Okay people! I've tried to straighten up the whole paragraph thing in this one.
I hate you even more
With a bang Elena slammed the door of her Shinran apartment. This was all she needed. As well as having to but up with the ever infuriating Reno at work, she was going to have to put up with him here too. This was all she needed for one major sized headache.
"So this is where the suck up loudmouth Elena lives is it?" Reno's tone was mocking; he was going to drive her up the wall.
"Yes it is, and now it must suffer the lazy slack off Reno." Elena spat back. He was going to get a run for his money is she had any say.
"Well, I'm just surprised." The tone was still sarcastic.
"About what?" Despite the apparently harmless statement she was suspicious.
"Where are all the pictures of Tseng plastered to the wall?"
"Oh shut up Reno! What's he got to do with me!" He had definitely touched a nerve.
"Oh come on! Everyone knows that you had the biggest crush on him!" Reno was smirking now. She really wanted to wrap her hands around his scrawny neck.
"Well at least I don't flirt with every member of the opposite sex!"
"It's not like they'd want you to anyway."
"Are you saying I'm not attractive?!"
"No, you're very attractive."
Elena felt something inside twist. Reno of the Turks, the world's biggest jerk, technically her superior, had just admitted she was attractive? And most importantly, why the hell did she care?!
"To a pig or donkey."
This single comment unleashed a wave of fury in Elena. "How dare you!"
Reno shrugged. "It's easy, I just open my mouth and the insults spill out."
"Well then maybe you should try shutting your mouth once or twice!"
"Bit of a hypocrite aren't you? Who was it who as good as told Avalanche our plans?"
"Big mouth or no I got into the Turks didn't I?"
"They only let you in cause they needed another member, you would never have made it otherwise, and you know it."
"And the only reason they needed another member was because you went and got yourself injured!"
"Exactly! You're just a half rate replacement for me!"
Elena felt that old self-doubt start to resurface deep inside her. Leave it to Reno to dredge that up again.
"Just shut up you jerk!"
Either he saw the true hurt in her voice or had gotten tired of the argument because he, for once, did as he was told. Elena could only fume in silence as Reno gave her living space a brief inspection.
"Well, apart from the lack of a Tseng shrine quite a decent place Elena." He grinned at her knowing that his sudden change from argumentative to polite would annoy her even more. It did. Elena really hated that about Reno, the way nothing he said could be predicted. His tones almost never fitted his mood and it was hard to tell if he was just very laid back or sarcastic.
"I'm so glad you approve Reno. Now I can breathe again."
"Please, don't do anything like that."
"Funny" Elena muttered as she walked into her small kitchen. Fishing around in her fridge she managed to retrieve a frozen pizza. Happily stuffing it in the small microwave she walked back into her living room. Reno was sat on her small sofa with his eyes closed, lying on the floor discarded lay his electro rod nightstick. Her mind drifted back to the time on the plain when he'd shocked her. She could almost taste the sweet taste of revenge as she reached out and picked up Reno's weapon. It was surprisingly heavy, well not that surprising if you took into account the amount of technology inside. Running her hand down the thin outer casing a small pressure sensitive switch caused the technology to come online and a small spark of power crackled. Grinning Elena held out the stolen weapon towards its resting owner. She drifted the electro rod along till its dangerous surface was just inches away from Reno's bare neck. 'He's gonna wish he bothered to do his collar up after this' thought Elena wickedly. She hovered the electric charge above the typical sunless Midgar pale skin and with a rush of sadistic vengeful pleasure slammed it into the side of Reno's neck.
With a yelp the Turk leapt up his hand flying to the side of his neck. A definite red mark burned there. "You bitch!" Reno was furious his tied back red hair seemed for once to make him seem dangerously angry.
"You did it to me!"
"Not on your fucking skin! Do you know how much that hurts! For all you know it could have been on max level!"
Elena wasn't used to seeing Reno annoyed, and now he was completely livid. This was a new non-laid back over emotional version, it was creepy.
"Oh well! If you're going to leave something this dangerous lying around I'd better confiscate it!"
Grinning at the replacement of anger by confusion on his face. Elena twirled the weapon idly in her hand before turning and running into the next room. Slamming the door behind her she looked around. It was her bedroom and a small chair was stood on the clean hardwood floor. She promptly scooped it up and stuck it under the handle. She didn't know how long that would hold him out but long enough for her to enjoy his fury. Elena's mind was abuzz. She didn't really know why she liked torturing Reno, but he retaliated just as badly so she figured they were fairly even.
The door was going to give way soon and she saw the chair start to slip. Her eyes shot over to the clock on her wall, it was night apparently, Midgar was always black. Well, she still had to contend a whole night in his company, and this was not going to make him a good companion. But she wasn't giving up without a fight. Jumping onto her bed to gain height over Reno she held the nightstick up as high as she could. Apparently being childish was what the Turks were all about.
Reno entered the room at a run and nearly slipped over on the polished floor. His old demeanour seemed to have returned and he flashed Elena a sarcastic smile. His hair was falling over his shades into his eyes and he looked even more ruffled than normal.
"A little old to be playing games aren't we Elena?"
"From what I've seen you're only physically to old."
"Calling me immature are you? I'm not the one who stole someone else's toy."
"A toy hmm? Seems a lot like a weapon to me. Oh well you won't care if I just throw it out the window…"
With another grin Reno charged straight at her. Leaping up next to her he swiped at his weapon still in her hand. Now standing up properly he could simply take it from her. Reaching out he seemed about to do so when a loud crashing noise was heard. The whole building seemed to shake, and neither Reno nor Elena, who weren't standing on the most secure footing anyway, could keep standing. Both of them fell.
Elena heard the crash and felt her footing start to slip. Fortunately she landed on her soft bed, but something heavy landed on top of her. With a muffled cry she realised it was Reno.
"What was that ?" Reno looked up. "It was almost like an earthquake."
Elena shook her head. "Midgar isn't anywhere near a fault line."
Reno bit his lower lip in thought. Elena had a very good view of his face. It was only a few inches away. But she seemed to be the only one to have noticed this little detail.
"The whole of upper Midgar is supported in seven small segment plates, If one gave way slightly…"
Elena's eyes widened. "We should report to Shinra Headquarters!"
Reno shook his head. "In this situation what use would the Turks be? We'll probably be used later."
"For what?"
"If this is the result of rebel's planning against the Solar Flare project I imagine we'll be the ones to hunt them down."
"You sound almost hopeful."
"Did I mention my shoulder really hurts?"
"No."
Elena was really uncomfortable. Well, not technically, she was uncomfortable with the way she was feeling, which was anything but uncomfortable.
"Well it bloody well does and whoever sent those jerks to do it are gonna pay."
Elena nodded, it was pretty much all she could handle right now. Although for some reason he seemed completely oblivious to the fact Reno was lying on to of her. And it was killing her. She didn't understand it, she hated him, and he was a massive evil nasty jerk. So why the hell was she feeling like this? His entire weight was against her and his body was pressed against hers. She could even feel the body heat. Elena took a brief moment to curse all hormones.
"Does it hurt?" she managed to get the words out calmly.
"Yeah, stings, I still have no idea how it happened."
"Hmm."
Elena didn't seem to be in control of Elena's actions. Slowly she reached out and laid her hand on Reno shoulder. She could feel anything through the fabric of his shirt and blue jacket. Taking a deep breath she brought her hand back and lifted it towards his neck. For the first time ever she was glad that he never did his collar up. Slowly, keeping her eyes locked on his she slid her hand under his shirt. Steadily she slid her hand over his smooth skin until her hand rested on the wound on his shoulder. She saw him flinch slightly and lightened the weight.
"How bad do you think it is?"
Judging by the almost shocked look in his eyes he finally seemed to have realised their exact positioning.
"It's not that bad, it just took a load of energy out of me." He spoke the words almost under his breath. As the words were spoken he moved up slightly so their faces were exactly level.
Elena felt another twist inside as Reno moved against her. Did he even know how badly he was affecting her?
"Tired huh?" she whispered back.
"What?"
Elena almost smiled. This one little sentence was going to take a lot of confidence.
"So, exactly how tired are you?"
He smiled softly and made a sudden movement to kiss her. She moved her hand from his shoulder and wrapped both arms around his waist. One under his clothes the other on top. She leaned up slightly to meet him. The kiss was short, brief, and as they pulled apart Elena smiled back.
"I hate you."
"I hate you even more."
This time she grabbed his head and brought it down into a far more passionate kiss…
…………….
Woe betide you if you can't guess what happened. There will be another chapter. I just need to find my muse, catch it, and force it to work overtime.
