1.Reno

The Starry Night diner wasn't the kind of place that would stand out; it was like every other greasy spoon in Midgar. He stopped by for the first time because it happened to be on his way home from work. It had been another long day; he just wanted to grab something to eat before going home to bed. He hated to admit it aloud but he wasn't a kid anymore; he just couldn't rally like he used to.

He was the only person in the restaurant besides a girl behind the counter in a wheelchair; she must've been the owner's daughter or something, she couldn't have been more than thirteen. She had shoulder length light brown hair and a light complexion. She smiled at him as he came in "Have a seat anywhere you like, sis'll be with you in a moment" she went back to her book.

'Great, a seat yourself joint, bad sign' he thought to himself as he sat down in a booth by the front wall of windows. He leafed through the menu; it was all typical stuff. Chicken sandwich, burgers, soup, salad blah… He was considering cutting his losses when he saw her feet by the table; they were attached to some of the nicest legs he'd ever seen. The rest of her wasn't bad either, upon closer inspection. This place just moved up a few notches in his book. "Hello there, can I get you something to drink?" she smiled as she spoke. She had a beautiful smile, her lips were luscious in the same way ripe spring berries are luscious. Her name tag said Celestia; 'what a sexy name' he thought to himself. She was tall, probably about 5'9", her skin was lightly sun-kissed, not necessarily tan; just a sun glow. Her hair was dark brown with dark-ish blue streaks running through it; the few loose strands fell almost to her waist. She had an aristocratic nose and the most gorgeous eyes he'd ever seen. They were an earthy green with dark brown around the pupil; the whites weren't white at all but almost pale blue. She laughed "It wasn't a trick question Red" she said in reference to his hair; which was red in the same way a crayon is red.

"Oh, sorry" he laughed back

"So can I help you?"

'I can think of a few ways you can help me, sugar' he thought to himself lecherously. "Well, you're the expert, what's good?"

"Hmm, let me consult with the T-Dizzle" she said with a wink. "YO, TONY, WHAT'CHA FEELIN" she shouted across the room.

"Yeesh sis, take the pipes down a peg or two" the girl behind the counter laughed.

A head popped out of the order window; the man it belonged to must've been tall, he was leaning down to reach the window. He had olive toned skin, dark hair and eyes; he looked fairly muscular. He did a few seconds of mock pondering, stroking his soul-patch causing the girl behind the counter to laugh. "What're you laughin' at 'Thena?" he joked. "I'm thinking it's a grilled chicken night Cela" he answered the waitress with a click of his tongue.

She turned back to him "Tony thinks you should go with the grilled chicken".

"I dunno, I've been told never to trust a skinny cook."

She chuckled "He's only skinny cause he's freakishly tall; sidebar, he's 6'4", if he was a foot shorter he'd be as big around as he is tall." She lowered herself down to a crouch by the table to pick up a pen that she dropped; affording him a nice eyeful. He considered himself quite the connoisseur of frilly undergarments, and silver satin was always choice. "I went to college with that kid and I once saw him plow through like twelve sloppy Joes in one sitting" she laughed "I thought I was gonna have to take him to the emergency room to get his stomach pumped." She stumbled a bit as she tried to get back up; he instinctively put an arm out to catch her "Nice save" she laughed.

"Well in that case chicken sounds great" he smirked as he spoke; she smiled back.

"Well I'll get that right in for ya Red" she winked as she walked away. She came back about fifteen minutes later; and she was right, the chicken was pretty good, not that one can easily mess chicken up. "Well what'ya say Red, do we pass the test?" she joked as she dropped off the check.

"Well I think I can highly recommend you to all my friends… on one condition."

She laughed "And what would that be Re…" she got cut off when someone barreled through the door. He was about 5'10" with short sandy blond hair. He was tan and looked like he might've been the class stud in high school; ten years back. Reno could practically taste the alcohol mist that surrounded him. "Oh God…" she murmured as her face fell.

"What the hell are you still doing here Cela?" he shouted in the waitress's face. "You were supposed to be home at six"

"Trent, we talked like 2 hours ago; a pipe burst in Aurora's apartment, she couldn't make it in. I have to stay at least until she gets here; which is a big if. There's a casserole in the fridge, all you have to do is bake it for forty minutes at 350 degrees" Reno could tell she was seething hatred for this clown. 'Thena made a bee-line for the kitchen, probably looking for Tony.

"What the fuck do I keep you around for if I have to cook for myself?" he grabbed her arm harshly.

"I already did all the work, all you have to do is put it in the oven" she added in a low voice "look, you're drunk, we'll discuss this later."

"Don't start with me bitch…" He shouted. Reno stood up to intercede as Tony came out of the kitchen with 'Thena hiding behind him.

"Is there something I can do for you Trent?" Tony's voice was sharp as shards of broken glass.

"It's ok T-Dizzle, he was just on his way out…" Celestia glared as she spoke. "We'll talk about this later…"

"You better be home soon" he yelled in her face as he wrung her arm that he was still clenching. He slammed the door so loudly that the building shook. The awkward silence was broken by 'Thena's sobbing.

"Oh 'Thena sweetie, its ok, don't worry about him; I'm sure he'll be asleep by the time we get home" Celestia ran over and hugged her. "You know I'd never let anything happen to my little sis." She tried to smile but she didn't really mean it. "I've got to get back to work ok hun?" she turned towards Tony as she stood up "take care of her for me will ya?" she punched his arm lightly he squeezed her shoulder. She turned back towards Reno "I'm sorry about that… I don't…"

"It's ok, you don't have to explain…" he smiled sympathetically.

"You're a dear" she said with a sad smile. "I hope we didn't totally ruin your dinner".

"Not at all…"

2. Celestia

The clock rang five a.m. as she sat on the cold linoleum in the kitchen; he'd be getting up in an hour. She held an ice-pack to the left side of her face. He was still drunk when they got home last night at about ten. He didn't attempt to make the casserole, there were take-out boxes scattered among the empty beer cans. Luckily, he was on the phone so she had time to whisk 'Thena off to her room before he started up. It didn't really matter what put him in such a foul mood; everything was her fault these days. He drank too much, gambled too much, his job was in jeopardy; it didn't make a difference, all his rage got taken out on her. Someone once asked why she didn't resist, fight back, run, anything. The only time she did he unleashed his anger on sis. She couldn't let that happen again; not to sis, she could take it as long as it was for sis.

She'd just have to keep saving up to get a new place for herself and sis… someday. He made easily three times as much as she did; but what he didn't piss away on booze, black jack and race ponies he spent on various aspects of 'the sex trade' (not that she wasn't grateful for that; the last thing she wanted was his body pressed up against hers writhing in his horrible rendition of the 'no pants dance' as he called it). She paid basically all the bills; it was hard to get ahead when she and 'Thena needed new clothes, let alone a new life. On days like this she almost wished she could cry tears of self pity; it wouldn't accomplish much but it would make her feel better. She hadn't been able to cry in longer than she cared to think about; it made her feel almost inhuman.

The alarm on her wristwatch startled her slightly 5:40; it hadn't felt like an hour since he had woken her and 'Thena up. He tended to shout in his sleep after he'd been drinking; she sat with 'Thena stroking her hair until she fell back asleep. Her sister deserved better; she'd get her out someday… she grudgingly got up and started making 'Thena and Trent's lunches. She heard the water running in the shower as she started making his breakfast. He sauntered out like nothing had happened the night before; alcohol amnesia strikes again. He grabbed the paper from the door of their crappy little apartment and walked casually over to the table. On the way he grabbed her ass "Mornin' Babe" she felt the rage surge up somewhere deep within her.

"Looks like a lovely day" her voice could've frozen liquid hot magma solid. "I'll be in the shower." She turned to leave as she walked by him he grabbed her wrist and pulled her onto his lap; she hated when he did that, she hated physical contact with him.

"You gals will be home by five thirty today, right?" he asked sweetly; like her face wasn't half swollen and purple because of him.

"Yea, five thirty" she answered coldly.

"Ok, I'll see you then muffin" he kissed her; she didn't kiss back. She hadn't kissed him or kissed him back in three years; she was never really sure if he didn't notice or just didn't care.

"Yea" she got up and went to the shower; relieved to be away from him. The water stung her arms and face; her throat hurt quite a bit too, he got a few good shots in. The hot water ran out quickly; the bastard must've drained the tank again. She took a cold shower and hoped it would refill before 'Thena got up.

3. Reno

He left the diner shortly after the drunk; he felt guilty for his inaction. He coulda taken that guy, but it wasn't any of his business, right? He meandered back to his apartment more slowly than usual; musing about this and that. He had a few messages when he got back; a couple booty calls (unusual for a Monday…), Rude looking to throw together a card game on Saturday, and the little old lady that lived downstairs. She was slowly slipping into senility and she called him at least once a week thinking he was her son who was away at summer camp; her son was forty and married with three kids of his own. He did a few dishes that he had left that morning, took a shower and fell into bed. He woke with the alarm; way too early. He went through his whole morning grind, 'what's with the funk?' He thought to himself as he grabbed his coffee and headed off to the el station. The rail was always packed at this hour so he took hold of the hand bar and zoned out. He heard a gentle rolling, light thud and small voice apologizing behind him. A screechy high pitched voice shouted back a stream of obscenities that made him turn around. The girl from the diner was behind him and practically in tears. "Hey back off kid, and mind your language in front of the lady…" he heard himself saying before he knew what he was doing.

"Yea, what's it to YOU gramps?" this kid had to be kidding. He was about 5'2" and maybe 80 pounds soaking wet; and Reno wanted nothing more than to go upside his head.

"Whatever…" he responded as he took hold of her wheelchair and moved her over to a corner; hoping to God she'd recognize him. Otherwise she might think he was some weird pervert or something. "You Ok?" he knelt down to ask when they were out of his way.

"… You're the guy who was at the diner last night aren't you?" she asked in a quiet voice.

"Yep, name's Reno and you were… 'Thena was it?"

She smiled at the friendly conversation. "Well 'Thena is what Cela, that's Celestia my sis, calls me; Athena Hunter is the name I was born with."

"Well… do you prefer 'Thena or Athena?"

"I guess if you wanna call me 'Thena I wouldn't complain."

"Well 'Thena, where are you headed all by yourself this morning?"

"What'ya mean all by myself? I'm 17… well actually 18 as of Friday."

"Really? Well than happy belated birthday; you look younger than that." She pouted comically "Hey, you'll consider that a compliment in ten years" he laughed.

She pondered for a moment "Yes sir I do believe you have me there" she laughed, she had a laugh like her sister's. "I'm on my way to school; hence the book bag" she winked "youself?"

"The wonderful world of work" he said with a mock retch and a chuckle. "I work for the President of Shin-Ra." She wrinkled her nose a bit at the mention of Shin-Ra. He laughed "I take it you don't approve Miss 'Thena?"

She blushed a little "Oh no, it's just you don't look like a 'suit', if you don't mind my saying so… is it Mr. Reno?"

"Wow… Do I look that old; old enough to be a Mr.?" he laughed

"Well then what about Red? Red sounds cool and hip right?" she giggled.

"You'd be the expert" he smirked. "I'm not exactly in the business of business…" he trailed off, not wanting to get into the fact that he was essentially hired muscle. "What about you, up all night studying, right?" He meant it as a joke but as soon as he said it her face fell.

"Um, not quite; I mean I'm a good student and all but…" she stifled a little cry.

'Nice one' he chided himself. "Hey; I'm sorry Kiddo, did I say something wrong?" he asked knowing full well that he did.

"Oh, no; it's kinda complicated, had a rough night that's all… um, I couldn't sleep" she was lying through her teeth; but he wasn't about to pry any further than he already had.

"Well that's what history class is for right?" he joked

She smiled a little "Touché… what stop are we coming up to; I can never understand the operator" tried to crane her neck to see.

"Um, twentieth… wow my stop already; good thing you asked I mighta breezed right by."

"Well I'm getting off here too; do you mind a little company, at least until Cecilia; that's my stop." she smiled at him.

"I'd be delighted kiddo" he helped her navigate through the crowd; on the way he stepped on the toes of the kid that was trying to pick a fight earlier. They shared a good laugh as he shouted curses and threats at them both.

4.Tony

She was trying to get the dishes set up for the day; which was no small task with Tony pacing around and ranting. He was furious as he always was; not that she could blame him. "Next time he comes in here he's gonna learn a thing or two about having problems. Seriously, how fucked up is this guy?" he wasn't really even talking to her; he was just ranting.

She walked over to try and calm him down before the customers got in. "I told you before; if I try to resist he takes it out on sis; I'm not about to let that happen" she looked away "not again".

The bell at the front door rang; considering that they didn't open for five minutes it must've been Skylar. Skylar was one of Celestia's oldest friends, she'd known him since kindergarten and his family moved to Midgar six months before hers. He was tall, not quite as tall as Tony, maybe six feet. He had blonde hair, blue eyes and 'boyish' features. He was essentially a brother to Cela and 'Thena. "Morning Kiddies…" breezed in smiling, the smile quickly fell "Oh no… What was it this time?"

"Hey Skylar, hope you don't mind, I stole your job for the day" she tried to avoid looking at him; knowing damn well it was a futile effort. "I'll make it up to you in cookies…"

"Oh sis…" he came over and hugged her; normally she hated it when people pitied her and her situation, but it was different with Skylar.

"I'm fine bro, you know I always am…" she hugged back.

"You two need to get outta…"

"Yea, see, that's exactly what I've been saying all morning." Tony interrupted him. Skylar didn't mind, he was used to Tony interrupting; Tony interrupted a lot of people.

"You boys act like this is news… if either of you has the miracle solution I'm all ears…" she started as she pulled away from Skylar. "Look, she's going to a good school in fall; once she's safe I'll deal with Trent. Don't you think I won't deal with Trent" she scrubbed the counter-top with fury.

"I'VE GOT IT!" Tony started excitedly "You guys can come to stay at my place, we just finished off the den we've got those nice pull out couches…"

Skylar and Celestia both giggled a little bit. "Some-how I don't think your wife would appreciate that very much there T-Dizzle" Skylar started. Tony came as close as he could to blushing. Everyone, especially his wife, knew that he was crazy about Cela. He had met Celestia Hunter for the first time in college while he was still dating his future wife; and she almost broke up with him once because of his obsession. In truth, however, he always saw himself as beneath Celestia and was content to admire and protect from afar. His wife was the love of his life; Cela was his shining goddess, to be admired but never attained.

"It's really a sweet offer Tony; but I couldn't put you out that much" Celestia smiled as she gave him a hug. "If it ever gets too bad I'll figure something out; you know me I'm resourceful." The bell rang at the front door.

"Ah damn; duty calls, I'll see ya in a bit sis…" Skylar kissed her on the cheek as he grabbed an order pad and pen and went out to the dining room; leaving Cela to her scrubbing and Tony to his seething.

Author's note: Hey kiddies 2 points real quick:

1. Yeah; I know sorta boring, definitely long. Trying to delve into some character's heads I guess; lemme know what you think (good or bad)

2. I'm aware that I did quite a bit of tweaking on Reno's character. My justification is as such: He doesn't really know any of the characters; all they know about his past is what he chooses to tell them. They thusly don't automatically see him as a killer; so he doesn't have to be as defensive and sarcastic as he usually is. Also there's the fact that he's obviously physically attracted to Cela; he's tryin' to make a good impression. Sorry I went on rambling again.

KFConti