Disclaimer: Same as always, Loves! I don't own anything!
A/N: Whew! Finally, another update! Thanks for hanging in there guys! This won't be lost to cyberspace, I swear! Now on to the feature presentation!
"Sooooo, where's the fancy helicopter, or buggy or somethin'?"
Yuffie fidgeted nervously as she realized that she saw none of these modes of transportation, but rather a dinky-looking motorcycle, black, emblazoned with the Shinra logo on it. Reno plucked a bulky helmet off the seat of the bike, tossing it at the girl. It had the logo just like the bike, but didn't look like something her companion would use, her neither for that matter.
"Leviathan!" She choked out. "What the Hell do they use this for? An emergency puke bucket or something? This reeks!"
Reno threw one long leg over the bike and looked back mischievously at the young ninja. Yuffie's heart seemed to stop for a second or two, looking at this bright-eyed, wild-haired Turk, illuminated by the moonlight and astride a motorcycle, giving her this look that at that moment was sexy as Hell. She knew it was probably unintentional that the gaze he shot her was rife with hunger and power, but it still managed to send shivers down her spine.
The look soon melted into one of apprehension and slight confusion. He looked impatiently at his watch and noticed the lateness of the hour. He couldn't believe that it was that late. There wasn't a single bar within a reasonable distance he could take her to; he didn't doubt that all the legitimate places were either open or teeming with the kind of people he wouldn't want to be around the girl. And he definitely wasn't going to take her into a speakeasy. He thought for a second about taking her on an expedition to 7th Heaven, but thought better of the distance, and his cover being blown.
"Hey kid, what are ya just standin' around for, yo? Strap on that helmet and let's get goin'. And after this I'm takin' ya straight home. If your dad finds out you were out this late he's prolly gunna flip out or something..."
"I am not wearing this crusty, smelly, puke-bucket you call a helmet."
He looked at her impatiently as she stalked over and handed the helmet over heavily to Reno. He tossed it aside with a look of annoyance, and grabbed Yuffie's hand, jerking it hard to the other side, forcing her to get on the back of the bike.
"You better hold on good, yo. I'm a master at the motorcyclin', but you're in for a Hell of a ride kid."
She blushed at the underlying meaning that could have had, and continued to blush even more as she wrapped her arms around the waist of the man in front of her. The motorcycle came roaring to life and they were off in a second, barreling down the terrain as though they were flying. Yuffie was scared and had her entire body pressed hard against Reno's back. She was nervous that perhaps he could feel her tremors as they took sharp turns, or feel how heavy she was breathing to keep from screaming as they careened over rocky patches. But mostly, she was afraid he could feel how fast her heart was beating, and it wasn't just because of his recklessness with both of their lives.
Reno was pushing it. Gunning the throttle and taking dangerous chances, just to keep his mind off the warm body pressing against him from behind. The undeniable danger kept him in check, kept him paying attention to what was most important. Maybe that was why he could barely focus on anything but her.
Even as they sped away at a breakneck pace, as they veered around obstacles so closely he could almost taste the asphalt as he barely escaped it, his only thought were the slender arms clenching at his waist, the warm breath seeping through his clothes from where she had her face buried in his back. And despite the cool air of the Planet whipping around him, he began to sweat.
It was after a sigh of relief and tense moment where the two of them savored the feeling of their bodies melded together in all innocence, Yuffie managed to pry her arms away from his middle and take a few shaky steps off the bike and on the ground. Reno left the bike as is, snatching up a ring of keys from his pocket. They were in Junon, at Rude's bar. He didn't think his partner would mind a little after-hours business, just so long as he explained himself in the morning.
Yuffie looked up at the place in astonishment. She ran up to Reno and poked him in the side, squealing excitedly as she did so.
"You never told me you owned a bar! That's so amazing! You're a total badass with your bike and your bar and everything!"
"What...?" He looked up at the sign that read "Rude's Bar & Grill" and mentally shook himself and tried to remind his subconscious that at least in her eyes, he was still Rude Sparks.
"Yeah. Sure, neat. Whatever you say babe."
The flippant answer didn't stop her as she pranced inside and sat down at a barstool, spinning in a lazy circle. Reno stepped behind the counter and pulled down two glasses.
"You hungry?"
"Not really." she lied. She didn't want him to go out of his way to make her something.
He pulled out a bag of pretzels and poured them into a little glass bowl. After taking a bunch of ice and placing it in the glasses, he grabbed a bottle of hard liquor and a couple cans of juice and set them next to the glasses and pretzels. Grabbing a bar stool and setting it on the opposite side of the bar, he sat down and began pouring the liquor, but stopped and hovered the bottle above the other glass, while Yuffie gave him an annoyed look.
"Are you even old enough to drink?"
He peered at her funny through his bangs.
"In Wutai, the legal drinking age is 18. So cut me a break and pour me some boooooooze!"
He chuckled a bit and poured her half a glass and mixed it with the juice. He drank his plain, but had a suspicion that she had never had something as strong as this. The juice was a buffer for the taste.
She sipped it and winced, but licked her teeth keenly. It burned as it went down, but left her feeling warm inside.
"So, how'd ya end up with a weird name like Rude anyway?"
"How did YOU end up with a weird name like Yuffie?"
"Touche." She said, as she gulped down the rest of the drink. Something inside of her was feeling wild and dangerous, she knew it. She grabbed the bottle and poured herself a full glass, not bothering with the fruity juice. She was about to lift it to her lips when Reno grabbed her wrist.
"Slow down, yo. This ain't like no sake or anything. Too much of that will knock ya on your ass."
"At least it's a NICE ass." Yuffie retorted as she grinned at him.
"Touche." Reno followed suit, downing the rest of his first glass.
They bantered back and forth like that for a good hour or so. Getting drunker and drunker, more daring and bold as the liquor poisoned their veins, their actions - their thoughts. It was finally as the sun was coming up, in that electric-blue time of the morning, that the unthinkable happened.
"Ey, Rude. Lookit tha'. Th' sun's 'bout t'rise. The sky's all blue, looks like that purdy blue of yer eyes." She smiled thinly as she warbled.
Reno, not nearly as drunk as she, but feeling quite loose himself, made a quick retort.
"Yeah...then, it'll turn that luscious pink color, yo. Like the color of your luscious pink lips."
They both leaned in slowly over the counter of the bar, and kissed quickly. Not having had enough, Reno jumped over the bar and grabbed Yuffie by the hair at the back of her head and pulled her into a deep, passionate kiss. He pressed her hard into himself, turning them around and backing her into the counter, working her mouth with almost a professional knowledge of the art of the kiss. It was when the sound of someone clearing their throat pointedly, that he let her go and instantly sobered up, as he saw a fuming Reeve standing in the doorway.
"I think it's time the Princess came home."
Yuffie was dozing in Reno's arms, and Reeve threatened him in a low, growling whisper as he came to take his young charge away.
"You had better watch your step, Mr. Kobayashi-Kim. Even your role as a Turk won't save you from the kind of disaster this could bring."
With that, Reeve and Yuffie left the bar, Reno standing in the shadows of the open door, against the light of the just-rising sun.