Assassins in Gaia

It had been two months since Desmond and Ace joined the Strife family. Two months, since they had talked about their past, the mysterious family bonds and how eerie it was that Shinra refused to answer any of their inquiries and questions. The last two months Desmond and Claudia had sat together writing letters to Shinra about their family members. After one month of no answers even Cloud and Ace had joined in and sent questions but same result. If there was one conclusion Desmond could confidently tell from all of it was Shinra had way too many fingers, in too many pies.

It felt like the Templars all over again but luckily for them, they were not in to mind control though. Desmond would have completely flipped his shit and left this world dragging his new family along with him otherwise, he had enough of that in one world already. Thank you very much! Now, here he was helping his Aunt prepare for a eleven year old's birthday party. It would just be the four of them but hey it's more comfortable and cosy that way. A month ago, Ace had found out what happened before they had arrived and to say Desmond was pissed would be a complete understatement.

Flashback:

Ace sat on his bed, "Hey Des, have you noticed how the villagers treat our Aunt and baby cousin?"

Desmond who was getting ready for bed looked up at that and nodded, "I did."

He had noticed it, as it was hard not to, but since it was only three days since they were here, they didn't say anything. He figured Ace would find out what happened and tell him, he seem to be able to do that a lot. Desmond had spent most of his time during the day, either helping with the house chores or collecting firewood or hunting in the forest and writing enquiry letters at night. He could confidently say, he had become quite skilled in catching rabbits and getting rid of the smaller monsters. The lightning materia that he found and started to master weeks ago, helped a lot in that endeavour.

Ace continued, "I figured out what happened before we came here. It turns out the Mayor's daughter, Tifa lost her mom a few weeks before we arrived. And the local belief or rather legend is that, the dead go to the mountain. So the poor little girl decided to go there. Now, our dear cousin found out about it and went after her worried about her safety. He tried to make her see sense but she didn't listen to him."

Desmond sighed, "She wanted her mom back, poor little chick."

Ace nodded, "Yeah! They came across an old bridge and unfortunately for the two of them, the bridge didn't hold their weight and they fell. Luckily both Tifa and Cloud survived the fall. Unluckily the Mayor decided to blame Cloud for the incident."

Desmond got up, "WHAT?"

Claudia who was finishing up her cleaning, "Is everything okay there?"

Desmond shouted back, "We're fine Aunt. Don't worry!"

Claudia, "If you say so."

Desmond turned to Ace, "Are they serious?"

Ace frowned, "I know, I can't believe how stupid people are. Cloud is such a sweet, bright and kind kid."

Desmond nodded frowning and trying to calm down, "How about we give him the best birthday? It's in a few days right? He doesn't need those idiots, he got us now!"

Ace brightened up, "Yes! That's a good idea! I even know what to give him as a gift."

Flashback end!

Desmond shook his head, 'Guess humans will be humans, no matter what world we are in.'

Claudia looked up from the old fashioned stone oven, "Desmond dear, the bread is almost ready. How are the roasts coming?"

Desmond checked the rabbits, "They are done. Are they back yet?"

Claudia looked at the door, "They should be soon. You know how young boys at their age are."

Claudia laughed thinking about the shenanigans the two always got into, she was also very relieved. Her Cloud was always so serious and never having fun even when she insisted he should. Ace somehow seemed to bring out his childish side. He would drag Cloud around the forest for adventure and come back with something or the other. Just a month ago, they came back with two baskets filled with acorns that he declared he would make into cake, and make a cake he did.

Ace had spent a whole month roasting and grinding the acorn into fine flour. When they woke up today there was a cake ready to be decorated for Cloud's eleventh birthday. She had told the two of them to go out and play after breakfast as she and Desmond prepared the rest of the house and dinner. Desmond gave them a basket packed with simple lunch to enjoy their time outside. They heard a knock on the door before it opened.

Ace hollered, "We are back! Wao, you really cleaned up here!"

Cloud was grinning wide, "We are back."

Desmond, "Welcome back you two ~ Did you bring the candles?"

Ace pouted, "We couldn't find the right candle so I decided to buy a few and make one."

He presented the candle that was in the shape of the number, 11. He had been annoyed when he had been unable to find birthday candles in the shops and decided to buy a whole bunch of the normal looking ones. He had also managed to distract Cloud by teaching him how to cast Cure with the heal materia. They had spent most of the morning practicing their healing cast before having lunch and going shopping. Cloud had not wanted to go shopping but Ace had insisted and dragged him along.

The shopkeeper had tried to sell the candle at a higher price but Ace had haggled and somehow got the real price out of the shopkeeper and paid it no more no less. Then they had gone to the shed and taken out a broad piece of firewood. Ace had cut out some of the flat side in the shape of 11, before he took out a fire materia and started to melt the candle into it, insert a thread then the rest. Cloud still couldn't believe Ace managed to get a fire materia from those bat type thing monsters. Once it was ready Ace took out the candle and inspected it and went inside for the birthday party.

Ace looked at the hand crafted candles and grumbled, "They didn't have birthday candles Des! How didn't they have candles for birthday?"

Cloud, "It's not that bad!"

Claudia patted Ace's head taking the candle and putting them on the cake, "It's okay dear. At least we have them now."

Desmond lifted them, "Auntie is right you know! Now, come over here, birthday boy. Blow the candles and make a wish ~"

Cloud flushed with excitement walked over and sat on the chair near the cake and blew the candles. He couldn't help the big smile on his face. Claudia, Desmond and Ace started to sing that made Cloud blush even more.

"Happy Birthday to you~
Happy Birthday to you~
Happy birthday to you dear Cloud~
Happy birthday to youuuuuuu~"

Cloud was red in the face, "You guys..... Thank you!"

Ace glomped him, "Don't thank us Cloud, you deserve to have a great birthday ~"

Desmond nodded ruffling his hair, "That's right, no need for thank yous, pulcino."

Claudia smiled, "Now who's up for cake?"

Ace jumped, "Me!"

Claudia grinned happily as she cut the cake and served the pieces. Desmond got the tea to drink with the cake, while Ace gave Cloud his gift. The blond was curious about the nickname Desmond sometimes used. He decided to ask later during his language lessons, who knew his family used two other dialects aside from the Gaian common. Since two months ago, Desmond and Ace had taken to teaching Cloud and Claudia Arabic and Italian, Ace claimed the languages were part of the family.

Ace grinned as Cloud looked at the small cube box, "This one is from me."

Cloud unwrapped it and opened the box to find a heal materia which was smaller than the one they were practicing with earlier. He looked at Ace flabbergasted, getting one Materia was already amazing, to get two is out of the world.

Ace, "That one is yours! Don't look at me like that. All the casting we did helped my Materia to mature and split into a smaller one. Now we can practice together."

Cloud grinned at his cousin, he had always looked at the Materia that his cousin had, with a little bit of longing. He wanted one of his own but didn't know how to find one.

Cloud, "Thank you Ace. This is awesome."

Desmond spoke up, "My turn now ~"

Cloud looked up at him surprised making Desmond chuckle at his adorable, surprised expression. He had not expected more than one gift today. Desmond gave him a gift wrapped box that was bigger and broader. He looked at Desmond curiously and Desmond just looked at him encouragingly to open it. Cloud unwrapped the box and took out what was inside.

Cloud marveled at the well made statue of an eagle and a wolf standing together, "It is beautiful, Desmond. How? Where?"

Desmond smiled, "I'm glad you like it kiddo, I made it myself."

Claudia looked at the statue, "It is truly beautiful Desmond. You have talent."

Desmond, "Thanks Aunt. It's a small hobby of mine. I'm still learning though. This is my best work so far."

Claudia smiled, "I have a gift for you too Cloud."

Cloud took the gift and opened it, it was a handmade scarf, "Thanks Ma! I love it."

Cloud looked at the family in front of him and he couldn't help but smile giddily. He was very happy, most of the time it was just him and his mother and sometimes Tifa because she was just that nice. Though it would not be possible for them to spend time together anymore. Now he had more people to spend his birthday with and he felt less alone in this world. This was the best birthday he had.

Ace, "Now there is something else Desmond and I have been talking about."

Claudia, "What is it?"

Desmond, "Cloud, you inherited our family bloodline."

Cloud tilted his head, "Family blood line?"

Ace activated his Eagle's vision, "He means this."

Claudia gasped, "Your eyes.... Are you saying Cloud can do that too?"

Desmond activated his, "Yes, he has this ability. Now mind you, you need to be trained in order to use it. So we would like to train you."

Cloud looked at the glowing irises with wonder, "What are they called?"

Ace, "Aquila Visione or Nasr Ruya. Those are the names given to this ability."

Claudia's eyes widened with shock, "That's the Cetra language..... Are you saying Cloud is a...."

Desmond, "Cetra? I suppose that is what they called our ancestors, didn't they?"

Cloud, "Cetra? Like in the bed time stories you told me?"

Claudia nodded then paled, "Shinra wants to capture Cetras to force them to find the promised land."

Ace twitched, "Just because Shinra is suicidal doesn't mean that we are."

Desmond nodded, "Right? The Promised land, do they even know what it means?"

Cloud looked at them curiously, "What does it mean?"

Ace, "It's the after life, okay? The land of souls, heaven where Gods or Goddesses reside, thy kingdom come. Whatever floats your boat."

Claudia twitched feeling annoyance surge inside her, "Really? That is what it means?"

Desmond looked at her in understanding, "Of course, everyone wants a peaceful death, we Cetras are no different."

Claudia nodded and muttered something unflattering about Shinra before speaking up, "So, moving on from Shinra's foolish propaganda. When do you plan to start the training?"

Ace, "Some kids according to some family tomes, we found start from the age of seven and most start from the age of twelve. I think we can start from now, that is if Cloud wants."

Cloud, "I would like that and I think Dad had those eyes too, not as bright as yours but I remember those eyes. I felt like nothing could hurt me with Dad around."

Desmond, "Great, let us start tomorrow then."

Claudia though was eyeing Ace's bag, 'I have to get one of those specialised bags one day.'