Days of Exile

Chapter 44 – Importance

Previously on Days of Exile…

Reeve and Meia shared their plans and explanations over many issues in the last month. Reeve entrusted the job of evacuation of the slums to Meia and the exiled Turks. Everybody must be evacuated. Meia felt shy and honoured that Reeve would think of Meia now as a partner who shared his vision, rather than a worker. Reeve had full trust in her to carry out her job without supervision and she now felt the urgency to do her best.

As Meia ran back to Sector 2 slums where the Turks hideout was, she ran into Reno…

13 January 0008

For a moment, Meia stumbled in her steps, stunned by Reno's outburst. How could Reno mistaken her as Meia again, when she was in the Matilda disguise? She was not stunned for long; a smile grew on her face.

He knows who I am. He had always known, that sly fox.

They ran towards each other eagerly, smiling. Hands found hands, lips found lips, arms found themselves wrapped around each other. As they broke off, Meia's relief was replaced with amazement.

"You knew about my identity?" asked Meia incredulously.

"Silly girl," Reno smirked, bopping her forehead playfully. "I knew it was you the night I found you in the Shinra Building."

Meia quickly replayed the entire scene of that night (sans gruesome mess) in her head. She gasped. "It was when you were threatening me to keep quiet!" Her jaw dropped. "I remember you sounded a little… distracted when you shooed me away." Reno shrugged at her memory. He was used to the accuracy of her memory. A half-serious swat on his arm shook Reno out of his thoughts. "Why didn't you tell me earlier?" Meia hissed at Reno.

"Would it matter?"

"… No…" Meia frowned and reconsidered the question. "Yes… Maybe?"

Reno smirked. "I was just playing along with you because I thought it was so much fun."

"So…" Her eyes dropped to gaze at the floor. "All that flirting with 'Matilda' was done knowing that it was me all along?"

"Of course!" laughed Reno. "Do you think that I would do that to another girl?" Meia did not respond. She stepped back a little, in fact. Reno frowned and pulled her back. "No way, did you really think so?" He let her go and ran a hand through his hair in frustration. "You think I'm a big flirt?"

"Of course you were." Meia folded her arms with a huff. "Cissnei and the girls tell me about what you did before."

"That was before!" Reno's jaw dropped. "Did you really doubt my feelings towards you? After all this time? After what we've gone through together?"

"How would I know?" She retorted. Her voice lowered. "What do I know? We meet randomly, you disappear, I disappear, you flirt when I'm not around… though I guess that's because you knew it was me, wasn't it?" Reno threw her an "isn't-that-obvious" look. She glanced at Reno meekly. "I may not look like it, but I am insecure at times about our relationship. It's difficult to be confident about our kind of relationship given the nature of the job. When you started flirting with 'Matilda', I thought you were serious."

"Meia…"

"And don't act like you've never flirted with the girls in the office."

"I've never done that ever since I came back from Nibelheim!"

"I wouldn't know that! You never told me!"

"I did not tell you because I never thought you knew." Meia threw him a doubtful look. "Okay… It was oversight on my part. My interactions with females were short of famous in Shinra."

"More like, notorious," corrected Meia, placing her hands on her hips. "You came in a close second to Zack Fair."

There was an uncomfortable silence between them. Reno took a deep breath, not knowing how to best conclude the misunderstanding. He was never good at apologies. When Tseng reprimands his behaviour, Reno never had to apologise. He just needed to acknowledge the issue and then make a decision to change or not. It was uncomfortable for him to take initiative to apologise. Even if he did, he might pass it off as a joke or a half-hearted comment.

His pride was in the way, but Meia was humbler than that. Finally, she gingerly took his hand. "I'm… I'm sorry. I should've trusted you more."

She felt his arms wrapping around her as Reno folded her into his embrace. "And… And I'm sorry that I made you feel this way," murmured Reno quietly into her ear. "I may be playful, but I wouldn't go far as to ask a girl on a date. Not when I already have you.

"You captured my entire attention from the very beginning. Ever since Sector 4. I cannot imagine life being the same if I left you to die there. You were important to me, even before we became lovers. And now, I love you more than that." Reno paused (intentionally dramatic), allowing Meia to realise what he had just said. "You need to know this."

Meia's heart pumped at his honest words. "And you are important to me too… but I'm sure you know that by now."

"Sorry that I didn't tell you that I saw through your disguise." Reno took a second glance at Meia's clothing. "Call me weird but… is that Marshall's?" Meia giggled. "Eew! I knew I remember that skirt somewhere!"

"All washed and clean, geez." Meia beamed. "Actually, I really couldn't care less that I was tricked by you. I'm just so happy to see you safe and alive."

"Me too. You were in and out of contact for the entire month. And you did not tell me much after our very first meeting in Midgar. You have got to tell me now." Reno grabbed Meia's arm, not roughly. "What have you been doing?"

Quickly, Meia gave a gist of what had happened. Truthfully. How she tried to save Aerith and Marlene and in the end was brought into Shinra. Forced to be under disguise, she worked under Professor Hojo. Meia explained how she met AVALANCHE in the Northern Crater and her doubts led her to the Shinra Mansion in Nibelheim. Reno was quiet as she mentioned her capture by Hojo and how she was released.

When she was finished with her tale, Reno was not satisfied. "Oh no, you don't." He shook his head. "That's barely anything."

"I can't afford to tell you more now," said Meia. "Not because I don't trust you. But we have something else more pressing to do." She pointed to the ceiling. "The Planet won't be saved with any minutes that we're wasting here."

Reno hated to admit it, but she was right. He had his own matters to handle, but he was not willing to let Meia out of his sight yet. "Why does that sound so much like Leia?" He grinned. "You can tell me more along the way. Come," he stretched out a hand. "I am on my way to check on Rufus. Come with me."

Meia's eyes widened. "The President is alive!" She exclaimed. "I've heard rumours that WEAPON blew off the President's office. I thought…"

"Injured and unconscious, but Rufus is much alive." Reno shrugged. "Come with me and see for yourself."

Meia shook her head. There were things that she had to do. "I need to go back to the others."

"Meia, please," said Reno, almost pleadingly. "Be by my side."

Meia held Reno's hands tightly. "I really cannot. Reeve needs my help."

"Reeve?"

"Yeah, it's a long story. Reeve and I have work to do."

Reno frowned. "I'm sure he has many subordinates to help him with his work."

"I've promised him." Meia insisted. "It's my responsibility to get it done. And… and I want to get it done properly. Be of some use instead of being rescued and protected by others all the time."

The redhead considered Meia's words and studied the determination on her face. He was not going to win this one. He gave it one last shot. "Okay. I will come along with you then."

"What about your work?"

"Screw that. I'll just give Rude a call. He'll understand."

Meia was surprised. Workaholic Reno was willing to put down his work just to be with her? It was not like him. Apocalypse does the strangest things to people, thought Meia. She was glad to hear Reno's words, but she knew that saying those words took a lot out of him too. For a moment, she was swayed too. Who knew after their parting, when would be the next time that they would meet? Would there even be another chance? The Planet's crisis endangered everyone; no one was exempt.

"No," said Meia gently. "You have to do what you need to do too." She wondered if her words were spoken more for Reno or herself.

Reno took a step back and regarded her suspiciously. A red eyebrow lifted in curiosity. "Is it me or little Meia is doing all she can to avoid me?" He asked half-cheekily.

"Be serious, Reno." Meia frowned. "The life of the Planet is at stake. What would Rude and Tseng say?"

The mention of those names was the trump card. Reno relented and agreed that they will go separately. Meia hugged Reno tightly. Somewhere deep inside, she had a bad feeling that she would regret her decision to go separately.

"Hey, little one," said Reno softly. "Hugging me so tightly? We will be fine." He stroked her unusually unkempt hair. "Just promise me that you will pick up the damn phone from now on, okay?"

Meia gave a snort. "You have my word."

Meia puffed and panted as she zipped through the earthen pathways of Sector Two. She barely noticed the commotion around her. People packing their bags, children crying, adults shouting for their family over hovering candlesticks. The excessive use of Mako for Sister Ray may have restored most of the lights in the Upper Sectors, but in the slums electricity has not recovered. Meia did not stop to look at what was around her. She had a bigger priority for now.

Rod's garage was just ahead, and there was a figure at the doorstep. "Cissnei!" Meia shouted joyfully. The figure turned around. Meia could not see clearly Cissnei's reaction; she did not need to. Cissnei gave a loud gasp, dropped her jacket and ran towards Meia.

"Meia!" She exclaimed, hugging the younger woman tightly. "You're back safely!" Without waiting for a response, she pulled Meia along towards the garage, shouting for the other comrades that Meia knew so well.

One by one, familiar faces appeared. Each one of them welcomed Meia warmly, but Meia felt horrible. She pushed aside Legend's friendly nudge and stood quietly. "Everyone," she said softly. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry that I ran off to the Shinra Mansion without everyone's approval. I… I seriously thought I could do it. I overestimated myself. I'm… I'm sorry." Meia's voice choked. "In my pride and stubbornness I told everyone to leave me alone in my business. You… you really didn't have to save me… Reeve told me how all of you contacted him. Without your help, I-"

She choked when someone wrung an arm around her neck. "Stop being so stupid," said Rod with a frown. "You aren't the first person in this team to mess up, you know."

"Yeah," laughed Cassie merrily. "Rod's got enough trouble to make a book!"

"You!" Rod stood against Cassie angrily. "How could you do that to me!" He exclaimed. Meia smiled faintly.

"That doesn't mean that you're off the hook." Meia turned and saw that it was Kido who was speaking. "What you said was not wrong. You were stubborn and you lacked foresight in seeing that your action could've endangered us all, most of all Veld and Elfe."

"Sorry…"

Katherine nodded. "I have to stand with Kido on this."

"What you did was reckless and irresponsible," Alana added. "And very stubborn."

Meia remembered that Alana had specially gone to Nibelheim to convince her to return… but she had refused even then. "I know," said Meia meekly. "It's just that I thought I was right. I just had to make sure that I was right."

Alana's face softened. "Luckily, you were."

"What do you mean?"

"Whatever that you've learnt from Nibelheim can be of use now, right?" Haato asked.

Haato's simple question made Meia blush with embarrassment. "About that… there was nothing."

"WHAT?" they chorused.

Mason stepped towards Meia. "What do you mean nothing?"

"There were no records of Meteor and what it was used for." Meia squeezed her eyes shut. She wished that the ground could swallow her up. "Whatever that was in the basement were just research experiments from the Shinra Science Department. Meteor is a phenomenon that cannot be derived from scientific calculations." She took a deep breath. "There was nothing on Meteor. I'm sorry that I went through all that trouble for nothing."

"It's not your fault."

"Veld!"

Meia stared at the man who just walked out into the living room. "Veld…" She murmured. In the weeks that she did not see him, he looked visibly healthier and happier. Still, there was a strain on his expression as he walked towards Meia. His face was stern, but Meia knew that Veld was a caring person.

"Meteor and Holy are information that only the Ancients have access to." Veld explained to the surrounding Turks. "Our job this time is not like the last with Zirconiade. There are people who have committed themselves to the task of destroying Sephiroth and Meteor."

"Oh?" said Cassie. "So what are we going to do? Evacuate from Midgar like citizens?" She suggested sarcastically.

Meia smiled. Quickly, she began to explain AVALANCHE's and Reeve's plan. Then, she also unravelled the plan that Reeve came up with. "Our biggest job right now is to save the citizens of Midgar," she explained confidently. "If AVALANCHE does the job right, then the place getting the most impact would only be Midgar."

"Wait a minute," cut in Leia. "You mean there's a possibility that the other areas may not be destroyed?" She heaved a huge sigh. "That's great to know…" She looked at them sheepishly. "It's not that I don't care about Midgar."

Cissnei smiled. "Of course we know. Since the other towns have a high chance of not being affected then we can focus on saving Midgar citizens. It was hard to leave the others behind and come back to Midgar."

"Of course if Meteor were to really destroy the whole Planet it doesn't matter who or what we save…" said KK sadly.

Haato peered at the former Turks with a frown. "Whatever the case is," he said. "We are here to help Tseng and the others." He gripped his katana tightly. "Let's do the best that we can. I guess as rogue Turks… that's the most important thing we can do now."

Even with Rufus safely on his way to Kalm town, it was hard to be at ease when something that was half the size of the Planet was hovering above their heads. To see such an abnormal sight was too surreal. When Shinra's Turks patrolled Midgar, they could not help but peek at Meteor occasionally, even Tseng.

"There is no point in thinking about what happens after the Meteor impacts. We will keep working and assume the Planet will overcome this disaster," said Tseng just before he ordered Reno, Rude and Elena to help with evacuation plans of the citizens in the Upper Sectors.

Reeve Tuesti had already informed him that the exiled Turks will take care of the citizens in the slums. "Everyone in Midgar will be saved, whether Shinra likes it or not," said Reeve firmly.

Truthfully, Shinra would not like it. However, Tseng did not mention it. In fact, Tseng was glad to hear that someone in Shinra was thinking for the slum citizens. He was glad that of all people, it was Reeve Tuesti. Tseng had a great deal of respect towards the older man. He knew of Reeve's dilemma to balance a job in Shinra and his own ideals, and he knew of Reeve's futile efforts to keep to his ideals. Tseng saw a shadow of himself in Reeve Tuesti, and was pleasantly surprised to see that the man stood up for his ideals at last.

"What of Hojo?" asked Tseng. The news of the insane scientist that attempted to overgenerate Mako for Sephiroth did not take long to reach his ears.

"Ah. AVALANCHE has successfully stopped him. I expect Mako energy to return to some areas in a few hours' time. Hojo is gone for good."

"I expect Meia to be overjoyed."

Reeve chuckled. "Yes, I expect she will."

Midgar was already feeling the effects of Meteor in close proximity. Powerful gusts and earthquakes rocked Midgar, bringing down the buildings. The city of steel screamed as the foundations trembled dangerously. Mako energy was only half restored, throwing the city into darkness. The only light source came from the burning Meteor.

Elena Kellon gazed at Midgar around her. This was not the Midgar that she grew up in, not the one that she knew. In a matter of days, Midgar would not be recognisable… if she survived to even see that sight. She bent her head and took a deep breath to calm her nerves.

I must be the greatest fool in the entire Planet. That, or that I have the worst of luck.

Elena truly thought so. The Turk job was one of the most difficult jobs anyone can apply for; both physically and emotionally. A Turk protects the interests of Shinra to the best of their abilities; at any cost. However, it was not impossible. Many Turks have done so. However, no one probably was as stupid as her to enter the Turks in the worst possible time. In light of the destruction of Zirconiade, there came the turning point where people's confidence in Shinra weakened.

She had to choose the busiest and most difficult time of Shinra's history to be a part of it. All these to be done just to be close to…

Elena had not forgotten Tseng's promise to her in the Temple of the Ancients. Through the weeks of pain and doubt, Elena had once given up hope of ever seeing Tseng again. However, when he appeared in front of her, alive and safe, Elena had no words to describe how she felt.

Mr Tseng, when this is all over… I hope I can tell you how I feel.

For now, she had to work on the task at hand. Albeit a little distracted, Elena knew the importance of rescuing the citizens of Midgar. According to Tseng's orders, they needed to be a few miles away from Midgar city. Kalm would definitely not be enough to hold the Upper Sectors, much less the slums. Elena wondered how the slum citizens would escape from their predicament.

"It's just like the chief to use his last orders for good deeds," muttered Rude.

Beside him, Reno glanced at him. "What about it?"

"Atonement."

"I see."

I don't really see it, frowned Elena at the two men in front of her. What does Tseng need to atone for?

Reno was talking again. "I hope Meia is safe." He sighed. "How is she going to get the slum citizens out alone?"

Rude raised an eyebrow at him. "It is obvious that she would call on the others."

"The others… huh?" Reno's voice was low and soft, as if remembering a distant memory. "I… I don't even know if I should hold that hope in my heart."

There they go again. Elena thought, picking at her nails absent-mindedly. For all their nonsense and brutality, whenever they talk about 'the others', they seem to soften. They look almost human.

Elena remembered the boisterous and lively Turks, the group where her sister, Alana, was a part of. She knew some of them personally. They would often patronize the bar that she worked in, spending their tons of gil on drinks and stupid dares. Stupid as they were, Elena had to admit that they looked like they were having a lot of fun on their own. Without the uniforms, no one would have guessed that they were trained professionals, ready to kill.

Seriously, what happened to the Turks before I came in?

"Say Reno," began Elena, speaking aloud for the first time since they left Tseng at the Shinra Building. "You have been mentioning this person named Meia for a long time. If you don't mind me asking, was she one of the former... people too?"

Reno stared at her incredulously. "What are you talking about?" He said with a look of confusion. "You've met her before."

She blinked. "I did?"

"Wasn't she the one who saved you from the Ravens when they kidnapped you?" Reno folded his arms. "She told me about it."

Elena's jaw dropped. "That's… That's Meia?" She broke into a wide smile. "Really? Black hair, fair skinned, holds two guns?"

"The one and only," answered Reno with a smug smile. "I didn't remember wrongly, did I? She was the one who came for you, giving up the Support Materia in exchange for your safety?"

Elena glared at Reno. "You HAD to explain it so specifically. She's more than just someone who saved me from the Ravens. I really did not think that she would ruin her job for me, but she did. She was really a very kind hearted person, even though she was a Turk. I... I used to really dislike the Turks because of Alana." She felt awkward. What was she doing, telling the two of them things that they did not care for? "Meia made me change my mind about them, however." Elena smiled. "I would really like to meet her, if possible. I know they are taboo topic but…"

The redhead scratched his head at her. "Gee, you are really dense." Elena gave a cry of protest. "Of course you will get to meet her, assuming we survive Meteor. But you better be careful." Reno's face lit up into a grin. "There's no way I'm going to let you meet Meia without bringing up the fact that you forgot the name of the person who saved you?"

"It's not that I forgot!" Elena retorted. "I... I did not ask her." Elena answered with embarrassment.

"Didn't you ask Alana?" asked Rude.

Elena's blush deepened. "I didn't ask her too."

Rude wisely stopped asking. Everyone knew the strained relationship between the two Kellon sisters. He did, however, add in a fun fact for her. "She's Reno's girlfriend."

Elena stared at Reno in shock and amazement. "No way!" She exclaimed.

"Yes way," insisted Reno, wagging his eyebrows. "She and I go waayyyy back."

She clutched her head in semi-dramatic manner. "Argh! I cannot imagine that!" She groaned. "Please tell me it's all a joke."

The redhead gave the blonde a light smack on her forehead. "It's not as horrible as you think," he said, frowning. "Give me some credit here, yo?"

"It is," added Rude, pushing his sunglasses up. "Quite entertaining to watch them."

"Not you too, Rude!"

Argh, I'm really losing it. I did not realise that it was been more than a month since I last updated. Work totally robbed me of any time that I had. Anyway, I'm back so I've got nothing much for you… except apologies.

Nevertheless, I really feel honoured to receive support from you guys. Not from reviews this time, but more of faves and alerts. Thank you everyone! Please continue to trust in me. I will not disappear on you guys without a single word. Even if I were to give up on writing fanfiction, I will let you guys know.

Okay, no more sad stuff! I hope you have enjoyed this chapter!