Fanfic - FFVII - Amnesia [Not final title] - Part 1

[sanctum_c]

raaj recommended two Cloud/Tifa fics to me a while ago (Anchor and Wait for It) which we picked over for a while, and then somewhere along the line wound up hitting on the idea of merging some elements from both into a new fic. The fic is intended to draw on both heavily for the ideas but with a completely new execution; Anchor is about coping with the aftermath of Tifa getting amnesia (due to a monster attack from sinister origins), while Wait for It is about Cloud and Tifa's relationship actually advancing with the threat of losing Marlene and Denzel hanging over them thanks to a WRO law change.

So the fic intends to take the amnesia aspect from Anchor and the threat of losing the kids from Wait for It. Will this work? Hopefully...


Reeve walked into the Seventh Heaven with a pensive expression some ten minutes before the bar was due to close for the night. Tifa greeted him warmly.

"Reeve! Didn't expect to see you over our way. How're things?"

Reeve smiled wanly as he took a seat at the bar. "Things aren't wonderful," he admitted.

"Want to talk about them?"

"Yes, but not now. Wait until the bar is closed."

A chill stole through Tifa then. "Serious?"

Reeve nodded and then as his eyes met Tifa's. "Not in the way you're thinking though. This is much more mundane."

Tifa frowned at this, but before she could question him further, one of the regulars had appeared at the bar asking for another drink before she started turfing them all out for the evening. She got back to Reeve after a minute. "Is Cloud around?" he asked, eyes looking towards as much of the rear section of the bar as he could.

"Y-yeah, he's just up putting the kids to bed."

She noticed Reeve tense for a moment before nodding. "Good. Could I have a shot of something?"

Tifa lifted an eyebrow. Reeve was acting a bit strangely but he was still her friend. "Of course." She filled a glass with whiskey and passed it back to him. Reeve reached for his wallet and counted out a few notes. "Don't worry. It's on the house."

"If it's all the same, I'd rather pay. In my position I have no excuse to take advantage of favours. Plus you might feel differently in a bit."

Wordlessly Tifa took the money, her mind now plagued with possibility. Her first thoughts when something that would worry Reeve so was related to a new crisis of the Planet, the rebirth of Sephiroth or some other misguided Shinra project that now found the light of day. Yet the man insisted that the issue was strictly mundane.

Her mood lightened slightly when she saw Cloud descend the stairs and she shot him a smile. He returned it, though she then saw his face frown slightly at the sight of Reeve sitting glumly at the bar. She gave a brief shake of her head and started getting ready to close. Cloud busied himself at the rear of the building until Tifa ushered the last customer out and returned to the bar, Cloud appearing from the back room. Reeve still sat slumped, looking glum.

"So... you going to tell us why you look so down?"

"Can I have another drink first?"

Tifa sighed, but poured another shot for the man who gulped it down in one motion.

"The WRO has voted to pass a succession of new laws to aid with the construction of Edge and helping its residents."

"That's... good isn't it?" Cloud asked, blinking.

"On the surface yes. However we are running out of money, and anything Rufus can provide us is starting to run out too. We can't carry on as we have done. So the board voted to establish a tax."

Tifa started at that and opened her mouth to speak. "That's not the worry. It's not going to hit you too badly, and the increased hires for completion and more large scale building are likely going to get you more custom. Especially with Johnny sending so many customers your way."

"There are times when I'm not sure why he even tries to run somewhere if he keeps directing people over here," murmured Cloud.

"We have plans for the new money. An orphanage and school are pretty much top of the list for us to build. A real school for all the children of Edge."

Tifa was still cautious. "But that can't possible what's gotten you looking so troubled. So what has?"

Reeve drew in a deep breath and slowly let it out. "Another provision was put before the board at the same meeting. Specifically to address child welfare." He looked significantly at both of them, though neither understood how this applied to them. "Specifically there is a lot of concern about the orphans and those taking care of them. We know some of Don Corneo's associates snapped some teens off the streets after Meteorfall, and we know others are using them as cheap, disposable labour."

Cloud growled softly at this. Reeve glanced at him. "Quite. The new law would allow us to liberate any children found working in an unsafe environment or with individuals who are exploiting them."

"Sounds pretty good."

"It does, doesn't it? The issue is with the details. When I realized what was going on, I got additional clauses inserted into the law. There is a lot of leniency towards families - as unconventional as they are - that formed up in the aftermath of Meteorfall. But it's not total. Where possible legal transference of responsibility needs documenting, the parents need to be interviewed and found suitable to care for the kids..."

He trailed off as he saw Tifa's eyes widen. She understood. "Marlene-" she began.

"Will be fine," Reeve interrupted smoothly. "Since she's been with Barret for so long. I can get Elmyra as a witness, and Marlene's status as one of the few survivors of North Corel will make it easy to argue an exception. All that will happen is that Barret will finally be deemed legal guardian." He took a breath, "A status that he can easily reassign to you if he so wishes. Marlene would finally be legally your responsibility."

Cloud spoke up. "So Denzel-"

"Is a problem. I wish I could intervene, but meddling with the WRO's changes so directly and so obviously is not going to do us or the world any good. I have to steer clear of corruption or even implied corruption. You know how long it took to get anyone to really trust the WRO."

The pair were silent; they remembered the less then charitable treatment Reeve used to receive from the Edge residents.

"Denzel has only been living with you a few years now, and has a frustrating personal connection back to myself - I will explain that at a later time - that is going to make his case particularly closely watched. There is also the matter of his surviving family..."

"Denzel has relatives?"

"I don't know. But then neither do you, and I don't blame you in the slightest, but I imagine you've made no effort to find out. The law is designed to try and reunite families wherever possible. There are no documents linking you legally to him. Midgar was damaged but the information is still on record. No adoption occured, no transfer of legal guardianship."

"But-" Cloud spoke up. Reeve raised a hand.

"I know what you're going to say. You are both fantastic parents, but sadly I'm not the one you'll need to convince. Like I said; families that formed up after Meteorfall are given a lot of leniency providing they can fulfill the board's criteria. Match that and the adoption is a matter of a few signatures on a document. Especially if none of Denzel's relatives exist or can be located."

"...and if we fail?" Cloud asked, eyes narrowing.

"Then, Denzel will be taken into the WRO's custody and placed with a foster family until the orphanage is ready."

"Just like that."

"You'll have another chance at an official adoption afterwards, but if you fail the first time, the second time's going to be harder."

The bar was silent a moment. "I'm sorry." Reeve said at length. "I couldn't skew the law any further without gutting the positives. But you'll be fine. There's just one or two things you're going to need to bear in mind."

Tifa spoke up in a slightly strangled voice. "Such as?"

"Neither of them can be allowed to assist with the running of the bar anymore. Anyone sees that or reports that after the law is in affect and you stand to lose both kids no matter the legal status."

"But Marlene loves helping."

"I know." Reeve sighed. "I know she does. But look at this from an outsider's perspective. You have this happy, care-free child serving alcohol she's not old enough to drink. She'll be able to live here, but not work."

"They've coped fine on their own before..." Cloud began.

"I know. I know that. Other people aren't as open minded as I am. Other people don't know Marlene and Denzel. The issue is those people are going to be the ones scrutinizing you, and you can't give them any reasons to take the kids."

They lapsed into silence again. Tifa eventually spoke up.

"Y-you think we'd pass the interview?"

Reeve smiled then. "Tifa from everything I've seen and heard about your family here over the years, all the inspectors will see is a warm, loving environment. Cloud might be on the road a lot, but you're always here Tifa. And ultimately if there is an opposition for Denzel's legal custody, he'll be ultimately able to cast his own vote, and I doubt he'd want to be apart from you."

He rose from the stool. "Thank you for listening to me calmly. I... I was worried."

Tifa sighed. "Whatever for?"

Reeve glanced at the ground before answering. "It's quite something to tell a family there's a risk they're going to be split up. Especially when it feels too much like something from long ago."

Tifa frowned for a second before realising he could only be referring to his own abduction of Marlene. She shook her head. "What's in the past is in the past. We need to worry about the future."

"Thank you. I wish you both the best of luck. The announcement of the law change is due in a few weeks. I'll try and keep you posted by one channel or another when things will happen and prevailing moods. Though if you'll excuse me I need to get home."

"You going to be okay getting back?" Cloud asked as Reeve walked to the door.

"Thanks," Reeve replied. "I have a ninja bodyguard waiting on your roof. Though I suspect by now she's either bored or asleep."

"You should have invited her in!" exclaimed Tifa.

"Maybe." Reeve looked a little embarassed. "I just thought you wouldn't want an audience for that bit of news..."

"Say hi to Yuffie for us." Cloud spoke after a pause. Reeve nodded and walked out into the night.

Comments

[raaj]

I AM SURPRISED YUFFIE DID NOT INVITE HERSELF IN. Actually I wonder if she knows the news or not... ah, wait, she probably does since it's really simply implications from public knowledge. So maybe she's being sensitive for once (maybe).

Um, I'm actually not sure I have too much to say on this one, given what we've already talked about. I do think though that you've laid out very well why the troubling situation's come about. I'm a bit torn on Reeve's attitude as I think perhaps he'd try to seem more confident at least upfront to reassure Cloud and Tifa that they're going to be all right, but then it is true that he'd feel bad that even if it's for a better cause, it's once again his association threatening to take away a child dear to Tifa and Cloud... and there is that chance of Denzel having relatives, which would throw things much more into question despite Cloud and Tifa's own abilities.

Speaking of:

"Denzel has relatives?"

"I don't know. But then neither do you, and I don't blame you in the slightest, but I imagine you've made no effort to find out. [...]"

This seems a bit strange--I can see family Denzel doesn't know about, but I can't imagine Tifa or Cloud haven't asked Denzel at some point if there's someone who might be looking for him. So I imagine the surprise would be along the lines of "But he said--" when they think Reeve's actually located one. I mean, they probably didn't think much farther than that, if Denzel doesn't know the relative he won't be comfortable with them so Cloud and Tifa don't care about blood there; if that's what Reeve means by no effort that makes sense. It just stuck out at me.

I really liked Reeve insisting on paying, though, and Tifa's reaction to that.

[sanctum_c]

Haha - good point! I think maybe Yuffie is a little bit more aware of situations and timing - and yeah does know how the situation is. Sensitive - at least this time.

Hmm... I'll leave Reeve's attitude for now and revisit it later to see how it holds up - it is really difficult to know just how to have him behave in the situation; trying to reassure them, while making clear that there is a risk.

Ah - good point about Reeve's line - I like the protest of "But he said--", and yeah if Denzel doesn't know the relative, he's not going to be comfortable with them...

Hehe - yeah Reeve is just wary of how his news is going to be received and quite keen on not adding insult to injury by accepting a freebie...

[raaj]

I'm kind of wondering about shifting the talk of not having the kids help in the bar a bit--so Reeve concludes on Marlene with "Marlene would finally be legally your responsibility... but I have to advise you leave her out of running the bar from now on", with Tifa getting diverted on that with how much Marlene loves helping in the bar before Cloud realizes that's not the major issue and Reeve still hasn't mentioned Denzel, and concluding more on just the adoption note. Then again that's a pretty stray thought and I do think that you have the best idea--go onward for now and revisit later. I might have little suggestions but this scene does hang together well already as is.

[sanctum_c]

I'll keep that in mind for when things are finished and see how it all works overall. Any comments are helpful though! Debating how quickly to bring the amnesia in - logically it should be the next stage really (combined with some commentary on how family life and the relationships are before everything starts going wrong)...

[raaj]

Yep, don't want to wait too long before things go wrong. XD The amnesia, or possibly just the accident first to establish something's going wrong shouldn't take too long. As part of commentary on family life and relationships you could have Cloud/Tifa/both taking stock of Seventh Heaven, trying to see if they're ready for someone to evaluate them and reassuring themselves it'll be fine.

[sanctum_c]

Ah! Point; accident first then revelation of amnesia. And that sounds a good plan, with them overseeing the Seventh Heaven, working how they're likely to be evaluated and then needing so downtime, or Cloud gets called on a job, and Tifa wants to relax so she takes them to the church (torn on whether the accident occurs on the way there or the way back).

[raaj]

I don't really have a preference myself. TBH I think I got myself lost/forgot part of the previous planning... XD; go with what feels right when you write it?

[sanctum_c]

Hehe - sounds the best plan.