Author's Notes:
Hey guys, decided to write my A/N in the beginning this time.
Before you read this chapter, note that this chapter is 100% dedicated to Reno, and I advise you to read Chapter 6, 9 and 13 prior. Basically, Cissnei was taking care of the comatose Zack back at Shinra in the presence of Hojo. So she was suspected of being a Shinra traitor. And in the last chapter, Reno was approaching an isolated Zack at Costa De Sol. This chapter takes place 2 days prior to the events in the last chapter.
There will be more author's notes at the bottom as I have something else I wanna share, but that can wait.
Anyways, without further ado, here is chapter 14. Enjoy.
Chapter 14 - Why Reno is Here
Shinra Headquarter– Turks Division (2 Days ago)
Long hair tied into a low ponytail, two symmetrical red tattoos across his cheekbones, flaming red hair, white dress skirt untucked and unbuttoned. Reno of the Turks is truly the perfect image of the rebellious bad boy.
On the streets of Midgar, being bad is the new black, but when you are a bad, plus a Turk, the incentives are endless. Citizens fear you, thugs bow their heads to you, children hides in the shadows at your presence and girls wants to have sex with you. Just the way Reno likes it. And naturally, even when he is inside the Shinra building, he can still expect similar reactions from junior staffs.
The red headed man walks down the hall towards the Turks division on the 47th floor, Shinra headquarter. A passing female employee with shoulder length brown hair immediately blushes at the sight of him and stops. "Hi… Hello Reno", she stuttered shyly.
Reno gave her a quick glance, no more than a second. He remembers her, she is that cute accountant who looks after their division's finance, a real looker, but that's about it. Today she wore a white silk blouse, paired with a grey pencil skirt and as always, she is wearing this desperate look, as if she is helplessly in love with him. He had forgotten her name, even though he faintly remember this girl introducing herself a couple of times in his Shinra career, but he is darn sure he is not interested enough to go through another pointless introduction. Little does this young accountant knows, Reno is very picky about his women. So to ensure he delivers the right message to the girl, he puts his hands in his pockets, looks the other way and resumes his walk. A cruel, silent rejection, yet, distinctively Reno.
True, the red head can be harsh at times, but it does not mean he is cold to all women. Truth of the matter is he loves them, from their curves to their smell, and most of all, bedding them. But as he sexually matures, he had learned that these divine creatures, also known as women, comes in a few variety.
First, there are the adventurous type, these are the ones Reno loves most. Seductive, kinky, and always on the go. They don't have to be the most attractive, because their confidence and comfort in their in skin usually shines through. They have no attachments and are only out to have a good time, they are the perfect one night stands.
Then there are the gold diggers, and as their name suggests, they live for gils. The HoneyBee Inn is the central hub for girls who proudly labels themselves as gold diggers, and will do practically anything for a few shiny gils. When gold diggers spots Reno, it doesn't take them long to show him the goods. He doesn't blame them, why would they want to sleep with Don Corneo, when there is … well, Reno? Young, attractive, and most importantly, holds a high paying job. However, ever since he caught one of them in the act of poking a hole in his condom, he had become extra cautious around this category.
Lastly, there are the clingy girls, his worst nightmare. Most of them looks innocent with their eyes glimmering in admiration for the red head, and nine out of ten times, they are already head over heels for him even before getting to know his personality. That accountant raise all of the above red flags, which is why he would never even consider entertaining her. In his experience, these girls will ask him to meet her parents the day after the deed, or worse, threaten to cut herself when he says no. Needless to say, he had to learn about this type the hard way.
Embarrassed that Reno has completely ignored her, the young accountant brought her head down and continues walking. The volume of her clicking heels quickly vanishes as soon as she past.
He continues towards the end of the hall, stopping in front of an oak wood door, 'Tseng - Turk Lead' is embedded on a gold plate hung on the door. Without knocking, he grants himself entry.
"What's up boss?" Reno greeted the man behind the mahogany desk and shuts the door.
"Reno, how many times do I have to remind you to knock?" Tseng replied, eyes not leaving the documents in his hand.
"Yeah, yeah... at least I'm not late this time, give me some slack". Reno sat on the chair in front of the senior's desk and as always, his back slouched, "What did you call me for?"
"New assignment. We are to assist Heidegger and Scarlet with an inspection at Gongaga's Mako Reactor in four days", the dark haired man replied while scribbling his signature on the documents, "News has it that Cloud and the others are approaching the Corel Area, chances of running into them are high, bring Rude and Elena with you", stopping the pen in his hand he continues, "Unless provoked or ordered by the seniors, you are NOT to engage in a fight".
Reno chuckles at Tseng's emphasis on the last remark, "Don't sugar coat it boss, I won't hurt your little Ancient".
The long haired man narrowed his eyes at Reno, glaring at his subordinate with displease, causing the red head to swallow loudly. "This assignment is top priority, let Rude and Elena know to clear anything else in their schedule for that day", Tseng ordered.
"All right, all right. I'll give Rude and Elena a call", Reno shrugs. He looks up to the ceiling, wondering for a moment and continues, "What about Cissnei? Should I tell her to tag along?"
Upon the red head's question, Tseng puts on a disturbed look. "Not necessary".
Reno raised an eyebrow at Tseng's troubled look. "Why?"
"Cissnei is no longer a part of Turks".
The red head's eyes widened in surprise, "What?!" He sat up and slams his hands on the desk, "Did you demote her? Was it Heidegger's decision?!"
"Calm down Reno".
Somewhere, somehow, Tseng and Reno has become friends, and the line between professionalism and friendship has diminished. Reno no longer treats his senior like the first day he entered the company, and emotions often gets the best of him. Tseng doesn't like it, but it is what it is.
Reno crossed his arm and clicked his tongue, "What's the story?" he probed.
"She is currently being confined within the prison unit… It was the president's decision", Tseng began, "When both Aerith and Zack escaped with Avalanche, Hojo pointed his finger at Cissnei, suspecting her of siding with Avalanche for her connection with Zack", he curled his fingers into a fist, "And when Hojo quit the company abruptly three days ago, that's when the executives wanted someone to blame", he explained.
"The big boss's decision?" Reno repeated, taken back by all the new information. "I can't believe that freaky science nerd quit just because that Ancient left…"
Tseng shook his head, "We don't know if his resignation is connected to Aerith, but Rufus is upset because Hojo's departure created a void in the science department"
"Is that so…?" The red head sat still for a moment as he absorbs the information, "So what now? How long is Cissnei going to be confined? Two weeks? Three weeks?" he chuckles. "I heard Shinra's prison food matches the taste of cardboard. Maybe I'll go pay her a visit, and dangle a burger in front of her or something".
Tseng and humor are best described as water and oil. Needless to say, he didn't find his subordinate's last comment funny, "Cissnei is labelled as trader. Scarlet has gotten involved, and Heidegger has signed off permission to hand Cissnei to her", he clarified, while questioning Reno's intelligence, though he cannot deny that Reno's contribution to the team lays within his brute strength and his love for getting his hands dirty.
"Go to Scarlet? Nah…Cissnei wouldn't fit in with her team" Reno foolishly continues, "All her department does is create offensive artilleries, and weapons of torture…" … And he was held back by his own words. Like a puzzle, the fragments of information finally pieced together in his head... Cissnei is not going to join another department… Weapon of torture... A trader of Shinra… She is being handed down to Scarlet to be…
Seeing Reno had finally grasped the seriousness of the situation, Tseng finished the red head's thoughts, "Cissnei will be executed for betrayal…"
"Are you kidding me?!" The hot headed Turk stood up abruptly, knocking the chair behind him to the carpeted floor.
"Calm down Reno!" Tseng sternly ordered.
"How can you be alright with this?!"
Of course it is not alright… His expression may be cold as ice, but warm blood still runs through his veins, afterall, Tseng is only human. It hurts Tseng to know he will be losing a valued member of the team and as much as he wants to save Cissnei, he always knew there is an unspoken rule of conduct within this company; Emotions and Shinra should never mix… Look at Professor Gast, look at Zack, and now Cissnei… They tried to play the role of a hero, and one by one they fell like flies hovering over burning fire. He tried to convince the executives, but failed, and if he were to use force to save Cissnei that is equivalent to digging his own grave. "Keep your emotions out of it", Tseng managed to say with his calm voice, masking his true feeling.
Reno shook his head and showed his back to his senior. "Cissnei is a comrade… You are not supposed to let your comrade fall!" he said and kicks the fallen chair, sending it crashing to the wall. "What were you and Cissnei thinking helping Aerith and Zack escape?!" Tseng you're an idiot! Cissnei you're a bigger idiot!
Tseng watch a leg of the chair detach and falls onto his carpet, "… ", his heart knows the answer, but there was no need to say it out loud, as Reno just asked a question he already knew the answer to. They did it to save the ones they love…
"Look what 'love' got you and Cissnei. Absolutely nothing." With that, the hot headed Turk heads for the exit.
The senior Turk has made a miscalculation, one that cost him highly, but he would not be where he is without his observant nature. Observing is knowing, and he knows that this red head has been consumed by anger, irritation and perhaps something more. Knowing Reno's abrupt nature, Tseng grew increasingly worried inside.
"Wait", Tseng ordered.
Reno turns his head a bit, just enough for the senior to see the side of his face.
"… Don't make yourself a Shinra enemy".
A forced grinned formed on Reno's face. "I'm not an idiot".
Shinra Prison
Confined in a tiny cellar. Surrounded by four walls made of cement, painted dark grey.
She wonders why Shinra chose dark grey, it's not cheaper than white, or any other color for that matter. Why not something more cheerful? Like yellow? Pink? Or, maybe even blue?...
Blue… She wish she could see those blue eyes right now. They say, any Soldier operatives possess the same blue eyes, but to her, none are as gentle as his…
"Zack", Cissnei whispered.
It has been three days since she was confined in this tiny cellar. She has eaten nothing but bread, over-boiled broccoli and potatoes. Her uniform is now covered by a thin layer of dust, turning her black Italian suit into a dark shade of grey. She is confident that pretty soon, she will be covered by so much dirt, that she will eventually become one with this dull gloomy cell.
As she sat on the cold hard ground, her gaze landed on one of the two amenities offered within the confined space, the steel toilet. She finds that when your lavatory is merely inches from your bed, eating and drinking becomes low priority for an obvious reason. Since she has arrived here, she only recall using this toilet less than the fingers on her right hand, partly because privacy does not exist when there is a small peek window on the door, paired with a guard outside of her cell with no routine schedule to check on her, and partly because of the odor. She doesn't even know what smells worst, herself or thick layer of residues building up inside the cold toilet bowl sitting dangerously close to her bed.
She brought her gaze to the tiny piece of rock she found underneath her bed two nights ago. It is small and round, like the size of her fingernail. She picks it up, and held it against the wall. Applying pressure, she drew a horizontal line beside the one she drew yesterday.
"Three days", she said after counted the lines on the cement wall. Seven more days to live, she thought.
*Bang bang* The tiny peek window on her steel door slide opens, triggering Cissnei to stand up and peeks in.
Her eyes met the uniformed guard's brown ones. "You have a visitor", the guard said and moved away, revealing a familiar red haired man behind him.
"Yo!" Reno greeted behind the tiny window, holding a finger up.
"Reno!" she exclaimed.
The sound of keys dangling can be heard before the door swung open, allowing the red headed male to walk in.
"You have 10 minutes", the guard said and closes the door.
Reno looks around her cell, before bringing his attention to the tiny woman. "Nice place", he said sarcastically.
Cissnei dismissed his bad joke with a swing of her hand, "What are you doing here Reno? They see me as a trader, it's not safe for you to associate with me…" she said and sat down on her bed.
Why am I here?
"Don't worry about me", Reno sat beside Cissnei casually and observe her. She has lost weight, with her once full cheek sunken. The auburn hair is tied up into a short pony tail. The red hue has lost its shine, it looks greasy and unmaintained, and the curls no longer bounces. "Look at you…" he muttered, feeling a bit bad for his former colleague.
The girl furrowed her brows in respond to his rude remark, "Are you here to tell me how bad I look? Thanks, but I don't need this right now".
He held a finger up to her chin, hoping to get a better look of her face. She quickly slaps him off with her hand, "Ouch, don't worry, I'm sure there is still a cute face behind all those dirt and grim".
"I wanna throw up", she rolled her eyes, "What did you really come for?"
Reno found himself speechless for a moment. What did he came for? He is not really sure… A comrade, no, a 'friend' is on a death sentence, I am just being caring, what's wrong with that? There is nothing wrong with that… "Thought you might want some company".
Why am I here?
"…Thanks", Cissnei said softly. She never thought much of Reno. All she knows is he isn't particularly observant like Tseng, or skilled like Rude. Instead, she saw Reno as lazy, always slouching or dosing off during meetings. Even his weapon of choice is lazy, of all types of swords, knuckles, or long-range weapons Shinra offers their division, he chose an Electro-Mag Rod. Is there a weapon on the planet more lazy than a taser on a stick? … But who is she kidding, look at the situation she's in right now, Reno is not really chatty material, but he is better company than a steel toilet bowl and a piece of rock. He'll do.
"No prob". He replied.
And so the two red heads sat on the tiny bed in silence… The air is filled with awkwardness, and his lungs are choking with desire for release. He has to say something, anything.
How do you do? What did you have for dinner? Nice day isn't it?... He questioned himself in his mind what to say. How is he supposed to know? All the girls he's been with threw themselves at him, he never mastered the art of conversation and to boost, his partner in crime Rude whom he send most of his time with at work is not the talkative type either. And what do you even say to a girl who knows she's about to die?
Arghhh…What the heck am I doing here?
He scratches his head, separating the hair glue on his red spikes. "Ahh…", he foolishly lets out, before he wants to beat himself for letting something so uncool as a brain fart escape his mouth.
Cissnei raised an eyebrow. Showing Reno her confused look.
You idiot! Reno cursed mutely. With no choice but to say something, he ask her what is really in his mind bluntly, "Was he worth it?"
"Huh?"
"Trying to help an ex-soldier escape, but find yourself confined and looking death in the face… Was Zack worth it?" He really needs to learn how to converse…
Damn it Reno, why am I here!?
No surprise, the girl frowns. Doubting her earlier thought about him, maybe she does prefer a toilet bowl as company over Reno. "I don't expect you to understand", she grumbled.
"Really?" he asked doubtfully. "Do you think he would do the same for you?"
Cissnei looks up, wondering for a moment. "Yes", she answered.
"Why? He doesn't even love you", he urgently slaps his lips as soon as the words left his mouth, this time, even he knew he said something he shouldn't have. He was supposed to be smooth with women… what happened?
RENO! WHY ARE YOU HERE?
Shockingly, Cissnei didn't look angry like Reno thought she would. He noticed movements at the bottom of his vision, and that is when he realized she is playing a game of footsy by herself, while digging her nails into the mattress' side. When he brought his gaze back up, he found her eyes staring into the invisible dimension in front, biting her cracked bottom lips so hard, to a point he is certain blood will start to release any second.
Seeing her expression, somehow, Reno felt down and a strange pressure erupted from within his chest, it felt suffocating.
"Oh Hey! You don't have to answer!" He forced a laugh, "Whoa hey, guess what? Elena is promoted to Turks now", he said, trying his best to change the topic. "Man it's great to have some estrogen in the te—"
"I know he doesn't love me!… But", she interrupted and turns to Reno. He could see fluids collecting in her eyes as the dark circles swell. Wrinkles formed in between her brows as she scrunches her features in agony.
And the instant she burst into tears, that was the moment his heart ruptured.
Reno… Why are you here?
"Can't a girl dream?!" Cissnei cried out and fell into his chest, "Every girl… dreams of being rescued by her favorite hero…" she said in between sobs.
She's not the adventurous type… Not particularly pretty either… Her figure is average at best… She doesn't need my money…And she is not even interested in me…
He thought he seen it all, the different types of women… but this one in his arms, the one with her curly auburn hair tickling his nose… why can't he group her among the women he is familiar with? Could it be, that this one… deserves a category of her own?
So Reno… Why am I here?
Costa De Sol – Present
And so the red headed Turk walks towards the ex-soldier. His untamed flaming hair flutters in the ocean breeze like burning fire. Ignoring the cold stare from Zack's mako infused eyes, he slowly points his Electro-Mag Rod at the ex-soldier, letting electric spark radiate from the tip of his weapon.
"Zack, good to see you are on vacation", Reno said and smirks "How'd you like to do some work for me?"
"I no longer work for Shinra", Zack said, eyes cautiously observing the Turk.
"Oh I'm sorry", the red head chuckles and shook his head, "But that wasn't a question".
Zack takes a step back, "Reno, what are you doing here?"
"Zack Fair, former Soldier First Class, you have some unfinished business backat Shinra", Reno grins. "Listen to my proposal…"
I'm here, to make her wish come true…
Xoxoxoxo
Author's notes
Ahhh… the plot thickens! No worries, Zack will stick around for a little bit. Not gonna say too much to avoid spoilers. How Reno feels about Cissnei, is up to your interpretation.
I want to say one thing to my dear readers (you there) you guys are very important to me, you keep me going, you put multiple smiles on my face, and I learned a lot about my writing through your comments… at the same time, I'm sorry to tell you now that I can't please you all. Trust me, if I have the time I would branch off the story into multiple endings for every single one of you, but I don't have the hours in my days to do so, I don't even know if I can finish the story… So I'm going to continue this story in a way that I see fit.
Did you guys know that Hojo quit the company? I didn't, I had to watch a walkthrough to find out.
What do you think of this chapter? I had mixed feelings about this one. Initially I was sooo happy with it, thought it was full of emotions, then the more I reread it, the more I doubted myself…. so please, let me know what you think. :)
Please review to keep me going. As always thank you for reading.