Yazoo had never been alone in Edge before. Back when they had been searching for Jenova, either Loz was with him or Kadaj was giving him directions via cell phone. And though Loz didn’t exactly provide intelligent conversation, it was a million fold better than wandering the streets alone, feeling as if Reno might have very well ripped a hole in his chest.
‘I shouldn’t have left,’ he thought. ‘I should go back.’ But then Yazoo turned and realized he had no idea where he was. His mind began to rush. This didn’t exactly look like the best neighborhood to be in, and it wasn’t as if he could go up to someone and ask for directions, considering how he had sort of made a bad name for himself in Edge. Feeling a sudden touch on his shoulder, Yazoo wheeled around jumpily.
“Ya lost, girly?” asked a toothless man in dirt encrusted clothing. The Remnant cringed. Things were not going well at all.
Elena and Rude were beginning to realize just how large of a city Edge was when you were looking for someone. Despite the fact that silver hair was unique to those with the Sephiroth gene, they hadn’t been able to spot the Remnant anywhere.
“What do you think happened to Reno?” Elena asked as they walked the street. Rude shook his head.
“I’ve never seen him like that before. The only time he came close was when his father died.” Rude peered over the top of his sunglasses at the crowd around him. It was going to be nearly impossible to find this Remnant.
“He was kissing him,” Elena said after a few minutes of silence. Rude looked at her, eyebrow arched. “Yazoo was kissing Reno,” Elena explained. “I thought maybe it might have something to do with this. I thought maybe they—”
“Got in a fight?” Rude shook his head. It did seem to fit, but Reno had fought Yazoo just the same as him. That couldn’t possibly be the truth. “When did you see them kissing?” the bald man asked, slightly confused. But Elena had her attentions centered elsewhere. There was a large crowd forming in the street.
“Let’s check it out,” the blond said.
Sure enough, the very angry crowd was centered around Yazoo, who looked extremely distraught.
“Please, just let me go!” the Remnant pleaded.
“Why should we?” a man called angrily. “We know you’re the one who tried to kidnap our kids!”
“You’re a murderer!” said another.
Suddenly, you could hardly make out what the crowd was saying. Elena tried to push her way through them, but they were getting rowdier and rowdier.
“Rude, back me up here!” she cried after getting shoved in the face. But the bald man did not hear her, as he was dealing with problems of his own. Gritting her teeth, she reached for her gun, aimed up in the air and fired. The entire crowd fell silent and turned to look at the woman.
“Oh shit, it’s a Turk,” one person said. The crowd dissipated very quickly, revealing Yazoo, lying on the ground and shielding his face.
“Are you okay?” Elena asked.
“Stay away from me!” Yazoo cried in response, his eyes still jammed shut.
“We’re here to help,” Rude said brusquely. Yazoo looked up at the two Turks, and realizing who they were he nodded.
Back at his apartment, Reno had not moved from the couch since he arrived hours before. He just sat in the dark and stared at the same space on the wall before him, shaking his head. How could he be so stupid? He’d never acted like this before, why all of the sudden was he losing his mind? But Reno knew the reason. It was Yazoo and his god damn eyes and silver hair.
“He’s too beautiful,” Reno breathed to himself, now starting to feel angry the Remnant had even reappeared in his life. There was the squeaking noise of his door opening, and Reno reached for his Electro Mag-Rod. Standing, he swung it at the figure entering through the door. There was a clanging of metal and the redhead strained his eyes to see who was before him.
“Reno, that was hardly appreciated,” said Tseng’s voice. In the dark behind his boss, Reno heard someone stumble.
“Jeez, how depressing can you get? At least turn on a light Reno!” It was Elena. Suddenly, the light did come on. Reno squinted, blinded temporarily by the brightness. However, he saw what he had hit was the side of Tseng’s gun, which Tseng was now tucking back into its holster.
“What do you want, yo?” Reno said sullenly.
“We’ve brought the Remnant back,” Tseng said. “Try not to lose him this time.”
Reno bristled.
“What?” he said. Elena gave him a strange look. That was when Reno looked up and saw Rude in the doorway and next to him a young man with silver hair. His eyes locked with Reno’s, who looked away uneasily.
“We’ll be leaving now Reno. I don’t expect to see you in the office tomorrow. The President will inform you when he has decided what to do with the Remnant.”
The other three Turks left, leaving Reno and Yazoo alone. Yazoo kept trying to catch the redhead’s eye, but Reno refused to look at him. The Remnant’s mouth went dry and he swallowed, trying to prepare his mouth for speaking.
“Reno, I—”
“Don’t,” Reno said sharply. Yazoo looked down, his eyes brimming with tears. “Don’t,” Reno repeated, his voice catching this time. There was something about seeing the Remnant cry that he couldn’t stand. He lifted Yazoo’s face up, and the moment their eyes met Reno was under his spell once again. “I’m sorry,” he said. “I’m sorry I drove you away.”
“I’m sorry I left,” Yazoo said quietly.
“I’m losing my mind Yazoo,” Reno confessed. “And I’m cynical. I’ve killed thousands of people, I drink too much, I hurt the people I love and I…”
“I don’t care,” the silver haired man replied, pulling Reno’s face in closer to his own.
“So, we’re going to do this again?” the redhead asked. Yazoo merely smiled slightly as he played with the top button of Reno’s shirt, eventually undoing it. Suddenly the Turk could stand it no longer and he grabbed hold of Yazoo’s hands.
“What is it?” Yazoo asked. Reno merely looked at him intensely. The Remnant’s smile dropped and he looked straight into Reno’s blue eyes. Reno kissed him deeply and passionately.
“Look,” Elena said, watching from the window outside. “I told you, they’re totally hooking up.”
“You are deplorable,” Tseng said from a few paces behind where Elena and Rude were crouched. “I am leaving and I would advise you both to do the same. Also, do not tell the President about any of this. Reno has the right to privacy, even if his choice in partners is slightly questionable. A right, I shall remind you, that you are both violating. Good night.”
“All right, all right,” Elena said standing. “Sheesh Tseng, I was just confirming a theory. Do you really think I want to stay here and watch Reno get it on with Remnant boy?” She stuck out her tongue indicating her strong dislike of the prospect. “C’mon Rude, let’s go.”
Rude stood slowly, shaking his head. There were just some times he didn’t understand what went on inside of the head of that partner of his.
Inside the apartment, ignorant to the fact that they were being watched, Reno wrapped his arms around his silver haired lover as they sank to the ground. And there wasn’t a single thought running through his head.
