Work Text
“Just so you know,Marlene has something planned for youand you CANNOT say no :)
See you soon <3”
Tifa…
Staring down at the text thread, Reno heaved a sigh. Unsure of what to write back, he read the message again.
I can’t say no? …Say ‘no’ to what?
Face in hand, he glanced around the office for a second to refresh his thoughts, briefly staring at the Shinra embossed wall clock and its steady tick, tick, tick. Forty minutes til he could leave. Forty minutes to–“Reno, are you still doing that thing tonight?”Slowly, he swiveled in his chair to face Elena.“…Or are you still in the doghouse?”Standing before him with her afternoon coffee clutched in hand, Elena smiled in her festive pumpkin sweater. The same one she hadn’t stopped pointing to all day.Gingerly he put his phone down sensing Elena knew he’d received ‘the text’. Gods, did he regret telling her anything.“I’m still on the hook I guess.”Elena snickered. “Such an appropriate term to describe you trick-or-treating," she said, "Forced into it.”Casting his eyes away from her, he stayed quiet, still thinking over a reply for Tifa and what he absolutely would not tell Elena.“Come on…” she said, “You must be so relieved. I thought you ruined everything with the last thing you said… er, didn’t say? Like ‘sorry’?”He rolled his eyes. Days ago, Reno made the mistake of accepting drinks with Elena after work, the same day Tseng and Rude left town on a reconnaissance mission. Elena was so thrilled when he took her up on the offer, fully expecting to skip over to Seventh Heaven and catch up with Tifa as well. But then she noticed how hard he shied away from the place, far and away from seeing Tifa at all. A raised eyebrow nearly cleaved her face when he doubled down in going somewhere else. It’d been months at that point since he and Tifa started seeing each other with nary a discouraging word. To everyone’s surprise, the two seemed compatible, 'cute' really, with Elena feeling convinced that he loved her. So, why the hell was he so unwilling to see her after weeks of missions spent away? She could tell he missed her… Just five blocks over and five incredibly strong drinks later, she learned why.She’d barely posed the question to him at a different bar when he'd launched into this drawn-out tirade. Briefly, he’d mentioned his failed attempt at getting out of trick-or-treating that then spiraled into “relationship titles”, “not meeting her expectations”, and ”what the fuck were his insecurities?!”“I don’t have any!” he’d yelled. When he caught his breath, he saw Elena sitting across from him in the booth, slack-jawed. He wanted her to say something, anything to back him up but she wouldn’t. She looked horrified. Martini in hand, she stared dead ahead at him for what felt like forever until she spoke, “…You’re a dumbass.”Back to the present, Reno hated how transparent he’d been with her then and how transparent he was being with her now. Like yeah, he was relieved to hear back from Tifa, but he’d rather be alone with her tonight and not be surrounded by cadres of costumed kids. Ruined everything? Really? Gods, did he need to talk to Tifa.Staring at his phone again, he barely heard Elena say in a whisper, “Everyone goes through it, Reno. You two are no different.”Feeling his mouth twitch, he was beyond ready to leave. Leave the building, leave the conversation… “No different from you and Tseng, huh?”For a second, her brow furrowed but then she chuckled, “No comment.”Still so discreet with her relationship, he thought. Not like him.Elena continued to look him over the more he watched his phone, undoubtedly pondering all the ways to reply to Tifa yet unsure how. It’s just that when things were 'good with him', they were really good. That time he came back from the beach with her might have been the happiest he’d ever been in the office. He hadn’t lost his smile for weeks back then, yet here and now, he seemed so deflated. Taking a breath, Elena quietly moved back to her desk.“Reno in love…” she murmured, “…what a concept.”Before she took her seat again, she looked back to Tseng’s office with the light turned off and Rude’s desk being just as vacant. Weeks ago, Reno put in his request to stay in Edge, forgoing fieldwork specifically for Tifa’s benefit and what she’d asked him to do that night. Must have been well before whatever transpired between them, Elena thought. Since there was no time like the present, she saw no reason to keep her waiting…“Reno, go home," she said, knowing he wouldn’t argue even for something he wasn’t eager to do.Home…, he thought. She meant Tifa.Craning his head back at his desk, for a second he thought about what he just typed before hitting ‘send’. Taking a deep breath with his PHS poised in hand, he watched his words fade to black: “See you soon” ----- More than halfway to Seventh Heaven now, Reno straightened out his collar and slacks for what felt like the hundredth time. Walking rather briskly with his nerves shot, he leaned on the mental image of her smiling to move him forward. He'd taken a shot right before he left his apartment, ready to reach for another when he saw their photo pinned to the fridge. The sweetest memory of their time spent in Costa – both of them so bright and shining in a sweet selfie she’d forced on him. The picture captured some of his resistance with her pinning a kiss to his cheek and him downplaying a smile. So badly did he want to be back there like they were that summer, her wearing a different bikini every day and making each moment feel so brand new.He already had vivid memories from that beach but all of them paled in comparison to her. Remembering all the thirsty looks she got from girls and guys, knowing that he’d be the one to cart her back up to their room to shut the door… He’d hijack a helicopter right then and there if he knew she’d go. Anything to relive the memory even if the intent was an apology. So stupid, he thought, still walking fast.From the outside, it might have been less obvious that he was anxious. One moment he’d imagine her underneath him, her face flush with that glassy look in her eyes, his thumb grazing her bottom lip when she gasped, and remembering what she felt like each time she came undone – only to be rocked by the last tired look she gave him the moment he should have just shut the fuck up.Did he have insecurities… He fucking knew.Her text from earlier seemed so sweet though given her emotes. He hoped they would translate to the present when he saw her at Seventh Heaven, now mere blocks away as trick-or-treaters toddled past. Feeling like a child himself, he’d stayed away knowing that he’d fucked up. Clearly, they had a history with him vividly remembering what her true ire looked like. Even so, after years of mutually making amends, she never once gave him a reason to believe what they had was fraught – yet another sign that he still saw himself as the aggressor. That he did wrong and still couldn’t make up for what he'd done.The more he thought about it, the more he feared she’d remember how this all started. That she’d fall back on those feelings, and he wouldn’t blame her.In the past few days, he’d tried desperately to repress the memory; failing to soften the blows he’d once swung at her, relieved to have been beaten in the last second even if the phantom pain still stung. It’d been a miracle she’d even talked to him after what he’d done, let alone be with him. Easily, the greatest reprieve he’d ever earn: her casting aside justifiable damnation in place for love, forgiveness, and affection. A goddamn angel.Oblivious to the outside world as he walked, he continued to stroll past decorations meant for the holiday. The sudden cold snap felt like a signal to those seeking relief from the long year, ushering in good times and the call for merriment. On every street corner, people continued to festoon just one more set of lights or plant just one more pumpkin by their door. After years of people going without, it felt nice feeling like the city of Edge was turning a corner, building back a community like what Midgar once enjoyed.People young and old seemed to relish in the novelty of dressing up that was also welcome on this day, whether it be for entertainment or the chance to scare others, sometimes both. Still in his thoughts, Reno’s eyes failed to focus on the scads of men and women who floated past. Half the fun was trying to guess what people were dressed as; sexy moogles, toad kings, and cuahls, oh my.Reno couldn’t remember the last time he wore a true costume. Disguises for work was one thing but the intention was to look realistic, never fantastical or overtly sexual (depending on the mission).Finally stepping in front of Seventh Heaven’s door, he relaxed. No lights on inside, just a stuck-on sign that read ‘Closed for Today’. He was about to reach for his PHS when the door lurched open.“DUDE, GET YOUR ASS IN HERE!” Johnny yelled, wearing… something but mostly… glitter.Reno wasn’t surprised that Johnny was there, just tired from the sudden realization. This time last year, Reno came to the bar not realizing it was closed, only to see Johnny banded together with Marlene, Denzel, and Tifa when they stepped out to trick-or-treat. Per usual, Cloud was never in town and Johnny genuinely loved the kids to fully take over in his stead. The kids loved him for that, always fond of his energy and seeing Tifa safe from the burden of being alone for yet another family event.But Reno was there now, so why–“I’m so glad you’re here, bro! Tonight’s gonna be SICK!”Johnny turned back inside, forcing Reno to catch the door as he walked in next.“Tifa said this might be your first-time trick-or-treating–” Reno rolled his eyes. Please, Johnny… explain trick-or-treating to me.In the moment, that feeling of Johnny and Tifa’s closeness always seemed to sting. That feeling of envy.Coming to grips with Johnny remaining so close to Tifa once she and Reno got together had been… interesting. Cloud staying out of the picture was remarkably easy, nothing like Johnny though. It wasn’t as simple as telling the guy to stay on his side of the fence. No, Reno knew he couldn’t always be in town for Tifa due to work and had to trust Johnny to take care of her should she need anything – just like Johnny’d always done well before Reno and Tifa ever got together.If Tifa needed something, Johnny was always there to provide, even when she didn’t know it yet like some telepathic power… be it the kids, the bar, hell, even Reno and Tifa’s relationship. For years, Johnny familiarized Reno to Tifa just by expressing their shared childhood. He was a wealth of knowledge, knew everything about the girl, which in time Reno soaked up like a sponge. Too useful to be told to fuck off, he thought. He would have to endure.Still taking in Johnny’s outfit as they walked to the back, Reno asked, “Is that a crop top?”Looking back over his ensemble, Johnny was miffed, “No dude, it’s a bolero! It’s like a tiny jacket.”Reno paused as this new detail was incredibly unhelpful, “What… what are you?”“I’m a healer!” Johnny said as though ‘duh’, “Like a white mage–““He’s a dancer,” Marlene corrected, suddenly appearing from the stairwell and lightly waving at Reno as she skipped to Johnny’s side. “He heals people with his dance and can perform summons, like me!”Folding her arms out, Marlene twirled in her homemade Carbuncle suit, complete with tulle skirt, sequined t-shirt, fuzzy ears, and bejeweled forehead. She wore almost as much glitter as Johnny.“I designed both of our costumes,” she said, shy but proud. Reno smiled, “Nice work, Marlene.”Studying Johnny again, Reno’s eyes almost watered from the sheer amount of sparkle, “Tassels, too, huh?” Fixated on the bottom half of him now, Reno asked, “… Are those leggings?”In response, Johnny busted out a grin, still waiting for Marlene to finish adjusting and fluffing all the loose strands of tinsel safety-pinned to his side. He looked like a girl’s bike in human form. “Reno, yo… it’s so crazy, would you believe that Tifa and I wear the same size?”Confusion and rage quietly crossed Reno’s face–“Dude, I’m kidding!” Laughing, Johnny slapped his knee, “You should see your face! But seriously, bro, my eyes are up here.”Reno didn’t think this was funny at all. Feeling heat, he knew his face was undoubtedly red. If Marlene wasn’t there, he would have had some choice words. This motherfucker… Reading Reno’s face, Johnny moved to break the tension, “Marlene, you did a great job!” Pumping his fist and reaching for his heart-shaped staff on the bar counter, he turned back to Reno with love, “It takes a village, you know?” Reno felt yet another pang of envy, this time over the man's ability to tap into whatever Marlene and Denzel asked of him regardless of how foolish he looked. Johnny never lost his sense of childlike wonder and effortlessly channeled it for moments like this. Not like Reno. Whatever attachment Reno had to his childhood had been completely sullied and not by his choice. Adulthood was easy by comparison, everything that came before that was quietly suppressed. It takes a village… only when it’s not trying to kill you. Hardened by life experiences, street-smarts, and the daily need to get ahead rather than behind, Reno didn’t know that Johnny would have survived adolescence like he had in Sector Six. Not with that outfit anyway.“Where’s your costume?” Marlene asked as she turned to Reno. Peering down at her, Reno faked a smile as he shrugged, “…This is it?” Lightly, he motioned to his usual attire, sans jacket, with a fraction of the same flair and enthusiasm Marlene sported for hers.Narrowing her eyes, Marlene wasn’t impressed.“That’s not a costume,” she said flatly. Her eyes radiated with an air that screamed ‘you could have tried’, but then she reset her gaze.“Tifa said this would happen,” followed by, “You should see Tifa’s costume!”Genuinely smiling this time, Reno cocked his head to the side. I would like to see Tifa’s costume…“Oh, you’re gonna like it, Reno,” Johnny said, smiling through his teeth and failing to hold back a giggle. Coolly, Reno shifted his gaze back to Johnny’s shit-eating grin, trying yet again not to twitch.…This asshole saw her outfit before me? Another tinge of jealousy struck Reno’s face right as Johnny wouldn’t shut the hell up: “She’s one of my summons.”Reno didn’t know what to say as he warped through yet another bout of jealousy. Great, they ARE going as a couple and I'm just here for the FUCKING ride! I knew she was still mad at me!Reading his face, Marlene took over, “Before she comes down though, we need to get you ready.”Reno snapped his eyes on her, “…Who?”Stepping towards him with her finger poking into his side, she said, “You.” When she grabbed his arm, he hesitated at first but then acquiesced. The little girl was weirdly strong when she ushered him forward, “Tifa said you’d need help.”“Marlene, I don’t under–“ “You’re my last summon, dummy!” Johnny said excitedly.“Say what?”“Shhh!” Marlene attempted to quell Reno yet again, “Tifa said you have to do this since her costume is ‘red’.”Ridiculously confused now, Reno accepted his cue to sit at the nearest booth right as Marlene ran over to grab a kit off the bar. He watched her then reach for another bag behind the counter while Johnny took a seat across from him. Once she had what she needed, Marlene ran back, producing brushes, bottles of glitter, and… and… a tiara.Clapping his hands on the other side of the booth, Johnny joined his palms together as though to pray.Reno didn’t like ANY of this, so he stared back at Marlene with her palettes and accoutrements laid bare.Smiling wide, Marlene said, “You? You’re gonna be Shiva.”
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
“So… Why didn’t Tifa go as Shiva?” Looking up per Marlene’s request, Reno felt the steady pat, pat, pat of Marlene’s brush crushing sparkle into his undereye.In response to his question, Marlene shrugged, pulling her brush away to pack more glitter into the tip.“Reno, it works, you know, you got the ponytail,” Johnny offered, still sitting across from him in the booth and taking in the steady transformation. “Plus, Marlene’s palette really brings out the color of your eyes.”Glancing at Johnny, Reno glared, “Thank you.”“Tifa didn’t want to go as Shiva,” Marlene said, now lifting Reno’s chin to dab body paint along his neckline as Johnny leaned in to suggest the contour, “She said you were perfect for it.”Reno smiled. He had a feeling all of this was by Tifa’s design. Don’t talk to him for a full week because of the fight, then message him that he ‘has to do this one thing’ as a sign he was devoted to her. He’d play along if putting on makeup for the kids made her happy. “What is she going as–” Reno asked, right as Marlene cut him off, “It’s a surprise!”He levelled his face at her, “Okay, well, where’s Denzel and his costume then?”Across from him, Johnny sat up just as Marlene said, “He went with Cloud today. They went to visit Aerith.”Recognizing Johnny’s nervous gesture, Reno now had questions he wanted to ask but not in front of Marlene. Questions for Tifa.Something else significant about today was the tradition of remembering those who passed. Archaic as it was, spiritually, some people believed the Lifestream was more open and accessible to those wishing to commune with the dead, more so than any other day of the year. In the past few years, it brought comfort to many, given what happened at Plate Fall, Meteorfall, and then Geostigma. Some even constructed homemade altars adorned with flowers, pictures, food, and trinkets to further preserve the memory of those they loved, even if they didn’t believe the more fantastical side of why that day was special. Reno wasn’t surprised that Cloud was at Aerith’s church today but why take Denzel unless Cloud knew he was coming?“Denzel wanted to go,” Marlene said, already fulfilling some of Reno's questions, “Denzel said he wanted to go back to where Cloud found him so he could say hello to his parents.” Marlene grabbed Reno’s arms for one last application, “Since Cloud was going, Denzel said it’d be nice that Aerith feel less alone today.”Heaving a sigh, Reno tried to re-compartmentalize Plate Fall back into the tiny mental box he’d forced it in. Maybe it was all pre-arranged then. Maybe that’s why Tifa didn’t message him if Cloud was going to be in town or to not suggest the memory of Sector Seven. Did that mean he stayed at the house though–“He didn’t sleep here,” Johnny blurted out.Bewildered, Reno stared at him. Was he a mind reader? How the hell did he know that?“OKAY! Just one more thing!” Marlene shouted, reaching for the plastic pièce de résistance.Expressionless, Reno watched as Marlene gestured for him to bow. Feeling the clips from the blue-tipped tiara dig into his scalp, internally Reno told himself this was all for Tifa and that ‘love was pain’… or ‘beauty was pain’? Something like that.Sitting up again, he stared at Marlene and then Johnny, and then Marlene again. Both of them were so giddy.Still dissociating the pain of Sector Seven, all he could do was focus on Marlene, “…Am I beautiful?”She smiled so bright, especially with her eyes, “You’re gorgeous.” Followed by, “I’ll go get Tifa!”Without hesitation, Marlene jumped down to make her way towards the stairs, glitter twirling off of her as she ran.“Reno, seriously, it’s so awesome that you’re here,” Johnny said.Reno didn’t say anything.“You have no idea how happy Marlene was when Tifa told her you were coming. Like, you should have seen her face when she said she was doing your makeup – over the moon, dude!”Reno forced a smile, already focused on the stairs and just so ready to see Tifa. After that last memory, he needed her.“It makes Tifa really happy, too, you know?” Johnny said, gazing towards the stairs himself and remembering why he did these things year over year. It felt good knowing that Tifa was happy. She’d gone through so much back in Nibelheim in ways that Johnny'd been spared. She deserved to be happy. He’d be the one to do it, too. It explained why he kept pushing Tifa to message Reno all throughout the week. As her true confidant, she eventually told him about the fight with him quick to take her side and then Reno’s. “He didn’t mean it,” Johnny said, despite Tifa shooting him an expression that said otherwise. “Come on, Tifa. Don’t get me wrong, like I understand, but I think you’re both hurting…” That was days ago when Tifa finally agreed to reach out. Knowing the two of them were sheer steps away from each other, Johnny thought this was good for them both.Hearing small feet race down the stairs again, Marlene popped out, “She’s ready!”Johnny grinned. Clapping his hands together, he was the first to stand, now moving towards the stairs.Reno got up, too, though his worries piled on.This felt like a teen movie: Everyone standing at the foot of the stairs awaiting the big reveal when the date would descend. Time seemed to slow, and some classic song played overhead on the bar stereo, right as that first glamorous leg shot showed…Holy fucking shit.Reno strained to focus through the packed glitter around his eyes. There’s no way an eight-year-old designed that costume. No, this was designed by a full-grown woman who knew exactly what she was doing: Hitting Reno back with a stern “look-don’t-touch” policy more than likely in play. Marlene wasn’t mincing words when she said her costume was “red” – granted, there wasn’t much there in the way of a costume? She wore a beautifully sequined and beautifully short skirt with drops of sparkle that shimmered and swayed each way she walked. For her top, she wore a bright red bra-thing that mostly covered her chest – but gods, that front and side boob. He hadn’t even made it to her face yet and Reno was sweating. Gorgeous hair down and wearing some sort of choker thing that matched the bangles on her arms and wrists, he fully understood her costume when he saw her headdress. Ifrit. She was dressed as Ifrit.A solitary “…hi,” eked out of his mouth as she stepped towards him with a big grin.She was genuinely happy to see him, “Hey, you.” Gods, did that smile make him melt.“Reno! Did you see her boots? The utility!” JOHNNY. SHUT THE FUCK UP.When she stopped in front of him to look him over, she couldn’t stop giggling.He shook his head, watching her circle around him like a shark, “You are loving this, aren’t you?”Lightly, she bumped into his shoulder as she chuckled, “yes”, only to watch him smile at the contact.“Marlene, you’ve outdone yourself,” she said, still admiring the little girl’s work when she tapped the tip of his crown. Grinning, she made eye contact again, finding him just so smitten.“…Now kiss,” Johnny said.Tifa took her eyes off Reno for a second, “Johnny, if I do that it'll mess up his–”Arms outstretched as though in agony, Johnny pleaded, “…Please just kiss him, Tifa.”And so, standing together in their ridiculous getups, wearing maybe a pound of glitter in between them, Tifa gave him the tiniest peck. It was so fleeting that Reno couldn’t help but be disappointed. He wondered if she was still mad at him even when she whispered, “missed you.”There was a hint of sadness in his reply, “…missed you, too.”Doubly sad was Johnny. Envisioning a reconciliation for the ages, this was… okay?For a moment, Reno's eyes moved away from her, “You got the flowers I sent you?” He looked over at the bright spot positioned behind the bar. Sprays of soft peonies, scabiosa, orchids, and lily-of-the-valley generously took up a portion of the back wall, along with whatever else the florist said expressed love, adulation, but most of all “sorry.”Tifa beamed, “I did and they’re beautiful. Thank you.”He winced a little at what he said next, unsure that it would help or hurt, “I actually sent two…”Days after their fight, Reno became anxious when Tifa hadn't replied to his texts. Panicked, he'd messaged Rude about what to do who replied with a single word: “Beg.” Reno followed up again asking for clarity and that's when Rude suggested flowers. Immediately, he’d called in a same-day order with the courier confirming receipt a few hours later – yet he never heard back from Tifa. Later that day, he received a picture message from Johnny showing a mountain of flowers piled high in the trash. His text read: “bro I think she’s mad at you” And then: “shit she saw me message you” Standing before him now, Tifa sighed, “I may have been a little angry…”Calmly, Reno shook his head. He understood, “It’s fine.”Still off to the side of them, Johnny couldn't help but watch, “I love when you two flirt.”Both of them turned to him now, watching him snap a pic of them with Marlene standing beside him looking just as content.Reno didn’t like this. “Johnny–”“–’Kay.” Turning away from them as he checked his phone, Johnny reached for his staff. It was time to go. Lifting it high overhead, he shouted, “LET’S DO THIS!” as he made for the door.Finally free from Johnny’s eyes (if for a second), Reno leaned in to speak to Tifa. He wanted to take her aside to really say he was sorry but froze as soon as she spoke.“I can’t thank you enough for being here,” she said, “We’ll talk later.”Seeing her smile and gently pull him towards the door, he quietly gave up on having her alone any time soon. What were a few more hours, he told himself. Things could only get better… ----- As soon as they turned out of Seventh Heaven, “the mission” was ON. In the past few years, Johnny and Marlene had forged a system that essentially gamified the trick-or-treat experience: Collect all the goodies, hit up historically doting houses, repeat, repeat, repeat. There were calculations involved, an intensity. Cutting through alleyways and veering into different neighborhoods had Reno lost for the first hour. ‘Where the fuck are we’ and ‘is a full-size candy bar really worth it?!’ continued to plague him. Had he not had Tifa on his arm this whole time, he might have thrown up his hands and gone home.More than happy to hang back, Reno and Tifa watched Johnny and Marlene sprint ahead and then circle back. In between Marlene showing off her growing assortment, the pair mostly stuck to small talk, neither she nor he eager to address the past few days in such an open setting. Tifa was just happy to be with him, though she was annoyed he never came to see her in person after their spat. Him relying on texts as a means to make amends didn’t sit well with her. Sending flowers was fine, but she really just wanted to see him.Weeks ago, he had no problem fulfilling what she needed of him tonight, but then he tried to bail just days ago without saying why, the same day he'd returned from missions. She was so excited to see him but was sidelined when he wasn't himself. He was on edge which she’d chalked up to him being away – but clearly, there was more. She wouldn't stop asking him why he wouldn’t go and that's when he blew up in her face. Even then, he gave no answer, just old history and things she thought buried. But there he was… reanimating them. As soon as he said what he said, she knew he was sorry. It brought her no joy when she asked him to leave, even when he said he would do it right as she closed the door…Walking and reliving the moment with him still by her side, Tifa knew she’d been juvenile when she hadn't replied to his texts. She felt like she had her reasons though. She’d broach the subject later, she told herself, once they were alone. For the time being, she just wanted to focus on tonight, enjoying some semblance of normalcy and what ‘real families do’. Reno understood and sensed that. He knew this was important to her although his anxiety never seemed to wane. He kept seeing the visual reminder of why he tried to bail in the first place. Though he never told Tifa the specific reason, it was grating on him now. The whole reason for the fight… There it is again, another one of those signs…“Hey…” Tifa said. She noticed he’d checked out, “…You okay?”In the moment, he thought he’d come clean, but stopped when he saw Johnny and Marlene racing towards them. It’d just have to wait.Tifa recognized him pull away again. As if he was ready to say something but then he didn’t… Disappointed, she wished he’d just speak his mind.“Hey, Johnny, Marlene, I think we should slow down a bit,” she said, “Let’s step onto one of the main streets. We can check out decorations and maybe grab some food, yeah?”Ready to eat something other than candy and having zero desire to lug around a massive bag all night, Marlene was thrilled to see lights and whatever else was happening in the middle of town. Same thing for Johnny as he volunteered to carry Marlene’s bag. Aside from keeping Marlene entertained, Johnny kept looking back at the couple, annoyed they hadn’t entirely reconciled from what he could tell. Every time he had his camera ready, the pair would stall, resulting in yet another photographic moment lost. He was determined to get a good pic.Still moving towards the sights and sounds of street festivities, Johnny motioned for them to stop at a nearby street vendor. The nuance of the vendor’s sign caught Reno’s eye, seeing a banner that read “Walking Beers”.For the first time ever, the city of Edge allowed select vendors to sell alcohol for “pedestrian-friendly drinking” (strictly holiday and festival events only). Locally, many felt the introduction of these so-called “walking beers” spelled certain disaster, yet the added tax revenue was just too great for the city to ignore. That 5% sin tax may or may not have been worth the added garbage and puke come the end of the night, but who could tell without a crystal ball? Still, the fear of the city nixing this new feature loomed, enticing many to let loose and indulge if just for tonight.Though Tifa declined Johnny’s offer, it didn’t stop him from buying a drink for Reno. Johnny handed the heady mixture to him saying, “I ordered yours with a floater!”Reno stared at it before reaching out, “A what?”“A floater! It’s like added liquor to top it off – looks like you might need it.”Gingerly, Reno accepted. Cup in hand, he turned only to notice yet another one of those signs, this time plastered to the vendor’s booth in all caps: “REMEMBER SECTOR SEVEN” Reno stared at it for a bit before tipping the drink into his mouth.“It’s pretty good, huh?” Johnny asked, completely unaware of the sign that’d been haunting Reno the second he got home that week, propped up in nearly every storefront alongside posters and pictures dedicated to Meteorfall and Geostigma. The moment he reached for Tifa's door his first day back, there it was…Reno inhaled the first cup like it was nothing.“Oh, uh, you, um… you want another?” Johnny asked.For a second, Reno considered this when he glanced around for Tifa. He saw her on the other side of the street with Marlene, both of them pointing at some decorated storefront and paying him no mind. A few more hours of this merited a beer or two, no?Taking a breath, Reno turned to the vendor, already asking for another and doubling up on the floaters.“Damn, dude! You always know how to party!” Johnny exclaimed, still sipping his beer and heading in the direction of Tifa.Quietly, Reno turned away. In accepting the second drink he tried to ignore the sign… Things had to get better.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
Years of drinking as a means to cope had vastly improved Reno’s abilities as a high-functioning alcoholic. With Tifa still on his arm, his free hand continued to feed him a steady supply of liquid comfort, often turning to Tifa to demand a kiss or whisper something degenerate in her ear. The third (or was it the fourth?) refill had him in his “happy place” as all of his inhibitions quickly disappeared. He was happy to be beside Tifa, he didn’t give two shits about whatever Johnny just said, and he played up to Marlene’s requests to lean into character, even in public. If the little girl wanted him to be a summon, then he’d be the best goddamn summon.Taking another sip, Reno asked, “Alright, Marlene. Tell me what’s happening.”Marlene shot him a dramatic look, “…Our dancer is in peril…” Pointing to Johnny now, she locked eyes with him, “He answered the Siren’s call, knowing it would only lead to certain doom…” Eyes still on Johnny, she paused, “…or worse…” She trained her eyes on Tifa next, “…the loss of a loved one.”On Marlene’s signal, Johnny powered up his heart-shaped staff, attempting dramatic noises and swinging it around as though he’d practiced (he had). Given that they’d stopped at the nearest playground to indulge in Marlene’s fantasy, the group’s antics had drawn a small crowd of children. Though their audience didn’t always stay, sometimes breaking away to trick-or-treat again or to run off to the slide or swing set, depending on the part of the story some came back.Playing to an audience only intensified Marlene’s narrative. Hours of playing corridor simulator had trained Marlene for this exact moment. “If he wants to save himself, the one he loves, and defeat the darkness, he has to wield the power of…”“FRIENDSHIP!” Johnny screeched.Standing off to the side, Reno waited. And waited. Surely there was a signal to do something.Given no action, he turned to Marlene, “…What do I do?”Marlene was thinking, “I’m working on it.” They’d already run a few campaigns with Marlene playing up hard-core action, manifesting cutscenes, dialogue, and demanding limit breaks, overdrives, and the less popular but oddly satisfying paradigm shift.“Marlene, I know you like Sentinel, but we should run Ravager,” Tifa suggested.“Tifa, you’re Ifrit. Your primary strength is defense. You know this.”Johnny spoke up, “Can we do Saboteur? Then I can cast my ultimate spell: DEATH.”Marlene considered this, but then she turned to Reno, “What do you think?”He had no clue what they were talking about. So he shrugged.“Come on, dude! You never grew up with a FunStation?”“No.”“Oh…”Last one to the party… yet again.Reno took another sip. Unsure of what cup he was on, he felt the tiny twinge of his BAC ticking past the coherent mark. Lights much too bright. Movements much too jerky. Everything in general a touch too hazy… Shit. He needed to slow down or eat something.“Oh hey! It’s my friend!” Marlene shouted. Pointing, she saw Betty pointing back at her and waving across the playground with the young girl’s parents following close behind.Tifa’s face lit up beside Reno. She was already moving forward to greet them while Reno continued to hang back. Turning around, Reno saw a little outdoor canteen with lots of costumed people and tons of seating on the other side of the street. He thought he’d best move– “Reno! You thinking about going over there?”Tentatively, Reno stared at Johnny.“I might head over there myself, man. Some of the ladies from the taqueria are volunteering there tonight and they promised they were making elote. Let’s go!” Slapping the back of Reno’s shirt, Johnny tried to hustle him forward. Reno wasn’t too keen on this though.“Johnny, I need to make a call,” he lied.“Oh… okay… well, I’ll just be at the counter!” Johnny motioned to the set of stools barely visible beside the walk-up bar.Reno shot him a thumbs up as he turned away. Not looking back towards Tifa, Reno ventured forward, this time focused on the unoccupied field of dirt and grass set beside the canteen space. Eventually making his way over there, he splayed out on the grass to gaze at the stars. His drink cup was still in hand as though a security blanket.He recognized Betty and her parents from the Sector Seven files. Kind of hard to meet people when your reputation precedes you, especially in the way that his did. It was just easier to fade into the background just like he was now.To pass the time he focused on other things like how happy Tifa was tonight. They’d moved well past that tiny peck back at the bar, her much more willing to embrace him now by leaning into his contact, kissing him, and laughing when he played into Marlene’s story. She didn’t give him any guff about his drinking either. If it helped him loosen up, then it helped him loosen up. He felt unjudged by her. Something he both desperately wanted and needed, especially on a day like today and the week that he had when he didn’t see her. He just needed to know if she knew what triggered him–“Reno… what are you doing?”He tilted his head up to look at Marlene. Having an existential crisis… “…Nothing,” he answered.“Tifa needs you,” the young girl said.“…Why?”Shrugging, Marlene said, “I don’t know.”Reno sat up a bit to squint in Tifa’s direction. She was too preoccupied with talking to Betty’s parents to actually see how far away he was. Shit. She wanted to introduce him.Reno sighed. “Will you tell her I’ll be over there in a bit?”Marlene nodded as she whipped around to race back toward her friend. Reno brought a hand to his face as he laid back down. He was imagining the introduction and it wasn’t going well. Reading way too into things, he imagined what Betty’s parents actually thought of him, let alone what they thought of him being with her. Oh… You’re that guy. It wasn’t great. The only way he could look any better was if Johnny was standing right next to him… oh… Wait…He could arrange that.Peeling himself off the ground, Reno still couldn’t remember exactly how much he drank. His legs seemed too shaky as he tried to walk over to the canteen. Though there were tons of costumed people at the outdoor eatery, far more than he realized, unmistakably he found Johnny with no issue, sitting on a bar stool right next to the counter just like he said. Reno was almost to him when his faculties failed him and he inexpertly tripped. It wasn’t the most graceful of falls, but thankfully Johnny was the only person who noticed.“Reno! What happened!?” Johnny asked. He was still seated and eating when he observed Reno beside him laid out on the ground. For a second, Johnny watched Reno’s eyes close and snapped a pic of him before putting his phone away. Immediately, Johnny wrapped his hands back around his elote, relishing in what he came for. Briefly, he turned back to his food to take a bite and then back to Reno’s body still crumpled there.“Johnny!” Reno groggily yelled, eyes still closed, “…heal me!” as though they were still partaking in Marlene’s make-believe or… was this for real?Johnny was still feeding his face when Reno heard him from above, “…thundaga…”Reno lifted his head in confusion as he tried to stare. “…Johnny, that’s not what I asked for.”Johnny shrugged, “Well… If you equipped elemental materia to your armor, you would have absorbed it as HP.”Reno was pissed. What once started off as something silly now weirdly felt personal.“…Bitch.”Hearing this, Johnny was more than ready to counter. Wiggling his fingers high overhead, he sang, “…Reflect.”Livid now, Reno turned over to right himself on the ground. Why did he drink so much? Reaching forward to brace himself against the bar stool nearest Johnny, eventually he made his way up the rungs to take a seat.“Some help you are,” he muttered to Johnny.Sucking his fingers, Johnny stared at him, “Why are you even here? Marlene said you needed to go to the playground. Go see Tifa.” Johnny motioned with his thumb over his shoulder only to watch Reno face plant into the counter. He was ruining his makeup…“…She’s talking to those people…”Turning to the playground, Johnny saw Tifa anchored to one spot and still talking to Betty’s parents.“You mean her friends?” Johnny asked. “Dude, they probably want to meet you. You should go over there. It’s what couples do, you know?”Chuckling into the countertop, Reno issued a firm, “No.”Annoyed at this, Johnny tried not to lose hope. He worked so hard to get him back into her good graces and now he was pulling this shit? Uh-uh, “She wants to be seen with you, Reno. You’re her boyfriend, remember?”
Where had he heard that before…
Reno laughed, this time with the biting edge of annoyance, “Of course…”Peeling his head up, Reno inhaled. He was trying to curb his heartrate, but it wasn’t working. “…This is something she told you about her and I. Isn’t it?”“…Yeah?” Johnny answered. She told him a lot of things.“See…” Too many walking beers.“…I hate that she does that…” Too many mixed emotions.Johnny did a double take. Hate that she does that? What did that even mean? They were close. They’d always be close. So… get the fuck over it?“Well… one of us has to tell you when you’re being a pussy–“ Jacking Johnny up by the collar and holding him close, Reno’s growl came in low and slow, “Call me a pussy… one more time.”Seeing Reno’s face much too close and looking much too angry, Johnny realized he’d made a mistake. For just a second, Johnny searched for a lifeline but then his eyes grew wide when he saw something. Frantically, Johnny patted Reno’s wrists still holding firm to his tiny jacket. Pointing, he desperately motioned for Reno to look.At first, Reno didn’t buy it but then he heard Tifa’s voice.Turning to his side, Reno saw Tifa try and fail to fend off some guy over on the playground. Close beside her was Marlene, already facing Reno and desperately signaling that she needed him. The asshole was being way too handsy, clearly drunk, and ignoring Tifa’s demands to leave her alone as he continued to step towards her and aggressively reach for her skirt. Standing beside her, Betty’s parents didn’t know what to do as the man wouldn’t stop.Patient at first, Tifa was over it now, preparing to defend herself if the guy didn’t let up. Bracing herself, the man leaned in with his liquored breath one last time, “You’re so fucking pretty.”When the man reached over to cup her ass, his face collided with Reno’s fist. The materia on Reno’s arm glowed a brilliant hue the second he closed the gap. With the force of a freight train, the contact alone let out a resounding ‘CRACK’, right before the man slammed face-first into the dirt. Children who’d watched them earlier began to clap and cheer, as the blaze that Reno warped at left flecks of Shiva glitter fluttering everywhere and in his wake. He was so fucking pretty.Blindsided, Tifa was stunned staring at Reno’s fist so close to her face now. Quickly her eyes darted to the man on the ground, “…Tell me you didn't just give him a concussion…” she whispered. Even if he deserved it?For a second, she thought she should kneel and check the guy’s pulse but noticed Reno, still beside her, begin to sway. What was happening?In his haste, all the alcohol in Reno’s system was thrown to one side (kind of like the guy), reminding him yet again why you never drink and warp.Mouth uncomfortably moist, Reno was all too familiar with the feeling. Turning away from her, he reflexively grabbed for her wrist when he began to heave. He did this (1) to steady himself but also (2) to hold her hand, as, clearly, this was his person.To add to the chaos, Tifa turned her gaze to Johnny when he roared over by the bar.Over yonder, Johnny was eager to call back his now defunct summon, ready to cast some form of ‘Death’ and finish the job himself. Putting his phone away as he’d videoed the whole thing, he screamed, “LET'S DO THIS!”He looked like he wanted to dance and beat the shit out of somebody. Though his heart-shaped staff was still in hand, he smashed a beer bottle over the counter – already waving his newfound weapon in their general direction. These were her guardians. These were her protectors.
“Oh… No… No, no, no, no…”Still patting Reno’s back as though ‘there, there’, Tifa turned to Betty’s parents who looked absolutely horrified - both of them blindly unaware that this, in fact, was her significant other.“Hey, um… so, we, we’re gonna go.”
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
“That was so crazy when you threw up on that guy’s shoes.”Completely unbothered by what transpired back at the playground, Marlene continued to recount the night’s events as they made their way home.“It’s a good thing we found your tiara…”Post whatever-the-fuck-that-was and making sure the offending asshole survived (that after coaxing Johnny to put down the broken bottle as if it were a hostage situation), Tifa hustled everyone one block over with the intention to call a cab. Obviously, going home early didn’t sit well with Marlene. She wanted to keep trick-or-treating regardless of what just happened.Still in the throes of recovery, Reno refused to rob Marlene of the experience. He assured Tifa they should continue despite him being a total mess. He’d gone from regal Shiva to zombified Shiva way too quickly, which was scary – that after he tried to clean himself up at one of the public bathrooms. Somehow, he made his makeup so much worse.Understandably, just by looking at him, Tifa didn't agree. She asked if she could send him home alone to his apartment and he was so hurt by the mere suggestion.“Tifa. I won't get in the cab.”He was determined to see the night through, demanding that he stay with them – that he stay with her.Tifa adored his stubbornness even as she shook her head. He looked absolutely terrible. Knowing that he wouldn’t take ‘no’ for an answer, calmly she relented.More than halfway home now, Johnny gazed back at Reno, “I honestly thought you killed the guy–““We just talked about this! Johnny, Marlene, please!” Tifa whispered. She was ready to move on for Reno’s sake.Ambling beside her, Marlene fumbled through her candy bag. Eventually she found the thing she was searching for when she turned to Reno. Unwrapping the mint candy, she handed yet another to him which he accepted.He prayed the tiny mint (just like all the other tiny mints, travel-size mouthwash, breath strips, and other assorted candies) would relieve him of his beer and bile-induced miasma. Permanently fixed to Tifa’s side, he felt like such a burden ever since they left the playground. Once they’d departed, Tifa continued to prop him up as they moved from house to house. Now on the way back, he’d regained his strength, yet he consciously clung to her side.One of his arms was draped over her shoulder while the other fed him water from a child-proof cup. Having sent Marlene to fetch fluids back at the canteen when he was sick, he shouldn’t have been surprised when she trotted back with a sippy cup. The little girl was so pleased when she presented it to him. “It won’t spill if you fall over!” she said. She thought of everything.Also, as luck would have it, one of Marlene’s trick-or-treat favors included a cheap pair of star-shaped sunglasses, which she’d gifted to him as his makeup was shot. Apparently, someone in the party sent Elena a picture text with his new look and the woman was absolutely beside herself. She'd forwarded the photo to the Turks' group chat, sprinkled with a million laughing emojis and a single text: “What the fuck even are you?” Someone was going to die…Marlene peered up at him, “Wasn’t that so nice when Tifa held back your hair?”The memory had Tifa choking on a laugh. She didn’t want or mean to embarrass him, but Marlene’s takeaways were just too good. Reno couldn't help but grin at this, at Marlene’s keen 'observation' but also at Tifa finding the whole thing funny. She could have been mad, maybe should have been mad… yet she wasn't.“Reno, seriously, how on Gaia did you get so dirty?” Tifa asked.Making a face, Reno looked down at his disheveled clothes, especially his white shirt stained with dirt, glitter, beer, and whatever else was on the ground back at the canteen. The cleanest thing about him were his dumb sunglasses. If the real Shiva could see him, she’d be so confused.“I don't know,” he whimpered.For a second, he peered over at Tifa’s neckline for comfort, involuntarily moving in to soothe himself. At first, she accepted the first few kisses, but then shrugged him off as it wasn't the time – he was genuinely filthy.As subtle as her nudge was, he felt dejected. This whole time he’d been leaning on her good omens for comfort, yet this one small gesture felt like a stake through the heart. He just wanted to be loved.Without a word, she felt him shy away. Watching him hide behind kid glasses, she sensed that he felt so forlorn, not at all her intention. Reaching over to grab the side of his face, she looked just as she did in the picture pinned to his fridge: planting an extended kiss to his cheek and holding it there as he held back a smile. Once she pulled away, she laughed at his expression, along with his silly glasses that only amplified her mirth. “Reno, as soon as we get home, you’re taking a shower.”Marlene and Johnny both found this amusing as they snickered. Trotting ahead now, Marlene ran up beside Johnny, motioning with her hands that she wanted up.Quietly Reno slowed. Repeating Tifa’s words in his head, a glimmer of hope seemed to shine. “You kept my clothes?” Tifa was so confused. “What… you thought I threw them away?”Reno shrugged as he peered elsewhere. He hoped she hadn’t. “I don’t know…” He wanted to know if she’d gotten rid of anything really. For all he knew, whatever life and history they had may well have been buried beneath the flowers he’d first sent her, wedged down deep in the trash. No different from everything else gone and buried beneath Sector Seven… Again… he wouldn't blame her.She tilted her head to the side as she looked at him. He was doing that distance thing again. Reaching over, she grabbed his jaw to give him a proper kiss. She thought they’d reconnected earlier and yet here he was, withdrawn. It must have had something to do with going home.Still close to him, she whispered, “I wasn’t that mad.”Reno took in her words. Without hesitation, he asked, “…You’ll tell me how mad you were?”She sighed. Drawing closer and closer to home, to where the fight happened, maybe this all felt like a reckoning. Though she was disappointed by what transpired, it was mostly in herself. “Yeah…” he knew she meant later. “I'll do that,” she said.He grinned watching her face contort the longer she stared, “Tifa, I wish you would look at me with a straight face–““Reno, it’s the glasses,” she said. The more she tried to focus, the worse it got. “I really hope you wear those all night,” she said sarcastically.Briefly he stopped moving, which only held her up. He looked so happy when he met her gaze again. “Like I can stay?” Giggling, she hadn't realized how much she'd missed this. “Yes?” she said.“…The glasses stay on then.”He moved in to give her another kiss but stalled at hearing Johnny chuckling up ahead. Setting his sights on him, Reno watched Johnny step forward in the lamplight, balancing Marlene on his shoulders while the little girl surveyed everyone from above. For just a second Johnny held up his phone, hearing the faint cah-chunk of his PHS snapping a pic of them in the process.“JOHNNY! STOP WATCHING US!” Reno yelled, “It’s so weird!” His glasses shaded some of his annoyance, though he softened at Tifa laughing beside him.“I LOVE ‘LOVE’, OKAY!?” Johnny shot back. Turning around, Johnny didn’t lose his smile, no different from Marlene's as she turned with him.The timing was perfect as they turned right on Tifa’s street. Reno exhaled realizing what he wanted to do in the next few hours. He’d waited a full week to set things right and he was eager to do it.He just hoped Tifa felt the same. -----As soon as they were inside, Tifa ushered Reno and Marlene upstairs to clean up, leaving Johnny to flip through his phone alone in the bar. In her en-suite, Tifa took the time to strip off Reno’s makeup before she checked on Marlene back in her room. With the pair alone, Reno thought he should start, but Tifa was too quick with the makeup remover to form a full sentence when she wiped his face.“So that’s what you look like underneath all this,” she said. She turned around to reach for the linen closet, as though Reno didn’t know where it was. “If you need to help Marlene, I know where everything is…” he said.She turned back to place a towel on the edge of the sink as she smiled, “Then you know where your spare clothes are?”He grinned. Reaching out, he drew her in close to kiss her. He wanted her to stay and shower with him but knew it wasn’t in the cards when she pulled away.“When you get done here, help yourself to a beer – or, water downstairs.” she said, still grinning, “I still have to read and tuck Marlene in.”“Okay,” he said, already sad to watch her leave.“I think Johnny wants to talk to you, too,” she said, quickly shutting the door to save herself from Reno’s impending glare.Alone now, Reno wearily gazed at the ceiling. Johnny wants to talk… About his relationship? About what he said at the canteen? More than likely about Tifa? The guy was bound to mess up the internal speech Reno prepared for her, but he wouldn’t leave unless he sat through this one thing. Fine, fine, FINE.“…Okay,” he said as he turned to the shower.-----Sure enough, as soon as Reno found himself at the foot of the stairs, there was Johnny patting a bar stool to sit beside him.Expressionless, Reno stared, only to pivot to the bar to fix himself water first.“Reno, I can make you something–““No.” Reno said. “Just water.”Despite the cold shoulder, Johnny grinned, watching him make his way around to sit beside him.Reno felt Johnny watch him though he refused to make eye contact. The pair were locked in an unspoken duel as he took a seat, waiting for the first person to sound off and/or take the first shot. Lo and behold, Johnny won.“I need to talk to you about what you said at the canteen.”Bringing a hand to his face, Reno was over it. “Johnny, don’t worry about it–““Oh, but I am… and I will,” he said. “I know you think I’m stupid, but even I know you still have a problem with me.” Johnny waited for him to say something, let alone look at him, but he wouldn’t… pussy.“Reno… I can understand where you’re coming from, but I want you to know that I’m here for Tifa, Marlene, Denzel, AND you, and I need you to trust that.”Despite how immature and childlike Johnny was on a day-to-day basis (that aside from the fact he was still wearing his costume), this was yet another facet to the man that Reno could admire. He freely spoke his mind, freely expressed his emotions, and seemingly didn’t care if he got his ass beat just as long as you knew how he felt.“It’s fine,” Reno said.But he and Johnny both knew that was a lie.“You’re afraid I’m going to say something to her that will ruin what you and her have, but that’s not what I’m here for–““Johnny, I said it was fine.”“Would you JUST listen…”Silence cast over the bar as Reno stared.It was no use. He would hear what Johnny had to say.“Tifa told me what happened and I’m here to tell you, you did nothing wrong, and neither did she. Both of you had a conversation. It went south, but it’s fine now. Both of you are going to move past this because you’re better than that. You won’t hold this over each other’s heads, and you won’t have to talk about it because, if you love her, you’ll do that for her just as she’d do that for you.”Quiet passed between them as Reno glared. Feelings clawed to the surface.“…Okay?” Reno said. He hoped this was the end of whatever Johnny had to say, except it wasn’t.“Great. Then why the fuck do you still have a problem with me doing things for Tifa?” Johnny was angry. Reno didn’t know he could get that angry.Calmly, Reno shrugged. It wasn’t that simple. But envy’s so simple, isn’t it… It’s the simplest emotion of them all.“I know you want to be here, dude, and you can’t always be,” Johnny said firmly, “But I like being here. Do not take that away from me.”Reno turned to the bar counter. In too many ways Johnny was right. He’d always been there. Maybe always would be. Why would you ostracize someone when they’re only ever there to help? This was something Reno was so unfamiliar with but then maybe he was. Just one more devil among all the devils he knew.“Johnny…” he started to say.Johnny waited, wanting Reno to express more. He was feeling empathetic. He knew that Reno didn’t think Tifa could love and be loved by more than just one person and that it didn’t have to be romantic. That love stacked in an array (platonic, romantic, etc.) and shouldn't be exclusive to just one person.“Bro, what are you so afraid of?”A moment of truth. Say this one thing before Tifa comes down. That if he had her all to himself, she’d have no one left to compare him to that didn’t make him look like a monster–“I'm afraid she's going to look at me like she used to…” Reno’s thoughts trailed off. Too afraid that if he said anymore then they would come true. “Like she hates me.”Johnny paused. He had to consider his next question, even if he knew. “…Do you remember the first time when she didn't?”Reno glanced at the flowers behind the bar. He didn’t have to concentrate too hard because, yeah. Yeah, he did.“That was years ago…” His voice seemed to fade, so fragile and disjointed, “…I was in town from Healen… Operations were scattered, Edge was picking itself up. Seventh Heaven was the only place open and, obviously, she was here…” He talked about the first few times he’d seen her when she first 'welcomed' him into the bar. It wasn’t that she was angry, no, just so disinterested, disengaged from him, and more than happy just to watch him leave. She’d never look at him for more than a second before she'd turn away. Sometimes not at all, as if he were never there… Clearly, the value she had in him then was nothing like how it was now. She believed in diplomacy then. Not so much second chances.The more he thought about it the more his words drew to a whisper. Slower now as he lost himself in the memory, “…This one night though, some guy wouldn’t stop coming around the counter and it pissed her off…”Reno's eyes looked to the spot where it happened, remembering the exact moment when she’d turned her back. “She’d told him to leave and he wouldn’t… So, he raised his fist…”Johnny stayed quiet. He remembered her telling the story.Reno stared like he could almost see it but then he shrugged. He still saw the man’s face, laid out there on the floor beside his feet, scared shitless as Reno drew his mag rod up, arching it high overhead like a mallet. He distinctly remembered the piano legato playing over the loudspeaker the moment he brought it back down – right as she caught his wrist.In the present, he shook his head. Still so relieved and annoyed that she did that.“…I didn't let him touch her.”Reno inhaled when he sat up again, looking back to the woodgrain as the memory faded.Beside him, Johnny stared. “She didn't look at you like that anymore, did she?”Fixated on each smile and wave she gave him thereafter, he remembered her leaning more and more into whatever he had to say or to greet him as soon as he stepped through the door. Sometimes he hadn’t said anything at all when he’d take a seat, only for her to sidle up next to him to ask what was wrong. She made time to respond to his dumb quips especially when he thought himself so clever, like somehow he’d earned that. Doing small things for her then led to more conversations, eventually the rooftop, and now to where they were. He never realized how alive she was, so full of wit and brio that the answer was clear, that, “…No. She never did.”Johnny already knew that though.“She really loves you, bro.”Slowly, Reno trained his eyes back on Johnny.“You know… I didn't go through the same experiences you went through, Reno, but I’m gonna tell you right now, if you keep dwelling on what was, then you’re gonna ruin this for her and you’re gonna ruin this for you.” Johnny turned to his PHS to gaze at the pictures still shuffling on his screen. So many new memories that wouldn’t be there, or be the same, had Reno not gone.“I know your situation is unique in how you both met and have since carried on…” Johnny said. He stopped to hold up a picture of him and her, “But just love her, man.”Above them, the sound of small feet clamored down the stairs. At the base, Marlene popped out, just as she did before but this time dressed for bed. She rushed over to the two of them to say good night with Johnny holding out both arms.“Good night, girl! You did amazing like you always do!” he said. “Thank you so much for being my trick-or-treat buddy again this year.”Marlene grinned as she clung to his side. She was already looking forward to the next time she’d see him, “Am I spending the night this weekend?”“Heck yeah! Mom was just asking about you and Denzel coming over. I’ll text Tifa to let you know when I’m coming. Hey… you need to say good night to Reno.” Marlene nodded as she glanced at Reno next.Reno got off his stool to bend down. “Thank you for helping me tonight. I, uh, hope I didn’t ruin anything for you,” he said.“NO WAY! I just told Daddy how much fun we had. We called Denzel, too. He wants you to come next year.” She gave him the biggest hug to show him she meant it, “You’ll come with us if we're not too old?”Reno smiled, trying not to imagine whatever Barrett thought of him after getting that call, “Yeah. I’d like that.”Standing up again, Reno saw Tifa at the foot of the stairs. She motioned for Marlene to hurry up and make it to bed right as she stepped toward Johnny to see him out.“Johnny, thank you so, so much,” she said, reaching over to give him a big hug.“Tifa, you know this is my jam!” he said, reciprocating with a hug that rocked her from side to side. “For real though, I had fun. Thank you for letting me tag along with you guys.”“It’s a tradition!” she said, “We’re already looking forward to next year.” Finally, Johnny turned to Reno, huge smile still on his face, “Thanks for letting me come, bro. I’m with Marlene, that was fun. I’ll see you soon?” Johnny held out his arms, “Bring it in, dude. You know I’m a hugger.”Reno shook his head even though he accepted. Reeling through Johnny’s crushing embrace, Reno endured. Too useful to be told to fuck off, he thought… and maybe then some.Finally free from Johnny’s grasp, Reno and Tifa both told him goodnight as he left.“Hey Johnny, when will you get those leggings back to me?” Tifa asked, right as he reached for the door.“Oh, Mom’s gotta wash ‘em first–““I'm kidding,” she said. “You can keep ‘em.”For a second, Reno thought they were both joking but then his face dropped. Those were her leggings.“Later!” Johnny said as he skirted out the door (still wearing one of the pairs Reno may or may not have admittedly liked). Slowly, Reno turned to Tifa who was all too happy to meet his gaze, but then looked so confused the longer he stared.“…What?”
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
Now that Johnny was gone, Tifa’s internal checklist counted down: put Marlene to bed first and then finally tend to Reno.Before heading to Marlene’s room, she’d steered him into hers to wait like he always did. She was so relieved he seemed more himself when she closed the door, significantly better than the last time he was there.Once Marlene was tucked in, Tifa turned off her lights and stepped into the hallway. Shooting one last text to Denzel as she padded back to her room, she told him she loved him before sending a separate text to Cloud. In it, she thanked him for taking Denzel, along with a picture of Marlene and Betty smiling in their costumes back on the playground. When she and Marlene both spoke to Denzel by phone, she’d been so pleased he had such a good time. He’d mentioned the other families who’d visited, so amazed that people made the same trek each year from cities and townships like Edge and beyond. Cloud promised they’d stay the night, just as he always did when he was in town, and Tifa thought it was good for them both. It no longer bothered her when he didn’t respond to her texts, so she was surprised when he did with a picture of Aerith’s church. Looking over the faint wisps of green tendrils that weaved in and out and illuminated the space, she thought it purposeful they’d only taken up half the image. The other half included an angle of the decaying roof that pitched upwards to reveal the brilliant stars above in the clear night sky. Like he did that for her.Smiling, she sent him one last text: “Please say hi for me” Now at her door, she inhaled when she opened it. One last thing…On the other side, there was Reno, patiently waiting for her at the end of her bed. Hands in his pockets, he slowly got up to meet her when she locked the door. Though she was still dressed in some of her costume, she’d freed herself of her accessories the minute she got home. Draped in her silk kimono with her costume top and skirt still on underneath, she regretted not relieving herself of her full attire and makeup sooner. Glitter was everywhere.Feeling his fingers graze her bare skin along her top and underneath her robe, he pulled her in close which put her at ease.“How are you feeling?” she asked, reaching for his face now and appreciating how much he’d cleaned up. He looked so much better.“Good,” he said, still looking her over and feeling some relief as she grinned. Though she was eager to get down to brass tacks, it was essential she cleaned up first. She imagined he’d be willing to help.“Can we talk a little later?” she asked.Not so subtle, she motioned to the shower, fully expecting him to take the hint.She didn’t have to tell him twice. It was her fault for welcoming the thought because naturally he stayed pinned to her side. Because, 'of course', she needed help undressing, 'of course', she needed help cleaning up, and 'of course', it was her fault when she touched his dick because, 'of course', they 'had to' have sex in the shower. Social graces. He had them. Like a fucking gentleman.Neither of them spoke of the present when they went through the motions. Joked, yes, affirmed each other’s pleasures, yes, but everything outside the bounds of their intimacy? That would wait. They’d be selfish first.In feeling yet another wave of release, Tifa's eyes fluttered feeling him pump into her still. He’d coax every last tremor out of her before he'd allow himself to come, confident there was no way in hell she’d go to bed angry now. Hit with another tingle, she gasped as he held her there, his body now slowing till he was fully inside her. She was so relaxed. Limp really. Tilting her head to the side, she giggled feeling him trail kisses along her neck as she tried to hold herself up. Shower sex had a massive appeal whenever he stayed over. Relatively discrete, uninterrupted, and nothing topped the sounds of shower acoustics. Sounds in bed? Cool. Sounds in the shower? Perfection.Fully relaxed, she tilted her head back to steal a kiss. It was sweet when he moved slower for her. He knew she relished in a certain tempo. Fast felt good and had its perks, but she really enjoyed it when she could feel all of him and it was lovely. She might have told him that once and he never forgot. But now she was ready for him to have his. She told him so. Bracing herself, she craned her head back to feel him ratchet up again. Moments later, he fully flexed into her thighs when he seemed to curl, holding one arm out to steady himself as he lightly shook. In feeling him quiver, she smiled, wishing this happened the first night he was back and not this much later. She tried to perish the thought when she kissed his jaw. He was there now. So, that’s what she would focus on.Now that the pair was winding down, they hurried up in the shower to get out. The thought still niggled at her even now when they were dressed and curled up in bed. She'd propped herself up against her pillows as he laid beside her closer to her stomach. He closed his eyes when he wrapped his arms around her waist, an intentional position for her to reach out and play with his hair. She appreciated this moment so much, yet she needed to know why this wasn’t his initial homecoming.“I love you,” she whispered, feeling him melt into her touch the more she caressed. In response, Reno tightened his grip around her waist, pressing his face into her abdomen as he exhaled, “Love you, too.”Feelings still loomed. So, Tifa thought she would start.“Johnny messaged me while we were out tonight…” she whispered. Slowly, she saw him open his eyes though he wouldn’t look at her. “That first street vendor… he said you were staring at the remembrance sign a lot, and he asked if I was worried.” She’d seen him do it, too, but she hadn’t put two and two together until she’d received the text. Tifa didn’t know what to say as everything felt so obvious now. “I’m really sorry,” she said. It was such a specific sensitivity she’d missed entirely due to her own experience. This many years later and she’d done well to unpack and move past so many of her own traumas. It was exhausting to constantly bare that weight. She thought Reno no different, but clearly… that wasn’t the case.The more he stayed quiet, the more she knew she was right.“It’s fine,” he eventually said, burying his face again. He felt relieved he didn’t have to explain anything. Somehow Johnny managed to do that for him. But then he remembered his question.“…How mad were you?”Tifa rolled her eyes.“I was really mad,” she said. He wasn’t without fault. The things he said were unfounded and said out of spite, like that ‘she didn’t love him if he didn’t do everything she asked’ or that this was her way of feeling important because ‘she needed someone on her arm’ and ‘couldn’t be alone’, peppered with that and other expletives. She’d been alone before though, still was when he went out of town. She very much loved him, and since when did he ever do everything that she asked? Fine. If he said she couldn’t be alone then she’d be alone. Show him she didn’t need him even if he needed her…“I didn’t like the things you said,” she went on. “It was hurtful.”Wrapped around her still, his grip turned into a clutch. Like, yeah, he’d fucked up.“I don’t know where or why you thought saying those things was okay.” Her words were a whisper. “I’m going to assume you didn’t mean them,” she asked.Slowly, he shook his head against her side, still refusing to look at her."I'm sorry," he rasped. There was something else he wanted to say but felt stunted. He needed to get this thing off his chest, hoping she would listen.In earnest, he tried to remember what he’d been taught years ago at his first Shinra-appointed health screening, pre-Meteorfall. He’d hit a rough patch in his employment then when people noticed how irresponsible he’d become. He was reckless to the point of endangerment, which didn’t sit well with Tseng or his comrades. To everyone on the outside, he welcomed death, feeling like he was untouchable and desperately needing to be told otherwise. Yet, somehow he’d dodge death at every turn. Whipping through his assailants, that’s when he began to bare his chest. Flinging his arms out to his opponents, everything about him became a taunt: “…try and hit me…” Others in his party weren’t so lucky though.So, Tseng took him aside. He made him sit through weekly seminars as a basic requirement until he showed some improvement, or that he cared. He was relegated to desk duty until then, too, with Tseng and his associates clutching their review cards close to their chests.His first screening went ‘especially’ well, given his then-therapist talked to him like a child:
“Let’s start with ‘I’ statements. When you feel angry, I want you to say ‘I feel…’ and then, you say how you feel. Okay?”
Reno could still hear his foot drumming the floor. Arms crossed, surely the therapist sensed how he felt from his death glare alone. He was there to do a fucking job. Who the fuck gave a shit about how he ‘felt’?And then, just for a moment, he thought again about the first time he stepped into her bar… The memory of when she glanced his way the second he walked in, knowing she fully recognized him the moment he waved, only to watch her turn away. She didn’t turn back.Closing his eyes, he reverted back to the present when he squeezed her again. Let’s start with ‘I’ statements …
“I feel sad when you don’t talk to me.” Such simple words carried so much weight. She’d ignored him all week when all he did was reach out. Maybe he should have stopped by, but how was he supposed to know? She should have told him…She bowed down to kiss his head, gently lifting him up enough so she could lay beside him. She wanted him to look at her.“I’m sorry,” she said, holding his face now. She realized the first thing she texted him after all those days was the expectation that she would see him tonight. He didn’t have to come and yet he did. “I’m so glad you’re here.”Closing the space between them she kissed him again and held him there. Eventually, she pulled away.“I have to thank you for dealing with that guy tonight,” she said. “…It made me remember that one time I caught your wrist.” She leaned back into her pillow with the sweetest expression, watching him slowly smile. “Do you remember?”He didn’t know if he should tell her he’d just told Johnny the same story.“I wonder if the guy on the playground would have bothered me had you been standing right next to me?” she asked.He shrugged, “Maybe.”Still, she grinned, “No one messed with me on the beach, did they?”He chuckled at this, “What? When I was all over you?”Tifa propped herself up to steal another kiss.Connected again, he leaned into her body to feel her warmth. He was reminded yet again of Costa ever since she suggested the memory. So badly did he want to be back there with her. Her vivacious and just so damn beautiful as always–“I want to go back…" he said, "Back to the beach.” Grinning, she turned to her side table to grab tonight’s treasure. As soon as she turned back, Marlene’s glasses sat squarely on his face again.“Okay…” she said, “But you have to wear these.” She meant it.“…I thought you didn’t want to get picked up by dudes,” he said flatly, watching her frenzy and grab for his wrists before he could rip them off, “Anyone who sees me coming – you think they’re going to be intimidated by this?!”“What are you talking about?” she squealed. She straddled him now, trying to hold his arms back to the bed. “I want to beat off all the dumb bitches that come for you wearing these,” she mused. She let go of his wrists to straighten out his glasses, so pleased that he didn't fight her. Throughout their play-fight, understandably, they’d become jostled.Jokingly she professed, “People take one look at these and they know you have a big dick.”Still wearing his silly shades, he was so intrigued, “Please tell me I have a big dick.”She smiled, tilting her head to the side as she gazed at him. “That's all you think about…" she whispered, lovingly peering down at him, "Isn’t it?”“… yes… yes, it is…”He sat up now to wrap his arms around her.“Say yes to going to the beach with me,” he said. “I did this thing for you… now you do this thing for me.”To her, this didn’t seem like a fair trade at all. It cost her nothing to take him trick-or-treating, but maybe that was the point.“…Okay.” she said, “But just remember…” Tapping the side of his shades, she grinned seeing his face light up the way that it did. He looked so happy.“The glasses stay on then.”