Don't Play with Fire (Turks FF7)

14) Save My Soul

As soon as I hear the voice, I pause, eyes widened slightly. Reeve raises an eyebrow.

"Kat? Are you alright?"

"Huh? Oh, yeah, just fine," I nod quickly. "Hey, has Reno mentioned anything about me?"

"He's seemed quite standoffish, I suppose. Why?"

"No reason."

"I guess I should be going then," he clears his throat. "I have a meeting in five minutes."

"Better make a run for it then," I say absent mindedly, watching him leave my new home. I guess I could call him Re too. Nah, that's just weird. Now to find out why Reno hates me. I sigh and put my food away, dreading having to ask Omid for another uniform. I should just ask for a dozen so that I have a closet full like Rude and I don't have to wash mine every night.

I run up the stairs in the stairwell, wishing it wasn't against the rules to smoke in the building. Omid's sitting in his little shop, measuring a bolt of cloth, but he looks up with a bright smile when he sees me.

"Ah! Miss Kat is back! Omid was worried."

"Why?" I grin, shoving my hands into my pockets. "You know I can handle myself."

"Yes, yes. What does Kat need? New suit?"

"Er... Yeah. How'd you guess?"

"It's the only time Miss Kat visits," he says with a wave of his hand. "Omid has t'ree extras for you."

"Really? Thanks, I guess."

"Take care of t'em," the short man winks as he hands them over. I roll my eyes good naturedly and take the clothes into my arms. Then I'm running down the stairs. Back into the apartment, change, and then tie my hair back up. I hate my life. Wondering where the heck my redheaded friend could be, I step back outside of my dwelling and walk down to he and Rude's door. Taking a moment to chew on my lip, I finally knock on the painted wood. It takes nearly thirty seconds for the door to open, and even then, it's Rude standing there. Not that I expected any differently.

"Hey."

"Kat."

"Is, uh, Reno here?"

"... Yes."

"Can I, like, talk to him?"

"..." He steps back, letting me in. "He's in his room."

"Thanks, Rude." I offer him an awkward smile before turning around and heading down the hall. Then I knock on Re's, feeling kinda unwelcome to just open it and walk in.

"Come on Rude, ya know I don't make ya knock."

I open it just a crack, enough to poke my head in.

"It's not Rude." Reno looks up from his EMR and scowls.

"What the #-+% do you want?"

"To talk."

"... Shut the door behind you."

I nod and do as he says, finding my hands in my pockets again and looking around.

"Spill."

"Why're you mad at me?" I blurt. He raises an eyebrow and I huff. "oont give me that look. You've been around Tseng too much."