Assassins in Gaia

Cloud opened the door of the truck they had rented to return to Nibelheim and helped his mother. Ace, Tifa, Desmond and Vincent had chosen to sit on the back of the truck. Tifa and Ace got down from the back and started to stretch their spine to relieve the bumps they suffered.

Tifa, "I wonder how Dad is doing."

Ace, "We can find out in a while."

Desmond, "Thank you for the ride Sam."

Claudia, "Here's the pay."

Sam, "Happy to do business with you fine folks. If you all need rides in the future, you know who to call."

Vincent, "Thank you!"

Sam helped them unload their luggage before restarting his truck and leaving. They had a fun time at the resort and Tifa gushed about the items they had brought, especially her new battle gloves. They were just beginner level battle items but she loved it as it was brought from her own money. Cloud had also gotten lucky on the last day and gotten himself a fire materia from one of the lucky gift boxes. Veld had crashed in on their dinner at one point before dragging Vincent off to question him.

Desmond had blinked after them before getting up and following them to find out what was going on. Desmond had been introduced to the Turks that day who, if he were being honest could be considered the Assassin equivalent of Gaia. He didn't say it out loud but observed them as they talked from where he was standing next to a flamboyant red head who went by Reno.

Flashback:

Desmond mused, "Wonder what they are talking about."

Reno, "Who knows yo... So you know him right, yo? Cerebus?"

Desmond, "It was a lucky accident and not one that I regret."

Reno leaned in, "So is it true, yo? Shinra fucked up in your village?"

Desmond sighed pushing the hyper red headed teen back a bit, "Unfortunately, yes. We have been asking for explanation but they keep refusing. A lot of kids lost their parents."

Reno's eyes flickered a bit, "What about you?"

Desmond side eyed him, "My Uncle."

Reno, "Your parents? Ah.. You don't have ta answer, yo. Just killing time."

Desmond shook his head, "I or rather we lost our parents a long time ago. Dad was involved with Shinra and mom passed of heartbroken."

Reno, "Sorry yo. But I guess, you suspect Shinra."

Desmond nodded, "They have their fingers in way too many pies. A lot of people are not happy with them."

Reno, "You know what, yo I'm not drunk enough for this."

Desmond looked at the red head amused, "No we are not."

Reno turned to go to a bar spouting about good drinks needed for a good talk. In the inside however Reno felt like he was being indulged on, like the time Tseng indulged him in one of their first missions. It was a simple mission to exterminate a few sewer monsters. After the mission Tseng had indulged his request for a warm dinner with beer. It had felt like having an older doting sibling, not that he would admit it.

Veld watched them go, "He is not a civilian."

Vincent, "No he is not."

Veld, "He is not Wutain, although he carries knives like one."

Vincent hummed, "He had unorthodox training, I'll give you that."

Veld, "I see, I suppose he is yours?"

Vincent smirked before proceeding to push a file towards his old partner. The file contained information on a few reactors that doubled as research facilities that Hojo used for his unethical experiments. It had been luck by which he got his hands on the file. Veld could handle it, Vincent was in a way tired and didn't want to get involve for a while. He knew better than anyone how obsessed he could be once he started and he had promised Desmond and the kids he would relax for now. Now he had another conversation to deal with.

Vincent, "Desmond, we need to talk."

Desmond waved Reno off, "Yes, we do."

Vincent led them to a private area, "I enjoyed my dates with you."

Desmond, "I'm glad to hear that. I admittedly enjoyed them too. It was fun."

Vincent, "Which is why I want to make a few things clear. Are we going to stick to our current status quo or go further?"

Desmond, "I would like to go further but.. Well, I'm not sure I'm ready."

Vincent nodded in understanding, "We have a lot of emotional baggage to deal with first."

Desmond, "Let's take it one step at a time. Perhaps one day we can be more."

Flashback end!

They had spent the rest of the week after that with the Rhodea couple and some of the other really friendly workers who had become fond of them. Now, they were back in Nibelheim and hiking up the mountain range back to the village that looked strangely deserted for some reason. Tifa, Cloud and Ace looked around warily not understanding what was going on before Claudia gasped and ushered them all towards the safe houses.

Desmond, "Aunt Dia?"

Claudia, "Walk and talk."

Cloud, "Mom? What's going on? Where is everyone?"

Tifa, "Yeah, this is too creepy."

Vincent, "Hush kids and move quickly."

Desmond whispered, "What do you hear?"

Vincent, "Fighting by the reactor."

Desmond narrowed his eyes, "I see. Let's get to the safe house quickly."

They rushed through the empty streets of the mountain village towards the area where the safe house was located. They had to cover quite a distance but just as they were close they heard an explosion come from the direction of the forest. Tifa and Cloud jumped and looked back at the direction with wide eyes, there was smoke coming from the place where the reactor stood. Tifa unconsciously grabbed Claudia while Cloud moved closer to Desmond. Ace was looking at that direction with a blank face before looking back at Desmond.

Desmond, "Aunt Dia, get inside quickly."

Rob, "Great Gaia! Desmond! Claudia! It's you all. What are you doing there get inside the safe house now!!!"

Desmond, "Go!"

Vincent stood by his side as Desmond looked at the swarm coming out of the reactor towards them. They looked like a combination of a grasshopper and a locust put together then experimented on. They were also very fast despite their bulky and ugly appearance. Desmond's eyes glowed as he took out his knives and cut off the heads of the creatures that attacked them, Vincent took out his guns and started to shoot. Cloud and Tifa were rushed inside and before they protest but Ace rushed outside and started to use the lightning materia. The three of them worked as a team fighting off the swarm.

Cloud looked at them with sparkling eyes, "So cool!"

Tifa, "I want to test my gloves too... But before that."

Tifa turned to the safe house, "Where's my Dad?"

Loraine approached them, "Tif, your Dad is at the reactor."

Tifa was taken aback, "What? Why would he be there?"

Mary spoke up, "Actually Shinra sent a few SOLDIERs to clean out the reactor but.. I guess something went wrong."

Tifa frowned looking at the swarm outside, 'Dammit Dad!'

Cloud took out his fire materia, "Incoming! Fira!"

The fire materia spat out a fire ball that hit the insect like monster burning it to ashes. The boys who were there looked at Cloud in awe while the girls squealed and Tifa smirked. She grabbed her new fighting gloves and jumped punching one that had escaped Cloud's attack to the ground. It created a hole in the ground and the boys blushed looking at Tifa while the girls were in awe. The two worked together after nodding to Vincent and made sure the swarm didn't come close to anyone.

Desmond sliced four up in quick succession, "They are stronger than normal."

Vincent or rather Galian beast growled crushing one, "They are a nuisance."

Ace looked at the creature inside Vincent after frying six using thundaga, "Is Vincent awake?"

Galian Vincent nodded sending a wave of dark energy towards three coming from the right side, "He is allowing me to fight. Your idea of letting us demons fight other creatures have merit in a way. It helps in quenching some of our blood lust."

Galian Vincent looked at Desmond observing his fight as he danced through the monsters, 'Although there's another way to satisfy us.'

Vincent who sat back and was watching through Galian beast's eyes huffed, -Behave demon!-

Galian Vincent gave a roguish smirk crushing another monster, -It's not like you have not dreamed about it little mortal.-

Vincent, -We are not ready. Even though, we have agreed to try and be together.-

Galian Vincent, -We know, that's why we have not done anything yet. There are so many ways in which we can pleasure humans.~ Why back in my haydays, I was actually considered the Guardian of Fertility. Fu fu fu fu!-

Desmond who saw the smirk looked away with a slight blush stabbing another creature, 'Damn, so sexy! How did I get so lucky to get a sexy boyfriend?'

Ace looked between the two and snorted, "PDA!"

Galian Vincent, "What?"

Ace shook his head, "It's nothing just thinking out loud."

"Help has arrived!"

Ace looked at two young teens in SOLDIER uniforms, "Who are you people?"

A teen with blue eyes and a bright smile pointed at himself, "The name is Zack Fair and I am a Third Class SOLDIER."

The honey eyed teen next to him spoke, "My name is Kunsel and I'm a Third Class SOLDIER as well."

Desmond took charge, "Well boys, I can see a bigger swarm flying towards us. I hope you are ready for a raid."

Cloud gasped seeing a larger swarm, "They don't end."

Tifa scowled shaking the slime off her gloves, "There's more incoming everyone, brace yourselves!"

Tifa inwardly was worried, 'I hope, Dad is okay.'

Zack grinned, "Alright then, let's do this."

Tifa, "Hey Zack and Kunsel, right? Do you know if my Dad is okay?"

Kunsel, "Your Dad? Ah, you are the Mayor's kid! Don't worry, your old man is a tough guy. He is with the First Class SOLDIER Angeal Hewley. The safest place right now is no doubt next to him."

Cloud comforted her, "It'll be okay Tif, your Dad is smart and will stay safe."

Tifa nodded, "Yeah, yeah, you are right Cloud."

Desmond, "Incoming wave of monsters."

Cloud shot a Fira bringing down around two of the monsters. He then sliced while Tifa punched the third one that escaped Cloud's attack and got closer to them. Zack gave an appreciative whistle seeing their teamwork and used his sword to kill around six monsters. Kunsel differed between using his sword and materia to kill the monsters as he observed the group. Ace was happily shooting thundaga after thundaga burning the monsters with lightning. Kunsel shuddered a bit remembering, a certain red headed First Class SOLDIER who was obsessed with fire materia.

He turned his attention to the two adults, one had a red cloak on and looked a bit wild while the other one had a hoodie and looked like he was dancing through the monsters. The red cloaked one easily crushed the monsters or shot them down never missing a mark. His partner weaved through the monsters slicing them into two like they were butter. Kunsel half wondered if they were not SOLDIERs themselves before shaking his head. The two fifteen year old Third Class SOLDIERs worked in tandem and made quick work of the monsters killing them all.

Tifa panted, "Is it over?"

Cloud breathed hard looking around, "I think so, I don't hear any of them buzzing around anymore."

Claudia, "Kids! Desmond! Vin!"

Desmond, "We are fine Aunt Dia."

Vincent looked at the two young SOLDIERs, after coming back to normal, "You?"

Zack grinned, "We are good. It's gonna take more than a couple of monsters to beat us."

Kunsel, "We need to report to Lt Hewley. Please excuse us."

Tifa, "I'm coming with you. You said my Dad was with your Lieutenant in charge."

Zack smiled brightly, "Sure, the more the merrier."

Cloud, "I'm coming too. I want to know what is going on."

Desmond, "I think, we all deserve an answer."

A gruff voice answered, "And an answer you will get."

Tifa teared up, "Daddy!"

Brian caught Tifa as she rushed to hug him and check on him, "I was so worried."

Tifa, "I was not the one who was at the reactor."

Desmond looked at the First Class SOLDIER, "I believe we deserve an explanation, but first, let us clean this mess up. Everyone let's clear up this mess, then we are going to make a large comfort meal for all of us."

Zack, "Comfort meal."

Desmond smiled, "Yes, but first clean up."

Angeal looked at the younger man standing in front of him, especially those strange eyes that looked like it glowed in the sunlight. He just instinctively knew, that he could not afford to make him angry. Despite the fact he was the strongest SOLDIER in the area and should have been the most dangerous. He felt like he was facing an opponent who didn't care about strength and could bring you down easily.