Summary: This is a two-shot (or maybe even three-shot!) , involving CloudxReno. Tseng sends Reno to do a simple task, and he suddenly disappears; Cloud is hell-bent on finding him.
Rated M for language, references to a lemon (in flashback), and Reno!
Disclaimer: Square Enix owns FF, I do not. This is written for fun, and not profit!
"Where's Reno?" Tseng asked the other Turks present in his office - namely, Elena and Rude. It was a question Tseng uttered almost daily; his second-in-command was hard to keep tabs on. Tseng knew better than to even start looking for Reno until after everyone else arrived. Reno would joke that he came in late intentionally, claiming that "Rude makes better coffee than I do," and proceeding to guzzle nearly the entire pot before noon.
Today was different, though. It was midafternoon, and Tseng had sent Reno up to the president's office hours ago. As the hours ticked by, Tseng frowned, wondering what could be taking so long. Was Rufus displeased about something, and taking it out on Reno? The president had often complained to Tseng about Reno's slovenly appearance, but finally agreed with Tseng's assessment that Reno always got the job done, and did it really matter if he refused to wear a tie?
Tseng mulled over the many possibilites of where Reno could be, and what he could possibly be doing. The mind reeled at all of the possible outcomes, Tseng mused. "Maybe I don't want to know," he muttered. He decided to start with the most logical place - Rufus Shinra's office. It had, after all, been about three hours since Reno was last seen - and he'd been due back about a half hour after Tseng had dispatched him. Tseng dialed the extension to Rufus's office. Being the Turk Commander had its advantages; Tseng was one of only a handful of individuals who had access to Rufus Shinra's direct line.
"Sir?" Tseng began as he heard Rufus pick up the call. "It's Tseng. Just wondering...how'd it go with Reno?" Tseng did not want to come right out and admit that Reno had gone missing once again. It would not do to have president Shinra thinking that the director couldn't even keep tabs on his own people.
"Fine," Rufus replied briefly. "Reno gave me the dossier with that intel I'd been waiting on. Excellent work by the Turks once again, Tseng. Well done."
"Thank you, sir," Tseng said gratefully. Hesitantly, he asked the question he didn't really want to voice out loud to the president. "And...is Reno still with you, sir?"
"No, he's not," Rufus informed him. "He left my office over two hours ago. Tseng?" he continued, sounding somewhat amused. "Do you mean to tell me Reno has not returned to work? Shall I send the Shinra guard out to look for him?" he asked teasingly.
"That won't be necessary," Tseng said dryly. "Thank you again, sir. Goodbye." With that, Tseng hung up the phone, and glanced over at Rude, who was sitting quietly at his desk, and looking at him quizzically.
"Any luck?" Rude asked, already knowing the answer to the question.
"No," Tseng replied. He brightened, as if suddenly thinking of something. "We should call Strife," he suggested. "Reno is...close to Cloud, perhaps he's seen him." "Close" was a bit of an understatement, as Reno and Cloud had been dating for quite a few months by now.
"I'll do it," Rude offered, taking out his cell phone, and punching in Cloud's number.
Cloud was sitting at the bar at Seventh Heaven, going over delivery invoices, when the call came in. He frowned when he saw who was calling; Rude rarely, if ever, phoned Cloud for anything. Maybe Reno's calling, and using Rude's cell phone, he reasoned. That seemed the most likely explanation for seeing Rude's number show up on Cloud's cell phone.
"Strife here," Cloud said into the phone, as he answered.
"Cloud. It's Rude. Have you seen...Reno?" the Turk asked, almost hesitantly.
"No," Cloud replied, frowning. "I haven't seen him all day. What's going on, Rude?"
"Damned if I know," Rude muttered. "Reno was last seen early this morning; Tseng sent him up to President Shinra's office to deliver some intel, and we haven't seen him since. And he's not answering his cell phone, either."
"Well, he's not here," Cloud informed Rude, sighing. Gods, what has Reno gotten himself into now? the blond wondered. "Did you check all of your surveillance footage?"
"Elena's on that," Rude confirmed. "She hasn't come across anything suspicious yet. I mean, really, right now, we have no reason to suspect something bad has happened - "
"I'm coming down to headquarters," Cloud said abruptly, interrupting.
Rude sighed. The last thing the Turks needed while searching for Reno, was the redhead's short-fused lover. Cloud was perhaps a little protective when it came to Reno, which was mostly amusing to all who knew them both, as Reno could certainly handle himself. Usually, anyway.
"Cloud, really, we've got things under control, that won't be necc -"
"I'm coming now," Cloud said, cutting Rude off. He quickly disconnected the call, and gathered the paperwork he'd been going over, stuffing it back into his laptop bag. Sure you've got it under control, Rude, Cloud thought wryly. One of the Turks' own is missing, and you can't even find him! Then again, perhaps Reno didn't want to be found.
"Tifa!" he called over the bar. "Have to go out for a bit. Reno's missing."
Tifa folded her arms and raised an eyebrow. "And you're going to swoop in and save the day, is that it?" she asked, bemused. Really, it was cute the way Cloud carried on over Reno, and vice versa.
Cloud grinned. "Yeah, something like that. Hopefully nothing's really wrong, though," he worried, frowning.
Tifa glanced at Cloud; he really was worried, she noticed, as she studied his face. He might be smiling, but she could see the worry in his eyes.
"Cloud, I'm sure he'll be okay," Tifa said, trying to sound reassuring. "He's a Turk, right?"
"Yeah, you're right, Tifa," Cloud replied, smiling at her as he grabbed his keys and headed out. "Thanks."
"No problem," said Tifa. "See you later. Good luck."
Reno's day had started just like any other workday. Cloud had spent the previous night at Reno's apartment, and the redhead had seriously dragged his heels about getting out of bed that morning, nearly making Cloud late for his first package pickup of the day.
"Come on!" Cloud had urged Reno, one eye on the clock. "Look, I'll even make breakfast for us - "
"Only one thing I want for breakfast," Reno had growled, grinning at Cloud as he pushed him back on the bed, pinning him. "You."
And Cloud had acquiesced, pulling Reno into his embrace, opening himself to his lover willingly. Soon, Cloud forgot about the time altogether. The two got caught up in the moment as they made love, completely losing track of the time, until Cloud's eagle-eye caught the time display on the clock once again.
"RENO!" Cloud had shouted, interrupting Reno's concentration at the worst possible moment, in the Turk's opinion. "Look at the time!"
"Fuck the time. I'm almost there...almost...there," he had muttered, trying to ignore Cloud's pleas that they would be late to work. So what? the Turk figured. I'm always late anyway, Tseng won't be surprised at all.
But Cloud was a little more conscientious than Reno about punctuality. Probably he had to be, Reno reasoned, since he ran his own business.
"You know," Reno had told Cloud, while having a quick post-coital cigarette, "morning sex is probably the best possible excuse to be late to work." He was in the bathroom, smoking and shaving at the same time, while Cloud was showering.
Cloud had glared at Reno upon emerging from the shower. "You are not telling Tseng that's the reason you're late today!" he protested. Cloud got a fearful look in his eye as Reno snickered at him. "No, really, Reno...please. Just...don't."
"I won't say anything, yo," Reno assured Cloud, kissing him before they both got themselves dressed and ready. "Besides," he continued, grinning. "Tseng'll know just by looking at me, that I got laid. That guy can read anyone's face, I swear."
"Your face is like an open book, though, Reno," Cloud told him, chuckling. "It wouldn't take much for Tseng to interpret any of your expressions, really."
Reno frowned. "I am not that obvious, Cloud," he'd insisted stubbornly. They'd locked up Reno's apartment, and Cloud drove Reno to headquarters on Fenrir. A quick kiss good-bye...and that was the last Cloud had seen of Reno that day.
That good-bye kiss was now fresh in Cloud's mind, as he sped toward Shinra headquarters on Fenrir. Reno has to be fine, Cloud thought, mostly in an effort to reassure himself. He's Reno, after all.