Chapter Four
The Bet
A/N: Not a huge flashback, but I'm trying to incorporate all the moments Avalanche and the Turks meet in the game. Don't forget to fave or review!
Disclaimer: Final Fantasy VII does not belong to me, I personally own Alia, any other OC's and this fanfiction. I hold no Copyright over any direct quotes used from FFVII, FFVII: Remake, or FFVII Advent Children.
~ oOo ~
"Just a second!"
Halting from the sudden voice, everyone stopped, glancing around to see who was speaking to them. Alia, Cloud, Aerith and Tifa all snapped their heads to the ledge in front of them to see the bald man dressed in a suit from several days prior.
"Do you remember who I am?"
All glanced between one another, except for Alia who merely stared at the man. She should have hard feelings for him; should've felt something. Except, all she felt was hope and longing Rude passed on her message to Reno. "You're Rude, of the Turks," she answered.
"Good, you remember. Didn't think a few days should affect your memory but…this won't take long. It's…difficult to explain what the Turks do…"
Cloud stepped forward, arm protectively in front of Alia who glanced at her brother. She knew what he was doing. "Kidnapping, right?"
Oh, does he think Rude's here to kidnap Aerith? Or me? She thought.
Standing tall and proud for the man he was, Rude stood stock still, arms at his side. "To put I negatively…you could say that. But that's not all there is to it, anymore."
"Sir!"
Everyone turned their heads to the ledge high into the cavern. There, a blonde woman suddenly appeared, dressed in the same suit attire. Hands outstretched towards her partner, she yelled, "It's alright Rude! I know you don't like speeches, so don't force it!"
Head shaking, he turned to her. "…then explain, Elena."
Proudly, the woman crossed her arms. "I'm the newest member of the Turks, Elena. Thanks to what you did to Reno, we're short on people." Blinking, the woman turned away, whispering to herself, "Although because of that, I got promoted to the Turks."
Alia's heart stopped at the mention of Reno. He wasn't there because of them? Were the injuries he sustained that bad? Fear gripped the woman as her brother gripped her hand, knowing exactly what she was thinking. Closing her eyes, Alia knew this wasn't the time to consider such thoughts. They had to race after Sephiroth; that was their main objective at the moment. Nothing else could, or should, matter.
"In any case, our job is to find outwore Sephiroth is headed. And to try and stop you every step of the way."
"Um, if we're both after Sephiroth, what does it matter?" Speaking, all eyes glanced at her.
"What're you doing?" Tifa questioned yet the woman only shrugged. Turks, Shinra or not, Alia didn't think it mattered. If they had the same perpetrator in mind, why couldn't they combine forces? She at least thought that was doable.
"Elena, you talk too much. No need to tell them about our orders." Another figure entered the mines behind Rude. Long black hair pulled up halfway had all of them questioning who it was. Aerith, on the other hand, waved her tiny hand. Did she know him?
"Sorry Tseng," Elena commented.
"I thought I gave you other orders. Now go, and don't forget to file your report."
She saluted Tseng, the one who seemed to been charge. "Yes sir. Very well, Rude and I will go after Sephiroth who's heading to Junon Harbor."
Alia froze. Had it been that easy for them to gain a direction of where to go next? Maybe so, as Aerith chuckled behind her.
"Elena, you don't seem to understand."
The woman blinked in confusion, seconds passing until it dawned completely across her face. "Oh, I'm-I'm sorry!"
"…go. And don't let Sephiroth get away." Tseng didn't seem to care, as he sent them on their merry way. Elena escaped from her ridge up high, whereas Rude maintained the position beside his boss.
From behind his dark glasses, the Turk stared, and from where Alia stood, it seemed he was piercing his gaze directed towards her. "…Reno said he wanted to see you after the injuries you gave him healed." Not turning his head away, Alia knew this was a message meant for her. "He wants to show his affection for you all…with a new weapon." Turning on his heel, he moved past his boss and left from the mines.
They had a slight altercation with Tseng when he abruptly left, leaving the group of four by themselves once more. Confused by the entire interaction, Aerith suggested they continue towards Junon to find Sephiroth. Agreeing, they followed the same path Rude used, as it was the only way to escape the Mythril Mines.
The last to leave, Alia followed behind her friends, climbing up at the ridge as the others had when a glint of white caught her on. Dropping from the vines she held, Alia knelt to the ground, noticing a small sliver of paper on the ground. Not sure how such an object could have been there, she grasped the object, realizing it was folded several times, and when she opened it, she realized her name was printed towards the top; it was meant for her.
Alia Strife,
Hopefully this note reaches you as I begged Rude to hand it to you next you two met. He was able to give me your chocobo pendant, which I will keep on me at all times until we can see each other again. Until that happens, stay safe. Rufus is concerned about Sephiroth's return, which means I'm concerned for you.
Until next we meet peaches,
Reno Sinclair
The smile on her face was wide as she quickly reread the letter before someone appeared over her shoulder. Hearing Tifa's voice call her from the ridge above, Alia folded the paper and tucked it away next to Reno's EMR.
~ oOo ~
Giving a quick goodbye, Alia and Reno made their way towards the front door, making an exit so they could travel to Edge for time of their own. Holding the door open for her, Reno followed behind. Grabbing her hand, the two walked side-by-side towards Shiva in silence. A few times the redhead squeezed his fingers, elated when she reciprocated the same motion. Then she gently pushed his hip with hers, ignoring the clear difference in heights, simply enjoying being back together.
Once beside her bike, Alia grabbed her goggles from their specific compartment, correctly placing them on her face. Glancing upwards, she noticed Reno had already taken his place upon her bike as the driver, hands in his lap, waiting for Alia to claim her spot behind him. Staring at him, a mischievous grin grew on her face as she thought of a way to make their exit more…interesting. Acknowledging her change, he straightened her back, curious to know exactly what was running through her mind.
"Alright, what're you thinking?"
Leaning forward against the handlebars, Reno inspected the smile she wore. She had something planned inside her head, and he wanted to know exactly what it was. Alia was witty and had the ability to use her surroundings as an advantage. Knowing she immediately planned something as soon as they were out of the building meant that, not only did she have a trick up her sleeve, but she was in a playful mood.
Back towards Reno, Alia walked to the edge of the cliff. Peering over the side, she could see down the edge of the mountain, eyes following the winding path down its edge. It was a good ways to the base, with a river, several bridges separated the two of them from the bottom which would lead them on the direct path back to Edge.
"How about a race?" Glancing over her shoulder, she laughed at Reno's raised eyebrows.
Not expecting such a statement, he shook his head. "Ok, I'm intrigued. What kinda race we talking about?"
"Well…" Walking back, she placed on hand on her bike's engine. The cool, rigid surface calming her muscles. "Just a race to the bottom. You take my bike and I run."
"Babe…seriously?" Reno waved his hands before grasping her chin with his fingers. "What's with this sudden idea?"
"Nothing really. I just thought something like this could be fun before we head home." Blinking, she curved her lips tighter. "What, scared you'll lose?"
Baffled by her statement, Reno sat against the bike's seat. Him - scared? Oh hell no. Reno of the Turks has never, ever been scared nor backed down from a challenge; especially one from his girlfriend. Leaning in closer to Alia, their faces mere inches apart, Reno softly molded his lips against hers, only to pull away when she moved to latch hers to his. He watched as her face turned red; she desired nothing more than to close the gap. Reno started something she wanted to finish, and the man knew exactly what he'd done.
"Hmm, you honestly think you'll win with me on your bike?"
"Uh, yeah? C'mon, you know how fast I can run."
"True, but let's see if you're faster than a motorcycle." Claiming the bike's seat once more, the red-head revved the engine, its glorious muscled power echoing across the mountainous ravine. Standing directly beside him, Alia stretched her limbs, calves and ankles.
"By the way, is this race simple, or do you wanna make a bet out of this as well?"
"Hmm, a bet, you say?" She angled her back, hearing her spine popping several times. "A bet would make this more interesting. What'd ya have in mind?"
Reno snickered. Scratching his head in thought, he considered what would be best to give him an advantage. And then it hit him as a cruel mile grew on his face. Deep down, the man knew this was definitely evil of him. But she wanted a race, so he would give her one. "How about…if I win the race, we talk about us."
"What about us do you wish to speak about?"
Leaning in even closer, he spoke softly. "I think it's time we discuss the lack of intimacy in our relationship."
"The lack of…? Ohhh." Playing with her hair, Alia knew exactly what he meant. But the truth to the answer he was seeking was…a reason she'd never mentioned it before. Shaking her head, she smiled, though knowing full well the red-head could see through such a facade. "You're on! But what about if I win?"
"Tch, that's if you win, peaches. However if you do, let's say…" He snapped his fingers, knowing instantly what would be perfect for his lady. "I'll take you to the Chocobo's Nest for a night of fun." The Chocobo's Nest was the place to dine in Kalm, it's where everybody went if you wanted an upscale establishment to dine, which was always accompanied by romantic music and dancing. The restaurant held a special place within Alia's heart for it was the first place Reno took her to when they finally claimed themselves to be a couple.
It was their go-to restaurant when they wanted to get out of town and be by themselves.
Smirking up at the man, being nearly a foot and a half taller than her, she met his gaze. Her cheeks burned, face flushed with excitement. Mostly, however, she was frightened. Utterly terrified to the core if Reno was to win the bet. Alia didn't care if they didn't go out to dinner, she just simply didn't want to have the discussion he expected to have.
If they did, he wouldn't want her anyways.
"You are so on, babe!"
Eyes widening at her acceptance, the man wasn't expecting for her to agree so quickly, nor at all, for that matter. "Y-You do? Are you sure?"
"Of course, why wouldn't I? It seems fair. Besides, I know I'll win so it doesn't matter."
"Man, you sure are acting cocky. You're taking that spotlight off of me peaches."
"It's about damn time. You've been hogging it for far too long," she laughed. "So, are you ready to lose?"
"Nah, I'm ready to win. Get ready for your ass to be kicked!"
"In your dreams, lover boy."
Revving the engine several times, Reno glanced over at Alia who was stretching her calves and immediately regretted what he decided to bet. Alia wasn't a random person he could demand at his will. She was his everything. The one person in this world who decided to love him back for everything he was worth. In all the darkness the world encompassed several years prior, she had been the light his soul required; she saved him from himself. He'd made the bet to know why they hadn't become more physically intimate. Over the last few years, he thought of several conclusions, all silly and made no sense.
She was a virgin and wasn't ready.
She wasn't interested in sex.
She's had sex before and never wanted it again.
Or she was simply afraid to be intimate.
He'd thought of several others, but these were the more prominent ideas popping in and out of his mind. Turning his attention over to Alia, he smiled. She was the only person who knew every dark secret he held within. Other than Rude, she was the only one he trust wholeheartedly when he needed to speak, to talk about whatever was on his mind.
"Let's do this!" Her cry pulled him from his reverie. As Alia crouched to the ground while Reno tightly held the handlebars. Counting down together, Alia yelled GO! and they were off.
Pouncing from her stance, Alia stretched her legs as far as they could, the dirt beneath her feet disappearing. Following close on her tail, Reno maneuvered her silver bike around the mountainous roads. The two were neck-and-neck until they reached halfway down the mountain when the red-head decided to gun the engines, zooming past the blonde. Alia could only blink upon hearing the engine purr, realization dawning on her the man had cut her off and was now in first place. Just as he passed her, Reno decidedly smacked her ass, laughing all the while he pushed onward.
"Hey!" she yelled, trying not to laugh.
"Love that ass peaches!"
Oh it's on now, she thought. Thinks he's gonna win? Think again, Reno! Pushing her legs even more, Alia was able to increase her speed nearly tenfold, to which she caught up to the bike almost instantaneously.
Her ability to run faster than anybody she knew derived from her time spent alongside Cloud and Zack under the special care of Professor Hojo. To this day, Alia knew naught what the Professor exactly worked on with her, nor the experiments he ran. All Alia knew was that when she awoke nearly four years later, her left eye changed to red and she could run faster than anyone she knew. She also discovered she had a move that her brother had never seen before where she was able to move quickly from one position to the next in the blink of an eye.
Just as she had done now.
Zooming in front of Reno from her previous position, she was now ahead of the game as they neared the end of the road. She could easily jump down the mountain's side, and completely ignore the road. However, she decided against that as she felt it would technically be cheating. Hearing the engine from behind, Reno was able to quickly catch up to her position, leaving them side-by-side once more.
As she wanted to win, Alia pushed harder, the muscles in her thighs crying out against the torture. Ignoring the burning and aches, the bottom of the mountain was just around the next corner, with Reno right on her tail. That is, until he revved the engine once more to push him past her.
"Looks like I'm gonna win!" He yelled over the wind.
"We'll see about that!" She screamed right back at him.
Rounding the last corner, they were nearing the end. With only about two-hundred feet remaining, Reno decided to push the bike even further, knowing the machine could pack a punch when needed. That is, until a flash of red soared beside him. Eyes adjusting, he glanced at the end of the road to see Alia standing perfectly still, arms crossed with a giant smirk plastered across her face. Reaching her position, Reno slammed the brakes, bike sliding just in front of Alia as it stopped. Dirt wafted through the air, and when it finally cleared, she laughed.
"Hell yeah! I won!"
"Hey!" Reno couldn't help but laugh alongside her. "We never agreed you could use your Blink ability!"
"True…but you never said I couldn't!"
Stepping off the bike, he walked to her side, hand caressing her cheek, thumb ghosting over the skin. "You cheat," were his soft words.
She scoffed, the smile betraying her words. "Oh! I did not!"
"Yes you did. I have to admit, you were able to go pretty far this time. That was impressive!"
"Right?! Holy shit, I didn't think it'd work!"
Since learning of her ability, to which Reno had named Blink, she'd been practicing on extending the length at which she could move from one position to the next. Last time they checked, the furthest she'd been able to move was around fifty-feet. This time, she was able to go almost two-hundred, a feat she'd been working on since learning of this uncanny skill.
"You seem proud." Reno pointed out.
"Well duh! We'd been working on extending my range, and I could never go farther than fifty. This is my new record!" Beaming, she jumped up and down in her spot. Alia squealed with delight. "Did you see? Did you see?!"
"Oh I definitely saw," he answered. "You flashed red this time."
"I did? Crap, that's never happened before." Feet planting on the ground, she bit her thumb. "Well, you said you've seen red sparks before, so maybe it depends on the length I travel?" She shrugged her shoulders, seemingly not to care. Jumping into his arms, she wrapped hers around his neck merely standing there surrounding by a comfortable warmth. Dropping his head, Reno captured her lips, hands tightening around her body, pulling her even closer.
Alia clung to Reno, her fingers digging into his red hair. A moan exploded deep within her throat and she tried to suppress it, but Reno had a way to bring out the lustful creature deep within her and she feared the day he would truly bring it out. But she didn't care - for a minute, all she wanted was to cling to this man, this one man who always wanted her and never pushed her away. But Reno eventually pulled back too soon and she let loose a small whimper. He let loose the beautiful smile of his and left a gentle kiss against her forehead.
"I believe a dinner date is in order. You deserve it." And his lips once again found her swollen ones.
~ oOo ~
"Sir," Tseng released the strings to the blinds. His eyes gazed one last time outside the window as he watched Alia and Reno run off and play as they deserved this time together. He had chuckled as he looked on at the peculiar couple. "After everything that's happened, wouldn't it be better to keep Alia here?" The head Turk glanced at Rufus, who was now sitting at his makeshift desk inside Healen.
"No, the smartest thing would have Alia keep to herself, to act and do as she always does throughout the day. We all know Alia." Rufus dropped the packet of papers from his hand and rubbed the bridge of his nose. He expected a severe headache to settle soon, as he was tired of reading the same reports revolved around the group desiring to attack their friend. "She'll go crazy if we kept her here twenty-four-seven. Besides, what better way for her to stay safe than by being with Reno? And if anything goes wrong, he's there and her brother is just a phone call away."
"True, but Cloud has no idea of what's going on as well."
"I know. I have no idea how to tell them."
"How about just bringing Alia here and explaining everything that's been going on for the past few months?"
Rufus groaned in his seat and leaned back, stretching the ever-aching muscles that were constant in his back. "It's not that simple, she would be super-pissed."
"Well of course she would Sir. You've had Reno and all of us swear to not speak about any of this to her. She seems to be in grave danger and we can't even figure out why. How do you think that'd make her feel?"
The Shinra President let loose a long deserved sigh "She would hate us once again."
"Exactly Sir, and after all that we have done to prove to her that you and everything we now work for has been for the better would be a loss." Tseng exhaled. He didn't like speaking so openly to Rufus, and yet, in a moment like this, he felt it was necessary. "It would have been a waste."
"So what do you propose I do…?"
"My suggestion would be to find the courage to reveal the truth to Alia; she deserves it and we both know that, regardless of the fact that we've been protecting her."
"Yes, I'm aware." Swiveling in his chair, Rufus starred at the closed blinds behind his desk. Usually he liked the green scenery from the mountain. Today, his mood was dreary to appreciate all he could see. "I'm just afraid of what would happen once she discovers the truth."
~ oOo ~
"This is seriously all you packed?"
"Why should I pack more? A majority of my clothes are here rather than in my closet at home!"
"Well, they're right where they're supposed to be!"
Having raced from Healen towards Edge, the two had parked Shiva in the underground garage of Reno's apartment building. Hand-in-hand, they strolled towards the elevator as the ding of the doors sounded through their ears. Alia pressed the appropriate button for the penthouse suite to indicate the apartment on the top floor. Having become slightly fatigued from using her Blink ability, she was now leaning into the red-head, a content smile ever present on her face. Riding the contraption upward nearly fifteen stories, the elevator finally came to a halt.
Ding. The doors opened wide, sliding open to reveal the familiar hallway she'd encountered numerous times.
Slinging her bag over a shoulder, Reno dragged the happy woman along. "Well peaches," he broke the comfortable silence. "We've got all day ahead of us before I take you to a special dinner. What should we do?"
She smiled even more. "Honestly, I have no idea. I'm more happy by the fact you're home and here with me." She glimpsed upward towards her lover, whose were cast down to her. Cheeks grew warm, Alia bit her lips as the red-head leaned down to plant a kiss on the reddened skin.
"Ditto to that, sweetheart. It feels so good to be home with you."
Following beside him, hand-in-hand, the two quickly made it towards his door, their silence comfortable. Stopping before the door, she caught sight of the number 'six-two-nine' etched into the plague besides the doorframe indicating Reno's apartment.
Fishing inside his pockets, Reno heavily sighed after a quiet moment. "Oh…fucking shit, please say I didn't leave them at Healen…!"
"Are you possibly…looking for these?"
Jingling a set of keys, Alia admired the small, blue chocobo key ring she had gifted him early into their relationship. She used to always laugh as he would lose his keys nearly everyday and could never remember where he placed it. A small keychain wouldn't do much, but he did seem to remember where they were because he could see the blue chocobo. It wasn't much, but it at least helped, which was a strong win for Alia.
It was also a small gift for when Reno went on the first week-long mission with the Turks, as it was also the first time the new couple would be away from each other longer than one day.
"How did you…" He muttered, reaching outward to snatch the keys from her slimy fingers. Finagling with with the lock, he glanced down at the woman. "How in the hell did you even take them from me?"
Shrugging her shoulders, Alia smirked. "Eh, I have my sneaky ways."
"Please tell me this isn't something Yuffie taught you."
"Oh this is definitely something Yuffie taught me."
"Great."
Door open wide, Reno allowed her to enter first, and the first thing she noticed was the cleanliness of the apartment, as she was the one to organize the entire apartment before he left on this latest mission. Having purchased one of the two penthouse suites, Reno's home was very spacious. Considering this was her second home, she could see the positive consequences from her and Reno having lived together off and on for the last few years.
Stepping inside, she was reacquainted with the familiar living room, where the ginormous L-shaped couch was placed directly in front of his massive flat screen. He had a large enough dining room to accommodate all of her friends and his. The kitchen was fit with marble counters imported from Costa Del Sol, and all the bathrooms were fixated with huge walk-in showers.
It most definitely was a living situation Alia was not accustomed to whatsoever.
The first few times she visited the apartment, she was confused. If Reno could afford such luxury and wanted to, he had the right. For Alia, coming from a small town with practically nothing but the clothes on her back, it was hard for her to flaunt any money she had. Then again, Reno wasn't the 'flaunting' type when it came to his finances. Sure, he could afford the finer aspects of life, but the guy was a simple man who preferred to eat Wutai take-out in front of his t.v.
Leaving Reno beside the door, Alia traversed into the kitchen to grab a glass of water when she was almost knocked off her feet. Nose scrunched, she walked towards the fridge, a sinking feeling in her gut as to what the sudden onslaught of death could possibly be from.
Opening the damn contraption, she was bombarded by death itself in the form of smell.
Choking, she bravely glanced inside to see several plastic bags, all with the same insignia from Reno's favorite Wutain restaurant. Knowing exactly why the smell was so bad, Alia only rolled her eyes. Leave it to Reno forget his dinner in the fridge and not throw it away before leaving for a whole month. Slamming the door shut, Alia shuddered, wishing for anything to replace the scent from her nostrils.
"Hey, what's wrong peaches?"
Glancing up to see Reno in the doorway, Alia snickered. This was going to be fun. "I-I went to go grab a water from the fridge b-but I think I saw a giant spider! You know how much I hate spiders!" Forcing her lip to pout, she added, "Will you please get it for me…?" She batted her eyelashes, being the little devil she was.
Laughing, he stepped forth, grabbing several paper towels in preparation. "Only been back a few minutes and you're already asking stuff from me?"
"You know you love me."
"Oh ho, that I do peaches."
Eyes darting around the fridge, Reno couldn't see anything when he decided to open its door, not understanding how a mere spider could enter the damn thing. So, opening the door slowly, he then slammed it shut, quickly backing away as he fanned the air in front of his face. Bent over laughing, Alia watched the entire spectacle, loving the contortion on Reno's face.
"Holy shit of mother-fucking Gaia! What in the hell did I leave in there?!" Clutching her sides, Alia was in tears. Her laughter echoed through the large suite as Reno froze, eyes narrowed into slits as he stared. "Let me guess, there wasn't a spider, was there?"
She meekly shook her head, lip bitten between her teeth.
Eyebrow raised, the red-head smirked. "Oh, now I get it." Dropping the paper towels he held, Reno leaped at the woman who squealed, registering what the man planned to do. Dashing out of the kitchen, Reno was hot on Alia's tail. Dodging his advances, she maneuvered around the couch, through the dining room all the while the red-head knocked into every corner. His movements were sloppy while hers were precise. Running back into the living room, she eyed the corner of the rug underneath the couch as she always found herself tripping on it, careful to avoid such a catastrophe.
Running at the stairs, she Blinked to the top, grinning slyly as Reno stood at the bottom, eyes wide. "Will you stop cheating?!"
"Not my fault you're not as awesome as me!"
Following after her as she dashed into one of the bedrooms, Reno trailed the stairs two at a time, managing to trip on the top step, falling straight into the hardwood flooring. "Son of a bitch!" he growled. Using this as an advantage, Alia slipped into his darkened bedroom, deciding to hide in the closet instead of the shower. Large, quite steps led her inside the long walk-in closet where she placed herself in the corner, concealing her body behind Reno's tall suits. For now, she remained undetected.
"Alright little missy," he called from the hallway. "I know you're hiding in here. Where did you go?" Reno's footsteps entered her ears. She knew he was now in the bedroom and wondered if he could even see her. He always found her, but this was a game she loved to play.
He slowly creeped inside the bedroom. Reno's breathing the only sound she could hear as the flicker of lights created a shadow in the closest's doorway. "I know you're in here peaches, you always hide in the bedroom. Did you know that?"
Shit, he's right, Alia thought. Usually I hide in the bathroom, so he'll never find me here. Seeing the bathroom light flick on off to the side, she knowingly smirked.
"You could be in here," she heard him say. "But where, exactly?" Searching inside the shower to find it empty, Reno huffed. "Hmm I wonder." Peering inside the closet, Alia could see him and panicked, thinking he could see her. But, he didn't turn the light off. Instead, we walked right back outside, turning the light off as he left, shoes echoing down the hallway as he left.
Had it really been that easy?
Silently as she could, Alia left her hiding spot, gently moving the clothing from her way as she left. Seeing he closed the door, she opened it as quietly as she could, peering outward into the hallway. Tracing the doors handle, she was curious where her red-haired lover went. It was the the lights suddenly flickered from behind. Back tensing, Alia could feel the steamy breath pouring onto her skin.
"I finally found you."
Having no time to register what was happening, Reno's arms wrapped around his mid section, as he lifted her into the air. Yelping, she was carried over to his bed, tossing her onto the still unmade sheets. Falling upon the sheets, she squealed again. "You're such a little sneak, you know that?" Kneeling beside her on the bed, Reno hovered over Alia, lips dangerously close to hers.
"True, but you've always liked a challenge."
"You bet I do, and that's never going to change."
Hands placed on either side of Alia's face, Reno leaned downward, pecking her lips with his. One peck turned into two, which two then turned into a soft kiss running down her jawline. An electrifying chill running down her back left the woman weak against this man. This delicateness had been present since they met, remaining even as they were to be sworn enemies.
Stepping back, Reno stared into her eyes, loving the difference in color. Her blue eye glowed with the mako coursing through her body whereas the red was bold and bright. He loved both, especially the red eye with the narrowed slit. It was captivating and beautiful all the same, for he had been enamored since the night he pulled the patch off.
As if on cue, Alia leaned into his hand, simply wanting to be held. His skin against her sent a calming sensation straight into her heart where she could always feel relaxed and comforted. "The whole time you knew I was somewhere in the bedroom," she stated.
"Of course I did. Like I said, you always manage to hide in the bedroom, it was only a matter of time until you popped out."
"So…then where did you hide? I swear I heard the door shut and you walk away."
He laughed. "I closed the door then tapped my feet against the ground while I hid beside the bed."
Alia stuck her tongue out at him. "And you claim I cheated!"
"Because you did!" She didn't say anything, lips fighting a possible smile. "We both cheated today. Do I care? No, because we have fun when we do."
Now she was able to smile. "We really do," she leaned up and kissed his cheek. Falling back against the bed, Reno stared. She was beautiful. Her hair fanned around her head, cheeks slightly flushed as the red-head fought to suppress a growl. "I must say peaches, you look…quite ravishing right now."
"Hmm, do I now?"
"Oh yes, I just want to kiss those lips of yours…"
Taking the chance, Alia leaped forward, crashing their lips together, molding into one. Her arms wrapped around his neck, bringing the man down towards her. Bodies clashed, Reno shoving his hands, grasped her locks, keeping the woman in place. Moaning at the tingling sensation, Alia curled into him. She always wanted more from her partner, but the fear of escalating to the next step had fear running through her veins. Now, all they were doing was making out, and she could handle that. Anything past the use of their lips was absolutely terrifying.
And yet, Reno's kisses were magic. He knew exactly where to kiss and how much pressure to apply. He nipped her ear, sucked her lip, pecked her lips and tenderly licked her neck as he trailed down to her collarbone. Tilted her head to grant access, Alia writhed in his arms, pleasure bursting across her skin as she gasped when he found the spot at the juncture of her neck.
Searching her eyes, Reno removed his hands from her hair and graced the skin of her arms with his fingers, gradually making their way to Alia's breast. When she didn't protest, he squeezed, a moan escaping from his mouth. Her cloth-covered flesh molded against his hands and Reno could feel the bulge within his pants growing by the second. One hand on her breast, Reno was surprised Alia had allowed him to reach this far. He didn't want to leave any marks on her skin but he did want her to remember what he had been doing.
This is getting out of hand. If I don't stop I know Reno'll want to…but I just can't… I can't do it.
Although she was nervous about what was going to happen next, Alia couldn't ignore the sensations she was experiencing. Her muscles melted under his touch, breathing increased to match his and she could feel the wetness secrete between her legs. The more Reno massaged and kissed her, the more aroused she was becoming. She wanted Reno to finally take her; she wanted him to give her an amazing pleasure; she simply wanted to become his.
But she wasn't ready.
Without her knowing, Reno had let go of her breast and made his way south. Kissing her neck, nipped her shoulder and pecked her collarbone all the way down until he was at her navel. Reno looked up at the beautiful woman who couldn't forego her pleasure. Kissing her navel through her shirt, Reno was loving the warmth seeping through. Tilting his head to kiss lover towards the apex of her thighs, he suddenly felt a rumbling vibrate against his cheek. Alia groaned, hiding her face behind her hands.
Her stomach had growled from hunger.
Laughing, Reno couldn't resist. He never, ever thought a growling stomach would stop him from continuing to kiss his woman. Propping herself onto her elbows, Alia sheepishly smiled, though relived they weren't continuing with the mood now lost.
One of these days, he thought, sitting back onto his knees. We will talk about why she's holding back.
"I'm sorry Reno," she said quietly.
"Don't worry about it Alia." Now in a sitting position, she leaned her head against his shoulder, as Reno perched himself on the bed's edge. "Are you hungry? That was a pretty loud growl."
"I am."
"Have you eaten anything today? I know you sometimes forget to eat."
"…all I've had was some toast before I went to Healen." Narrowing his eyes at her, Reno sighed. "What's that sound for? At least I ate something."
"That's not enough peaches, and you know that."
"It's not like I did it on purpose."
"I'm aware." Standing, he extended his hand, helping Alia stand to her feet. Once she was at full height, he enveloped her into his arms. "I say…it's time I pay and we go get dinner. Wanna cash in on your bet and head to our favorite restaurant?"
"Oh yes I do!"
"So…why not make it even more special?"
Eyebrow raised, Alia was confused. "How so? We'll be together for a nice dinner, it's already special."
Chuckling at her innocence, her kissed her forehead. "Let's get all dressed up and eat in style."
~ oOo ~
For those who don't read my Attack on Titan fanfic, I will be changing my Username. I publish my content on four different sites and would like my Username to be the same across all of them - I didn't think of that far ahead lol
Chocobocolina :)
