Golden Saucer

"Here we go folks! We're graced today, by the president and owner of the Golden Saucer! DIO!"

The announcer shouted Dio's name as loud as possible, and an even louder chant came from the crowd as Dio's jumped out in front of the crowd. He strutted his way front and center and flexed his impressive body. 

" Welcome! To the Golden Saucer! I hope it's everything you imagined." Dio spoke. " Today, we have some special guests our near and dear FIRST-CLASS SOLDIERs from Shinra." Dio gestured towards Exodus in the corner and a visual image of the man appeared over the crowd. " Samuel Exodus!!!!"

To his surprise, Exodus was greeted by a rousing round of applause from the park-goers. He was always pretty well known in Midgar, but it was still surprising, at least a little bit, to see his fame had spread so far. 

" Is he up for the challenge? Let's find out, in 3-D BRAWLER!" Dio shouted.

The energy from the people caused Exodus to feel uncomfortable, he didn't feel like being in front of crowds. Before, sure, he didn't mind playing the pretty boy, or the big hero, but now, he really just wanted to be left alone to figure things out, but it seemed people were dead set on preventing him from having a single moment alone to think. 

Fighting it was useless at this point. Dio for whatever reason just wasn't going to let it go, so he might as well play along and beat him at his own game. 

Exodus stepped forward and a console appeared in front of him, confusing the young man. " An arcade system? What?"

" What, you didn't think we were really going to fight, did you?" Dio asked the man. " That wouldn't be very fair. And besides it's called 3-D brawler. That should tell you everything you need to know." Dio said with a look of amusement on his face. He looked at Exodus and started playing with the twirled tips of his mustache. " I hope you don't expect me to go easy on you, my friend."

" Yeah, whatever. Look can we get this over with? I didn't want to be here in the first place." Exodus told the man.

" Hm, sure. Sure. But, if you lose, then you have to do a favor for me." Dio muttered.

" Fine, sure, whatever. Let's just go." 

Exodus approached the standing console, ready to win.

Dio huffed and proudly turned his head and strutted towards his own standing platform, before striking a vagrant pose, throwing his hand in the air and placing the other one on his hip.

" Contestants, get ready!"

" GAME! SET! START!" The announcer shouted excitedly into the mic and 

The game loaded up and two giant holograms, made in the image of Dio and Exodus appeared over the crowd. 

Exodus stared at the screen and the controls not knowing what to do. So, he started spamming the controls, rigorously mashing the buttons on the panel in front of him. 

" Oh, out the gate, Dio is being pressured! Is this the end of our esteemed hosts winning streak?!"

That's what the announcer said, However, Dio seemed none to stressed at all. In fact, he hardly seemed bothered by the position he was in. 

" Hm, how dangerous. But foolish!" Dio 

Exodus didn't know how it happened but one moment he had Dio cornered and on the defensive, and the next moment, Dio took control and absolutely punished him.

" LOSSER!"

The screen shouted.

" Eh?" There was a twitch in Exodus' eyes. His mouth turned up into a sick twinge of frustration and his eyes started glitching. " What just happened?" Exodus asked.

" OH, IT LOOKS LIKE MISTER FIRST-CLASS JUST GOT TURNED INTO MISTER FIRST TRASH! THE WINNER IS DIO!"

There was a loud applause for the owner, and an even louder sound of laughter. 

Exodus couldn't believe it. He just lost, and badly at that. 

" What happened?" 

Dio strolled over to Exodus with a pompous look of victory on his face. " That my friend was you losing. And I believe we had a wager going, that you'd do me a favor if I won, correct? I hope you don't intend on going back on your word, now." Dio spoke.

Exodus clenched his fists together and bit down hard on his lip. " Damnit! Fine. What do you want?" He asked.

" Simple..." Dio muttered. " I want you to have fun. Enjoy your time here, young man, play the games, meet the people, watch our plays. There's so much to do here, and it'd be a shame if you didn't get to experience any of it, because you were feeling a little sad." Dio told the man.

" Sad? You think I'm sad? Is that it?!" 

" Now, now, no need to get loud. I understand the look of sadness when I see it. When my first endeavor as a museum host failed, I too felt the despair of sadness. But over time, and with a little push, I was able to transform myself into the man you see today." Dio explained. " It might not seem like it now, but you're in the prime years of your youth. And while, yes, I'm sure the world is unfair and whatever it is that's on your mind is tough, life is just no fun sitting alone in a dark room scowling all the time. Get out, live a little my friend. Life can be fun if you let it be. Trust me." Dio told the man. He grabbed his mustache and twirled it proudly. " Now, get out of here loser. Go, enjoy my PARK! MY PEOPLE AWAIT!" Dio scurried off towards the crowd.

" WHO ARE YOU CALLING LOSER OLD MAN?!" Exodus yelled angirly.

" Well, well, looks who's causing a scene?" 

Exodus turned upon hearing the screeching voice behind him, that he knew could belong to only one man.

He turned his head and a head full of red spiky hair smacked him right in his eyes. Immediately his eyes narrowed.

" Reno."

" Yo! What's up First-Class Jackass?" Reno waved his hand at Exodus and smiled. 

" What are you doing here, Reno?" Exodus asked.

" I was just about to ask you the same thing." Reno responded. " The boss gave me some time off, so I figured I'd see what this place was about. Didn't think I'd run into you here." 

Exodus looked at Reno for a moment, his mind racing over his thoughts, and soon he settled on one conclusion. He knew all the Turks pretty well, but Reno was the one he worked with the most, and probably the one he had the best relationship with. Which could mean only one thing...

I'm being watched.

That was what his mind settled on.

" Sure, Reno. Whatever." Exodus muttered softly. " He took a deep breath and Reno patted him on his back.

" Come on, man, don't be like that? You look like such a bitch right now." 

" Fuck you."

" Oh, how rude, and here I was trying to cheer you up after that ass kicking. Man, I didn't think you'd suck so badly at video games?" Reno joked. " I mean, what made you challenge Dio anyway? You know that guy owns this place, right? I mean, talk about home field advantage."

Exodus rolled his eyes and stepped away from the Turk.

" Hey, I know, since we're here, how about we get a drink or something? I'm parched. And I'm sure you could use something to eat after getting your shit pushed in."

" I'm gonna shoot right in the foot." Exodus told the man.

" Yeah right. Let's go Jackass!" Reno grabbed Exodus by his collar and started pulling him along.

" What's with people and dragging me around?" Exodus asked. " I'm not a kid!"

................

Exodus and Reno sat at a bar in the Golden Saucer's restaurant area. It was a famous bar for adults, known for its many alcoholic drinks. 

" So, how're you feelin, man? I know it's been a rough time for all of us recently." Reno spoke as he sipped his fruity cocktail. " You guys and the whole Genesis thing. The Turks and Avalanche going at it. It's been a wild ride man." 

" Yeah." Exodus replied. He stared into the contents of his glass, swirling around the dark misty liquid inside, before taking a sip from the hard drink. 

" Yo man, heard about what happened. Sorry."

Exodus raised an eye at this. Of all the Turk, Reno was the last he expected any sympathy from. He liked Reno, he certainly did. But it was because Reno was always straight to the point and blunt about things. He never minced his words or his actions, and he certainly wasn't one to apologize. 

" Yeah."

Reno watched as Exodus took a sip from his drink and sighed. " Ya know, you're making this hard on me, man. I'm trying to enjoy this vacation and you're sucking all the fun out of it."

" Hey, I never asked to be here in the first place. If it wasn't an order, I wouldn't be." Exodus told the man. " I wanted to sit in my room and think. But no, they decide i need to get out and have fun. And then, as if on cue, you show up out of nowhere, also seemingly taking time off. Yeah, right." Exodus spoke. " So, be straight with me, Reno. Are you here to watch me, or to try and kill me?" Exodus asked the man. 

Reno's eyes popped for a moment, before going back to normal. " Ah, shit... Well, i guess ya got me." Reno admitted rather easily. " Look, the boss is worried you're not in the right state of mind. They don't need another Genesis incident, and personally neither do we. Now, I' m just doing my job man, but that don't mean I can't have fun while doin it right? So, let's try and relax and not give the boss' anything to piss themselves about, alright?'

" Yeah, whatever."

" That's the spirit!" Reno slapped Exodus on his back causing the man to nearly spill his drink.

Exodus grumbled a threat under his breath, making Reno laugh loudly. At the same time a young woman approached the two men as they drank and sat down next to the First-Class Soldier.

" Hey, you're that guy who lost to Dio earlier, right?"

Exodus turned towards the woman, speaking to him, slightly agitated from Reno's previous actions, and glared at the woman, making her shrink in her seat a little bit. Exodus quickly reined in his attitude and apologized. " Sorry, didn't mean to scare you." He said. " And yeah. That was me."

" That was embarrassing, you know? I mean you got crushed!"

" Hahaha! That's what I'm told him." Reno laughed from the side.

Exodus turned back to the man and glared at him, while the woman simply laughed. Her brownish-red hair bounced lightly around her face and for a moment, Exodus found his lips tugging upwards into a slight smile. 

The woman tucked a few of the loose strands of hair back behind her ear, revealing her soft brown eyes, and smile. " Jessie, it's nice to meet ya."

" Jessie, huh? Sam."

Reno watched quietly as things played out with a smile on his face. He took a sip from his drink and whispered under his breath. " Sucker." 

" What was that?!" Exodus spoke up.

" Nothing." Reno responded. He took another sip from his drink. still smiling with that smug grin of his. 

" Hey, I have to get going? I have practice today, but if you're interested, how about letting me get your number, and we could maybe... Meet up tomorrow? Get something to eat, or explore the park?"

Exodus hesitated for a moment, taking a deep breath as his mind raced with thoughts. He took a sip from his drink, and against his better judgement, took out his phone. " Alright, I'm gonna be here for a while. I might as well have some company I enjoy."

" What?! But I'm right here!" Reno exclaimed.

" Yeah, and?" Exodus asked.

" You've known me for years man!"

" And somehow I'm already enjoying her presence more than yours." Exodus stated bluntly. " Amazing, isn't it?"

" Oh, fuck you!" Reno cursed.

Jessie giggled lightly as the two men glared at each other and quietly placed her number within Exodus' phone, before handing it back. " Alright, I'll see you later, Sam. Spiky." Jessie waved to Sam and Spiky before disappearing from the bar.

" Hey, did she just call me, spiky?" Reno asked.

Exodus looked at Reno and a smug grin grew on his face.

" Oh, that bitch!"

*Thud!

" OW!" Reno grabbed his head as pain surged through it. " Two-faced, First-Class prick. Hittin me in the head." Reno grumbled under his breath as Exodus sipped his drink. 

" Whatever, Reno. Hey, I'm going to my room. I'll see you later." Exodus told the man.

He paid his tab at the bar and started making his way to the Golden Saucer's hotel attraction, which was themed after a haunted house.

The Check-in was a hassle. Involving a stupid man dropping down from the ceiling to try and scare Exodus. That didn't end too well for the man as Exodus grabbed him by his neck the moment he appeared in a purely reflexive moment. Exodus apologized to the man, for nearly taking his head off, and continued to his room.

Once there, Exodus took a deep breath and stepped inside. " Finally." Exodus muttered. He felt his entire body decompress all at once and for the first time, since arriving, he felt at peace. 

That is, until he opened his eyes and saw who else was in the room.

" YO! What took ya so long?!" Reno asked the man.

Exodus jumped forward and clotheslined Reno knocking him off of his feet.

" Hey, what was that for?"

" What are you doing in my room?" Exodus asked.

" Surveillance, remember?" 

" You fucking kidding me?"

" Nope" 

" FUCK!"

...................