Chapter Text
It's easy for Veld to gather a team to travel to Nibelheim. Katana made sure to inform only the oldest and more experienced Turks about the situation regarding Science, because of that, they were ready to jump in action the moment Veld called them. Having everything ready for the mission, the group of Turks leave Midgar.
The trip to Nibelheim is tense, as nobody dares to say a word after hearing the updates Veld gave of the situation.
Yes, the Turks' ultimately loyalty isn't to Shinra, is to the Turks, that's the truth, but that doesn't change the fact that only the Turks know about that. On the outside they serve Shinra with utmost professionalism and unwavering loyalty, it is their impeccable performance on duty what makes them invaluable assets to the company. So for the Turks to discover that one of their own (and a great Turk at that) was used and kept hidden by the Science Department, is inconceivable. It's the ultimate insult to each of them who ever risked and lost their lives for the company. And to know that all of that happened years ago under their very nose, that it took a decade for them to known, well, it's not a surprise that all the Turks are filled with rage.
"You say you don't know what happened to Vincent right?"
"I don't but, Professor- Hojo, he- the things he did to the creatures he kept in the tanks... they could never stay alive for long, they couldn't, not after all that torture..."
The lack of morals of the Science Department, Hojo and the President (because none of that could have been possible without his approval) is specially disturbing to the Turks with a family waiting for them back home.
Knowing that the company they serve sees them as nothing but disposable waste is not really surprising. However, knowing that Shinra is willing to use not only them but also their families enrages them. It's infuriating and absolutely terrifying to think that any of them or their loved ones could end up as nothing but lab subjects one day.
The possibility that that could have already happened and they might not even know it is a fear they refuse to give voice to yet.
"What can you tell me about the place Vincent was kept?"
"It was... dark, just like the other parts of the lab. I know now that the reason for that was because we were underground"
"They never took you outside?"
"No, the first time I saw the exterior... it was on my last day there. I couldn't see much with all the rush but I managed to look outside the window just for a moment. I still remember them..., the mountains..."
They arrive at night, when all the villagers of Nibelheim are sleeping, or at least most of them are. But for a group of experienced Turks a little inconvenience isn't a problem.
The weather is cold and the night is calm. Which means that there won't be any dangerous monsters in the forest surrounding the Shinra Manor. An advantage for the team that wants to avoid anyone noticing them.
Once they set a path through the forest it doesn't take long for the Turks to arrive at the Manor's door, nor is it a struggle for them to break in and start to investigate.
"Both of you were underground right? In the... labs..."
"We were but, it wasn't the same, I had a bedroom but father..., he was always in the tank"
"I imagine you two weren't near the other considering how you described the old lab being isolated from the rest of the place"
"No... we weren't..."
"..., but?"
"Nothing, it's just... I was remembering when I managed to sneak out for the first time"
"Oh? Were you trying to escape or...?"
"No! I- I wanted to sleep in the old lab... to stay with father, I really tried but... "
"...They found out, didn't they?"
"They did... and- and it wasn't fair! I just!- ...I just didn't want father to be alone..."
The Shinra Manor is completely abandoned but there are still some boxes left by the scientists laying around.
The Turks take what they can, leaving important papers untouched, just in case someone returns before they can properly erase the proof of being there.
They check the rooms, take photographs and investigate the place, all while looking for the old room the kid told them about.
Eventually their search leads them to the main labs where they find all kinds of scientific research, varying from normal human health investigations to results of trials consisting on horrifying inhuman experimentation. The complete lack of ethics and morals leaves more than one of them nauseous.
Ignoring the horrors they find takes much more effort than they could ever have expected but in the end they manage to move forward. They have no choice but to ignore the implications of what they read until they find the moment when they are able to fully process them.
Soon they reach the isolated door that is meant to lead into the old lab. If anything the kid said is true then behind that door they will find the missing Vincent Valentine.
With a sign from Veld the Turks break into the room.
Inside, everything is like they were told, everything but one thing. The room is abandoned, much more neglected than the rest of the manor. The Turks find the tank and the console Sephiroth described, but what they don't find is their comrade.
Veld is probably lucky that one of his men choses that very moment to burst into the room and interrupt them, or else he has no idea how he would have reacted.
All that work, all that hope and in the end they didn't find Vincent.
"Boss... sorry to interrupt but, we found something you might want to see"
At least, not until they follow the clues Hojo left behind.
It takes them hours of work, battle and investigation to find the key to the basement, the mocking mess of notes left by Hojo only serving to increase Veld's hate for the man. (Still, that anger is better than the sheer despair that hit him when he saw the empty mako tank).
Their combined teamwork allows them to find the basement without any life threatening injuries or lost comrades. It's a successful endeavour all in all, at least until they enter the basement and the Turks find themselves in an abandoned room and surrounded by coffins.
Veld's feet freeze at the entrance, the sight of the coffins would have made him gasp, if that same gasp didn't get stuck on his throat by the force of his emotions.
Reminding himself that he's not alone and that he has a team to lead, Veld takes a moment to breath deeply and to get back his composure. He can't let himself break, not now.
If anyone notices his reaction, nobody says a word.
Not when on the inside they're all struggling the same.
What's worse, however, is the realisation that abruptly cross their minds. The possibility that Hojo left all those clues behind merely to mess with the person that came to find Vincent.
And they're all aware of who that person would have been if they had never learnt the truth.
Sephiroth.
The kid who was so eager to find Vincent that accidentally approached one of them. The kid who had every right to distrust them but chose to believe they could help him.
The mere idea that that man has planned to toy with the boy to this point makes Veld clench his hand in anger to the point of breaking skin.
Before any of them can give into their anger, however, the tension gets broken by a soft barely audible groan. It's impossible for them to miss it in the deadly silence of the room.
They all hear it, the harsh breathing of someone in pain.
In that moment the hope they started losing returns with the force of a raging inferno.
Even if it is a very painful and fragile hope.
Veld's pulse quickens, whether it's Vincent or not, there's someone most likely hurt and trapped here.
With a gesture of his hand the Turk director motions to his men to retreat.
There's a second of hesitation from them but they trust his Director so eventually, they retreat and leave Veld alone at the door.
'If it isn't Vincent who's here...' Veld takes out his gun, 'or even if he is', he gulps. 'I have no way to know in what condition he might be in, if he's hurt and I startle him...'
'Nothing more dangerous than a caged and injured person. I must be careful'.
Raising his weapon and getting ready to attack or defend himself, Veld steps into the room.
It's so dark that even with the barely there illumination Veld has to rely on his hearing to move around.
He tries to slowly walks towards the noise but only manages to get some steps closer before the coffin burst open and a figure in black and red jumps from inside it.
He tries to point the gun at the stranger but the mysterious figure flips away in the air before elegantly landing far away from him. It's difficult for Veld to keep calm when this person can easily dodge his aim and move with grace foreign to that of normal human beings.
(A grace that briefly reminds him of Sephiroth in the battlefield).
It's clear that this mysterious person's has some dangerous reflexes, whoever this is they're not to be underestimated. But neither should Veld.
Before any of them can even say a word, guns are pointed at their faces. Both of them ready to take out the other.
There's a tense atmosphere in the air but neither the Turk director nor the unknown individual dare to look away. Both knowing what a momentary distraction can cost.
At the same time, the stalemate that follows gives Veld a window of opportunity to analyse the figure in front of him.
Starting with the man's unusual choice of clothes.
Black leather, several straps and sharp golden accessories, including a gauntlet and a pair of pointy sabatons. A design that would seem to have been made for stealth, if it wasn't for the striking gold colour and the showy red cloak.
It would certainly be difficult to keep a low-profile and be inconspicuous while wearing such noticeable and eye-catching attire but given how fluid and silent the man is, Veld is sure he could manage.
The fact that they're face-to-face and the man is still capable of keeping most of his face and body shape hidden by the lack of light, posture and his cape, is proof enough of his skill.
At the same time the Turk can't help but think there's something else going on with that red cape of his. It looks worn and old, and yet, there was something almost uncanny about the way it moved in the air.
Although, telling the truth everything about this man screams otherworldly, ranging from his presence to his clothes.
Just trying to assess this man's true level of danger has Veld's thoughts running a mile per minute. At least, that is, until the man tilts his head in question and what little details Veld manages to see freeze him in place.
Pale skin, sharp features and red eyes that shine with mako level brightness, Veld recognises them. Even the messy mane of black hair, despite the longer length and spikes it now displays, becomes familiar once he truly pays attention to it.
Veld realises he recognises these features, even if they changed.
His instincts and his mind scream at him not to lower his guard to the danger, but his heart urges him to take the chance, to trust. So against his better judgement the Turk director makes a decision and slowly lowers his gun.
The action seems to take aback the man, who frowns, head tilting to the side again, now having his bangs covering his face. And Veld wants to laugh because now that he knows, he can still recognise the sharp features that hide behind them.
Specially considering the fact that it appears his partner hasn't aged a year since the last time he saw him.
Having made a decision Veld takes a breath and raises his hands in surrender. He forces his body to relax and hopes that the man understands that he's showing that he's not a threat anymore.
It works.
His moves make the dangerous man relax the arm holding his gun and give the Turk director some careful consideration.
Now is his chance.
With those red eyes focused on his face, Veld says, "Hey partner".
And waits, holding his breath.
Silence.
Deathly and tense silence.
At least at first.
Then there's confusion, and then, bewilderment and disbelief enter the man's eyes. His mouth opens but no words come out so Veld continues with, "It's been a long while my friend", and hopes for the best.
The last words give the man a pause. His eyes then narrow and focus on the Turk's face with intense scrutiny.
A moment.
Some seconds pass and then, the gun pointing at Veld slowly lowers.
"Veld?" The man, no, Vincent Valentine says, recognition flashing through his now glowing red eyes.
He sounds tired and there's clear signs of disuse in his voice, along with a touch of distrust made more obvious by Vincent's now tense posture. Even if he now knows who's the person standing in front of him, it's clear he's troubled.
In the silence that consumes the room once again, Vincent's the one who now makes sure to analyse the person in front of him.
He's surprised by the other's appearance.
Unlike Vincent, whose face hasn't changed since he left Midgar, Veld's face shows the passing of the years.
He's not the same young man sporting the smug smirk Vincent remembers.
The scars on Veld's face and the look in his eyes carry the weight of years of unknown struggles. His body seems healthy, his posture shows confidence but at the same time it betrays the stress he now carries. Even his Turk uniform is different from the one Vincent used to wear, now being a dark blue that is practically black instead of the simple blue one.
All these details make it clear a lot time has passed. And at the same time it makes it impossible for the ex-turk to tell just how long.
He's not sure he wants to know the answer.
While Vincent is submerged in his thoughts Veld patiently waits. The older Turk hopes he hasn't forgotten how to read his friend's silence. That if his partner is anything like he remembers then it's only a matter of time before he speaks. 'You always took your sweet time to say what was in your mind, right Vincent?'
The silence stretches and Veld starts to worry and doubt himself but then he's rewarded for his patience when Vincent tilts his head and asks reclutantly, "How long, has it been... since the last time we met?".
And Veld would smile if only the answer to that question hasn't been a heavy weight on his mind since the moment he spoke to Sephiroth.
Carefully Veld answers "It's been around a decade since you left Midgar for the Nibelheim mission", and regrets it the moment Vincent's face changes.
Even if Veld was able to recognise one of Vincent's old habits, the expression on his face right now is another story.
Any sense of small accomplishment he felt in that moment died, because unlike before, Veld is now unable to read his partner's face.
The silence weights heavily on both of them.
For a long while Vincent says nothing, and the longer he stays still without showing any reaction, the more Veld worries.
Eventually though, Vincent lowers his face into the neck of his coat and monotonously utters, "I see".
The lack of emotion in the spoken words troubles Veld. He knows something is wrong. However, before he can say or ask anything, Vincent suddenly raises his head and with a fierce glare commands, "Leave."
Veld flinches. The sudden change in the atmosphere feels like a slap in the face. But, he quickly recovers and manages to argue back in offence, "No way! I'm not leaving!"
However his words don't deter Vincent in the least, his glare only deepens as he stresses harshly "Veld, you shouldn't be here".
The sudden dismissal hurts and at the same time makes Veld bristle. He doesn't hesitates to fight back, "Neither should you!".
The quick response leaves Vincent bewildered, it's clear he wasn't expecting Veld to object. But the surprise doesn't last long as he declares, "That's where you're wrong" and aims an angry glare at Veld's face.
The reaction surprises the Turk director who wasn't used to having his partner rage directed at him. A part of Veld wants to snap back, to argue and fall back into old habits. But it's been years, he's matured, so he stops himself and thinks back to all the things Sephiroth said to him.
A somber mood quickly takes over and Veld makes a point to look directly at his friend's face when he softly and carefully inquiries, "What happened Vince?"
Silence befalls them, this time without none of before's tension. Just a dull feeling of pain and resignation permeating the air.
Vincent's face lost all the anger he had before, leaving behind just the tormented face of a man with nothing to live for. With a turn Vincent moves his body so he's not directly looking at Veld anymore when he repeats "...you must leave, you shouldn't be here"
It makes Veld sigh sadly, he remembers how stubborn Vincent got when he made up his mind about something. And in the past he was never able to get Vincent to listen to him, no matter how hard he tried.
'But that was then' Veld clenches his fists.
Veld is not the person Vincent has to answer to now.
'I made a promise. I'm not leaving until I can fulfill it'.
He's not gonna make the kid cry.
"It's okay if you don't want to tell me, I won't insist" Veld declares, before determination takes over his face and he takes a step forward "However, what I'm not gonna do is leave you here to rot"
Without turning back to look at Veld Vincent answers, "You must". Then his gaze lowers and focus on his golden claw before he continues "This body, and this place... they're my punishment"
Indignation and sadness fills Veld's chest.
"Punish- bullshit!" The Turk screams.
Veld takes a step forward in anger before he stops and takes a breath trying to calm himself. It's difficult but he manages to find the words to express what he means. "Look, I may not know what happened here, to you, but, Vincent, you can't expect me to be fine just leaving you here" he begs.
The words make Vincent look at Veld in surprise, "You..." before he closes his eyes and sadly reiterates, "you have to...". Vincent's gaze then lowers back to his left arm, his golden claws shine in the dark "I'm not fit to be around... people, not anymore. I'm... this, this is where I belong"
Veld's frustration, sadness and righteous anger rises at Vincent's words "Don't speak about yourself like that!. I don't know what's wrong but you can't expect me to just let you rot in this place!". He resumes walking forward, intent on getting close to Vincent, to make him understand "There's people waiting for you!"
"Veld I'm not going back to Shinra". Seeing Veld approach has Vincent trying to move away but his words make him stop.
Realising that he might have a chance now. Veld gauges Vincent's reaction before he starts to explain, "You don't have to rejoin Shinra if you don't want to", and the statement seem to surprise Vincent, "I didn't came here for that. I know theres a lot I don't know or understand about what happened to you. And I know you must have your reasons for believing what you do. We can work with that, I swear".
Veld gulps and closes his eyes. When he opens them his gaze burns, "But, Vincent, you have to come with me to Midgar, you have to, I made a promise". The words make Vincent narrow his eyes, his body tenses, moving a step behind when Veld continues, "I promised your son I'll get you out of this place Vincent, please don't make me break that promise"
At those words Vincent freezes and stops trying to get away.
Veld sees this and is glad. But what he doesn't know is that his words are now stuck in Vincent's mind, running through his head over and over again without being fully registered or processed.
Then the confusion finally shows on Vincent's face.
His mouth opens and closes but he can't say anything. Seconds passes and in the end the distressed man only barely manages to say "...Son? I don't-", before he's falling to the ground.
In that moment memories hit him.
Bluish green surface, a strong overwhelming smell, aches, all over his body, burning in his scars, deep pain in his mind and soul.
Hojo, Lucrecia, the suffering and loneliness.
The darkness, long never-ending darkness.
And then, one day, the light, the sound of footsteps, words.
"I'm your son Sephiroth"
Vincent gasps at the memory, his body bends, already on his knees his head hits the floor.
"I'm your son Sephiroth"
His hands move to his head, to desperately hold onto his hair, to the point he can feel his clawed gauntlet breaking the skin.
Another memory then bursts into his mind.
"Fath..."
"...ther..."
"Does.... hurt?"
He doesn't know the answer, he doesn't think he knew it then either. He can't focus on anything, not even his breath. His panic and pain forgotten in the face of his sudden realisation.
'It wasn't a dream...'
'It wasn't a dream...'
'It wasn't a dream...'
'Sephiroth...'
One after the other, they start to reappear.
The memories.
Birds, dragons, swords, materia, friends, family, anything and everything he wanted to talk.
He remembers now.
The visits.
Sephiroth's visits.
But.
He wasn't the only one.
He remembers becoming more and more exhausted after every encounter. The afterward of the visits consisting on him being surrounded by blurry white figures working around his tank, hearing Hojo's grating voice, getting sleepy.
Until...
"Father!"
The new and stronger memory makes him flinch. He can feel the tears start to gather in his eyes.
"Father!"
"Fath..."
"I'm scared..."
"don't... want..."
"Don't... leave..."
"Father"
"I don't want... leave"
"Father"
"Father"
"Help-"
He remembers the desperation.
He remembers tensing, struggling and failing to wake up.
"Father?"
The voices in his head urging him to act, to move, to try, to do anything.
"Can... hear me?"
He remembers the frustration, the fear, the heartbreak, because no matter what he tried he was unable to answer to the call of the small voice.
"Father? Please?"
His weak awareness only serving to drown him in a heavy sense of uselessness and powerlessness.
"I'm sorry"
'Please don't apologise'
"I'm not strong"
'You shouldn't have to be'
"or smart enough"
'Please don't say that'
"to help you yet"
'You shouldn't' 'I don't deserve it'
The pain those words caused was stronger than any other pain that had ever been inflicted on him.
Because this young child was apologising.
To him.
Him. The man who failed him. The man who couldn't save him, who couldn't save his mother.
The man who couldn't even save himself.
He didn't deserve it.
He didn't deserve having this boy trying to help him.
"I'll find a way to help you father"
"I promise"
He didn't deserve Sephiroth's kindness.
Not when he should have done more, should have tried harder, should have stopped them.
"I'll save you, no matter what"
He should have put a stop to it all before it was too late.
It's him who should have been apologising.
"I'm your son Sephiroth"
"I'm your son Sephiroth"
"I'm your son Sephiroth"
"I'm your son Sephiroth"
Vincent gasps and chokes, there's tears running through his face and for a long while he finds himself unable to properly breath. When he manages to open his mouth to speak, he's barely able to rasp the word, "Seph..." but that's enough for Veld.
"Sephiroth?" When Vincent raises his head, he finds Veld in front of him, his arms reaching towards him without touching, "You really know him? He's really your son? Wha- how?"
The questions have Vincent's throat closing in. He gulps and lowers his head to the ground, "Sephiroth... he's Lucrecia's son"
"Lucrecia?" Veld is confused at first before he falls back into Turk mode, his mind running through the information he remembers, "Wasn't she one of the scientists you were supposed to guard?"
"...Yes..."
"Oh..., Vincent..."
"Please, I need you to tell me" he gasps, shuddering, "Was it- was it Sephiroth who told you where to find me?" 'Did he ask you to save me'
Veld doesn't drop his Turk mannerisms but his eyes do soften, "Yes, Sephiroth told me where you were, he's been looking for you"
"I thought, I thought it was my imagination, that my mind was just tormenting me with failed dreams"
"I'm your son Sephiroth"
Vincent closes his eyes painfully.
"I thought he couldn't have been real", Vincent laments, his head dropping before he takes a breath to try and compose himself. Without raising his head to avoid looking at Veld, Vincent softly asks, "Where is he? Is he safe?", there's worry in his voice, along with a note of desperation hidden under it.
Veld hesitates to answer, but he decides that there's no point in hiding anything now, "He's at Shinra, he, the science department... has him"
The speed at which Vincent raises his head is unnatural, with wide open shinning red eyes, he looks at Veld and snarls, "Hojo"
The fear Veld now feels can't top the rage that has him answering the question, "Yes"
The confirmation has Vincent standing up and declaring, "I'm going to kill him", all trace of doubt gone.
Quick to stand, Veld makes sure to move next to Vincent when he says "And I won't stop you, but you have to be careful about it, we can work a strategy"
"I'm not returning to Shinra"
"I know, but you should still come with us"
Vincent looks at Veld waiting for an explanation.
"The science department has that kid under lock and key partner. It's nearly impossible to find him but we know how and when to contact him" Looking directly at Vincent, so he can tell how serious he is, Veld declares "He's listened to us before and I know he'll listen now, I'm sure".
Reaching out and patting Vincent in the arm Veld continues with a smile, "After all I promised the kid I'll get you of here so he'll be expecting us anyway".
Veld's face returns back to stoic when he continues, "It's also the safest way to go about this" then his eyes alight with a rage that Vincent can't help but reciprocate, "That is until we know how to deal with those bastards".
Having been reassured and also knowing that Veld's offer is the best chance he has to meet Sephiroth, Vincent accepts, "I understand, I'll go with you"
With another pat, this time on the back Veld smiles and says "Good, I'll hate to disappoint the kid"
The smile doesn't last long when the Turk director notices his friend's downturn and pensive expression, Vincent asks, "Lucrecia... she wasn't with Sephiroth?"
Veld sighs, a deep weary sigh, "No, as far as we know the kid is only surrounded by Hojo's assistants."
The mention of Hojo has Vincent clenching his fists before his eyes soften and he ask Veld in a hopeful voice, "Do you know what happened to her?"
The truth is that when Veld was investigating the mission to Nibelheim he didn't pay much attention to the pretty doctor's information besides her suspicious resignation. But now knowing her role, the entire thing doesn't paint a good picture. Veld uneasily frowns, "Reports say she went missing but the information leads to believe she might be dead"
There's sadness and worry in Vincent's eyes but what he asks next is "Does Sephiroth know?"
Veld shakes his head, "I don't know, I didn't want to ask about his mother and he never mentioned her. He looked stressed enough talking about you so I didn't want to risk making things worse by asking about other family members".
With another sigh Veld continues telling Vincent what he knows about Lucrecia, "Doctor Crescent was reported missing a couple years back, long time after you were declared dead. After the time of the report there were no sightings of her in Nibelheim from that point on".
"Is it possible that she may have just left the village?"
"If she left she didn't take any of her belongings, no food or materia since nothing was missing and neither the shop keeper and the villagers saw her" Veld frowns, he may not have cared personally for the young doctor but he did find her situation worrying and suspicious, "Her missing report was presented some years after yours and I did try to found more about the case but there was nothing, no recent investigations nor body found".
Vincent looks away and keeps silent. If Veld didn't know better he'll say he's processing the information but he recognises his frown. "You want to find out what happened to her, don't you?"
Vincent's frown deepens but his face eventually soften when he declares "I don't know if she's alive or not at this point but I want to search for her"
Looking at the expression on his friend's face and the determination on his eyes, Veld has to ask "You loved her, didn't you?"
He doesn't get an answer but the heartbroken and devastated look in Vincent's face says enough. Thinking about everything he now knows about Nibelheim Veld can't help but feel deeply concerned "Just... what the hell happened here Vincent?"
"It's a long story"
"We have time".