Chapter 4: Reno’s Date

After work, I got a ride home from Reno. He said he didn’t want me walking home in the dark. Some may have said he was just pulling my leg, but in all honesty, I think he was being very sincere.
“Can you wait out here for about, oh, 20 minutes?” I said as I was putting my purse’s strap back onto my shoulder. “I don’t think coming inside’s such a good idea.”
“Sure,” Reno turned the ignition of the car off. “Just don’t tell him it’s me waiting out here. Tell him it’s… Elena or something.”
“Believe me. I didn’t plan on saying anything to him. Well, except for maybe an excuse of ‘I need a Girl’s Night Out’” I winked at him. “Be back as soon as I can!”

When I opened the door, I knew something was wrong. Not a single light was on in the entire house. Not even upstairs, where Vincent spent most of his day. The house was pitch black.
“Vincent? Cid?” I lightly yelled so I wouldn’t worry Reno just feet away outside. “Where are you two? Hello? VINCENT!”
That time I yelled. Moments later tears began to rush down my face… It was totally uncalled for I know. Soon after, Reno appeared at my side.
“What’s wrong, babe?” Reno closed the door behind us. “Where’s Big Vince? Or Mr. Cid?”
“I… I don’t know,” I wiped the unwanted tears off my face. “They’ve never just left like this before without telling me… Vincent?”
At that moment, a figure appeared in the shadowed doorway of the kitchen. It didn’t make a sound.
“Who’s there?” Reno pushed me behind him. “Answer me, damnit!”
“No, who’re you…?” the shadowed figure almost whispered he spoke so lightly.
“That’s none of your business,” Reno snapped back. “Now show yourself!”
Out of the shadows stepped the one person I never thought it could be: Vincent Valentine.
“Vincent!” I cried in relief. “What are you doing?”
“Kim?” Vincent scanned over my face and locked his cold stare on Reno standing next to me. “What in the hell are you doing here? Do you have something to tell me, Kim?”
“No! Nothing like that,” I carefully walked up to him. “He gave me a ride home is all. So why are you doing this? What’s with the lights all being off… And where’s Cid?”
“Cid went out awhile ago… About the same time I did. I had some business to attend to…” Vincent’s voice rang low and almost fearful. “Cid’ll be back later though…”
“Oh,” I looked away from him for a second, but then he pulled my face back towards him. “What?”
“Why is Reno really here?” Vincent’s voice finally began to soften up. “I know he’s not here for just a ride… I can see it in your eyes.”
“Well, we’re trying to plan a reunion,” I breathed out as I slowly began to relax. “Reno’s worried about Elena mentally and physically, so we’re trying to make an excuse to get her to take time off work.”
“Elena?” Vincent couldn’t remember who she was.
“You know, the blonde Turk who you saved, and was always with Tseng?”
“Was?” Vincent questioned again. “Ah, I see… He passed away…”
“That’s another reason why we need to get Elena out,” Reno spoke up for the first time. “She won’t stop thinking it’s her fault; Tseng’s death I mean.”
Reno and I both looked at Vincent for a response.
“Hm… Okay. Have a good time,” Vincent kissed my forehead. “I’ll be waiting for you.”