Paper Tiger Burning

I respectfully credit all Original Creators, namely Squaresoft, which became SquareEnix,for these characters. In this way, I pay homage to my Fandom's Original Creator, and illustrate my Community's belief that Fan Fiction is "fair use". I do not claim to own these characters. I do not make money or gil from using these protected characters, nor do I wish to make money or gil from them. In other words, I am borrowing these characters to entertain the adult fanfiction community, but I am doing so with the highest degree of respect to the engineers, game designers, music makers, and voice actors.




I awoke before either of them. Gently, slowly, I disengaged from the insistent, loving pull of Aerith and my father. Let them comfort each other for a short while. I had pressing matters to attend.

I dressed quietly, my eyes continually going back to the reason for my life and my reason for living. They held each other with such simple need. I knew there were few in this world who would appreciate their relationship; even fewer people existed who would believe neither had designs upon the other. Grown men and women didn’t cling to each other without baser motives…

I put my coat on and took one last look at them. With any luck I would return in a few hours, hopefully before they awoke. If I could manage it I’d slip back into their reassuring arms with them none the wiser for my absence. At this point I wouldn’t burden either of them with what I intended to do.

Upon entering the living room I sought out my cell phone. In just a moment I had it in hand. I checked the charge, noting I had more than enough battery reserves to call out. I left the apartment and soon the very building. I punched in the pertinent number.

“Hello?” Eldon’s voice, sleepy and muddled, made me smile.

“Eldon,” I greeted quietly, accessing the street and crossing the lane. “I need you tonight for something very important.”

“Sure, General,” Eldon said, sounding much more alert. “What do you want me to do?”

“Get your best camera and meet me at the bar, Seventh Heaven,” I instructed. “Make sure you have enough power and backup power to record at least two hours of moving footage.”

“I’ll be there in twenty minutes,” Eldon assured me.

I hung up and hailed a cab.

************************************************************************************

I didn’t expect a warm welcome but neither did I expect to open the door and find a triple barrel gun in my face. I looked past the weapon, meeting a pair of crimson, intent eyes. “Valentine,” I greeted. “Is Cloud here?”

Vincent Valentine regarded me steadily, his gaze as emotionless and flinty as a statue’s. “Cloud is upstairs,” he informed, slowly lowering his weapon. “What do you want?”

“I need Cloud for a mission,” I explained, stepping just inside and letting the door shut behind me. I allowed my mind to wander the most inappropriate path. This man had carried on a long term affair with my mother, had loved her, and apparently still mourned her. Just like my father. I marveled that two men could love the same woman so deeply.

Valentine’s eyes dragged over me. I saw him wondering just for the briefest moment if I was his son. He’d dwelt in his darkness and despair so long the question hardly made a ripple in his pain.

“I’m not yours,” I said. “For better or worse, I’m of Hojo’s DNA.”

Valentine flinched. He stepped back and I entered the room fully. “I see you know me well enough to hate me now,” he murmured in his oiled sandpaper voice.

“I reserve judgment,” I answered quietly. “My mother must have been one hell of a woman to ruin two men.”

Fire sparked in the man’s eyes. “As you say,” he murmured. “Wait here.”

I sat at a table by the low burning fire, forcing patience. I had to be back before morning but I had no control on Cloud’s speed…

The young man walked down the staircase a few minutes later, followed by Valentine. They flanked me. “What do you want?” Cloud asked simply and aggressively.

“I want you to accompany me on a mission,” I replied. “You’ve heard of Lucas Havars?”

Cloud and Valentine both eyed me closely. Slowly, each man nodded. “He’s the new hotshot at Shin-Ra’s labs,” Cloud said.

“He’s a child-killer,” Valentine added, folding his arms.

I met their claims with a nod of my own. “I’m going to get information from him tonight,” I said. “I want you to accompany me to Havars’ compound once I get the location out of him.”

Both men stared at me for what seemed like an eternity.

“For what purpose and to what end?” Valentine asked, folding his arms.

“I need observers,” I explained. “Eldon will be here soon with cameras but I need physical witnesses if I am to make any charges against Shin-Ra stick.”

“We’re biased,” Cloud said after a long moment. “We’re well known enemies of Shin-Ra.”

“That’s why I’m taking Eldon,” I answered. “He works for Shin-Ra. With both sides represented it will seem fairer. Still, when we take footage of the children Havars has captive, it’ll be nearly moot.”

Valentine almost seemed to smile. “You’re taking over Shin-Ra,” he murmured. “Why the legal route instead of a few murders, General Sephiroth?”

“I like my life calmer these days,’ I answered, standing up. “Are you in or not?”

Cloud and Valentine exchanged glances. Cloud coughed, looking back toward me. “Why haven’t you included Aerith in this?” he asked. “Or your father?”

“My father couldn’t control himself in front of Havars,” I answered. “As for Aerith, she would kill herself trying to heal the children. I can’t imagine Havars only has a few test subjects; I don’t think she could spread herself over a few dozen, wounded children.” I looked toward the door, hearing Eldon approaching from the street. “Besides, her heart might not recover from seeing them.”

“I’m glad you take her heart into consideration,’ Cloud said, his tone ominous. He still didn’t like the fact I wanted his friend. Well, he never would, but I didn’t care.

“Do they even know you’re here?” Valentine asked, perhaps sensing my stealthy exit from the apartment. “Hojo won’t enjoy knowing you spent time with me.”

I met his bloody gaze. “I slipped away,” I admitted. “And Hojo will get over it; his quarrel with you is not my quarrel.”

Valentine regarded me evenly, his gaze not moving from mine even when Eldon stumbled through the door. “I cuckolded your father, surely that presents some emotion in even you, Sephiroth,” he argued while Cloud shifted from one foot to the other. “You didn’t know your mother, that is true, but I broke up your family.”

I realized we weren’t going anywhere until Valentine felt satisfied as to my feelings about him. I waved at Eldon, signifying to wait a moment. “Cloud,” I said. “You should know how to operate the cameras too, considering we’ll need all of us on record. I don’t want Eldon excluded because he’s always behind a camera.”

Cloud looked at the two of us a second, his bright blue eyes discerning the importance of the moment. “Right,” he said shortly. He walked to my secretary, greeting the man.

“Do you want me to dredge up some emotion for a mother I never met, Valentine,” I asked. “I didn’t know Lucretia. I’ve only just discovered I don’t know Hojo very well. I don’t know you at all. What am I supposed to feel, exactly?”

Valentine’s eyes half closed. “The bitterness of choices removed,” he answered. “The anger of being kept in the dark.” He tilted his head a little, letting his gaze wander my face. “Perhaps the desire to win your father’s approval with my death?”

I chuckled. “Win Hojo’s approval? He’s my father and there’s no way around that, but I don’t seek his approval. And there are always other choices. As for being kept in the dark, I don’t have a way around that. Most of my early memories are gone anyway. I wouldn’t know the difference.”

“Would you want to know about your mother?” Valentine asked.

“No. She turned you and Hojo into shambling wrecks. I’m better off if I don’t know about her.”

Valentine frowned. “She was a lovely woman. I will always love her.”

“So will Hojo,” I replied.

************************************************************************************

“Shit, there’s a Turk wandering around Havars’ location,” Cloud said, eyeing Eldon’s spy camera readout. “At least, it ought to be a Turk; they’re following Turk patrol patterns.”

“Let me see.” Eldon flipped the screen around. His dark eyes watched intently for a moment. Suddenly, he smiled. “Not a problem, it’s Reno.”

“How can you tell?” Valentine peered over his shoulder so he could view the moving dot on the monitor.

“The way the dot moves.” Eldon pointed. “See how the blip pauses at the far corridor? That’s where the ashtray stands. Also, he moves from side to side in the hall, and I know for certain Reno takes a special pleasure in critiquing changes in the pictures administration hangs.” He grinned. “The art got changed the day before yesterday and Reno has been off for two days. It’s him.”

“So what?” Cloud shrugged. “You think he’s going to let us just wander in and grab the child-murdering psychopath? He’s a Shin-Ra employee on payday.”

“Yes, I think he will let us wander in and grab Havars,” I said. “Reno expressed to me that he wanted nothing to do with Havars and that he didn’t approve of him at all.” I stood up, checking the corridor we stood in again even though I would hear an intruder long before I saw one. “I say we induct him. Let’s make Havars’ interrogation and subsequent demise a matter of Shin-Ra public record.”

Everyone looked at me. Very slowly, Cloud began to smile. “I thought you’d just pull some phasing crap, beat Havars up and move on,” he confessed.

“The General has more subtlety than that these days,’ Eldon said, defending me.

“Yes,” I agreed dryly. “I’ll have to beat him for the information, most likely, but I still want all of it recorded.”

“Then let’s go and get Reno,” Eldon said.

We walked in a square formation down the long hall and around the following corner. Reno spotted us instantly. Grinning, he relaxed against the standing ashtray, his arms folded. “Well, favorite people of mine,” he commented in a drawl as we came close. “But you aren’t here to visit me, are you?”

“No.” I met his eyes. “Do you want a change in Shin-Ra or do we have to whip you here and now?”

Reno’s grin broadened. “I could maybe, maybe take Eldon, and that’s a small chance, but I’d never take all four of you, would I?” He threw Eldon an apologetic look. “Sorry, pal.”

Eldon rolled his eyes. “I might surprise you, Red.”

“Yeah, you might.” Reno held up his hands. “I surrender to hostile takeover. Do with me what you will. There’s no need to whip my ass in the corridor, not when I would gladly stand by and let you do the dirty to Havars.”

“Smart,” I said, smiling slightly. The Turk had such a flair for the dramatic.

“I know.” Reno eyed Vincent. “Doing alright for yourself, Valentine?”

“I get by.” Valentine’s raspy baritone didn’t even travel past our ears, falling flat in the closed corridor without echo of any kind.

“Which door?” Eldon asked, interrupting the two men’s obvious interest in each other.

“You’ve passed it already. It’s the third one on the left. Might want to be quiet; there are others down here.” Reno yawned.

I scruffed him. “You’re helping,” I said firmly, pushing him toward the proper door. “He’ll answer the door for you and we want this clean.”

“No need to shove,” he protested lightly.

He knocked while we waited on either side of the opening. “Mr. Havars?” he called out. “It’s Reno of the Turks.”

“What do you want, blast you?” Havars answered back, door still shut. “It’s late and I have company.”

“I’m sorry, sir, but I need to ask you something.” Reno grinned at Eldon, who in turn gave him a little slap on the arm.

“Ask now. I’m not decent.” Havars’ voice now sounded truly irritated.

“I can’t, not unless you want to answer a question about Professor Hojo where others can hear,” he replied.

“I don’t have anything to do with that crackpot, I’m just his supervisor.”

“That’s what I need to discuss.” Reno paused to look at his fingernails. “We might have him on disciplinary action and I need your verification of his whereabouts.”

“Alright, fine,” Havars answered grumpily. “Give me a minute.”

“I have all night, sir,” Reno answered, grinning again.

I heard fabric rustling and a woman’s voice. My blood heated. Oh, happy, happy day. Havars was fucking Sheila Shinra.

The door opened. Reno stepped sideways and Cloud rushed Havars, who stumbled back in alarm. In seconds we all stood in Havars’ private room. Reno shut the door. His baton arced out, striking Sheila’s arm as she went for her purse. “Ah-ah,” he said. “No modified roofie for any of us, Miss Shinra. We super SOLDIER initiates take exception to being dosed against our wills.” He yanked a tranq gun from her handbag as Valentine and Cloud wrestled Havars to the floor. “What have you got here, anyway?” He checked the dart chamber, sniffing it, ignoring Havars yells and the scuffle going on behind him.

“Roofie,” he said, dumping a dart. “Morphine,” he said, dumping another. “Ah, what a naughty woman you are! This one is Rohypnol and…” he took a long sniff. “And SP-117, what a combination! You certainly believe in being prepared.”

“I’ll have your job for this, Turk!” Sheila seethed. Her eyes cut to me. “You just couldn’t let it drop, could you, Sephiroth?”

“Don’t be so arrogant,” I said. “We weren’t here for you.” I glanced back at Cloud and Valentine, who had wrestled a gag into Havars mouth so he couldn’t scream.

Eldon came forward with the ratchet restraints. Silently, he wrenched Sheila’s arms behind her back one handed, his camera still rolling. He then did the same to Havars.

“We’re going to ask you a few questions,” Cloud said to the scientist. “And you’re going to answer them. If either of you scream, we’ll kill you, understood?”

Seeing Cloud’s deadly intent, Havars nodded slowly. Sheila made a little strangled noise of dismay. Eldon promptly gagged her too.

“Where is your private compound?” Valentine asked, beginning. He paused a moment, his red eyes taking in Havars fear, then took the cloth out of the man’s mouth.

“What private compound?” Havars asked, feigning ignorance.

Reno sighed. “You know, this is a waste of time,” he said. He took up one of Sheila’s discarded darts, loaded it into the gun and fired it into Havars’ neck. “SP-117 is the best truth serum on the market.”

Valentine smiled slightly, but the effect made him look colder. “Have it your way,” he said mildly to Reno. He turned back to Havars, who now slumped bonelessly between Cloud and Eldon. “Where is your private compound?” he repeated softly.

Havars’ head lolled. “Outer Woods, northeast of Wutai Proper,” he mumbled.

“How is it guarded?” Valentine’s eyes seemed to brighten.

“Men and dire wolves,” Havars answered, though he thrashed while trying to fight the drug.

“How many of each?” Valentine now looked quite bored, but I felt the anger and loathing coming off of him in waves.

“Fifty men on rotation of twenty five on the twelve,” Havars ground out. “Twenty wolves.”

“For the record, Mr. Havars,” Valentine continued, “what is it you do there?”

“I experiment with mako and other substances in the attempt to create a superior human,” Havars said, finishing his sentence with a whine.

“And the average age of your test subjects?” Valentine prompted.

“I take anyone up until the age of twelve.” Havars began thrashing again.

Cloud cuffed him on the side of the head. “He’s mako-augmented himself,” he said. “He’s pretty strong.”

Valentine ignored his friend. “Where do you get these subjects, Mr. Havars?”

“I take the children off the streets, from orphanages, even buy a few from impoverished parents,” Havars said. “Some of them I have to steal.”

“I see,” Valentine said. “And do you do this yourself or do you hire men to do it?”

“My guards do the pick-up,” Havars said, beginning to fight again. “Shin-Ra has provided me with many, lately.

Valentine nodded. “Just one more thing, Mr. Havars,” he said, his dark voice a rumble of ominous intent. “Why did Rufus Shinra hire you to work in the Shin-Ra labs?”

“That cocksucker Hojo refused to do any experimentation on children,” Havars said easily, evidently having less trouble talking about my father. “He said one had been enough.”

“That would be me,” I said for the camera, coming forward. “What is Sheila Shinra doing in your apartment tonight, Mr. Havars?”

“She wanted my cooperation in netting you,” Havars said, his eyes rolling back with the effort to stop his words.

I looked at Sheila. She paled.

“Did she?” I smiled thinly. “So, one assault with illegal drugs and attempted rape wasn’t enough for the princess of Shin-Ra Corporation?”

It infuriated me. If I hadn’t a camera rolling on me I would have fulfilled my ultimate wish of snapping her skinny neck. Still, having her rot in prison for the rest of her life would go a long way to soothing my ruffled feathers. Just imagining her pampered, manicured and blow-dried ass trying to get her way with hardened convicts made my heart soar.

“Here,” Reno said, pointing the gun at Sheila this time. “She’s got another load of SP-117. Might as well get her original assault on record.”