Reno’s laughter rings out as he grabs your wrist and pulls you through the service exit, the door slamming shut behind you. Outside, the night air is sharp and cool, completely unlike the stuffy atmosphere you’d just escaped. “Man, I can’t stand those galas,” he groans. His tie hangs loose around his neck, his hair’s a windswept mess, and there’s a wild, giddy look on his face.

If nothing else, he’s excited to be out here with you. You were on his wavelength, shared the same brand of humour, and he looked forward to spending time with you at the office or on missions. “Hey, look what I nabbed,” he says, lifting his suit jacket to reveal a bottle of expensive red. “How’s about we head up Shinra HQ and finish this off?” The ‘together’ part is unspoken, but he’s pretty sure you feel it too: you became more than friends a long time ago.