towerofanimus | Happy Birthday Xion!

[That string that bound them, tied around their arms, around hearts and souls, is stretched. At least, it felt that way to Elena when he moved further away. Distancing himself. Again. Though this time she couldn't tell if it was because of him or of her or of because of things that were being said. Shared, finally, for once.

Either way, that string served almost like a rubber band and, again, she's pulled towards him. Hands rest almost nervously against the open area of his thigh, as if the faintest of touches would cause him to shatter into a million pieces.]

.....W-Wait...

[Sighing, he pauses, as he'd been getting ready to stand up and start down the stairs. The last thing he wants to do is wait, to listen to more talk when it didn't seem to be doing any good any more. It's her touch more than anything that keeps him there, dragging his fingers through his hair and over his ears.]

What?

[She had wanted him to wait for a reason. A very, very good reason. The conversation hadn't been going very well, taking them up and down the figurative emotional roller-coaster for the last several minutes. Perhaps, in hindsight after some rest, they'd look back and laugh. Find some good things to reflect on. Then laugh some more.

Hopefully.

Every hair raises to attention at the single word, muscles of fingers twitching, curling tips inward in a quick reflexive response to tone and posture that told her he was done. That she'd, at least by her assumption, ended the conversation with her poor choice of words that made it so he wanted to leave. Leave her. Whether just temporary or for the next few weeks or, worse yet, final - and this part squeezed around her heart so painfully she could have almost made a pained noise.

Part of her knew that this had to be some natural progression of their relationship. But then, if that was the case, why was it so hard?]

...Reno, I... [How was it so easy for people to say something so simple with such little meaning? She heard it all the time when she was attending the Academy. Heard it on the streets of Midgar, Junon, and Edge. Said so simply that it had barely any weight behind it.

I love you..

She'd said it once before, hadn't she? Back when they both were wearing masks to protect themselves and each other. But with that shield off, the words were heavier. Meant more than the letters that made them and the sentiment behind them. And for a person who felt things such as anger and compassion and revenge and love with such fervor and passion, words didn't quite seem to really capture the power behind it.]

I think we need to get you presentable before we head back...

Standing, she moved to stand in front of him, using his seated position to give her the height advantage she would rarely have. Hands worked diligently to fix several stray hairs that poked up awkwardly around fox ears, reaching down to adjust the collar of his shirt.]

T-There...handsome as always...

[Those two words felt heavy by themselves. So much more than what she said next. His eyes watched her expressions, every little mannerism.

She was hiding from him.

Eyes narrow, and his hand shoots out to grab her by the wrist, pulling tightly to keep her in place.

After all of that, did she think he would let her get away?

He doesn't speak, just looks at her with a knowing stare, waiting for her to finish what she had started.]

[Hiding was such a strong, accusing term. Though perhaps somewhat appropriate for the situation, though the intent was not at all malicious. She had just never fully understood just what it had really meant. And, by the way he was staring up at her, holding her steady with his hand around her wrist, he knew she had meant to say something more.

Holding his gaze, she tests that slight connection she had felt once before. Giving a look that, when given to the right person who knew just where to look, could see her nervousness. That there was something else she had meant to say but was hesitant, shy even, to say it. But she was going to try.]

I.... [Movement just outside of her peripheral vision slows her words this time. Something big and thick and fast. How long had it been stalking them in their little protective pillar? Seconds are all she has, pushing him back roughly to hopefully fall flat against the stairs before the thing breaks through the wall of water.] - Look out!

[It was a tentacle - and by its sheer size was surely attached to a mammoth of a squid. And Elena had seen far too many b-rate movies to know that this was not going to end well. Pushing Reno out of the way had made her the easiest target, the long rubbery arm thrusting forward, hitting Elena with enough force to throw her into the large, vast water on the other side of the stairwell.

Precious bubbles of air were knocked from her lungs by the sudden pressure of the water, hands pressing to her mouth to prevent the rest from being lost. Suction cups pressed against soaking wet cloth as the long arm wrapped around her middle in a single loop, pulling her back towards the stairwell.]

[There was no time for Reno to react before she pushed him down, smacking his head against an upper stair, and pinching his many tails. The pain was ignored in favor of watching her get slammed into the wall of water, mouth dropping in horror. Gawddamit! This was a moment! Fucking monsters thinking they could just waltz in and ruin something they'd been building up for?! Not on his watch!

Reno's on his feet in a flash, his EMR already in his hand, grabbed off his belt and snapped to the full length, as he launches himself at the tentacle. The beast is rubbery and gross, his hands and feet slipping over it before he got a hold on one of the suction cups. Energy crackled as he called up on a spell, and a bolt of lightning struck the thing wherever he touched, causing it to jerk in reaction and let her go.

Before it could make a counter attack, he jumped off and grabbed her arm, pulling her right out of the way and set her behind him. This bastard would have his wife quite literally over his dead body.]

I love you, too! Now get downstairs!

[His words left his throat raw again, but he hardly noticed, focusing his attention back on the recovering tentacle. It's an order; one he wasn't going to let her disobey this time, not when she'd gotten dunked in the cold water and the air around them even colder.]

[Its official, tentacles are slimy and slippery and just plain gross. Though her salt-water soaked shirt she could feel the thick, blubbery flesh around her squeeze. The only upside was that it was at least returning her back to where she could breathe, even if its intent was only temporary until she was to be pulled to the other side where it lay in wait.

Back in the protective area of the stairwell, Elena is coughing and gasping for air, hands now pushing at the offending appendage around her middle. Electric shocks from Reno's attacks are muted through the layers of the creature's skin and muscle, and when the grip loosens Elena pushes harder to free herself. There's one suction cup, though, that holds firm and pulls at her back. There's an audible 'pop' sound when she's pulled forward, feet staggering on the steps until she's standing behind him, hand gripping at the back of his shirt for balance, the sudden changes of pressure dizzying.

She's doubled over, her free hand pressing against her thighs, trying to get reoriented. Time was moving too fast, world spinning, and ears half-filled with water. Her side hurt where the thing had hit her, a dull throbbing pain that matched the ache in her lungs. It takes her a second or two, but she's at least able to stand upright. Releasing his shirt, she takes two steps down, but no more.]

You better be right behind me!

[Because, despite the voice in her head telling her that she had to stay and help fight the thing off, there wasn't much room for them to move. Staying behind would only put them in greater risk. Which doesn't sit well with her, but there was no time to argue. Soaked loafers squeak nosily against the stairs as she descends to the lower floor, steps wobbly at first before picking up speed. It was dangerous to go down a flight of stairs so quickly and especially when slippery, but Elena manages to keep a healthy pace, skipping three steps at a time. The sooner they got off that floor, the better.]

[Reno isn't far behind her, stopping only long enough to lash out another Thunder at the slimy mass as it started to shift toward him. When he heard Elena's footsteps on the stairs, he started down backwards, keeping an eye on the thing as it twitched and writhed. He seems to have stunned it, except he saw another one coming at him from out of the dark depths, and he turned tail and dashed down the stairs after her.

Catching up to her quickly, he grabs her by the back of the blouse, helping her pick up speed and serving to steady her since he wasn't nearly as wet.

It's only at the bottom of the stairs, in the shallows of the beach, that he stops to catch his breath and let the rest of his organs saunter their way down.]

Elena...

[He's choked up with the lack of air, adrenaline, fear and several other emotions. All of them coming together in a tumultuous uproar when he finally looks over at her, checking her for damage... pulling her close against his body and not minding at all that he's getting wet. He leans down, arms wrapping around her and bringing her up for a long, ardent kiss.]

[Were the stairs really this long or had the walk up been so full of angry hostility that she hadn't noticed? Or maybe it was the fact that she wanted off that floor so badly that the stairs seemed to keep on ending - like the back stairwell to the ShinRa building. Fabric pulls and for a second she's almost concerned that it was a giant sucker trying to pull her back in, but the fact she felt herself being pushed forward versus backward told her different. Reno was behind her, just as she had expected, pushing her onward.

At the bottom of the stairs, water splashes angrily against the onslaught of feet, and it takes every last ounce of leg strength to keep herself from falling against the sand. Her chest heaves with each breath, eyes blinking up at the stairs as if half expecting to see the monster chase after them. At the sound of her name, Elena turns towards Reno, giving a heavier breath, a sigh almost. He was okay; they were okay. Score one for the Turks.

She makes a little noise of protest when he pulls her close, not wanting to get him any wetter than he already was, though any further attempt to freedom is quickly abandoned. Arms wrap around his middle, pulling him a little closer. His kiss is returned in kind, fervent, fierce and fiery, ended only when air became an issue. She doesn't pull back far, lips just barely a fingers-width away from his, giving a little shuddering sigh. When she speaks, her voice is soft and audible only to him.]

Oh, summons, how I love you...

I know.

[A faint smile forms when she draws back, his arms still firmly planted around her body. He would carry her if she wanted, keeping her close and protected from the chill. He doesn't seem eager to let her go, or to lose her again on the way back.

In fact, he might even seem satisfied with the position, now that his heart wasn't in his throat.]

Let's get ya home and dry off...

[She would have called him an 'ass' or a 'jerk' for sounding so cocky. But she had finally said it aloud, so his quasi-arrogance was validated. Still, it was enough to make her turn a little red and give a little huff in mock irritation, the grin on her face negating any potential hint that she was actually irritated.

Anger was hard to keep when you were coming off an adrenaline high and began to realize that not only was it pretty damn cold, but being soaked from head to toe did not do anything to keep a figure warm. So instead she did what any logical human being would do - cling to the warmest figure within arms reach. Which she promptly did.]

Y-Yeah. That sounds g-good...

[There's a tremor to her voice, matching the very beginnings of a tremble that starts in arms and legs. Cold sea water plus cold temperatures did not a good situation make.]

[If cocky he was, then cocky be him. The trembling and her voice had his concern override everything else, though, and he picks her up gently and hold her close to his body.

She's light in his arms when he starts walking, heading for home.]

[There are a few things in her lifetime she had not experiened yet. She's into see the beautiful explosion of her own hand-made bomb. She's not hydroplaned a high end sports car on a wet race track or raced a chcobo at Golde Saucer. And she had never been, played, or felt like the damsel needing to be rescued. Not even during the Crater incident.

But when she found herself being scooped up brida style and carries away, that was at least one item she could check off. Even though the very situation made her feel very much less like a Turk and more like a regular woman. Which, for the time being, wasn't exactly the most horrible thing ever. Arms wrap loosely around his neck, keeping herself as close as possible to him for the warth to stave off the cold.]

'M not t-too heavy, am I?

[Holding her like this felt a lot better than he thought it would. Here, he had been given the chance to protect her, really fight for her and keep her safe. Something he must have needed a lot more than he thought he did.]

El, even if you were fat as Palmer, you would never be too heavy.

[Okay, so he had tried to be romantic. Really tried, but being himself, he just couldn't help it. After a moment, the smile fades into something more... tender.]

Leave it to me... I'll get ya home.

[Elena is just...blinking. He did not just try and use Palmer in a romantic sense. Because the mental image of Reno trying to carry the Head of the Space Program in the same fashion he was carrying her was just laughable. And laugh Elena did in a short burst of giggles, curling into herself just slightly before relaxing.]

May Odin be so kind as to never let me get so comfortable to ever put on that much weight. Ever.

[The attempt at romanticism was appreciated, a hand reaching over to brush her thumb lightly against his cheek in silent thanks. That change in his expression earns an interesting response from Elena. A blush deeper in color, expression a mixture of embarrassed surprise and flustered agreement and a newly found appreciation for the man. Her head nods, wet hair unmoving on her head.]

....All right then, Mr. Hero. My life is in your hands.

Happy Birthday Xion!

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+1 Monster Ruining the Moment + Providing Heroic Opportunity!

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