Chapter Sixteen

Elena changed out of her suit and into more comfortable clothing. She then headed back out into the training area, giving a wave as Reno arrived. After lunch the redhead had gone to talk to Aura and clear up any misunderstanding that had happened. Apparently he had been successful, as he had returned happier than he had been for most of the day.

"You ready, yo?" he asked.

"More than ready." She replied, heading toward him on the mat in the centre of the room.

"Right. Let's see what you've still got, Rookie."

Elena faced him, waiting. She watched as Reno took on a defensive position and then grinned at her. She flung herself at him. He was faster than she anticipated, which was stupid because he had always been fast and she knew that. Before she had had time to even regain her balance to try again, Reno had given her a hard kick in the ribs and she was flung away from him. "Ow." She grunted, rubbing her ribs as she glared at him.

"Gotta be faster than that." He told her.

"Clearly."

She stalked back to the centre of the mat where he was now waiting for her again. "What else you got?" He asked.

Elena darted forward, this time using her fists. Reno ducked and wove and avoided all of her blows, blocking her with his forearm before she could land one powerful one to the side of his head. She growled in frustration, sure that she would have gotten that one in. "Who taught you that move, Rookie?" he asked. She growled again, and he just laughed. "Come on…" he taunted, "Didn't Tseng give you anything the other day?"

"Besides a beating?" She asked, moving back only to dart forward again.

"Well, I know that's probably not what you wanted him to give you…"

She let out a shriek of outrage and leaped at him. Astonishingly, she managed to take Reno by surprise and wrap her limbs tightly around him, taking them both to the floor. His shocked grunt was enough to fire Elena further and she set about trying to pin him to the mat.

"Is this how you treat Tseng?" He asked, flipping her off himself. Elena lay on her back on the mat, knowing that she was flushed scarlet. She just hoped that Reno thought that was due to her exertions. In an instant, Reno was on his feet and looking down at her. "Come on." He extended a hand and she took it, allowing him to pull her to her feet. "We're gonna work on your reactions."

Elena wondered what he had in mind as she was directed to stand in front of one of the empty walls. When Reno held up a small metallic disc, she frowned. Those things stuck to whatever they were thrown at and gave a small electric shock. Of course, Reno loved them.

Without warning, Reno threw one at her. Elena tried to dodge, but took it in the shoulder. Giving a small yelp, she slapped it away and turned to give Reno the nastiest look she could muster. "We're really going to play this game?" She asked.

"Sure are, yo." He grinned, before flinging another disc at her. Elena managed to dodge this one, and was just about to actually give him a reply when three more discs came her way. Without thinking she leaped into the air, twisting away. When she landed, she gave a laugh and looked back to Reno.

"Did you see that?" She asked, "That was awesome."

Reno just gave a slight inclination of his head and began throwing the discs at her more quickly. Elena was silenced, trying to avoid all of them. She ended up crouched on her hands and knees, short of breath.

"Well, you still have some speed, Laney." Reno told her, coming forward. "Reckon you just need to keep up your training."

"Yeah…" She murmured, trying to get her breath back. "Or just have some Sadist throw electricity at me every day."

"Well, all you have to do is ask." He smirked. "Next time I may even get creative."

"I don't think I'd enjoy that."

"Probably not." He moved away, "Though you might if Tseng did it."

Elena turned away before he could see any reaction she might give. "I am going to shower."

"Sure thing, Laney.

Tseng found Reno striding up a hallway, looking rather self-satisfied. "Reno…"

"Yeah, Boss?" The redhead came to a halt before him, still grinning. It was distracting. "I… what are you so pleased about?"

"Just had a training session with Elena." Reno said. Tseng immediately thought back to his last training session with Elena, and was thankful for his darker complexion as he felt his skin grow warm.

"How was it?" He asked, "How is Elena doing?"

"Well, I bet she found it electrifying." Reno smirked and Tseng raised an eyebrow.

"You didn't use your EMR…"

"Nah, not that."

Tseng watched as Reno rolled a small metallic disc between his fingers. "I see."

"Maybe you should take the next session with her." Reno continued, "She's probably had enough of me for the next few days at least."

"It's good to see that Elena is trying to maintain her skills." He said simply. Reno just nodded, those strange Mako Eyes seeing everything as they watched him. Tseng tried to remember what he had been looking for Reno for. "I have a job for you."

"Fire away, Sir."

Reno stepped back into the shadows as the group moved past him. They didn't see him, and he knew that they wouldn't. Tseng had instructed him to tail various people who were thought to be involved in the pathetic little group responsible for the attacks on ShinRa. He had gone to that little pub where Elena had been drugged, and had followed a few of them when they had left in a small group. From what he could tell, they didn't seem very organised, which irritated him as it went to show just how far ShinRa had fallen. Back before everything had happened, they would have crushed this little irritation like a bug. They would have been all too easy to step on. Now, ShinRa just didn't have the manpower or anything like the resources they had had before.

As the group Reno was following went into a large warehouse-like building, he settled back against a shadowy wall to wait. The temperature had been dropping steadily since nightfall and he could just about smell rain on the air. Hoping fervently that it would hold off until he was able to get indoors, he rubbed his hands together, trying to regain at least some warmth. He had intended to take some dinner over to Aura's house this evening in an attempt to make up for what he had said earlier. Honestly, how could she have thought he would ever think she wasn't gorgeous?

Shifting slightly, Reno tried to get his mind back to his job. It just wouldn't do to have his targets slip away unnoticed.

About fifteen minuted later, they came back out. Reno counted quickly. There were two more of them, now. Sticking to the shadows, Reno followed them back to the pub. Looking up at the sign that hung above the door, Reno made a face. The Wandering Weapons. That conjured an image he wasn't all that impressed by. He waited a few moments after the group had gone inside before he followed them.

Tilting his head, Reno reassessed the place. It wasn't the same as the last time he had been here. There were now several long tables up the outside of the large room, and there appeared to be several families seated at them having dinner. Trying to look as if he wasn't surprised, Reno cast a nonchalant glance about the place and then headed for the empty seats at the actual bar. Sliding onto a stool he turned to face the man behind the bar. He looked about Reno's own age, had honey coloured eyes and brown hair.

"What's up, yo?"

"Nothing much. What can I get for you?"

"I'll have a beer, thanks." Reno half turned on his stool to look the place over again, "I didn't know you guys did dinners here…"

"Sure do." The guy replied, putting a bottle in front of Reno. "You need anything else?"

"I'm good, yo."

He watched the man smile, then head out from behind the bar to take a seat at one of the long tables. Reno stared, unable to breathe. The guy had seated himself next to Aura. She did a double take when she spotted him, but had then turned to smile as the barkeep sat beside her. What was she doing here? Had she been given some sort of assignment like he had? But she wasn't a trained Turk. She couldn't have been. So, then what she doing here?

Reno found it difficult to stay on his stool, and even harder to pretend he wasn't watching the table intently. He tried to turn his attention to conversations that were happening nearby in an attempt to learn anything of use, but his efforts proved fruitless. His focus continued to return to Aura at the table.

He watched, surreptitiously, as they ate dinner. Frowning, Reno watched as the guy next to Aura slipped an arm around the back of her chair. Did she know this joker? Turning quickly back to the bar, Reno arranged his face into a neutral expression.

Reno kept himself facing the bar for the next ten or so minutes. "What are you doing here?" Aura asked, suddenly beside him. He turned his head to look at her.

"I was gonna ask you the same question." He growled. Aura just looked at him.

"This is my neighbourhood, yo."

""You know what I mean."

"You should say what you mean."

Reno ran a hand through his hair in frustration. "You know I didn't mean what I said earlier. Not the way you took it."

"You told me that you'd never touch me." She whispered, clearly trying not to be overheard, "What other way is there to take that?"

"That I wouldn't take advantage of you." He said through clenched teeth, "Not that you aren't appealing." She just looked him up and down. "What are you doing here, Aur?"

"Having dinner." She said simply, "With… friends…" He raised an eyebrow at her.

"You done with that drink?" The barkeep guy was now behind the bar again and was looking questioningly at Reno.

"Yeah, thanks." He nodded as the guy offered a second.

"This is Cadan." Aura said, waving a hand across the bar.

"Yeah, hi…?" Cadan looked at him expectantly.

"Reno."

"Reno… you look familiar…"

"I been around, yo." Reno said, smiling widely.

"Mmm…" Cadan's eyes flickered back and forth between Reno and Aura. "You two know each other?"

"Yeah. We go way back." Reno replied, grinning when Aura cast a glance at him.

"I see."

"Say," Reno said brightly, "How do you two know each other?" He pretended he didn't notice the look Aura gave him.

"Aura helped us when my sister hurt herself." Cadan said, smiling at Aura. Reno wanted to punch him in the face.

"Ain't that great?" Reno turned to look at Aura. He had no problem reading the look in her eyes, and he just smiled more widely.

"It was great." Cadan continued, "You meet great people when you least expect it." Reno resisted rolling his eyes.

"So, Aur," He said, "You need me to walk you home?"

"I'm not done, Reno." She replied, and Reno clenched his teeth again.

"I'll walk her when she's ready." Cadan put in.

"There, you see." Aura said, "I'll be perfectly fine." Reno looked at her, not knowing what to do. He knew that he wasn't going to learn anything useful here tonight, and that he should leave, but he also knew that he didn't want to leave Aura here with Cadan. It seemed he didn't have a choice, however.

"Fine…" He said softly. "Fine. I'll see you later…" He got to his feet.

"See you later." She said, watching him.

"Nice to meet you." Cadan told him. Reno gave a slight wave as he headed for the door.

Tseng was going to be annoyed at him. He hadn't discovered very much for an evening's work. At least now he had the name of the owner of The Wandering Weapons. Though, any fool could have found that out from nearly anybody. It didn't have to be while discovering Aura on a date with the guy. Was that what it had been? It had better not have been. Did she know the guy was involved in terrorist actions? She had to. She'd been the one to tell him that meetings were rumoured to be held there. What did she think she was doing?

It was about an hour later, as Reno stood in the shadows of Aura's garden, that she appeared on the street. He scowled when he saw Cadan walking beside her. Remaining still, Reno watched as they walked up the garden path to the front door. His lip curled as Cadan's hand moved up Aura's arm. He watched as the guy moved closer to Aura, leaning toward her and dipping his head. Aura turned her face away and Reno watched as Cadan pressed a kiss to her cheek. Reno resisted a laugh at that, and watched as Cadan turned and headed back up the street. Aura fiddled for her keys for a few moments before unlocking her door.

"Reno." She then said flatly. He moved toward her, out of the shadows.

"How'd you know I was there?" he asked.

"I know you." She said simply, heading inside. Reno followed her.

"You do know who that guy is?" He asked, sitting on her couch.

"I'm not stupid, Reno."

"I know that…" He replied, "So what in the name of Shiva?"

Aura stood in front of him. "What were you doing there?" She asked.

"I had a job! I was sent there to find something ShinRa could use."

"And did you?"

"Not really. All I got was your boyfriend's name." The hurt look that she gave him cut at him, and Reno let out a sigh. "Come here…" he pat the couch beside himself and Aura sat down. Wrapping his arm around her shoulders, Reno pulled her closer. "I'm sorry." He murmured, "For everything I've said to you today." He felt Aura relax against him, resting her head on his shoulder.

"I miss you." She said softly. "I see you all the time now, but it's different."

"I know."He replied, holding her gently, "We'll have to work on that."

Reno rubbed Aura's arm softly. He had more questions for her, and more to tell her about how she should be careful with Cadan, but he didn't want to fight with her anymore. He just wanted this. To be able to sit and hold her, and know she was safe. So, for once in his life, Reno held his tongue.

Author's Note:

Thanks to those awesome lovelies who always leave a review. xx