The machinery wheeled past him in the hands of a nurse seemed reminiscent of the monstrosities that he had seen in the Shin-Ra labs. Though the nurse looked nothing like Hojo, a flashback taunted his mind.
Lost in the depths of memories, Reno was jolted when the hypnotizing hum of the flat green line exchanged for several sporadic beeps of a twitching score. The arcs of the report steadied as much as could be expected from an unpredictable heart and the medical staff seemed to settle for a moment, signaling that the boy had been resuscitated. The young criminal had cheated death, for now.
As one of the staff began to make way toward the exit, Reno flushed his arm outward to brush the door jamb with his fingers. The makeshift blockade kept the fair woman at bay, and she shot him a curious glance. Her lips lacked any notion of disapproval, but kept straight and tight as if to prove serious beneath the charming stare of turquoise irises.
"He's fine?" Reno asked, observing the way she stiffened beneath the confines of a sterile white coat.
"Oh, he's far from fine. To be perfectly honest, it would surprise me if he regains consciousness. Anything is possible, though," she replied. He noticed her accent was much more subdued than her striking appearance. He had thought her a native of Wutai, but perhaps she held only the heritage, for her mannerisms and tone betrayed such upbringing. In a fleeting moment, he felt ridiculous for using the wording 'fine.' In all reality, he'd meant alive.
"Great," he managed to say as he allowed his arm to fall against his side, providing exit for the physician. Just why had this kid slipped into a coma, anyhow? Perhaps the head trauma of falling to the ground and having a couple hundred pounds smashed over his body. Suffering blood loss or being left to suffer for nearly a half an hour? The state was likely due to a combination of the aforementioned, along with internal injury and a punctured lung. Reno never did ask the precise reason; he simply accepted that he wouldn't be gaining any information from this boy.
Reno glanced briefly at Ava, who appeared distant. Her eyes seemed empty as she stared toward the sterile bed while the nurses slowly dispersed. Something was weighting her down, dominating her thoughts. Reno shook his head, calmly approaching her and resting a hand against the crook of her elbow to draw her attention.
"We should get back, I don't think we'll be gaining any intelligence from this kid," he said quietly.
For a moment, he thought he'd have to repeat his words. As a slow minute ticked by, she slowly raised her chin and looked to him with darkened blue eyes. "I suppose you're right…" she agreed, nodding and secretly gathering composure.
"Are you going to be able to deal with the dirty side of this… line of work?" he asked, honestly doubting her ability to kill or even harm.
"It's not the violence, Reno. It's nothing, really," she sighed, turning to exit the room.
"Doesn't seem like nothing," he argued, perhaps only for the sake of arguing.
"I just hate to see young lives wasted, that's really all it is. Come on," she paused beyond the door and waited until he caught up before taking up the path toward the clinic exit.
Outside the sun crept upward, highlighting the horizon in faint pink hues. Dawn was fast approaching, so it provided the illusion that the night had flown by without a hindrance. Beside the walkway, Ava noticed several willows, the silvery outline of their leaves cascading toward a green lawn. Wisteria hung in clusters from vines trailed delicately across the outer walls enclosing this spec of nature. The sweet scent of blossoms drifted thick in the heavy morning air, and she breathed a deep breath of the scent. She wondered if the clinic had kept the garden to entice the healing of patients.
"Enjoying the scenery?" Reno asked, breaking her appreciation.
"I haven't been to Wutai before," she replied, slowing her pace to observe the sparkle of dew dappled on the flowering trees lined along the way.
"Really?" he inquired.
"Really. I've read of Wutai, studied some of the culture… but never visited until now," she explained. "I think it'd be nice to spend time here on leave,"
"Maybe…" he answered idly, as if bored with the idea.
The better part of the retreat to the Inn went with silence, both lost in their own thoughts and ideas until they reached their destination. Just beyond the door, Reno stretched and yawned exaggeratedly. The yawn caused a chain reaction, for Ava stifled her own yawn as she closed the door to the room. Reeve happened to be sitting at the kitchen table, peering curiously at the two as they stood in the living room looking like zombies.
"You stayed at that bar all night long?" he asked, rather incredulously.
"Well, no. Long story, Reeve…" Reno answered, vaguely distracted by Ava as she began rummaging through her suitcase.
"Ah, interesting," Reeve concluded, returning to reading a newspaper.
Ava had already disappeared into the bathroom when Rufus emerged from the bedroom, glancing at Reno with distaste. "So you stayed out all night to drink, before escorting us to the meeting?" he questioned.
"No, Rufus. I nearly had my head blown off by an obviously amateur sniper. Then we had an unexpected visitor. I decided to check up on the only lead we have thus far, and he happened flat line and be revived in front of our very eyes," Reno mocked surprise, clearly displaying his short nerves and frustration in a most unprofessional manner.
"Oh… well I guess that wouldn't point to irresponsibility. Where did the sniper target you?" Rufus asked, ignorant to the bite of Reno's tone.
"The bar," Reno answered. He realized that he was slightly glad that the piece about the unexpected visitor had slid right over Rufus' head.
"You've told Tseng, I trust?" A blonde brow arched in a look of question.
"I let him know." The air about the room was nothing short of normal, but for some reason he as though his head might explode. He couldn't quite place the blame, but he suspected sleep deprivation.
"Right. Well, I guess we'll have to be more discreet in our travel plans. However, we won't be hiding like cowards," Rufus said. "Be ready to head to the meeting in an hour. We need to be there by seven-thirty."
"Good, good, good…" Reno repeated, cursing silently at the idea of sitting and waiting in such a tired state.
While Rufus and Reeve prepped for the meeting by running over notes and such, Reno began to unpack his uniform from the dry cleaning plastics. As he pulled the pins from various spots and observed the creases and folds, he suddenly found the scent of lilies and notes of camellia stirring. A glance toward the bathroom yielded an explanation. Ava was walking toward the living room with a refreshed look, her long waves of brown hair sticking against her skin in their wet condition. He noticed that she wore the standard uniform today, and it suited her well just as it flattered Elena.
While Ava busied herself with the task of blotting her wet hair in a white towel, he realized his opportunity and made for the kitchen with his uniform in tow. Just as he locked the door, he heard Ava yell something about not being finished.
"Then you shouldn't have taken so damn long out there. You lost," he laughed and turned to cleaning up. It was her fault for meandering around and airing that sweet scent throughout the suite.
The cold waters pouring from the shower head served to awaken every inch of his skin, but did nothing for his mind. Reno could have sworn in that moment that he was growing old, since he used to spend many nights out far too late and simply work a full shift the following day. Choosing to ignore any such notion, he proceeded to wash beneath the constant artificial rain.
After perfecting his daily attire and look, he emerged to find quite a mess of things strewn about the kitchen. Rufus was standing near the counter with a finger pressed against his chin in thought, and looking quite dismayed.
"Where the hell did I put that…" he trailed in question, shaking his head.
"What?" Reno asked.
"Just a notebook I usually keep," Rufus replied, utterly stunned at the object's disappearance.
"It's only a notebook, get another one." With that, Reno began to return to the living room.
"It has my schedule and notes, I can't buy those." Delicate hands ruffled through lengths of blonde as he heaved a frustrated sigh and swept up the mess he'd created, shoving the papers and books into a canvas bag.
"Mr. Organization," Reno remarked beneath his breath.
"At least he doesn't live in total disarray," a feminine voice chimed from the couch.
Reno hadn't a reason to glance at Ava; he knew her voice well enough. But where would the fun be in simply ignoring her? He sought her as she sat on the couch, finding a rather unusual thing. Since he'd stolen the bathroom, she obviously had no opportunity to style her hair. The long waves cascaded in a mess, falling soft and curling to form a frame about her face.
"You should wear your hair that way more often," he noted.
Ava's nose scrunched and her brows became low, taken aback by the sudden compliment. How odd a thing it was to be sincerely complimented by Reno, especially in a setting where climbing in bed simply would not be a possibility. The lack of response alone gave him a sense of self satisfaction, since he'd done more damage than if he'd dealt a childish comment. The lithe brunette simply tossed her hands dismissively and began to pack her things into a leather travel bag.
Once the idle task of packing had been finished, the luggage was arranged to be taken to the helicopter while the meeting took place. Rufus had complained several times about the fact that he'd been unable to find his notebook, but no one paid him any mind. The item might turn up when they unpack. If worse came to worst, a journal could be rewritten, he could certainly purchase a notebook and fill it on the way to the other destinations.
Thus the meeting commenced, leaving Reno and Ava quite bored in the waiting room once more.
---x---
Miles away from Wutai, a tall man fitted in a dark suit stood beside a pillar of white marble, leaned against the cool stone in distant thought. The cigarette held betwixt fingers found solace between pale lips as a drag was taken. Poison fled from his lungs as he exhaled just half a minute later, contemplating all that was taking place.
Careful footsteps broke this man's reverie, bringing his eyes toward the courtyard where another walked toward him. The light tap of her raised heels resounded throughout the outer halls of the villa, until she found her path obstructed by a guard holding a rather threatening pistol toward her temple. Every inch of finely sculpted muscle tensed beneath the cold touch of the muzzle as it grazed her pallid skin. Dark irises pinned into the corner of her eyes, sizing up her enemy with a quick mind. A chilling breeze swept across the property, lifting threads of long black hair and whipping them about without regard. Hot breath trickled past parted lips, a soft hiss accompanied by the swish of the silk fabric encasing her slender frame. The hefty guard glanced toward the location of his boss, all the distraction she needed to render him useless. A quick movement sent the pistol clattering across the concrete while she put the guard under with a well practiced maneuver.
"Enough," said the man by the pillar, waving a dismissive hand.
"Then call off your dogs before they taint my oxygen," the woman snapped, her tone as cold as the silk which bound her.
"You shouldn't speak so freely in my presence. You missed the target, failed the mission. What gives you this sense of righteousness?" he challenged, stepping the cherry out as the cigarette touched the ground.
"I told you that sniping was not my forte. You chose not to hire someone better trained in that field," she said, sauntering closer with calculated steps.
"I put far too much trust in you, in your knowledge of your homeland and the skills you acquired through training. It seems I have been blinded by your… other assets," he drew out the final words and drank her in with his eyes, causing a slight shiver to traverse the woman's spine.
"You, sir, are spoken for. What interest would you have in a dangerous woman? Go bed your serene wife." A pitch of jealousy strained the undertones of her voice, and he knew he'd backed her into a corner. He'd known her for several weeks now, and their game of seduction had started almost immediately.
"She is not my wife, yet," he called, watching the prowl of her feline steps as she closed the distance between them to a mere inch or two.
"But you love her," came her wispy voice, the sway of her breath against his lips tantalizing in the chilled air.
"She is a pawn. A toy, if you will. She serves purposes in my life, but I have no intention of tossing out my fun in the name of fidelity." With the confession, he brushed his lips against hers until fire ignited between them, locking them in the throes of passion. Only the cloudy sky bore witness to the lewd pleasures that transpired in the courtyard of the villa.
---x---
Within the monstrous steel structure known as headquarters to those who embraced Shin-Ra, Rude was finally allowed to climb out of his temporary prison and don the familiar black suit he so longed to wear. He hadn't ever realized just how naked he felt without its embrace.
Outside, the grey clouds loomed and the rain drizzled onto the streets. Inside, he felt whole again, finally free of that ridiculous hospital bed and gown. Elena gave him an encouraging smile, watching as he finished with his tie.
"Now that's the Rude I know," she said.
"It feels better to get back to normal," he replied, picking up a few possessions in the clear container by the bed.
"Shall we, then?" she asked, gesturing toward the door.
Rude said nothing, only nodded and followed Elena beyond the doors of a room he never wished to revisit. She drove hastily back to his apartment, where she dropped him off and promised to update him on the bit of work that she and Tseng would be doing later on. Even though he was removed from bed rest, he was forbidden to work until mid-week.
Upon arriving back at headquarters, Elena hurried through security and up to meet Tseng in the computer database room. As she met the steel door of the CDR, she swiped her identification through the slot beside the lock and waited for the green light. As the beep chimed, she entered the room and felt the cool air nip at her skin even beneath her uniform. The room was kept icy most times, and she felt a shiver scrape over her.
Tseng inhabited a large leather chair at one of several computers, idly watching the screen as he read various reports. With silent grace, she slipped up behind him and wound her fingers through long strands of midnight. Her unprofessional behaviour would certainly set him back a couple steps, but the room held no cameras and no one would know of anything that happened behind the door.
"Elena," his cool voice swept over the mechanical hum of the computers.
"Are you checking on the lead Reno sent?" she asked, placing a hand on his shoulder as she hovered behind him. She was disappointed to see no reaction to her feminine games, but what else might one expect from such a collected individual. Even still, she was always trying to break his shell in the oddest places, a game they'd started unofficially once feelings were realized.
"Barely. It appears he is quite a secretive man, this Slater Cross. Hold up in a villa with servants and a staff of bodyguards. He is very wealthy, to say the least. The profile is fitting, but there's nothing here that points to any sort of discrepancy. The man hasn't so much as jay walked on a deserted road. I think Reno's a little too worried about the fact that he came after Ava," Tseng explained.
"So basically, he's a wealthy ass with nothing to do aside from chasing his fiancé when she takes on a new job," Elena finalized.
"The evidence points that way. Until we find anything further, I'd say he's a waste of time." A click of the mouse sent the screen into a blank state as Tseng turned half-circle in the chair to face Elena.
"I have a bad feeling about him, Tseng," Elena admitted, chasing a strand of blonde hair from her face with a stiffened finger.
"That is because you have a weakness for Ava, and you want to protect her from whatever this Slater could do to her," he said, watching her brows furrow. "You think him similar to Rufus. I can see it. Since he has money and power, you assume he'll be ruthless or play a field of women in his left hand while slipping a diamond on Ava's finger with the right."
"Well, I hadn't thought of it that way," she remarked, feeling as though he had insight to her thoughts that even she did not have.
"Subconscious assumptions and thoughts bleeding into your conscious reactions, but the feeling is entirely understandable, Elena."
"I don't know. I still have this… inexplicable feeling in the pit of my stomach," she wrenched her fist as if to show what her stomach might feel.
"As do I, but until we find something circumstantial there is not much to be done. One also must not seek a scapegoat to ease their sorrows. We cannot blame just anyone for the sake of false comfort." Upon his statement of truth, Elena brushed his cheek with the tips of her fingers. The feather light touch sent a crashing sense of elation throughout him, but Tseng would never admit to such.
"I guess you're probably right," she avowed with no reluctance. What really grasped her mind was the idea that he came within inches of cracking beneath her touch. One day, she'd break that shell. One day.
---x---
"I'm sooo bored," Reno drawled, sighing exaggeratedly while sprawling on the leather chair he'd claimed upon finding the waiting room.
"They have been in there for six hours," Ava agreed, glancing heavily at her wristwatch.
"No shit? How long can a meeting possibly take?" Reno questioned more out of making a point.
"I've seen meetings run nine hours before," she said with a smile, watching his face fall into a discontented expression.
"Ridiculous," he stated.
"Then bring something to do so you won't get so bored," Ava suggested, following his gaze as it fell on a deck of cards lying on the coffee stand. "Don't look at me… poker is not my game."
"You can't play?" he asked, a brow cocked in surprise.
"Not to save my life," she nodded.
"I'll have to teach you someday, it's a requirement of the trade. Even Elena can play a decent game," he strained the word decent as if to say she was a novice and he an expert.
"Someday," she agreed, hoping that someday would be a long time from the present.
So many questions burned Reno's mind like wild fire set ablaze in a forest of dry pine trees. Tseng hadn't called with news on this shady character Ava brought into their world, and that worried him. He was impatient, if nothing else and he wanted to know just what Slater Cross meant to the Turks and to Shin-Ra. The task of lifting such information from Ava would be difficult without raising an alarm. What would she think if he had a sudden interest in her fiancé? But this is what he trained for. Extracting information shouldn't be beyond his realm of various skills.
"Ava," he began, calculating a very bored expression and lacking eyes. "Where did you meet Slater?"
The question did not surprise her. After Slater had shown his face at the inn, she was quite sure things would be stirred. She thought a moment, and answered truthfully, "My father and his were friends for a long time, and they constantly brought us together. I guess things clicked once at a banquet. My father saw Slater as the hope to pull his father out of the sour dealings I spoke of. Slater had always made it known that he did not appreciate his father's resentment of Shin-Ra, and my father wanted nothing more than to keep his friend from crossing lines that he would not come back from."
"Sounds like there's more agenda than love," Reno observed, picking at a piece if lint on his slacks.
"At times, I guess our relationship has benefits beyond Slater and me, but we have something. I can't explain it, but it's there," she said as if convincing herself rather than Reno.
"So Slater was playing peacemaker between his father and Shin-Ra?" he asked.
"He was trying. I think he wanted to save his father just as my father wanted to. There was a time, during the crisis and all, that they felt Shin-Ra might have been pushing serious boundaries. I think him and his father both kind of snapped then… but once things changed, they suddenly went into silence about everything. I haven't heard so much as the beginnings of the word Shin-Ra since. My father has been happy about that, since he's always admired Shin-Ra. When I left for Edge, he practically told me I was his pride." A glint of light through the slats of blinds distracted her attention. She was feeling quite long winded, with the story and the twisted history that befell the Cross name.
"So you set aside your fiancé's feelings to live for your father?" he asked, wondering precisely why she would go to work for the company it seemed her "love" and his father despised.
"For myself, Reno. Think about why you do what you do. There's no firm explanation, just a desire to be this job. I knew kids who dreamed of being a part of this organization, of this enigmatic occupation that puts some in awe and others in hatred. I sometimes wish I'd come in sooner…" she drew out a breath, glancing at the floor.
"It was pretty exciting before Rufus began this streak of mild behaviour. I'm not even entirely sure what he has planned, but I know he wants to be back in power. Whether he'll do good, or bad… or somewhere in between, I don't have the slightest clue. I just love what I do, even though this shit we're going through now is boring. There's a loyalty I can't seem to shake."
"I can't see Shin-Ra fighting crime alongside the rebuilding of the world…" she commented, nearly laughing at the thought.
"That is an odd thought... leave that to Tifa and her friends."
"The woman from the bar?" she asked, remembering the name.
"Yeah, that's her. They're always around to save the day," he said with a grunt of a laugh. He'd learned more about Ava than he had intended, and much less about Slater. With the subject changed, he didn't feel the need to rehash old points.
"That's nice…" she said, not entirely sure what to say. There were few times when she drew blanks in conversation, but lately she'd felt herself stumble over words several times. Perhaps the man across from her had some sway on this odd revelation? If she were to be completely honest with herself, she might have been running scared for the fact that his charm had been wearing on her since their truce.
"Well, I need to piss," he announced with a grin.
"Isn't that pleasant," Ava replied, rolling her eyes and settling on insanity for the thought of his 'charm.' Clearly she was not thinking straight.
Reno got to his feet, wandering over toward the hall and leaving Ava to her own devices. He walked toward the direction of the men's room, but veered the opposite direction into an abandoned office. The door was closed silently behind him, the lights clicked on. The halogen bulbs flickered several times before coming to life, flooding the empty room in white light. He came to lean against the grey walls, bringing his phone from his pocket and dialing Tseng.
The phone rang a total of five rings before voicemail picked up the call, and Reno gave a heavy sigh. As the tone sounded, he left a brief message, "Tseng, Reno calling to check in on that report—" a loud beep interrupted his message and he jerked the phone down to see the call waiting signal. A quick flash over revealed a short greeting.
"Reno," he answered.
"Sorry, Reno," Tseng's voice came, sounding almost winded.
"And what were you up to?" Reno asked, almost accusing Tseng of some sin.
"I don't think that is any of your business. I'm going to venture a guess. You're calling about Cross?" Tseng asked.
"How did you know?" Reno mocked surprise.
"Well, he's clean. Not a speck on his record, the only way to find evidence would be to launch an investigation on him," Tseng said, but in the tinny sound of the phone, Reno almost thought he could hear a feminine voice. Good for Tseng, he thought.
"So why don't we investigate him?" Reno asked.
"We'd have to devote a lot of resources. He's almost untouchable, but there would be ways. Do you have any reason to be suspicious aside from what we've already gone over?" Tseng asked.
"Just the way he tracked Ava and the fact that he was here during two attempts," Reno explained.
"Think about that. If he were the one behind all of this, do you think he'd risk being seen near the attacks simply to bother Ava about 'attention'? Especially when he's infamous for being a playboy?" Tseng queried.
"Actually, wouldn't it play in his favour? Act as an alibi of sorts?"
"That's possible. And I'd bet he has access to private jets and such. He can probably travel on a whim."
"So he comes here to give himself an alibi and hurries back to pull the strings from… do we know where he lives?"
"Yes, a villa quite south of Junon, almost closer to the Temple."
"It's plausible,"
"I'll see what I can do with Rufus to begin gathering information. Try to get some out of Ava, if you can."
"Will do," Reno said, despite the fact that it meant carrying more personal conversations. And the conversation ended.
Reno stood a moment, staring at the heavy door. This whole situation gave him a feeling of unease. There was always something to be paranoid about when such mystery shrouds each day. The hunted always find a hunter in every person or object they pass throughout their times of paranoia. Perhaps he was jumping the gun on this Slater Cross, but better to be trigger happy than to freeze and fall at the hands of an enemy.
I'm going to try something new down here in the notes :) I will be replying publicly since some might be interested in seeing such responses. A little idea I had. Here goes:
Until chapter eight –
Just Jill- It is rather incriminating! Why would anyone want to harm a hair on Reno's head:P Thank you for the compliments, and for reviewing.
Mengde- I know, I know! Isn't he in trouble :D But no way is it him –cough-. Glad to see you are wondering about the plot, and I appreciate your review and encouragement. Thanks!
Z-I put a lot of description into a lot of things. The wisteria and willows, for example. It is my thing, I love to describe away. I doubt I can avoid using the word 'lips' throughout all my fiction. It's a part of the body and we are talking about humans (unless of course it is Reno) but sometimes lips must be used… :D But I kept the repetition out. I see the paragraph I believe you are mentioning, and I want you to know that her blatant expression was meant to enhance what took place. There wasn't much analysis. If he couldn't understand that expression, I might wonder if he even made it through kindergarten. Anyhow, I also believe that some of a character is open to the author. As for what goes on in Reno's head, even throughout obvious points of Advent Children… is quite a mystery. We can interpret and guess and formulate opinions, but that tends to be all I feel we can do. For all we know (though very unlikely) he recites poems and uses eight syllable words in his mind. But we guess not because of how he speaks, and etc. Anyway, that's my thought process. Sorry if you feel differently. As for the question in the author's notes… I was somewhat joking. I like to interact. More or less because I made it so very obvious in this chapter, I was being silly. Anyhow, I think author's notes can be whatever the author wishes :P –pats back- You're so much fun. I love getting your reviews because they make me think deeply ;) About GA- I am designing the new layout and it's SO much better IMO. I am really excited about this one… it's blended and lovely. I found some amazing pictures to use. I should be able to get it done tonight and send it to you. I'll be gone in Las Vegas all weekend. I hadn't answered out of laziness… oh my. Sorry to make you worry, you are not a pest at all!
