It was late at night and you were out accompanying Avalanche on their mission to blow up the mako reactor in Sector 8. You weren't an Avalanche member, but Barret asked for your help on this mission because of your expertise. You were initially hesitant upon accepting the task because of the danger that came along with it, but once Barret told you he'd award you with gil for your assistance, you found yourself unable to decline.

After all, you were running a bit behind on a few expenses and you were willing to take anything you could get. Oh boy, were you eager to get that hefty gil reward at the end.

You and the others just infiltrated the external mako reactor facility and made your ways inside. Barret, Jessie, Biggs, and Wedge were all tending to their own roles at the mission. Wedge was keeping an eye out for Shinra Public Security guards, Biggs was assisting Jessie in breaking into the Shinra security door panel, and Barret was facilitating the time.

While you were waiting for everyone to complete their tasks, you were stuck waiting with the mercenary on the sidelines, the two of you leaning your backs against the wall.

"Huh, a spiky-haired blondie," you thought to yourself.

They weren't apart of Avalanche, so who were they? Did they get brought along the mission for the same reasons as you?

Before you could think any further, the blond ex-SOLDIER turned their head over their shoulder towards you, a scrutinizing expression upon their face.

"So why'd you get brought here? You're not Avalanche," Cloud verbalized with his usual stoicism. Though, there was an edge of curiosity that rang at the end of his sentence.