I don't own Cloud either. Darn! Um...I think I kinda like the chapters being short. I hope nobody minds. Again, enjoy!

"And here's your paycheck, Melina. Your first one with us, eh?" Melina gladly took the envelope from the man and opened it up. Her eyes widened when she saw the amount. "Something wrong?"

"Yes, there is. I didn't agree to this." She tried not to make a scene. "How am I supposed to live off of this?"

"I'm sorry, but you'll have to take this up with the boss. He writes your checks." The man walked away, nonchalantly. Melina knocked on Reno's door, which was pretty much always shut.

"I'm busy! Come back later."

"I'll just wait." Melina didn't want to make him angrier than he usually was and seemed to be at the moment. 'For God sakes, this man always has his panties in a bunch!'

"I can't have people blocking my door. Just wait a sec." Reno was on the phone, with a client possibly. Melina looked at her watch and then at the door barring her way. A few minutes passed, then more, and still more.

"I'm still out here." No reply came this time. Melina had been patient long enough and decided to let herself in. "Sir, this is really important." Reno looked up from his laptop.

"What could be more important than what I'm doing? And didn't I tell you to wait?" Reno took off his glasses.

"Sorry, to bother you, sir, but it's about my paycheck. I didn't agree to this amount." Melina placed the check in front of his face.

"What do you want me to do about it? Go complain to someone who cares." Reno went back to typing. Melina looked heartbroken, like Reno had just denied her, which he in fact had just done. 'I don't need to deal with this. I can find a better job,' she thought to herself.

"Fine. I quit." Melina walked out of the office and soon out the building.

"No! You're fired!" Reno yelled after she had already left. He was beginning to sound more like Donald Trump everyday. Reno picked up the check Melina had left and tossed it into the shredder. "Whatever. How much money could she possibly need? She's just one person." Reno rested his chin on his fist, much like The Thinker, and steadied his eyes on the door. 'One damn fine person.'

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Weeks passed by, but Reno couldn't find anyone to replace Melina. Word was spreading about Reno's unpredictability. Everything at work seemed to slow down and he found himself quite lacking in clients and work.

…"But sir, let me go instead of Rude." Reno pleaded with Rufus Shinra. He knew that whoever went on this mission would probably never return. He would much rather have it be himself who was dead or tortured, not his partner.

"I've made my decision, and it will be Rude who goes." Shinra's will was rock-solid.

"No, sir. I can't let you do this."

"You will do whatever I tell you to do, and so will your partner! Do you understand me? I'm the boss here!" Reno left Shinra's office, crushed…

…Here lies Rude. Faithful Turk. May he rest in peace. Reno covered his eyes with dark glasses so no one would see his red eyes. Red with anger, red with fire, yet they were empty. Perhaps they were red from all of the tears Reno shed in secret for his best friend…

"Sir. Sir?" Reno awoke to a man shaking his shoulder. He had fallen asleep at his desk.

"What is it?" Reno rubbed his eyes and let out a yawn.

"It's getting late. Shouldn't you be heading home?" The man had Reno's jacket in his hands and was soon placing it over Reno's shoulders.

"Right. I'll see you tomorrow then. Don't forget the lights." As soon as he was about to leave, the phone rang. "Hello?"

"Hey Reens, it's Cloud. Just thought you might like to hang."

"Yeah right." Reno laughed. "When was the last time we hung out?"

"Well, I was gonna check out a new club. You can come if you want, but I'm not gonna beg."

"Fine."