Chapter 74

Tseng watched silently while Elena talked excitedly in Aura's ear. He didn't know what the topic of conversation was but, judging from the way that Elena's large dark eyes kept flicking his way, he suspected that it was him. He suddenly met Aura's strange mako gaze and when he found her looking at him, she gave a quick smile and looked away. Elena gave a visible laugh and leaned into her friend, and Tseng tilted his head, wanting to know what was being said despite himself.

He looked instead to Reno who was eyeing the dancefloor with interest. "You don't usually sit for this long…"

"Yeah," Reno's eyes flicked to meet Tseng's own. An instant later they had moved on to Aura before back to Tseng.

"How out of character…"

"Says the man who doesn't dance…" Reno raised an eyebrow at him, "And yet now I have seen your groove, yo." Tseng lifted his chin. He should have known that he would have been closely watched out there with Elena, but she had been the only thing that he was thinking about, the only thing that had mattered in that moment. Reno was looking at him with a penetrating stare, and Tseng had the distinct impression that the other man could read his thoughts. "Hey, good for you."

"What do you mean?" Tseng thought he knew exactly what Reno meant, but he didn't know if he was ready to admit that. Reno just gave a half shrug and shifted to drape an arm around Aura's shoulders. Tseng watched as the girl looked around and up at Reno, gave a smile, and looked back to Elena who was saying something now behind her hand. Aura grinned more widely and Tseng wished they'd turn the music down so that he could hear what was being said. He was definitely old, he decided. To sit in a place like this and think that the music was too loud…

When Reno bent toward Aura, bringing his lips to her ear, Tseng tried to lipread what he'd whispered to her, but didn't quite catch whatever it was. The look Aura gave the man in return clearly said "If you insist…" and Tseng watched as she got to her feet, slipping past Elena on her way onto the dancefloor, followed closely by a grinning Reno. He watched them as Aura turned to face Reno out on the floor, and the redhead pulled her closer to himself as they moved immediately into some clearly well-practiced routine. Unable to stop watching, Tseng continued to observe as Reno's arm snaked around Aura and he held her close, utterly sure of himself and without reservation.

Glancing briefly at Elena, Tseng found himself disappointed. He knew that he didn't actually know what his relationship with Elena was just yet, and he knew that it wasn't anything like the bond that Reno and Aura had shared for so long. He knew that he was nowhere near as expressive as Reno was, and that he would never be somebody who enjoyed public displays of affection, but Tseng found himself wondering if he would ever have the freedom to choose. He was surprised that Rufus Shinra hadn't punished Reno more thoroughly for his lies, and he was surprised that Reno had been given freedom and time off at all, let alone with permission to go to Costa Del Sol with Aura. Things really were different now, and apparently that included their boss. Did that include the restrictions on his employees too, then? If Reno was free to be with Aura like this, then what new possibilities were there for the rest of them? Tseng's eyes moved over Reno and Aura again before going back to Elena. It would have been forbidden a year ago… but now? Tseng didn't even know what he was considering. What had he and Elena even been doing? Had it been just fucking or was there something else? Was that even what he wanted? What did he want? What did Elena want? He eyed her thoughtfully, and was almost startled when she looked back at him.

"You want to dance again?" She asked, a small smile playing across her lips. Tseng shook his head, and almost regretted it when disappointment flashed across her face for a moment before it was gone. "Okay…"

"I… was thinking maybe we go somewhere else…"

"Oh?" Elena met his eyes, "Where? Your place?"

"Or… yours…" Tseng said softly. They hadn't been to her apartment yet. He wondered if it might give him some more insight into whatever it was that they were doing.

"Mine? Yeah, okay." She nodded slowly, and then paused, "…Now?"

"Yes."

"Okay… Let me just say goodbye to Aura, because I wont see her until they come back." Elena got to her feet and hurried away from the table and Tseng turned his eyes on Rude who had been sitting silently for some time now.

"…Are you going to stay?" Tseng asked the big man.

"Yes." Rude gave a single nod, "Tifa asked me to stay until after she closed…"

Tseng couldn't keep his eyebrows from lifting at that news. "Oh… So… There's been some progress…" Anything other than Rude staring longingly across the bar at the woman had to be good progress.

"There will be."

Stepping away from the table, Tseng nodded. "I will see you tomorrow, then." Rude merely raised his glass in a salute by way of parting and Tseng turned to find Elena. She was waiting for him by the door before they slipped outside and, as she took his hand to pull him along up the street, her dark eyes locked onto his face.

"You sure you want to come to my place?" She asked him, and Tseng nodded.

"You've been to mine." He said, "It has been a while since I saw yours…"

"Yours is nicer than mine…"

"I don't care."

"Alright."

Tseng let Elena lead him all the way home, trying to sort his thoughts out while he waited for her to open her front door. When they were inside, he stood by the door while she moved around, turning lights on and shifting things from benches. He didn't know, he realised. He didn't know what this was, or what he wanted it to be. He wasn't naïve enough to think that he was in love with her, but he was interested in continuing whatever this was.

Shrugging out of his jacket, Tseng folded it neatly and hung it over the back of a chair. Elena was looking at him uncertainly from the entrance to the kitchen and he folded his hands together silently as he met her eyes. "… do… you want anything to drink…?" she asked and he shook his head. Elena bit her lip then, still watching him and Tseng looked pointedly toward the hallway he knew led to her bedroom. He remembered the night he'd brought Elena home when she'd been drugged, and he had carried her up that hallway to find her bedroom and put her to bed. As he moved toward the hallway, Tseng eyed the couch. That was where he had slept once he had put Elena in her bed and unzipped her dress so she would be more comfortable. That was not where he was going to be sleeping tonight.

Reno eyed his bag. Packing had never been difficult for him in his life. He always just threw whatever clothing he would need while he was away in his bag, and off he went. Why was he having trouble now? Stalking across his bedroom, he turned and threw another displeased look at the bag lying half full on his bed. He'd put a week's worth of clothing in the bag, as well as the book he was halfway through reading. Several toiletries and styling products had gone in next, and that was where he'd hit a snag. What else would he need?

Raking his fingers through his hair, Reno realised that he'd never packed for a trip like this before. Sure, he had gone to Costa Del Sol before, and he'd been away on trips where he was meant to just relax and do nothing, but not like this. He wanted to be prepared for whatever they would need. He didn't want to forget anything. To be prepared, one needed a plan. Reno did not have a plan.

They would obviously be spending time on the beach. He went to his linen closet and took two beach towels out, before tucking them neatly into his bag. Adding lotion for when Aura would undoubtedly get sunburned with her pale skin, he tried to imagine what else they would be doing.

He knew exactly what else they would be doing. Reno eyed the top drawer of his bedside table uncertainly. He wondered what Aura might think if he brought a few things they might use together for a little fun. Although things had been progressing steadily in the bedroom between them, Reno had not yet broached the idea of toys. He did not know how that might be received. Aura was usually pretty open to his ideas and suggestions, although, she was oftentimes suddenly shy and uncertain and he never knew which it would be. It couldn't hurt, he decided, if he packed a few just in case. It was never wrong to be prepared.

Moving quickly to his bedside table, Reno pulled the draw open and spent a few moments deciding on what would be best. Putting several pieces into a small case, he then tucked it into his bag and zipped everything closed. There was nothing else he needed, he decided. Apart from snacks. They would need snacks.