Author's Note: Normally, I don't update quite this quickly, but I know the prologue was really more of a teaser. Sincere thanks to my one reviewer! (Seriously though, Hojo shoots Reno, and it gets one review? What's up with that?!). This chapter is a little long, but really sets up the story...bear with me - it does get better :)
Chapter One:
Life Among Darkness
"All of this time, I can't believe I couldn't see.
Kept in the dark, but you were there in front of me."
"Yeah, it'll take a few more hours, but tell him I'll be done today," she said impatiently, before hanging up the phone. Elena looked around, wiping sweat from her forehead as she took a deep breath. The lab had been built as a part of the Neo-ShinRa building years ago. This time, Hojo had insisted on having his lab in the basement level rather than an upper floor. She supposed it was quieter down here – not as many passersby and much further from the landing pad. It hadn't made sense to her why he made such a fuss about this particular area – something about specific ventilation or some other nonsense. Hojo had always had his quirks and usually managed to get his way.
It had surprised her that Rufus had allowed the scientist to remain a part of the new company in the first place. The young president was well aware of the sharp genius of the professor – even if it did sometimes border on madness. But in the end, he had determined that, though Hojo's work was both distasteful and entirely unethical, the scientist had not done anything that was pointedly against ShinRa's policies at the time, in most cases actually working under his father's direct instructions, and therefore was entitled to retain his position. Actually, since Meteorfall, the professor had been relatively helpful in establishing a new form of energy, but had mostly spent his time holed up in his new lab, studying cell regeneration.
Still, it seemed amazing that he could have this much in his lab. Cleaning up Hojo's lab was going to be more than a chore, but nothing a seasoned Turk couldn't handle. Half of the jam-packed filing cabinets had been emptied into boxes already, and another hour should finish that. Deciding she had enough paper cuts for the time being, Elena decided to start cleaning out the bookcase on the other side of the wall. They were mostly Gast's research journals during the earliest stages of the Jenova Project, collected shortly after Meteorfall from the basement of the ShinRa Manor. Absently, dirt-coated fingers reached for the top shelf, and began stacking them, plumes of musty powder tickling her nose as she stirred the dust.
Finally, she stopped, choking and hacking as she finished the first shelf. She sneezed, grumbling quietly as she packed the journals away. The Turk didn't worry too much about organizing the journals and other books – they didn't have much of a use anymore. After all, President ShinRa had banned any experimentation involving Mako – or humans, for that matter – shortly after Meteorfall. And that included the Jenova Project.
Elena's mind trailed as dust settled and she reached for the next shelf, holding breath deep inside her chest so she didn't get lost in another coughing fit. Slender digits traced trails in the thick layers of dust as she pulled each spine free, particles sticking to her skin like a second layer, but she paid it no mind as she stacked them into another box, only briefly hoping it wouldn't be too heavy to lift. She sighed as the dust settled and she took a much needed breath.
It had been nothing short of a scientific mystery that the deranged scientist had survived his Jenova and Mako injections during the battle against AVALANCHE – and even more unreal that he'd thrived for nearly nine years after. Yet, in the end, the tumor that caused his sudden digression had been his own fault – linked indefinitely to overexposure to tainted Mako and other chemicals. It had eventually become too painful to watch…the violent thrashing brought on by seizures, the incoherent mutters, the hacking and choking on blood, darting eyes that lost focus somewhere between him and the crowd of medics that lingered over him. Elena shuddered, tearing her mind from the events of two weeks prior.
Two more shelves to go. She sighed as she yanked another book free from the shelving, letting it smack against the one in the top of the box as she dropped it. Meanwhile, the others were out serving the public – testing old reactors and inspecting Wind Turbines. But she was worrying about running out of boxes and storage space; Rufus could have at least sent someone to help her.
Suddenly, something caught Elena's eye. On the very edge of the bookcase, a crevice could be seen; she traced it all the way up to the ceiling and back down to the floor. She examined it, eyes never leaving it as she hesitantly placed the books and journals on the floor. Tracing the crease with her finger, she tried to push the shelving aside for a better look; the furniture didn't budge. Elena sighed. It looked like some kind of secret doorway, but… 'Maybe the other way?' Elena thought. With all of her might she pushed. Again, the bookcase didn't give.
However, Elena was determined. On her hands and knees, she examined the surrounding area for a button, a secret tile – something…but a search of the entire lab turned up nothing. 'I guess it's just something in the drywall…' The blonde Turk shook her head, brushing golden tresses from her brow. Defeated, Elena sighed, and went back to packing up files. Another hour finished the remaining filing cabinets in the lab, and she went over her mental checklist of to-dos. There were four more cabinets in Hojo's office that had to be emptied, not to mention the crammed bookshelves and unorganized desk drawers, and then the lab would be ready for the new professor. Cerulean eyes glimpsed her watch; she might not finish today, after all.
His office was a mess – just like the lab he left behind. Files were strewn on the desk and stacked on the floor – not to mention filled the four cabinets. The back wall was lined with tattered journals and dusty books, and even the supply cabinet had become an overflow for loose documents. She sighed, rubbing her forehead impatiently. She started with the filing cabinets, as they would likely be the easiest to complete with what time remained of her day. She sat down in the dusty office chair and began stacking files to be packed away. Absently, she wondered where all of these files came from.
Suddenly, it hit her. Knowing Hojo, he would hide a button somewhere only he could find it. Fingers tugged at a few suspicious books on the shelves and tapped a loose floorboard; she groped – checking in stuffed filing cabinets and cluttered desk drawers, under the chair, under the desk – bingo; a loud click echoed from inside the lab. She ducked beneath the desk to get a better look; a button – a reconfigured elevator switch, maybe – protruded from the pressboard. A wire ran down the side of the desk, haphazardly taped to the side before slipping between two floorboards. Elena smirked, satisfied, and went back into the lab next door.
Sure enough, the crevice had widened, and the bookcase moved with ease. The wall slid back with it, revealing a vast, almost pitch-dark room. That explained why Hojo had insisted on this particular area; after all, it wasn't much of a secret that he'd once had a separate lab to conduct his research on Jenova cells and Sephiroth clones. Rufus' father had seen to that. It made sense though – the Planet had stopped Meteor before it had hit. Granted, most of Midgar had been leveled, but many of the pillars' foundations and underground bunkers had remained intact. It stood to reason that an underground basement hidden beneath the slums would have been unfazed as well.
In fact, that had been the whole reason Hojo had suggested utilizing a basement level; bunkers dotted the slums and there was a large underground portion of the ShinRa building beneath the rail systems. Tunneling the bunch together had created the foundation and basement level of the Neo-ShinRa building – not to mention, gave Hojo a place to continue research on a new method of energy generation while Edge and Neo-Midgar had been built.
Hesitant fingers pulled at wispy locks, and breath caught in her throat nervously as she examined the descending walkway. Eyes strained as they adjusted to the almost pitch-darkness, and she tentatively followed the path identified by dim lights running along the floor. It reminded her of the old cinema in Junon; they'd watched some science-fiction horror movie there the night before President Rufus' inauguration. That had been her first year as a Turk…and her first time really hanging out with the guys. Her mind wandered, trying to remember what the movie had been about, but she only distinctly recalled a scene where a monstrous science experiment on the loose had suddenly slaughtered an unsuspecting woman who had knelt down to retrieve something she had dropped. She remembered it so well because, at that same moment, Reno had prodded the back of her neck with his Electro-Mag Rod, and she screamed, sending the guys into hysterics.
Elena giggled to herself; the sound echoed hollowly over the air conditioning as it rattled through the vents overhead. A soft smile lingered over her lips as she recalled the laid-back redhead; she hadn't thought about him in a while now. Heaviness tugged at her heart, and she blinked back the heat that bit at her eyes. Instead, she focused on the secret room; ahead, she could see the distinct glow of Mako in the darkness, and the thick scent of formaldehyde hung heavy in stale frigid air. Elena felt for a switch on the wall, and it clicked as slender fingers brushed it. Dim lights strung along the edges illuminated the space like a darkroom. Experiment tanks crowded the lab, six rows of three, similar to the inside of the Nibelhiem Reactor. Each tank emitted a fluorescent jade glow, like giant glow-sticks arranged around the room.
'Great…more to clean up,' Elena thought curtly as she tried to push away the uncertainty that tugged at her mind. She swallowed the knot forming in her throat, taking in a deep breath. The bitter taste lingered against her mouth as she exhaled, cautiously stepping forward to examine the first tank. It was empty, as many of them were, but as she passed down the rows, she noted that a couple of them contained what appeared to have once been human. They had since been morphed and disfigured, many of them only maintaining a humanoid figure. Arms folded tightly across her chest as she realized what they were: his failed experiments. She shuddered; since the day she had become a Turk, Elena had known Hojo was somewhat twisted – maybe even borderline insane, but she had never imagined him to be this sick. It was one thing to even experiment on humans – even if under the eyes of the late President. But to leave them behind, decaying in pools of Mako for who knows how long…
Elena suddenly felt ill, and she squeezed her eyes shut for a moment, willing away the thought. Taking a deep breath, she forced herself to continue, knowing the president would want to know an exact count. The blonde glanced inside as she approached the final tank. From a distance, she could tell it contained an experiment, the dark figure silhouetted by the Mako's glow. She inhaled another deep breath, now far too used to the pungent scent of chemicals and Mako. Finally, she stood before the last tank, and she willed herself to look inside. Elena gasped.
*~*~*0*~*~*
The icy tile against his back sent chills through his body. Coughs came unwillingly as his lungs filled with stale air, and his eyes felt too heavy to open. A barely audible sound touched his mind, light and fragile like flecks of falling snow. He forced his lids to open, but all he could see was blurs of color. The sound echoed in his mind again, a little louder. He blinked several times as his eyes began to focus. It was dark; something glowed blue-green above him, and shallow breaths drew in the bitter scent of formaldehyde. The sound…it was a voice – one he recognized. Blurred colors came into focus, a face finally materializing before him.
"Reno?" the face repeated as he sat up and rubbed his head.
"Elena?" Reno replied hoarsely. He ruffled his hair; it was longer than he remembered, scarlet bangs drooping into his eyes, and he made a mental note that he badly needed a haircut. Droplets of liquid rolled freely from his pony tail, and the redhead smiled. "How's it goin'?"
"R-Reno, you're…" Elena stammered in disbelief, too shocked to be annoyed with his casual greeting.
"What, you act like you don't even know who I am!" Reno said, standing awkwardly, the movements suddenly seeming incredibly foreign to him. He stumbled on his first try, and still dumbfounded, she helped him to his feet. Weary legs were unsteady under him, and he balanced himself against the wall. Eyes scanned their surroundings and he frowned. "Where are we?"
"I…I can't believe it," she began, still bewildered by his presence. He raised an eyebrow as sapphire eyes studied him, glassy and wide. She swallowed, finally willing herself to speak again. Words hung heavily in her throat, and she pulled them free in nearly a whisper. "I've missed you so much."
"You act like you haven't seen me in years, Elena," he said, a nervous chuckle indicating his confusion. Eyebrows furrowed and their gazes met.
"That's because…" Elena trailed. Her eyes fell to the floor, watching as fluid glided down his pant leg into a puddle. Finally eyes met his again and she spoke again. "Reno, what's the last thing you remember?" He pursed his lips thoughtfully.
"I…I'm not sure," he said. "I remember..." They were both quiet for a moment. He shuffled through the pages in his mind, but they all seemed blank…what was the last thing he could recall…? Brows furrowed and he shook his head. He felt a pang of fear as his eyes met hers; she scrutinized him intently. "Elena, what's going on?"
"Reno…" she began, unable to stifle the tremble in her voice. "I don't know how to tell you, but…" Elena sighed. "It has been years, Reno. It's…it's been seven years."
"What?!" Reno exclaimed, and he barely managed to correct his recoil and maintain his balance against the wall. "No, that's impossible." Wide eyes beseeched her, but the blonde didn't answer. The grave expression didn't leave her delicate features. "It's…seven years? But I don't understand – how could seven years…?" Suddenly, legs seemed to buckle under the weight of the situation, and he allowed himself to slide down until he was sitting against the wall. The redhead studied his shoes, thoughts fluttering more and more rapidly as he tried to process. Starched and pressed fabric rustled as she sat beside him, and he looked up. Her eyes were still the bright sapphires he remembered, though her hair was a little longer, he realized, falling to her shoulders, but still the same sleek gold from…seven years ago…
"The night you disappeared," Elena began quietly, "you went to talk to Hojo…about the tumor. Rufus told Tseng to go with you and get him to the hospital. We never saw you again. Tseng said that he got called away, and you had told him that you could handle it. We confronted Hojo later that night. He said that you had come by, but he was busy and told you to come back later…and you stormed out. He even said you left your phone lying on the table, and gave it back to us…" She hesitated, finally breaking from his gaze, and Reno sensed the grief and guilt swelling inside her as she forced herself to continue. "We didn't know what happened to you. We searched everywhere – ShinRa, Midgar, Edge, Kalm…everywhere…but we came up empty handed. It was like…you disappeared – vanished off the face of the planet." He was vaguely aware that that the blonde was crying now, though she tried to stifle her hiccups and hide her tears.
"…Where are we now…?" Reno asked, still dazed from the explanation.
"A secret room in Hojo's lab," she replied. "I found it while I was cleaning out his lab. I…didn't even know this existed – I don't think anyone did." They were both quiet. In the silence that settled over them, he could hear the hum of the air conditioning and the quiet drone of the pump systems that kept the Mako tanks from becoming too stagnant. He gave a sad mental laugh; they were sort of like giant fish tanks… "Do you remember what happened when you confronted Hojo that night?"
"I don't even remember it," Reno replied thoughtfully, closing his eyes. He clenched them tight, willing away the lingering migraine. He rubbed his eyes, trying to find any shred of memory. "I just remember…remember…"
"Reno, don't worry about it now," Elena said, standing. A quick hand brushed her eyes, navy sleeve sweeping over her cheek, and she sniffled quietly. "It doesn't matter – you're alive. You're here." She smiled meekly, but Reno didn't say anything. "Why don't we go upstairs? I'm sure fresh air would do you some good." Hesitantly, he nodded, and without a word, she helped him stand. He fought to catch his balance as she let him go, like a child learning to ride a bike, and he followed her, staggering slightly on drunken limbs.
When the elevator opened, Reno didn't recognize where he was. It looked nothing like the ShinRa he remembered. The last time he'd seen it, it was a ten story building under construction. Rather than the tight hallways of the old building, the floor was open. Very open. The whole floor seemed to take on the fresh scent of a forest; gardens of trees basked under the sunlight that spilled in from the glass roof. Eyes flickered upward, and Reno squinted against the daylight filtered in by skylights. The sky was a vivid blue, tufts of white scattered across it like splotches of paint.
An announcement over an intercom system echoed through the indoor courtyard, but cut short in his ears as a telephone rang nearby. Mesmerized, he followed Elena to the marble staircase. The walkway was somewhat suspended above the lower level, leading to a door that opened automatically as Elena swiped her card. Inside was a narrow hallway with several doors on either side – most likely offices. At the end was a set of double doors with a gold plaque that read "President Rufus ShinRa". Elena pressed the intercom button on the speaker next to the door.
"Name and business," a man's voice said as a red light came on, and Reno recognized the voice immediately.
"Elena, sir," she replied quickly. "I have…er…something to discuss."
"You may enter," the voice answered curtly, and the light switched off. A click sounded, indicating the door had been unlocked, and she placed a hand on the knob.
"Wait here for just a minute," Elena requested quietly. The redhead didn't say anything, but nodded. She took a deep breath, trying vainly to still herself as she slowly opened the door. It closed quietly behind her with a click. The blonde turned, heart pounding against her chest as she approached her superior. The president sat at his large desk filling out paperwork, as usual.
"If you're going to try to convince me to send someone to help you, save it, Elena," Rufus said impatiently. "You know I don't have anyone to spare. And don't badger me about hiring, either – you know Tseng and I are discussing it."
"It's…it's not that, sir…" she replied, words quiet and unsure. The Turk hesitated, hoping in her silence, deep blue eyes would glance away from his paperwork, from the pen gliding and dancing over crisp pages in elegant signatures. Finally, she cleared her throat quietly as she spoke again. "Um…sir? You might want to give me your full attention for a minute." Rufus looked up. Her face was very serious, but he could easily see both the confusion and excitement in her eyes. He put his pen down and eyed her curiously. "Seven years ago…Reno went to retrieve Hojo for medical testing. That night –"
"He disappeared," the young president finished, sighing as he went back to his paperwork, hoping it would conceal his emotions. This was not the first time Elena had come to him with some farfetched explanation for the redhead's disappearance or a hare-brained idea to find him. His toned hardened with slight resentment, as he continued. "I know. We've been through this, Elena – no amount of search plans are going to find him. It's been seven years. If he was alive, someone would have seen him, he would have come back, or we would have found him. You aren't the only one that misses him but…we have to move on. He isn't –"
"Rufus," Elena interrupted, not bothering to correct the way she addressed him. His eyes found her gaze, serious and uncertain. "I found him." She had expected his reaction – which was expecting a lot, considering nothing much surprised the president these days; but she smiled a little as his mouth hung ajar and the pen fell from his fingers. "He's alive."
"What – but how?! Where?" Rufus asked, questions blurring together all at once.
"I found a secret extension of Hojo's lab," Elena explained. "He had several human experiments. All of them were dead, except… Well, Reno…he was in one of the experiment tanks and…he's alive."
"That's…"
"Unbelievable, I know," Elena finished. "He doesn't remember what happened that night. Actually…I'm not sure what he remembers. He remembers me, and ShinRa, but he couldn't actually pull a distinct memory. He probably has some amnesia from the Mako solution."
"I see…" Rufus trailed thoughtfully. His expression trailed with the statement, and she could almost see the thoughts racing over his mind, the anxiousness, the questions, the curiosity… The youthful president snapped back, sapphire eyes glittering with some unknown mystery, with some…some glint of emotion that was unreadable, pokerfaced. "Where is he now?"
*~*~*0*~*~*
Reno stood awkwardly outside the door, and the fleeting thought of someone seeing him crossed his mind. After all, this was an office area; Tseng's office was likely nearby – if not on this very hallway…he could just imagine the director's face if he walked out and suddenly saw the redhead after…seven years… He sighed to himself, the humor fleeting; Elena was taking her sweet time talking to the president. 'I wonder how he's gonna take it…seven years…' Reno's mind traveled. 'What is the last thing I remember…? ShinRa…Elena…Rufus…Rude, Tseng, Reeve, AVALANCHE – I remember them. All of them… But what was the last thing that happened…? I was…' Reno sighed. Nothing. He remembered nothing – just names and faces. Suddenly, the door opened and Rufus stepped out; striking cerulean cut back to the blonde Turk, he didn't say anything. Instead, he turned to the redhead.
"Reno," he greeted the Turk, youthful features masking his uncertainty, his excitement, and the president seemed unsure of exactly how to greet him. He decided on offering a still hand, smooth and creamy, but slightly calloused from signatures. Hesitantly, Reno returned the gesture, and a soft smile settled over uncertain features. The young president looked almost exactly as Reno remembered him; perhaps a bit more experienced, slight age and frown lines creasing taught skin, but otherwise…precisely as memory served. The warm hand slipped free of his own, and the redhead cleared his throat quietly.
Light flashed in his vision, and his gaze briefly focused on the reflection; it was the young president's reflection, striking cobalt eyes staring back at him, chilling. He let his focus drift past the mirrored image, instead finding the streak of white that reached over the sky. The blast shot out of view, past the towering monster that approached him – his company, his city. Brows furrowed as fire streaked across the sky, like shooting stars falling too close for comfort. Suddenly, the room exploded, the sharp scent of smoke and fire swirling around his senses as he ducked. The floor shook beneath his feet, but he kept them steady as he made for the door. The building whined and moaned, and he could hear it about to give. Eyes darted to the ceiling as it split, and drywall crashed down around him.
"I can't believe it's really you…" The President trailed, and Reno blinked himself free from the sudden vision. Blue eyes were somewhat lost as they examined the redhead, and Reno felt slightly uncomfortable beneath the judging gaze.
"Yeah, it's me…" Reno murmured, smiling meekly as he tousled red locks anxiously. He didn't have the slightest clue of what to say. He couldn't remember anything that had happened and knew that Elena had already explained that. She'd probably explained about as much as he knew, and that left him with…well, nothing.
"We're glad to have you back," Rufus smiled stiffly, the gesture half-courtesy and half-sincere, and Reno could tell he was feigning calmness. "All of us have really missed you." Reno gave a half-hearted smile, and after a beat the president looked to the blonde. "Elena, why don't you take Reno to his apartment?" he suggested, aware that Reno was probably tired and overwhelmed, and feeling more than a little uncomfortable. The redhead looked to her and she nodded.
"Thank you, sir," Reno muttered gratefully, giving the president one final glance. He nodded, and Elena led Reno back to the elevator, swiping her card once more as the elevator began to descend. It was quiet and awkward; he could feel cobalt eyes studying him beneath the fluorescent lights, uncomfortably shifting as they flickered back to the digital display above the door. He allowed his gaze to fixate there, happy to have something to draw his mind away from the fidgeting Turk. Finally, it pinged, and doors opened. She quietly led him down the hallway, numbered doors passing by on either side. Delicate hands stuffed into her pockets, fingers playing with keys as she guided him; he could tell Elena really wanted to talk but didn't know where to begin. Not that he could blame her. After all, what do you say to your best friend that was missing without a trace for seven years and suddenly reappeared in a mad scientist's secret lab?
Personally, he didn't want to know what he had missed in the seven years he had been in Hojo's secret lab. The whole idea that seven years had just walked out the door…well, it was absurd, to be honest. How do you wrap your mind around something like that? And yet he knew it would come up sooner or later. Distantly, he wondered how his partner had made out without him all this time…maybe he'd found another partner…though, Reno knew well he wouldn't have accepted one easily. Keys jingled, tugging him from his trailing mind, as she pulled them from her pocket, and she unlocked his door.
Apparently, ShinRa took much more pride in the Turks than they had used to. Rather than a studio with a small kitchen, it was a full sized apartment. The den was furnished with a sofa and matching recliner, and a coffee table decorated with some whatnots he vaguely recognized. Across from the plush couch a television had been mounted on the wall, complete with a mahogany entertainment center that matched the coffee table. He could pick out the thin layer of dust that clung to the surfaces, and he realized it hadn't been cleaned in quite some time. A divider wall separated the den from a full-sized and fully equipped kitchen. Light reflected on stainless-steel appliances, coated in a thin layer of grime that made the brushed surface barely shine beneath the white light.
On the other side of the den, a door led into a master bedroom. The queen-sized bed was pressed against the wall, and instead of the knotted, ratty bedspread he remembered from his old twin bed, a plush comforter draped the unused mattress. It looked like something from a magazine; the covers were unwrinkled, pressed neatly and precisely beneath a small mountain of pillows. Pale light filtered in through the blinds, illuminating shimmering flecks of dust as he sat on the bed. The cherry furniture matched that of the den, and a few of his things had been placed around the room; there was a photo on the nightstand, and a watch caddy on the dresser. He'd never been much of a sentimental type. Footsteps brought him out of his daze, and Elena cleared her throat timidly.
"We left all of your stuff in here," she said quietly. "We…always hoped you'd come back and need it." Reno grinned weakly. "If you'd like, I catch you up on the major events that you've missed…" she offered, voice trailing as she paced.
"I guess," Reno replied reluctantly, letting himself sink deeper into the mattress. Limbs trembled slightly, almost numb from supporting his weight. "I'll find out sooner or later…might as well be sooner."
"Let see…" Elena began. "Professor Hojo…recently passed. The tumor – the one you…well, anyway, i-it killed him. We'd tried on multiple occasions to reason with him, but the last seven years, he…more or less barricaded himself in the lab until…well, his last couple of weeks weren't very pretty." She hesitated expectantly, but Reno only nodded. The tumor…he'd been asked to speak with Hojo regarding his condition. Had he made it to the lab? She allowed herself to pace, the movement giving her something to focus on. Slender fingers pulled at golden threads, and her eyes found interest in a split end.
"Oh, and we've finally gotten all of the wind turbines up and running," she said, releasing the tresses. That had been Rufus' big project that second year after Meteorfall, after they'd rebuilt Midgar and the nearby settlement, Edge. His priority had been helping the public regain at least some normalcy. His second had been regaining broken trust. Getting rid of their reliance on Mako. He'd said it would be the only way anyone would ever trust the ShinRa Company again. "Mako energy is officially out of use and has since been banned by President ShinRa. I think that was…around four years ago.
"People were…a little wary at first," she admitted hesitantly; not surprising. "Not that…well, not that anyone could really blame them. So Rufus got rid of the army, and the remaining SOLDIERS…" …Surprising. After all, Rufus ShinRa had never been known for giving much of a damn of what the public thought; but then…when everything – the rebuilding, the company, his future…with everything staked on regaining trust… "We were worried at first that a few vigilante groups, like AVALANCHE, might protest ShinRa. But…surprisingly not." She gave a half-hearted laugh. "In fact – Cid and Barrett, from AVALANCHE, actually founded the Gainsborough Energy Corporation. Neo-ShinRa helped sponsor them, to get their steam-engine program started up. It's been a huge success!"
"Steam engines?" Reno repeated, and she nodded. She leaned against the wall, clearly more comfortable talking about the successes of the past seven years than the darker moments.
"Yeah," she continued. "To replace the Mako engines ShinRa used to manufacture. In fact, we helped with the testing process. All of our helicopters and airships were converted over. It was a little rocky at first, but Cid's idea was actually pretty genius." Her voice trailed, clearly having run out of things to say. Sapphire eyes lingered over the redhead, his pale fingers pulling at the still-damp suit uncomfortably, and he rubbed a thumb across his nose. It crinkled as he scratched it. His gaze pointedly avoided hers, and she quickly cleared her throat. "Let's see… Oh, construction on the Neo-ShinRa building was completed just two years ago. And Reeve? After the construction of Edge, Neo-Midgar, and Neo-ShinRa were complete, he took over Heidegger's prior position, as Head of Public Safety."
"Reeve?" he repeated, raising an eyebrow. She gave a giggle at his sarcasm and nodded.
"Yeah," she replied. "We were all a little surprised at first, but it does make sense. After all he went through with AVALANCHE back then…well…he found out his passion was more about the people and less about the buildings. He doesn't do anything quite as high risk as spying on AVALANCHE, but once in a while he'll leave Neo-Midgar and go to a reactor with us. We inspect them once a year to make sure they aren't leaking or deteriorating. Our department has changed a bit, too – focusing a little more on investigation and a little less on, well…everything else. There's not a whole lot that Public Safety does that the Turks don't get their hands in somehow.
"Since SOLDIER shut down, and Rufus got rid of the army, things…well, have changed some. Without the fear of ShinRa's armies, Edge was having a problem with thugs; mostly just people who'd lost everything in Meteorfall. So, Cloud gave him the idea of founding a…well, sort of police unit. They're technically employed by Neo-ShinRa, but they don't just work in the company's best interest. They're basically the peacekeepers of Edge and Midgar – er, Neo-Midgar. We still do the more high-risk jobs or…well, for lack of a better word, 'dirty' jobs. Not like it used to be though," she added quickly, and Reno wondered silently what she meant by "high-risk." She fell silent, and he swallowed. The question burned in his chest, and finally he could no longer resist the words.
"How're the others?" Wide eyes met his, as though she'd forgotten them, and a chill trembled down his spine. The blonde hesitated, and her expression changed. Her voice became quiet and eyes found the taupe carped beneath her feet.
"Since you disappeared…we've…we've lost one Turk," she began. Words caught in her throat like stones, and she swallowed dryly against them. Nervously, she tucked blonde tresses behind her ear, and she avoided the redhead's pulling stare. "I'm sorry, Reno…but…Rude was killed in a helicopter crash near Nibelhiem –"
"What?" Reno interrupted in disbelief. "Rude…Rude is…"
"I'm…I'm so sorry, Reno," she said weakly, sinking into the mattress beside him. It protested quietly, squeaking with lack of use, and sapphire eyes lingered over him. She hesitated, eyes suddenly interested in the scuffs on her loafers. "It was…about a year ago. He and Tseng were going to check out the reactor – some of the locals had reported mutated wildlife and strange odors that seemed to originate from the reactor. We suspected a Mako leak somewhere in the mountains. Something went wrong and the helicopter crashed into Mount Nibel. Rude didn't make it… Tseng barely survived – he was in a coma for almost three weeks, and in the hospital for about a month after. Plus…I think, like…six months of physical therapy? Or…something like that. He's only been back from the accident for a few months now."
Reno stared at the carpet beneath his feet, tracing the creases and fibers with his mind. So, his longtime partner – and friend – was gone…just like that. He wondered for a moment if Elena was simply pranking him. It couldn't be real…! Heat bit at the corners of his eyes, and he squeezed them tight. Throat closed, trapping his voice inside, which was fine; he wasn't sure whether he should shout or scream or cry or…finally, he sighed, running a hand through unwashed hair. The scent of Mako clung to his skin like a clammy layer of clothing, and he shuddered as he breathed in the foul perfume. The suit was still a little damp, faded blue matting to his body. Blue eyes bore into him, and he knew Elena studied his every movement. A heaviness sank over him as his eyes located the photo on his nightstand of he and the others at Turtle's Paradise.
"Are…are you gonna be okay?" Elena asked quietly, placing a warm hand on his, but she retracted it instinctively; skin was unusually pale and icy, almost corpse-like next to hers. She hesitated, but tentatively placed her hand on his once more. Reno didn't react.
"Yeah…" he lied, voice soft and hoarse as he choked the words out. "Yeah, I'll…be fine." A silence settled over them again like summer humidity, thick and heavy so that a thin layer of sweat beaded over him and made the idea of a shower all the more appealing to the redhead. Suddenly, the demanding shriek of a cell phone shattered the silence that had coated the air, and Elena flinched. Hastily, she dug the source from her pocket and opened it.
"This is Elena," she answered quietly. Pale lips pursed as she listened, eyes cutting to the redhead briefly before closing her cell. "I'm…I'm sorry," she said finally. "I have to go." Reno didn't meet her gaze, but nodded meekly as she stood from the mattress. He could feel those eyes monitoring him one more time, gaze trickling over his body as though it was something to be marveled at…or else, something to be scrutinized. He caught a quiet sigh that lingered in the air like a whispered breeze as she headed for the door. She seemed to hesitate, and he briefly wondered if she'd hoped he would stop her. But after a moment, it closed with an almost silent click that echoed through the still apartment and left Reno feeling hollow. His eyes found his fingertips, and he picked at his cuticles for a moment. Sighing, he stood, teetering uneasily, feet seeming large and awkward as he shuffled to the nearby bathroom. Absently, he clicked the light switch, blinking wearily against the blinding vanity light. It was clean and well kept, but a bit dusty.
For the first time, Reno gazed up at his reflection, and nearly jumped out of his skin, which was no longer the warm, creamy color he remembered. Instead, it was sickly pale, almost gray, and pearls of sweat glimmered on his face and neck in the white-orange glow. Cheeks had hollowed and his frame was more slender and boney that it had once been, lean muscle having worn away. Vibrant red hair had faded, now dull and streaked with thin strands of sliver. Beneath strands of red, eyes gleamed back at him, no longer the mischievous ice blue glimmer he remembered. Instead, fluorescent green met his gaze. Reno blinked, pale purple lips parted as he gaped, leaning across the marble sink so he could study them closer. Specks of blue mingled among striking jade, swirling into an onyx pupil. They were sunken slightly beneath dark, puffy circles. Brows furrowed as he studied his unsettling reflection, and part of him now understood why Elena had seemed uncomfortable.
Pupils narrowed into needle-thin slits, the change barely noticeable at first glance. A smirk tugged at his lips, the expression smug as it took over his features. Heat swelled in the pit of his stomach, nervousness shifting into something else entirely. But it was fleeting. The redhead blinked uncertainly, eyes fixated on his unfamiliar face briefly. He shook his head; he was tired – physically, mentally, and emotionally. Malachite eyes found his gaze in the mirror and he sighed; finally, fingers found the light switch and flicked it off.
Even in the pitch dark, enhanced eyes could pick out the outline of the dark room, as though it was illuminated in night vision. It was somewhat dimmer, painted in hues of black and soft greens. Shuffling, a hand found the countertop behind him, balancing him as he turned. The other found the chilled metal handle of the shower door, and he pulled. Tracks scraped as it slid open, metal catching on the stopper. The redhead stepped closer, reaching inside and twisting the faucet on. Water hissed as it spewed from the showerhead, cascading over tile and tempered glass. Hands groped at starchy clothing, now nearly dry and stiff with the Mako solution. Fabric rustled as he undressed, piling them onto the floor. He undid his belt, unskilled fingers fumbling with the metal clasp as he tried to pry the leather apart. Fabric slid down to his ankles, and he nearly lost his balance as a pant leg caught around his foot. Finally, he snatched an unopened bar of soap and bottle of shampoo from the cabinet, and opened the steam-fogged door.
The redhead stepped inside, nearly falling as he jumped back from the frigid waterfall. He turned quickly to adjust the temperature, cursing quietly as he pulled himself from the wall. Vision hesitated, fingers lingering over the knob. The lever was all the way over to the small red H, indicating that the water should be hot. Curiously, he tilted it towards the small blue C, wondering if perhaps they'd been attached backwards. Icy water nipped his fingers as he ran a hand beneath it; the water was colder. Sighing, he shifted it back to the H; bracing for the cold stream, Reno held his breath as he stepped back into the stall. Goosebumps crawled over pale flesh, and a chill crept up his spine. Unwillingly, he trembled, unable to resist the shivers that rattled through his body.
Quickly, he lathered himself beneath the cold fountain, mentally noting to tell Elena he didn't enjoy cold showers. His body began to quiver less, somehow adapting to the pins and needles that pricked over his skin. Suds slipped off of his skin and gathered at the drain like sea foam, and he leaned against the tile wall distantly. The overly sweet perfume of soap mixed with the strong chemical scent of Mako, and his stomach turned at the bitter combination. He frowned, scouring himself with the soap once more. But soap didn't wash away the thick foul layer of Mako that seemed to have melted on top of flesh, and he finally decided he would have to scrub the layers of his skin away before it would disperse.
Water poured over him, his body now accepting of the bitter sensation. Legs trembled meekly, and he allowed himself to fall gently against chilled glass. The Turk didn't protest as his knees began to buckle, and he slowly slid down until he folded to the bottom of the stall. Strands of red caught in his vision and water drug the longer tresses over his shoulders. They matted against pale flesh, and he idly dragged a hand through tangled locks. His gaze absently studied the water tracks as teardrops streaked down the tempered glass; they seemed to tremble in place, as though frightened, before falling forever and eventually rejoining the frigid stream that flowed into the drain.
A tear slipped from his eye and rolled across the bridge of his nose. It quivered there for a moment, as though it was frightened, then seemed to fall forever before he distantly heard it splash… Reno shook his head, blinking himself back awake. His whole body ached, and his mind even more.
'…Seven years…' he repeated to himself, somehow hoping that stating again would make it seem more real. Lids closed heavily over green eyes, and he rested his head against the glass for a moment. The sound of crashing waters lingered over him, and the drain gurgled like a distant roll of thunder. He drifted away, somewhere far…buried beneath an avalanche of ice and powdered snow.
Cold air swept over his body, and he shuddered in protest. Coughs pulled at his lungs as he choked for air, swallowing against a painful throat. Like breathing smoke; like inhaling water. Meekly his eyes opened, blurring colors dancing over his vision. Disorienting, like a kaleidoscope, and he tried to blink the haze free; but no amount of attempts seemed to make them any clearer.
'I'm…alive…' The thought resonated distantly against his mind, and he blinked. Weakly, the redhead stumbled to his feet, staggering as a hand found the nearby wall. A fluorescent green glow caught his eyes, and the room began to spin. Clammy fingers pressed against his forehead; it felt like a hangover, like he'd been cracked over the head with the backside of a pistol. Eyes clenched tight, and his heartbeat throbbed against his aching skull, but he forced his mind to focus.
The room materialized before him, and dim lights strung across the walls lit each step of the nearby landing. The crimson ambience was muted by the fluorescent jade glow behind him, and drunken limbs didn't heed his command to move. Suddenly, a sound cried out in protest, and he winced against the shrill sound. He whirled, the impulsive movement sending the world swimming. Knees buckled, and he collapsed to the dark linoleum. Heavy footsteps echoed over his fading mind, almost in slow motion as they reached his side.
Again, the sharp sound penetrated his mind, and he winced away. Starch white came into his vision and he tried to force his head to look up. Weakly, he lifted himself, shaky arms pushing him from the icy tile. An unexpected pain shot through his shoulder, and the sound that pried itself from his throat sounded inhuman. Limbs quivered as he fought to get back to his feet; another prick tore into his arm, and he tried to move away from it, swat the source or else escape it; but his efforts became less and less fluid as the lingering strength in his bones faltered and faded.. Vision blackened, and joints gave beneath his weight. He crumpled, falling for what seemed like forever. Words strained free of his chest, but they lost coherence somewhere between chapped lips and frostbitten air.
Reno started as he woke, shivering unwillingly against the frozen fountain that poured over him. Blinking as eyes tried to focus in the dark room, he vaguely realized that he had dozed. Wincing, sore muscles protested as he pulled himself to his feet, balancing himself against the tile. He leaned there a moment, the remnants of the strange dream lingering over his mind. Finally, the redhead shut off the cold water, and pulled back the glass door. Steam had filled the bathroom and coated the mirror in a thick layer of fog as he grabbed a towel from the linen closet. He inhaled, the faint perfume of fresh cotton touching his senses; but it was buried by a musty odor, and he could tell they hadn't been washed in quite some time now. He ruffled it through long hair, drying the matted locks before letting them fall to his back. Coarse fibers trailed over sensitive skin as he wiped pearls of water from his body.
Opening the bathroom door, cool air swept over him, and Reno shuddered reflexively. He shuffled through drawers, finally locating a set of pajamas in the dresser. Toes caught on fabric as he tried to slide them on, and he nearly fell flat as he lost his balance. Deciding he was too tired for a repeat of earlier, the redhead reached for the faded bathrobe that hung on the inside of the bathroom door. Like the towels, it smelled faintly of laundry detergent but was otherwise stale. Exhausted, Reno collapsed on the soft cotton comforter, dust swirling in the evening twilight, and he fell asleep before his head hit the pillow.
"I've been sleeping a thousand years, it seems.
I've got to open my eyes to everything."
Quotes by: Bring me to Life, Evanescence.
Author's Note: Normally, I don't leave follow-up notes, but I didn't want to ruin anything by mentioning this in the opening note. That final scene (informally dubbed "the shower scene") is something particularly special to me. I really cannot put in to words how utterly grateful I am to my sister for its transformation. That scene started as a fairly basic "and this happened" scene… Now, I read it and it still sort of surprises me that I wrote it (with a few edits from my sister).
I don't mind you flaming my work; I don't mind criticism, constructive or otherwise, and I certainly understand that everyone is allowed to their own opinion. However, if you have anything – ANYTHING – negative to say about "the shower scene," I ask that you please keep it to yourself…unless it is constructive, and aimed to improve the scene even farther. Normally, I would never request opinions to be kept quiet, but in this case…just let it be.
That being said, don't forget reviews. They are tasty, and make me update quicker…usually. :P