As the car continued on I began to see the scenery change ever so slightly. The jeep tackled the terrain with ease, crossing over a mountainous area. I stayed tense, ready for another enemy to spring on us. They lived in the area; we were near an abandoned mine, just the sort of place that tended to be crawling with them. I sighed as we crossed over and back into the fields.
"So, what are we doing on this job Reno?" Cloud sat stiffly in his seat, speaking loudly only to be heard over the engine and noise of the road.
"Well, a little delivery and protection I guess." He didn't seem to sure of his own answer but gave it like it was the gist of it.
"I'd like to know the details too Reno. I'm a tad curious," I piped in.
"Um well...someone important to Shinra ordered some stuff to be taken directly to him through somebody in the Turks. I dunno, I guess it was some worry wart."
Cloud seemed unconvinced. "That's awful blank instructions for a mission."
"The guy's just a higher up in another branch. I got no more dirt man! Chill out!" Reno's hands flew off the wheel only for him to grab back on quickly before the car steered itself into a ditch. He sighed and flicked a stray red hair back behind the shades propped up on his head.
Cloud settled into his seat again, crossing his arms. I could tell he was beginning to feel a little car sick. If monsters came sometime soon I knew I'd be in charge of the fight again.
The jeep motored on past tall, old Fort Condor and continued down the poorly marked road. Dust flew up around the vehicle and Reno lowered his shades. A little grin crossed his face and he drove in the same wild fashion. It made me wonder why they made that man a professional.
"Junon, Junon! Here we come baby!" He shouted onto the wind only to be accompanied by an equal shout. He steered left hard and jammed on the brakes. An oversized snake-like creature sat dead in our path and looked like it was ready to take us out for lunch.
It hissed dangerously and swayed side to side, flicking its tongue.
"Tifa, can you--"
"I've got it Cloud, don't worry," I hopped out of the vehicle and cracked my knuckles. I adjusted my gloves and readied to see how it would move first.
Reno joined me and my side and whipped out his weapon. It was somewhere between a bat and a nightstick, only there was the lovely added surprise of a shock with contact. He patted it against his back a couple times and grinned cockily.
"Wanna take 'em down quick or toy with 'em first?" Reno bared his white teeth in sour joy.
"Let's just move on. You're in a hurry, right?" I teased lightly.
"Ah that's right! Hahaha." He laughed at himself and got into a better fighter's stance.
The snake dove at Reno first, lashing out with grey, long fangs. Reno jumped aside and swatted it once with a powerful shock. I ran up close to its back and jumped on. I ran across only to be hastily tossed off. Reno again was attacked from the front, this time hopping right onto the creature's big head. This only lasted a couple seconds before he too was tossed aside.
"I'd say he's pretty hungry."
"Now's not the time to be the funny guy Reno."
"He well I think---" Reno was nearly bitten in half, barely rolling out of the way of the attack. He got up and looked at his dirty suit in disgust. "You messed up my uniform man. Now you're gonna get it!"
Half enraged, half stupid, Reno ran straight at its face. Conveniently enough it opened up a space for me to attack, going for the back of its head. Reno managed to smack it right in the face while I delivered a deadly heel-kick to its upper neck area. Our attacks together put it out, it disappearing into dust.
Disgusted and disgruntled, Reno dusted himself off grumbling about his "good" uniform. I poked my head up by the front seat to see Cloud well into a nice nap. I blinked once and gazed at his face. He looked so peaceful I couldn't help but smile. I slapped myself when I realized I was staring. Needless to say I mentally beat myself up for the rest of the trip.
"Junon baby! Reno is here!"
"That's not necessary Reno."
"I know but its hella fun."
Cloud sighed and dug his head into his palm. Obviously Reno and Cloud were like oil and water, as they say. I guess I took it upon myself to act as the mediator.
"Guys, let's just go on. The delivery is here, right?" I tucked my hair behind my ear.
"Um about that...I never said where the delivery was...it's all the way up in Rocket Town. So we're taking a boat."
"WHAT? That'll take days! I thought this was a quick mission Reno!" I threw my arms up and stomped my foot. I did not plan for a long trip. So much for the bar.
"Well I never said it was quick," Reno corrected.
"A job's a job Tifa. At least we're being paid," Cloud halted me before I argued farther. I growled and crossed my arms stubbornly.
"Come on Tifa, I'll treat you to dinner, just you and me. What do you say?" Reno offered.
"I'll have to decline."
"Aww come on. You know you just want some nice guy to take you out Tifa."
"Shut up Reno. You're acting childish."
"Who's the one throwing the fit?" he snickered.
"FINE! I'll go! Whatever!" I fumed and turned away.
"Now that that's settled let's go hop on the next boat," Reno abandoned the jeep and grabbed his deliveries. I followed behind and Cloud kept to the middle. The town was small at the bottom where most civilians lived but grew huge as you took the elevator. As we stood on that elevator Reno entertained himself by throwing gil down the long hole. He giggled and continued until I shot him a nasty glare. He dug his hands in his pockets and the elevator came to a loud halt. We stepped off into a Shinra base.
"So I told her that I'd been around the block when---" An idiot soldier ran into me as he lost control of his attention talking to his buddy. "Hey I'm sor...ry..." He gazed up at me in the usual stupid dolt fashion. He was rather short and had found his way face first into my chest.
Following protocol I kicked him in the nuts and carried on as if nothing happened. According to his screams of pain, I'd gotten him good. Reno and Cloud winced as they watched him fall to the floor wailing. There must have been some sort of manly connection I'd never understand.
Moving on we continued through the passages of the base until Reno talked his way into letting us on the next cargo ship.
"Cargo ship!" I exclaimed as we got on," a cargo ship? We're going across the sea like a piece of equipment! This is offensive Reno!" I clenched my fists and shook one at him.
"Hey be grateful we got on. That guy was a friend from the school man, we're lucky I knew him."
"Sure but this is---"
"This is sort of how we crossed the first time Tifa. Don't' worry. If we need to I'll get us a cabin inside, ok?" Cloud offered. Obviously he had been planning it from the start but it was nice of him to offer doing it for me.
"Alright. I guess that's fine."
"How come if Cloud suggests it it's automatically ok?" Reno asked me obnoxiously.
"Reno..."
"What?"
"Shut up."
Silence...