A Dose Of Real Life (Reno/Open)

[Zack Fair]

Zack Fair

Zack walked down the streets of Midgar. It had occurred to him that he didn’t have a job, since obviously he wasn’t a SOLDIER working for ShinRa anymore. It was kind of hard to work for ShinRa when they had hunted you down and killed you for no reason except the actions of someone else. If Sephiroth hadn’t gone crazy, and Hojo hadn’t used them as experiments, then none of that would have ever happened! But with that point, he had come up with a thought about a job. What did he have experience in? Combat and weapons, and so? He had decided to open a weapons shop. He had thought it was a great idea, Cloud had a job with his business, so why couldn’t he have a business as well?

What he really wanted to do was walk up to ShinRa and wave at people he knew. Just to be in their face and show them that he was alive again. It wouldn’t happen though, since almost everyone he knew that worked for ShinRa was dead, or retired. Cissnei hadn’t even known he was dead…ShinRa was just that good at covering stuff up…

His eyes scanned the streets. He was fairly close to Cloud and Tifa’s bar, looking where he might find a place to start building up his business. First he had to obtain a building, and then he would have to refurnish it and stock it up with weapons. It would take awhile, but hey, maybe his business wouldn’t be just weapons. He remembered when Cloud had been unconscious in the back of that yellow truck, and the old man had told him that while he was still young, he should do everything. He had told Cloud he would open up a shop where they did everything…

And so he stood, his eyes caught sight of something, a building. The property on he building looked great, even if the building needed some work. He put his hands on his waist and smiled at the building. It was a nice place, or, well he could imagine it a nice place once he was done with it! He smiled as he walked closer to the building. He checked it out from the street, looking around. It seemed to be solidly built, even though it was run down a bit. Besides, he couldn’t afford any fancy place just yet! He didn’t even notice the fiery red haired man that was in the surroundings, so intent on the building he was. He might just look like a normal guy, except that he still wore his 1st class SOLDIER uniform, and the massive Buster Sword hung on his back…

[Reno]

Reno stood on the sidewalk next to a building that looked pretty run down. He stared at it for a few minutes, not thinking about the building but thinking of his...aquantances. He didn't know why that building had reminded him of those certain people, like His boss Rufus ShinRa. His best friend, Rude, and even some of the people he helped when the Geostigma crisis went on, like, Cloud and Tifa. Reno simply shook his head and turned away from the building and leaned against the wall of the building beside it. He sighed. Where was everybody?

He hadn't heard anything from Rude lately, maybe he was out doing some sort of secret mission or something awesome where Reno wasn't included. Shoot, Reno hadn't even heard much from Rufus ShinRa lately either. It was just as if, there wasn't anything that needed to be done. Maybe that was a good thing? Aside from the darkness starting to rise, which hadn't shown any promise lately, things had been pretty quiet, and dull. There was the occasional outburst of something major, but that could be easily taken care of, but once the really big stuff happened, if it ever did, Reno assumed he'd see everyone once again to help stop the darkness once again.

Reno hummed to himself as he pealed a banana and started to eat it. He didn't even like bananas but it was something. He started thinking of some new features he could add to his helicopter. After it crashed awhile back he decided to add some new things to make it better. His mind was distracted when he saw Zack. He seemed to be staring at the same building Reno was staring at before. Reno looked at the building then back at Zack, then to the banana he had taken a tiny bite out of. He grinned to himself, he didn't remember where he had seen zack but he knew he had met him before. He took his banana and threw it at Zack to get his attention. Well, Reno didn't like bananas anyway so it worked. "Hey! We've met before...Right?" He wanted to be absolutely sure.

[Zack Fair]

Zack Fair

Zack stood with a smile up on his lips, his arms were crossed. He had finally found a place that might work, now, all he had to do was everything else…”ehh, Won’t be to hard once I get my butt in gear!” He was excited, damn ShinRa anyway, I don’t need them! he gave a satisfied nod, he was gonna have a great weapons shop! Cloud had seemed like he was for it, and would help him out, but he also didn’t want to burden his best friend. He knew that Cloud had a lot on his plate without helping him get started…

His thoughts were on the future…and they turned to the auburn haired Cissnei. He had met the pretty young turk 7 years ago when he had worked for ShinRa, the same time he had met two other turks, Reno and Rude. He had met their leader, Tseng, a few months prier to that, on the mission in Banora. He had become friends with Tseng, and close friends with Cissnei as well. Reno and Rude…well, they, as well as himself, were on missions way to often to hang out all that much. He talked with Cissnei a lot, and his mind rested on her now. Why? Even he himself didn’t know that, except that he was thinking about the future, and hoping to have Cissnei be in the future with him.

He was a little bit blank, not looking around at the people that walked past so hard was he thinking. He didn’t see a run down building, he saw a future. He couldn’t wait, but it would be a long time in the making, better not to get too excited…and that’s when he felt it…like someone was watching him, someone he knew. He glanced to his right…nothing…and then back to his left, and out of the corner of his eye he thought he saw something…

And then he heard the voice and somehow knew whoever had spoken was speaking to him. He knew that voice…and out of the corner of his eye he saw movement. He turned sharply, his instincts kicking in, his right hand went back and pulled out the buster sword as something flew toward him. He had his buster sword up and ready when something soft and squishy hit him in the neck. He shuddered and his left hand flew up and grabbing onto whatever it was, he got it away from his neck and stared at it…a…banana?! What?! Who?! Why?! Who would just throw a banana at him?! His eyes went from the banana, which he held in his left hand, to a figure standing a little ways from him. Crazy red hair...suit…goggles…only one man in the whole of Gaia looked like that…

Reno…

The red haired turk that he hadn’t seen in years. What was he doing here? Was he…Zack narrowed his eyes a bit and watched him. Had Reno been sent by ShinRa to capture him? He wouldn’t think so, since ShinRa must have a lot more things going on then just him, why would they be concerned about what he did? Unless…was this Hojo’s doing? Wanting to capture him for some more experiments? “Heya Reno…I would think you knew me…although its been what…5 years now since I died?” He put his buster sword back away and crossed his arms, knowing full well he could take on the turk if he had to fight him. He had always considered the turks his friends, even though they had been forced by the president to hunt him down. He wasn’t taking any chances though. Cissnei didn’t know if they were trying to capture him, although, why would they keep up with that? Didn’t they have better things to do? “What are you doing here? You aren’t hunting me are you?” Mine as well get that out in the open first thing. He wasn’t going to get captured again, and he’s fight every last ShinRa employee before they ever caught him! “its been awhile eh? Last time I saw you, I think we were still on the same side…you still fight for ShinRa?”

And he just had to ask…”and…whats with the banana?!”

[Reno]

Reno glanced away from Zack as he kept staring at that building. What could he be thinking about? Like Reno really cared. He didn't now Zack as well as the others but considered him an aquaintance none the less. Besides, Reno had his mind on other things as well. Like where the heck was Rude?! And why he hadn't heard from Rufus ShinRa. Could something be wrong? He didn't want to bother anyone and ask around, so he figured, if they wanted to talk to Reno, they'd have to come find him. He wasn't going on a wild goose chase trying to find people.

After throwing the banana Reno kept himself calm and not even a smirk went across his face, especially when Zack had his buster sword out. But Reno couldn't resist even the smallest of smirks. He grinned at Zack with a smirk and shoved his hands in his pockets. His smirky smile fell a little but still remained. "5 years eh? It's been that long?" It didn't seem to long ago. "You're pretty lucky to have escaped the life stream."

But his grin quickly deminished when Zack asked about hunting him down. That was one thing Reno wasn't very proud of, but in the past he didn't really have a choice, it was a order that had to be followed. "I'm just taking an Innocent stroll...No one's hunting down anyone...at least not that I am aware of." He shrugged. "Of course, i wouldn't know, I haven't heard from Rufus or Rude or anyone lately." I wonder where they are...he added in his head looking down a bit. He hated being out of the loop of things. "But yeah, i guess im still fighting for ShinRa." He said looking back up at zack.

"Oh. The banana...I figured it would be nicer than either hitting you with the electro-mag rod or ignoring you to some how get you're attention." He shrugged as his smirky smile came back to his face. "I see you have your eye on this building." Reno nodded towards the building Zack had been looking at for his new business. "You starting up a business or something?" Reno asked just making light conversation. "Cloud has a delivery business not far from here right?" He didn't really care, of course Cloud and Tifa were Reno's friends too, but now he didn't really care for anything.

[Zack Fair]

Zack Fair

Zack nodded, his arms crossed, feet spread wide apart, looking back at Reno with a strange look, half smirk, half serious. “Yup, five years.” He yawned and stretched his muscled arms, before scratching his head. “Yeah, a couple people have told me that already, that I’m lucky. Ahhh, I’m just happy to have a second chance!” He cocked his eyebrows, why am I telling this to Reno of all people?! He shook his head a bit, before glancing back at the building. “A stroll…? Psh, you Turks are always sneaking around doing something! Don’t try to fool me Reno, I’ve worked for ShinRa, I know about the Turks…remember?” And yet, he strangely believed him that he wasn’t hunting him, and he relaxed because of it.

He uncrossed his arms, Reno hadn’t been in contact with any of the other Turks? That was odd new indeed…the Turks were tight, almost like a family, usually they knew where everyone was at all times…what was going on with this? He shook his head, “You Turks always were to loyal to your job. ShinRa…haven’t you realized that they were behind all this suffering? All that evil, that started when I was alive…they were behind it all! Not those that ShinRa called monsters. No…I may not hate ShinRa, but I think your wrong for helping them ruin people’s lives…” He sighed a bit, before waving his right hand. “nahhhh, forget it! It isn’t worth it anyway…do you know Cissnei is here as well?”

Since Reno had mentioned he was alone, he thought he might be happy that there was another Turk around. Cissnei had said she hadn’t contacted Reno in a long time, but she was still going back to ShinRa to work as a Turk. She was dedicated to her job, as always…but they all were. What happened when a Turk deserted? they probably just kill them… And yet he couldn’t help laughing when Reno explained the banana. “If you’d have hit me with that stick of yours I would have probably taken your head off!” He was smiling, but he was somewhat serious. He had been through a lot of fighting since he had been brought back, he was usually on edge…

He crossed his arms again when he spoke of the building. What was he…a psych? Or was he just…he still didn’t trust Reno…how could he? Reno was a Turk…they turned against their fellow comrade if the president told them to! “Hmmm, whats it to you? Maybe I’m just…oh you know, settling down, gonna raise a family and put a white picked fence in front of the place!” He watched Reno, a smile up on his lips, mako blue eyes sparkling. “doesn’t that sound nice?” And yet, Reno wouldn’t buy that, how did any ex 1st class SOLDIER that was killed and brought back to life settle down like that? “Yeah, The’re bar is pretty close to here. Why?” He wasn’t trying to be mean, but well…how were you supposed to act when you were around a guy you hadn’t seen in 5 years, who the last time you had seen him, was hunting you to try to kill you? It was awkward, anyone would admit that…

[Reno]

Reno just nodded some, of course he was only half listening, but yet, he was interested for some reason. He hadn't heard of many people escaping the life stream before but now and days it was like everyone was popping back from the dead. "Yeah, Lucky is probably an understatement though." He shrugged getting ready to defend his 'just taking a stroll' story, even though thats all it was. He pulled his hands out of his pockets and simple folded them across his chest and closed his eyes. "No one is trying to fool you Zack. I really am....just taking a stroll." He said in a very bored monotone as he opened his eyes and looked over at Zack.

He listened to the statements Zack had made about ShinRa being the cause of the suffering and Evil. Not like Reno could agree or disagree because Zack was right, he was Loyal to his job, and he didn't want to bad mouth the people he worked for. Reno thought for a minute to see if he could defend ShinRa against those comments but anything he really had to say wouldn't change any opinions about it. "Well...I'll admit theres been some....problems-" He slipped up, he was agreeing with zack partially but on the other hand he was going to defend it somehow. "-But some things are just a coincidence." He shrugged. Well that probably didn't help one bit, so when zack said Cissnei was around here too, Reno's eyes lit up a bit.

"Really? Cissnei is here too? Wonder why I haven't seen her yet." He said now frowning. Maybe she knew where everyone was? He'd go find her later somehow. Now if only someone told him that...Rude were around, then Reno would feel 110% better than he did now. Having no one around for awhile sucks. You get so...lonely. Reno then chuckled as they went back to the banana subject. "Well, it's a good thing I used the banana then. No one would suspect anything suspicious coming from a harmless Fruit." He shrugged with a smirk.

Reno then raised an eyebrow as Zack explained the building, obviously not truthful. "You? Settle down? After coming back to life....? Um. I highly doubt those are your intentions but i'll just mind my own business then." He said as he figured this conversation would come to an end very quickly. "Oh. i just knew they had a place around here, I might stop for a visit, you never know." He said with a grin before letting his arms drop to his sides. "Well. I believe i should be going. You know us Turks, always sneaking around for something." Reno said recalling to what Zack had said about them. Reno turned his back on Zack and put his hands in his pockets before starting his stroll.

[Zack Fair]

Zack Fair

Zack Crossed his arms and watched Reno as he closed his eyes and crossed his arms. He wanted to laugh at he expression on his face, and when he spoke about truly just taking a stroll, Zack couldn’t hold back his laughter anymore. It wasn’t that he didn’t believe Reno or anything, but the exasperated sigh and the look on his face for some reason brought up his laughter. He shook his head, ran a hand through his hand and grinned, the laughter had stopped. He put his hands on his waist and just smirked, his intensely blue eyes twinkling with good humor.

He was sad that he had to be weary around Reno, because although he hadn’t known the red haired turk all that well, he had still liked him. Never really friends, not because of any reason other then simply the fact that they were both way to busy with different missions to ever be around each other. Reno and Rude had mission after mission, and he himself was always working on a mission, the only turks he ever worked with were Cissnei and Tseng, both of which he had a deep respect and friendship with.

“Yeah…problems…” He turned around, looking at the building which was now his focus, his dream of a new life, he deserved it! “Meh, I don’t hate ShinRa, They ruined a lot of good people’s lives, but I don’t hate them. They did what they did, and no one can pardon that, but in the end no one is perfect. But I’ll never look at ShinRa in the same light again, no matter what they do to fix their past mistakes, but that can’t be helped…lets just leave it at that.” He turned back toward Reno and smiled, that was his peace offering so to speak. He wished that Reno would accept that, because he’d like to be friends with them now.

He wouldn’t hold against them what they did, for in reality, he knew they thought what they had done was to benefit the people, when it only hurt them. He raised an eyebrow. “Yup, I’ve talked to her a few times now, even took her for a ride on my snazzy new bike!” He shrugged, “You know Turks, they won’t be seen until they want to be. If you haven’t seen Cissnei there is probably a reason, although she did say she wondered how you guys have been.” Glancing at Reno, he rubbed the back of his neck with his right hand and mumbled. “I’m probably not the one to ask about what’s been going on in recent events….”

He quirked a brow, what was up with the banana subject anyway?! He couldn’t help the grin that formed on his mouth, and he shook his head and chuckled. “Oh Reno…I think you’re a fruit of your own!” He took a few steps toward Reno, before crossing his arms again. “Yeah, maybe my dream was always settling down and having a family instead of just becoming a Hero…” Speaking of family…he didn’t have any left anymore, not blood family. When he had visited Gongaga, and had met Cissnei, he was actually looking for his parents. Somehow he knew they wouldn’t be alive anymore, but it had knocked the wind out of him to learn that they had indeed been dead for years now. Nothing left…only his friends, memories and the will power to get back on his feet and continue on.

Cloud was just like a brother, his best friend, man Cloud was the greatest! It was nice that he had worked everything out with Tifa too, and now they were engaged. A smile formed on his face at the thought, his blue eyes looking off into the distance for a few seconds. He came back to the present when Reno mentioned going to see them. “Well you can of course, I mean visit, although I’m not sure if….yeah, well…er…” He was going to say that Cloud wouldn’t like the visit, but somehow he didn’t want a fight, so he just didn’t say it.

When he turned and started to leave, Zack smiled and took a few steps after him. “Hey Reno! Wait…aren’t you missing something?” He cocked his head and smirked. “Don’t you wanna figure out where Cissnei is? Your never gonna find her by just wandering around…” He hesitated though, maybe Cissnei didn't want him telling anyone where she lived. should he even tell Reno?

[Reno]

Reno kept quiet as zack laughed, of course Reno didn't know what was so funny. Oh well. He shrugged and smirked a smile till Zack expressed his thoughts on ShinRa. Honestly, now was probably a day Reno didn't wanna talk about that, and yes, zack was right, ShinRa had done some things that wouldn't be forgiven quite easily, but maybe someday, they could make up for their mistakes...it would take alot of effort on their part to accomplish that. "That's one thing I fully agree, although you never know, maybe sometime in the near future, ShinRa will do something great once again, and maybe people will see us in better lighting than they do now." Reno shrugged some returning a smile. The peace offering was accepted.

The thing now was why hadn't Cissnei shown herself? Or even gotten ahold of him lately? Was there something going on that Reno didn't know about? Is that why he hadn't seen or even talked to Rude in some time? He hadn't heard from anyone, it worried him some. Maybe something bad had happened or maybe Reno did something stupid to make them try and avoid him to piss him off or something, either way, it still worried him. "Ah I See...I'll find her somehow....at least I know she's around some place....Now if i could find Rude...things would be better." Reno frowned some. He hated being out of the loop.

Reno had a glazed look over his face, like he was spacing out, but truely it was his thoughts. So many things to think about, so many things that could have happened haunted him while he was alone and now, the banana subject once again. Reno turned to face Zack when he was called a fruit. Reno smirked a smile before raising an eyebrow. "Im a fruit?? Well fine, you're still...as i've heard...you're still the Puppy then." He smiled some before he nodded to visiting Cloud and Tifa. It probably wasn't the best idea reno had, but it couldnt be that bad could it? Cloud didn't hold that big of a grudge did he? Reno didn't think so. So when he started his stroll he stopped when zack spoke once again.

"I do wanna find Cissnei, but if she hasn't contacted me yet....i don't think she wants to see me." Reno chuckled some. "But if you know where she is...or not, thats cool. Im sure ill find someone....eventually." Reno kept his smile going as he looked around the street. Not many people out today, so it was a good day. Maybe Reno would take a ride in his helicopter which he was accused of crashing on his own account. Which he didnt. That remnant, Yazoo, made him crash. But before a copter ride Reno decided to say one more thing. "I hope me being a Turk doesn't mean we can't be friends Zack."

[Zack Fair]

Zack Fair

He smiled back at Reno, and shook his head. “Maybe, if ShinRa did indeed change, and they actually try to help others, and do something that doesn’t involve what it all did when I was last alive…well I suppose I might give it a chance.” He crossed his arms, his blue eyes looking at Reno. The man was fair, he would give him that. While the president of ShinRa was always…well he didn’t look out for anyone but himself, the Turks had always been a fair bunch. Having high morals, the only problem was that they would do basically anything the president asked. His shoulders relaxed all the way when Reno smiled at him. He knew that the bright red haired man had accepted that they leave it at that.

He shook his head…that was just like Reno. “Wait a second…you don’t know where the rest are? That’s unusual isn’t it?” He wasn’t trying to be sassy or know it all, but he was genuinely shocked that Reno didn’t know where any of the other Turks were. Usually they knew at all times where each other were, so it was very odd that he didn’t. He wanted to say hi to Tseng…his old friend, he hoped that they could be friends as well. He knew from Cissnei that the Turks had been trying to find Cloud and him, to take them back alive. That was something, it showed that they had tried for him. Now, he wouldn’t have gone back, no, what would they have gone back to? Hojo…more experiments, and ultimately they would have both died. He would have fought the Turks if they had tried to take them back to ShinRa alive, it would have hurt, but he would have done it.

At the point he had been at, he didn’t give a damn what happened to him. That’s why he had faced that army instead of running more. If he had continued to run, eventually ShinRa would have caught up to them both. He had only wanted to save Cloud, Cloud needed a future! He was so caught up with his own thoughts that he didn’t even notice that Reno seemed to be in a world of his own as well. But he was brought back to reality when Reno spoke of him being the puppy. He chuckled, but then scratched his head, “Seriously…how did everyone find out about that name anyway?!” He grumbled lowly to himself, “Thanks Angeal…”

He nodded, “Yeah I guess your right, about the contacting thing…” He waited a bit, before suddenly Reno burst out with something. A big grin split Zack’s face. “Anyone that knows me at all knows that I won’t hold a grudge! Whether you know it or not, I like the Turks…its their president I don’t like so much…so no, I hope we can be friends, because what all happened, happened a long time ago. It’s all behind us; I just want to move on.” He walked toward Reno, and stretched out his hand to shake, his eyes looking into Reno’s. “And besides...Cissnei told me about how you all tried to find me before I fought the Army...it means a lot to me that you guys did that!”

[Reno]

Reno nodded as a response to ShinRa. As of now, he was going to completely drop the subject, because there simply wasn't anything more to talk about it. They had their mistakes and he knew it, nothing could change that, but the past was the past and thats where he kept all of ShinRa's mistakes, in the past. But it seemed that Zack was just as surprised as Reno was to hear about him not knowing where his fellow Turks were. His friends, no contact in weeks. It made Reno quite...unlike himself, very quiet lately but Reno knew as always there was a reason behind this, and whatever it was, he'd find out soon enough and join the party. "I haven't heard from anyone lately, I guess it's no big deal for now...but if I don't hear from someone soon...I think I'll go crazy!" Not knowing things, that you desperately wanted to know killed you on the inside, at least it did for Reno. It was eating away at his thoughts. He didn't know if any of his friends...except cissnei....were alive. It brought up a major Red flag in his mind, but on the outside, he was calm, cool, and collected.

Reno chuckled back at the puppy comment. "We know quite alot about everything, word travels fast, and plus...its just funny, so of course I at least know." Reno grinned as a friendship started to set into place. Zack was fully willing to be friends with him, a man who had once tried to capture him and cloud, it was...good. In Reno's eyes it was probably a really really good thing, especially with all this lonelyness, at least now he would have someone to talk to instead of being all quiet all the time. Reno struck out his hand and shook Zack's confirming a legit friendship. "We did all we could...we tried at least..." That was the only comment Reno would make about the subject. Not that it was a bad subject, but still, not a very hot topic with him.

[Zack Fair]

Zack

He understood completely about Reno going crazy if he didn’t find anyone he knew. He nodded, “Yeah…I was lucky, finding Cloud almost exactly when I came back from the lifestream. But if I hadn’t…I might possibly have gone crazy as well.” He quirked a brow and chuckled, “But Reno…aren’t you already crazy?” He saw underneath the calm façade Reno had going on, he was worried, and Zack could tell. He went up and put a hand on his shoulder, “Don’t worry, you’ll find them…believe me!”

He rolled his eyes in mock horror when Reno said that it had traveled fast, “Yeah I noticed…everyone from ShinRa knows about that…just because I have the best puppy eyes around doesn’t mean I am a puppy.” So he shook his head and went on to the next subject, friendship. Sure the Turks had hunted him, but he had figured out recently that they had hunted him to find him before the Army. Even if they had been going to bring him back in, at least it wasn’t going to be by the army. Turk’s couldn’t stand up to a 1st class SOLDIER anyway…or at least not in his experience. They were however, a tough bunch, especially since they worked in a team and together all the time. “Well I appreciate it.”

Looking back at the building behind him, he chuckled, “You were right Reno, by the way. I’m gonna build a weapons shop…figured it was one of the things I knew in and out.” He gave a little shrug, “Hopefully it works out, so in the future if you need any weapons, just come see me!” He smiled a bit, “But a family wouldn’t be all that bad eh Reno?”