Author's Note-This is partly inspired by a chance encounter at a Con. I was cosplaying Reno and I saw Aerith....I decided it was high time I said I was sorry for stepping on her flowers. Also I thought it was interesting that Reno showed no remorse for pressing the button that destroyed sector 7 and thousands of lives, yet in Advent Children Complete he was talking with Rude about how to make amends...this is just my attempt to bridge that gap.
P.S. If you steal my story I will eat your soul.
The dark suited figure entered the abandoned church, the heavy wooden door creaking open just enough to allow his lanky form to pass through before slipping closed, his booted steps sending up a haze of dust into the still air. Broken pews littered the sanctuary as the fiery haired man made his way towards the front of the church, his shoulders slouched as one hand dug deep into his breast pocket to retrieve a half empty carton of cigarettes. Slipping one between his thin lips, he lit a match on one of the derelict pews. The harsh scratch seemed to echo louder than necessary as a small flame danced to life, only to be squelched and discarded on the dirty floor when the cigarette was lit.
A large garden of fragrant white and yellow flowers dominated the area where an alter once stood. The stained glass windows had survived the fall of Midgar and hinted at the past magnificence of the old church as they cast soft swirls of colors on the rumpled suit of the Turk. He stopped in front of the flowers, stooping down to pluck one of the young buds. He twirled the fragile flower between his index finger and thumb as he rocked back on his heels. He smirked as his turquoise eyes swept the church, lost to the memory of his last visit. A soft chuckle escaped his lips, causing his cigarette to dangle precariously on his pale lips, the grey smoke drifting around in a cloud around his head. He straightened his lanky form; his voice unusually soft and serious when he spoke. "Guess it's too late to apologize for steppin' on your flowers..." Taking a drag on his cigarette, he exhaled and watched the smoke swirl upwards towards the large gaping hole in the roof. The sun was shining through the parting clouds, giving the sanctuary an ethereal glow in the early hazy light. "I ain't sorry for most of the stuff I've done. I enjoy my work and I do a good job…but for what it's worth I am sorry I stepped all over your flowers."
He let the plucked bud fall back to the broken floorboards, then was still for a moment, waiting as he gazed around. Sighing softly he gave one last look to the precious flowers before heading out towards the imposing doors, with his pale hands shoved deep into his pockets, but he wasn't slouching anymore as he slipped through the entrance way. His dark skinned partner looked up at him from behind his shades as he stood on the cracked steps, hands neatly at his sides, his deep baritone voice breaking the still morning air. "Feel better, Reno?"
"It's never to late too make amends, partner." His signature smirk was back as he led the way, sauntering away from the church.