After Meteorfall (Reno x Female! Reader)

Chapter 1

(Y/N) sat at the bar of 7th Heaven alone.

The quiet hum of conversation washed over her as she clutched her rapidly cooling tea. It was only around 6pm, (Y/N) having got out of work at the ShinRa Phone Board around an hour ago. It was supposed to be a switchboard for callers who wished to contact businesses, the WRO and even for different departments within what was left of ShinRa to contact one another.

Directing call after call of angry townspeople in amongst the serious business calls was exhausting, some of them even threatening her own life.

(Y/N) gazed into her mug with a sigh, after today she hadn't much felt like going back to her silent apartment.

It was understandable, it was the closest people could get to telling President ShinRa himself exactly how they felt.

The staff numbers within the corporation had dwindled dramatically, despite those that had returned to the company after Meteorfall.
(Y/N) had simply responded to a discreetly placed 'Wants' ad in the 'Daily Edge' newspaper.
She had mused grimly over how much ShinRa must have paid them to place the ad. Her friends had been furious when she mentioned her new job, asking how she could possibly work for the company that had caused so much misery and pain.
(Y/N) had done her best to explain her circumstances and that she had little choice, or joy in the matter. They had shown scant understanding. One friend had angrily snapped that:

''Sector 6 whores would have had more integrity than to work for ShinRa.''

Accepting the job had left a sour taste in (Y/N)'s mouth too, and the shining ShinRa pin on the lapel of her smart fitted blazer made her feel sick inside.
However, if she wanted to keep a roof over her head and food on the table, she had little choice.

The owner of the Materia store simply hadn't had the customers coming through his door to pay her wages anymore. They had both been left with heavy feelings in their hearts.

Old Jim and his wife had been like kindly grandparents to (Y/N) over the years and she had loved them dearly. They had faced down the destruction of Midgar together, that day 3 years ago.

The trio had huddled together in the basement of the store, holding hands and waiting for the end with courage in their hearts. Finally leaving with their fingers still intertwined, they faced what was left of their home, once it was all over.

Together, they had rebuilt the store in Edge, raising it from the miserable ashes of the past.

And yet, when they had learned of (Y/N)'s new job with ShinRa, old Jim had refused to speak to her, his face bright red with anger.
She had gone back to collect the last of her things that she had forgotten. She remembered how he had roughly thrown a sack of her personal effects at her feet and ordered her out of his shop, never to return. His wife Arlene had been crying profusely behind him, shaking her head in dismay. Both of the elderly couples eyes had held betrayal within them.

(Y/N) had not gone into work that night shift.
Instead, she had called in sick, before crying herself to sleep.

She felt a wave of sadness at the memory, still raw within her mind. (Y/N) drained the last of her tea and decided on something a little stronger.
Whiskey would warm her insides, and maybe make her tired enough to sleep through the night.
She was about to signal for service when a youthful, drawling voice entered the bar. Looking over,
(Y/N) saw that it belonged to a man of around 26, attractive, with wild red hair pulled into a long pony tail. Red markings streaked each cheek bone, framing clear blue eyes. (Y/N) recognised the uniform immediately, despite how casually worn it was.

A Turk.

He was accompanied by an older, stern looking man, with a bald head, tanned skin and sun glasses hiding his eyes. His suit was pristine, complete with tie and silk handkerchief in the breast pocket.

Another Turk.

The other patrons of the bar barely glanced up from their drinks- either from fear or contemptuous disregard, (Y/N) couldn't say.
However, she was the only one seated at the bar proper, occupying an end stool, facing the doors. She could not ignore them so easily, as they perched themselves a few stools down to her left. (Y/N) was in no mood to be patient, calling out to the landlady Tifa, even as she saw the red head open his mouth to order.

''Tifa, can I get a whiskey please?''

Tifa smiled back, nodding.

''Coming right up!''

(Y/N) couldn't avoid the younger Turks gaze, as he eyed her curiously. She stared defiantly back.
Screw it, she was a ShinRa employee too, and she refused to be intimidated.
She frowned as his keen eyes flicked from her face to the shining red pin on her lapel. A smirk spread over his face as he half turned to the Barmaid, not taking his eyes from (Y/N)'s.

At that moment she felt the fleeting bravery drain from her body, suddenly wishing Bahamut would take her right that second.

(Y/N) swallowed thickly, musing that she must have truly taken leave of her senses if she was antagonising a Turk.

''Hey Teef, make that 2 whiskeys and a Scotch. I'm feeling generous yo.''

(Y/N) felt her stomach drop, her chest beginning to thump hard as she realised the Turk had risen from his stool, leaving his bald partner to nurse his drink in peace. He made his way over, sliding onto the stool next to hers, drinks in hand. He was so close, (Y/N) could smell his cologne, smooth and musky. Expensive. She forced herself to meet his steely blue eyes.

''You look like you could use some company , yo.''