In The Eyes of Strangers

by Bekatfela

Reno's seen a lot of shit. Life's hard, fate's a bitch and Shin'Ra are cruel to the core. It doesn't bother him as much as Outsiders. Slum-folk are born to it, ya know? But this blue-eyed, green-skinned freak... Unlike every other MAKO-high Shin'Ra thug, he stands out like a sore thumb... because he's not Shin'Ra. AU, Timetravel. Can't promise regular updates.

2. Flirting? What's flirting?

He next see's the blond in a bar.

For a moment it's so cliché that Reno almost does a double-take, but then actually does one for a completely different reason. Because strapped to the man's back are two of the most shit-hot, big-ass swords Reno's ever seen.

They're jagged and purposefully patterned, oddly so, but fit snugly to the harness that's clearly custom-made. The metal is burnished, gleaming, glowing almost like a pearl Reno had stolen some years ago. The ease with which the guy moves with them indicates he's had them a while.

If there'd been any doubt the guy was a SOLDIER before, there's none now.

The SOLDIER has settled on the bar with the ease of long experience, nursing his drink and clearly thinking about something other than the nice, leggy blond trying to chat him up. For a moment Reno's annoyed, because it was Carla Reno had come to see, but it's almost entertaining seeing the SOLDIER ignore possibly the hottest woman on the Planet in favour of staring off into space. More importantly, it's funny how it seems to make her more determined to get his attention.

Still, Reno didn't come for entertainment; Carla's a great looker, but she's also a great fence. And he's got stuff to offload before he gets caught with it still hot. The other patrons know him, know him well enough to get out of his way sharp, so he makes it behind Carla in seconds.

"Kitty-baby, I'm almost hurt." He purrs in her ear, draping an arm possessively over her shoulder. Carla knows the game, mutters in protest, but they both know that she's watching the blond guy's reaction as much as he is. Barely a flicker, other than a glance to acknowledge his presence. "Abandoning me like that."

"Don't be. I'd have better luck with an ice block." She grumbles, not entirely falsely, but still the blond shows no reaction.

"That's no way to treat a Lady." Reno shakes his head, trying to pin the guy with a disdainful look, but those Mako eyes meet his entirely unfazed. "Come on, I'll show you a better time."

She rises easily enough, sniping at the blond with an ironic –

"Goodbye, Romeo."

'- which has about the same effect as everything else she's tried. They're in the back-room and dealing within minutes, and then after that, the fun he'd promised her starts.

Because as much as Carla is a great fence, she's also great at other things.