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Now, Tomorrow, Always	By : LunarPlexus Category: Final Fantasy VII > Yaoi - Male/Male Views: 535 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: The characters of Final Fantasy VII do not belong to us. We make no profit from this story. This is the official disclaimer.

Chapter List
- 7
- 8
~ The Heat of Winter~
By: Aerys Krystie and Lunar Plexus.
~ * ~
Tifa was surprised to see Reno at the house again so soon, but she hid it well.
"You're looking good, Reno." She said, pulling her hair back. "What brings you here today? Have you finally decided to move in?"
Reno rolled his eyes. Tifa had asked that a few times.
"Cloud's off with Denzel."
Reno followed Tifa into the kitchen and leaned against the countertop, watching her fill the kettle.
"You know he's got the little punk on his bike." Reno teased.
Tifa straightened her skirt.
"Nice try, it's out of commission at the moment."
Coffee was served, as viciously black as Reno could want; Tifa knew his tastes by now. Reno scooted up on the kitchen bench, earning a little glance from Tifa.
"When is Rude going to drag himself around for dinner again? Is he scared of me?"
Reno grinned.
"More like, when are you gonna drag him out of the house?"
Tifa laughed, she was prone to that kind of "persuasion".
"I wanted to know if I could use your library." Reno asked, sipping at his coffee. Tifa looked understandably surprised, but she recovered and smiled.
"You can." she said. "Vincent's down there, but he won't bother you."
No, not at all. Reno thought to himself.
"Well, you know the way. Here," she said, handing a cup to Reno. " Take this to him."
Tifa began wiping down the draining board, turning her back on Reno.
* * *
Reno strolled into the library, coffee still in hand.
He stopped just inside the door, to see Vincent bent over the heavy wood desk at the other end of the room. Reno was wondering if Vincent had even noticed his arrival when the dark-haired man glanced up at him, and lowered his head once more.
"You're back," he said, flatly.
Reno waited to see if Vincent would say anything else. He didn't. Reno remembered the coffee in his hand and walked towards the desk.
"Here," he said, placing on the corner of hard wood. "Tifa told me to bring this for you."
Vincent didn't look at it, or give any sign that he'd heard.
Reno felt a little put out, but he hadn't expected much straight away. He strolled along the nearest wall of books, head tilted sideways, trying to read the titles.
Reno could read as well as anyone else, but he didn't really put that skill to use. He had read books in the past, enjoying some of them. War stories and history grabbed him in a way that no other subjects did. His sister had read to him as a small child, her eyes lighting up no matter how tired she was. Books were her passion. She'd had to work really hard in order to support the both of them, but she always had time to read a story to Reno. His interest wasn't as big as he'd made it out to be, but he knew how much she loved sharing this with him, so he'd begged her every night to open up a book.
Reno hadn't seen her in a long time, and he didn't really enjoy reading on his own. He needed someone there to explain things to him, and to share his discoveries with.
One book in particular caught Reno's attention. It was larger than the other ones and quite battered. He slid it off of the bookshelf and examined it. The cover was worn and dusty. Reno ran his hand over it, confused by the title. It was a line of runes. He couldn't read them.There was a set of dates in English underneath, but they were too faded to read. Reno guessed by the condition of the book that it was some time pre-war.
Reno gently flipped through it. It was a book of paintings. They can't have all been by the same artist, they were too different. Yet they shared a similarity in a way. They all seemed cold. Just flipping through the book, Reno could tell there wasn't any warmth or happiness in it. He didn't like it. They made him feel strange.
Reno was preparing to close the book and return it to the shelf when one page in particular caught his eye.
It was just another painting, but it was different. It was very simple: A dark figure walking towards the horizon of what looked like a blue desert. A single tree stood off to the side. A very simple scene. But it had something about it that made Reno uneasy. The land was so stretching and bare, the sky was stormy above it. The figure seemed so resigned, somehow. This painting spoke to Reno in a way the others hadn't. He loved it.
"That's bizarre." He muttered, running his hand over the rough paper.
Having taken a momentary break from looking at pictures and words, Vincent relaxed slightly and enjoyed his tea. While he was still looking at the books, Vincent was not studying them, as he had been.
Rearranging a few sheets of paper, Vincent paused for a second when he heard Reno speak. He glanced at the redhead, noticing the book. It was one of the oldest in Vincent's vast collection and also one of the hardest to obtain.
"It's old," Vincent stated, going back to enjoying his tea.
Reno had been in something like a trance until he heard Vincent's voice. It snapped him out of his stupor. With the book still open in his hands, Reno turned to look at the man standing behind the desk. Reno hadn't expected to hear him talk, and it startled the redhead a little, since he hadn't been trying to provoke Vincent.
"It looks it," Reno said, briefly.
Suddenly, taking a couple of steps towards the desk, Reno held the book out to Vincent. It was open at the painting which had affected Reno so deepky.
"What does this mean?" Reno asked, pointing at the bottom of the page where something was written in the strange symbols.
Not looking at the redhead, Vincent asked, "What page?"
Reno checked the numerals in the top righthand corner.
" C-C-C-" Began Reno, "L-X-I-V."
"Desolate." Was the emotionless response.
Reno was surprised that Vincent could tell him so quickly. He ran his hand over the page once more.
"Desolate?" He muttered.
Reno looked up at Vincent, who was still examining the mess of papers on the desk.
"I don't like it." Reno announced.
Vincent didn't look up, but he spoke, "Nobody said you had to like it."
Reno looked back at the book, saying, "I meant the name. It feels wrong, empty."
"Emptiness is either a blessing or curse."
Reno was more shocked than ever. Vincent was speaking, properly. But what did the dark-haired man mean?
Tifa entered the library with a tea-tray. She noticed Reno holding the battered tome as she passed him.
"Reno," she said, laying the tray on the desk next to Vincent, "that's what we call a 'book'."
Reno stuck his tongue out at her, earning a smile. He took another look at Vincent, still and silent as ever. Reno reluctantly closed the book, and gently returned it to its shelf. Tifa had poured fresh cups and headed out the door, when little Marlene came running in.
"Reno!" The little girl cried, flinging herself at the redhead.
Reno grinned and returned her clinging hugs with enthusiasm. He really was happy to see the little imp. Reno allowed himself to be dragged to the leather sofa in the corner, and sat down. Marlene scrambled up into his lap and looked up earnestly into his face.
"Reno?" Marlene asked in a low voice, "can I call you 'Uncle'?"
Reno tousled the girl's hair and grinned.
"Sure can." He replied.
Marlene positively beamed, "Uncle Vincent said I should ask!"
Reno stole another glance at 'Uncle Vincent'. It wasn't returned.
"Now I have an Uncle Vincent and an Uncle Reno!" Marlene cried.
Marlene dug out a book from one of the lower shelves. She knew her Uncle Vincent kept all the child stories where her little arms could easily reach them. Reno had a heavy volume of fables dumped in his lap, followed by a request to read with his little friend. Reno was strongly reminded of his sister.
So they took a trip into fairy-land together and stayed there until dinnertime. When Tifa called, Marlene took Reno's hand and hopped off the sofa.
"Are you coming to dinner, Uncle Vincent?" She asked.
Reno looked on as Vincent shook his head, not taking his eyes off of the desk.
Marlene bounced back. She could take her Uncle Reno to dinner instead.
~ * ~
End Chapter VIII.
- 7
- 8
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Now, Tomorrow, Always