Chapter 3: Actions speak louder than Words.
The cold night breeze hit Tifa like a barrier as she burst out the front door.
She was breathing in short gasps, not quite believing what had just transpired. Cloud threw me out.
She had just turned into the dark alleyway adjacent to the bar when a sarcastic, slightly nasal voice emanated from behind her.
'Where are you going?'
'I'd advise you to get out of arm's reach, Reno. I need to punch something and I would rather it wasn't you.'
'So would I.' Reno cringed as he remembered the blows she had dealt him when they were enemies. He ducked as a stone came hurtling out of nowhere.
'Sorry,' Said Tifa. 'I wasn't aiming for you.'
'I'd rather you were aiming at me.' Reno smiled broadly. 'Then you'd be certain not to hit me.'
He laughed as she started to chase him down the deserted, streetlamp-lit road, pausing occasionally to taunt her further, until they both collapsed onto a bench panting and laughing.
'Thanks, Reno.' Tifa gasped.
'My pleasure.' He took her small, gloved hand in his own large, flat one.
Tifa's eyes widened in stunned amazement. She hadn't expected him to feel anything for her, but here was solid proof that he did.
Her eyes met his and something was exchanged in that glance. They mutually lowered their old barriers, and realised that they were free, for now.
Reno's face came closer; she could feel his mint tinged breath on her face, and before she could take in what was going on, they were locked in a firm embrace, lips meshed together, passion flowing freely.
At last they broke apart, each taking a moment to transfer the feeling into permanent memory.
Tifa sighed contentedly, still holding Reno's hand. The cares of an hour ago now seemed to have fled light-years away. All she wanted to do now was to sit here in the Sector 7 slums, hand in hand with Reno, staring up at the star studded sky.
After a while, Reno broke the silence.
'So, I take it you have nowhere to sleep tonight?'
The nightmare of worry returned.
'No…' Tifa averted her eyes.
'Well,' Reno continued, 'I have a couch I could sleep on.'
Tifa looked up hazily. 'What?'
Reno sighed tragically and rearranged his features into that lopsided smirk.
'I. Sleep. On. Couch. You. Sleep. On. Bed.' He elaborated. Tifa's eyes filled with a martyred joy. 'Oh, thank you, Reno!' she exclaimed for the second time that night.
He looked at her in amusement. 'Did you really think I would let you sleep in a bus shelter?'
'Hmm. I'm not going to answer that. It would only offend you.'
It was Tifa's turn to be chased down the road.
'Wait, wait, wait. This is my street.' Reno announced proudly, skidding to a halt as he led Tifa down a shabby alleyway.
Tifa looked around nervously at the dark corners.
'Okay… key.' Reno made a show of searching his pockets, finally pulling out a rusty bronze key and unlocking the door to a small terraced house hidden in the shadows of the night.
The door creaked open and he led Tifa in. The lights glared to reveal a rather messy living room, strewn with newspapers, Shinra documents, and pizza boxes.
'Take a seat.' Reno gestured toward an uncomfortable looking green chair.
Tifa sat, and a cloud of dust rose from the chair, making her sneeze.
'Yeah…sorry about that. I hate having to live in this dump.'
'I thought you Turks were well paid.' Tifa raised an eyebrow.
'Uh, yeah we are, I just haven't had time to go house hunting, you know?' Reno said cynically, sitting opposite her. 'Hey, you know that little group you used to hang around with… AVALANCHE?'
Tifa nodded silently.
'Are they all disbanded now, or what?'
'Um… well, we keep in contact, just in case anything should come up, like having to save the planet again.' She laughed.
Reno seemed slightly irked. 'I see.' He endeavoured to change the subject.
'About tomorrow…there's an important job we Turks have to see to so I'll have to leave you on your own. I'm trusting you won't steal anything or rifle through my stuff.'
'Oh, now I'm not sure you could trust me on that.' She grinned wolfishly. 'Can I come with you tomorrow?'
Reno frowned slightly. 'You're not a Turk.'
'Can I become one, then?'
'Possibly, but you'll have to ask Rufus in person.'
A steely glint entered Tifa's eyes. 'All right then.'
Reno lolled lazily on the couch. 'That's my girl.'
'Who said any thing about me being your girl?' she smirked.
The redhead's eyes flew open. 'Bu…but..' he stuttered.
'I was only teasing.' Said Tifa soothingly.
Reno made an odd noise that sounded something like 'tcheh' and recommenced his lazy dozing.
'Well, it's been a tiring day.' Sighed Tifa, rising from her seat. 'I might head off to bed. Are you sure you're all right on the sofa?'
Reno regretfully assumed that this was not an invitation, merely a kind question.
'Yeah. I'm almost asleep already.' Reno groaned and got up slowly. ' You do know that this job tomorrow might be dangerous?'
'I know. I laugh in the face of danger.' Tifa said forcefully. 'At least I'll know I'm helping you.'
Reno smiled cryptically. 'You're already helping by being here.' He opened his arms to offer her a 'goodnight kiss,' but Tifa just smiled seductively at him and went into the bedroom, closing the wooden door gently behind her. Reno was left with his arms open wide, gawking after her.
She really is something. He thought laconically as he settled down on the dusty sofa.
This is gonna be one uncomfortable night, in more than one way.
End of Chapter three. Please review!