Wow, my first review! Thank you Agatsuma, Ritsuka, hope you grow to like him even more!
Inside the remnant's heart
This was going to be one of those days. Yazoo simply knew it right away, when he woke up to the sound of loud rap beats coming from the stereo in Chad's room. He knew it, when he stood up and realized, that the bathroom was clearly occupied by the above mentioned Chad who was clearly very busy… singing. Yes sir, it was going to be one of those days that meant Yazoo had to go out of his way and DO something about this. How annoying. So, lazily lifting himself from bed, he let his instincts guide him and felt a little bit of his usual confidence resurface, when he walked over to the stereo and changed the disk. Then he simply walked over to the chair closest to the bathroom and waited smile dancing on his lips, listening to "Secret loser" by Ozzy Osbourne and waited for the inevitable music fight. Any time now…
- DUDE!!! – there it was! Success! Chad opened the bathroom door and stepped out, clearly very annoyed. – How many times have I told you not to mingle with the black man's music!!! Hey!
All of a sudden, he had the bathroom door slammed in his face and blinked confusedly a couple of times, looking from the door, that was now locked, to the chair Yazoo was sitting in, just a second ago, dammit!
- Yeah, and how many times have I told you to not leave openings when you're facing a professional assassin? – came from the inside of the bathroom, just before the water began to run. – Listen to the song, man, it's very educative!
- Ha-ha, very funny, Mr. I'm-so-fucking-tough-and-hot- rocker. You'll get it one day, Real Chad tells you, man… You are so gonna get it!
Yazoo wasn't listening anymore, however, as his now ready bathtub drew him in completely and let him forget and ease the worrisome thoughts away. He wasn't good with worry. He wasn't good with sadness, either. Actually, he was pretty sure he wasn't good with emotions as a whole. Surely, that was the whole idea of his design – after all, who'd want an assassin with a conscience and a sympathetic heart. Once in the outside world, however, he had begun to fight this conditioning of his, as he cleverly realized that it would make him stand out from the rest of the population. Rational reasons aside, however, there was an urge inside of him, to break the chains of numbness and apathy that those bastards at Deepground had put him in, not simply to fit in, but to know what it feels like… to really feel. Back in Nibelheim, Nana and Loz where his role models in this area. They were the ones that created that little voice in the back of Yazoo's head that told him that there was more to life than shooting people, and there were other ways to get your rocks off than to beat the living shit out of somebody. But Loz wasn't around now, and Nana was gone…
However, all curses are in their own way… a gift. And on some occasions, Yazoo had learnt to just go with his completely non-dramatic nature, in order to save himself from too much trouble and occasionally from a broken heart. In the case of his sister, he did exactly that. He rationalized, reasoned and that actually saved him from going insane. To him, his sister was gone long before he snapped her neck in the forest. She was trapped inside her sick mind, and needed to be freed from it. In that aspect, Yazoo did indeed turn out to be her angel. The young remnant really hoped that his sister was now in her beloved Good place, perhaps even with Mother, who knows? But for his own good he decided he should leave it at that and move on.
- OH HOLLY FUCKING SHIT!!! – the young remnants thoughts were brusquely interrupted by Real Chad's scream. – Yaz, do you know what time it is, dude? That bitch's gonna fucking castrate us!
Oh, yeah. Since Reno came to the Delivery Service station, Yuffie called Cloud and they both decided it would be best for Yazoo and Chad if they left the old Seventh Haven. The remnant couldn't care less, actually in a way this was a good turn-out for him. This meant he wasn't under the constant scrutinizing and over the shoulder peeping from the young ninja princess. Therefore, he simply overlooked to tell both Yuffie and Chad about his recent recruitment as the Turks' henchman. So he found this little abandoned top-floor suite in one of the less-damaged buildings. It was pretty good, spacious enough and Yazoo fixed the elevator, so that he could take his beloved Shadow Queen motorcycle up with him. But the problem was that their building was almost at the other end of the city from their workplace. But it was too early in the morning for Yazoo to worry, and seeing as the whole point of the bath was to stop him from worrying, he just yelled through the bathroom door:
- You go ahead, man, I need to dry my hair.
- Dude!!! How am I supposed to save your balls when you don't cooperate?
- I trust in your extraordinary acting skills, Chad. Now go out there and make me proud, soldier!
He heard the front door close, and sighed, slipping into the now cooling water up to his chin. Yup, it was going to be one of those days, alright. Maybe after it was over, Yazoo thought with a smile, he could go out with his machine for a night-drive. That always relaxed him a lot. He stood up from the bath with another sigh and began not too quickly to prepare himself for work.
- Well, well, well, if it isn't prince charming, who generously decided to show up and grace us with his presence!
Yazoo blinked and looked down to see one very pissed Yuffie, glaring up at him.
- So now that you are finally here in all your glory, - she continued fuming at him, – perhaps you could shed some light onto the reason for your lateness? Because up until now I have heard over a dozen stories, and if they are all true, my condolences for your mother's death, I am sorry you have lung cancer, oh and my current favorite – you were stopped at a sector check-point and taken to the police station on suspicion of practicing witchcraft! Now would you like to further insult my intelligence?
- I overslept, sorry I'm late. – Yazoo said with a shrug and a mildly amused face and passed the now jumping ninja princess by.
He walked over to the modified bar/ office and began collecting his packages for the day.
- You are up to something no good aren't you? – Yuffie said behind his back, while lifting herself on her toes to try and see over the tall remnant's shoulder.
- Oh, you totally got me, boss, - he said with just a tinge of exasperation in his voice, - I was just about to diabolically and despicably abduct these here defenseless packages and take them to their rightful owners. I am that evil, you know. – he concluded, tilting his head at her. He knew that annoyed her to end, because even though that was not his intention, rather his usual pose, she took it as a silent mockery of her shortness.
- Just you wait one second re… mister! – she shouted after him. – I am coming with you today!
She just received another shrug and that annoying head-tilting and saw the young man return to the bar and come back with another large pile of packages.
- Woah, what are you doing?
- Well, I am going to work hard, because you see, the boss is checking on me today, and I gotta keep my job, you know how it goes. – he said in a hushed conspiratorial voice, dripping with irony.
- GRRRR!!! I am so coming with you, even if it wastes my whole day!
Yazoo just shrugged a third time but this time at Chad who waved around his hands in apology – obviously the witchcraft gig was his idea. The remnant just smiled and gave his friend a wink, saying it was ok. Besides, he really felt like working today, just to take his mind off of things. And for once Yuffie's constant babbling could be of some use.
"And finally there it is! My moment, after a whole day's worth of snappy remarks and constant surveillance from the jumping Wutaian bean. I'm out in the cool night air, riding my beloved queen on the quiet and empty streets of Edge.
Sometimes I think to myself: "Hey you pathetic human bastards, stop sleeping your lives away!" After all, the night is the best time of the whole day.
And I for one am not going to waste it snoozing off in my bed. So I speed up again…
The cool night air felt so good, as he sped up, that he almost didn't notice the stop sign that a cop was waving in front of him. The police was a relatively new thing in Edge, but already the cops where learning how to be another great pain in the ass. Therefore, tired of such pains, Yazoo decided to just stop and be done with it as soon as he could.
- Is there a problem, officer? – he asked, immediately hiding his annoyance behind a fake charming smile.
- Of course there is a problem! Your tail lights are broken! – the man barked at him and walked behind the motorcycle.
- Whatever do you mean, sir, my tail lights are perfectly…
SMASH! Yazoo was interrupted by the sound of the cop's stick breaking the glass of the tail lights.
- Like I said, tail lights are broken… - when the policeman saw Yazoo jump off the motorcycle, obviously in a blood-thirsty mood, he continued, very annoyingly unfazed. – Yes, I was going to ask you to do that. Carl, come over here and take this cycle to the yard.
- What? – Yazoo was desperately fighting the urge to try out his new guns on this idiot's head, while trying to remember, that should he go all remnant evil on the guy, his whole cover would go to waste.
- Oh, yes we are taking this beauty to the penitential parking. Should you want to have her back, you can do so tomorrow, at the address on the act I'm writing to you now. Of course, you will have to pay a fee. – the policeman said, again completely unfazed, as he delivered a small piece of paper to Yazoo, who was wearing a murderous look once more, but now with a hint of resignation.
- Hey, come on now, - he said, trying his best to summon some of his Allure, despite the fact that he would much rather gut the guy with a spoon, than to charm him. – How's a guy supposed to go home at this time of night? I live far away you know…
- Oh, so you're a guy, huh? Never would've guessed, but thanks for clearing up any suspicions on that matter.
- Don't worry, sweetheart, - the one named Carl threw in some more wood to the fire, - I'll escort you home so no bad men can do you any harm. – both stupid coppers went into a laughing fit.
Yazoo just huffed, very annoyed now, and turned on his heels to go, trying to ignore the "witty" remarks the bastard cops where still throwing behind his back.
- Oh, come on, man, drop the long face, you're breaking Real Chaddy's heart like that, - the huge man said, while patting Yazoo's slender back with his big paw. – Ya could always buy ya'self another motorcycle, something second hand maybe…
- I don't want another motorcycle, dude… - the young black-haired man sighed, his shoulders slumping a bit. – My Shadow Queen was like an extension to my soul, if I possess such a thing…
- Yeah, but something must be done, man… I mean… you don't have that kind of money to pay that gynormous fee…
- Something must be done alright… - Yazoo echoed, eyes growing distant for a moment, and then suddenly lighting up. – Oh yeah…
Yazoo was moving stealthily, using to a full extent his feline genes in order not to make a noise, while creeping into the penitential parking lot. While he was rummaging through the paperwork in order to remove all signs of his motorcycle being in this place, his heightened hearing sensed some movement behind his back. Without giving it a second thought, the remnant turned around and jumped against the other intruder, who in turn ended up flat on his back on the floor, with Yazoo sitting in his lap, and wrapping his long fingers around the neck of the other guy. The other guy however, pulled out an electric rod that flashed and after that spark, two gasps could be heard from the two men, as recognition hit them:
- Reno?
- Yazoo?! What the hell are you doin' here, yo? – they looked at each other for a while, until the redhead spoke again. – You feeling comfortable like that again, sweetheart, or do you plan to move so I can stand up?
Yazoo bolted immediately upright, and let Reno stand up and dust off his clothes, all the while hiding a faint blush behind his black tresses, even though it was dark, and the redhead would have never noticed.
- So, you up to something no good, huh? – the redhead grinned, and somehow, the remnant felt a warmth wash through him, instead of the normal annoyance, from hearing that line twice today.
- Just taking back what belongs to me… - Yazoo said, head tilted in the other direction, not facing the Turk.
- Well then, we're in this together, yo! – the redhead let out a small laugh and shifted, so that he could face the remnant, even though he wasn't seeing him well. To the suspiciously lifted eyebrow he received from the other guy, Reno continued. – You know, I heard that some coppers where a pain in your pretty little ass, taking your motorcycle and shit… So I decided to play the cowboy again…
- Oh? Is that so? – Yazoo felt like returning a bit of the teasing to the redhead for good measure. – My stalker is my guardian angel – lucky me! – he winked at Reno, but then returned his serious composure, once again mentally kicking himself for being so strangely giddy around the Turk. – Alright, so you're in… Don't get in my way, and don't make a noise, babbling Turk…We're doing this my way!
Reno swallowed his snappy remark in order to salvage his pride. He was no babbling idiot! Damn that remnant! Who did he think he was? – Amongst other things, those were the thoughts that occupied the redhead's mind, until Yazoo came to a stop in the parking lot, and Reno snapped out of it, just before bumping into the remnant's rear. The slender one was paying no heed however, as he knelt in front of a huge black motorcycle and placed his hand on the front wheel, as if preparing to pledge servitude to a princess:
- Hey, honey, did you miss me? – he said with a loving and silky tone to his voice, that Reno had never before heard from the guy. – Don't worry, baby, I've come to save you!
He then stood and went over to mount the motorcycle and patted one hand to the seat behind him.
- Come on, Turk, we ain't got all night. – Reno felt almost jealous that the tone used for him was cold and harsh, with a tinge of mockery. But then he shook it off and mounted behind Yazoo, wrapping his arms maybe a little too tightly around the other's thin waist.
Yazoo again seemed not to notice the redhead's actions, and revved up the engine. He then turned suddenly to Reno, screaming over the roar of the machine.
- Hey, Turk, head or tails?
- Wha-?
- Come on, just pick one – head or tails?
- Um… Head I guess?
- You know, Turk, - Yazoo turned forward again, almost as if he didn't want the other to hear the rest of the sentence, yet cried out loud – I'm kinda beginning to like you! Woah!
The machine jumped forward so suddenly, Reno worried a bit about breaking the remnant in two. However, having barely overcome the slight uneasiness from the sudden departure, the redhead outright shrieked, when he saw the huge metal fence they were going against with such a speed. However, about a meter or two from the fence, Yazoo hit the breaks so hard, the machine swirled over forward. Reno's ears where ringing from the force of the motion and the wind against his face, as the only sound he could hear, besides the ringing, was the remnant's loud maniacal laughter. They landed finally on the other side of the fence, in front of an old man, who appeared to be the parking lot manager. Yazoo just couldn't help himself, so he forced the engine in front of the bewildered old man and gave out a loud "woah", before disappearing with Reno in the back into the dusty cloud the motorcycle created.
- Head, yo?!? HEAD!!! Fucking hell, man, you're insane!
- Oh yes, I am – the remnant screamed back, a huge grin and a malicious gleam dancing on his face.
Reno insisted on coming all the way to Yazoo's new apartment, and even though the Turk continued to ramble on about how completely insane the remnant was, it was more or less evident he had too enjoyed the ride. Standing in front of the elevator doors, the redhead smiled and said:
- So that's her majesty, the love of your life, huh?
- You could say that, - Yazoo answered, - however, I do like other things too…
- Oh, really? – before he could stop himself, the redhead babbled out – Are some of the other things human?
- One is… - the remnant replied, gaze still dazed from the drive and adrenaline making him high, while the memory of Reno's hands around him was breaking down his guard.
- You don't say, yo… - Reno looked thoughtful for a moment, before he grinned wide and made a step forward. – So I don't have a chance, huh?
- Why, Turk, you should've noticed by now, that I do like you… - the remnant continued, as if in a trance, staring at the Turk's blue eyes, that were coming closer to his face now.
- Oh yeah? And how'm I supposed to know that, yo?
- Well, you're still alive, aren't you? – Yazoo winked, and then shook his head and pushed the top floor button.
- So that's how it is, huh… - the redhead whistled, when he stepped back from the closing doors and mumbled to himself. – Will see if we can keep that up, sweetheart…