Disclaimer: I don't own any of these characters, because if I did Zack would never have died!
Setting: Before Advent Children and after the game endedish.
C4tth3gr34t: HI! This is my first ever fanfic! Please be gentle!
Chapter One: Hojo strikes again!
Bam! The door to Rufus Shin-Ra's new presidential office is thrown open. In walks Reno and Rude, Rude has some papers under his arm. Rufus looked up from the pile of paper work and his laptop and watched as the two men walked in. Reno flopped in a chair while Rude remained standing.
"Reno, I suppose this means you two found something and that you are not just here to bug me about a raise again because if it is the second reason I have not had enough target practice recently." Rufus glared at the messy redhead.
"Chill, Bossman. Rude and I were good little dogs and dug up some interesting info 'bout 'nother hidden lab of Hojo's. Thought ya'd want to know, but we can leave." The shit-eating grin spread across Reno's face.
"Really, Rude let me see."
"Yes, sir."
Rufus Flipped through the file for a few minutes and then considered the options. "Good job. Reno get in contact with Cloud tell him we have a job for him. Use his home office number he will be more likely to come if Tifa tell him about it."
"Damn that chick still hasn't got it?" Reno grimaced.
"More than likely she will never see that Cloud is to emotionally scarred to ever return or want to return her 'love', but for now we will use this to our advantage. Once Cloud is here and has taken the job you and Rude will accompany Cloud to this lab. Save anything of use and then destroy the lab."
"Sir, is that wise?"
"Rude how else do you think we are going to get Cloud to take this job? We have plenty of other labs that are more suited for my goals. This will make Cloud easier to control during the mission." Rufus got up from his desk and turned to the window overlooking the newly repaired Midgar with an icy smile. "Get this job done and we will see about that raise, Reno. Leave."
"Yes Sir!"
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"Tifa when is Cloud getting back?" asked a small light brunette boy wearing black pants and a deep purple t-shirt.
"Well Denzel, Cloud doesn't like to be in one place for long, though he left a message saying he should be back in two weeks…..strange that is right when I am going to leave to look at the oil fields with Barrett." Tifa was cleaning some glasses at the bar as she pondered this. "Oh well, I won't be gone for long, so I will see Cloud when I get back!"
"Right, sure Tifa, who is going to look after Denzel and I if you aren't here?" Marlene walked in with an empty basket of flowers. She had on a white sundress with pink flowers on it.
"Hmm, oh Vincent will be coming and watching you two. Now, I need to run to the store, if anyone calls for Cloud tell them he isn't here right now but will be back as soon as possible."
"Yes Tifa, stay safe," called the two children as their main guardian left.
"What do you want to do now, Marlene?"
"Play in Cloud's room/office?"
"Sure! Maybe we can find where he hides from Tifa!"
The two children ran upstairs just as the phone in Cloud's office began to ring. The children stop to look at each other and then sprinted to the phone, both wanting to pick it up in case it was Cloud. Denzel got there first with his longer legs, so he picked up the phone and waited.
"Yo Denzel, it's Reno! Calling 'bout a job for Cloud."
"Tifa told us to tell you that Cloud isn't here right now but will be back soon."
"Denzel lyin' is bad. Why don't ya guys call Cloud about it. Tell 'im to get to th' Rocket Town inn A.S.A.P."
"Okay, Mr. Reno. Can we come play something?"
"Whenever ya want to. Ya know Rufus likes teaching ya about the business world 'n' stuff."
"Thanks, Mr. Reno! We will call Cloud right now!"
"Good Boy! Catch ya later."
"Marlene, we have to call Cloud about a job."
"But Tifa says that she should call Cloud when he gets a job."
"I know, but it's a job for Mr. Rufus, so it's really important, right?"
"Yeah! Lets call Cloud on speaker phone!"
"Okay!"
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Cloud pulls over his motorcycle and takes out his phone. "You have one new message."
"HI Cloud! It's Denzel and Marlene! Mr. Reno called, he says that Mr. Rufus has a job for you and that they would like it if you went to the Rocket Town inn as soon as possible! Don't tell Tifa we called you about a job because she likes to do it! Please come home soon after you finish the job! Tifa will be leaving in two weeks for three weeks, so it's safe to come home then! See you soon!"
Cloud smiles and turns his bike around, heading toward Rocket Town to finish this job quickly so he can see the kids.
"Yo Cloud! What took ya s'long? We been waiting for days, ya know?" Reno smirked at Cloud as he walked over to Reno's and Rude's table.
"You do realize Reno that there are five inns in Rocket Town, right? Though I knew you would either be in the most expensive one or the cheapest and it looks like I was right about the first." Cloud snipped back.
"Ya know Rude's use to living in a certain style. Frankly, don't care where we stay so long as it has a bed and a shower but the Bossman already made the reservations."
"I'm sure it just breaks your heart Reno."
"Ya know me well, Cloud. Yo! Feel special the Bossman paid big bucks to get ya the best room and service."
"A good bribe, what does Rufus want this time?"
"Dude, he's even gonna pay ya!"
"Reno… Cloud while looking through the former president's files, we found that Hojo had a lad hidden underground six miles away from Rocket Town. It is Rufus's wish that you assist us in searching the lab and, if we can do it safely, destroying the lab and, if the lab cannot be destroyed safely, then we are ordered to seal it at least. Also, if there is any information pertaining to you, Zack or Aerith then it is yours to do with as you wish." Rude set his hand down on Reno's shoulder and fixed his gaze at Cloud.
"Hmm, I will consider this offer, but I do have children to feed nowadays." Cloud half-smiled.
"Rude, Rude! Cloud smiled! Write this date down, it's one for the history books!" Reno laughed. Rude got a small black notebook out and wrote something down. After putting it away, he returned his gaze to Cloud.
"Yes, we cannot forgot about the little ones. Rufus is willing to pay you are much as you need at the end of the job. Deal?" Rude extended his hand over the table. Cloud thought it over for a second and took Rude's hand and shook it.
"Deal. We will start tomorrow, I haven't had a proper bath today and I am starting to stink, not that you could smell it over Reno's stench." Cloud got up and took his bag. "I take it that if I give my name at the front desk, they will direct me to my room?"
"Yes, see you tomorrow Cloud." Rude answered while restraining Reno from flying over the table at Cloud.
Cloud walked off and waved.
"Rude, one of these days I am gonna kill him. Damn SOLDIER senses and the repulsion to smoke!" Reno fussed and took out another cigarette from his pocket.
"Reno remember his is still relearning the proper way to interact with people. He is doing much better, the little ones are having a good impact. Remember just a year ago Cloud had no idea how to interact?" Rude stole Reno's lit cigarette. Reno gave him a look and took out another one.
"Yeah, Yeah. Was worried about the little brat, but just a little!" Reno refused to meet Rude's gaze.
"Reno, you had a fifty step plan to steal Cloud, save him from Tifa's 'bad influence', and then teach him all he needed to know to survive in the real world."
Reno went bright red. "S-Shut up. It would have worked, if Bossman hadn't threatened me with a salary cut I would have done it. Would be the least I could do."
"Still guilty about the whole not making it on time to save Zack? There was nothing you could have done and hasn't Cloud forgiven you?" Rude put a comforting hand on Reno's arm.
"Whatever. I know, but Cloud keeps getting the short end of the stick. Hell, Rufus feels for him, so I ain't crazy." Reno shrugged and got up. "Hitting the hay."
"Reno, don't forget. I knew Cloud before the Nightmare happened. You would have tried your hardest to corrupt him, not that Zack would have let you." Rude smiled and left Reno gaping at the air.
Once Reno recovered, he huffed off knowing that Rude was hurt that Cloud did not fully recover his memories, and thus does not know of their past friendship.
"Hmm, Turks aren't made the same way as when I was one." Vincent, detaching himself from the shadows, went to his room. He had a feeling that Cloud would be in Rocket Town and might need help, and so, he arrived a few days earlier.
End Chapter One
Aurthor's note: I would love reviews, good or bad. Also there is nothing but friendship going on with Rude and Reno but I think if you are around someone 24/7 and saving each other's lives, you will become a little close. Thanks! I hope you like it!