The drive towards Yuffie's personal prison—that was what she considered it, at least—was a quiet one. She kept expecting Reno to make some stupid comment, therefore starting up their playful banter and bickering from before, but the stupid comment never came. With a small sigh that seemed to echo in the silence, the girl turned on the radio and cringed as Kelly Clarkson began blaring.
"What is this crap?!"
"Turn that shit off!"
Reno and Yuffie both exchanged a look and she giggled before switching stations. After a minute of searching, Yuffie sat back with a sigh of relief as 'Demolition Lovers' began to play quietly throughout the car.
"MCR fan, eh?" Reno was looking at Yuffie sideways with curiosity and she returned his look with a grin.
"Since the beginning. I can't stand those flipping posers who call themselves fans just 'cause they like 'Welcome to the Black Parade.' Makes me wanna shove my throwing stars up their—well…you know." Reno tossed his head back and laughed, Mako blue eyes shining with amusement.
Hand in mine, into your icy blues
And then I'd say to you, we could take to the highway
With this trunk of ammunition too
I'd end my days with you in a hail of bullets
"Must be hard…being a Turk, huh?" Yuffie blurted out suddenly. Another sideways glance went her way as Reno's laugh subsided.
"What makes you say that, kid?"
"I dunno…it's just that…it doesn't seem like you'd be able to get close to anyone really. 'Cause like…what if…your girlfriend, boyfriend, significant other, etcetera, was a Turk with you…and something went wrong on a mission…and they died right in front of your eyes? Or…even worse, they ended up being your target one day…and then…you had to kill them?"
I'm trying, I'm trying
To let you know just how much you mean to me
And after all the things we put each other through and
"Well…yeah, it's hard some days, and the work's as dirty as it comes, but there's an understanding between partners on the job, that we'll always watch each other's backs with our lives." He paused thoughtfully as the music continued to swirl throughout the inside of the car.
I would drive on to the end with you
A liquor store or two keeps the gas tank full
And I feel like there's nothing left to do
But prove myself to you and we'll keep on running
A lopsided grin was thrown Yuffie's way. "There're pluses to the job too, of course." Reno continued.
"Oh?"
"Getting the chance to have a hot chick like you all to myself." An eye roll and a hard smack on the arm was all the reward Reno received.
"RENO! How did I know that the pervy comments were gonna start soon? And we were having good conversation too!"
"Sorry, babe—er, Yuffie. How about this…getting the chance to protect one of Gaia's soon-to-be great rulers from some sick asshole?"
Yuffie crossed her arms and glared. "Nice save."
But this time, I mean it
I'll let you know just how much you mean to me
As snow falls on desert sky
Until the end of everything
I'm trying, I'm trying
To let you know how much you mean
As days fade, and nights grow
And we go cold
"I mean it. I'll make sure nothing happens to you, kid. Not just 'cause it's my job, but 'cause you've gotta go on to bridge the gap between Wutai and the rest of Gaia someday. You live there, you know how shaky things have been lately." The scenery flew by outside the window; a winding dirt road, surrounded by trees. The sun was high and blazing in the sky, but it was blocked out by the shady forest.
"Do you trust me?" It was Reno's turn to make a more personal inquiry.
Gazing out the window at the trees flashing by, Yuffie mumbled, "I have to, don't I?"
"But do you trust me?" Reno's blue eyes searched Yuffie's grey ones.
"…Yes."
Until the end, until this pool of blood
Until this, I mean this, I mean this
Until the end of…
The redhead nodded, and the shin obi looked away, back at the trees. This place reminded her of the Ancient Forest, and she suppressed a shudder.
"Hey, kid? Why did you ask about being a Turk earlier? The real reason." So he had seen through her lie. It wouldn't have been the first time, and it most certainly wouldn't be the last.
Yuffie sighed. "Remember the last time you were in Wutai? Maybe…a year ago? I ran into you, almost killed you right then and there, and an hour later we were at dinner talking about politics. Mainly Shin-Ra versus Wutai's system of government. That whole time, we talked about me a lot…and you never said a word about yourself, or your career as part of Shin-Ra. I guess I just wondered…"
The Turk was a little surprised. "I can't believe you still remember that, yo. It was a weird…friendly thing between us, wasn't it?" He was still a little hesitant to call Yuffie his friend…Turks didn't have many friends, it was too dangerous to get attached. Besides, he hadn't seen her in a year up until two days ago. Yuffie had continued with the conversation, and Reno tuned in, not wanting to hear another rant about him not listening.
"Yeah, it was friendly…until you made some crude comment, and then stood me up the next day when we were gonna have dinner again and talk more politics. I mean—it obviously wasn't like a date thing or anything…but still…you promised."
I'm trying, I'm trying
To let you know just how much you mean
As days fade, and nights grow
And we go cold
"I didn't mean to flake on you…the boss called with some urgent mission…I don't even remember what it was now…sorry, kid."
"It's, 'kay. I wasn't really expecting you to show anyways. 'Course, I figured you had found someone better looking to spend your time with, instead of a mission." Her slight laugh made it obvious that she was joking, but the comment still hurt. Not that she thought he'd gone with someone else…but that she had doubted his sincerity in the first place.
But this time, we'll show them
We'll show them all how much we mean
As snow falls on desert sky
Until the end of every…
"I may seem like some asshole player on the outside, but it's not really like that, ya know. Most've the ladies I'm seen with are targets…sometimes we have to get to know them, learn their habits, before pulling the trigger." Yuffie shuddered and Reno continued. "It's not a good life, princess. Turks are just...machines. Instruments of death that Shin-Ra uses to exterminate the evil. I guess we become mindless and evil ourselves, after a while."
All we are, all we are
Is bullets, I mean this
All we are, all we are
Is bullets, I mean this
"No. You only become mindless and evil if you let yourself. Godo…he's mindless and evil in his own way. He was…so blinded by his power that he didn't notice it was gone until Shin-Ra was putting down their guns after the war. And even then…he let his country suffer rather than admit his own faults. You, as an assassin, at least know what your faults are…and you can overcome them as long as you don't let your power take over your life."
"Power? What power do I have?"
"You…Reno…you have the power to take lives."
As lead rains, will pass on through our phantoms
Forever, forever
Like scarecrows that fuel this flame we're burning
Forever, and ever
Know how much I want to show you you're the only one
Like a bed of roses there's a dozen reasons in this gun
There was a long silence after that, other than the music from the radio. Yuffie was the one to break it with a loud giggle. She met Reno's eyes and gave him her trademark grin.
"Well, this talk has been super serious… I've used up my maturity quota for a good month, I think. Same time, next week, Turkey?"
Reno smirked back at her. "Yeah, I think I've gone far too long without making a perverted comment. Hmm…as long as it's just us two in the house…all alone…with no one to get in our way…"
"Don't even start going there, ya frotch perv."
Reno chuckled before turning sobering again. "But…one more thing." The annoyance faded from her features as their eyes met one more time in a solemn manner. "I will take care of you, Yuffie. Trust me."
And as we're falling down, and in this pool of blood
And as we're touching hands, and as we're falling down
And in this pool of blood, and as we're falling down
I'll see your eyes, and in this pool of blood
I'll meet your eyes, I mean this forever
The car had reached its destination, purring to a stop. Yuffie didn't even look at the house as she nodded at Reno. He would take care of her. She was certain of that.
(AN: Okay, for some weird reason…I'm in love with this chapter. It doesn't even matter if none of my readers like it (okay…it kinda does, but whatever), this chapter is mainly me indulging in my MCR obsession…There's not a lot of description, but I kinda felt like the dialogue made up for it, and was a necessary part…kind of a transition chapter…
The next chapter? Reno and Yuffie…alone in a house…with no one to interrupt them…oh the many things that could happen XD
Thanks go out to ShiningEyes, my lovely Otaku Dreamer, chibified kitsunes, AureusNoctua, and a special thank you to Serenitychan13 just for being so excited about this update that she PMed me, hugglez back. THANK YOU REVIEWERS! You all get Reno plushies! And remember…the more you review, the more I write, and the faster we can get to the Reffie fluff XD.)