Reflections of Reno Chapter 4

The Queen of Hearts Can Be Tart

By Christina Bruno

"I am myself indifferent honest;
but yet I could accuse me of such things
that it were better my mother had not borne me."
-from Shakespeare's Hamlet

Upon entering the building, Reno could not help but be in a state of bewilderment. He imagined that if Corneo had survived the fall from Wutai, he would never own a Car & Limo Service. It was completely out of his character. Corneo would be eternally bored booking cars for the rest of his God-Forsaken, Immoral Life. (Although, Reno should be one to talk…)

A voluptuous young woman stood behind the counter. Her eyes focused on him and she cocked her head to the side with a seductive smile.

"Would you like to rent a car for tonight?" She said.

Reno seemed unmoved by the woman's ways, "What kind do you have?"

The woman grinned; she traced her index finger along her collarbone looking up. "Well, we have black, brown, red…"

Before the woman could say the word blonde, Reno's quick-witted mind had caught on. He shook his head, the offer was indeed tempting but there were things he had to find out for himself.

"I want to see the don." He smirked, putting his hands in his back pockets.

"Oh. Right this way." She laughed a bit nervously.

She said simply turning the walk into the other room. Reno's eyes remained fixated on her hourglass figure in the meantime. She led him through the basement and into the backyard, where his eyes had a lot more to take in.

Corneo was lying on his back in the hot desert sun. Three Asian girls, clad in string bikinis, with ebony locks were rubbing oil on his back. He cringed when he saw them touch the rolls on his back. Corneo looked up seeing Reno before him. How the hell did this fat fuck survive?

"…Fat bastard." Reno muttered looking at the lustful tub of lard lying before him.

The don smiled wildly looking at the Turk, "Well if it isn't my favorite of the Turks!"

Reno wondered if he had gotten amnesia. Rude did fling him off of a cliff; he could have died and should have. Maybe he was getting laid so much, he was too damn happy to get pissed.

"…A question." Reno stated, "Didn't Rude kill you?"

Corneo laughed, he was so jolly it was sickening, "Well I did fall off that cliff. But I did have a landing. A group of lovely Wutai ladies were riding a carriage up the mountain at the time, and I landed it. Yes, I was hurt badly. But the dear sisters took care of me, and nursed me back health."

Reno stood in disbelief. The carriage must have been massive to break Corneo's fall, but he didn't have the time ask about that. He was satisfied with his answer.

"And I did reward them," Corneo snickered. "Don't you want to hear?"

Reno shrugged his shoulders, "No."

"I married all three!" He indicated to the women who were rubbing his backing back.

"Great." Reno couldn't help but wonder why the man didn't have him thrown out of the place. In all honesty, there was no one with enough power to stand up against him there. Corneo did fear Reno, he feared anyone more attractive than him and wanted to be rid of him. He made him an offer he couldn't refuse.

"Take a wife for tonight. I'll give you my most prized possession. Go get her, Lola."

The blond left the yard. Corneo tried to make small talk, but Reno continued to alienate him. The sun was getting to him; its rays kissed his face hard. He could feel the burn.

"Here she is!" Corneo grinned. Behind the blond was a fiery red head, her skin was caramel toned. She was clad in a black slip dress; if he hadn't known she was a whore he would have thought she looked quite classy. Reno looked her over; he could feel the desire rise into his throat as he stared at her curvaceous breasts. He couldn't resist.

"…I'll take her, how much?" He swallowed looking at her.

She had a look of innocence about her and Reno loved it. Every position he wanted her in flashed through , his mind. He loved tall women.

Corneo hooted, "You're an old friend. 12,000."

Reno turned to Corneo, "Are you serious?"

"That's less than half price. You want her or not?"

The woman walked over to Reno, her stiletto's clicked softly as she approached him. She leaned over and nibbled on his ear lobe softly with her teeth.

"You won't be sorry." Her voice was so enticing, he could not hold back.

It seemed as though the night had transformed La Cucina, for it was now bustling with people. Each table was full, and affluent assholes filled them up. Reno walked in with the girl hanging on his arm like a bad habit. (Which she was, but that was beside the point.) She had insisted on eating here, while they were going at it in the limousine that Corneo had provided. One car, one cocotte: not a bad deal.

The host came up to them with nod, he checked to see that Reno was wearing a button down shirt. Normally, he would have dismissed him because he wasn't wearing a suit jacket, but the escort was a regular; he would never want to deter her. Besides, the outfits she wore day in and day out made his hormones run ramped. He would give his life to do her, if only he could afford it…

"Table for two," She purred, running the tips of her fingers along Reno's shirt collar.

Reno just nodded surprising at his desire for the rapid romping that would take place later on.

The host nodded, escorting them immediately to a table. It was at the far end of the restaurant, Reno's attire left much to be desired in such a place and he didn't want to piss off the boss.

The two had themselves a mouth-watering meal. Reno had noticed that the girl ordered a series of well-known aphrodisiacs. For desert, she ordered a piece of the moist chocolate moose cake. Reno didn't order anything; he just sat back with his glass of fine Chianti rolling it around on his tongue to savor its flavor.

"This cake is horrible!" She complained, huffing. She pushed it aside. Her nagging was going to make his ears bleed. In fact the only reason he had taken her out to dinner instead of just going to the hotel room was because her incessant and screeching whines about being hungry had been to much for him to bear. Reno smirked as he considered the matter, "Guess she can't screw on an empty stomach."

A nervous waiter rushed over to the table, "Is something wrong, Miss?"

"I want to see the chef, now!" She commanded, standing on her stilettos.

The waiter scurried off into the kitchen. Within a few moments, the chef came out. At first Reno hardly paid attention to the commotion the annoying woman was causing, he dimly figured that the chef who would emerge would be some huge tub of lard, but instead he was greeted by a fair and curvy figure waltzing calmly towards them. Reno hardly recognized her at first, mainly because her beautiful sable hair was hidden beneath her hat. She glided over with her hands behind her back. An amiable smile was on her face - a reflection of her gentle nature.

"This cake…it's disgusting! I can't even eat it!" The hooker huffed, bringing her fist down on the table.

Reno flinched, as he heard the utensils and cups shake from the impact.

"I've never gotten any complaints before." She responded calmly.

The escort's eyes narrowed, scanning the chef's pretty face. "What would you know? You're that rebel girl with the big tits! " She huffed recognizing her from the many pictures of the famous heroes that had appeared in all the newspapers after Meteor.

"Didn't I read in Christine's column that you got knocked up by the spikey-haired ex-transvestite?" The hooker's eyes narrowed as she asked the question. She tapped her nails on the tablecloth.

Tifa could only laugh. It was amazing what happened to you in your fifteen minutes of fame. One minute you're saving the world; next minute you're fucking a farm animal. Of course, none of it was true. She had a little more common sense then that. She had to make a good come back, at least for her reputation's sake (what was left of it).

"At least I can choose, you - you dirty slut!"

The insult hit the prostitute hard, she took the plate in her hand. She was ready to smash it in Tifa's face. Tifa was smarter than her, of course. She smiled, and simply twisted the woman's wrist in the other direction. The cake smashed over her painted face. The hooker let of out shriek of mortification, and then warily removed the plate from her face. The remainders of the mouse oozed down her face in brown messy gobs. She ran from with table, whimpering like a child.

Tifa couldn't help but laugh and shake her head. Tossing the cake in the obnoxious girl's face, made her feel amazing - even nostalgic.

Reno took in the scene. Tifa? Was it really her? It'd been a while since he had last seen the girl. She hadn't changed. She still had a figure to die for, curvaceous, with those beckoning breasts. She was still as attractive and appealing as ever. Of course her saucy streak was still vibrantly there. In fact, she seemed a bit saucier than he had remembered.

"Thanks, for ruining my life again." He muttered bluntly, looking straight into her eyes. They were a mixture of brown and red: brown to show how benevolent and down-to-earth she was, and scarlet to exert her passion.

Tifa snarled, looking up at him. It seemed the Turk was still scornful. He was the last person she would have ever expected to see again. His presence was not in the least bit desirable, and he ruffled her naturally pleasant nature. Why was he so quick to blame Avalanche for his downfall? If his life was so bad, why in hell was he eating in a restaurant with a high-class hooker? He had chosen a life with the Shinra, and with that took risks. He had chosen the path of iniquity and sin.

"Ruining your life? Think of all the lives your took." Names and faces flashed through her mind. She could hear Barret howling in her mind Wedge, Jessie, Biggs…Wedge, Jessie, Biggs! Her eyes began to glaze over at the very thought of it all. Callous bastard. What did he know about life?

"Avalanche…crock of shit." He muttered, "That's right, it's your fault Shinra fell. It's your fault the fuckin' planet has gone backwards. You're so goddamn righteous! That's why all of Midgar was destroyed, guess your Holy wasn't good enough." He grumbled, his words dripping with disdain. He would do anything to win this argument with his former enemy.

Tifa had been hurt enough in her life. She was almost numb to pain by now, yet Reno's words did hurt her. They struck a chord of guilt within her that had been present since the incident. She might have even cried. Tifa swallowed and suppressed her emotions, he would never see her in such a state - she swore it.

She stole a glance into his blue eyes; his pupils had been dilated from the glasses of wine at dinner "You drunk!" She spat. "You cold-hearted murderer. You sit here with a hooker - I bet you don't even know her name! You complain about your life when you have destroyed so many! I bet you would kill your own mother for a drink."

Now it was Tifa who had shot him in the heart. He wasn't a drunk. He was not his father. How did she ever pick up his scent? He could see his mother's forlorn face in his mind…I'm sorry mommy. The child within him cried, as Tifa's words stirred up emotions he had forgotten he had. Like her, he attempted to suppress them. She was stronger than him. His eyes were about to well up with tears; he took his sunglasses from his back pocket and masked his eyes with them.

"You don't know shit, about me or my life." He muttered walking out.

Reno sat in the buff atop of his bed in the hotel room. He had to listen to the woman whining on the way to the hotel. She was appalled that she would have to inhabit a West side hotel. She had gotten over it when she drank a few shots of scotch in the limo. She leaned over him, running the rough of her tongue over his collarbone.

Reno let out a soft sigh; enduring the pleasure he had paid for. However, he couldn't get Tifa's words out of his head. Memories flooded his mind, unwanted images of his drunken father and his ill-treated mother. The ex- activist was haunting him as the hooker showered his chest with kisses.

The intoxicated Reno extended his arms, and laid the hooker on the bed hoping carnal pleasure would make him forget. He leaned over her in an attempt to enjoy himself; he had paid for the session after all. He leaned over her, lapped his tongue over the crevice between her breasts. He could feel her fingers creep over his back. He clutched his cleavage gently, attempting to enjoy the goods, but all he could hear was Tifa's voice. Bet you don't even know her name!

"Can I ask you a question?" He let out a deep breath, leaning over her. He glanced down at her chest; Nice view…

"What?" She purred, taking his finger and rolling his around in his mouth. The tongue and index finger had quite a sensual dance.

"What's your name?" When he felt her tongue, embracing his finger he knew that Tifa's words could not deter his desire for her.

"Tiffany…" She mumbled while she continued.

Reno jumped out of bed, grabbing his pants and undergarments.

It was official - her words were more than words. They were alive in his subconscious. And haunting him, at that.

Chapter 5