Chapter One

Reno

I wasn't too worried about getting called into Tseng's office. I've been in there a fair few times in the three years I've been a Turk, and never 'cause I've been in huge trouble. Just because I've been in minor trouble. I figured that was what it would be- you know, some prank I'd pulled, or some obvious spelling mistake in a report. The kinda stuff that really pisses Tseng off, but that he can't actually fire me for. Getting yelled at is a bore, but I'm used to it, all in all. So I wasn't bothered at all when I knocked at the door.

What did surprise me was that Tseng smiled at me a bit when I came in. He never does that if he's about to chew me out. So I blinked, a bit confused.

'Hi, Tseng.'

'Hello Reno. Come and have a seat.'

I did as he said, eyeing him a bit warily. I like Tseng- really, I do. He's way cool, as far as bosses go, especially compared to the usual stiffs that are in charge at Shinra. And even when he's forced to be harsh to us, he never holds it against you. At the end of the working day, he's Tseng our friend, not Tseng our boss. It's nice, a nice way to be.

But I couldn't imagine why he was making me come in here, if not to yell at me. When we get mission briefings, we go through them with Rufus, who's pretty much the second in command. I'm sure the fact his surname is Shinra is nothing to do with that. But whatever. 

He's the one who hands out the missions, mainly because he's too inept to do field work, so he has to do something. So why did Tseng want to see me?

'Reno, I was visited earlier today by Jens Silva,' he told me, sounding a bit grave. I raised an eyebrow.

'Jens Silva? The Soldier leader?' I whistled. 'What did he want?'

'He asked for... a favor of sorts.' Tseng tented his fingers. 'He wanted some help from us.'

I frowned. What could one of the most powerful men in the world want from the Turks? I mean... we rank highly within Shinra, for sure. But only the President really is higher than Jens Silva. What could we do for him?

'It's not the kind of thing we'd usually do,' said Tseng, sensing my confusion. 'Not really. He has a daughter... Elena.'

I watched Tseng, waiting, wandering what this guy's kid had to do with anything.

'He wants us to protect her,' Tseng told me. 'To keep an eye on her twenty four hours a day, seven days a week.'

I stared at him. 'What the fuck? He wants us to babysit his little brat all the time?' I rolled my eyes. 'God, Soldier have such high ideas of themselves. What, he can't get a nanny like a normal person?'

Tseng looked amused. 'She's nineteen years old. It's hardly babysitting. And she's received some rather... graphic threats from anti-Shinra groups since her identity was made public by Shinra Society Magazine.'

'Hey...' I had a sudden brainwave. 'So that's why I had to shoot the editor?'



Tseng nodded. 'Mm. Silva did everything possible to ensure she remained anonymous. His position made it necessary, for obvious reasons. But now... well. She's in a great deal of danger.'

'Wouldn't they be better off, like, dyeing her hair and sending her to live in Icicle or something? I mean, if we're looking after her, then she'll be in Midgar, won't she?'

Tseng cleared his throat, uncomfortably. 'Um, not necessarily.'

I narrowed my eyes. 'How do you mean "not necessarily?"'

'You know Cid Highwind, don't you?'

I snorted. 'What, that nutty old pilot who thinks he can build a spaceship? What's he got to do with anything?'

Tseng wouldn't meet my eyes, which I knew was a bad sign. Usually, he's very upfront and honest about crappy missions and stuff like that. I could tell I was not gonna like what he was about to say.

'He commissioned an airship, some years ago, one that would be suitable for long distance travel. And when I say long distance, I mean long distance. This thing can travel twice around the world without stopping.'

That interested me. I'm pretty into stuff like that- flying, I mean. I'm a pretty good helicopter pilot myself, without meaning to sound like I'm bragging. When I'm behind the controls, it's one of the few times I just plain concentrate, without my mind running off in 7000 directions.

Tseng went on. 'The only problem with it is, the engine and control rooms take up so much room, the craft doesn't have room for the amount of seats it would need to make enough 

profit to pay for the fuel. And so it's never been properly used.' He coughed. 'Erm, until now.'

'Tseng.' I stared at him. 'Tell me what is going on, please.' I had a horrible feeling I knew, though.

He nodded. 'Right. We've spoken to Highwind- there are four rooms on board that aren't in use for anything.' He stopped meeting my eye again. 'So we've made them into a kitchen, a sitting area, and two bedrooms.'

'You're kidding me,' I said, flatly.

Tseng sighed. 'I'm sorry, Reno. It's the only way to keep her safe. And we'll be down here, doing everything we can to eradicate the threat... You may not even have to be up there too long.'

'Tse-eng!' I was aware that I was whining like a little kid, but really. Living on an airship for god only knows how long, looking after some society brat... stuck with Cid freakin' Highwind. But I knew there was no way I could say no, however much I wanted to. I'm a Turk, and a loyal one too. Even if sometimes I would rather shoot myself than do certain missions. Like this one, for example.

'You'll be rewarded, of course,' Tseng assured me. 'I know it's not ideal, Reno. And I am sorry.'

'Whatever,' I grumbled, though I was somewhat mollified. 'So, when does this joyful experience begin?'

Tseng coughed again. I rolled my eyes. 'Tseng... Tell me!'

'Um, today,' he admitted, apologetically. 'She's on her way now.'



I sighed. 'What's her name again? Helen?'

'Elena,' he corrected me. His face grew serious. 'Look, Reno... she's nineteen years old, but she's led a sheltered life. Be... be careful, okay?'

I rolled my eyes. 'I'm not gonna flirt with her. I've seen pictures of her mom...' I shuddered. 'Ugh. There's no worries there.'

Tseng glared at me, but I could tell he was amused. 'Well, just bear it in mind, okay?'

'If you're that worried I'm gonna freak her out, why are you making me do this?' I asked him. 'Why not one of the others?'

'Everyone else is older than her,' he shrugged. 'There's barely two years between you, but there's nearly ten between her and Rude. I think she'd be uncomfortable with someone that much older.'

'What, and she will be comfortable with me? Cause I'll remind her of the hired help at her mansion, ya mean?'

Tseng rolled his eyes. 'No, because you're the same age,' he enunciated. Idiot, he didn't bother to add.

Truth was, it did make me feel a bit weird. I mean, this chick was rich and cultured and everything. However close we were in age... well. We weren't going to have anything in common. She'd probably feel better off with Rude, because he's way classier than me. But I didn't say this to Tseng. I just made a face at him.

'Do I get to pack my own stuff to take?' I asked him.

He nodded. 'You have an hour to get ready.'



'Jeez. That's really generous of you,' I said, sarcastically.

Tseng sighed. 'Be back here in an hour exactly, okay?'

I nodded. 'Yeah, yeah. I will be.'

And so an hour later, I found myself standing in the largest, most impressive looking airship I had ever seen. It was vast- words are not enough to do it justice. I was gaping around at everything, missing at least half of the lecture Tseng was giving me.

I snapped out of it when he punched me, quite hard. 'Fuck, Tseng! That hurt!'

'You're not listening , are you?' he said, shaking his head. I attempted to look sorry.

'I am, it's cool. I won't try and screw her, I won't be mean to her, bla bla bla.'

Tseng looked as though he was about to say something when a heavily armored vehicle arrived.

'Silva?' I guessed.

Tseng nodded. We watched as he climbed from the vehicle, all expensive silk suit and huge freaking gun. He leaned slightly into the car, and when he emerged was swiftly followed by... a really, really pretty girl.

I stared in shock as a girl who bore absolutely no resemblance to either of her parents climbed out of the car. She was petite and delicate, with shiny honey blonde hair and small, perfectly placed features. She also looked snooty as hell.



I saw a concerned look pass over Tseng's face as he took in the fact that she was a very pretty young woman, but Silva and his daughter, along with about a gazillion Soldier, were swiftly climbing the craft's steps.

'Tseng.' Silva reached out and shook his hand. 'Thank you for arranging this so quickly.'

'It's no problem,' said Tseng. 'General Silva, this is Reno. He'll be with Elena on the craft.'

Silva looked me up and down, then turned back to Tseng, looking rather distasteful. 'Him?'

'He's an excellent agent,' Tseng assured him. 'I promise you, your daughter will be well protected.'

Silva nodded, briskly. 'See that she is.'

He turned to Elena then, and we stepped back a bit, giving them space tactfully. But all he did was nod at her, then say 'Take care, Elena.'

Gawd, he was paying millions of gil to protect her, and he wasn't even gonna give her a hug. I raised an eyebrow at Tseng, who just shrugged.

Elena stared icily at her father, and said nothing in reply. Silva sighed, then looked at Tseng. 'She's ready,' he told him. And then he was gone.

Um, what the fuck? From that little exchange, you'd think he couldn't care less about her, when he was clearly putting up mega bucks for this little jaunt. I raised an eyebrow.

'Weird,' I muttered. Tseng gave me a sharp look, then walked over to Elena, smiling a bit nervously.

'Miss Silva, this is Reno.'

She looked at me, then shrugged. 'Fine,' she said, coolly.



Tseng coughed. 'Well, you should go on board. The sooner you leave, the better.'

Elena turned on her heel and went inside. I glared daggers at Tseng.

'You want me to put up with Little Miss Mood Swing?' I said, a bit incredulously.

'I'm sure it'll be fine,' said Tseng, entirely unconvincingly. 'Look, we'll be in regular contact. And we'll try and get things sorted as quickly as possible.'

'You'd better,' I muttered, murderously. 'And I better get a huge bonus.'

Tseng smiled. 'That at least I can promise you.'

'Humph. Well, I should hope so too.' I sighed. 'I better go and make small talk with Her Majesty.'

'I'll see you soon, Reno,' said Tseng. 'Don't worry. I'm sure it won't be too bad.'

I just snorted at that. Yeah, right. Not too bad. Well, we'd see, wouldn't we?

A/N- More RenoXElena lol. I'm not obsessed, truly. Anyway, my friend thought I should do a fic that concentrated completely on just two character, and that's what this one will be, though there will be tiny bits of Cid scattered in for good measure, as well as mentions of the other Turks and of AVALANCHE as well. But mainly, it's Reno and Elena and, hopefully, a whole lotta sexual tension. Yay! Please review XD