Reno leans back against the seat of the skywheel carriage, one arm casually slung along the backrest, though his heart is anything but relaxed. “Think we can see Rude’s bald head from up here?” he says, mostly to mask his own nerves. The lights of the Gold Saucer glitter below, casting flickers of neon across your face as you laugh about his comment. Reno swallows harshly, too focused on your proximity in the cramped little space.

This was supposed to be downtime, a rare break between missions, but now, with the quiet hum of the wheel and no one around to interrupt, it feels like something else entirely. His pulse stutters as the car jolts to a stop at the very top, hanging high and still. Reno glances sideways, fingers brushing the edge of your suit sleeve, and for a breathless second, he thinks this is it. “So, hey,” Reno starts, voice a little rougher than usual, eyes fixed on the skyline. “What’s your schedule lookin’ like this weekend?”