"Holy fuck," I groan, rubbing my face as an overwhelmingly sharp pain shoots through my head. "I'm not okay."

I reach over the edge of my bed and shake a few pills into my palm before tossing them down my throat. My phone lies face down on the floor where I left it after shutting off my shrill alarm, buzzing once. Reno's probably wondering where I am. With a groan, I bury my face in my hands. My head is screaming and I'm exhausted. The worst part is that I remember why. Why didn't I black out?

I roll out of bed slowly and take a cold shower to wake myself up. Halfway through getting dressed, I scramble back to the bathroom to throw up, but nothing comes out. My head's fuzzy, reminding me that I'm probably not even sober yet. The walk to our floor is insufferable with Shinra's blinding overhead lights and the loud crowds of employees arriving for the workday.

"Shit, you're not lookin' too hot." Before I can reply, Reno presses a paper into my hands. "Drink up, Sweetheart."

"Thank fuck," I puff out, not caring if I scorch my tongue. Maybe the pain will keep me away from Rufus for a while. Even the mere thought of his name makes my face red and my head ache more. Not at all how I expected to feel.

"Doin' alright?" he asks, leaning a shoulder against the wall outside his office. I shake my head, closing my eyes to ease my throbbing head.

"I feel like absolute shit."

"What happened?"

"Partook in too much go-go juice," I murmur, taking another sip. He laughs quietly, taking mercy on my poor soul. "Like, way too much."

"Why?"

"Why the hell not?" My chest stings and I swallow the gathering lump in my throat. That's enough of that.

"It's Tuesday, Kat."

"And?" I look up when Rude heads over.

"Hey, you guys will never believe this," Reno says, perking up upon seeing his partner.

"What?" I ask, wincing at the volume of his voice.

"Rufus said he's staying home sick today," he announces, shoving his hands deeper into his pockets. "His assistant said it's just because he's tired, though." My face goes red and I begin to sweat. Can't imagine why. "You know how many days I wouldn't be here if I could stay home for bein' tired?"

"I'm sure that's not all," Rude points out, eyeing me. "Feeling okay?"

"Hungover."

"Hm."

"Why don't you go get an elixir?" Reno asks, resting an arm across my shoulders and resting his head against mine. I wince at the pain upon impact. "It'd make you feel better." Rude raises an eyebrow.

"Aren't you mad at me?" I huff, staring sadly at the bottom of my cup.

"Not right now."

"Quit changing your mind." I roll my eyes, lifting my arm to rest my hand on his back. He puffs out a short laugh when my temple hits his shoulder.

"Can't help that I feel bad for you."

"Feel bad for me?" I frown, blowing Rude a kiss when he takes my cup to refill it, knowing full well I won't be alive until I've had at least two cups. "Why?"

"I dunno." Reno shrugs, lowering his voice. "Last night. You were freaked about something."

"Oh…" I take a deep breath, taking my cup back. My heart sinks.

"What's wrong?" he asks, not budging. I relish in his warmth a little longer before answering, knowing that I'm about to ruin their day.

"Have either of you heard from Tseng or Elena?"

"No?" Reno answers, disappointed that I haven't answered his question. Rude shakes his head.

"Well…" I take a careful sip, trying hard not to listen to my own words. "He's not coming back."

"He's not—" Reno straightens abruptly, splashing a little coffee from my cup to the tile floor. I look up at the two, miserable.

"Sephiroth found him in the Temple and—" I choke on my words, hiding my face in the cup.

"What?" Reno shakes his head. "That ain't right. Where'd you hear that?"

"Avalanche. I spoke to them through Cait Sith last night."

"Fuck, man." Reno paces across the room, tugging at his hair. "Bullshit. That can't be real."

"I don't think Aerith has any reason to lie to us."

"Aerith?" he repeats with a groan. Rude blinks at the floor before shaking his head and retreating to his office. "Where'd he go?"

"Probably to be alone." I chug down the rest of my scorching hot coffee and toss the cup away. Reno shoves a hand in his pocket, rubbing the back of his neck. He tears his eyes from the floor to look at me.

"You okay?" I nod, but I don't turn down his hug, pressing my cheek to his chest and squeezing him tight. "Don't look like it."

"I'm hungover, my uncle's dead, and last night I—" I stop myself, shaking my head.

"You what?"

"Nothing. I'm just tired."

"Don't gotta be so closed off all the time," he mutters, resting his chin on my head.

"I'm not." I pull away enough to raise an eyebrow at him. "Since when do you care?"

"What, you think I'm just pretending to like you?"

"Oh shit, we're supposed to like each other?"

"Shut up," he snorts, forcing my head back against him so he doesn't have to look at me.

"How are you feeling?" I ask, looking at the walls absently as I listen for an answer.

"Could be better, I guess."

"…" I close my eyes. "Reno, I'm sorry."

"For what?"

"You know what." My chest shudders when I take a breath. "I'm really sorry."

"I know, Kat." He sighs. "Sorry for gettin' so mad."

"You're done being angry?"

"Probably." When I pull away, he's grinning. "Can't stay mad at my Kitty Kat for too long." You're mine.

"No?" I smile, shaking my head. "I'll take it."

We spent three whole days with little to no direction, hearing nothing from Elena or Rufus as we crank out old reports to keep ourselves busy. I lean back in my seat, my back aching from the amount of time I've spent on my ass in the past week. I haven't even heard from Reeve. He's either upset that I invaded his little project or ashamed that I discovered what he was keeping from us. When I straighten to get back to writing my shitty report, the door swings open. Reno waltzes in, looking mighty proud of himself.

"Hello?" I raise an eyebrow. He pushes my papers aside and sits on my desk.

"Avalanche is headed for the Forgotten Capital. Wanna go after 'em?"

"Elena's already on their case." I stretch my arms over my head. "She thinks they killed him."

"Sounds like her." Reno grins despite our topic of conversation. "Hungry?"

"Not really."

"Oh, c'mon. I know you didn't eat yesterday."

"And?"

"You've gotta be starving!"

"Well, I'm not." He rolls his eyes in disbelief and reaches into his pocket.

"Fine. Guess what I found?" Before I can answer, he shoves a glowing green orb of materia in my face. I flinch, scooting back to look at it. "Lightning materia. Know where I got it?"

"Reno!" I gasp, snatching it from his hands. "You went all the way back to that shit-shack to get this?"

"Though it might cheer you up," he laughs. "Place looks just the same."

"Do you know how many years it's been since I saw this?" I demand, smacking his arm with the back of my hand and marveling at the materia's swirling colors. "Does it even work?"

"Not like it runs on batteries. Last I knew, materia ages like a fine wine."

"What are you, my dad?" I scoff, standing to squeeze him into a hug.

"Could be," he laughs. "Prefer Daddy, though, if you don't mind."

"Absolutely not."

"Lame-o." He stands. "You gotta join me for lunch if you wanna keep that."

"I'm okay with that," I shrug. I tuck the materia into one of my desk drawers. "Where are we going?"

"Pizza?"

"Again?" I laugh, twirling my key ring around my finger and heading for the door.

"Hell yeah. Can't deny that call of greasy and gooey cheese."

We head to the parking garage. Reno tries to pull my keys away and I snatch them back.

"There is no way in hell you can convince me to let you drive."

"Why not? You can get somethin' much better than that stinky rustbucket."

"I'm attached." I unlock the car with its remote, happy to hear her chirp and the click of her doors. "Get in the passenger seat, asshole."

"You're the boss."

I climb into the front seat and roll all the windows down, nose crinkling at the car's never-ending onion scent. What the hell is that coming from? Reno whistles, fanning his face and I roll my eyes, motioning for him to buckle up. He doesn't. Sighing in defeat, I pull away from the looming Shinra Building and light up a smoke, happy to enjoy a little taste of freedom. Reno eyes the cigarette before holding out his hand.

"Gimme that."

"No." I glance at him with a frown, holding it on the edge of the window.

"I'm not gonna toss it."

"I don't believe you."

"Well, do believe me."

Shooting him another look, I hand it over, fully expecting to have to light another. Instead, he puts it to his lips and the end flares up as he takes a long drink of poison. I shake my head, smiling faintly when he hands it back with a puff of smoke pouring past his lips.

"Thought you were against it."

"Can't say I miss the taste."

"Then why'd you take it?" I ask, laughing as I take another drag. He shrugs, smiling. "Miss gettin' high off your own supply?"

"Damn those were the days," he sighs, his head rolling back on his shoulders. "Until I got caught I guess."

"Yeah, well, at least you weren't shooting anything into your arms." He shakes his head, poking my shoulder.

"Don't act so perfect, Princess. You partook."

"Wasn't my supply," I tease, turning us toward the pizza place. "And you offered."

"Yeah, I did." He sinks back into his seat. "Miss it. Those were some fun times."

"It's all fun and games until you get too baked and you kiss your best friend." I laugh when he slaps my leg.

"Not funny. I wasn't in any condition to be around pretty girls."

"Mhm." Careful, Re. Words like that give a girl hope. "So I went from nothin' special to pretty?"

"I said you were pretty."

I hit him this time.

"Asshole." I can't help but snicker thinking back to that night, though. "Gods, you were fucked up."

"Yeah," he chuckles, pushing his hair up out of his face. "Got a bit ambitious. Don't remember much. Don't even remember kissin' you."

"Well, I do," I scoff, pulling into a parking space. "And it was gross."

"And you won't let me live it down," he sighs, hopping down to the ground.

I shake my head, holding open the store's door for him. He tips his head toward me, smug, and joins the line, sharp eyes scanning the room and bony fingers hiding in the pockets of his wrinkled uniform pants. I stand at his side, arms crossed. Suddenly, he turns to me.

"Hold my spot. Gotta pee."

"At least say please," I mutter, watching him go. I jump when someone touches my shoulder, turning to see someone from my old camera crew. "Holy shit! Hey, Joe!"

"Hello Kat," he greets, smiling and scratching at his scruffy beard. "Nice seeing you here."

"Nice to see you alive."

"Haven't seen you in a while." He eyes my uniform, his smile struggling to stay upright. "Guessin' you took the Shinra job."

"Yeah, I did," I sigh, rubbing the back of my neck sheepishly. "Feels like a blast from the past every day."

"I can imagine." He turns his dark eyes to the menu. "You come here often?"

"Sometimes. Depends on if my friends want to come."

"Friends?" He raises an eyebrow. I laugh.

"Does that surprise you?"

"No! I just didn't expect you to be here."

"Why's that?"

"Dunno. Always thought of you as somethin' classier."

"Classy?" I shake my head, grinning. "Absolutely not."

"I'm back," Reno announces, nudging me when he steps back in line. His smile fades when he eyes my old coworker, his eyebrows pinching together into a frown. "Who's this?"

"That was fast," I mutter, jerking my head toward the old cameraman. "This is Joe. Used to work with him."

"You're Kat's friend?" Joe asks, but he's gone cold, realizing who we are. The scum of Shinra.

"One of 'em." Reno cocks his head to the side, raising an eyebrow. "Problem?"

"Not at all." Joe turns away, refusing to speak any longer. Sighing, I turn back to the line. Reno orders, elbowing me when I step up.

"Already got it, Kat."

"What the heck?" I huff, following him to a booth. "What do you want?"

"Huh?" He sits across from me, struggling to suppress a sly smile.

"You don't pay for anyone ever."

"Did the last time we were here."

"Is there something you want?" I ask again, massaging my temples. He shakes his head.

"Just my old Kitty Kat back."

The past is gone.

The end will come.

"What do you mean?" I ask, swatting at my ear as if a fly buzzed past. "I'm still the same old Kat."

"No, you're not." He sighs, pressing his elbows to the table. "What's Rude up to?"

"Reno, you're his partner. Not me."

"So? You got his number?"

"You don't have his phone number?"

"Stop emphasizing everything I say and give me your phone."

"I hate you." I slide the phone across the table and he shoots me a quick wink, blowing me a kiss.

"Thanks, Princess."

"Just make it quick."

"Hey, partner." Reno slouches in his seat, spreading his knees wide. A lazy smile traces his lips and he stares back at me when he catches me watching. "Whatcha doin'?" Poor Rudie. "Did she really? Stupid bitch… Nah, Kat's lettin' me use it. C'mon, man, you know I can't do that." He rolls his eyes at me. I can just barely hear Rude's voice on the other line. "It is hard, Rude! I hate cleaning!" He sits upright abruptly, angry. "Hang on! That was one time! Oh, whatever."

"Thanks," I say to our server quietly when she sets the pizza down at our table.

"Hey, man, you do you. Kat says she loves your shiny head—"

"Wait, can I talk to him?" I ask, reaching out a hand.

"No, she thinks you're hot, dude."

"Reno!" I kick him under the table. Rolling his eyes a second time, he hands it over, ready to dig in.

"Hey Rudie," I greet, watching Reno take half a slice in one bite. I lean forward, pulling the phone away from my face. "Hey, baby, what that mouth do?" Reno chokes, laughing.

"Hello?" I can hear the frown in Rude's voice.

"How's it going?"

"It's been better."

"Are you tired? You sound tired."

"Yes."

"Why?"

"I didn't sleep."

"Why?"

"Reno stayed too late trying to convince me that you—"

"Ow! Reno, did you seriously just—" Reno grins, ripping another hair out of my head. I smack his hand. "Sorry, Rude."

"Kat, where's Elena?"

"Chasing Avalanche," I shrug, picking some melted cheese off the pizza and popping it into my mouth. Reno's already reaching for his second piece. Eats like an animal.

"She hasn't reported back?"

"Nope." I sit back. "Rude, she's sure they did it. They didn't, but won't listen to reason."

"At least she found something to do."

"I guess? Are you—"

Reno snatches the phone back, flipping me off when I protest. Annoyed and disappointed, I nibble on a greasy piece of pizza knowing damn well it's going to make my stomach hurt later.

"Sorry, Rude, gotta go. Crashin' my date with Kat." He laughs. "Goddamn third wheels." He hangs up and tosses my phone at me. I huff, wincing when the hard glass corner hits my collarbone.

"Don't be so mean to Rudie."

"Still can't get over that," he shakes his head. "Won't let me call him anything but Rude."

"I conditioned him into accepting it," I shrug.

"Like a fuckin' dog?" Reno snorts, gobbling down the rest of his pizza. "Always comes running back to his Kitty Kat."

"More like his Kitty Kat always comes running back to him," I scoff. "Guy's practically my therapist by now."

Reno gets the leftovers boxed, crossing his hands behind his head. I check my phone for any contact from Elena and find nothing. Finally, Reno gets to his feet.

"Ready to go back to Hell?" he asks. I shake my head, jumping when I feel him touch my butt.

"Reno, what the hell?"

"It's nothin'," he grins, twirling my keys around his finger as he walks past. "I'm driving."

"Reno!"

"Stop by my place tonight."

"Reno."

"Bye, bitch."