The Way Back to 429, Post-Vortex

[the_merriest]

Two daughters, very different, both gone. One wee Turk, not hers in any sense, gone as well.

Rikku was walking back to the dorms, very, very slowly. And trying not to sniffle quite so much. And failing.

She reached over, almost instinctively, for Reno's hand.

(for the modded one)

Comments

[the_merriest]

"Somewhere, out there, another Reno is finding him," she said, hoping her voice didn't shake. "He's yours. You're taking him home. I believe that."

Because she couldn't imagine a universe where Reno wasn't flying the chopper like a crazy man to hunt down Rede and get him home safely.

... Maybe he should let Rude fly. Still.

[raspberryturk]

So long as Tseng wasn't flying, everything would be alright. Tseng liked to crash choppers into things like mountains.

"Somewhere out there, just not here," Reno agreed. "If that other Reno doesn't take care of him, I'm gonna break space and time just to smash in his smug fuckin' face."

It'd be a shame to mess up such a handsome face, really. But it would have to be done.

[the_merriest]

"He's yours," she said softly. "Any Reno out there would. You know he would. You're just gonna have to trust ... you, here."

Alternate timelines were so weird.

[raspberryturk]

"Guess I am." He gave a bit of a nod, and then pulled Rikku about as close as a Rikku could possibly be.

"Trusting me's about all I got to work with, with Rede."

[the_merriest]

Rikku could nuzzle and try for even closer. Rikkus were flexible like that.

"I believe in you," she said softly. "Any you. Every you, zoto."

[raspberryturk]

Reno nodded. Closer was appreciated.

And his eyes drifted up to the ceiling, and his lips pulled into a frown, and a sigh was his only answer.

If he believed in himself half as much as she said she believed in him, he'd be damn near invincible.