Chapter 35. The Chocobo Dance.

Reno's POV

I had been summoned to the General's presence right before leaving Elie doing her thing. I didn't tell her the man had paged me with urgency, but I had a feeling I was going to hear it.

Hunches were difficult to ignore in a Turk, and there was something going on involving him and Stevens that I couldn't quite grasp.

Hence, that scene at the Training Room. What on the Planet had that been? Something was definitely going on, and it bothered them both.

Elie was very transparent in what concerned the Sephiroth's actions towards her. She was sensitive about it but tried to hide it, as if the feeling embarrassed it, somehow.

I stood by the office, taking the liberty to knock and enter.

Once I got inside, Sephiroht's silhuete behind the desk was the first thing I saw. Arms crossed, staring at the window, apparently dozing off about something.

How wrong I was.

I walked and reached the chairs resting against the desk, waiting for him to start.

"You can sit if you want."

His tone was flat and… worried.

I did so. And waited for the man to say something.

"You must not acquiesce to her every whim." He declared, turning to face me, finally. "Your last option almost turned out a disaster if I hadn't intervened."

And, of course, I grasped immediately he referred to Cloud.

"I didn't do it on purpose." I declared. "Cloud was the only one available at the moment and I thought it would be okay for him to show her the LV 49."

"We have to be more careful from now on." He stated, not offering further justification. "That means a tighter surveillance."

Curiosity burned inside of me.

"Why is that?"

I saw him taking in a deep breath. And I sensed he had something unpleasant to tell me.

"Rufus Shinra is walking free. After careful deliberation with Tseng and the President, we decided to let him go."

What?

"Wouldn't that be risky? I mean, he-"

"Everything's a risk, Reno." Sephiroth interrupted me unmercifully. I could tell he wasn't particularly patient today. "Thankfully we have advantage, and we must consider all of our actions thoughtfully. I don't particularly enjoy letting Rufus walking away when I know what is going on inside his head… but hopefully it will pay off."

"What about the other AVALANCHE element the company had in custody?"

He took his time answering me.

"Fuhito? Dead." Sephiroth's tone was one of displease. "Took his own life after a couple of interrogations. Didn't disclose much."

I could tell he was fed up with the whole thing. All of it was escaping his control. Him, the control freak in person.

Geez.

"What about Hollander?"

"That's another issue we have on our hands." Sephiroth snorted, and I sensed irony. "As a traitor, he must be condemned to death, but… the company is considering reintegrating him. Claim they don't want to waste his intelligence away."

I shook my head and offered my opinion.

"Risky option. Once a betrayer, always a betrayer."

"Yes." He declared, shifting position right behind the desk. He didn't even sit. "And Hojo, that sick, mental being… will consider use Hollander to his purpose."

Whoaaaa… and how was Hojo in the middle of this?

"How do you know that?"

"I wish I was wrong, believe me. But Hojo is the most dangerous man walking among us, for the time being."

And that sounded so damn… improbable. I narrowed my eyes at his declaration and spoke my mind.

"But he never leaves the lab."

Sephiroth's stare was hard on mine.

"He doesn't need to leave to lab to have his own way."

I blinked in silence for a couple of seconds.

"Now you're worrying me."

He put his hands, flat on his desk. His stare was serious and hateful, and I couldn't exactly tell what was going on, why the General fed such pure hatred over Hojo. My guess… there had to me a lot of things I didn't know.

"He wants Stevens, at all costs. Dead or alive. I know that look on his face, when he desperately wants something he can't have."

His words didn't shock me but I wondered if he wasn't exaggerating. I mean Hojo, really? The man was a lab rat!

I got up the chair, deciding I would be very honest with him.

"He won't have her on my shift, General." I swore. "You have my word."

My speech seemed to please him but still, there was a trace of doubt all over him. I knew he preferred SOLDIER over Turks, and it was only normal. He was familiar with the ways of his guard, and even if he had knowledge of the Turks and our modus operandi… there was always a biased preference.

"I wouldn't expect less of you." He nodded at me.

"Permission to leave."

"Permission granted."

And with decisiveness, I left the office.

As a walked towards the Turks' floor, my mind went busy. Now the General had alerted me things were actually very tricky with Stevens' security.

And we had a work-outing scheduled in days.

Man.

I sighed as the thought of cancelling occurred. Would something that drastic be, actually, necessary?

I guess I would have to ponder.

Elie's POV

Reno seemed immersed in thought for days, and I wondered if work was that consuming for them, Turks.

When confronted with my questioning he shut me off a little. I knew him enough to know he was hiding something, but deep inside my mind I tried to convince myself he might actually be worried with something at work.

Days in the office passed by, neutral as always.

The General ignored me with a will I could only classify as psychiatric. Really, this guy had a problem. One day he was a cutie. Tender, eyeing me that way I enjoyed so much, worrying so openly over me and … getting me to fly with him.

The memory of those moments, honestly, made my insides squirm.

But then, the other day he just… behaved like a stranger. It was like I wasn't part of his universe.

Time had given me defenses. Days passed by and with that humor of him, what choice did I have but to… ignore as well?

Besides, I had been minding my mind with something else - house décor. Once the first wage was in, I took some time to re-decorate. The apartment needed my own touch and I convinced Reno to walk me to some stores in Midgar.

He was very strict with the hours but he managed to arrange the whole thing for me. Thing was, I didn't know he would reserve the whole shop for me. He took his goons with him, everybody guarded the store and he stayed with me inside, most likely bored to death.

I asked him why the excess with the guard thing and shoving other customers out of the store, but he resumed to tell me 'that's how things were'.

Well, there was something about Reno's stiffness that didn't felt real. He was behaving way too strictly, like he was following orders.

And I was willing to bet from whom all those orders were. Not from Tseng, of course.

But I decided not to go that way. Hell, they were the military, if they wanted to spend time and resources on me when I was shopping, well… it was their problem.

Eventually the day arrived - We were going out.

The thought put me in high spirits. The girls in the office were going to, and they told me Reno was arranging the whole thing at the club. Which had a very particular name: The Chocobo Dance.

I laughed genuinely when they told me about it and heard them the whole morning commenting over clothing. Right.

That had been one hell of a ride to find. Reno, as always the most patient man on the world, deposited me on a high couture store where I had some difficulty in finding a normal dress.

I was used to simple lines, and the whole thing was exuberant and flashy.

Eventually, after much experimenting, I eventually found a somehow decent dress with an acceptable cleavage and simple cut, but classy enough for a night out.

Plus, the color was simply mesmerizing. Aqua green, it matched Sephiroth's eye color in a rather disturbing way.

"That suits you like a glove, Elie." Reno had said, with a sign of approval.

I had smiled at him, secretly wondering if he had made the association like I had. I bought the dress and when I got home that night, I took my time staring at the item.

Would it be too much? Would I be okay with it on, plus black pumps?

Nah. Flats would definitely go along instead.

I texted Reno when I was done. The office was calm, it was Thursday and the General had been absent the whole day. Busy man, my mind mocked.

"Yo, Elie!"

And there was Reno. I smiled at him.

"Hey! Ready for later?"

He smiled back.

"I can see you are."

"I am. Can't wait to go to The Chocobo Dance."

And as we walked away, Reno took his time joking around.

"Are you aware there won't be real Chocobos in there, right?"

I nodded.

"Of course not."

Duh!

"So let's get you prepared, girl."

We laughed, as we walked towards my apartment. Once inside, Reno was patient enough to wait for me almost an hour. He took a little nap on my sofa as I busied myself in the bedroom, and I was the one walking him up when I was done.

He got up swiftly, and he took his time taking me in. He made a strange face and, for moments, I felt a little worried.

"What? Is there something wrong?" My face was now serious and I waited for him to respond.

"No, Elie." He declared. "On the contrary."

I made a face.

"What do you mean?"

And then he smiled wickedly, that smile so typical of him.

"You're hot, girl." His tone was funny. "Man, if the General sees you…"

And that comment removed the smile out of my face, completely.

"What kind of comment is that?"

Reno blinked at me, a little surprised with my reaction.

"You're very touchy when the subject is him." He stated. "Is there something I should know of?"

I gulped dry and felt angry. Childishly angry.

"No, there is not, not in a million years. Satisfied?"

A laugh followed and Reno approached me with a genuine smile. He held me with one arm and took a selfie of us with his phone.

"Don't take it so personal. I heard you got to fly with him the other day."

I shook my head and decided to play along.

"You're such a sucker for gossip."

"It's true then!"

We both laughed and I decided to give him some intel over the situation.

"It was pretty okay." I said, as I arranged my flats. "The virtual training room was a place I always wanted to visit. I asked Strife to show it to me but then, the General-"

"Yeah, I know."

"You do?"

"I have my sources." Reno admitted. "Besides I think it's cool he gets close to someone. Maybe that will make him less douchebag."

I made a face.

"Come on, he's not like that."

"Elie." Reno bugged his eyes at me and I sensed he was about to tell me something serious. "You don't imagine what he demanded for me to guard you." My eyebrows went up with expectation. And surprised I remained as Reno continued. "No touching was his first imposition."

What?

"Oh."

Reno snorted as he saw my reaction.

"He's very possessive over you. Which I can get, in a way. You scream special all over and what you did for him really touched him. Alien attracts alien."

Man. Such a revelation. 'No touching', was he real?

"That's weird." I admitted, as I got my home keys. "Shall we go?"

Reno nodded and off we went.

The ride was completely secretive, inside those vans I was so familiar with. Reno insisted in taking me with cavalry around. 'Just in case', as he told me, to justify his actions.

I couldn't see a thing past those thick, dark glasses.

But once the van came to a stop, I sensed Reno's stare on mine and he spoke, with that smile of his.

"We're here."

I felt my heart pounding, the expectation was too much to bear. My God, I was going to have a blast! Reno helped me out the van and once outside, the first thing I noticed was the smell.

Midgar sure smelled different from the Shinra area. A hot, artificial wind blew, bringing scents of food and spice, and there was light everywhere.

Downtown, my mind concocted.

The night was completely illuminated with the flashes of clubs and bars in an avenue that didn't seem to have an end. It looked neverending, and lots of people passed along, the severity of Turks's presence giving away someone kind of important was around.

That would be me.

"It's here?" I asked with a smile, as my eyes landed on the building with a huge yellow neon Chocobo up on the roof.

Reno nodded at me. His hand landed on my back and I saw him whisper something to Rude, who remained outside, like a guard dog next to the black van. They remained serious as they exchanged words I didn't hear.

Reno took his time standing next to me, urging me to accompany him.

"Let's get inside?"

"Yep." I said, with a smile. "Is there everything okay?"

His eyes met mine and he blinked.

"Perfect, Elie."

I didn't answer, honestly wishing everything was actually perfect, just like he claimed to me. We crossed the street slowly, the line immense. Reno made a sign to the door man and he simply allowed us in.

Well, wasn't this cool being a VIP? The thought amused me, and I wondered if Reno was always this showoff. The music playing was lounge-like, nice and trendy, not excessively loud. At least I could hear myself thinking and talk to Reno without screaming. Which was a plus.

The Chocobo Dance had been an amazing choice.

"You did it." I said, laughing.

"What?" His surprise was genuine and funny to look at.

"You impressed me, Reno!"

He laughed at me.

"Is that a good thing?" He asked, with his joker face all over. "I'm just trying to be a good host."

I shook my head at him.

"And following strict orders."

He eyed me and didn't give himself away. He just ignored my little provocation.

"Let's have fun."

He made a sign with his chin, and we went stairs up to a discreet place. There were green sofas, with an exceedingly nice aspect and a round table. Four people sat in there, and I took my time recognizing who those persons were.

The girls I worked with.

"Hey!"

"You're gorgeous, Elie!"

The compliment made me blush a little, I wasn't used to it.

"You're pretty cool yourselves."

They all laughed, and we took our time adjusting, sitting on those sofas. Reno sat next to me, excusing himself a couple of times to get us drinks.

I smiled with all my will, happy to realize I could actually have a life, a normal existence in this reality.

We talked, talked and laughed for hours.

The girls' company was enjoyable and I had stopped by the third cocktail Reno had brought me. Really, that blue and fuschia thing tasted so sweet it brought tears to my eyes.

Reno drank something from a bottle, similar to a Martini and the girls resumed to shots. Well, I assumed they were the shots in this reality, because they sure drank them that way.

Most of them were already very happy - free from inhibitions.

I felt very warm inside, but I knew my limits. Alcohol was the same in both worlds. Well, at least it had the same effect.

"So, let's have a dance."

Reno's voice invaded my thoughts and my eyes landed on his hand - already prepared to take me away from the seat.

I hesitated.

"I don't dance, Reno."

I saw him bug his eyes at me.

"Come one, this is The Chocobo Dance!" He said, pointing up. I took my time realizing he meant the tune playing. I had to admit, it sped up our senses. Slowly I got up and my left hand slowly landed on his. "Come on, just follow me. The crowd!"

He pointed at the people dancing on the dance floor. It was some sort of choreography that everyone knew by heart, alike the 'Asereje'. I saw Reno exemplify, then the girls followed.

It was so funny it hurt, seeing them so… freed. Yeah, maybe the alcohol had helped a little in that department.

So, a little embarrassed at first, I tried to imitate them. Only to fail completely.

"Come on, you look like a robot!" Reno joked. "Here, let yourself go with the flow."

As the moves followed, I caught the rhythm. It was actually very liberating to dance this way, when everybody moved accordingly.

"It's catchy."

"It is!"

And in between jumps, turns and arms and legs moving with an entertaining beat that shifted and turned for at least half an hour, I actually had lots of fun. In between giggles and sincere laughs, we finally stopped, clapping and cheering the man behind the music. That would be the DJ.

"Boy, that was cool!" I said, in between breaths.

Geez, all this dancing had been harsher than a Zumba lesson. I felt sweaty all over, tired and with adrenaline flowing inside me. And, thanks to my flats, my feet didn't hurt. By the corner of my eye I saw several girls taking their heels off, and I smiled at my nice idea.

Who cared if it didn't look glamorous? All I wanted was to enjoy.

Reno composed himself and we prepared to go upstairs again, towards the niche he had reserved us but then, as the music shifted, I sensed him stop.

He turned and faced me.

"Well, now…"He said, holding me. "…a calm one."

I didn't have much time to react. Reno wasn't pushy in a bad way, but thank God he had told me once he didn't like me in the wrong way or I would be feeling very harassed right now.

"A ballad. Wow." I said, as I landed my hands on his waist. The music was actually slow and calming, notes and instruments soothing the environment, in a tune I hadn't ever heard in my life. As we danced, now so close to Reno, I could sense how thin he actually was. The man was all muscle, lean as I always imagined him to be. Not that 'Advanced Children' hid details of Reno's anatomy.

"Reno, I didn't know you were such a good dancer." I admitted, smiling at him.

"I'm not."

He answered me with a tone he was actually enjoying the compliment.

"Like hell you aren't." I insisted.

"Why thank you."

And with a gentle turn, we shifted positions. We remained dancing, as Reno made funny faces which were hilarious according to the tune playing. I laughed at his mockery. It all went along fine, until I heard him call my name.

"Elie…"

There was a worrying sense of warning on his tone. My eyes traveled to his at once.

"What? What's with that fa-"

I couldn't end the sentence.

There was a dry, whoosh sound coming out of nowhere, and I sensed Reno squirm a little, as if surprised with something.

So close to me, I sensed Reno's breathing peak. Warm humidity invaded the space between us and I blinked, feeling a little bothered.

What the-?

I tried to create some space between us but Reno couldn't respond. As seconds passed by he felt heavier in my arms, and his face… pained.

In that moment panic invaded me.

Something was definitely going on.

"Reno?"

My voice came out like a frail calling and I sensed his arms grab me, urging me to kneel with him.

"Don't move." He ordered, as I sensed wetness all over me. It was warm and viscous, smelled metallic and… in that moment I knew it was blood.

Reno's blood.

I wanted to see what was going on behind him but he didn't let me. Screaming started out of nowhere and I saw armed men invading the area. SOLDIER. What were they doing here?

Their outfit was impossible to miss.

"Ugh…" Reno's soft grump made me turn my attention to him again. His grip on me became feeble and we both collapsed on the floor, the space between us finally opening.

There was blood everywhere. Reno's chest, my dress, my hands and arms.

Reno blinked, tried to control himself, as he lied on the floor, his hand grasping mine.

"Reno…" I couldn't find words to say anything. All I recalled was Zack dying in my arms, and I didn't want to relive that again.

No way.

"Damn." He whispered, with a harsh breath.

"Wh-What happened?" I asked, as people around me screamed and ran. There were SOLDIER shoving people off the area, clearing the premises. Turk were around too and before I could blink, Rude showed up.

"I need paramedics, now." He said, calm, with his eyes on Reno. He talked with someone though a device inside his ear. "We have an injured man on spot. Bullet wound."

I processed the words, tears welling up.

My God. Reno had been shot? Shot, for Christ's sake? I gulped dry as I tried to say something. I didn't know what to do, what to say. Right now, everything felt, sounded, looked like nonsense.

"Make some compression." Rude said, and I took my time understanding he was actually talking at me. There was some thick cloth on his hands and he gave it to me. "Until the medical team arrives."

With trembling hands, I grasped the cloth Rude had handed me and put it on Reno's chest. I pressured the area, Reno squirming as I did so.

"I'm sorry…" I said, as tears fell, and I pressed the cloth on his chest. The tears dotted the clothes and my arms, hands, darkening the blood that would stain my dress forever. "Forgive me…"

"There's nothing to forgive, Elie." He said, his voice feeble. "I sensed that damned presence, aiming."

I closed my eyes shut and a sob escaped me. His bloodied hands touched my forearms and I opened my eyes again, only to see Reno half-smiling as always.

God, I didn't want to lose him.

"He'll need surgery."

The voice talking was recognizable, and I knew immediately Sephiroth was around. His form lingered with Rude, inches of me.

And as I sensed people dressing in white approach me, Reno, someone else crouched next to me.

"You can let go, he's in good hands."

But my trembling, bloody hands didn't want to obey. My eyes were on Reno, who nodded at me, as if giving me permission to do as I was told.

"Don't die." I whispered, a few tears falling. "Please."

My stranded voice seemed to silence everyone around me. No one moved, everybody stared. Rude and the Turks, SOLDIER and the General.

But eventually a pair of huge hands calmly held mine and took me from the place where Reno remained.

The medical team took care of him right there and then, monitors and gurneys, with an arsenal I didn't recognize, taking him away from the club where I now stood… just me and SHINRA's finest.

"We're done here." The General said, half-shielding me from everybody's stares. "We're leaving the area to the experts, don't touch the dead body."

That word had impact on me. My eyes searched his, as I positioned myself next to him now. He turned to face me and I sensed his eyes scanning me - my clothing.

I didn't even imagine how dreadful I must look. My new dress, bloodied all over… Reno shot over the sake of … what?

"Who's dead?" I asked, my voice weak.

The general blinked a couple of times before answering me.

"The man who shot Reno."

"Why?"

His eyebrows went up, and I sensed impatience in him.

"Reno wasn't the target, Elie." He clarified, with a serious tone, as 'You were' passed by unsaid. My heartbeat peaked as reality sank. My God. I had been the target.

"I was." I said, speaking out loud, realizing I was panicking again.

I looked around, my eyes landing on a man on the floor. Static, unmoving, I assumed it was the dead body Sephiroth had mentioned seconds ago.

"Who killed him?" I asked, my stare black.

"I did."

Sephiroth's immediate answer made me close my eyes in despair.

My God.

What had I done - again?