The last time Reno had slept like this was a few years ago after the battle with Avalanche only to be substituted by Elena. She had irritated him from the very beginning but Rude told him plainly to give her a chance. She wasn't so bad but if only she could control that mouth of hers. He remembered Elena hadn't been too happy about them letting Cloud and the others go after meeting them randomly. Truth was they were still on duty, hadn't had a break for ages and decided to just let them pass. There was no reason to stall them or to cause them trouble. They had fought for a week after that.

Anyway, Reno had slept so solidly that Rude had joked he thought he had died. Reno didn't find it particularly funny at the time but it was strange for a man that never slept to be sleeping like a log. He had had too much energy after that.

The memories came if phases, not always in sequence, sometimes cutting in on each other and making little sense. It was disorientating and at the moment he was laid up on that hospital bed in pain because the drip had stopped. They were giving him in doses rather than constant due to his addictive personality. At that moment he couldn't sleep even if he wanted too.

Nero tensed he couldn't help it, he had no real excuse,well nothing that would shake this guy off his trail at least, he ran his fingers through his hair one last time before relaxing, at the worest he would be kicked out of this world, no big deal.
Nero turned to Leon, a small smile playing on his pale lips, "the game is up." Nero closed his eyes for a moment raising his hand to stop any questions from Leon.
"Flare there is no need to lie any longer. We have to tell the truth."
"Nero...."
"It's time."

Nero opened his eyes the smile leaving his lips, "I am two people. My name is Nero and I am the original. My companion who is half of my soul is Flare. He is the black head you have been seeing. At times of great stress Flare takes over my body. We are both master fighters but Flare is more so. He protects me while I protect those around us." Nero bowed his head, "I am sorry for deceving you, but Flare and I don't want to draw attention to ourselves in these strange worlds. So we agreed only one of us will be in control while we search for my brother."

Leon listened with pursed lips, fathomless eyes as always showing no emotions as at that moment he was running quite a few seperate thought streams. Two people within one body? Usually he would think the other mentally insane, with multiple personality disorder but the hair color changing as well as the entire demeanor? And really, with so many worlds out their who knew really what was possible anymore. He did not trust the other at all for his need to keep secrets which could have caused problems. They had not entirely yet but that was not the point. Radiant Garden was the world he was rebuilding and it's citizens were thusly his responsiblity.

"This world is a refuge for those who have no where else to go. It is considered one of the only safe worlds because of the hard working people who have devoted themselves to keeping it safe. You would have been more easily accepted for your differences then you imagined. We don't care here, as long as your not going to harm anyone else this can be a home for anyone. Do you understand that? Don't lie, covering up your lies make even more and dig you a hole so big you can not get out of."

His attention was soley on Nero/Flare at that moment his grey steels deep and starring soley at the younger male.

'Refuge...keeping it safe....easily accepted for your differences....harm anyone...dig you a hole...leave home....brothers disappeared...don't seem to understand...soul split...fire elemental...constant danger...no one can know...'

Reno was wafting in and out lucidity. He could hear speech, voices he recognised but didn't know in particular. He hadn't the faintest idea about what they were discussing but he got the feeling it was one of those things he eavesdropped on but no one ever told him personally. It seemed to be sensitive in nature, a little personal even. How could you split your soul anyway? Had that something to do with Nero's strange behaviour in the living room by the fire?

Easily accepted? Reno unconciously made a soft scoffing noise at the thought. No one had ever easily accepted him for anything. An old partner had fought tooth and nail to get a new partner because doing reckless stunts - which was saying something since Reno always committed random acts of near suicide on missions - which had almost gotten them both killed. He had been deemed unfit for duty. No one easily accepts a Turk. There was no way he could change either, not to the degree goody shoes like Choco-boy wanted. He had calmed down (Avalanche had no idea of his antics, his behaviour, they only thought they did) what more did they want? Reno seriously doubted that Leon would be so willing to help someone who had mass murdered by merely flicking a switch because the man with the money ordered him to. And that was just one thing on a long long list of horrors and atrocities.

Thoughts had distracted Reno from the cold and his sensitive skin. His clothes were chaffing on his flesh, irrating and making it red. Mako infusions had its pitfalls. Like the migraine he knew he was going to have when he recovered because the Mako was doing its job and recovering faster than was normal. With each passing moment his coherency was a little clearer although still muddled. He watched them talk as he blinked heavily.

Flare let out a small growl, it was his job to protect Nero, "Your right you don't understand what we have gone through, you say we will be safe here, but you do not control the minds of others. We know we are freaks, that people like us shouldn't exist. Others do too!"

"Flare, stop. You aren't helping anything" Nero spoke gently.

Flare fell silent for a moment, he flinched and then opened his eyes, they were softer now. Nero was back, "Please," Nero said quietly as a bit of the black faded from his hair, "I will tell you everything you ask, but what I say can not leave this room. Others from our world may be here and in this state Flare and I are in no condition to fight them. My brothers, where ever they may be will also be trying to keep themselves a secret," Nero let out a deep breath, "I had no intentions of telling anyone we meet this but it's the only way I can let you know how important it is for us to remain a secret. My brother, Leamarden, he is younger then me, but he is the king of our world, Seltex is next in line, I am last because I am carrying our family title of been the portector of the royal family. It's my duty to protect Leamarden and Seltex and the best way to do that is to remain unknown. You must understand..." Nero's heart was racing, it pounded so hard his chest was now hurting and fear was evident on his face.

"Then Hide!" Leon spoke through teeth as the far more aggressive side came forth from the two and his own patiance snapped.

Why had he given a care anyways? Shaking his head arms across his chest, his greys hardened completely. They could believe what they wanted, Leon has seen alot worse things then two souls, two beings inhabiting one body. He was a far more accepting man of peoples differences because of all that had happened in his own life. But if this Flare wished to act like a wounded dog then it was his choice. So be it.

Shaking his head as he now listened to Nero, so far the calmer more rational side of the two beings.
"Do what you believe you have to. But understand this. Radiant Garden is my home, it the home of many people that have no where else. If I hear of you making any ruckess, causing any suffering in this world. You will deal with. Me."

Turning his back to the two elementals, his stance and posture closed. He was done with them. It always rubbed him raw when people pleaded for understanding of how horrible their life had been. Welcome to reality, with the heartless constantly attacking, worlds being destroyed. No one's life was a walk in the park anymore. Everyone understood suffering, from the lowest, smallest child to the eldest.

"We'll keep it down. Just rest," he spoke to the Ex-Turk before moving around Nero and out of the room.

Back in the kitchen he poured himself some more coffee before sitting at Merlins table covered in it's many books and notes, quills and whatever else he had their at that moment with his brow furrowed heavily and thoughts dark. He brooded.

-- Edited by LionHeart at 03:51, 2009-01-13

Reno rolled his eyes. Oh the drama. What was up with these people? Well what was up with Nero at least? Leon Reno could understand and have a conversation that actually meant something had he wished to. (Reno didn't make a habit of meaningful chats but rather avoided them ferociously). Nero - whatever - seemed to be a scared little boy who still possesed naivity which surprised Reno.

So he was running for his life to avoid being killed but wasn't everybody these days? Heartless everywhere, killing, destroying, the Universe wasn't exactly a peaceful place in a perfect state of balance. Things were most definately turbulent. A lot of people had horrible childhoods and even worse lives. Reno blinked. He had no idea just how much he had picked up from Tseng. It was disturbing.

"Rest?" Reno questioned the air? he hated resting. Resting was boring, confining and stupid! He'd much rather be doing something even those blasted reports if only to create new ways to annoy those around him. Did Leon mean rest or sleep? Reno hated sleeping with a passion and could never seem to force himself to do so anyway. Sleeping led to nightmares and nightmares lead to thrashing and screaming, bolting up right and perhaps not even waking up properly. Flashbacks sucked yo.

What would the others say if they knew how many people he had killed, maimed and tortured? Reno would just shrug and say whatever if they had done any of it in the past - although he'd stare at Nero as if he had horns because there was no way that kid had done anything cruel. Unfortunately for Reno he difted off to his own musings.

(I had an Idea, Of like, the next day kind of thing. So like, I suck at explainign my ideas. Umm Flare apologizing for his behaviour Reno probably trying to get his ship repaired.)

(Um...well my posts kinda got dry because I had no idea what to post lol but Reno is back on his feet and can cause havoc! :P Um well your an honest guy so Reno would probably try and steal from ya :P Nero needs to learn how to lie?? (no idea how i would do that one!) Ummm whaddya think? is it OK or just rubbish?)

Nero groaned waking up on the lounge, he hated sleeping in a seated position, but he had decided that he would not bother Leon again last night. He lent his head forward to try and ease the pain in his neck, he slowly stood up closing his eyes and checking Flare's brain activity, we was still asleep. Nero opened his slightly blurred eyes and walked towards the kitchen where he could hear Leon.

"Good morning," Nero yawned covering his mouth a few sleepy tears leaking from his green eyes. Nero leaned against the bench, "Sorry about last night. Flare, his heart is in the right place, but he is a bit over protective at times.

looked up from drinking his steaming coffee to Nero he gave a shrug of his shoulders. It was not that Leon particularly trusted either of them more because of that night's sleep. Or that he was willing to forgive automatically. It was more that the matter was done. Things had been said and were unlikely to be unsaid, and Leon was not someone who liked to look on the past. It would depend entirely on Nero and Flare's actions from here in. Words meant nothing. Actions would be what Leon would judge them upon.

Eyes back on his coffee as he swallowed another mouthful looked up to Reno who had miraculously awoken at the same time as Nero who was only minutes after himself. How annoying...Oh well. He would be off to repairing and 'restoring' quickly enough. Seeing that Reno was already as fine as he was he shook his head but stayed quiet. If Reno was able to recover that easily why would he try to make him stay in bed, this way he could get rid of him faster. Leon was not as cold a man as he had been years ago but he hardly was social able most of the time.
"I will be off to work in 10 minutes. I can not let you stay here while I am away as this is not my home. It appears to not be 'as' cold as it was yesterday."
Swallowing the last swig of his coffee he moved past them both into the main area where Cid's computer was and Merlins table. Looking at the blue print on it one last time he erased one last thing and changed it slightly.
"So...your on your own."

-- Edited by LionHeart at 15:00, 2009-01-20