Snapshots

A Final Fantasy VII Fanfiction by ntc

Part 2

'... muscle cells retrieved from specimens injected with 50 mg of refined Mako and incubated for 3 days in glass culture plates are markedly larger than control cells (P 0.001 by Bonferroni's t-test, Graph 2c). However, cells seeded onto a matrix complex containing an equivalent amount of Mako, taking into account the volume of distribution and dilution effects of individual specimens, are not only relatively larger than cells obtained from Mako-injected specimens, but are also significantly more viable, as demonstrated by flow cytometry readings (Table 1b), giving rise to the hypothesis that...'

Reno rubbed his temples wearily, the hours he spent poring through the scientific gobbledygook retrieved from Hojo's computer were finally taking their toll on him in the form of a throbbing headache that was not unlike the worst hangover he had ever experienced. He was no intellectual, dammit! As a professional thug, he was required to use his brawn, and his nightstick, way more frequently than his brain. It was one of the reasons why the job as a Turk fitted him like a glove. And here he was, subjecting himself to this mental torture day after day, all for the sake of…

Reno terminated the thought before it could reach its conclusion. He would not think about why he was doing this, why he needed to do this, and why there was this strong sense of urgency, of time running out, of… His eyes inadvertently strayed to the digital clock sitting next to the computer and widened as his brain finally registered what his eyes were telling him. With a curse, he shot up from his seat and rushed out of the apartment, bounding down the stairs two at a time.

xXxXxXx

"Some babysitter you are. You're more than an hour late," said Marlene huffily. She stood up from where she had been sitting on the steps leading to the main entrance of the library.

"So?" Reno shrugged. "Just grab a book and read if you're bored waiting for me."

"And what do you think I've been doing for the past five hours?" Marlene quipped, bristling at the unrepentant attitude of the older man. "I thought you were meant to show me the sights of Kalm, not dump me at various locations like a cabdriver."

"At least cabdrivers get paid in gil. All I'm getting from you for my troubles is lip."

Marlene sucked in her breath and barely stopped herself from proving the ill-mannered man right. Why was he so antagonistic towards her? She had to at least attempt to make peace with him, for Cloud's sake if for no other reason. "I'm sorry. I still haven't thanked you for bringing me here this morning, did I?" Marlene smiled apologetically at him. "Thank you, Reno."

The red-haired man blinked at her, clearly taken aback by the sudden change in her attitude. "You out in the sun too long, kid?"

"You…!" Marlene felt like chucking the hardcover novels she had borrowed from the library at the insufferable man's face. "I'm trying to be nice here! Why are you making so difficult!"

Reno grunted, "Well, stop it. It's creeping me out."

It occurred to Marlene that while Reno was amply equipped to deal with bad-ass attitude of any kind, he being an expert in it himself, he was unexpectedly vulnerable against amiable assaults. To test out her theory, she moved to embrace him, only to have her suspicions proven right when he backpedaled and fended her off with shooing motions. "Hey! I told you to cut it out! Why are you… What're you giggling about?"

Reno's irritated scowl only caused her to laugh in delight. Oh, she was going to have so much fun. She boldly seized one of Reno's hands and held on tight even as he tried to shake her off. Beaming at his discomfiture, Marlene said sweetly, "I'm hungry. Some pancakes for lunch would be lovely."

"Buy your own damned lunch!" After a few more half-hearted attempts to shake off her determined grip, Reno gave up. Marlene did not doubt that if Reno really wanted to, he could easily fling her ten feet away without breaking a sweat. The fact that he had given up before he could do her any serious injury only exposed him as the soft-centred crusty person that he was. His shoulders drooped in defeat. "Will you cease this clingy behaviour if I buy you pancakes?"

Marlene could not help smiling triumphantly. "I'll think about it."

Reno muttered something in a voice too low for her to hear properly, but the few phrases she could make out were definitely under the 'Language That Papa Does Not Approve Of' category. "You look so cute when you're flustered, Reno."

"Shut up, brat."

xXxXxXx

Cloud introduced her to a boy named Denzel during her first visit to the gallery. Denzel was one of the youths in the neighbourhood who was helping Cloud to set up the exhibition at the gallery and she gradually found herself wanting to spend more and more time with the friendly boy. Maybe it was because she hardly ever got the opportunity to spend time with children her age, and not having to crane her neck so much while having a conversation with someone was a nice change. They talked mostly about Cloud as he was the main thing common between them.

"So how did you get to know Cloud?"

Denzel laughed nervously. "It's embarrassing, really. The first time we met, he caught me in the process of hotwiring his motorbike."

"You didn't!" Marlene's voice held more fascination than outrage. "Then what happened?"

"Um, I did what any thief would in those circumstances. I panicked." A small flush crept across the boy's freckled cheeks. "While trying to get away, I nearly rode the motorbike into an oncoming truck. That was when Cloud saved my life for the first time. You wouldn't suspect it, just from looking at him, but he could move really fast if he wanted to. The bike winded up as a total wreck though, and Cloud made sure I paid for the damages in full by getting me to do whatever odd jobs he could find me."

"You said 'the first time'. Do you mean there are other times?"

Denzel scratched the back of his head sheepishly. "I was in a notorious street gang at the time. Let just say that no member is allowed to leave their gang without… punishment. I nearly didn't survive mine, and that was when Cloud turned up and saved my sorry hide a second time. He… I really don't deserve that. From then on, I've made up my mind to become someone who wouldn't be a burden to him. I want him to be proud of me."

Marlene could easily recognize the signs of hero-worship on the young boy's face. "You like Cloud, don't you?"

"No! Er… I mean, yes, of course I like Cloud, but not that kind of 'like', if you know what I mean. Besides, if there's anyone who can make that claim, it would be…"

"What do you mean by 'that kind of like'?" interrupted Marlene. "I thought you either like a person or you don't."

"Gosh, will you look at the time! I have to get going now. It's nice meeting you, Marlene."

"You're avoiding my question," said Marlene reproachfully.

"How about you?" Denzel countered her with a question of his own.

"What about me?"

"Do you like Cloud?"

Marlene's face took on a shade of red that rivalled the one on Denzel's. Fortunately, she was spared having to come up with a reply as Cloud had chosen that time to walk over towards them.

Cloud placed a hand on one of Marlene's shoulders as he addressed his young helper. "Thanks for your help today, Denzel."

"Hey, no probs, man. As long as I get paid, I'm more than willing to help out." Marlene was jealous of how quickly Denzel could beat down the blush which was definitely on his face a few seconds ago. "Say, Cloud, weren't you planning to put up Zack's photo too? I couldn't find any in the boxes you've brought in."

The hand that was resting on Marlene's shoulder trembled at the mention of the name. "Really? I'll have to remember to bring them in next time then."

Cloud had maintained a calm and indifferent tone throughout the exchange but Marlene could tell that it was all an act. She became determined to find out more about this 'Zack' person.

xXxXxXx

"Who is Zack?"

Reno levelled a steady gaze at the kid who had dared to voice that question… that name. "Who told you about Zack?"

They were both at the lounge in Cloud's apartment, and the girl had chosen a time when Cloud was out buying groceries to pop her question. That alone gave Reno clues as to how much she knew and didn't know. She knew, or at least suspected enough, not to question Cloud directly about Zack.

"No one. It was just a name that came up when I was at the gallery the other day." The girl dropped her gaze, unable to meet his eyes. "I was hoping that you can tell me more about her."

Her? Did she think…? Reno decided that some payback was in order. That would teach the girl to spoil his macho-cool image with her sporadic hugs. "Zack has a face that's more handsome than pretty; moves with a deadly grace; able to mesmerize surrounding people with strong charisma and unparalleled leadership. Feared by some people, admired and loved by others."

"Zack and Cloud… are they…?" The girl looked so dejected that Reno almost felt guilty.

"They're very close friends," said Reno truthfully. "There's no doubt that there is love in their relationship."

The girl slinked away to her room, misery and heartbreak clearly written on her face. Reno watched her close the door behind her before walking out to the balcony. He lit up a cigarette, hoping the nicotine would calm his nerves.

"Heh… It's amazing how you still have the power to break hearts despite being dead all these years, you bastard," Reno muttered to no one in particular. "It's time for you to stay dead, Zack. Let go of the living… Let go of Cloud, who still mourns for you everyday and makes a damned pilgrimage to your gravesite every month without fail. Yours and Aeris's both."

Reno's grip on the railing of the balcony tightened until his knuckles turned white. His grey eyes glinted. "Because if you don't… I will have no choice but to take him away from you by force."

xXxXxXx

It was a memory which he tried to forget, but one which stubbornly refused to fade away. It was the one memory which made him unable to utterly despise his rival.

Zack had saved his life once in the midst of their ongoing conflict— between the ex-elite SOLDIER waging his one-man war against Shinra and the Turks, the Shinra family's personal team of terrorists, assassins and bodyguards. They had fought at the top of a burning building when a surrounding explosion, one set off by his very own grenade, sent him stumbling and falling off the edge of the building. He had thought he would die for sure, but a strong hand had gripped his arm and stopped him from plummeting to a messy death some thirty storeys down.

Between gasping for breath and kissing the solid ground beneath his feet, he had demanded the reason behind his enemy's illogical action. "Why didn't you let me die?"

"Because it'll make him sad, Reno," said the raven-haired swordsman with a roguish grin. "Besides, it's silly of us to be fighting each other when the person we both wish to protect above all else is the same."

He could not think of a suitable comeback to that remark, mainly because it was too close to the truth.

Zack had later died providing that protection. There were times when Reno wondered if it would have been better if he had been the one who had died instead of Zack. Would Cloud continue to cling to the memory of him, so much as to deny himself happiness? Or would he be happy, with Zack alive by his side?

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A/N: Thanks to all who have read the story, and especially those who have taken the time to review. Never underestimate the power of reviews. They don't necessarily make better writers of us all, but they do provide much needed boosts to the ego :P