Two Letters and a Number

By the time the Shera landed on the roof of the WRO, Reeve was very glad that none of the other members of AVALANCHE had gone with them. The flight back had given both Cloud and Reeve a chance to get use to this sane version of Sephiroth, and Reeve found himself enjoying the Silver General’s company more than he thought he would. Of course, his memories of the man were based on board meetings and watching him at charity events. Not the most ideal of circumstances to build up an opinion of someone.

Cloud was talking quietly on his PHS as they disembarked from the Shera, and Reeve wondered if it had to do with the upcoming meeting with Shinra or the newly returned members of the party. Either way, Reeve was going to make sure to avoid Tifa until the brunette’s temper had cooled. Possibly Barrett’s as well. Those two always seemed upset when Cloud tried to reminisce about his times as a trooper with Shinra as if they didn’t want to be reminded that their friend had once been part of that group.

As soon as they entered the WRO building, Iris met them with a clipboard and fell into step next to Reeve. “Mr. Shinra called. He’s waiting for you to set up a meeting with him some time within the next day, stating that it’s urgent. Miss Lockheart dropped off two footlockers for Mr. Strife. They’re in your office. Miss Kisaragi and Mr. Nanaki are both waiting for you in the meeting room off your office. The engineers have finally turned in a report about Mr. Wallace’s oil field, and Mr. Jennings of the Gate Project has stated that the platform is ready for whatever it is you wish to put on it.”

Once more Reeve was amazed by his secretary. She had to be a miracle worker in her spare time, and once again he wondered how he had ever managed to function without her. “Tell Shinra we’ll meet with him in two hours and arrange for drinks and sandwiches to be delivered to the conference room down on the sixteenth floor. Dr. Takajira, Chang and Donahue have files that are to be placed in the vault and accessed *only* by Dr. Takajira, Mr. Strife, Mr. Valentine, or one of their authorized representatives. Also, send a message to Mrs. Elmyra Gainsborough inviting her to a private dinner at Francine’s before arranging for a private room there. And Yuffie, get your hand out of my candy dish.”

The last was said as he opened the door to his office, knowing that if Yuffie was in his office, she was raiding his candy dish. Sure enough, there was a yelp and a scuffling as Yuffie backed away from his desk, her cheeks stuffed to almost bursting with candy even as she tried to look innocent.

The quiet laughter from over near the windows had to be Nanaki, and Reeve waved everyone towards various chairs and couches that weren’t covered in papers and blueprints. Cloud moved over to where two footlockers were placed against the wall and gestured to one of them. “That’s yours, Zack.”

“Zack?” echoed Yuffie, watching as people filed into the room before she yelped, the Conformer appearing in her hand as she tensed for an attack. “Sephiroth!”

“Okay I gotta ask, how did she hide a weapon that big in those clothes and can she teach me that trick?” drawled Jack only to flinch when Sam slugged him in the arm with a hissed “Colonel!”

Shaking his head, Reeve sat down behind his desk, automatically straightening papers into piles as both Cloud and Zack knelt in front of their footlockers like a couple of kids at Yule. Nanaki padded over next to the desk before stopping to stare at Aeris in surprised disbelief even as Reeve watched the Tau’ri tense at the sight of the fire lion. Except Daniel who was looking at Nanaki with open curiosity.

Aeris grinned and knelt on the floor to look Nanaki in the eyes. “Hey there. Sorry we didn’t come see you earlier, but Cloud was being Cloud,” she remarked, scratching behind one of the fire lion’s ears.

“In other words, he was plunging head long into possible danger to protect another with little to no regard to his own safety,” translated Nanaki, humor evident in his voice.

“Yuffie? Your dad wants to talk to you sometime soon,” Cloud announced, his voice distracted, and Reeve looked up to find him sitting next to his open footlocker with a book in his hands. “Like within the next day soon.”

That got a huff and a stomped foot from a pouting Yuffie, who was still staring at Sephiroth as if expecting him to start attacking. “Godo just wants me to come home and take Wutai off his hands for him.”

“It is your birthright, Lady of Wutai,” remarked Nanaki, moving over to sit next to Cloud even as he ignored the stunned looks from the Tau’ri.

“Um, not to be rude, but are you suppose to be on fire?” asked Daniel as Sam started sputtering about facial muscles and it shouldn't be *possible*, before she just gave up and burried her face in her hands.

Nanaki smiled at Daniel, who had apparently decided to accept the fire lion as the intelligent creature that he was. “Actually, yes.”

Daniel nodded and seemed to relax. “Okay. Just making sure.”

“Did you have any trouble getting their gear, Yuffie?” inquired Reeve as he started scribbling down points he wanted to make at the upcoming meeting with Rufus.

That got a snort from Yuffie, and Reeve looked up in time to see her point to a trio of packs and weapons. “Please. Like the Turks could keep me out,” she drawled before smirking. “Can I keep the staff? It looks really neat!”

“No, you can’t keep the staff. It belongs to Teal’c,” replied Reeve, laughter in his voice. He knew that if she had really wanted to keep it, she would have stashed the staff elsewhere and pleaded ignorance when asked. That’s what she had done with their materia. Huffing slightly, Yuffie pulled a shuriken from somewhere and started flipping it in her hand as she stared around at everyone with an almost bored expression.

The snap of a book being abruptly closed had Reeve jumping slightly until he saw that it had only been Cloud closing the book he had been looking through. The smile on the blond’s face made Reeve think of a Nibel wolf tracking its prey, and Reeve almost felt sorry for whomever Cloud was going to confront.

Almost.

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Standing against the wall with a clear view of the windows, Sephiroth glanced around at the people gathered in the office. Aeris had taken Miss Kisaragi off to one side and was getting caught up with the young princess while Nanaki was sitting next to Cloud and Zack as the two became reacquainted with the contents of their footlockers. Dr. Jackson had claimed a seat on the floor near the fire lion, and the two were discussing the history and lore of Gaia. The woman, Major Carter, was sitting in a chair, holding her head with her hands,as if unable to understand why her science wasn't explaining what she had experienced. The other two Tau'ri, Colonel O'Neill and Teal'c, stood near the windows, staring out over Edge.

The whole atmosphere was strangely comforting in a way Sephiroth had not expected. It was almost reminiscent of the times when Zack dragged Cloud into Sephiroth’s office to keep him company while Sephiroth finished the paperwork that seemed to multiply when he wasn’t looking. It was relaxing enough that Sephiroth could turn his attention towards a few things that had been bothering him since his return from the Lifestream. Such as the strange power he could feel course through his blood, almost a mirror opposite of the remembered power of Jenova.

‘My child. Not just hers,’ whispered a gentle voice in the back of Sephiroth’s mind, and he closed his eyes with a faint frown. It wasn't the poisoned hissing of Jenova, but a much kinder voice, somewhat like what he had expected a mother to sound like given the description his companions had about their own mothers. A ghostly sensation trickled down his back, feeling like fingers almost stroking over where the white wing had been, and he shivered before he could stop the action.

“Are you all right?” asked a quiet voice from beside him, and Sephiroth glanced down to find Cloud standing there, the book in his hands as blue eyes stared out the window.

Sephiroth nodded and looked out the window again. “Just thinking,” he explained, brushing off the other’s concern. “Are you certain of your actions against Rufus? He is not to be taken lightly.”

That got a small smile from Cloud. “He can’t keep what doesn’t belong to him.” Blue eyes turned to look up at him. “That includes you.”

Before Sephiroth could reply, the door opened to admit Reeve’s secretary. “Mr. Shinra, Mr. Tseng, and Mr. Reno are waiting for you in the conference room, Mr. Tuesti.”

There was definitely a smirk of satisfaction on her face as everyone started gathering things up to start for the door.

“Thank you, Iris. If you want to leave your possessions here, there will be someone guarding them,” remarked Reeve, glancing at the Tau’ri as Cloud fished one more thing out of his foot locker. From the quick look Sephiroth managed to get, it was a small bag, but it clicked softly like it contained marbles. He was tempted to ask Cloud what was in the bag, but refrained at the sharp smile on the blond’s face.

It was an easy walk down to the conference room, and Sephiroth wasn't surprised to see Rufus standing in front of the windows as if this was his office. Reno was lounging against a wall looking as rumpled as ever while Tseng was in a corner where he could cover the entire room. Reeve calmly sat down at the head of the table with the rest of his friends claiming seats while the Tau’ri sat down on the other side of the table. Sephiroth found himself in a chair to Reeve’s immediate right with Cloud next to him and Zack across the table.

“I thank you for meeting with me...” began Rufus, not bothering to turn from the window when Reeve interrupted him.

“Let’s cut to the chase, Rufus. I am extremely busy, and quite honestly, I don’t have time for your bull shit,” Reeve drawled. “Now, you requested this meeting, citing it was urgent, and I have humored you.”

Bowing his head, Rufus remained where he was. “You are attempting to extract a certain artifact from the ruins of the Shinra Tower. A few days ago, you ordered one of your men to destroy the lab in Nibelheim, rendering millions of Gil of equipment useless after stripping it of all files. The guests I had been entertaining leave to meet with you and fail to return to their lodgings. Then they are found with you in Nibelheim, along with Commander Fair, General Sephiroth, and Miss Gainsborough, all of whom have been part of Shinra in one form or another. From where I am standing, it looks to me as if you are attempting to take over my company.”

“I don’t want nor do I need your company,” announced Reeve before flipping open a folder he had been carrying. He plucked out a check and held it out for Reno to take. “A full reimbursement plus interest of the funds borrowed to help start WRO.”

Warily, Reno walked over and accepted the check before taking it to Rufus as Reeve sat back, a small, satisfied mile on his face. “As for your other accusations, let me set the record straight. The artifact in question belongs to Cloud’s family, and as it is the means for which the Tau’ri can return to their planet, it is more beneficial for it to be relocated to allow for easier access. The lab was claimed as per our original agreement when WRO started and the equipment disabled in a manner I deemed necessary to prevent anyone else from accidentally being subjected to Hojo’s insane experiments. The next person might not be as lucky as Dr. Jackson was.”

“Dr. Jackson shouldn’t have been in that lab to begin with,” Rufus objected, his voice soft as he ignored Reno and the check. “Strife had no business escorting Dr. Jackson into any of Professor Hojo’s labs.”

“Which is rather ironic since it was your suggestion that Cloud escort Daniel around so we could form an honest opinion of your company, Shinra,” drawled O’Neil with a lazy grin. "And when you refused to answer our questions or said it was 'classified' when you did decide to say anything, is it any wonder that we go to someone else for answers? It's what anyone else would do, when trying to form an opinion."

That got a small huff from Rufus. “It does not matter. You have discovered your answers. If the lab was claimed per a prior agreement, then there is nothing I can do about that.”He turned slightly to toss them a cold smile. “But the artifact belongs to Shinra. After all, Cloud’s family is me.”

Sharp laughter rang out, and Sephiroth turned to watch Cloud push himself to his feet. "I am the last of those who guard the Gate, but if you truly believe you are a member of my clan then I'm sure you can answer a few simple questions anyone in my clan would know. Correct?"

It was an easily recognizable challenge. If Rufus backed down, he would be admitting he couldn't answer whatever questions Cloud came up with. That would cost him far more than accepting the challenge and failing. Settling back in his chair, Sephiroth allowed himself a small smirk as he watched the two blonds face off against each other.