Disclaimer: I don't own Reno, the Turks, Midgar, the slums, ShinRa Electric Power Company or its executives. Those all belong to Square Enix. The translations from the Before Crisis handheld game belong to Dark Angel over at the Gunshot Romance webpage. What does belong to me are my Original Characters, Camryn and Miyuki, and the story itself.
A/N - No, no, NO, I haven't forgotten my story. It's just the usual end of semester crunch. I'm losing my mind!!
Also, in a spectacular, curious fit of writer's block, I've been writing lots of Tselena lately . . . but that won't happen in a while . . . Ke ke ke! . . . . Never mind me!!
Enjoy! Read and Review, please!
February 3, 0002
Camryn woke up the next morning to a cold, empty bed. "Baby?" she whispered, reaching over to the space Reno had been sleeping on earlier. Other than the messy sheets, the place was empty. Camryn sighed and lay back down. She shut her eyes and breathed in deeply, catching Reno's scent on her skin, on the bedclothes. A pleasant sensation fluttered in her belly, and her pulse accelerated when the memory of their night together.
She took the pillow he'd used and hugged it tightly to herself, pressing her face to it. It smelled of him, and Camryn nuzzled it happily, imagining it to be the redhead.
It made her sneeze.
Camryn grumbled, thinking, "Even in a pretend world, he's out to get me." She sat in bed, the pillow cradled in her arms. A red hair was caught in the fabric of the pillow's sham. Camryn smiled to herself and picked the hair away, thinking how funny they'd look together out in the street, a very fair-skinned redhead and a bronze-skinned Costan. She put the pillow aside and went to the dresser, grabbing a camisole and panties.
As she crossed the hallway into the bathroom, she heard Brendan cooing quietly in his room.
He always woke early, "Just like his father. . ." Camryn thought.
The rest of the apartment was quiet. Camryn wondered whether Reno had really left while stepping into the shower and turning on the hot spray. He usually staid for breakfast, or "broke Bren out of jail" and took him out for a morning-time stroll (she wasn't sure how she felt about that; they were both apprehensive of being found out, but reno always made sure he wasn't obviously recognizable on those walks around the park), or sat in watching TV. ". . . But just leaving like that? No, he hasn't done that in ages . . ."
After she cleaned and dressed herself, Camryn checked her son. Brendan looked at his mother inquisitively, smiling as he put his arms up in the universal baby-speak for 'pick me up'. Camryn smiled back and held her baby, quietly admiring him, "You're such a good baby, right, Bren? No screaming or yelling, just tantrums when you're sick." Brendan toyed with her earrings, and suddenly, Camryn could hear the TV. Knowing he really was still there, she blew a raspberry on Brendan's soft cheek, whispering, "Ooh, see! Reno's here! Isn't that fun, honey-pie?" Brendan nodded seriously, as if saying, "But of course I know that!"
Camryn headed out, and the moment she entered the living room, she saw him. Reno was sitting cross-legged on the couch, eating a small bowl of cereal, with a mug of coffee on the floor next to him. He winked at her. Camryn winked back, and put Brendan down next to Reno while she fetched him his morning bottle.
Reno looked at the toddler, who grinned back toothily. The Turk narrowed his eyes at Brendan as he warned, "Hey, I'm watching you, boy." Brendan giggled, and bit Reno's knee. Reno snickered uncontrollably, unable to put the bowl anywhere to get Brendan off his leg. He laughed/whined, "Stop that, Bren! Why are you always biting me?!"
Camryn saved him by pulling Brendan off him. Brendan shouted angrily, but Camryn gave him the warm bottle as a peace offering. The toddler acquiesced, and lay on his back on the couch, propped up on the couch's armrest. Camryn turned her attention to Reno. "I thought you were gone, babe," she said, taking the bowl of soggy-looking cereal from him. Reno muttered crossly, "I was eating that, dammit . . . You're always throwing out my breakfast . . .You and your kid are out to get me . . ."
Camryn put the bowl down, cupped his face between her hands and gave him a loud, friendly kiss. He responded, kissing her back with an enthusiastic smacking kiss of his own. When Camryn stepped away from him, he grinned, "Yuck. Minty-paste. But I'm still hungry, you know." She scoffed and argued, "You're always hungry!" Reno defended himself, "It's my fucked up metabolism, woman!"
Camryn snickered and sat next to him. Reno pulled her legs onto his lap, and as he popped Camryn's toes, she offered, "I always toss your breakfast, 'cause it's always cold cereal, and you don't have to eat cold cereal if I'm here to make you something, so . . . What do you want for breakfast, sugar?" She winced at a particularly loud crack. Reno smiled at her reaction, and kept pulling her toes. He shrugged, "I dunno. Whatever you're making, I guess." Camryn stretched her calves, pointing her feet. She mused, "I got eggs. Veggies, ham, bread, cheese . . . I'm thinking omelets with toast. What'cha think?"
Reno gave her an adoring look, "Baby! You're a goddess! Sex on two legs! Gorgeous!" Camryn knelt on the couch and kissed him again, muttering against his mouth, "Such a kiss-ass . . ."
A few minutes later, they were both working in the kitchen. Brendan had tagged along, and now sat playing with his toys on the other side of the kitchen, where it opened into the hallway. He chattered away at his toys, making up words when the ones he knew wouldn't suffice.
Grumble as she might about Reno 'invading her territory', in reality Camryn liked having Reno in the kitchen. The way he moved so comfortably, not having to ask where she kept utensils, or condiments. The way he would accidentally brush against her, or reach for something over her head, always within touching distance in the cramped kitchen.
The way when, noticing Brendan staring at him while he chopped the ham, Reno took a little piece and hunkered down to feed it to him.
Camryn could almost imagine them having the type of relationship that was off-limits to them. She shook her head, smiling sadly to herself as she briskly whisked the eggs and poured them into the pan.
Reno, having fed Brendan the ham, stroked the toddler's head fondly, and turned towards Camryn, who was currently turned away from him. She'd tied her hair back in a careless ponytail, tendrils of her hair curling softly around her face.
She'd cut it, despite his protests, right after her relationship with Jud was done for. Reno had indeed protested, loving her long, long blue-black hair. It was the longest she'd ever had it, and Reno thought it made her look incredibly sexy. She'd insisted on cutting it off, however, insisting that, more often than not, that beautiful hair was the 'handle' by which Jud had grabbed her in order to abuse her.
So, she'd cut it. She'd cut it dramatically short, only just above shoulder-length. Then, she cried, correctly interpreting Reno's shocked look when he'd first seen her after the haircut. And then, she'd laughed. She was finally free of the cruel man.
She was growing her hair out again, and in their afterglow pillow talk, Camryn confessed she wanted it long, and soft and beautiful for no one else but him.
Reno sighed softly to himself, pretending to look for some cheese to grate for the omelets. While Camryn quite obviously held a very dear place in his heart, Reno couldn't describe or explain, not even to himself, just how exactly did he feel about her. "Sure," he thought, "I love her, but am I in love with her?" He glanced at her from out the corner of his eye.
She was still wearing that damn, tiny camisole, and the flirty panties.
Reno bit his lower lip, feeling a strange flutter in his stomach that had nothing to do with hunger. He decided to actually get the cheese, and as he closed the fridge, he saw Camryn step up to the counter, looking distracted. He smiled one of what Camryn called his "patented and guaranteed-to-piss-you-off Reno-smiles".
He stood directly behind her, and stepped close, very close to her, close enough to actually press her body against the counter. Camryn grinned, and Reno could hear the smile in her voice when she asked, "Uhh, baby? Can I get some room here?"
Reno kissed the top of her head, reaching above her for something. "I'm just getting the cheese-grater, doll, don't get your hopes up," he teased. Camryn snickered and gave him a playful reversed head-butt on the chest. Reno put the grater and the unwrapped cheese on the counter.
And he proceeded to grate the cheese, Camryn caught in the middle.
Camryn laughed as Reno shook and jostled her, using exaggerated movements to grate the cheese. When he felt he'd grated enough cheese (and shook her around just the right amount), Reno wiped his hands and turned her around. Her face still shone with laughter, and she hugged him around the waist, surprising herself by thinking, "I love you, Reno."
Reno felt her stiffen in his arms, and he asked, "What is it, Cammy?" He glanced over at Brendan, but the toddler was happily humming as he pushed some toy blocks around. Camryn stepped away from him, smiling absently and averting her gaze, "Nothing, hon. I just gotta check on the eggs. Don't wanna burn them and have you tease me for always burning stuff."
Reno gave her a questioning look, knowing there was something deeper beneath the flippant attitude. "But she's not about to tell me, not now," he thought.
Elsewhere, Miyuki's phone rang, cutting against the silence in the apartment she shared with Reno. She picked it up and groggily answered, "Yeah?" Tseng greeted her with, "Good morning. Get up. You're heading out to Junon again."
Miyuki bolted upright in her bed, "What- NO! We just got back, Tseng! Why do I have to go back?!" Tseng let out some air through his nose, "Rufus is going out there to smooth some political feathers, and he requested you personally."
Tseng heard her muttering mutinously, and he ignored her, smiling instead as he remembered the friend he would visit today. He hadn't seen her in a very long time, since he'd gotten promoted, actually. Seeing her would be like a breath of fresh air.
Finally, he heard Miyuki finish, "Stupid ShinRa brat . . . Maybe I'll really break his fucking arm . . ." Tseng scolded, "You're lucky we de-bugged the phones. Heidegger heard that, you'd be somewhere else right now. Anyway, hurry up. Rufus leaves in 2 hours. It's a short trip, there's no need to pack a lot."
He hung up a moment later, and again smiled to himself, thinking of his friend. He'd already asked her if he could visit, and she seemed glad to hear from him.
Miyuki, meanwhile, flopped bonelessly back to bed, groaning and grumbling, "Damn you, ShinRa . . . This was supposed to be my day off . . ." But then she smiled, the smile sitting strangely on her face. She liked guarding Rufus. He was a very intelligent young man, and he made good conversations when he wasn't muttering something negative about his father.
And he was, of course, very nice to look at. The magazines and half the female population of Midgar seemed to think Rufus ShinRa was an extremely appealing young man. If not for his looks, then for the immeasurable fortune and power he was to inherit.
Miyuki knew it was unrealistic to think anything even remotely like that, but she was nonetheless aware of the way Rufus always asked for her on events like these. He seemed to sincerely like having her around, but lately . . . "Lately, it feels like he's more like keeping watch on me . . . Am I under surveillance? From the Vice-President?" she thought, finally getting out of bed.
She was still suspicious of him, still wary of his erratic behavior. She remembered the unease that had gripped her, making her so terrified, so insecure of her abilities as a Turk. Feeling a fair amount of resentment towards Rufus, Miyuki couldn't understand why he'd betray them, if he actually was the one behind the information leaks.
When finally she went to the Turk lounge to wait for Rufus to summon her, she saw a few other Turks. Many of them seemed indifferent to her, or at least, as indifferent as she herself was to any of them. Of the people she truly did care for, there was only one available, and Miyuki was pissed at him.
Tseng arched an eyebrow, "Don't look at me like that."
Miyuki shrugged, "It was the first day off in weeks, sempai." Tseng rolled his eyes, "Yes, well, I'll write you up for a day off when you get back." She turned her back on his to grab some coffee and heard him mutter, "If it'll get you to stop whining . . ."
She whirled back to him, "What!?" Just then, her phone rang. Miyuki glared venomously at Tseng, who had a little smile on the corner of his mouth, and answered the phone. Veld curtly informed her that Rufus was waiting for her upstairs. Before he hung up, he added, "And by the way, Miyuki, I think you overdid yourself with the whole dolphin thing."
Miyuki grinned, "It's perfectly feasible, sir. It was a very well trained dolphin."
She hung up, and saw Tseng shaking his head at her. Before she could say anything, though, he pointed up at the roof, "Go to work. Rufus is waiting, and they decided that a SOLDIER has to go along, just to show off some muscle."
Upstairs, she saw Rufus ShinRa, looking sleepy and irritable, Dark Nation at his heels. "Hello, Miyuki," he greeted her, to which Miyuki replied, "Good morning, sir. Who tumbled you outta bed today?" She saw the ghost of a smile flicker across his face as he admitted, "The old man. He wants Junon to feel safe. And somehow, I'm the one that has to do it."
Miyuki gave him a commiserating nod, "Ah. Me, Tseng called. You do know I was in Junon yesterday." Rufus smiled more fully now, and turned his dark blue eyes to the helicopter that was powering up on the helipad.
"Yes, I know. I'm sorry, but . . ." he trailed off. Miyuki sighed, "Whatever. Let's get you in the chopper."
She heard someone crow happily, and turned her head to look at Zack Fair. Miyuki rolled her eyes, though a smile tugged at the corners of her mouth, and grumbled, "Aw, hell, what do you want?"
Zack grinned and nodded at Rufus, "Good morning, Mr. ShinRa." Then, he looked at her, "And good morning to you too, Miyuki."
Miyuki crossed her arms over her chest and asked again, "Yeah, whatever. What do you want?" Zack narrowed his eyes at her playfully, "Right now, my friend, all I want is to get back to bed. But spending a whole day with you seems mighty appealing."
The Wutaian Turk snickered, "Such a kiss-ass. I thought you had a girlfriend?" Zack shrugged, "Aw, come on now, nothing wrong with a little harmless flirting, is there?"
Rufus cleared his throat quietly, "Guys. Pardon the interruption of your happy reunion, but we should get going." With that being said, he turned and walked away from the Turk and the SOLDIER.
Zack snickered and teased, "Oooh, methinks Mr. ShinRa is jealous!" Miyuki laughed, "You ass. Why did we ever get saddled with you?" Zack shrugged, "They gave the order down at the barracks, and no one wanted to work with the Turks. I volunteered."
"Stupid rivalry, ain't it?" Miyuki asked Zack, watching an MP look at her crossly. Zack sighed, "Yeah. Never really understood it. I get along with you. And Reno. You guys are cool." Miyuki let out a breath through her nose, "I'm sorry, but I don't think I could ever grow to love the guys in SOLDIER. Either way, I think you're the only SOLDIER I like."
Zack grinned, "I'm flattered! But," he jerked his head at the chopper, "-let's get going, or your boyfriend will have me shot for treason or something. And then you and Tseng will cover it up."
A/N: I love, love, love Zack! He's so kakkoi! Anyway, like I said earlier, I didn't forget the story, I'm just really struggling with the finals, and spent a month with really spectacular writer's block. Like I told one of my reviewers, I have most of the latter part of this fic already written in several notebooks. I just have to bridge the past (Before Crisis) to what I already have (most of it is Advent Children-onward) Also, I don't know why, but I got obsessed with Tselena writing, and that was all I managed whenever I tried to come up with a new chapter . . . Anyway, please forgive me!
