Reno's p.o.v:

I stared at the ceiling fan above my desk, watching as it swirled stale air round and round my stack of paperwork. Flicking my eyes to the left, I saw Rude push up his sunglasses as he flew through his work. Didn't even stop to look up and roll his eyes at me. I huffed a bit and picked up my pen, trying to return my focus to the paperwork from my mission yesterday. Managing to get half the stack done, my focus decided to break again and I put the pen down, groaning in frustration.

If the rest of my week is anything like today, I think I'm gonna lose whatever's left of my sanity. Come to think of it, there wasn't really much of my sanity left to start with. I'm pretty sure most of it got drained away in what i call my "childhood." I only put that in quotes because I never really had much of one to begin with. Mostly, it was a bitter time filled with sorrow, death, bloody fights, and many things I regret, even to this day.

"what's wrong?"

I nearly turned paper white as I saw Rude had rolled his chair over next to my desk. "Wha the fuck Rude? How did I not notice that?"

Rude shrugged.

I rolled my eyes. "forget it, whaddaya want?"

Rude cleared his throat nervously.

"you were worried about me. What for?"

Rude took off his sunglasses. "You were staring off into space. You had that scared look on your face. Last time you had that look on your face was when I had found you after your parents died."

I stopped drumming on my desk and stared at Rude with a helpless, draining feeling. Multiple emotions started to run their frigid way through my veins. Fear, dread, and pain ran their combined courses through my head. I tried not to think about too much. But when I did, I swear I could still hear her screamin', still see her reaching out...

"Reno?"

I almost jumped out of my skin when I saw Tseng glaring at me with nearly soulless coal eyes. "Yea bossman?"

Tseng rolled his eyes, clearing his throat. "Why were you distracting Rude from his work? You know how valuable our time is and that it should be spent working."

My jaw hit the floor. "What the fuck do you mean I'm distracting him? He was concerned about me and rolled himself over."

Rude walked over and started talking quietly to Tseng.

Tseng blanched but remained calm. "Very well. Reno, just make sure you get back to work."

I watched him as he left. My face fell.

Rude hummed, tapping his desk.

I chuckled. "I know, gotta get back to work. But I will agree, he is kinda an asshole."

Rude laughed and said no more.

I heaved a sigh and returned to my work, about to break my pen. Today was gonna be just horrible, I know it. But then again, it could be completely harmless that Tseng knows about my parents. He probably read through my file or some shit like that. But what if he knows more than what I think he's saying he knows? What if he knows the full story and is gonna shame me with it later? The more I thought it over, the more paranoid I became.

Stopping my work for a moment, I leaned back and rubbed the bridge of my nose. This was gonna be one of those weird days, I just know it in the aching pile of bones that is me. The fact that Tseng may have an idea of what my parents did for a living was starting to become a bit unnerving. The memories I have left of what my parents did sent shivers down my slightly emaciated spine. What? I never told this part of my life? My ma was dealing marijuana and cocaine while she was pregnant with me, and still was up until she died when I was 14. My father(if I can even call him that) did something much worse in my opinion. He bought and sold slaves to President Shin-Ra on several occasions to help my ma pay for me up until he died. Then I was turned loose on the world and that was almost a disaster. Come ta think of it, he did mention someone named Tseng...

Almost falling over in my chair, my heart nearly sank to the bottom of my stomach. I was praying to every single god that I don't believe in that the boy my father mentioned was not my boss. Nervously, I started to shake a bit. Maybe I should ask him. Nah, that would just make things real awkward. As if there wasn't enough of that already...

My phone buzzing in my pocket snapped me out of my train of thought. My soul froze for two seconds when I saw it was a text from Tseng. 'My office immediately. Thank you.' I groaned in frustration for a moment. Always has to be so fucking polite. I grabbed my finished work and started for Tseng's office. With every few steps, I had to stop so I didn' drop my folders. 'I really need to invest in some sort of bag.' Reaching Tseng's office, I placed my folders on a nearby table and knocked quietly. Hearing a "come in please" from the other side, I picked up my folders and pushed the door open.

Well, I can see he doesn't like change all too much. Everything is the exact same from the last time I was in here for something stupid(which I believe was last Tuesday.) I dropped my work in my basket and sat down, waiting for Tseng to finish. Honestly, I have no clue how the fuck he stays so organized. I think I'd lose the rest of my sanity trying to keep track of everything on my desk. My head started to throb a little, but that's okay. Tseng was still so absorbed in his work, I doubt if he even knew I had walked in.

"You're late Sinclair."

I look at the clock. "Sir, I arrived ten minutes before you said to arrive."

Tseng looked up immediately. "Two things. One: why?, and two: why didn't you say anything?"

I fold my hands in my lap, focusing on the Shin-Ra logo behind him. "you said to come immediately, and I didn' wanna disturb ya while ya were workin' Sir."

Tseng dropped his pen on his desk. "Two more things. When do you ever listen, and when have you ever cared about disturbing someone?"

I gave him a straight face. "Since last month Sir."

Tseng actually chuckled at that. "Great to know Reno."

"What did you want to see me for Sir?" I have the sudden urge to light a cigarette.

Tseng sighed. "Well I guess I can't put it off."

I cocked my head. "Put what off Sir?"

Tseng folded his hands in front of his face. "I read the file on your parents."

My face automatically drains of any color, and I reach into my pocket to light a cigarette to calm myself down. "So what the fuck do ya want to know?"

Tseng sighed a little. "I'm just curious."

I blew the smoke right in his face. "Well keep your fucking curiosity to yerself."

I got up and walked right out of his office and grabbed my bag, heading straight for the elevator. I'm glad Elena and Rude didn' try to stop me, cause I probably would've knocked them both out. I have never wanted to get out of Shin-Ra as much as I do right now. I shut off my phone, I don't wanna hear from Tseng's snobbish ass. Maybe I'll come in ta work tomorrow, I don't know. I he doesn't understand why, he can shove it up his ass. As I'm getting closer to ground, my head is a swimming mess of jumbled thoughts. Why'd Tseng even read about my parents. Why is it any of his concern? What my parents did shouldn't apply to me at all. I am my own person and my actions should speak for themselves. But then again, considering how my week has been, they probably aren't saying much of anything positive. I almost walk into the door of 7th Heaven, and I sigh in annoyance. I hope Cloud isn't there. I don't want to punch anyone else in the face, at least not today anyway. I sit at the counter and hope that Tifa is working today. She likes me, unlike that fucking rain-cloud that lives with her.

"What the fuck are you doing here?"

Oh great. Thanks God. I clear my throat. "Hello there Cloud."

Cloud's eyes look like they were set on fire. 'i thought I said you couldn't be here."

I laughed and leaned in a bit. "You don't own the bar, so that ain't yer decision ta make. That's Tifa's, and she likes me, unlike you ya sad sack."

Cloud grabs me by the collar and hurls me to the ground, right at Tifa's feet. "Get the fuck out of here, you fucking scumbag of a Turk!"

Tifa helped me up, brushing me off. "Are you alright Reno?"

I smiled at her. "Yea, I'm alright hun."

I heard Cloud run at me, so I ducked and decked him right in the jaw. "As fer yer sad sack of a roommate, I think he should learn some manners."

Rather than cry right there, I kicked him as hard as I could, smiling when I heard some ribs crack. I scrambled out of there, running all the way back to my apartment. I was completely out of breath and not any better than I was before. I walk into my bedroom and scream in total frustration, punching my mirror out. I wanna rip my fucking hair out, I wanna break someone's fucking bones, I want this to stop! I sigh and try to calm myself down, this was getting ridiculous. I take my jacket and shirt off, kicking my shoes in a corner and doing my ponytail, letting my hair cascade in waves. I look over the bruises I had acquired in all the fights I had gotten into. I swear, my temper has been a lot worse these days.

I plop down on my bed and hug my moogle pillow, crying quietly. Not like anyone would hear me. Nor would anyone bother caring about it anyway. I hear a knock on my front door, but I don't pay attention to it, continuing to cry to myself. I start to freak out a bit when I hear a knock on my bedroom door. I hope that isn't Cloud, I'll beat his fucking brains in.

"Reno? Its me Tifa."

I wipe my reddened eyes and walk to my door, letting Tifa in. "Hey Tifa."

Tifa gave me a big hug, and I wince a bit. "I'm so sorry about what happened."

I shrugged. "That's fine. I'm perfectly fine to hate. It honestly doesn't bother me as much as it used to."

Tifa hugged me tighter. "that's no reason to attack you."

I sniffled. "Most people don't even care, they just go at me."

Tifa starts to rub my back, running a hand through my hair. I groan a little bit in relaxation, shifting a bit so I was a bit more comfortable. I sit there in Tifa's ample chest and just let my troubles melt. Today was simply an utter wreck. Tifa and Rude were the only two things good in this entire day. Tifas helped patch me up, laying me down underneath my covers and pulling up a chair. I don't know how long she was there, but I fell asleep to her beautiful voice.

-End-