Desha's Reno of the Turks Fan Fiction

Interludes – Scene 41

Scene Notes: Scenes from Reno and Elena’s honeymoon.

… not those kinds of scenes. Get your mind out of the gutter.

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Day One…

Elena beamed as her new husband helped her down from the helicopter and out into the hot, late morning sunshine. He laughed and lifted her into his arms.

“Ya know… that poor pilot’s gonna be traumatized for life,” he said, grinning. Elena giggled.

“And who’s fault is that?” she retorted. “By the way… I expect you to finish what you started in there…”

“What? Right now?” the redhead asked, feigning a scandalized expression. “… ‘Lena! … Well, if you insist…”

She leaned in an kissed him. “Pervert.”

“Heh… Look who’s talkin’. Last night after the reception wasn’t enough for you?”

“Not even close,” she whispered in his ear. “Now put me down. The sooner we get checked in, the sooner we can pick things up where we left off…”

He spun twice with her in his arms before depositing her on the concrete walkway that led down towards the Costa del Sol docks, and then turned back to retrieve their luggage. Elena laughed and pulled one of the bags from his hands, draping the strap over her shoulder and heading into the resort town.

A warm breeze blew in from the ocean, alleviating the growing heat of the day somewhat, and Elena sighed in contentment. Costa del Sol always seemed to be the most beautiful place in the world. Bright tropical flowers bloomed on vines that curled their way up twin trellises holding up a wooden sign welcoming guests to the resort, and still more strange but lovely plants lined the stone walkway leading to the concierge desk inside the stucco-walled building tucked back into a grove of palm trees. Reno slipped out in front of her and opened the door for her with a – somewhat awkward, owing to the luggage he was still juggling – bow, before following her inside.

They were immediately greeted by the resort staff, who took their bags and presented them with some kind of chilled fruit juice that Elena couldn’t quite identify in fluted glasses.

“Checking in?” the woman at the desk inquired, and Reno nodded.

“Mr. and Mrs. Reno Donovan,” he confirmed, grinning widely. The woman made a quick check of the reservation system and smiled.

“Ah, yes… Here we are. Reservation for two in our honeymoon suite,” she replied. Her smile widened. “Congratulations. And I have a note here to inform you that you’ve been upgraded to one of our deluxe bungalows on the beach as a surprise wedding gift from a friend who wishes to remain anonymous.”

Elena giggled as they were led away to their room. “Who do you think it was? Tseng? Or Rude?” she asked, turning to her husband, but Reno shook his head.

“Rufus,” he said, decidedly, smirking. “Rude wouldn’t have sent an anonymous anything ’cause he knows how paranoid I can be, and Tseng’s too practical to think of somethin’ like that.” He grinned. “Rufus, on the other hand…”

She laughed softly and cuddled up to him. “You’re right… It had to be Rufus. That was sweet of him.”

“Well… Since he’s bein’ so generous, I think we oughta put it to good use. Right now. For several hours.”

---

Day Two…

Elena woke to the sound of waves and the faint scent of salt breeze as it ghosted across her naked skin. It was followed by the gentle caress of fingertips on her shoulder. She smiled as her eyes fluttered open and she found herself looking directly into Reno’s. The redhead smiled and pressed a soft kiss to her forehead.

“Mornin’, beautiful…” he said, as he brushed back her hair. She stretched slightly and propped herself up on one elbow.

“Mornin’ yourself… What time is it?” she asked, and Reno shrugged.

“Didn’t look. Don’t care. Doesn’t matter.”

Elena snickered and trailed a hand along his cheek, and suddenly realized that her husband… who generally had to be physically dragged out of bed before ten o’clock if he didn’t have anywhere to be… was dressed in teal beach shorts and a loose-fitting white shirt that was open in the front, revealing a tempting view of his chest. He was lying next to her on top of the sheets. Her surprise must have registered in her face, because his grin quickly widened.

“I’ve been up since sunrise,” he said without being prompted for an explanation.

“I’d have thought I wore you out last night,” his wife teased, and the redhead gave her a decidedly lewd look.

“Oh, trust me… you did. Lucky for you, I recover fast. I wanted to make sure breakfast would be here when you woke up,” he said, and then smirked, “Wasn’t countin’ on you sleepin’ in ’til lunch.”

She rolled her eyes and rolled over, casting a quick glance at the clock on the far wall. It was only eight thirty.

“Lunch, huh?” she laughed, sitting up in bed and reaching for the soft, gossamer-thin coverup she’d bought specifically for lounging around in the morning after a long night of love making. Reno’s eyes roved over her body for a moment, appreciatively, as she slipped it on. “So… what’s for breakfast?”

“… More sex?” he suggested and Elena couldn’t help but giggle.

“You have a one-track mind, Reno…”

“Yeah… but you knew that before you married me, so don’t act like you’re shocked by it,” he grinned. The redhead got up and walked around to her side of the bed, and lifted her into his arms, carrying her across the room and out through the French doors that led to the little veranda outside.

“Reno!” she said in a loud whisper, “I’m half naked!”

He set her down and pulled out a chair for her at the small table.

“I’d prefer you completely naked,” he shot back with a wink, “… ‘Sides… Look around. We got plenty of privacy out here.”

It was true, she realized. Their little bungalow was off on its own, sheltered by the tropical jungle and largely hidden from prying eyes. Through a small opening in the trees, she could see the beach and the bright blue water. From farther off, she could hear music playing, but few people seemed to venture close enough to their hideaway to catch sight of the couple.

There was a loud pop next to her, and she shifted her attention back to Reno, who had just opened a bottle of champagne. Elena snickered softly.

“Don’t you think it’s just a little early to start drinking?” she teased, as he filled her glass a little over halfway.

“Nope,” he responded, and filled the remaining space with orange juice from a nearby pitcher. “Never too early for mimosas on the beach…”

“You know… It’s nice having my own personal bartender,” Elena giggled and reached for the glass, taking a sip. It was sweet and citrusy and cold… and she had to admit, it was a lovely way to start the morning.

“Heh… Knew you married me for more than just my body…”

“Oh, no. I totally married you for your body. This is just an extra perk,” she joked. Reno snickered and lifted the cover off of a wide platter, revealing a huge assortment of fruits. He selected a slice of mango, and held it out for her to bite. Elena giggled and took it from his fingers with her teeth, nipping lightly as his fingertip as she did so. The fruit was sweet and tart and delicious.

“Are you going to hand feed me at every meal?” she asked, grinning.

“‘Lena… I will do literally anything you want me to while we’re here,” Reno replied, “All you gotta do is ask.”

---

Day Three…

“Alright… Out of the water!” Elena called from slightly farther up the beach. Rena turned and pouted.

“Five more minutes?!”

She waded out into the surf, just as he was making his way back onto the sand, surfboard in tow. Elena giggled.

“You can go right back to surfing. After we bathe you in sunscreen again. I’m not going to let a repeat of our last vacation in Costa del Sol happen on our honeymoon,” she replied, taking hold of his arm and leading the redhead back to the umbrella she’d been sitting under, watching him play. Apparently it was something he alwaysdid when he had some time off to spent at the resort town. He’d been a little rusty at first, but Reno had quickly fallen back into the rhythm of riding the waves again.

“Oh, so you’re sayin’ you don’t like the lobster-red and blistered look?”

“No. And I don’t want you screaming in agony for the next five days, either,” Elena said, and reached into her bag. She’d come prepared. It was the highest SPF, most waterproof, top quality sunscreen she’d been able to find, in the largestsizebottle they made. She’d ordered ten of them… one for each day they’d be there and a few extra just in case. And she’d been slathering him in it any time they left the shelter of their room during the day.

Reno didn’t tan in sunlight. He cooked. And the last thing she wanted was for him to end up burned to a crisp halfway through their trip.

She coaxed him down, cross-legged, onto the beach blanket she’d spread out and started on his shoulders, spreading the lotion liberally over his skin. Reno sighed in content at her touch, and let himself relax under her tender ministrations.

“Ya know… this shit works great, but I’m gonna be sweatin’ it from every pore by the time we go home,” he chuckled, “I’ll probably be coconut-scented for the rest of my life.”

“Good thing I like coconut, then. And it’s better than peeling off a layer of skin from your entire body,” Elena teased, and gave the back of his neck a gentle squeeze.

“Good point.” He was silent for a few minutes, just sitting and enjoying the attention, and Elena smiled at the sight. She couldn’t remember ever seeing him look so happy and knowing that she was responsible for that left her feeling overjoyed. After a while, he peeked one eye open.

“So… You ready to come out there and surf with me yet?”

“O-oh… I don’t know…” she began. She was more than happy to watch him have fun in the water, and even join him in the shallows… but truth be told, the ocean still made her a little nervous. She preferred the resort’s pool when she wanted a swim.

“Please?” he asked, with a pleading pout. “You’re a much better swimmer now… and I won’t let anything happen to ya, ‘Lena.”

She crept around to his front, coating his chest in sunscreen as well. Her hands slid up along the sides of his neck and finally cupped his face as she leaned in and kissed him deeply.

“… I suppose I could give it a try,” she finally acquiesced, and her husband grinned madly.

The next thing she knew, she was waist deep in the ocean, clinging somewhat hesitantly to Reno’s surfboard as he tried to explain the process.

---

Day Four…

Sunset had brought with it a pleasantly cool breeze from offshore, and the beach had come alive with the resort area’s nightlife. Steel drum music sang out from one of several shows that had sprung up all along the shore as the light had faded. Beyond that, a small group tumbled and danced while twirling flaming staffs, and farther along still, Elena could make out an impromptu limbo contest being held on the sand.

Her sandals dangled from her fingertips as she and Reno strolled, barefoot and unhurried, along the beach, pausing now and then to watch some of the performers.

“I bet you’d be good at that,” she commented offhandedly, as they approached the fire dancers, and the redhead laughed.

“Yeah… no,” he sniggered. “I learned my lesson about playin’ with fire a long time ago.”

“Oh, yay! Story time!” his wife teased, and Reno shook his head, still laughing.

“It’s not much of a story. Had some time to kill after a mission, so me ‘n Rude decided to chill out here for a day or two. Got drunk and he bet me I couldn’t do the whole fire dancin’ thing. I spectacularly lost that bet… and then had the Doc yellin’ at me when we got home the next day ’cause I couldn’t do much of anything to cover up the fact that I didn’t have eyebrows.”

Elena paused, shaking with laughter, and finally looked him in the eye. “Okay… You are absolutely not doing that, then. I prefer you with eyebrows.”

---

Day Five…

“… Okay!” he enthusiastically agreed. Reno rolled over on top of her, pinning her beneath his body, and slipped his hands under her, fingers toying with the ties of her bikini top while his lips lavished attention on her throat.

“And just what do you think you’re doing?” she asked, trying her best not to laugh.

“You just said you wanted sex on the beach…” he replied, looking up and flashing her a grin.

“I meant the drink, you pervert,” Elena said, giggling as she rolled her eyes. “Go get me one.”

The redhead leaned closer and captured her lips with his, and she obligingly allowed his tongue to slip past. “You sure you didn’t mean it the other way?” he asked when he pulled away. Elena gave him her best seductive smile.

“Kiss me all you want, Reno… but I’m not nearly drunk enough for public sex.”

Her husband snickered and lifted himself off of her, easing himself to his feet, intent on fetching his wife the requested cocktail. He turned and started towards the bar… only to pause after a few steps and look back at her.

“Just outta curiosity… how drunk would you have to be?”

“Go get me my drink!” she laughed. Reno gave a dramatic sigh and resumed his march to the bar. Elena sat up on their beach blanket and gazed out at the ocean from the shade of their umbrella. She could hardly imagine a more perfect trip. After a few moments, she realized that she was grinning stupidly, and just staring at the view. She shook her head, and reached for the water bottle in her bag, opening it and taking a long drink. “It might be time to back off on the alcohol a little…” she snickered to herself.

She wasn’t drunk quite yet… but she definitely had a pleasant buzz going. She decided that the drink the redhead was bringing her was going to be her last for awhile. At least until dinnertime when she could get some food in her to help counteract some of the alcohol. All-inclusive, she decided, was a wonderful… and dangerous… thing.

“One sex on the beach, for the sexiest woman on the beach,” a voice beside her suddenly said, presenting her with the brightly reddish orange-colored cocktail. She laughed and accepted it, taking a sip.

“That was beyond cheesy…” she commented, as Reno took a seat beside her. “And what in Shiva’s name is that?”

The redhead grinned and held up the glass… which was nearly a foot tall. The drink itself was made up of bands of different colors from red at the bottom, through the entire rainbow, to blue at the top. It was garnished with a a piece of rock candy on a wooden stick.

“Bartender called it a Carbuncle’s Rainbow,” he replied, “I couldn’t resist.”

“What’s in it?” Elena asked, an eyebrow rising in curiosity.

“Not sure exactly. Secret recipe, so some of the bottles weren’t labeled. Vodka, for sure, and every color’s a different fruit juice or fruit liqueur, I think. Pretty sure I saw some grenadine go in at one point…” he said, taking a sip from the long straw that accompanied the rock candy skewer. The redhead licked his lips. “Yep. Grenadine. And strawberry liqueur, maybe? There’s definitely pineapple in there… Might be some triple sec. Huh… Hey, try this, will ya? Tell me if you taste lemon…”

She snickered softly. “Are… are you trying to figure out the recipe?”

“What? It’s a hobby…” he replied, grinning. He turned the straw towards her. “Now, seriously… do you taste lemon?”

Elena obligingly leaned over and sipped at the beverage, and made a face at the overwhelming sweetness. “Oh my god… That’s pure sugar and alcohol!”

“Yeah… My kinda drink,” the redhead nodded, snickering. “So… Lemon. Yes or no?”

“… Maybe?” she offered. Honestly, she couldn’t really distinguish one subtle flavor from all the others that were mixed together in there. Though the pineapple certainly stood out. She shook her head in defeat. “Sorry… I’m not very good at figuring out what’s in my drink. I just know which ones I like.”

Reno laughed, and leaned in, kissing her, and she could taste hints of the sugary beverage on his lips.

“Mmm… so that’s what a rainbow tastes like, huh… ?” she giggled. Reno smirked.

“Guess so. Sure you don’t wanna try a little sex on the beach now that you’ve tasted the rainbow?”

Elena groaned loudly and laughed.

---

Day Six…

Birds sang out in the cool shade of tall trees, and something rustled in the underbrush. The island hadn’t looked all that big from Costa del Sol. Now that they were here, though… it seemed huge.

She had talked Reno into renting a boat and doing a little exploring… Well, really, she’d talked him into getting up early before all of said boats were gone for the day. Once he was awake, getting him into one hadn’t taken much effort at all. She glanced back in the direction they’d come from, and realized they’d lost sight of the beach. She wondered how long until they came out on the other side of the island.

She didn’t have to wonder long.

“Oh, wow…” Elena breathed, taking in the sight before her. At the back side of the island was a wide, calm lagoon, separated from the ocean beyond by a narrow sandbank. Palms arched from each side of the crescent-shaped pool, giving the place the appearance of a picture perfect scene from a postcard.

Reno slipped his hand into hers, and they walked down the sandy beach to the water’s edge. There wasn’t a footprint to be seen. It was like their own private paradise.

“I love you,” the redhead whispered, pressing a kiss to the top of her head and wrapping his arms around her. She turned in his embrace and suddenly grinned up at him wickedly.

“You know… Sex on the beach sounds pretty good right about now…” she whispered back. The redhead smirked and feigned innocence.

“I don’t think we’re gonna find a bar out here, ‘Lena.”

“I didn’t mean the drink.”

---

Day Seven…

Reno held her close as they swayed to the rhythm of the band playing on the dock. The moon hung brightly in the sky, a perfect white circle, adding to the light of the torches that lit the outdoor dance floor. Elena tucked her head in against her husband’s chest and sighed softly. She never wanted this moment to end. It was too perfect.

Tomorrow, they’d be heading back home. Not to Kalm, where they’d been staying temporarily… Not even to the new Shinra offices in Edge or to Junon. Tomorrow, they’d be leaving for Healen Lodge. Rufus had been preparing for the move just days before the wedding, and by now, he and Tseng and Rude would be settling in there.

But that was tomorrow.

Tonight, all she wanted to think about was the amazing, sweet, wonderful man she was lucky enough to be married to. Reno’s hand slid from her hip to the small of her back, and she suddenly found herself dipped low as the music reached the end of the song. His lips found hers for a few moments, before he gently pulled her upright again, the last few notes fading into the night.

The next song started… more up-tempo this time… and Elena decided that it was time for a little break. She smiled and tugged the redhead along behind her, leading him off of the dance floor. They settled into one of several hammocks that hung between the palms on the beach. Reno wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling her in close.

“Hard to believe it’s been a week already, isn’t it?”

“Mmhmm…” Elena replied, nuzzling his shoulder. “I wish we could stay longer.”

Reno chuckled and raised her hand to his lips, kissing the back of it.

“Well… we could. I mean, as long as you don’t mind bein’ unemployed.”

She laughed and shook her head. “Tempting as it is… I don’t know what you’d do once we ran out of money for sunscreen.”

“Oh, that’s easy. I’d be roasted alive within three hours.”

“Guess that means we have to go home,” she teased. “Because I’m not going to end up broke, starving, and married to a giant walking sunburn.” She lifted her head and kissed him. “Well… not if I don’t have to, anyway.”

“That mean you’d stay with me even if I were a giant walking sunburn?” the redhead snickered.

“As long as it meant being with you… absolutely. I love you, Reno.”

“I never get sick of hearin’ you say that.”

Elena cuddled against him, snuggling tightly against his side. “I love you,” she whispered again.

They sat in silence, for awhile, watching the waves in the moonlight and listening to the music behind them on the dock. Eventually, though, Reno shifted slightly, and Elena looked up again, curious.

“Ready for bed?” her husband asked.

“Don’t tell me you want to get to sleep early tonight…” Elena said, somewhat surprised. They’d seldom turned in before midnight the entire time they’d been there. Reno grinned lecherously.

“… Who said anything about sleepin’?”

~fin~