Even while in the state of nonchalance, not at all faked but certainly practiced throughout his life ( to a point ) to look completely effortless, those turquoise eyes stole the occasional inquisitive glance toward his company. To anyone who was not Reno ( or Rude, perhaps ), it took the appearance of a bored gaze taking in the lackluster little details of the train car. It was the most ordinary of train cars that any person who had ridden a train could've drawn it from memory, but Reno really could've sketched every detail from memory if he had any artistic capabilities. The train line and car that was specifically crafted for ShinRa employees was nicer than the others, completely unlike those that frequented the slums, and it was the smallest bit of luxury and title ( and those little moments of riding with his partner ) outweighed the benefits of owning and driving his own vehicle.
Reno bent his knee, lifted his leg, and pressed the sole of his shoe against the structural metal pole keeping the bench bolted in place. He also dragged the pad of his pointer finger against the slightly cool metal, and he watched as he wiped away the rest of the smudges to replace their with his finger print. The redhead didn't want to toot his own horn . . that was a lie, but he was convinced he must have been the most interesting person Zack ever met. If Genesis or Angeal shared any of their lives with the SOLDIER, their lives were likely boring shit in comparison, heroic stories or otherwise. When Zack spoke again, Reno withdrew his finger from the pole and set his bright eyes on the naive SOLDIER. Both of their eyes were bright, different colours, but Zack's personality made his bright with energy; it was not the mako's doing. Who could resist the beach? And before Reno could control himself, not that he really would have given the opportunity, a burst of laughter escaped his mouth.
( Ā ā HA! ā Ā )
It almost sounded mocking, then again almost everything Reno said was in a teasing-mocking tone. For those who knew Reno or grew to like him, it was more playful and honest than anything malicious. He could picture a very awkward country bumpkin waving his arms in the air out of rhythm and definitely out of the tone of the music playing. Was Zack not enthusiastic about anything? Reno had suspicions if he was offered to clean up a battlefield, bury the dead, that the SOLDIER would still be a little perky about the prospect.
( Ā ā I mean, it is better than being the sour grouch that refuses to dance. ā Ā )
He waved his eyes across the rest of the train car as if accusing the rest of the SHINRA employees, the boring desk jockeys, of being those sour grouches. Reno didn't know them. Hell, he didn't care about them, but he had a feeling that people who had no aspirations in life were the most boring people to party with. They didn't acknowledge their presence or conversation which provided further evidence for Reno. Like sardines in a can, they stared blankly out the window, at seats, at the screens of their comm-devices, and several had their eyes closed for their pre-sleep nap. Did Zack think a burger at a greasy food stall counted as unwinding, or was he attempting to say he was interested in an actual night out. A partial night out considering drinking was, apparently, off the table for a mako-infused super soldier.
( Ā ā Yeah . . step one. Next time maybe we'll go to step three. Though if step one is food, is step three an alcoholic drink, Zacky? ā Ā )
The train made several efficient stops with enough time to let people quickly in and out without stalling. Unless hungover or entirely exhausted, Reno wouldn't normally be able to get in a proper nap between ShinRa HQ and sector X with the efficiency the train provided. They finally arrived at their proper stationa, and the bright lights of the lively sector shimmered off all the windows of the train car even before their arrival. Reno went from lounging like a cat in the sun to a striking serpent; on his feet with a dramatic flip of his hair and beating Zack out the doors. He stretched and made a pleased noise as if he had been cramped in a tight space, though he was still sore and tired from their exhausting day in the desert. He rubbed at his stomach before fake stumbling over to nudge Zack in the ribs while a cheshire grin spread across his lips.
( Ā ā Ready to get stuffed, soldier boy? ā Ā )
Zack had always been friendlyāit came as naturally to him as breathingābut the people he really wanted to be close to always felt just a little out of reach. Angeal humored him, sure. Gave him advice, trained him, even tolerated his endless energy with a kind of quiet patience. But he was still his mentor at the end of the day. There were lines thereāunspoken, but firmāand Zack respected them, even if part of him wished things could be a little more relaxed sometimes. And Sephiroth⦠Zack huffed softly to himself at the thought. He hadnāt even worked up the nerve to ask him to hang out. Not really. He got momentsāpassing conversations, the occasional tip or correctionāand he held onto those like they were something valuable. Because they were. Still, Sephiroth felt like someone standing on a different plane entirely. Someone you looked up to, not walked beside.
Zack did have friends, of course. Other SOLDIERs, people he trained with, laughed with. But even then⦠something about Reno stood out. Maybe it was the unpredictability. Maybe it was the way he didnāt fit into any neat category Zack was used to. Or maybe it was just that strange pull Zack couldnāt quite explain.
At first, he hadnāt expected them to get along at all. If anything, heād figured theyād clashātoo different, too opposite. And hey, maybe that would still happen. Maybe they werenāt meant to be friends. That was fine. At least he was trying. There was just something about Reno that Zack couldnāt ignore. Something he wanted to figure outānot in a dissecting, overthinking kind of way, but in that instinctive, gut-driven way Zack approached most things. If something felt right, he followed it. Simple as that. And right now? This felt right. Exciting, even.
Zack didnāt dwell on it too much. He never did. Overthinking usually just gets in the way of actually living. Still, there was a flicker of curiosity under it allāsomething that made him just a little more aware, a little more tuned in. Renoās laugh snapped him out of it. Zack almost poutedāalmostābut the expression melted into a grin just as quickly, a soft chuckle escaping him as he leaned back in his seat and shrugged.
āWhat?ā he shot back, playful and bright. āWhat if I end up being the best dancer youāve ever seen?ā
He wiggled his brows dramatically, grin widening as heād just made the most compelling argument of his life. For a split second, Zackās gaze flicked around the train at Renoās comment about grouchy people, like he might apologize on his behalfābut he stopped himself. Instead, he just laughed under his breath and shook his head.
āHey, Iām with you on that one. Lifeās too short to spend it being miserable all the time.ā
Then came the nickname. Zack blinked. Zacky? It hit him a second later, and he had to bite back a louder laugh. His shoulders bounced once as he ducked his head, grin turning a little crookedāears warming despite himself. He didnāt call it out. Didnāt tease it. But it stuck. He followed Reno off the train with that same easy energy, stepping onto the platform like heād been waiting for this part all along. The city lights caught in his eyes as he looked around, then back at Reno, still smiling like he couldnāt quite help it.
āHm⦠dunno,ā he said, tilting his head thoughtfully at the mention of steps. āDepends.ā
He leaned slightly closer as they walked, curiosity plain on his face.
āSo whatās step two, huh?ā
The question came out light, but there was real interest behind itālike he actually wanted to know the rules of this strange little game Reno had started. Then his stomach betrayed him. Zack paused mid-step, blinking as it growled loud enough to be heard over the surrounding noise. A beat, and then he laughed, rubbing the back of his neck.
āOkay, yeah! Definitely starving.ā He admitted, grin returning full force. āI could probably eat two burgers. Maybe three if youāre slow.ā










