Having landed the helicopter, Reno and Cloud immediately disembarked, and readied themselves before setting off on foot to where the criminals had last been spotted - according to what intel Tseng had available, anyway. They were reportedly sequestered in the foothills of Junon, some miles away from the harbor. Cloud threw his sword bag on over his back, and Reno holstered his EMR, along with a .380 handgun. He grabbed another handgun from his stash on the helicopter - a 9 mm - and offered it to Cloud. "Here," Reno said, handing it over to Cloud. "You might need this later."
"Thanks," Cloud replied, taking the handgun from Reno. His fingers brushed against Reno's as he took it. Gods, he's warm...so warm, Reno thought fleetingly.
"I have to warn you, Reno," Cloud said, grinning, "I am a horrible shot. Just ask Vincent...gods know, he tried teaching me, took me to the shooting range and everything."
Reno laughed. "Don't worry about it, Cloud. I mean, for close range - I know you're going to use your sword anyway. Just, you know - if we have to attack from a distance or something...well, I want you to be well armed."
Cloud nodded. "Yeah. I think we're good. Weapons-wise, anyway. Reno, you got some binoculars?"
"Yeah, good idea, yo. I've got a small pair in here," he replied, rummaging through the metal chest aboard the helicopter. "Night vision goggles too, if we need 'em." He threw both items, along with several hand grenades, into a messenger bag, and threw it over his shoulder.
"I hope we get this shit done before sundown, Reno," Cloud cracked, smiling. "Remember, first round of drinks will be on me."
"I don't think so, Strife," Reno replied, smirking. "Remember, I said that I would be buying the first round...and then, you owe me a ride on that bike of yours."
"Oh yeah, that's right," Cloud chuckled. "Well, we'd better get going then, shouldn't we?"
"Yeah, we should," Reno replied briefly. He quickly consulted his GPS, and plotted out their route. "Our goal is this area over here," Reno told Cloud, pointing at the foothills as displayed on the GPS. "Looks like it's five miles out on foot. Ready when you are, yo." He pocketed the GPS, and secured the helicopter. Hoisting the messenger bag over his shoulder, Reno nodded at Cloud silently, and they headed toward the hills, seeking out a secluded place from which they could do some reconnaissance.
The midday sun was brutal, as Cloud and Reno made their way across the countryside. The walk from the helipad to the foothills wasn't terribly long – several miles – but Cloud's fair skin was already getting a bit of a burn. Reno had even noticed that a spray of faint freckles was starting to appear on the bridge of Cloud's nose, and he thought it was rather…attractive. He cleared his throat awkwardly, as he caught himself staring, and quickly averted his gaze.
Fortunately for Reno, he had been smart enough to bring a hat, to keep the sun out of his face. Even so, the sun beat down relentlessly, and as he sweated, it plastered his long hair to his head, neck and back.
"Gods, it's fucking hot," Reno muttered, as he took a swig of bottled water. "Want some?" he inquired of Cloud, offering him the bottle.
"Yeah, thanks," Cloud replied, taking the bottle from Reno, as he wiped sweat out of his eyes with the back of his hand. "Damn, it really is hot," Cloud muttered as he sipped the water. "I didn't expect it to be this bad."
"You're getting sunburned, yo," Reno observed, as he began rummaging in his bag. "Here, let's get out of the sun, and put on some sunscreen. Neither one of us will do a damned bit of good on this mission, if we get heatstroke." They walked ahead to a small bank of trees, that provided a bit of shade. Reno located a small tube of sunscreen in his bag; he immediately peeled off his tank top as he began applying the sunscreen. Cloud stood there dumbly, watching Reno in all his half-naked glory, as if seeing him for the first time. He swallowed hard, as he felt his groin stir; he'd never seen Reno without his shirt before, and the man had more muscles than Cloud had thought, belying Reno's lean and slight appearance.
Cloud followed suit, peeling off his own sweat-drenched tank top and quietly cleared his throat. "Reno?" he called, a bit haltingly. "You do me…and I'll do you," he offered.
Reno spun around, shocked out of his complacency. "What?" he blurted. "What...did you just say?" His eyes traveled up and down Cloud's bared chest and torso, and he involuntarily licked his lips at the sight. Gods, I am never going to keep my head in the game if he leaves his shirt off, Reno fretted.
Chuckling, Cloud took the tube of sunscreen from Reno's hand and explained. "I meant," he said, smirking, "that you do my back, and I'll do yours. With the sunscreen. What did you think I meant?" It was a redundant question, as Cloud knew damned well what Reno meant. The sexual tension between the two was nearly palpable, and this fact was not lost on Cloud.
Even in the hot sun, felt himself blushing under Reno's gaze. What was it about the redheaded Turk that made him feel...all giddy inside? He hadn't admitted these feelings to anyone, but the more he was around Reno, the more flustered he felt. Cloud was pretty sure Reno was attracted to him; after all, he'd caught Reno staring at him many times, when he didn't think Cloud would notice.
But Cloud had noticed. He had most definitely noticed. And then, Cloud had started to do a little staring himself. He swallowed audibly again, as Reno turned his back to him, awaiting some sunscreen. Cloud squirted a bit on his hands and rubbed them together, then carefully applied it over Reno's shoulders, and lean-muscled back. Reno nearly groaned under Cloud's touch; he felt the heat increase in his face, as Cloud massaged the sunscreen into the skin of his back, in slow circles.
Finally, a pleasured moan did slip out, despite Reno's best efforts to contain it. Trying to downplay it, Reno stretched slightly. "Muscles are a little stiff, yo," he muttered. That's not all that's stiff…
"Yeah, we have been walking for quite a while, haven't we?" Cloud observed, handing the sunscreen over to Reno. "Here. Now you can do me."
Reno chuckled as he took the sunscreen from Cloud. "Wiseass," he replied, smirking. "You're right, though, Cloud," he said, as he began applying the sunscreen to Cloud's muscular shoulders. "We really should have reached the high hills by now. Wonder if my GPS is off?"
"Well, we'll look at it again after…you're done here," Cloud murmured, leaning back into Reno's cool touch. He, too, nearly groaned at the pleasurable sensation; Reno's fingers felt refreshingly cool, and he felt himself blushing underneath his already heated face. "I feel better already, Reno," Cloud murmured. "Thanks."
"No prob," Reno replied with a grin, as he threw the sunscreen back in his back, and pulled his tank top back on. Looking over at Cloud, he noticed that Cloud was doing the same; Reno absently wondered what it would be like to remove that shirt from Cloud himself…along with the rest of his clothing…
Reno shook his head, as if to clear his thoughts, but not before Cloud had caught him blatantly staring. Again. Their eyes locked; the silence and tension hung between the two like a fine mist.
"Reno, I—" Cloud began, breaking the heavy silence. Impulsively, Reno stepped forward, and kissed a stunned Cloud gently on the lips.
"We'll talk later, okay?" Reno said softly, as he brushed Cloud's face tenderly with his fingers.
"Yeah," Cloud whispered, his blue eyes gazing into Reno's. Gods, what just happened? Cloud thought. This is not quite…what I expected would happen on this mission.
"As much as I'm enjoying…this, we've got a job to do," Reno said seriously. "Let's get our bearings and set off again. You hydrated enough now?"
Cloud nodded affirmatively. "Yeah, I'm good. Glad we stopped for a bit, but I'm good to go now."
"Good," Reno replied, squinting as he studied his GPS. "Fuck," he muttered, peering at the device. "Can't get a goddamned signal."
"Maybe you should talk to Rufus about buying some more satellites," Cloud quipped, leaning back against a rubber tree, grinning.
Reno cackled. "You know, you're pretty funny, Strife," he commented. "Well, I think we're on the right track here," Reno said, turning his attention back to the GPS. "Distance might be off, but we should be almost there." He squinted up into the thick tree canopy, unable to see the summit, but it was clear they were now heading upward.
"Let's move on out," Reno said firmly, hoisting his messenger bag and his EMR. The sooner we finish this mission, the sooner Cloud and I can finish our…talk. He smiled, recalling the sensation of his lips on Cloud's; the feeling would carry him through the rest of his day.
They trudged on in near silence, for another forty minutes or so. Looking down a ravine to the right of the wooded path they were on, Reno suddenly caught sight of what looked like small warehouse; there looked to be some activity within. Those are our guys, I'm sure of it, Reno thought as he quickly surveyed the scene. Have to find a place where we can monitor them safely.
"Cloud," Reno's whispered, lightly touching his arm. "Down there. That's gotta be them," he hissed. "Up there," he said, pointing to the crest of a hill some distance ahead of them. "We'll establish a post there, got me?"
Cloud nodded silently in acknowledgement, as he followed Reno up the short hill. Adrenaline was starting to rush through his veins. This is it, he thought. Game time. He shifted his sword bag on his shoulder slightly, and touched the handle of his sword briefly, as if to verify its presence.
At first glance, the warehouse set-up looked like any other backwoods mythril mining operation; apparently, the mining operation was a front for what the men were really up to – namely, drilling for mako.
Reno and Cloud stood watch for several hours, in the oppressively humid jungle; nothing really seemed to be happening, and it was starting to frustrate both men. Suddenly, two men appeared, exiting the small office at the front of the complex. They appeared to be deep in conversation. One was a tall, lumbering man; the other, ridiculously short looking next to the first man, although he appeared to be of average height. The shorter man had a weasel-like look about him.
Reno cocked his ear, hoping to hear what the men were discussing, but couldn't quite make out any of the words. It was clear that the conversation was getting louder, however, and more heated. "Can't hear shit from up here," Reno complained. He rummaged in his bag, and located a listening device; shaped like a single earbud, he slipped it into his ear, and waited and listened. Finally, he was able to decipher a few words out of the conversation.
"—grease that son of a bitch ShinRa," came one snippet from the tall man.
"I agree," replied weasel-face, "but we have to bide our time, idiot. You can't just waltz into town and off the president, you know."
Reno's eyes widened as he turned to Cloud. "They're talking about assassinating the president, Cloud!" he hissed. "Goddammit! We need to get out of—Cloud?" A flash of red and black entered Reno's line of vision before his brain could even identify what the item was.
"Guh—Reno…" Cloud moaned as he fell over, his hand clutching at the dart embedded in his neck. Fuck, Reno thought. A fucking tranquilizer dart! What the—who—who shot that? His eyes flitted about the landscape, as he searched desperately for the assailant.
Reno finally spotted him - too late - but well-hidden in a grove of ferns. He made eye contact with the beady-eyed man the moment the dart hit him in the neck. "Fuck, no!" Reno yelped, clutching desperately at his neck, trying to rip the dart out, but it was no use. He felt his entire body go slack and warm, as his vision faded into blackness.
