Tseng did all the talking this time, but it was all about Reno. Only thing better would be Reno speaking for himself, yo.

Thanks to all who have read, review, encouraged, and been patient waiting for this update.

Enjoy.

fire mystic

Smoke and Mirrors

Why Reno? He's too young, he's too impulsive, he's too difficult to control, he's got a temper. The list of Reno annoyances was endless, and Tseng patiently listened to every complaint from their various sources, Shinra employees, fellow Turks, and Rufus. Especially Rufus. Tseng listened and smiled. Listened because he understood, smiled because the truth of it was was so obvious that he had to marvel at the simplicity of it.

Reno, standing on a street corner, leaning back against a wall, one knee bent, the foot resting on the wall behind him as he lit a cigarette. No one would know how well he observed his surroundings, filtering out possible threats, taking in and categorizing any information he thought he might need.

Reno, curled up on the couch in the office, sleeping in between missions. And as he turned his head slightly, sighing deeply in his sleep, a tiny ray of sunlight catches his face at just the right angle, and the innocence, angelic expression is beyond description. No one would guess, seeing him in this light, in such a susceptible position, of what he was really capable of.

Reno, with that snide smirk, flaring temper, and that propensity to scoff at authority, left everyone wary of him, worrying that he was a loose cannon. But he had never refused an order from Tseng, and the negatives of his behavior were balanced by an instinct Tseng had rarely seen, an instinct that kept Reno alive. As well as those around him.

After all, he had taken a bullet for Rufus.

Rufus hadn't said a word about Reno since.

And there it was in a nutshell. People invariably underestimated Reno. Even Rufus. Even Tseng. Because Reno was a master at it. In fact, Tseng was convinced, it was part of Reno's nature, something he did as naturally as he breathed.

Deception.

And yet, Tseng suspected, that deception hid a simple sincerity that most people missed. And perhaps that was the biggest deception of all.