Its attacks constantly shifted from destroying them head on and charging large attacks while barely within targets of long ranged weapons. Yazoo paired up with Tifa to make up for her lack of ranged options. Loz paired with Barret in order to do more damage when the mech was on the ground. Kadaj used their ‘take them alive’ order and his height to his advantage by attacking its hover engines underneath it. However, he could not survive under their heat for long, so he constantly shifted sides despite his obvious intention to stay by Cloud’s.

Was fighting alongside three small children against a mech on a terrorist mission extremely strange? Yes.

Was it as difficult as they expected it to be? Yes and no. 

Despite their intentions, the combination of their weaker weapons and their inferior strength barely allowed any significant damage. However, against a foe like this, even the slightest damage mattered over time. All six of them couldn’t fight this thing forever, and they knew more security would be on its way if the machine looked like it was failing. The faster its death, the better. However, the boys needed to be extremely careful with the downgrade of these child-like forms. One dead on attack and they’d be lucky to be out of commission. Gods this was frustrating. 

They didn’t know if they lived or died when the machine’s self destruction blew the team apart. A large section of the catwalk was destroyed in the explosion, five of them flung towards the exit, but one dangling on the opposite side. 

“Cloud!”

“Big Brother!” 

All of them ran to the closest edge to see the blonde SOLDIER holding on, unable to drop the massive sword in his other hand. 

“We don't have long to get clear,” Barret stated the dark truth first. They didn’t have the time or ability to save Cloud now.

But he was more concerned with them than himself. “Take Tifa and the boys, and get outta here!”

“We’re not leaving!” The eldest brother yelled and was immediately pulled back by Barret. “No matter what!”

“This ain't the end of the line for you or me!”

“What are you doing…?” The middle brother asked.

The surviving drones began shooting before he could answer. They didn’t have time to think before thr bomb in the reactor detonated and fire wooshed out of the entrance. Cloud had no choice but to let go. 

“CLOUD!”

None of them were ready for something like this, and only one thought fast enough to succeed. Cloud tried to use his grappling to save himself. 

Yet when it failed, Kadaj jumped. 

Both of the boys yelled their brother’s name while holding onto the only two adults that remained, reaching but unable to will their instincts and bodies to let go and chase after their brothers. Barret lifted the eldest up and grabbed Tifa’s arm.

“We have to go. Now.”

She shook her head quickly and tried to focus on protecting what she could, even if it was the boys that looked like the man who killed her father but saved her childhood friend.

* * * 

Everyone was quiet. No one spoke a word until they were ‘safe’ again with Shinra finally off their tails but at what cost?

The boys had no idea what was supposed to happen on that mission even in their own world. They failed. If they're the reason their big and even little brothers died, through this butterfly effect, then what the hell were they supposed to do now? They didn't know what to do in general, let alone with this… feeling that wouldn't go away, one that kept their eyes down and their movements sluggish. 

Tifa certainly had more of this odd status effect than Barret at least. It seemed Barret's little affirmations that Cloud would be okay only did so much to soothe her. 

Even if Cloud survived the fall, the chances Kadaj did too were little to none. Not in these bodies. Not in this world. It wasn't like they couldn't function without each other. But Loz couldn't stop tears from falling and quite honestly it was just annoying to him at this point. He wasn't sobbing or incapable of doing other tasks, but his eyes and his throat were cursed with these stuttering emotions. Yazoo simply couldn't break out of somber silence, sitting at the bar with his arm supporting his head, his silver hair brushing the counter with his occasional shift. 

Neither Barret or Tifa scolded the boys for going on the mission. They already knew exactly what they did. And Loz had a nearly soaked sleeve to prove it. 

“Come on,” Tifa pushed, placing a meal closer. Some kind of egg dish that normally looked so appetizing to them. “You gotta eat.”

They shook their heads and stayed quiet, occasionally moving a chunk of food around the plate with a fork. 

“Biggs is on his way. He'll be here in twenty,” Barret informed, finally giving them the distraction they needed. “Says he's got some info for us.”

Tifa nodded, trying to force her mind on the next task rather than the boys in front of her. She should take them to the orphanage in Sector Five. It would absolutely be better than anything she can provide while working with AVALANCHE. 

“Are you going to abandon us too…?” Though extremely small, Yazoo’s question cut deep into their hearts. Neither adult answered. 

“Why don’t you eat, and then we can talk, okay?” Tifa tried to avoid the idea, but they clearly noticed her dodge. In fact, they dropped their forks entirely and huffed into their own hands. Tifa and Barret just sighed. It wasn’t like force feeding would help either. 

Luckily, the doors to the bar opened, but they were all confused. Biggs was absolutely too far out and the sign clearly said they were closed-

Tifa’s eyes locked on the man that entered. 

He’s alive. 

He’s alive!

She ran out from behind the bar to greet him in a deadly hug for doing something so stupidly risky. But she stopped herself. 

It was Cloud, blonde spiky hair and all but… he looked different. He wasn’t wearing the SOLDIER uniform anymore. That wolf earring was definitely new, so was the wolf on his shoulder pad. And why was he carrying so many swords? He would never part with the Buster Sword. 

Only the two Remnants knew exactly who they were looking at. It was Cloud. But it was the one they knew. From their time. From their world. They recognized him instantly. And he absolutely recognized them. 

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Thanks for reading!