Blame Game // Reno (EDITING)

― 04. welcome to shinra

   "Why don't you tell me about yourself Melody, since we're going to be together for who knows how long." Reno said as he realizes he probably wasn't going to get much of a response for his last statement.

   Melody didn't want to tell him personal details. And when she had to think about how long they'd be together, it made her full stomach squirm, "you go first, you asked. I don't know."

   "And you think I'll just tell you everything about me?" he chuckled in a incredulous manner. It was like he just pushed aside all her obvious discomfort in hopes of helping. Or he didn't care to give her time to process.

   "Well no, and it's not like I would either..." Melody figured she may need to get over him being a Turk and get to know him in a simpler way for his occupation to not make her angry, "what's your favorite color?"

   He couldn't help but laugh at the question and the cute look plastered on her face, "huh, well," he took a few breaths clearly thinking, "red, always liked it because of my hair which I may or may not dye... or maybe black." not surprising.

   "What's something you enjoy?"

   "I like music a lot. Nice way to relax, for me at least, things get crazy. And I like to fly."

   "To fly?" she asked with a raised eyebrow- it was an unusual statement to hear from anyone. But hearing him talk was calming some of her nerves.

   "Sorry, a helicopter," he chuckled, "What's something you enjoy then?"

   "I do like coding, what I'll probably be stuck doing." she began to explain, "and I like going out with my friends."

   "Going out as in-"

   "Getting drunk? Of course." this was the first time a genuine smile has appeared on Melody's lips. A warm sense of happiness washed over her as pictures of memories flash in her head- which that may be her brain's way of protecting her, as it quickly changed her emotion to one of sadness. She frowned as she realized that may not get to happen again.

   Which Reno saw her quick excitement that almost immediately disappeared, so he tried to keep talking. "Didn't come across as that type, guess I'll have to rethink you a bit."

   "I'm going to have to figure you out completely then too..."

   "You got plenty of time to do that. You going to finish?" he tilted his head toward her unfinished food.

   "No... but you really want to eat after me?"

   "You sick?"

   "Well no."

   "Then I don't care."

   Melody's face scrunched up as she pushed him over the plate. She was used to her father and guy friends always doing this, it was nothing new. All boys must actually be the same then. For a second her eyes widen as she realized she just put Reno, a Turk, in the same category as people she cared about and that cared about her. Something about today has made him seem so much more human and relatable to her, even if it was her getting fucking stockholm syndrome already. But in her mind if she was going to have to suffer through the job from hell, then might as well have someone by her side.

                      In Reno's eyes Melody is quite the chatty young lady once you get her comfortable and not thinking about being taken from her home. It also could have just been pure nerves too. Reno wasn't stupid to the stages of grief or emotions she was going through. She seemed blind to so much that she didn't realize, he also noted easily enough. He smiled down at her as she went on rambling about a topic, something about school he thought probably trying to distract herself. It was weird, how he didn't understand why her fidgeting hands made him want to reach out and make it stop. He felt drawn in by her personality with each passing moment they spend together, much different than before. There was much to learn about this girl in front of him he was supposed to watch- but why was she so appealing? This probably wasn't even her true self, she wouldn't be comfortable enough for that or want him to see. But Melody had drive but was too innocent.

   Probably because she's not like him, generally, he found her intriguing. He saw a younger girl who had a passion for wanting to make a difference and help; which was nothing like the jobs he carried out daily. Most people think the Turks were these elite group who protect them, but Reno knew first hand that was not always the case. Reno was a man with a strong duty to those above him and his orders. An ability to do the unimaginable and be indifferent. So he couldn't possibly begin to understand why his lips turned up when she smiled or why chest felt heavy.

   This was supposed to be different. Even last night and how strange things were between them confirmed to him they would probably be nothing more than acquaintances. But Melody Lee and this job appeared to be turning into something unexpected as she was nothing like he could have imagined her to be.. and he liked it, he thought.

But at the end of the day if getting her comfortable with him meant she'd get more on board with Shinra then he was all in.

original- may 5 2020
edited- march 16 2022