Disclaimer: I don't own Final Fantasy VII or its characters. It belongs to Square Enix. I do own my original characters and plots, though.

Author's Note: I'm sorry this update took so long! I'm going to be honest and say that life and school really did take over. That resulted in a diminished interest in finishing Chapter 9. I've been having a bit of writer's block, too. Forgive me for that. Thanks, everyone, and enjoy this chapter.

Chapter 9: Bombing at Three

"Greensleeves was all my joy, Greensleeves was my delight… GAH! THAT'S HOT!"

The shower's lukewarm water suddenly rained upon Aphrodite a scalding, steamy rainstorm. Her singing abruptly ended, and she sprung back, almost falling through the shower curtain. "RENO! Why did you flush the freaking toilet?"

"Oops! Sorry, babe," called the Turk. "I was pissin' my pants! I couldn't help it. Your voice is lovely, by the way."

She mustered up her last ounce of courage and dashed through the hot rainstorm, yanking on the cold-water switch and turning down the hot water. If only he had two bathrooms, so he wouldn't have to intrude because of a full bladder! "You could have just peed on that plant in your living room! I'm sure it needed watering!"

Reno snickered.

Aphrodite sighed with relief and ignored him as the shower cooled. After that boiling storm, the cold beads of water trickling down her skin were quite refreshing! She washed out the conditioner in her hair, sputtering out the droplets of water in her mouth. "Watch it next time you have to pee and I'm in the shower! I've gotta get to my salon appointment. Are you done with your business?"

"Uh-huh."

"THEN GET OUT OF THE BATHROOM! WHY ARE YOU STILL HERE?"

She heard him scramble out, and Aphrodite couldn't help but giggle. At least he had the decency to not open the shower curtains!
Carlos, the hairdresser, smelled of shampoo, but Aphrodite couldn't tell what kind. Coconut, perhaps? She braced herself and gazed worriedly at the pair of scissors that threatened her long, frizzy locks.

"All that hair has to go, dear. And you need an intensive curl treatment," he said as he snapped away at her mane. "I'm going to bring your curls to life."

At that statement, Aphrodite imagined her locks suddenly springing to life like snakes. She gulped.

After several minutes, Carlos exclaimed with great enthusiasm, "There!"

Aphrodite chewed her lower lip, feeling the fumes from the curl-cream burn her eyes. "Can you turn the chair around, so I can see myself?"

"'Course," said the hairdresser, smiling triumphantly. He removed the leather cover from her. "You'll love your hair, dear."

Air rushed into Aphrodite's face as Carlos spun the leather chair round. She closed her eyes for a second, and then opened them to see her reflection.

Oh, holy! Was that her hair?

Short, bouncy curls framed her face. They had volume! Life! Fullness! The widest grin in Midgar spread upon her face; she pulled on a curl, and once she let it go, it bounced playfully against her face.

"Speechless, aren't you?" The hairdresser smiled. He held out a bright green plastic bottle to her. "You just need this intensive curl treatment. Your curls are a little worn out, very tangle-prone, and frizzy. Just use this each time you wash your hair. Don't use too much shampoo; just a gentle moisturizing conditioner."

She nodded and stood, brushing stray hairs off her clothes. "Thank you so much, Carlos. I'll be sure to do that. How much must I pay?"

"No, all of this is free! Shin-Ra employees have that privilege."

She raised her eyebrows. Free haircut! Reno was right; being a Turk did have its advantages. "What a nice surprise!" Aphrodite beamed. She had come to the salon dreading that she'd have to pay. The little gil she had was hardly enough for anything. "Thank you again, Carlos. I'll be sure to follow your advice."

The hairdresser nodded and smiled, his little dark eyes squinting in delight. "Don't leave yet! Carla, the make-up artist will be with you now."

Aphrodite froze. "Make-up artist?"

"Yes, she'll be here." He raised an eyebrow. "Don't you like make-up?"

She thinned her lips. "I don't wear it."

"How can you not wear make-up?" said a feminine voice behind her.

She spun around to find herself face-to-face with a woman with heavy eye make-up and bleached blonde hair. Aphrodite's lips became thinner.

"So, you're the new Shin-Ra employee, Aphrodite Sorrows?" said the woman, nodding at Carlos, who strode to his next client. She smiled diplomatically.

Aphrodite attempted a smile of her own, but it became a weak grimace instead. "Yes. Um…do I really need make-up…?"

"Oh, don't sound so reluctant, dear!" The woman ushered her back into the chair, observing Aphrodite's face with narrowed blue eyes. "Your face is too plain and much too pale. Let's bring it to life."

Argh, that woman, watching her like a vulture! Aphrodite felt like a poor dead rabbit, a victim of the vulture. So, too plain, was she? Hmph!

The make-up artist fumbled at the dressing table with lipsticks, blushes, glosses, eyeliners, and eye shadows galore. So many colors! Aphrodite was dazzled. The woman turned back to her, pursing her red clown lips.

"First of all, I'm going to even your skin tone with some light foundation and blush," she said, opening the two containers. "You're very pale, dear, but I can see that your natural skin tone is a little darker than fair, almost olive."

Aphrodite grimaced, shrinking.

"Oh, come on! Relax a little. Your eyes are huge; don't be afraid." The woman smiled warmly at her. "Sit up straight and hold your face up to me, so I can work easier. You're a pretty one, but you look worn-out and older than you really are. And you have such enchanting eyes. All the dark circles under them lessen their effect."

She bit her lip, and sat up with reluctance, lifting her face. She took a deep breath, and Carla the make-up artist began to bring Aphrodite's face to life.
Aphrodite tried to smile at her reflection in the guest-room's full-length mirror. She hardly recognized the clean, younger-looking woman who smiled back. Her face had color now, and the dark circles beneath her eyes were greatly reduced. In reality, the make-up was rather natural looking…

At the salon, she thought the make-up would have been a disaster because of Carla's heavily made up face. Now she knew not to make quick assumptions. Carla had done a great job, actually…but the make-up felt uncomfortable on her face. She wanted to wash it all off, but that would be so ungrateful…

And sheesh! What wide hips, she thought, as she patted said area of her body. She turned to frown at her backside. She adored the blue Turk suit, but now she seemed to have curves and a butt because of it…

Oh, well.

Aphrodite found herself thinking about Reno as she fiddled with her materia. His cockiness did bother her a smidgen, and she couldn't stand his perpetual use of cigarettes and alcohol, but she liked the redhead nevertheless. She knew he wasn't just a lazy, drinking, smoking, womanizing killer. She felt vibes from him that said, "That's not all to me! I'm deeper than you think. Just try unlocking the door to my soul. You'll see."

And that was unusual, she thought as she holstered her gun and strapped on her watch. Was Reno really okay on the inside? He always acted so cocky; so laid-back. But what if he was actually calling for help subconsciously?

"Oh, c'mon, 'Dite," she scolded herself. "You're thinking too much."

She sighed and adjusted her tie, propping her dark glasses on her head. "Let's see what Reno thinks…" With that articulated thought, she took a deep breath, straightened, and left the room.
Reno gaped as Aphrodite self-consciously entered the living room. His jaw dropped, and he raised his eyebrows, nodding his head in approval. She frowned. The Turk licked his lips and made a strange slurping noise. What was he thinking?

"I don't like how the pants cling to my hips… I should have gotten a 'Large,' don't you think?" She continued to frown, first down at herself, then at the redhead.

"Oh, no, it's fine." He eyed her, continuing to lick his lips. He stood and sauntered over to her, grinning. "Let me see how you look from behind."

She gave him a suspicious look, but turned around anyway. "Does it make my butt look big?"

Reno chuckled. "Nice…" He wiggled his eyebrows suggestively, turned her around, and wrapped an arm around her waist. "Don't be so self-conscious, babe."

Aphrodite raised an eyebrow, highly suspicious now. What was he scheming? His hand trailed gently down her hips and stopped beside her backside.

"Eh, Reno…?" she squeaked, pursing her lips. "What are you doing…?"

The redhead nuzzled his face into her hair, grinning. "You smell so good."

"Eh…like what?"

"I dunno. You just smell good." Reno sniffed her curls, tapping his fingers on her hips. "Mmm. You're so yummy."

Aphrodite was silent. She couldn't find anything to say, and the redhead continued to relish in the aroma of her hair and stroke her hips. What was up with him? Sheesh…well, in all honesty, it did feel kind of good, but the moment was awkward, and—

Her thoughts were cut off by a most uncomfortable sensation. The redhead had squeezed her backside.

"RENO! YOU PERV!"

Aphrodite jumped as if she had been struck by lightning, and her hand flew for his face and slapped his cheek.

"Ow!" whimpered the Turk, twitching at the sting from her hand. "I was just foolin', 'Dite! That hurt…"

She gave him a filthy look, her eyes peering into his. "Don't you ever do that again. All that sweet-talking was just a ploy so you could squeeze my butt!"

He pouted and caressed his cheek, which now sported a red hand mark. Then a sly grin crawled up the corners of his lips. "Bet that's the first time anyone's ever grabbed your ass."

The blood rushed to her cheeks, and Aphrodite felt herself blush.

"Hah! So you're embarrassed," he said, sticking his nose up in triumph. He flipped his bangs. "Now we both have red faces."

"Whatever, Reno." She observed his clothes and frowned. "Where's your tie?"

"You're kiddin' me! I'm not wearing that crap."

Aphrodite pursed her lips, furrowing her brow and placing her hands on her hips.

"You look so cute when you do that."

She rolled her eyes at him. "Not only is your tie missing, but your shirt's not tucked in…your blazer's unbuttoned…your hair's messy…c'mon, Reno! This is supposed to be formal!"

"Oh, can it, 'Dite. I'm fine this way." The redhead flipped his ponytail and rolled his own eyes.

She crossed her arms, frowning. "Don't you care about me? This dinner is supposed to celebrate the new Turk recruit, and hello!" She waved her hands in front of his face and stood on her tiptoes. "That's me. At least show your respects!"

"'Dite," Reno began, taking on a stubborn and absolute tone. "I am not going to wear a tie. And you can't make me fix my blazer, shirt, or hair!" He crossed his own arms adamantly.

"We'll just see about that…"
"I can't believe you forced me to fix myself up." Reno glared at Aphrodite, leaning on the iron rail of his apartment's balcony. It had a handsome view: Cobbler Boulevard and its shimmering city lights was bright in the near distance. "At least you let me keep the hair…"

She smirked, standing beside him. She adjusted the dark glasses she had propped up on her head, holding her curls back from her face. "You look nice this way." She eyed his loose tie and quickly tightened it before he could object. "Besides, Tseng would disapprove if you stayed all messy."

"I don't care if Tseng disapproves," said Reno, shrugging and flipping his bangs. Aphrodite was so damn persistent, coercing him to make him look presentable! Couldn't she just worry about herself for once? "This shirt is so damn uncomfortable tucked in." He grimaced and began to squirm, his fingers shaking with a mad desire to un-tuck the shirt.

"No, no, Reno-bear!" Aphrodite grinned mischievously, batting at his fingers. "No un-tucking of the shirt!"

He stared at her for a long moment. "You called me Reno-bear."

"I was teasing!"

Reno shook his head, rolling his eyes. "Whatever." He looked outward, furrowing his brow in thought. How had this all happened? Bumping into Aphrodite in a Wall Market alley a month ago, coming to see her at Sector 5, taking her up the plate to Sector 7, sharing laughs down Cobbler Boulevard, fighting thugs, landing themselves in the hospital for days…Aphrodite fighting with Ares and moving in with Reno, himself training her for Shin-Ra…Her eyes bright upon learning of her acceptance into the Turks…the scenes all replayed themselves in his head. Aphrodite… now why did that name seem so familiar? He felt as if he knew the girl long ago… But he hadn't known her before Midgar… had he?

He shook his head, his fiery bangs flicking about. Enough contemplation… He turned to observe the watch on Aphrodite's wrist and the gun in her holster. "Hey, 'Dite…where'd you get all that materia, anyway?"

She grinned like the Cheshire cat at his question, a mischievous glint in her eyes.

Reno stared. "You…stole them?"

Her grin only widened.

His eyes grew huge. What shock! Wow, she wasn't as innocent as he thought she was… Sure, he'd know her stealing bread and apples, but materia? "Where'd you steal it from?"

"Materia shop in Sector 5 that I used to work for about a year or two ago. Didn't steal Cerberus, Earth, and Destruct, though." She sounded very nonchalant, that sly grin still on her freckled face.

His eyebrows shot up. "You're a paradox, 'Dite." He smirked, shaking his head.

"Yep, I'm just full of contradictions!" She ran a hand through her short curls, smiling at the redhead. But then she tilted her head, gazing into his eyes inquisitively. "Hey, Reno… Remember that bottle of wine I destroyed the other day?"

He nodded apprehensively, looking away. What a marvelous time to bring that up! Too bad she hadn't forgotten…

She placed a finger on her chin, pursing her lips. "What were you planning on using it for, anyway?"

Reno glanced shiftily at Aphrodite, running a hand through his bangs. What would she say? "Well…I was saving it for a—"

The noisy doorbell cut him off, chiming from inside the apartment. Aphrodite blinked. Reno dashed past the open balcony door to answer it, and she scuttled after him. Saved by the bell!

The redhead flipped open the door, and in the doorway stood a giant bald man, his eyes concealed by dark glasses.

"Hey, Rude," said Reno, nodding and stepping back as the visitor stepped into the apartment. Aphrodite just had to catch him off guard with that question… It made him so nervous. He flipped his bangs, knowing he had to act as if nothing nerve wrecking had happened, so Rude wouldn't worry or something of that nature.

"Ready to go? Limo's waiting," said Rude, sounding emotionless.

The redhead glanced over his shoulder at Aphrodite, who stared in amazement. She seemed awestruck, learning that they'd go in a company limousine. "Yeah. C'mon, 'Dite."

Rude looked over Reno's flaming head of hair, his thin lips forming a straight line as he sized Aphrodite up. "I remember you, slum-rat."

"C'mon, go easy on her, Rude. She's a Turk now."

Aphrodite sighed, and slid her shades over her eyes, hiding the windows to her soul. Reno frowned. She looked better without the shades…
Dinner at Guayaberas with the Turks went rather well for the slum-girl. Reno and Rude got themselves tipsy on margaritas while Tseng and Aphrodite chose sobriety, focusing on their food. (Those fried plantains were delicious!) She spoke little for fear of embarrassing herself in front of her superiors. Reno seemed rather cheerful (could it have been the margaritas?), but every time Aphrodite caught his eye, his eyebrows quivered nervously. What had he been thinking? And sheesh, why was he being so nervous?

Aphrodite rolled over in her bed, pulling the dark red sheets to her chin. She couldn't sleep…tomorrow would be her first day as a Turk, and insomnia had struck! She gazed at the shadowed walls of Reno's guest bedroom, her short curls spreading out on the pillow beneath her head.

"Oh, if only I had a Seal materia so I could cast 'Sleepel' on myself…" She mused aloud, hugging the sheets close. She glanced at the digital clock on the nightstand. Four in the morning. Oh, dear…it was late. Or early…? What a paradox!

Sighing, Aphrodite tossed off the sheets, and slid into her slippers, wrapping her green robe round her night-gowned figure as she left the bedroom, on her way to the kitchen. Her stomach growled, and she giggled, flipping on a lamp. And then she raided the fridge.

"Let's see…beer…? Some other stuff too…" She wrinkled her nose and opened the freezer door to see what sweet treats waited to be devoured. "Ice cream!" She rescued the container of ice cream from the chilly freezer, grabbing a bowl from the cabinet and a scooper from the utensil drawer. She grinned upon learning that the ice cream's flavor was Neapolitan. A flavor that suited Reno: three flavors for many different sides to the Turk.

"What the hell are you doing up? It's four in the morning!"

Aphrodite jumped, and the scooper she held soared from her hand. She swiveled around to see a barefoot, cranky-looking Reno with his messy flaming mullet (which was, surprisingly, not in its chest-length ponytail). She blushed, staring at his thunderbolt-patterned boxers and bare, lithe chest. She couldn't help but think that he looked attractive, even though it was late (early?) and he was groggy.

"You startled me!" She picked up the scooper and rinsed it off in the sink. "I can't sleep, so I came to get some ice cream… Doesn't that embarrass you: walking around shirtless in boxers?"

The bare-chested Turk snorted and grabbed a bowl and spoon for himself. "Not around you, sweet-cakes. Scoop some for me, too."

She felt the blood rush to her flaming cheeks. Much to her fortune, the light was dim, so Reno hopefully wouldn't notice… "Oh, shut up. What am I, your slave?"

"Yes."

Aphrodite smacked him upside the head. "Screw you! Get it yourself." Grinning, she filled her bowl with Neapolitan ice cream, plopping down on the living room couch. She propped her feet up on the glass coffee table and stuffed a spoonful of the gooey, flavorful substance into her mouth. Her teeth stung from the cold, and she shivered.

"Brain freeze!" Reno scooped his own ice cream, plunking beside her. He watched her chow down the chocolate side of her ice cream, smirking. "Don't eat so much chocolate. You'll get pimples."

"I already have pimples, Reno," she pointed at a zit standing out on her temple.

"I never noticed… Let me pop it for you!" He grinned mischievously, inching closer to her.

"No! Just eat your ice-cream, mullet-boy."

He frowned, but was then silent, filling his mouth with ice cream.

Aphrodite had another spoonful of ice cream, picked up the remote half-buried in the sofa cushions, and turned on the television. "Let's see what's on." She flipped quickly through the many channels. "Hopefully not porn!"

"Hey, wait! Go back two channels! I saw somethin'," said Reno, waving his spoon.

"'Kay." Aphrodite stopped on Channel 14, the Midgar News Station. She strained to hear what the anchor was saying. "Eh?" She turned up the volume.

They stared at the image on-screen: an exploding Mako Reactor. Reno's eyes widened, and they listened to the anchor's report:

"At three A.M., an hour ago, Mako Reactor No.1 exploded, killing hundreds of innocent residents… The cause is still under investigation, but the terrorist group AVALANCHE has been suspected of bombing the reactor… Shin-Ra has sent disaster relief to aid the injured…Many homes in Sectors 8 and 1 are without power presently... The current whereabouts of AVALANCHE are unknown, but Channel 14 will keep you posted on the case..."

(A/N: And there's Chapter 9! Please let me know if you've found any typos or errors of any kind, including factual. The ending of this chapter is, as you can see—with the destruction of the Mako Reactor—when the game has actually begun! So things are going to pick up from here on. I would love reviews! Please let me know what you think of the story so far. If you've got any suggestions, don't be afraid to say them. Thanks for reading!

Ducky)