"So what are you into?" Reno asked one night as he set up the microphones in Cloud's room.
"Why do you wanna know?" He wasn't going to admit anything to the Turk.
Green eyes and silver hair, to name a few. Although bright blue eyes and dark hair wasn't bad to look at either. Then again Reno wasn't too bad, once one looked past that mouth of his. Cloud quickly pushed those thoughts away.
"Just wondering if I got any chances with you, goldilocks."
"In your dreams, smart ass."
"Oh I plan on it, sweetheart. I can go all night."
"Talking my ear off, you mean? I can believe it." Cloud retorted with a snort.
"That's not what I meant and you know it, baby."
"Don't call me that."
"What you gonna do if I don't, baby? You gonna hit me?" Reno challenges.
"You would like that." Cloud saw right through it.
"Oh baby, you know me too well already." The redhead laughs. "But seriously, what's it gonna take to have a bit of fun with you?"
"Just because I work here doesn't mean I'm easy. You will have to earn it. If I decide to like you." Cloud wasn't sure yet. Thus far he wasn't interested, although he will admit Reno did have a few perks.
"Oh? And if I wanted to be your customer?"
"And ruin your reputation? You do know I can get you to spill all of your secrets, right?"
"I know it, baby. Andrea said you are the best for this job. Besides, they won't care if I come here when I can." Reno winked.
"Speaking of, it's almost time for me to clock in. Are you almost done?" Cloud eyes him.
"Actually, I've been done for a minute, baby. Just got caught up talking with you."
Cloud rolls his eyes and pushes his way through to the door. He paused to glare at the redhead, who only smirks in response.
"Go to wherever you need to go and get out of my room."
"Gotcha, babe." Reno salutes.
For several nights it was like this. At first Cloud had his doubts that there was ever a case that involved the Honeybee Inn. That was until girls started showing up dead. They were never found in uniform, but always on their way home from work.
"Ya might wanna start being more girly, babe. It might attract this psycho." Reno advised, for once serious.
"Oh so you can act like a suit." Cloud was only trying to hide his nervousness.
"Relax, babe. I'll start escorting you home if it makes you feel better."
"... Thanks." Cloud wanted to turn him down, but he would rather have the extra security.
"Wait, you thanked me? You warming up to me finally?"
"Don't get used to it."
"It's fine with me. But to attract the perpetrator you gotta go home as a girl, too."
"I'm fine with that." He wasn't going to admit that he was more nervous of going home than dressing up still as a girl.
Unfortunately, due to decrease of customers because of the murders, Cloud had to decrease his hourly rate. And since he began to walk around more as a Honey Girl, he was beginning to attract more customers.
Then one night he noticed a customer eyeing him in a leering way. It was a regular he had seen with other girls. Some of the girls that turned up dead.
Putting on his brave face he smiled at the customer.
This customer was like any other. The stress of life as a ShinRa employee. Ya da ya da. Nothing about him screamed being a murderer. However one night he got a bottle from an anonymous gift giver before his shift started.
"Sweet! We can party tonight!" Reno was excited.
"You can. It's not my kind of drink." Cloud wasn't one for champagne. Especially the fruity kind.
Later that night he regretted such an action on the way home. He heard someone stumbling along behind him a ways. Cloud paused, anxious and terrified.
He caught sight of red hair and he knew something was off. Then he thought of the bottle.
"Oh, shit." Cloud ran forward to catch Reno.
"Babe, I think... Something was in that drink, yo." The Turk stammered.
"Yeah no shit." Cloud felt that he was failing his brave front.
"Well, well... This is a rare opportunity." Someone stepped out of the shadows.
A gun was raised to Cloud's face and all he saw was red.
xXx
"I did what?" Cloud was in shock.
"You fended off the suspect and protected one of my men. All without sustaining any injuries. You have my sincere gratitude." The suit explained calmly. "You also have caught my attention. If you would like, we can recruit you among our ranks."
"Hold on, excuse me? But why me? I just did what anyone would have done - "
"You know of our reputation, I presume. I know you have seen many clients that have worked here. I know people talk. People always talk. And I heard you are one of the best to get such information without so much as a blink of an eye."
"... Because people are comfortable with me, I guess. But how does that make me Turk material?"
"You've proven yourself worthy by saving Reno. And under your own initiative you called me once you had the situation under control. You didn't even break a bone in his body despite the threat level he was in comparison."
"So that's it? That's all it takes to be a suit?" Cloud scoffs.
"Is something wrong?"
"I was once a recruit. I was denied Soldier three times." Cloud explained. "And now years later I'm being given the suit as an option? It's kind of... Unreal, is the word I'm trying to say."
"I imagine it would put you through a loop. Here is my card, should you ever decide to take up my offer." The suit held it out for him.
Cloud accepted it, reading the name.
"Tseng?" He was hoping he pronounced it correctly.
"You're the first to read first try. I am even more amazed by you. Perhaps there is something in you after all."
"What do you mean?"
"Reno wouldn't stop talking about you. He was the one to push for recruiting you in the first place. I didn't give it much thought until last night. However, you seemed confused when you woke up. Did you perhaps have a memory lapse?"
"It all happened so fast... I guess it took a moment for my brain to process. I'm not exactly a morning person." Cloud had never been a morning person.
"I suppose that makes sense. Anyhow, I need to get back to work. And Cloud? Do think on my offer, please."
Cloud stared down at the card, silently debating.
A few days later he stared up at the tower. He dialed in the number from the card. He muttered to himself as the phone rang.
"Can't believe I'm doing this..."
A few rings in and Tseng answered.
"This is Tseng."
"I'm taking you up on your offer."
"Ah, Cloud. What wonderful news. I'll send Reno and Rude to collect you."
Of all people, he had to send Reno? At least he won't be alone, however.
