Don't Play with Fire (Turks FF7)

11) Remember When

I watch through the chopper window as Rufus calmly speaks to a flustered looking Heidegger, my breath fogging the glass. Reno sits in the pilot's seat now, the door open and a cigarette in hand. Rude's beside him, Tseng and I in the back. The usually stoic man beside me brushes his long black hair back over his shoulder and turns his gaze over toward me. Elena ran off to go pee in the nearest building, so we've gotta wait for the weirdo to get back before we leave. Heidegger rages as Rufus calmly walks toward us, Reno having to jump out so that Rufus can climb in. Then I have to scoot over to the middle seat and sit in between Tseng and Rufus. Reno starts to climb back into the chopper.

"Elena's coming soon, you're gonna have to get up again," I remind him. He mumbles a curse and stands outside unhappily, smoking away. Rude sighs and shifts restlessly. After today, I don't want to be in the air for awhile. "Geeze! How long does it take a girl to urinate!?" I snap to no one in particular.

"How should I know?" Tseng mutters.

"You are the only girl here," Rufus adds smugly. "Of course, you understand that it may be that time."

"I hate you both," I huff. "Can't we just leave her behind?"

"I'm almost tempted."

"Please?" I beg Tseng, resting my chin on his bony shoulder.

"Get off me."

"Fine. You smell weird anyway," I draw away, head falling to allow me to study the pattern of the threads in my pants.

"Like what?"

"... Home." Then I shake my head when he turns to scowl at me. "I meant as in Wutai."

"Hm."

"Thank the gods, here she comes," I breathe out gratefully.

"There's not much room," Rude points out just as she makes it to the door.

"Pick a seat, any seat!" I say loudly, widening my arms. Rufus eyes the hand that lingers in his face before slowly pushing it back to my lap. Tseng huffs, probably resisting the urge to roll his eyes, and looks back out the window.

"Rude, how much did you let her drink?"

"... I don't know."

"Grand," I just barely here Rufus whisper.
"Um..." Elena bites down on her lip, looking around the crowded helicopter. Her eyes land on mine and I glare.

"You put your bony butt on me and you die."

"Hey! It's not that b..."

"Can we get goin'?" Reno cuts her off. Yup, the Turks have the reached the end of their patience.

"Sure," Elena nods quickly, blushing as she clumsily stumbles into the back and stands there some more.

"For the sake of our own sanity, plant your @&$ somewhere already!"

"Kat," Tseng gives me a disapproving look.

"Mr. Tseng...?"

"Come here, Elena," my uncle sighs, looking pretty annoyed about becoming a chair. I snicker and scoot away from him, only to bump Shinra. My face heats when he glances at me flatly, me scooting away a bit again.

"Let's finally get movin'!" Reno whoops, tossing his cigarette out and starting up the chopper.

The ride is silent with Rude slowly dozing off in the front, Elena's cheeks burning, Rufus studying the sky, Tseng staring at nothing, and me picking at loose threads. Actually, I think I'm the one moving the most. Even Re's sitting pretty still for once. I also think that my fidgeting is bugging Rufus a lot. He keeps sending tight jawed glares my way when I wiggle. Finally, we get to our freaking destination, a small town that Heidegger, Scarlet, Rufus, and Tseng will all be in for tonight to get preparations for unshared plans ready. Unfortunately, that means we four remaining dorks will just have to hang back at the Shinra building until further notice. Apparently we were any supposed to come for safety purposes. Pff. That's ridiculous.