DISCLAIMER: I do not own FF7 or it's characters, they belong to Square-Enix.
Rated for mild language and some suggestive themes.
Reeve's Vacation
Costa del Sol was perfect this time of year. Warm sun, aquamarine ocean and beautiful scantily clad women. It had been far too long since Reeve Tuesti had taken a vacation and now he was thinking, I should have done this sooner. He took a drink from his ice cold beer and looked out across the ocean through his sunglasses, getting lost in the rhythm of the waves washing up on shore. He took another drink and gradually felt his tension melt away. Ahh...this is the life.
"You look relaxed." Reeve immediately recognized the smooth, sultry voice and let out a low, painful groan. An attractive blond woman crossed in front of him cutting off his view and casting her shadow over him. Her hair hung in soft curls around her face and down her back and she was wearing a red string bikini that seemed a little too small for her large bust. She held a mai tai in one hand and set the other on her hip.
"Scarlet." He said casually. "You're looking well."
"I wish I could say the same for you." She shook her head and made a tisk tisk sound. "My my, Reeve. You've really let yourself go."
"Is there a reason you're here?" He felt the tension returning to his body and took a quick swig of beer to try and compensate.
"I heard you were here and thought I'd honor you with my company." She gave him a devious smile and sauntered over to the lounge chair next to him. He sighed heavily as she sat down and felt the calm atmosphere wither into oblivion.
"If I wanted your company, I would have invited you." He tried not to look as she settled into the chair and flipped her hair off her shoulders.
"Why didn't you invite me, I wonder?" She mused as she twirled a lock of hair around her finger.
"Scarlet," He began, trying to keep himself in check since he knew she was only trying to get a rise out of him, "you are conniving, cold hearted and power hungry. Wonderful traits for expanding a corporate empire not for building any type of meaningful relationship. That is why Shinra hired you and the reason our marriage failed." He took another drink and continued, "If I was masochistic, you definitely would have gotten an invitation to join me. However, that is not the case."
Scarlet sipped her mai tai as he spoke, gave him a sidelong glance and pouted her full lips. "Maybe if you hadn't been so obsessive over tinkering with your little toys our marriage would have worked." She spoke playfully, but her voice was laced with venom.
"Oh yes," He said sarcastically, "That's why we got divorced."
"Couldn't even fake enough interest to have a decent argument." She vented spitefully, "That's why the make up sex was so terrible..."
Tired of playing this game, he pulled off his shades and looked her in the eye. "Why are you here?"
"Rufus Shinra wanted to get a hold of you." She shrugged and took another sip from her drink. "He didn't say why, but I'm guessing he has a job for WRO." She snickered at Reeve. "World Regenesis Organization. How noble of you."
"I just want to do my part to help the planet."
"Oh, I have no doubt. You always were a do-gooder. Still, I think you have another reason that isn't so obvious."
"And that would be what?" Reeve cursed himself for asking. He knew she had set him up for something.
"Guilt." She said simply. Reeve scoffed and opened his mouth to make a reply but she cut him off. "Not just because of your work with Shinra. No, you're doing this because you're pining over that ancient girl." He tried to object, but Scarlet interrupted. "I read your report, Reeve. That night at the Gold Saucer, they had agreed to go after Sephiroth. If it wasn't for stealing the keystone and taking the woman and child hostage, they would have stuck to their plan and stopped Sephiroth. Instead, they handed the black materia over on a silver platter and the last surviving ancient gets run through trying to be a hero." She leaned closer to him, her eyes piercing into his.
"What really gets to you though, is that she forgave you and your little cat thing for betraying them. You didn't feel worthy of it then and you still don't. That is why you founded WRO. Guilt." She said through her teeth, almost hissing it. Reeve remained silent and sat back in his chair turning his attention back to the ocean. Feeling satisfied with her victory, Scarlet finished her mai tai and got up to leave. "Shinra is waiting for you in Midgar, he hopes you will meet with him to go over the details of this assignment. Oh and Reeve," She cast him a saucy glance over her shoulder, "this was fun, let's do it again sometime." She turned and strutted away, cackling as she left.
"Vindictive bitch." He grumbled in a low voice to himself. After a few minutes, he picked up his phone and dialed Cid to make the arrangements to return to Midgar. While not the most savory method, Rufus had definitely gotten his attention by sending the shrew. Whatever assignment he had, it must be urgent.
/Well,/ Came Cid's voice after Reeve had explained why he was cutting his R&R short, leaving out his conversation with Scarlet. /I guess you can rest when yer dead./
"I might have to wait until then." Reeve replied with a chuckle, "I'll see you soon." He hung up and finished off his beer. He sat there a moment taking in his surroundings - sun, ocean, beach, women - and sighed. So much for my vacation.
Tonberry Haiku
My dagger is sharp,
My lantern burns with malice,
And I don't like you
Phoenix Downs by Marlene Wallace
Phoenix downs are very special potions made from the feathers of a phoenix. A phoenix is a giant bird that dies and is reborn from the ashes of its former self. Its feathers have special properties that will wake someone who has been knocked out even when they are very badly hurt. People carry them when they travel because there are so many monsters around. If one of their friends gets KOed, then they can just use a phoenix down to make them get up, otherwise its game over. My dad also says that they work really well for hangovers.
You should always have at least one phoenix down with you when you travel, because you never know when you might need one and it's better to be safe than sorry. That is why I always carry one with me.
A/N: Just keeping it random. :-) I always liked Reeve as a character and often wondered about his personal life. I'm sure it's not a new idea, but it was the first time it popped into my head so I thought I'd write a quicky about him and Scarlet which I probably won't ever revisit. I really had fun writing their banter and hopefully you enjoyed reading it. It's set after DoC when the lifestream settled. I just wrote Marlene's little essay for the heck of it. Please R&R.