It had been nearly a year since Reno had a day off from work, and now that he did he wasn’t all that sure what to do with it. He didn’t exactly feel like venturing out of doors due to the heat, yet all there was in his apartment was dirty clothes, a half empty fridge and a TV.
“We could go to the beach,” Yazoo suggested. Reno laughed.
“Look at how pasty I am!” he said, indicating his chest. “I’d be a lobster in about five minutes.” Yazoo nodded, smiling in a sly way. “What?” Reno asked, grinning.
“Nothing,” he responded. “I’m just fine with staying here and getting to know you better.” Reno rolled his eyes.
“I think you got to know me pretty well last night, yo,” he said pulling on a shirt he found on the ground. “And I’m surprised things aren’t more awkward today, act—”
“I meant as a person. I want to know who you are.” Reno smiled sadly and stood, shaking his head. He walked out of the room. Yazoo was not far behind him. “What?”
Reno stopped and turned around slowly. Yazoo was looking up at him with pleading eyes, and he found he couldn’t resist reaching out to touch his face.
“I’m a horrible person,” he said, not quite meeting Yazoo’s eyes. “You don’t want to know me better. I… shouldn’t have been so weak. We probably shouldn’t get involved like this, yo.”
The redhead turned away quickly so that he wouldn’t have to see Yazoo’s sad face. He couldn’t bear looking at it. There was something about the Remnant’s eyes that made him weak, made him act strange. He wasn’t himself when he looked into his eyes. He walked into the kitchen, and taking his personal carton of juice out of the fridge he took a large sip, only to find it was empty. A sudden wave of frustration washed over him, and Reno launched the carton across the kitchen angrily. Slamming his hands on the counter he tried to calm his breathing and think about the situation rationally.
If anyone from work found out about this it could mean his job. Yazoo was obviously much younger than him, even younger if you considered he was “born” merely six months prior. But Reno couldn’t help but being attracted to him. He didn’t even know where this attraction was coming from, considering he had never been involved with a man before. He sighed and closed his eyes.
“What a mess,” he breathed.
From the other room, just barely audible, came soft crying. Reno was immediately jolted with guilt. He bit a few shreds of skin off his lower lip and then went to see. When he entered the main living room of his apartment, Yazoo was at the door. Reno ran and caught him by the arm.
“You can’t leave,” he said.
“You don’t want me here, you said it yourself,” Yazoo said through his tears.
“I didn’t mean--”
“Oh no, you meant it,” the Remnant said. “Did you really think I’d care if you’ve done bad things in your life? Look at me. I tried to kill you. I tried to kill everyone.”
“I’m sorry,” Reno said, looking to his feet.
“You aren’t yet,” the silver haired man said malevolently. He pulled away from Reno sharply and left. Reno knew he should go after him. He knew that if he didn’t, things would go from bad to worse. But he couldn’t will himself to move. Eventually Reno did the only thing he could think to do. He went to work.
Rude was surprised when he looked up from his computer to see Reno sitting there, staring at his computer, seemingly on the verge of tears. He was wearing red pajama pants with chocobos on them and a button down shirt, hardly work attire. His hair was loose and messy. His lower lip was cracked and bleeding.
“Reno, what are you doing here?”
Reno said nothing and did not look away from the computer screen. He merely shook his head. And that’s when Rude noticed who was not with him.
“Where’s the Remnant?”
“I lost him,” Reno said vacantly.
“You did what?”
“I…” The redhead broke down completely. Rude gritted his teeth, unsure of what to do. The Remnant being missing was bad, extremely bad. However, never having seen Reno shed a tear since he was about 13, he knew there had to be something seriously wrong with him. After thinking for a moment, he stood and went to get the Director. Tseng was in his office, pouring over piles of papers.
“Sir?”
“Yes Rude?” Tseng said not looking up. “What is it? I know it’s lonely in your office without Reno but--”
“Sir, Reno’s here,” Rude said. Tseng looked up swiftly. “There’s something wrong with him.”
“And the Remnant—?” The cue ball merely shook his head gravely. Tseng stood and ran past Rude out of his office, down the hall into the office where Reno was now staring listlessly, eyes red, at his still blank computer screen.
“I’m sorry,” Reno said. “This is all my fault, I should have…” But as all the things he should have done began to swirl around his head, Reno found it was too much yet again. He wiped furiously at the tears leaking out of his eyes, as if trying to make them disappear.
“What did he do to you?” Tseng asked gravely. Reno shook his head.
“He didn’t do anything. It was all me. All my fault.”
“Reno it’s okay, you don’t have to—” Suddenly Reno felt rage bubble up inside of him.
“No Tseng! Let me at least take the blame! I know I’m the reason for all of this! I drove him away because I’m an unfeeling ass, okay? That’s all I’ve ever been…” He then buried his head in his arms and sobbed. Tseng shook his head, unsure of how to deal with this.
‘It like he’s having a mental breakdown,” the Director thought to himself, sighing.
“Reno, where did he go?”
“He’s in Edge. He left from my apartment.”
Tseng looked to the door where Rude and Elena both stood looking concerned. Tseng nodded and they both took off immediately. The Director then turned back to his weeping second in command.
“Reno, I need you to tell me if you’re going to be okay to get home all right. I need to talk to the President about this.” Reno looked up.
“Yeah, I… I’m sorry.”
“Stop,” Tseng said. The redhead gave sort of a half smile. He stood and went to leave. “Wait, Reno!” Tseng called. Reno turned. “Don’t stop at 7th Heaven on your way there. Last time the President made me and Rude go pick you up, Tifa yelled at me. I’d rather not have to deal with that today.”
Reno nodded and walked off in the direction of the elevator. Still in Reno’s office, Tseng shook his head.
‘I hope he’s going to be okay, that one…’ he thought, then stood and left himself.
