AN: Hey! I've been sitting on this story for a while and I finally got around to writing it. It's something a little different, but I love these characters so I wanted to put something together with all of them. It's Reno and Yuffie. Hope you enjoy :)

Disclaimer: I do not own Final Fantasy VII.

Chapter 1: Simple and Uncomplicated

"Yo," Reno greeted Yuffie for the dozenth time that week.

It was a simple one word greeting. It suited Reno.

He worked like crazy when things came down to it, but he never overextended himself. When he was off work, he didn't go out of his way to earn that gold star for the week. Instead, he left work at work. And when he was working, he left his home life at home. He was simple and uncomplicated like that.

That was what Yuffie liked the most about Reno.

How nothing else mattered, but that moment. There was no added drama, no added responsibility. Just Reno.

"Hiya!" Yuffie smiled, yes smiled.

The turk had grown on her. He'd been a pain in the butt when Avalanche and Shinra were at each other's throats, but things had gotten better since the whole Kadaj ordeal. Shinra was still a little shady, but Reno and Rude seemed to be okay when they weren't planning on rebuilding Shinra corp and were focusing on rebuilding the world instead.

Seeing him and the rest of her friends perked Yuffie up a little, but her thoughts still went back to her most recent argument with her father.

"Tifa? You got any Sake?" Yuffie hollered as she plopped down in a seat next to Cid who smirked at her as he took another drag of his cigarette. Tifa yelled at him about smoking in the bar all the time, but it never seemed to matter to him, so most of the time he got away with it.

"Sake? Aren't you a little young for that stuff?" Cid teased.

Yuffie couldn't help it, she wasn't in the mood, "Aren't you a little bit old to be smoking gramps? We don't want you getting bronchitis, now do we?"

Cid normally would've given Yuffie a piece of his mind, but seeing as Yuffie didn't usually come off so angry, he decided better of it. Yuffie was normally sunshines and rainbows, not skulls and crossbones.

Reno on the other hand, had no idea what he was getting into when he commented on her behavior, "Whoah! Who stole all your materia?!"

Tifa set the Sake down on the bar and mouthed, 'Run,' but it was too late.

Yuffie stood up waving her arms around as she yelled, "I'm a mature adult Reno! I care about more things than just materia all the time! I also am perfectly happy right now!"

Tifa slapped her forehead. The dark haired woman behind the bar had seen Yuffie get angry more times then she could count and every time Yuffie got upset she was a force to be reckon with. Reno knew this too from fighting them back in the day, but now with them as a an ally everything was different. For whatever reason an angry Yuffie didn't scare him as much as it should. Crossing her arms, Tifa prayed that someone would be able to calm Yuffie down before the turks stopped giving Tifa all their hard earned money.

"Well, sorry for asking, yo," Reno looked away his eyes focusing on something else, "Thought I could cheer you up. I just meant that you're usually more upbeat than the rest of us poor, pathetic, negative Nancys. I was going to give you this materia I found the other day, but I guess I'll just save it for someone who will really appreciate it."

"Materia!" Yuffie didn't care how bad she felt, those words were magic, "Gimme!"

Tifa silently smiled and mouthed, 'thank you' before she grabbed a few more drinks for her other customers. If there was one thing Yuffie couldn't resist, it was materia

"Whoah! Hold on a second," Reno smirked, "You might be my buddy, but don't think I'm going to just give you this materia for free. Specially, not after the way you just treated me."

Tifa almost hit her head on the counter as she shot straight up from grabbing a special bottle of vodka underneath it. She wasn't sure what she was seeing. Or what was about to happen. Yuffie wasn't in a good mood and was now being teased with materia. Things were not looking good for the red haired man across from her.

Bitting her lip, Tifa rubbed the back of her head and tried to remember to breathe. She didn't need another fight inside the bar, she'd just finished patching up from the last one.

"Oh! You meanie!" Yuffie crossed her arms, but then she reconsidered and put on a smile, "Reno, you know I didn't really mean it, don't you? I'm just upset because of some things that happened earlier today that's all."

Crash! The bottle of Vodka landed on the floor, and Cid burst out laughing. Tifa was so sure Yuffie was going to pummel Reno. Or at least steal Reno's Materia. But out of all the things Tifa thought up, Yuffie admitting anything was wrong was definitely not an option. Surely, Yuffie was planning something. Unless…? Tifa blinked and then laughed herself, no there was no way.

Yuffie couldn't have feelings for Reno that would be too bizarre.

Ignoring Tifa's little outburst, Reno knew he had Yuffie hook line and sinker, "Okay, take a walk with me and tell me what happened and the materia is all yours."

Cid nearly choked on his cigarette. Reno was going to end up in a ditch somewhere with no materia at all. Cid was almost certain of it.

No one in the room knew what Yuffie was really thinking. Yuffie, in fact, wasn't planning on taking any materia. She was too worn out to try any thievery for the day. And honestly, after the day she had, she was so bummed out, she was just looking for something or someone to cheer her up.

She went over Reno in her head. Simple and uncomplicated sounded good about now.

Still, the thought of taking a walk through the streets of Midgar and made Yuffie cringe. The people there might not have been sick with the stigma anymore, but they were still homeless and weak. All those faces of people who needed homes and food always got to her. Especially, after everything she just went through with her Dad.

"I don't know," Yuffie turned away. She was refusing a chance at materia.

Tifa's ears caught what Yuffie was saying. Yuffie refusing materia? Tifa finished cleaning up the mess of Vodka on the floor, and waited. She refused to believe what her ears just heard. It couldn't be real. She was dreaming. She was almost sure of it.

Cid put out his cigarette. He'd heard Yuffie too.

Yuffie took a big swig of Sake, almost choking on the stuff as she shook her head, "No I'll live without the materia thank you very much."

Cid almost fell out of his chair and he looked to Tifa for help with the situation. She nodded finally coming to terms with Yuffie's situation. Yuffie must've been feeling really bad if she wasn't going after materia.

Tifa had seen a lot of things go down in her bar, but Yuffie giving up materia had to be a first. In fact, it sort of scared her.

So much, that Tifa slammed her palms unto the table, her eyes dead serious as they looked upon Yuffie's sulking figure, "You're going or I won't serve you one more drop of Sake, Yuffie."

This wasn't that big of a deal. Yuffie could live without Sake.

"And I will have Cloud hunt down every last piece of materia you own."

Cid smirked lighting up another cigarette, "And I'll help the idiot find every last one."

Yuffie doubted that Cloud could find every last piece of materia she owned. She had hidden them so well, even she couldn't find them sometimes. And Cid was just an old chain smoker. So who cared what he said.

As Yuffie was about to comment, Cloud walked through the door with an arm full of materia.

Yuffie's eyes went from Tifa to Cloud and to the materia. Reno smirked. Things were definitely getting interesting.

"Were these yours Yuffie? I found them-"

"Okay! Okay! I'm going! I'm going! Keep your pants on!" Yuffie jumped taking Reno by the hand.

Of course, Reno hadn't the slightest clue why Yuffie's friends wanted her to go get some materia when they didn't even know if Reno was lying about it or not, but Reno shrugged it off.

Reno heard Cloud say to Tifa, "What happened to her?" just before Reno was dragged out of the bar.

"Whoah! Slow down! You don't even know where I'm taking you," Reno laughed as he took the lead away from the hyper girl and she stopped in her tracks.

"If this is a trick," Yuffie narrowed her eyes at him.

Reno sighed, he couldn't blame her. After everything that happened even he wouldn't trust himself either.

"You can either follow me, or you can take your chances with your friends again, and I'm sure they won't be as nice about asking you what's wrong as I will. After all, whatever's wrong, I probably did worse," Reno shrugged.

Yuffie shook her head and began following him, "I don't want to talk about it. I just want my materia. That's the only reason I'm coming along Reno! And if you try anything, I'm not afraid to use my ninja skills, you hear me!"

Reno just kept moving forward and shrugged, "Fine don't talk, but I want to see you back to your good ole hyper, crazy self by the end of this you hear me! And that's an order."

Yuffie just stuck her tongue out at him, "Whatever you say Turkey!"

Reno laughed, "Turkey? How original. What are you five?"

Yuffie wanted to comment, but she just didn't have the energy to keep fighting with him. In fact she felt like all she wanted to do was crawl back into her bed and pretend the day never happened. After all, what was the point anyway?

Still, she kept her legs moving forward, and she kept following Reno. Even if she didn't say a word, it didn't matter. Reno didn't seem to mind. She didn't even know why she was following him. All she knew was that it felt like she should.

And that was how they ended up in the ruins of the Shinra building, with Reno taking another drag of a cigarette he'd just lit up as Yuffie sat in silence for what seemed like a year, when it was really only like ten minutes.

"Why did you choose the ruins?" Yuffie asked Reno who hopped over some debris as he climbed through yet another mountain of rubble.

Midgar had decided to leave the ruins as a reminder of Sephiroth and what happens when the people of the world get too greedy.

"I come here sometimes," Reno stopped at the top of a mountain of junk where there was space for them to sit together, "Clears my head, reminds me of how fragile the world really is. Reminds me how strong we gotta be to beat back Jenova and Sephiroth over and over again, so this doesn't happen again. Take your pick."

"I thought you always left your work stuff at work Reno," Yuffie teased.

The turk flushed, "Well I…" he pulled at his collar a little bit, and sighed, "I do. When it comes to Shinra. But I don't know. Sephiroth wasn't my fault directly, but… I guess I still feel a little responsible for the whole thing. I might not care what happens to anyone, but myself, however… It would really suck to wake up one morning and not have Tifa's bar to go to again. And well the whole dead thing isn't really my style either."

"So why did you bring me here," Yuffie rolled her eyes emphasizing the word "me".

"I don't know. Guess maybe I thought because it helped me clear my head, maybe it could help you with yours," Reno crossed his arms, "Unless you'd rather drink away your troubles?"

"Does that even work?" Yuffie blinked.

Reno shrugged, "If it did, I'd be King of the world right now. I'd have my own city called Renoville."

"Renoville?" Yuffie laughed.

"Hey, it could happen," Reno shrugged.

Yuffie shook her head and sat looking out at the sun setting. All the color washed over the ruins making it look like they were on fire. He was right about the ruins. They were a reminder of how sucky things could've been, and a reminder of how the planet is a lot more vulnerable than one might think. Everything gone in an instant.

Sighing, she opened her mouth. Reno had let her in on his thoughts, she guessed that she could probably tell him a little about what was going on in her head.

"You don't have talk to me about anything going on, you know. We could just… Sit here," Reno seemed to read her mind.

Yuffie smiled, "That's okay. The more I keep it inside, the more it'll get to me."

Relieved, Reno threw his head back, "Oh thank Midgar, I thought it was going to be really boring sitting up here with you."

Yuffie stuck her tongue out, but then she allowed herself to be serious, "Dad wants me to settle down, stop being a ninja and take over Wutai."

"Hasn't he always wanted that?" Reno rose an eyebrow.

"Not like this. He started walking me through the streets so I could see all the people who needed a leader, who needed help. Not from warriors, but from people willing to rebuild this world. So," Yuffie sighed, "There's that and the fact that he started to set up meetings for me to these all these old guys he wants me to marry because he believes that I'm unfit to rule and bring the people of Wutai the stability they need in order for all of the people to get out of the streets and into homes."

There was silence again.

Yuffie felt better admitting all of that out loud. She just hoped Reno wouldn't go back and tell everyone at Tifa's. She didn't need her friends bringing up dramas that Yuffie could do very little about.

"You could get married?" Reno asked.

Yuffie laughed, "Yeah, to that old guy who smelled like mushrooms and soy sauce, or maybe the one with only one little, curl,y gray hair on his entire body. The guy didn't even have eyebrows. I mean how old does a person have to be, to be hairless like that?

Sarcasm was heavy in her voice as she continued, "That sounds like the dream life."

He didn't know why he came up with the idea. Maybe it was the booze talking. Maybe it was because she was the first person he ever had up there in the ruins alone. Sure, he'd been up there with Rude and the turks, but that was a job.

Reno shook his head, "This is gonna sound absolutely crazy, but why don't you marry me?"

Yuffie almost fell off the ruins. If she had any Sake she was sure it would've been spat all over everything in her path. He couldn't be serious.

"Marry you!?" Yuffie gasped for air, but all she found was more laughter.

"Oh come one it's not that funny. I am devilishly handsome!" Reno smirked, "And you totally want me."

"Reno! I can't marry you!" Yuffie shouted jumping to her feet.

"Why not?" Reno looked up at her.

"Because I don't love you," Yuffie stated.

'Although, I'm not saying that I could never love you,' Yuffie heard her mind say…

"See, you'll fall in love with me. Besides it's not like you love those other guys either right?" Reno stood up.

"Did I say that out loud?" Yuffie squeaked, nervous at how close Reno was to her.

"Yuffie, let's be serious here for second," Reno closed his eyes, "People marry for many other reasons than love. I'm always on missions for Shinra trying to pay back the world for the evil that we've done to it. And you want to rule Wutai to make it a better place and still be a materia loving Ninja. If you marry me you wouldn't have to be one of those wives you fear of being. One who is seen, but not heard."

"Um hello! Feminism? Ever heard of it? Women shouldn't have to marry anyone if they don't choose to," Yuffie huffed. She was sure he was joking. But the more he talked the more he seemed serious, and if he was serious…

Reno put up both his hands, "I never said you had to do anything. I was just offering a solution to both of our problems."

Yuffie blinked. Reno had a problem he needed to be married for?

"What's in this for you?" Yuffie hesitated.

"The pleasure of having someone like you in my life, of course," Reno smirked pulling Yuffie into his arms. She'd never realized how strong they were before.

Yuffie refused to let his charm be the only thing to take her in, "Reno I'm serious."

Reno sighed and let go of her, "I… The truth is Rude and Elena got together. Tseng is pretty much work, work, work, and I guess… I guess I'm lonely. Now don't go telling everybody that Yuffie, but it's the truth. I think, I just want to know that there is someone at home waiting for me. Someone to come home to, you know? I don't want to spend my whole life wasted on drinks and walks by myself all the time."

"Rude and Elena? How did that happen? I thought she had a crush on Tseng," Yuffie blinked.

"She did, but things happen I guess. Rude and Elena got thrown together on a few assignments when I was out of town and I guess somehow they hit it off," Reno scratched his head, "Yeah I don't really get it either, but they seem happy."

"What about love Reno?" Yuffie looked at him honestly.

"Rude and Elena? I don't think they- Ow!"

Yuffie punched Reno's shoulder. She'd barely tapped him, but he acted like it was the end of the word.

Ignoring him she explained her point, "I meant don't you want to fall in love?"

"I don't think I really need love. Not that I really know what it is anyway," Reno shrugged, "And you said you thought there might be a possibility of you falling for me. So you've got nothing to worry about."

"You weren't supposed to hear that," Yuffie looked away.

Reno gently put his hands on her face and guided it back so that she was looking at him.

"Come on Yuffie. I could bring you home materia all the time. You'd be free to be yourself. And I have someone to hang out with every now and again. Does that sound so terrible?" Reno pleaded.

He couldn't believe what was happening. It was like he was watching a dream. Like he was there, but he wasn't.

Was this really what he wanted?

Reno thought, 'no'. No he didn't want a loveless marriage, but it was all he would allow himself. Love made you weak. Love made you stupid. And love never lasts.

"This is crazy," Yuffie shook her head, "Alright Reno you win. We're getting married!"

"That's the spirit!" Reno shouted one fist in the air before he squeezed her in his arms.

A part of him was disappointed that Yuffie agreed, but there was something else going on inside of him as well that he couldn't explain if he tried. All he knew was that it made him sort of excited.

Yuffie shook her head as she squeezed Reno back.

"Thank you," she laughed, "This is all crazy, and definitely not how I pictured myself getting married… But okay, if you're serious about this, then I don't see why not?"

Yuffie paused. Was this really what she wanted?

She didn't know what love was. She knew it was special and of course she knew that true love wasn't out there waiting for everyone, but did she owe it to herself to find out if it was out there for her?

Reno looked at the ninja in his arms. She wasn't even trying to take his materia, and she agreed to marrying him. Him a turk, who not too long ago was her enemy, and even though they were on better terms, he wouldn't exactly call her a friend. And yet… With her there in his arms…

He got caught up in the moment and leaned in and kissed her.

A feeling rose up inside of them. A feeling that neither one thought they would feel. One that neither recognized, but one that they were surprised they enjoyed.

When they broke, the stars were shinning brilliantly in the sky. Yuffie bit her lip nervously.

She had either made the worst or the best mistake of her life.

"Oh! About your materia, I've got something better planned so you'll have to wait for it," Reno smiled.

Yuffie eyed him curiously. She could just swipe it, but he'd been so full of surprises she figured she would just wait it out. She was curious what her fiancé would do.

Fiancé.

That word etched itself a permanent home in her mind that night. The only thing left to do was tell the others.

Yuffie bit her lip again. That probably wasn't going to go over well. So much for simple and uncomplicated.