Assassins in Gaia

Things in Nibelheim was a mess, in Desmond's humble opinion. They just left for a few weeks, just a few fucking weeks, only to return to it being attacked. They were not amused at all, especially when Aunt Claudia realized the acorn orchard, they had started was burned. That too by acid spitting creatures that Desmond is not even going to bother naming. It was not just Claudia who was distraught but even the baker lady, Mrs Portia Stefan who had a rise in business after selling acorn cakes.

Portia was wringing her hands, "Oh dear, oh dear! All the trees are burned, and I have all those orders to fill."

Claudia frowned displeased, "We spent a lot of time and effort on growing these trees."

Portia tried to salvage whatever saplings she could find, "I do wonder, what young Desmond is talking about there. I really hope we get compensation of some sort."

Desmond was looking at the SOLDIERs unimpressed. He has dealt with the Templars past and present and dealt with a crazy Goddess. He was not at all impressed by the so called SOLDIERs in front of him. It could also be his bias talking too however considering what he knew happened to Vincent. And what he was forced to go through to make the SOLDIER program a success.

Angeal felt like shrinking on himself for some reason, 'Why do I feel like I'm in front of my teacher?'

Angeal cleared his throat, "I would, first of all like to apologize for all the damages caused to Nibelheim."

Desmond stopped scrutinizing him and nodded, "I expect reparations from Shinra, honestly, I don't even know what they were thinking creating such uncontrollable creatures."

Zack squirmed behind Angeal, "Sorry."

Kunsel nodded, "We were taken off guard as well."

Vincent sighed, "Cloud, Tifa, Ace, how about you three take the two young men here and grab something to eat, while we adults discuss how to tackle this mess?"

Ace looked at them in contemplation before nodding, "Alright! Why not, besides we cannot think on an empty stomach anyway."

Cloud looked at Zack before agreeing, "Not sure if there will be anything with the destruction but we should find something."

Tifa, "We can always go foraging and hunting. It's deer season too."

Zack perked up, "Sounds like a plan."

Kunsel looked at them curiously, "You three go foraging and hunting in the forest?"

Ace nodded, "Come on, let's go check the town first. We can make sure everyone is okay too."

Tifa, "Hey Dad! We'll bring you all something to eat."

Brian smiled, "Thank you sweetheart. We appreciate it."

Desmond watched them go, "Now that the kids are gone. Why don't you tell us, what exactly happened here."

Brian, "Well, I suppose you should know as you two are the main protectors of this town."

Angeal, "Is that so? Well, I'll tell you as much as I can, but I can't disclose any company secrets."

Desmond, "We understand.. I am surprised there are no Turks around."

Angeal, "This was supposed to be a simple low ranking mission. Not turn into a mid ranking one."

Brian, "The SOLDIERs arrived at the scheduled time and first investigated the mansion."

Angeal grunted in agreement, "Which took three days to clear out and the reason why the Turks are not here. They are delivering a cargo right now."

Vincent tilted his head, 'An important cargo?'

Desmond frowned, 'What else was there that was deemed important?'

Angeal, "I can't tell you what those documents were about as it is Shinra property and secrets."

Desmond looked at him deadpan, 'Right, not suspicious at all. That's a red flag right there. I hope it won't come back and bite us.'

Vincent raised an eyebrow, "I see."

Brian snorted, "That was my reaction too."

Angeal shrugged as if to say, what can you do, "Once the Turks left, it was only the reactor that was required to be emptied. I didn't expect there to be so many active experiments. The fact all of them didn't go berserk was a small mercy. Of course, our luck didn't hold last night as we were moving some of the pods. Ten pods opened simultaneously and we have been battling whole night."

Desmond narrowed his eyes, "They... opened... when... you... were inside and moving them!?!"

Vincent, "Hmm.. That's sus!"

Angeal's lips twitched, "Very much. And you know what happened today."

Desmond, "Let's go check the reactor again. I don't want any stragglers attacking an unsuspecting traveller or curious kids."

Brian nodded, "That would be for the best."

Angeal gave a sigh, "The help is very much appreciated. This mission went FUBAR when we least expected it. I need to call Shinra as well."

Vincent, "The reactors are equipped with communicators, if I remember correctly."

Angeal, "Yes they are... How did you know?"

Vincent, "I used to maintain it."

Desmond, "My boyfriend is older than he looks."

Brian looked surprised at that Angeal noticed, it appears he didn't know they were a couple. Angeal simply nodded before heading to the reactor the three adult men in tow. Desmond had to fight down the blush that threatened to bloom on his face. Vincent had red ears and the three demons inside him were howling and teasing him. At least, they were not denying it. On the other hand, Tifa and the boys had reached the marketplace and checking the damage.

Tifa, "The bakery and fruit vendor shops are standing."

Ace, "Vegetable and grocery shops too. Thank goodness!"

Cloud, "Let's go get bread and jam for a quick snack."

Zack, "I heard acorn cake from Nibelheim is very famous."

Ace, "They are.... But the acorn trees are all burned."

Kunsel, "We can survey the damage and see how much it cost. Shinra will pay you for it."

Cloud, "Yeah.... But the trees... "

Tifa sighed, "We worked hard on taking care of them."

Zack felt guilty, "We are sorry."

Ace, "Hey! It's not your fault. From what I have seen, you had no clue this would happen."

Kunsel scowled, "I guess, but it's still partially our fault, we failed to contain the situation. We will do what we can to fix it."

Ace's face softened, "You are a good kid."

Kunsel spluttered, "Kid? I am older than you!"

Tifa giggled, "Sure you are ~"

Kunsel, "I'm serious."

Zack laughed, "Let's go grab a bite!"

Cloud smiled, "Yeah! We can check the acorn orchard and check if all the nuts are ruined. Or if there are some still consumable."

Zack beamed, "We can see the famous orchard."

Cloud looked away from the bright sunshine, 'Oh Gaia!'

Cloud nodded, "This way. Come on, follow me."

Tifa looked at her best friend and the dark haired teen walking together and gave a grin, 'Oh ho! My sweet Cloud has a crush this time instead of the other way round.'

Ace gave her a smirk, 'Our little Cloud is growling up.'

Tifa nodded, 'Yeah!'

Kunsel leaned in and whispered, "Are you guys talking to each other?"

Tifa grinned before whispering, "I think, our little Cloud has a crush."

Ace, "His first ever crush."

Kunsel looked at his friend who was talking animatedly with the cute blond. He had to admit the young boy almost a teen was cute and adorable, he half wondered if Zack has a crush too. The big puppy was more hyper than normal and his full attention has been on the blond from the start.

Kunsel snorted, "Let's see, where it goes."

Zack was oblivious to the little chat, "So, you were born here right? Do you know any cool places around?"

Cloud looked at his smiling face before looking ahead with a red tint on his face, "There are a few in the mountains, although I'm not sure we'll be allowed to go there... We are here!"

Ace, "Mr Stefan, can we get two baskets of your special bread along with your special jams."

Hanswort Stefan looked at them, "Ah! Kids, I was just about to send these baskets to everyone in the village seeing how everyone is shaken up right now."

Tifa, "Thanks Hanswort, we'll take the baskets meant for our families and tell the other kids to grab theirs."

Hanswort smiled, "Appreciated kiddos! Now off you go."

Zack, "Here let me."

Ace gave a smile, "Sure big guy ~"

Zack took the basket filled with steaming bread and a large bottle of jam, "Oooh! This smells so good."

Tifa held up hers, "I'll drop this one off with Dad, they are probably hungry."

Ace, "You can join us. I was thinking, we should go hunting and fishing for dinner."

Kunsel, "Your parents let you go on your own."

Cloud, "Well, they let Ace go and we just follow Ace. He is the strongest materia user in the village. He even took down a dragon using only lightning materia."

Ace held his hands up, "In my defense, I didn't know she was staking that territory as hers. I did heal her burns afterwards."

Kunsel looked at him like he grew a second head, "You defeated a Dragon!!!"

Tifa sighed, "Yes, yes he did."

Zack, "Then healed her."

Cloud's lips twitched in amusement, "Yes, yes he did."

Kunsel, "You are crazy!"

Ace puffed up proud, "The best people always are."

Zack laughed turning to Cloud, "Your family and friends are really cool Spiky, you should come with me to Gongaga. I'll introduce you to my family, you already met my friend."

Kunsel gaped, 'Zack... What? Slow down!'

Cloud blushed, "Yeah? I would like that."

Tifa burst out laughing, 'Too cute! Too cute!'

Ace grinned, 'Ship! Ship! Ship!'

Ace, "Well, come on let's drop some bread loaves off for Auntie first, then go to the reactor. We can have lunch there too, before heading straight towards the forest to hunt. They should have cleared the place up from any stragglers by now."

Kunsel lifted his eyebrow, "How do you know?"

Ace, "I don't know about Angeal, but I know Desmond and Vincent. They are thorough when it comes to cleaning up creepy monsters."

Zack, "Ah! Cool, I saw them fight. They are really strong as well... Do you think they would be interested in becoming SOLDIERs or you three for that matter?"

Tifa tilted her head, "Me a SOLDIER? I thought only guys became SOLDIERs."

Zack, "There are no rules against girls becoming SOLDIER as far as I know."

Kunsel sighed, "That's because of a side effect of becoming a SOLDIER. Most SOLDIERs are infertile."

Zack, "Oh right! I almost forgot about that."

Ace, "That's the price of power. Something has to give for all that strength."

Tifa frowned, "Power or your kid. That's a no brainer choice for a lot of women."

Kunsel eyed her shrewdly, "But, you don't think so."

Tifa, 'Becoming strong or having a family. I'll have to think about it.'

Ace knocked on the door, "Aunt Claudia! We got some bread loaves and jam for you."

Claudia came in from the back door, "Thank you dears! We just returned from the orchard."

Cloud, "How does it look ma?"

Claudia sighed, "Half the orchard was destroyed and what is left of it is well, it won't be enough to meet the demands come winter solstice."

Portia, "But you kids need not worry about that. Let us adults deal with it."

Cloud, "We are going to the reactor and then hunting."

Claudia, "Just be safe dears."

Portia, "Would you kids mind taking Julian with you?"

Ace, "Not at all. He is good with his bow and arrow."

Portia gave a smile, "I'm glad."

Cloud, "Zack and I will go get him and meet you at the reactor."

Tifa, "Sure ~"

Cloud pulled a smiling Zack along with him. Ace, Kunsel and Tifa looked at each other before shaking their heads and heading towards the reactor. Julian was a very stubborn, loyal and sweet kid, who Vincent had trained, when he showed interest in archery. The young boy had followed them around when he once saw Vincent practice using bow and arrow when he wanted a change from his guns. Julian had not approached them directly but took to observing them and practicing on his own before getting frustrated with his lack of progress. It was only after two months he approached Vincent and asked him to teach him. Mrs Stefan was embarrassed but Vincent had waved her concern off and taught him. Ace and Desmond found the innocent hero worship very adorable and it helped Vincent in ways others couldn't.