Chapter 16: From One Market to Another
Reno’s gaze wandered from one shop window to the next. The underground market in the Sector Two slums had always impressed him those few times when he actually had the cash to spare to pay it a visit… but it had nothing on this. Everywhere he looked, there was something to buy. He trailed Rude as they passed clothing shops, jewelry stores, materia dealers… stores that sold weapons, others that sold every manner of restorative, and still others that seemed to trade in everything the other places didn’t sell.
“Four’s the city’s shopping district,” Rude said, “You can find just about anything you could ever want here. Gets more expensive the closer you get to the center of the Plate.”
“The whole fuckin’ sector is just… shops?” the redhead asked, somewhat wide-eyed.
“There are other businesses, too… like the Silver Swan Hotel and the Galleria Theater. And there’s some residential areas out at the Edge. But, yeah. For the most part.”
He led him to a small storefront with a pale green awning over the entrance, and the logo of one of the larger cell providers on the sign. A handful of other people lingered inside, some browsing the display models, other talking to sales associates.
“Tch… I don’t even know what the hell I’m gonna get her…” Reno said, eying the dozens of devices on display.
“Something cheap but functional. Stay away from the high end phones. They’d just be a target for theft down in Wall Market.” He made his way over to a shelf of inexpensive PHSs. “I’d go with something like this. Tres like them for his contacts in the slums. They get good reception, but they don’t have much resale value.”
“Sounds like a plan,” Reno said. He picked out one with a pink shell. “What?” he asked, defensively at Rude’s raised eyebrow, “It’s not for me, it’s for Lira. She likes pink.”
His fellow rookie snickered quietly, but didn’t comment as the redhead took his selection to one of the registers to have it activated. As they waited for the sales associate to finish up with his current customer, Reno examined the collection of tiny charms that hung from a little rack on the counter, and laughed as he found one shaped like a chocobo.
“Ya know… she’d totally kill me if she found out they had these and I didn’t get her one…” he sighed, plucking it from its hook.
“She like chocobos or something?”
“Nuts over ’em, for some reason. I don’t think she’s ever actually seen one in person, but she loves ’em. Don’t really get the appeal, myself. Fuckin’ overgrown pigeons…”
Rude snorted in laughter, before quickly regaining his composure. Several minutes later, the pair made their way out onto the street, newly purchased phone in hand.
“Hey… uh… thanks,” Reno said, awkwardly. “Gotta admit, I’m still pretty lost up here.”
“No problem. Rookies gotta stick together, right?”
The redhead grinned. “No argument here,” he laughed. “… So… you, uh… maybe wanna come meet Lira?”
“… You mean… go down to Wall Market?” Rude asked, and Reno couldn’t help but notice the pink hue that suddenly colored his cheeks. The redhead smirked.
“Hell, yeah. I mean… if you’re not doin’ anything more interesting today. Come on… What are you? A virgin?” he snickered.
“…”
If anything, Rude’s blush deepened, and he awkwardly cleared his throat.
“… Oooookay,” Reno intoned, at the unspoken admission, “We’ll just pretend I didn’t say somethin’ that ended up makin’ me sound like a total jackass. Seriously, though… Come with me. Lira’s the best friend I’ve ever had. I’d love to introduce ya. ‘Sides… she’s a lot less likely to kill me for not showin’ up last night if I have present and a witness.”
Rude laughed and nodded.
“Alright.”
Tseng rode the elevator up to the twelfth floor of an apartment building in Sector Three. Kai had somehow managed to elude him all day yesterday… but since Reno was elsewhere this morning, it left the Turk lieutenant free to track her down. Normally, he wouldn’t have intruded upon a fellow Turk’s time off for something job-related and clearly not urgent… but she’d injured his rookie. And she was going to get a piece of his mind, weekend or not.
Moments later he was knocking on her door. He heard soft footsteps from within, and took the opportunity to glare at the peephole in the door when they paused. There was a moment’s hesitation, before the door cautiously opened.
“… Uh… Morning, sir. To what do I owe the pleasure?”
Tseng crossed his arms over his chest.
“You know perfectly well why I’m here,” he said, an undercurrent of anger in his voice. “The same reason you so studiously avoided me on Friday.”
“Yeah…” the young woman breathed, as she stepped aside, granting him access. Tseng stepped inside and closed the door behind him. “So, uh… How’s Reno?”
“Bruised and battered,” the Turk lieutenant stated. “Kai… What in Leviathan’s name were you thinking? He could have been seriously injured!”
“But he wasn’t. I made sure of that. And now he’s got at least some idea of what he signed up for.”
“Kai…” Tseng said, warningly.
“Okay, look… maybe it wasn’t my place. But he’s just a little kid! I know you think he’s gonna be this amazingly perfect fit for the team, but he’s a goddamn kid. Did you even explain to him what it is you’re asking of him before you hauled him up here? What kind of sacrifices he’s gonna be expected to make? How bad he could get hurt?”
“You’re right. It wasn’t your place,” Tseng snapped. “Reno is my responsibility, and I’ll thank you to stay out of it from now on.”
Kai glared at him. “You might get to order me around on company time, Tseng… but this is my day off, and this is my apartment, and I don’t have to take any shit from you right now. And you know what I’ve been dying to say to you all goddamn week, Tseng? That you are gonna get that kid killed! You’re gonna get him killed, and his blood is gonna be on your hands… just like Allisa’s. And why? Because you want to prove that you’re the best. Screw anyone who might get hurt along the way. If you really gave a shit about him, you’d take him right back where you found him. Sad as it is, he’s a lot safer there than he is with you.”
Tseng inhaled sharply, having to work to keep his temper in check.
“Allisa’s death was not –”
“Bullshit, it wasn’t your fault! You knew damn well what was gonna happen and you put her there anyway. And you know what? Allie knew the risks and she accepted them. I can forgive you for her death. I have forgiven you for it… but I don’t want to see it happen again! Especially not to some poor little kid that doesn’t know what he’s getting into!”
“Kai…” he began, somewhat taken aback. He’d known that she still blamed him… but he hadn’t realized just how deeply that blame went. And to at least some extent, he couldn’t exactly hold it against her for harboring it. Alissa had been her partner… in more than just the professional sense… and she’d been killed following orders that Tseng had issued.
“Fine. I won’t mess with your precious first rookie anymore. But I swear to Odin, Tseng. If he ends up dead because of your arrogance, I’m never gonna let you forget it. Now fuck off and let me enjoy my goddamn weekend.”
He opened his mouth to say something further, but thought better of it, and instead simply turned, shaking his head, and showed himself out of her apartment.
Kai was wrong. It wasn’t arrogance that had gotten Allisa killed. A sacrifice had to be made for the greater good. Tseng had known that, and so had she. If he hadn’t given that order, every last one of them would have died. For Leviathan’s sake… he’d have gone himself if he hadn’t been so badly wounded at the time. It needed to be done.
At least… that’s what he’d been telling himself in the year and a half since.
Veld had always told him that there was no room for second guessing oneself. Once a decision was made, you had to own it. You had to justify it. And you had to live with it. Allisa’s death had saved four other Turks, including both Kai and himself, as well as half a dozen civilians. There had simply been no other way.
Tseng sighed and stepped back into the elevator. Kai just didn’t understand.
Reno knocked softly on the door labeled 2C. After a few moments, it cautiously opened a crack, and then was suddenly thrown wide as a half naked woman suddenly launched herself into his arms.
“RENO! Oh, thank Shiva!” Lira cried, as her arms tightened around him. Moments later she released him, and delivered a stinging slap to the side of his face. “Where in Ifrit’s name have you been! I’ve been worried sick!”
“Ow!” the redhead shouted, recoiling slightly. “Fuck, Lira… I’m already beat all to hell. I don’t need any more bruises right now!”
She blinked, apparently only then noticing the dark patches on her friend’s skin, and gasped. “Oh, god… Reno… what happened?” she asked, all but dragging him inside. “How bad are you hurt? Who did this to you?!”
“Ah, take it easy… I’m fine.”
“Bullshit!” By then she was already pushing back his sleeves and lifting his shirt to survey the damage. Her hand reached up to gently cup his face as she leaned in, kissing him deeply. “My poor Reno… Come let Lira make it better…”
The redhead grinned and let her coax him toward the bed for a few seconds before remembering that he hadn’t come alone.
“Heh… I appreciate the offer, but you know I don’t like an audience…” he teased. Lira paused and peered back to the door where Rude was still standing, somewhat frozen. His gaze, though hidden by his sunglasses, was very obviously locked onto the sight of the topless young woman in front of him.
“OH! Um… Hi, there…”
Reno grinned at his statuesque friend. “Enjoyin’ the view?” he chuckled. Rude’s face immediately reddened as he snapped out of the daze, and he dropped his eyes to the floor. Lira giggled and slipped out of the redhead’s arms, back towards the door.
“Aww… Don’t tell me you’re shy…” She reached out, taking him by the hand and guided him into the room, grinning. “Sweetie, believe me… I’ve had more than just men’s eyes on me all week long. You’re not botherin’ me at all.” She turned back to Reno, a curious look on her face. “So who’s your friend?”
“This is Rude,” Reno snickered, “And… I think he might appreciate it if ya put a shirt on, ’cause I’m not sure he can take much more of you like that…”
Lira teasingly stuck her tongue out at him.
“I’m not sure if I should be insulted or flattered,” she joked, but did as she was asked, slipping a t-shirt over her head. “Alright… Now where in the nine hells have you been? You promised me you’d come back to check on me on Friday after work. Do you have any idea how worried I was when you didn’t turn up?”
“Yeah… I’m really sorry about that. I couldn’t get away any earlier in the week, and I was dead on my feet by the time I got home last night. I tried callin’ the Honeybee, but… I’m not really surprised they didn’t give ya the message. Think the girl who answered figured I was a customer who was gettin’ too friendly,” he replied, sheepishly scratching the back of his head. “Heh… so anyway… ya know how I told ya I was takin’ that job? I’ve kinda been topside… since last Sunday.”
“And they did this to you?!” Lira demanded, roughly pushing up his sleeve again to reveal the bruises it concealed. Reno rolled his eyes.
“Oh, for fuck’s sake… You know damn well how easy I bruise. It’s not as bad as it looks. Trust me… Tseng’s just as pissed as you are that it happened. And the Doc up there’s even more pissed than he is… I don’t think I have to worry about it happenin’ again.”
Lira seemed to relax slightly at that. Her attention shifted to Rude for a moment, before casting Reno a questioning look.
“Anyway… Like I said. This is Rude. He’s new to the Turks, too. Not as new as me, but… ‘least I got someone to share in my misery,” he said, grinning. “Heh… and keep me from gettin’ all kinds of lost up there. I’m not sure I woulda made it here before sometime tomorrow at the rate I was goin’ on my own.”
Lira smiled and sidled up to the other rookie Turk, pressing a gentle kiss to his cheek. “Well, thank you for making sure he found his way, Rude,” she purred. Rude tried to stammer a reply, but only managed a faint choking sound. She giggled again. “You are shy, aren’t you! That’s so cute…”
“Lira, lay off the guy, will ya?” Reno snickered. “Or else I won’t give ya the present I gotcha.”
“Oh, please,” she snorted. “Like you could ever not give me somethin’ you got me.” But she did, obligingly, release Rude from her scrutiny, focusing all of her attention on the redhead once more. “So? What’d you get me?”
Reno sighed and shook his head. Sure… it had been an empty threat, but she didn’t have to call him on it. His grin quickly returned however, as he handed over the bag from the shop in Sector Four.
“I just… With me livin’ topside and all the training n’ shit I gotta do, I don’t know how often I’m gonna be able to come down and see ya for awhile. So… I gotcha this so we could still talk. Ya know… whenever. Had Rude put my number in it for you on the train ride down.”
Lira pulled the phone from the bag, smiling, and awwed at the little chocobo charm he’d attached to it. A moment later Reno found himself in her embrace again.
“This is really happenin’, isn’t it? You’re really doin’ this…” she whispered. The redhead pressed a soft kiss against the top of her head.
“Yeah. I am. I already have.” He smirked, and picked her up, carrying her over to the couch and plopping them both down onto the cushions, settling her on his lap. “But don’t go thinkin’ that just ’cause you’re friends with a Turk now means you can start throwin’ my name around to get whatever you want around here.”
She gave a derisive snort. “Right… like anyone’s gonna be intimidated by you, Turk or not… you wimp,” she teased. A quiet laugh escaped from Rude, as well, though he hurriedly covered it with a feigned cough. “See? Even your friend over there… who, by the way, is a hell of a lot more intimidatin’ than you are, even if he is still the same color as your hair right now… agrees with me.”
“Gee… Thanks for the vote of confidence, Rude…” the redhead laughed.
It was nearing mid-afternoon by the time Reno said goodbye to Lira, and he and Rude made their way back to the train station. His fellow rookie hadn’t said much during the visit… but he had seemed to relax a little after awhile.
The redhead glanced over at him as they passed by a trio of girls on one of the street corners, Rude doing his best not to stare. Reno smirked and elbowed him.
“Ya know… We are in Wall Market. Perfect opportunity to take care of that whole bein’ a virgin thing,” he said, teasingly.
“… Pass,” Rude replied, awkwardly. The redhead raised an eyebrow, but only shrugged.
“Suit yourself.”
They continued on in companionable silence for a few more blocks.
“… It’s not that I’m not… interested,” Rude suddenly offered, hesitation evident in his voice. “I just… get nervous around women.”
Reno snickered. “Yeah… I kinda noticed…”
“…”
The redhead looped an arm around his friend.
“Tch… Forget I said anything. Just me making a stupid joke. And I kinda do that a lot, so… don’t ever take me too seriously.”
“Noted.”
The redhead laughed at the serious note in Rude’s voice. The pair at last reached the station, just as the next train to the plate was preparing to leave. They had to hurry to make it, hopping aboard just as it was starting to pull out and claiming an empty car all for themselves.
“So… I don’t have any other plans for today. You doin’ anything?” he asked. Rude shook his head.
“Just gotta pick up my truck.”
“Wanna hang out or somethin’? I’m… kinda short on cash after gettin’ that phone for Lira. And havin’ to spend pretty much every gil I made this week to pay off the fine I got for gettin’ arrested. But… I’ll play ya at chess again or somethin’…”
Rude grinned slightly.
“Got a better idea. How about we get my truck and I show you around the city?”
“Now that sounds like a plan.”
~end chapter 16~