Upper Fort/Reactor

[Amnesty Lazuli]

Ami's smile was hardly big enough to stay on her face. "I know the feeling." She looked at Reno, whose return look was hardly as friendly as it could have been. He'll understand someday. Guess I can't ask the poor man to grow up overnight. Besides... I understand how he feels, too.

She glanced back at Rude... and realized he had something in his hands. She took a closer look... and a horrible realization swept over her.

The thing he held was the picture frame carrying the portraits of her family that he had found earlier... and she had never seen him look so grim as when he stared at it.

"My G**." Ami's blood ran cold. She turned to the others to clarify the situation for them. "If Shinra knows I'm still alive, they know about my family, too. They'll take them prisoner... We have to beat them to my village!"

"One problem. How do we get there?" Rude asked.

"The limo?" Ami suggested hopefully.

Rude shook his head. "Nothing doing. I call Mishy, the call will be intercepted by Info Central. It was risky enough having her bring us here."

Ami put her brain into gear. What can we...

She remembered coming to the Lower Fort, finding it torn apart. If she remembered correctly... she had seen a few abandoned vehicles there...

"There was a garage down below..."

Rude was already on his way out the door. Ami went to catch up. She called over her shoulder. "Everybody get ready to pack up and go. Soon as we find a machine still in working order, we get the h**l outta here."

She caught up to Rude. "The Village is several hours south of Midgar, beyond the wastes, in the mountain country. Is Junon on the way?"

Rude shrugged. "Never took much geography."

"If it is, I want to stop on the way and..." Ami felt a lump in her throat.

Rude mercifully completed the sentence. "See if Squall is waiting for us."

****

Reno watched them hurry out before embracing Nikky. She's finally free... and we're free together.

[*~Nikkole~*]

nikky clung to him, slightly happier when she felt him. she closed her eyes ad smiled slightly.

[Amnesty Lazuli]

The others got to work packing up the food and weapons. Reno left them to it. I didn't bring anything but the EMR and the clothes on my back. He kissed Nikky, relief finally flooding past his anger and frustration. He broke the kiss and clung to her. "I volunteered my soul for you... and if I'd had to, I would have held up my end of the deal." He reacquired some of his old thingy tone. "Not like I'm bragging or anything... just so you know."

Shinra's cut us loose.. not the way I would have preferred, but all the same... "Now we don't belong to anybody but each other." He kissed her again, letting the world disappear.

((Meanwhile, Ami and Rude have reached the Lower Fort...))

[*~Nikkole~*]

she kissed him back both times and hugged him. ''you didn't have to.... i mean, kamen could have won. where would you be then? you know that i wouldn't let you....'' she kissed him again. ''i won't let you leave me...''

[Amnesty Lazuli]

"You're missing the point..." Reno answered between kisses, which were coming longer and in greater quantity every second. "If you were going to be a puppet... I was ready to be one with you..."

He buried his hands in her hair and drew her deeper into their kiss, not even thinking about holding back.

Anything to keep us together. Anything.

[*~Nikkole~*]

she was about to say something but the kiss left her speechless. she closed her eyes and moaned softly, kissing him back with as much passion.

[Amnesty Lazuli]

Ami and Rude pulled up at the doors of the Upper Fort. Ami jumped out of the front seat, not even bothering to close the door behind her. "Keep the engine running," Ami instructed.

She sewpt into the room. "Hey! You guys can neck all you wanna on the way! Are we packed?" She didn't wait for an answer. "Good! Load 'em up! We're moving out!"

She grabbed the sniper rifles and the bags of cereal. "Everybody grab something and put it in the trunk. Let's try to do this in one trip, folks."

She dropped off her things there and waited for everyone else to do the same. "Okay, pile in. Strap down. We're going."

As an afterthought, she yanked off the car's license plates as she got ready to get back into the automobile.

Rude coughed politely as she clambered into her seat. "Forgetting something?"

Ami looked in the rearview mirror and facepalmed herself. Kidd, Kamryn, Sunset... "Oy, Reno and Nikky are still going at it in there, aren't they?"

She got out one more time. "Everybody stay put... I'll be right back."

She slammed her door and grunted as she headed inside. Those oversexed drama royals have been more trouble than they're worth...

Rude couldn't help being amused as he watched her storm back inside. Bizarre girl. She's really still just a kid in many ways...

****

Reno felt like he was right on the border of heaven. A sound came from the back of his throat as the waves of bliss broke over him.

****

Ami rolled her eyes. Turn our backs for five minutes, and this is what happens. "What do you two need, a chaperone? This ain't the senior prom, guys! Let's go!"

****

Reno tried to ignore her. He really did. But it's very hard to enjoy the company of someone you're in love with when a fifteen-year-old is standing over your shoulder, calling you a hormone fiend.

He rolled his eyes and broke away. "My infamous brand of luck strikes again."

Ami put her hands on her hips. "No worries, you two... I saved the back row for you. Now come on!"

Reno had to physically restrain himself from smacking the girl upside the head. He took Nikky's hand and led her outside. "Why is it the two of us never catch a break?"

They piled into the van. Rude adjusted the rearview as Ami got into the shotgun seat. "Next stop, Junon. And the first person to ask 'Are we there yet' gets to walk."

Reno helped Nikky into the backseat and followed her in as Ami put on a classic rock station on the radio. The song currently playing was describing the horrific hangover the band's guitarist once recieved after a legendary party. He sighed. It's just not the same.

They drove off...

((To Lower Junon))