[[This fic is based on the original ffv7 game and the film Advent Children. It's set one year after Advent Children and I am ignoring the events of Dirge of Cerberus. At the time of posting this, the FFV7 remake has not come out yet so it will not have the chance to influence my writing or characterization yet. That may change later, but for now, that's how it is. I hope this clears things up lol]]

The humidity hung in the chilled autumn air, carrying with it the dread of stepping outside in the early dusk light. Like a well oiled and worn down machine, whose gears were ground into rounded nubs, the dark-haired girl hesitantly stepped out from her humble living arrangement into the silent street. As much as she wanted to lay in her bed and stare at the ceiling, she knew she needed her job, even if there was nothing she wanted more than to run off into the horizon and reject the concept of currency. Each wobbly stone in the street under her boot was a sad little reminder that she couldn't run off and her hours today would be fixed behind a desk, smiling through her sleep-deprived stupor.

The one good thing about working at an inn was the free breakfast and coffee.

The lights of each house and business in the close-knit town were all off. Locals wouldn't dare stir this early in the fall and even the local farmers were done for the season. Some lights in the town would never turn back on, as the owners had either been drawn by the promise of benefits and left, or sold their estates to the Shinra corporation. Slowly, the life of the town was dwindling and the local businesses had to either hold tight and struggle or die out and be forced to move and sell their properties. It was a dim time in the town of Kalm, but what could she do? What could anybody do?

The lights of the Kalm Inn lobby were stronger than the low light of the rising sun behind the town walls and the openness of the entrance to the town was almost tempting. She could keep walking, right past the inn. It was so tempting. She stopped, however, at the wooden doors and pushed her way into the warm lobby. The faint tick of the grandfather clock greeted her in a mocking tick-tock that she knew would be mind-numbing by the end of the day. While it looked old fashioned and the owner argued that it added a "homely touch" she still would have argued that a silent, digital clock would have been better. She even offered to make one, but the owner refused.

No one around here appreciated her ideas so she gave up and kept it to herself. All of her discoveries and passions were reserved for her bedroom in the late hours of the night. At least, they used to be. Now she sneaks projects into the inn and works on them in secret when the day is at it's slowest. It's not as if anyone pays much attention and her projects could be hidden behind the desk easily.

Sighing, she placed a small bag down, which contained her half-hazard put together lunch and her current project. She debated sitting down and waiting for her coworker to arrive before starting with the free complimentary breakfast that the inn provided, but she determined that getting it over with would be in her best interest. Besides, she was not in the mood for complaints from guests that the food wasn't up to standard and oddly enough her coworker's help always ensured those kinds of complaints.

Heading to the back, she made sure the first preparation was the coffee, for her own good. In the silence of the absent kitchen, she let her mind go blank as she poured her first cup of coffee and began pulling bagels and pastries out to set on display in the small dining room. She heard the front door squeak open and she rolled her eyes. So much for a silent morning, she thought.

"Stella, did you see those Shinra soldiers out there?" his voice was familiar but his question caught her off guard. She looked over her shoulder to see him in the doorway, tying an apron around his waist, his brown bedhead matched his hazy expression.

"Shinra soldiers? No, what are they doing here?" she asked, not expecting him to know but still getting the point across that she hadn't seen them. He shrugged and yawned, his hand guarding his face.

"Beats me. I was watching Penelope strut by and happened to see them near the bar. I hope they're not hoping for it to open anytime soon." he gave, making his way over to the counter. "Started the sausage yet?" he asked and she shook her head. At least he wasn't trying to make the eggs again. He seldom messed up sausage but she was convinced that he could somehow still manage it.

"No. I'll do the eggs." She offered and sighed, "I bet those blueberries are going to want a room. They're so messy, they always leave the rooms in a shamble." she groaned, pulling a carton of fresh chocobo eggs from the old refrigerator.

"Man, it's too early for this. That's exactly what they're going to do." the brown-haired guy whined out, pouting a bit. He was in charge of the custodial work in the inn and if the Shinra soldiers did decide to stay for the evening, he would have a terrible time the next day cleaning the room.

"Maybe we could convince the bartender to close for the evening so it will be less of an issue. It's the alcohol's fault most of the time." she gave, hopeful, cracking the eggs into a large mixing bowl before pulling a whisk out. Her coworker nodded.

"Yeah, I wish. It would make it somewhat easier and you wouldn't have to deal with them losing the keys all the time." he reminded her and she felt the dread set in. It would be a pain to get the soldiers to pay for the lost keys, as they always felt entitled to be let go of consequences for their positions. She didn't care a bit about who they were, a policy is a policy and she didn't want to get fired for it. Stupid blueberry military brats. She put her aggression into whisking the eggs.

"Oh man, this is going to be a long day, Damien. I can feel it." she muttered, already feeling defeated.

"Agreed." Damien said, a rich sizzle from the sausage filled the silence as they continued preparing for the breakfast. Damien wasn't the best coworker, but he wasn't the worst either. She could complain to him and he would complain back. He wouldn't tell on her when he caught her working on her projects on the clock. She wouldn't tell when he would take naps in the custodial closet.

Despite this, she still went home right after work and never wanted to visit him or spend any time with him after her job was finished. She saw enough of him during the day and all she really wanted to do was go home. It had been this way for a few years, since her closest friend had moved away and since her family took jobs elsewhere. She always had an open invitation to Midgar, and it was something that she would have loved when she was younger, but now she saw no point.

Stella didn't want to live in Midgar. She didn't want to live in Kalm. She didn't really want to live anywhere if she was honest with herself. Knowing she was in a funk helped her at first, but her funk had lasted a few years. Ever since the meteor came. Ever since the outbreak. She couldn't see a point in trying anymore. Not when everything could cease to matter within a moment.

The harsh ding of the front desk bell pulled her from her silent musings and she inwardly groaned, placing the whisk to the side. The first ding of the day and it was no doubt the blueberry soldiers from hell.

She should have kept walking right past the inn when she had the chance.

The midday sun did little to warm the air, which in normal circumstances would have been moderately chilly. The wind whipping around him was like shards of glass on his face and neck, his eyes stung from the cold. He was grateful for the long, leather coat he wore, but at this speed it didn't help as much as he needed it too. The warmth of the engine helped a little, but not even his bike was enough. The quicker he got to Kalm, the better. He could warm up at the inn and maybe sneak away from the group to get a drink at the bar.

It had been a while since Cloud had seen everybody back together again and as much as he would love to touch bases, he didn't like the circumstances. Just when he finally obtained something like a normal routine, a normal living, something had to come up. When AVALANCHE convened, it usually followed an urgent need and this time was no different. Getting the phone call from Barret was a surprise and he wasn't sure that it was a good surprise. He would always help his friends when they needed him, he would drop everything again and again but it didn't mean that it was something that he was always happy to do.

He was sick of the Shinra. He was sick of the Turks. He was sick of everything and yet both of them had a great way of involving him. It gave him even more of a reason to help out, to try yet again to stop them in their tracks. Their persistence was almost admirable, but they had crossed the line. Buying up land and scaring people off their own property, having the Turks take care of anyone who opposed them. He knew the Shinra would expect AVALANCHE to retaliate again and that's why they had to be more careful this time. They didn't have the advantage of secrecy or surprise this time. The Shinra would be anticipating their next move.

Looking over his shoulder yet again to make sure there was no one following him in the distance, he cut his eyes back to the road ahead. He was getting closer and closer to the town, the tall, white brick walls surrounded Kalm and protected it from the outside. It must be a nice place to live. He had made a few deliveries there and his visits were always warm. It was the perfect place to meet and discuss what AVALANCHE's first plan of action was.

He'd meet up with Tifa, who left earlier that morning to get a room at the inn. He was surprised that she hadn't tried to call yet, but she knew he didn't answer his phone when he was driving. He'd lost too many phones doing that. It didn't stop her from calling while he was riding. He knew for certain that Cid and Barret would be there, as they were traveling together, but he didn't know who else. Barret didn't tell him who all he had called but it didn't matter. Cloud would find out eventually.

He hated being out of the loop but he didn't have to be for long. He let go of the throttle and let his bike slow from its usual, breakneck speed as he got closer to the town.

For better or for worse, this was the start of another journey and it was one that he was already sick of.