The Stag

After they got off on the 69th floor, the operators and Rude used chloroform to knock out the heroes. They awoke minutes later, Cloud looking around groggily. The doors were locked, and he was in there with Barret. Super. He was awake before Cloud.

"Tifa and Red one room over," he said gruffly. "They got Aerith in a cell by herself. Reckon they'll get her out in a few, take her back to the lab." He looked angrily, hitting his fist against the wall. "Some rescue this turned out to be."

"Not too late," Cloud said, rubbing the back of his neck. "So ... you Tifa's cuck or something?" He pressed. Maybe the man would tear his way out of the room his own self in rage.

"Nah," Barret said chuckling, but there was a tinge of bitterness in there too. "You know by now. She can't control what she is. Motherfuckers Hojo and Corneo programmed it into her. Baked it into her. I rescued her, though. Not you. Not the boy she knew growin' up, the one she always said would save her. Ridiculous childhood promise. I'm her Daddy, motherfucker, you best always remember that shit. I saved her ass. I already had reasons to hate Shinra, you better believe me. What they doing to the Planet. What they did to me. What they did to Tifa. You done shit about that? But when I have a clear shot ... when I ain't endangering Tifa, or Aerith, or anybody ... I'm going to get vengeance on Shinra for all of us. And you gonna fuckin' watch probably. Cause if anyone's a cuck ..."

Cloud looked at Barret, taken aback by the frankness. He heard a moan next door.

"There's a gap between the wall and floor ... so go get an eyeful, cuck."