Chapter Four – I Dream Of You
Now I run to you,
Like I always do,
When I close my eyes,
I think of you.
Such a lonely girl,
Such a lonely world,
When I close my eyes,
I dream…of you
-'7 Years and 50 Days' by Groove Coverage
It was about lunch time and I sat against the wall, artfully hitting my head against it. Reno gave me a look when he came out of the bed room in a black t-shirt and pants with a towel on his head. "What?"
"Nothin'," He shrugged and fell onto the couch. I continued to knock my head against the wall. He looked at me, "You bored or something?"
"No," I replied, "I'm actually glad to have a break. The past two days have been too exciting."
"Well, dyin' and all kinda makes people miss you," He grinned, "You have to expect one hell of a party when you suddenly come back."
I smiled, "Yeah." He raised and eyebrow, "After all the things I said and did I'm surprised so many people missed me."
"Death does that to people," He mumbled.
"Yeah…" It was quiet for a while then a thought occurred to me, "Why aren't you at work?"
"Got the day off," He grinned.
"Really? And why did you go to the bar so early in the morning?"
"Got bored," He took to drying his hair, "Figured someone down there would give me something to do."
"Good thing I came along then, huh?" I sighed, stood and walked behind him, snatching the towel out of his hands.
"Yeah-what are you doing?" He asked.
"I'm about to kill you," I mused and draped the damp cloth over his shoulders and started dying his longer hair, it having already left a wet streak down his back. "You're the only person I know that can pull off a look like this."
"Of course," I could hear his grin.
I flipped the towel over his head. We sat around for a few hours, making light conversation. "Yuffie earlier called and said Tifa could use my help at the bar about this time if I was up for it so I'm heading back there."
"Yeah, sure," He pulled the towel off his head, "But you get to move all that crap back to the bed room."
"I don't think that would be necessary." I leaned against the back of the couch, "I'm only staying until I can find my own place." He shrugged. "I'm serious, Reno."
"Didn't say you weren't," He smirked, amusement in those green eyes of his.
I sighed and walked towards the door, "I'll be back later. Just hang a sock or something on the door if you have some girl over." I knew he was about to say something so I slammed the door and took off down the street. Seconds after I had I heard Reno yelling after me. "This might be more fun than I thought," I mumbled.
* * *
"I am your tool, use me as you see fit," I announced to the brunette upon my arrival.
"The Calvary Has Arrived!" Tifa called with a grin. "Start pouring drinks."
I slid under the door to the bar and started pulling flashy moves with the liquor bottles before pouring the drinks.
"Where'd you learn those moves?" the brunette chimed.
"I get bored too," I grinned.
* * *
Once the crowd had died down and only two people were still in the bar, Yuffie, Tifa, and I sat at a table to talk, Zack having run off with Marlene and Denzel.
"So, how'd it go?" Tifa asked.
"Huh?"
"Looking for a house," She clarified.
"Yeah," The ninja pouted, "Why did you say you hated me when I asked you earlier?"
"Well, I had this great list of houses right?" I began, "All of them were either sold or falling apart, so I took Reno up on his offer."
"What do you mean?" Tifa obviously wasn't around when Reno came into the bar earlier that day.
"I'm living with him-"
"So It Is Reno!" Yuffie called.
"Until I can find my own place," I finished. I realized I was starting to become immune to Yuffie's outbursts.
"You could have stayed with me," the girl pouted again.
"I don't think my nerves could take another night like the one we had last night," I grew exasperated just at the though. "Your energy is going to be the next death of me."
"Are you sure about that, Rayne?" Tifa had a concerned look, "This is Reno."
"I think he means well for once," I chuckled, "He said he'd take the couch."
Both women looked surprised. "Who knew the guy was such a gentleman?" Yuffie spouted.
"That's what he's been saying but after the stunt he pulled earlier, I don't know," I grimaced at the memory.
"He didn't…try anything, did he?" Tifa asked, a hint of anger showing through her voice.
"No, nothing like that." I turned and glared at Yuffie, "It's all your fault."
"Me?" She cried, "What did I do?"
"If It Wasn't for You and Your Demon Panties I Wouldn't Be in the Mess I'm In!" I cried.
She shrank away from my gaze, "So you found 'em, huh?"
"Yeah!" I barked, "So did Reno!"
"I'm confused," The brunette interjected, "Other than Reno spying your unmentionables, what this 'mess' you're in?"
I felt my face heating up, "The only way he'll give them back is if I go on a date with him tomorrow night."
"A Da~te?" Yuffie sang.
I turned the full power of my glare on her, which I was sure was equal to the terrifying look Vincent could turn on someone at the moment, "Can it, Cretin!" She shrank away.
"Where are you going?" Tifa's eyes where sparkling.
"Did you forget the reason why I have to do this?" I accused. She shook her head but waited. I heaved a sigh, "He said it didn't have to be anything really 'out there', whatever he meant by that. As far as I know it's just going to be a nice dinner."
"That's not bad," She looked surprised, "I think he's actually trying to impress you, Rayne."
I rolled my eyes, "You just want to see me in a dress."
"That too!" She grinned. Then she sighed, "Wish Cloud and I had the time to do something like that. He's swamped with deliveries though."
"I'd love to babysit Zack," I offered, "Anytime, but especially next time you and Cloud have the chance to be together. You should make some plans to do something really nice. Denzel and Marlene wouldn't be a problem either."
"I wanna help!" Yuffie put her hands on her help, "I can take care of Denny and Marly!"
"And I can close up the bar early and Cloud and I could have a night on the town," She sighed, gaining that far off look. Then she snapped out of it, "I donno, do you think Cloud would go for it?"
"He better!" Yuffie and I called together and we all laughed.
"Hey, what time is it?" I called.
"Mm, about ten," Tifa replied looking at the clock behind the bar. "Why?"
"Shit!" I shot up out of my chair, "I have to go."
"She has to get back to Re~no," The ninja giggled.
"Yuffie…" I stopped myself, responding will only encourage her, I thought.
"Goodnight!" I called and ran out the door.
* * *
I ran from the bar all the way to Reno's house. I wasn't out of breath; I was a former SOLDIER, they would run us like that all the time as part of training. When I walked to the door I noticed the sock hanging on the handle. He wouldn't really…
I turned the handle and peeked through the door. He let his head fall on the back of the couch as he looked to the door from the TV and smirked. I walked in and threw the sock at him before closing the door.
"Sorry," I mumbled, "Yuffie, Tifa, and I got to talking and I kind of zoned out on the time."
"It's cool," He turned back to the TV, "I'm usually up this late anyway."
"Really?" I leaned on the back of the couch, "I figured you'd be getting all the sleep you could, working for ShinRa and all."
He grabbed my arm and pulled me onto the couch beside him, "That what you think?"
I crossed my arms over my chest, "Learn a little more every day I guess." I looked to the TV, "Whatcha watching?" He shrugged and flipped the channel. "How long have you been sitting here like this?"
"Donno, a while," He looked bored.
I sat there for a while, "Shower?"
"Bedroom," He replied absently.
"Thank you," I rolled over my shoulder and landed on my feet in front of the couch. Reno looked impressed my little moved but I just shrugged and turned to my bags that I just noticed weren't where I put them. I walked into the bedroom, still no bags. I looked in the closet and in the bottom where my bags. "Reno!"
"What?"
"I told you I'm not staying that long!" I yelled. He didn't respond. I sighed and grabbed some clean clothes and headed into the bathroom. I was surprised to see it wasn't a wreck. I shrugged it off and took my shower.
Clean and Refreshed, I emptied one of my bags into another and stuffed the dirty clothes in the waiting bag. I love new clothes, I thought as I looked down at my night attire. Silky pajama pants and a cute shirt that had [STFU] on the chest that was a size too big.
I walked out of the bedroom drying my hair. Reno was in the same spot he was before. I sat down beside him. "Wanna laugh?" I asked. He raised an eyebrow at me. I just sighed, "Pull the towel off my head."
He shook his head but did it, bursting into a fit of laughter the moment the clothe fell. As usual, my hair had turned into a giant poof ball on top of my head. After about three minutes I got irritated that he hadn't stopped laughing yet so I started combing my fingers through the mess on my head.
He finally calmed down, "What was that about, yo?"
I rolled my eyes at his little addition to the question, "You didn't look like Reno."
"Huh?" His eyebrow arched up, mouth hung open slightly, and head tilted to the side slightly in confusion.
"You didn't look like Reno," I repeated. "Usually when I see you, your cocky, confident, and laid back. Since I got back you looked like…for lack of a better explanation, blah."
"Blah?"
"Blah," I repeated.
He grew silent, that somber look coming over his features again. "It was only a week…" He mumbled. "It was like a train wreck when you died."
"So? I'm not dead anymore."
He nodded. There was something in his hand that he was staring at but I couldn't see it. "Everyone missed you."
"Soooo?"
"I did too," He mumbled. "I don't know, when you left earlier I just thought it was a dream or something."
"What do you mean?"
"That you came back."
"All my things are here," I pointed out.
"Yeah, who do you think the boss got to clean your house out?" He retorted. "I had most of your things here for about four days before I got the order to get rid of it."
"You're the one who sold off my things?" My blood was becoming like fire in my veins.
"I didn't want to," He defended. Then he dropped what was in his hand in my lap.
I looked at it and started tearing up. It was the two most precious things I had owned: one of two of Zack's dog tags, the other happened to be in Cloud's possession, and a picture of Aerith and me, Zack, and Cloud that we were all smiling in when the three of us where still a part of SOLDIER. "Why did you hold on to these?"
He shrugged and let his head fall on the back of the couch again, "They're yours."
I gave up and let myself sob, "Thank you."
He looked over to me, "Hey, you don't need to cry."
I shook my head but didn't say anything. He stiffened in surprised when I hugged him. "Thank you," I mumbled again. He rubbed my back until I finally calmed down. "Sorry," I mumbled, wiping the tears from my eyes.
"It's cool, yo." He smiled and I couldn't help but return it. "It's late, get some sleep."
"Don't think I'm a push over just because you saw me cry, Red," I gave him a look.
"Didn't say you were," He shot the look right back at me.
I didn't move for a few minute, staring at my most precious objects. I looked back up at him and shook my head, "I'll sleep here."
"Uh…No?" He made it sound like the answer to a question he wasn't sure was right and gave me a confused look.
"Look, Reno, you've done enough for me, just take the bed."
He looked around the room then back to me, "What?"
"Take the damn bed, Reno," I demanded. His little game was getting irritating.
He shook his head, "Can't do it."
"Why?"
"'Cause-"
"Don't pull that 'gentleman' bullshit," I snapped, "I feel bad enough for imposing like this, so don't-"
"Imposing?" He barked a laugh.
"What?"
"It's not imposing if I said it was alright," He laughed.
"I don't care," I barked, "I still fill guilty!"
"We can always share," He suggested as a means to rile me up more, I was sure.
After a moment I said, "Fine. But if any part of you touches me, I'm breaking it."
He looked taken aback by my agreement, and then amused again when he asked, "Break what?"
"Whatever touches me," I replied with a smile and skipped off to the bedroom.
After a few minutes he walked into the bed room and laid down on the right side of the bed, arms behind his head. I turned off the light and crawled under the covers on the left side. After a moment of silence I could hear the grin in his voice when he said, "Kinky."
"Reno?"
"Yeah?"
"Shut up." He chuckled but obeyed.
I lay wide awake for half an hour before I looked towards where Reno should have been, "Reno?"
"Mm?" He mumbled.
"I can't sleep," I admitted.
"Hm…" He was quiet. I was sure he had fallen asleep until he started humming lightly. The tune sounded like something I had heard before but I couldn't place the lyrics. Slowly I began drifting off to sleep to the sound of the song I couldn't place, into dreams of a certain red-head.
If Heaven and Hell decide
That they both are satisfied,
Illuminate the 'NO's on their vacancy signs.
If there's no one beside you
When your soul embarks,
Then I'll follow you into the dark.
-'I'll Follow You Into The Dark' by Death Cab For Cutie