Disclaimer: Final Fantasy does not belong to me...however much I may like it to. I own no characters, places etc. etc. so please don't sue me! I'm a nice person :)
Author's Note: Chapter Eleven...PLEASE review as I really enjoy reading your views and they inspire me to get better! It would make me very very happy! Anyway stop reading this and get on with reading the fic! Hope you enjoy! :)
Chapter Eleven: Figures in the Dark
The silence that followed in the statement's wake was one of an eerie stillness; the hardened shields of iced emerald leaves, and cold, grey slate defended their forms from the height-enforced wind with an unfaltering perfection, whilst simultaneously sealing them within their own, muted bubble.
Reno's eyes remained locked upon the black, hollow void which was as seemingly vast as the mountain itself, and yet the cavern's depth was untellable by mere outward observation.
He seemed somewhat unable to turn away, as though his mind believed that the moment his aquamarine gaze became unfocused, something would appear from within that cold, dark space before them and secure his growing fear concerning this familiar sight.
A sudden tremble entered the air as the young Turk released a long-held breath, which had been clinging to his lungs with a heavy tension, whilst his grip upon his partner's shoulder loosened as he took a couple of uneasy steps from the bald male and the cavernous structure.
Rude's brow furrowed gently, as the red head's words finally began to take effect, though his confusion was only increased when he made to turn and caught the look upon his partner's usually smirking face, "Reno?"
A few seconds slipped by, before he received a response, though it was somewhat spoken with a glint of apprehension, "We have to go in there…don't we?"
The bald male emitted a quiet sigh, and gave a short, slow nod, which in turn received a rather drawn-out moan from the red head, whom then proceeded to bury his contorted features within his cupped hands.
"What's the matter?" Rude's brow cocked in a confused amusement, "I didn't know you were afraid of the dark…"
Reno sneered in mock amusement, though showed no signs of real enjoyment, "It's not the dark…" he took a cautious step back, towards the familiar darkness, "It's what's in the dark that worries me…"
An uncomfortable silence settled once again, though this time both males seemed somewhat encased within their own thoughts; one observing his object of fear, whilst the other observed the his partner's dread-lined form.
After the passing of a mere few minutes, the bald male made to shift slightly, before directing himself towards the new-found passage, "Come on."
The red head's facial muscles contorted in a pained, yet resolute desperation, "No."
Rude raised his hand and rubbed it with a shaky force across his unlined forehead, "Reno…we've been ordered to-"
The young Turk's form stiffened, "I know!...I know…but it's just…" his aquamarine gaze narrowed, as his voice melted away to no more than a hushed mutter "…something's not right about this."
The bald Turk sighed, as he lifted one solitary eyebrow, "What's wrong with it exactly?"
"It's all too familiar…in the bad way."
Although the red head's display of discomfort was pure and unshaken, his partner seemed somewhat less inclined to share his belief, as his tone aired as one of tired dubiousness, "I've told you before…your dreams are just exactly that…dreams...they don't mean that-"
The frustration within him was undoubted, "But they're not just dreams! I know…I know you don't believe me…and I know you think I'm overreacting, but…I know what my senses are telling me, and every inch of my body is screaming at the sight of that thing!"
His cheeks had reddened with the forced energy behind his outburst, and soon his breath was puffing out from between his thin lips like ghosting wisps.
Although his words had been spoken with such steadfast feeling, Rude still seemed rather unable to agree with their intent, "It's just a natural reaction…I mean…It's not exactly inviting but-"
The young Turk's arms flung up to run through his own, flame red spikes, "It's a bloody death trap!"
"Reno! We're going in." The bald male's stained tone came coupled with a few, exasperated breaths.
A silence was created for the third time within the course of a mere ten minutes, though this one seemed somewhat less uneasy, and rather more calmed.
Neither decided to meet the other's gaze, though the thoughts of each were still directed upon the unresolved issue which had arisen with such firm resolution.
The bald Turk's brow contorted for a split second, as though some clarity had surfaced within his mind, and soon enough he managed to raise his line of sight to match the red head's with an firm, yet quiet perfection, "And that's an order."
Reno's jaw clenched, the action almost appearing painful in its tightness, though as the seconds passed, it seemed to relax in a willed defeat, and yet his tone was one of forced restraint, "Fine."
He made to tug at the front of his t-shirt, forcing the collar to stiffen, before walking up, and past his partner, to whom he muttered, though his quietness and position reflected the words were meant for himself, rather than Rude.
''I know I'm right about this…''
The small, yellowish tint that glowed weakly from the set of strap torches reflected unnaturally off the cold, grey slate sides which served as the cave's never-ending lining.
Although their travel-fashioned lights were enough to mark the short distance proceeding their own steps, the Turks still remained within a cloak of relative darkness; the cave's interior was just as shadowed as it had appeared from the snow surrounded entrance, leaving most details of the cold, rocked-area down to their own imaginative deliberation.
A series of dulled taps echoed pathetically about the void-like space, as the found their way uneasily upon the unsmoothed ground, which raised and clashed at almost every conceivable point; their footsteps being too small an interference to be allowed any such echo that might reveal the size of the cavernous structure.
The air was not close, and yet its density seemed somewhat uncomfortable; occasionally a chilling brush would prickle against the more defined contours of his face, whilst his outward breath rumbled with a heavy warm, causing the atmosphere to clash in a most dissettling fashion.
Every few minutes an array of irritatingly similar droplets would patter down upon the smooth, hard floor; the liquid's presence creating a sense of dampness, and weed-like life, as patches of poor, unflourished moss could be felt under foot.
These, rather slippery items of darkened green foliage were the cause of many an unstable step concerning the pair of wary travellers, and although neither had yet taken a descent due to the slippery annoyances, it only took the red head one, single second of miss-directed attention to allow himself to fall prey to a particularly icy mound of furry growths.
His scrawny backside hit the smooth, slate ground with a jarring thump, with vibrated painfully along his tired muscles.
A groan sounded from Reno as he hung his head in open exasperation, "Oh for-"
His curse was halted when the familiar hand of his partner came into view, as he outstretched it in assistance.
The red head took it with a hint of hesitant aggravation; his mind still slightly unwillingly to forgive and forget.
After taking a moment to brush off his lightly dirtied form, the young Turk gave a short nod of gratitude towards Rude, whom responded with a simple, steady-toned, though rather unneeded; "Be careful."
Reno rolled his eyes, before evaluating his uneven pathway once again, "So, what exactly are we looking for in here anyway?"
His partner's face seemed to contort in consideration, though a moment later it was once again relaxed, which in turn forced a really quite disgruntled sigh from the younger Turk, "Oh, now I remember…I'm not trustworthy enough am I..."
The tone used along with his words seemed to stir something within the bald male, whose brow furrowed with a light hint of regret, "Reno…-"
The red head shot his partner a look, which neither appeared harsh or disapproving, but rather shared in the hurtful damage which had been created around them both.
Just as he was about to turn away and continue upon the darkened path, Reno's pale, chilled ears picked up upon a familiar, low, deep-voice which was being quite awkwardly emitted from the bald male.
"There's some artefact…"
Rude's fingers clenched nervously, and his pace quickened, as he passed by his red headed partner, whom raised an eyebrow in curious suspicion, "Artefact?"
The bald male took in a deep, settling breath, "I believe it to be connected to Shin-Ra…" his eyes flicked down for a moment, as a stroke of doubt at his emission flashed over him, though with a lighter, outward breath, he continued, "I know it was a big deal a while back…"
Reno's brow raised in cautious surprise, though soon enough it lowered again, and his eyes narrowed, with a flare of anger burning behind their aquamarine shade, "What do they want to go digging up the past for?"
His partner's face appeared troubled, but remained steady, "Because…" he took a moment to evaluate his next step, before muttering softly, "…if they don't, others might."
The red head groaned inwardly as his soles gave another dull, throbbing ache; the hardened, over-worked skin finally beginning to wane with the constant pressure, and unforgiving terrain it was being forced upon.
Instinctively he made to pull the sleeve jacket from his wrist, so as to view a non-existent time piece, and when his aquamarine gaze was met with nothing by pale, lightly-hair dusted skin, a sudden wave of disoriented drowsiness washed over him, "How are we meant to know if it's day or night in here?"
His inquiry might have seemed to most as rather more of a rhetorical complaint than an actual question, but his tone did possess something likeable to real desperation, though this appeared to go unnoticed, or perhaps ignored by his bald partner.
They were so far within the cavernous structure now, that if they chose to turn back around, neither he, nor Rude would be able to see the small beckon of light, which would have been emitted from the reflective snowy entrance.
A few minutes passed in silence, as the red head eyed his partner in thought, and soon enough a smirk began to twitch at the corners of his thin lips.
Reno stretched his arms out above him, before clasping them upon his head, and emitting a rather over-played yawn; both actions intently created to draw the Turk's attention, and it worked.
His form came to a halt, with a sigh, and after scowling the viewable area, the bald male released a sigh of defeat and turned to the red head, whom was looking rather pleased with himself, "We'll camp here."
Within moments Reno had removed the various straps that were draped around him, so as to release the heavier bags, and stretched his tense-burdened muscles out once again, before plonking himself down upon one of the smoother slates of rock flooring, taking care to choose one not effected by the rare trickles of water, whose source still went unknown.
As the red head relaxed, his partner made to set up two rather thin, blanket-like sleeping bags, "I'm not sure how much further we have to go, but…by the looks of this place it could be a while…"
Reno nodded absent-mindedly, as his eyelids flickered with drowsiness, "Figures…"
The pair remained in silence for sometime, as the bald male spent his energies taking down notes and marking coded maps within the poorly lit space, whilst the younger chose to indulge in rather more restful activities.
After the quiet passing of an estimated ten minutes, a rustling sounded from the still-working Turk, as he made to put the various papers back to their safer confines, before removing his coat to form a somewhat comfortable pillow and reclining upon the slightly raised, and rather chilled flooring.
"So, tell me…"
Rude's deep tone vibrated softly, but was still powerful enough to rouse the sleepy red head, and bring his attention around to his partner, whom was staring blankly at the ceiling.
"…how long have you been in love with her?"
Reno's mouth dropped open, whilst his eyes narrowed with the furrowing of his brow; the whole look rather likeable to a somewhat mystified confusion.
For a moment it seemed as though he was working through various attempts at denial, but eventually, after a long process of mental deliberation, he came out with a rather lazy shrug, coupled with a simple, drawling; "I don't know."
The bald Turk shifted slightly as he fought to find a comfortable position, "When are you going to tell her?"
Reno once again, shrugged, "I don't know."
His partner sighed quietly, before allowing his eyes to drift over to the red head, "What's your favourite colour?"
"I don't know."
Rude hoisted himself up upon his elbows, his eyes narrowing in disbelieving annoyance, "Is that all you're going to say?" The red head went to open his mouth, though he was halted by the bald whom added with a hint of amusement; "And don't say, 'I don't know'."
Reno mouth fell shut in defeat, but after a moment spent sulking, his own eyes narrowed, and he turned to his partner, "Why are you so interested in my personal life anyway?"
"Because, I've never known you like this."
His facial skin wrinkled as he scrunched his expression in confusion, "Huh?"
"You're becoming…" Rude paused, as though scepticism had halted the word he finally managed to breathe out, "…mature"
Reno looked as if he'd just been accused of wearing a wig, "Don't ever say that again!"
His partner seemed to find his outrage rather entertaining, and soon a smirk was hinting at the corners of his usually set lips, "Anyway, you stabbed me…I think I deserve something in return."
The younger Turk crossed his arms, and raised a tired eyebrow, "You're gunna use this whole 'stabbing' thing a lot aren't you?"
Rude grinned smugly, "Yes."
"Well, I hope it gets infected!" He stuck out his tongue in a rather childish fashion, before settling back down on the high-slopped rock, with an air of dramatic performance.
Only the briefest of moments passed, before he started up again, and this time he was the one holding an expression of smugness, though his tone was certainly displaying something more akin to anger, "Anyway, you've been lying to me…don't think I've suddenly forgotten about that…"
Rude's face darkened, and he emitted a deep, fallen sigh, "I told you…I'm sorry, but it was an order."
The younger male raised an eyebrow disapprovingly, "You always were one for following the rules..." He started tapping his fingertips along the cold, almost frozen cave floor, "…and here I was, thinking I'd had an impression on you..." a slight pause passed, before he added in a strangely whimsical tone, "We need to spend more time together…in a bar."
His partner's brow rose in repressed amusement, "A bar called 'Seventh Heaven'?"
Reno's solitary brow rose once again, "Shut up."
A soft rumbling sounded from the sleeping Turk's throat with perfect precision, every few passing seconds, as his form rested with a comfortable stillness upon the flat, smooth surface of his chosen portion of rock.
Rude had fallen off within the first thirty minutes proceeding their rather brief conversation, and had been deep in the land of peaceful dreaming ever since, leaving his red head partner to lay awake, and consciously alone in the dark, silence of the cave, with only the odd rustle and patterned snoring to keep him company.
Anyone, whom had been observing the pair during their recent travels within the mountains side, would have probably wagered large amounts of Gil upon the younger Turk being the first to drop off, though seemingly the current environment, in which he found himself in, was playing too unsettlingly upon his sensory system.
It was the quiet atmosphere which he found most troubling; true enough, occasionally he would be treated to the echo of a falling grain-like rock, or the rare, light splash from the trickling water which lined various panels of the cavernous structure, but for the most, all that played was a dead, hollow silence, which was almost deafening in its dull, heavy completeness.
He ran his fingers along a neighbouring section of the cave floor; the surface being both smooth, and yet raised compared to his own, chosen spot. It would have been somewhat correct to say he found the action to have a smoothing effect, though it still wasn't enough to quell the unnerved butterflies which fluttered uncomfortably within his rather empty stomach.
His other set of fingers lay nestled against the lining of his pocket, and around the small, metallic, yet mainly plastic constructed device which had neither been used nor looked at for quite some time.
Although his gaze was currently fixed upon an unmarked shadow, his mind was rather more interested in the mobile item; he knew it wouldn't have a signal, and he knew there was nothing much he could do with it now, but he had, rather longingly, felt an urge to do something, that he found both pointless and baffling, with it.
A few moments passed before he emitted a deep sigh, and took out the piece of communication equipment with a hint of annoyance; his fingers quickly working to flip open the screen and scroll through the various names held within his address book.
And there it was. Tifa Lockhart. Illuminated in pale, white lettering, that seemed so dreary, and yet the name itself brightened up the display immediately.
The red head smiled subconsciously as his gaze studied every letter, every curve, and every perfectly shaped syllable.
It might have appeared strange to some; that he found such joy in just a mere name, saved upon a device which held many, much more important lines of figures and letters, but it was her name, and it made him happy to see it.
It was almost like looking at a photo; it gave the same rush of nostalgia and emotion that was held concerning its subject, and yet it also made it seem as if they were somehow there, with the viewer.
He was rather distressingly shaken from his emotive thoughts by a flash of crimson red, which was caught by the corner of his eye.
It only appeared for a moment, and though one might have originally assumed it to be his own, flame shaded hair falling down within his line of vision, the young Turk was utterly positive the obstruction was not of his own causing.
His stomach clenched painfully, whilst his aquamarine eyes widened in alarm, but although he scanned the area quite thoroughly, there was nothing to be seen, other than the silver glint of slate, and the deep, shadowed darkness which followed.
Reno's eyes remained fixed upon the blackness, as his hand quietly snapped the hand-held device shut, and replaced it within his pocket, after which he proceeded to slowly curl his form, before lifting himself up, noting to grab his blanket-used coat on the way.
He stood quite still for a moment, before pulling the item of clothing back upon his form, and securing the small, travel sized light so it shone with all the pale brightness it could muster.
The young Turk's eyes narrowed searchingly, as he begun to step forwards into the direction of the strange, unknown inhabitant, which had so purposefully entered into his attention; the action being entirely impulsive, as he neither thought, nor seemed to care about the loss of his current location his little hunt would bring, or the dangerous field he could be walking straight into.
Though as he passed from the bleakly lit appear of their camp, into the black, void like space beyond, he did not notice the stir in his partner's form, nor the following grunt, which came with the opening of Rude's bleary gaze, the awakening soon being proceeded by a furrowing of the brow, and the quiet mouthing of; "Reno?"
Reno's soles splashed gently upon the lightly puddle floor, which reflected eerily with the glow being emitted from his coat held-light.
He had no idea where he was heading, with no clear or distinctive markings available to guide him, and yet he just seemed to know the direction in which he was going was undoubtedly the right one,
Nothing had of yet, been spotted within his path, though with every step he took, the young Turk caught wisps of outwards breaths, that were not of his own causing, though their maker was as elusive as ever, as if he, she, or it was playing some play of hide and seek, or cat and mouse with the blindly-following male.
The ground gave a sudden drop in height, as Reno found himself standing within a rather lowered pit, which in itself appeared somewhat likeable to a battle arena; with its walls formed perfectly around the base, and the shape easily able to be divided for the two, opposing sides.
He scanned the area several times, only to find it empty, though as he proceeded to travel than little bit more towards the 'ring's' centre, the young Turk's eyes faltered, as if a candle had been held beside them, temporarily blocking their view, and making everything else seem darker than ever.
The light passed as suddenly as it has arisen, though when it did disappear, it left in its stead, the hazy form of the leather cloaked red head, whom stood mere metres from the Turk; hands held perfectly still by its side, and head lowered as if in a dormant state.
Reno observed the figure for a moment, but found no will to approach; the serious threat held in the situation suddenly becoming fully realised within his mind.
He had been so enthralled in the strange, yet familiar appearance, that he had not noticed the series of splashes that had sounded as his bald partner came running up behind him; his form soon following to thump into Reno's own with a gentle, yet agitated force.
His voice had lost all means of control, or restraint, as it belted out with both anger, and infuriated fear, "Reno, what are you doing?"
"Rude-"
He was cut of immediately, or rather the older male just continued, seemingly too lost within his own maddened concerns to notice anything, "You can't just walk off like that! Have you got no sense in-"
The young Turk's head snapped round in frustration, as his hand whipped at his partner's shoulder, "Rude, shut up!"
The sudden command seemed to snap the bald male out of his rant, and back into the very close reality, as his gaze finally took note of the standing, unknown form.
His brow furrowed, and yet his eyes appeared to widen, "What is that?"
"I told you…" Reno's voice shook, as his tone sounded out with a lightness that only be produced by an intense presence of panic, "I told you we shouldn't have come here."
Rude opened his mouth to comment, though no words were sounded, and soon enough the younger Turk aired another, fear-filled statement, "I've seen it before…in the wood…"
This appeared to catch the bald male's interest, as his face creased in a desperate curiosity, "What-…you mean the ghost?"
"It's not a ghost…"
The older male allowed his gaze to fall down the unknown's form, "What is it?"
"Something…else."
They remained rooted to the spot for more than a minute, before Rude went for the gun which lay concealed behind his coat.
He lifted it slowly to the figures hidden temple, "We are Turks in the employ of the Shin-Ra Company, and we demand you relinquish any weapons, and proceed to surrender yourself to us."
The red headed form began to twitch, as an array of deep, malevolent chuckles bellowed from its unseen mouth.
Rude's brow furrowed in anger; the mocking causing his fear to transform and become something entirely more unstable.
He took a step forwards, and pressed the gun firmly into the head of brightly shaded locks, though as he did so, Reno seemed to realise just what was about to happen to both him, and his partner, but before he should even attempt to warn him with something akin to; "It's a trick!" the red headed figure made one swift motion, and knocked the bald male straight across the battle arena and into the cave's hard, slate grey wall, which soon was lined with a trail of dark, crimson blood, and all without even lifting its head.
Reno's first impulse was to rush to his partner's aid, but both fear and curiosity rooted him to the spot.
He went to pull his own gun, but decided otherwise, and instead stood as still as possible, "Who-what the hell are you?"
The figure began to laugh once again, though this time it was not the deep, nasty one which had been produced upon Rude's attempt; it was light, soft, loving, and yet with a hint of playful desire, but most noticeably, it was feminine.
He had heard that laugh a million times before.
And it killed him to hear it being made by this thing.
Reno's eyes flashed dangerously, "Why do you keep doing that?"
He shook his head in defiance as the laughter continued, and his body instinctively took a few steps away from the form which was causing his mental state to unwind so furiously, "You're not her."
The young Turk squeezed his eyes shut as the familiar tone began to echo around him, and the moment his aquamarine eyes were lidded, he felt a sudden blow to his stomach, and the sound of one, large, powerful ripe sounded from his within him.
A warm, weighted gush rippled upon his skin, as his body crashed to the floor, and as Reno's breathing slowed to a perilous faintness, he worded silently, "You're just a nightmare."
A/N= Oh my Shin-Ra, I am soooo sorry this took so long to get out! I honestly thought it would be out about a week ago…but my computer kept going funny, and I kept feeling really exhausted like…every few hours! So yeah… sorry about that…
But don't fear, because the next chapter will be out before the end of next week! XD
So, anyway, on to the actual chapter…
I know that, for the second time, there isn't a whole lot of RenoxTifa action in this, but it just happened to go like that, and plot wise, she wasn't really able to centre in this chapter.
I know the end section might have confused some people, and to be honest…it was meant to! But it is important plot wise, and it will play a big part in the sequel so yeah…it will make sense…eventually!