Disclaimer: I don't own the characters from the FFVII world; I just like to have my way with them. *wink*

A/N: Thanks to everyone that added alerts and favs on this one. =) This one is a lengthy one.. blame it on Reno. That's what I do.

Reno: Gee thanks, bosslady.

=)

Liss followed Reno out of the building and into the bustling streets of Edge.

"Where are we going," she inquired.

"It's just up ahead."

They walked on in companionable silence as Liss looked about her surroundings. She had explored Edge when she first came to town but not this side. Something about it set off a frisson of unease in her. Reno kept sneaking peaks at his new drinking buddy. Being who he is, he quickly noticed the slight tension in her posture. He tested out his next words in his head before he spoke them. He wanted to make sure that they would sink in and she would understand.

"Where we're going, there are friends there."

Liss looked at Reno expectantly, hoping he would further clarify. Sighing, Reno dragged his left hand through his hair, at the same time; he reached into his inner left coat pocket and pulled out his pack of smokes. Pulling one out and settling it between his lips, he offered the box to Liss. Shaking her head, refusing the offer he shrugged and placed the box back into his pocket. Flicking his lighter, he lit his cigarette and slid a sidelong glance at her.

Reno looked up and saw that they were just a few feet from their destination and he pulled Liss to a stop.

"That place over there is where we're going. I want you to remember how we got here ok? This is important. There are some… things going on that I can't explain and won't even if I could yanno."

"Uhh. You're kinda scaring me, Reno."

"Shit. My bad, yo. Just know, if ever you're in trouble or ya gotta get somewhere safe outside the tower, you come here. These people, they're good people; they'll take care of you." Reno maintained eye contact with the girl until he was sure she understood.

Reno walked ahead a few paces. He tossed his half smoked cigarette on the ground, and as he went to snub the smoking embers out with his boot he looked over his shoulder at Liss.

"Oh, almost forgot. Short, blonde and emo doesn't like his sword touched."

Liss was about to ask what the hell Reno meant by that but he just winked at her and opened the door and stepped in.

Liss looked up at the sign about the door. "7th Heaven, huh? We'll see about that." Liss muttered as she slowly followed Reno into the darkened bar.

Reno walked up to the bar, passing Yuffie who was helping out with waitressing duties. As the ninja slipped around him, Reno playfully slapped her on the ass. When she turned around to glare at him he pointed at the man next to him, Vincent Valentine. As she scowled at him, he stuck his tongue out at her.

The playful and almost daily interlude over, Reno thought over his decision to bring Liss here. He approached Tseng about it earlier and the older man readily agreed. Liss was not a Turk and they had to keep that in mind that now there was a civilian in their midst almost as often as the President was. Both Tseng and Reno felt that it would be a good idea to keep this decision hidden from the President. There really was no love lost between the two parties but a grudging and fragile relationship had formed over recent years between Shinra and his Turks and the members of the now defunct AVALANCHE. Reno had Rude call Tifa and smooth over the details with her before Reno left the building with the PA.

Liss slide onto the stool next to Reno as he shouted down the bar to the woman behind the counter.

"Ayo Tifa! What the hell yo? The gang is all here and no invites for tha Turks! I'm hurt, I really am."

The brunette swayed in their direction and slowly walked down. "Aw, you know you're always welcome here," she said with an easy smile.

"More like my gil is welcomed here," Reno said as he reached over the bar and grabbed a half full bottle of vodka and two tumblers. Tifa playfully swatted his hands away as she laughed off his comment.

"Since when have you paid? I do believe that your bar tab is well over a grand right now."

"Uh, the check is in the mail," he said as he winked at her.

Liss watched Reno pour his glass and as he was about to pour hers she finally spoke up. "Oh! No no no. None for me, I'll have water."

The look Reno gave her caused her to laugh. He looked like a young child who had his favorite toy destroyed. Utter horror.

"Water? WATER! YOU'RE IN THE BEST GAHDAMN BAR EVAH AND YOU WANT WATTAH? YOU. SHOT. NOW."

Liss looked at Reno like he grew a second head.

"Or are ya chicken, gingah?"

Oh that did it, Liss thought. No one called her a chicken, or a gingah for that matter. Leaning in close Liss spoke clearly and annunciated every word.

"BRING. IT. ON."

Tifa was now standing in front of them, watching the interplay between the two customers. Reno turned to her and made the brief introductions and asked for shots of her strongest whiskey.

Two shots and a chaser later, Liss relaxed enough to take off her suit jacket. Reno noted how the ivory silk skimmed over her curves. Oh yes, he thought, she was definitely hiding something. Too bad it wasn't for him to discover, he ended the thought on a sigh as his cell phone vibrated in his pants pocket. Taking the phone out, he checked the caller id and grunted. He expected this call, just not this soon. Excusing himself from Liss, he maneuvered his way to head out the door, to get a modicum of privacy for this call.

At the door, a well muscled man sat observing everything. He noticed Reno's companion as soon as she walked in. She was definitely not Reno's type. Not at all. Figuring this was the woman Rude had called Tifa about earlier, he slowly stalked his way to the bar to get a better look.

Liss sat at the bar waiting for Reno to return. Their third shots were waiting. Already feeling a good buzz, Liss grabbed a handful of pretzels from the bowl Tifa placed in front of her. She munched away as she felt a slow warming sensation ease up her back. Turning her head sharply to the left she came face to face with the bluest eyes she had ever seen. Liss forgot to breathe as she gazed into those eyes. She forgot to chew as well as she took a deep gulp of air. Nearly choking she reached out to get the nearest liquid in her and sloshed down both her and Reno's shots.

He was still not used to people's first reactions to looking him in the eyes. It varied from awe to a tremor of fear running through the person staring at him. But this girl in front of him, her reaction was priceless, and then she choked and downed two shots of his favorite liquor in rapid succession. He lightly patted her back until she waved him off and mumbled a quick apology.

"I'm so sorry," she said as she attempted to regain some composure.

"Its fine, " he said as a ghost of a smile flitted past his lips. Holding out his hand he introduced himself. "Cloud. Cloud Strife and you are?"

"In heaven," she whispered.

"Pardon?" he asked as he pretended not to hear her.

"Melissa Hill. Liss." She said as she gave him a dazzling smile.

"Liss. That's pretty. Well, I have to get back to the door. It was nice to meet you."

As Cloud turned around Liss blurted, "SWORD!"

Cloud turned around and looked at her as if she was stupid.

"Shit. I did it again. Just blurting things. Sorry, it's just, well Reno said to me before we came in here something like 'short, blonde and emo doesn't like his sword touched.' I just didn't think he meant an actual sword. Oh damn, I don't think I was supposed to repeat that."

Cloud stared hard at her as he took in the words, then surprised himself with his next actions. Slowly he moved towards her, invading her space.

"Is that so?" Liss gave the man a helpless nod. "He's right. I don't like my sword touched."

Liss gulped as Cloud reached out with a gloved hand and stroked her jaw as he leaned in, he stared directly in her eyes and uttered, "I love having it stroked though."

Liss squeaked and slammed her eyes shut. A minute later when she opened them, the blonde was gone and Reno was approaching her.

Reno walked around the corner and hit the accept button on his cell phone.

"Reno."

"Where are you?"

"Out yo."

"Out? Out where?"

"Sir, with all due respect," even Reno had the decency to snicker at that statement. "We're at one of the local pubs. No harm being done."

Rufus snorted in response to that. Reno walked back to the door and stood there, keeping Liss in his sights from outside.

"Look, you ain't gotta worry bout me yo. She ain't interested, I'm not her type."

Rufus' interest was definitely piqued at that comment.

"Oh. What exactly is her type then?"

Reno stood there in the doorway, watching Liss' interaction with Cloud.

"Blondes."

Rufus wasn't expecting that. He struggled for a moment to come up with a response but was cut off by Reno.

Reno's eyes nearly bugged out of his head. Cloud was flirting. With a girl. What. Tha. Hell.

"I gotta go yo. We're about to leave. I'ma walk her home and I'll be up to check in on ya and go over the plans Tseng and I came up with."

"Alright."

Reno strolled casually towards Liss. For all outward appearances he was the very definition of calm, cool and collected. Inside though, his thoughts were in a turmoil. He hoped the interaction between Cloud and Liss wouldn't come back to bite him in the ass.

"Ready to go?" he asked.

Liss nodded her acceptance.

"Hey Tifa! How much, yo?"

"Nothing, it's on the house."

Reno was taken aback at that. Granted they joked about him having a tab but he always did settle up at the end of the night.

Liss thanked Tifa and said goodnight.

"I'll be back later tonight. If Rude get here if I do, giv'im a kiss for me," Reno told the beautiful brunette.

"Only if you do the same," she replied with a wink.

Just as the duo was about to walk away from the bar Tifa called Liss back over and slipped her a small folded piece of paper. Reno looked at Tifa who just shook her head at him. Either she knew what it was and wasn't telling him, or she honestly didn't know. Reno had a bad feeling about this and scowled at his escort. Liss was to buzzed to think or care. She slipped the folded paper into her purse without looking at it and grabbed onto Reno's sleeve for balance as he lead them out of the now overly crowded bar.

In order to leave the bar, they had to walk out the exit that Cloud was standing by. The only acknowledgement of each others presence the men gave was a nod towards each other. Cloud flashed a brief smile and he was thoroughly rewarded with a pretty blush. Reno took note and practically dragged the tipsy redhead out into the streets of Edge.

Neither said a word on the walk back to Liss' apartment. Nor at the door where he made sure she was safe and locked in. Reno decided that he would not tell Rufus about that part of the evening. Not one word.