This is the first story I have posted to this site and I obviously haven't quite gotten the hang of posting here yet, so please bear with me. Rating is M for language, violence and male/male pairing.
The point of view will vary because no one character can be everywhere.
There will be humor in the story and it will mostly center around Reno because...well things just keep happening to Reno. However I was disappointed that in Advent Children, both Reno and Rude were depicted as being bumbling clowns. Reno is funny but he's also a Turk. And the Turks are assassins. They are not nice people and they most certainly are NOT bumbling clowns.
Disclaimer: All characters, world settings etc. etc. are the property of SquareEnix unless otherwise stated. This story is not meant in any way to infringe on copyrights held by SquareEnix. Although if the characters were mine then Sephiroth would have been in Advent Children one heck of a lot longer than just the last fifteen minutes.
Please, please review
Chapter Two
Suspicious Disappearances
The dog leaped from the floor, aiming directly for Reno's throat. But before it could reach its goal, Reno swung the EMR and slammed it across the dog's head. A sharp crackle of energy swarmed down the rod and a wave of sheer searing pain arced through the animal's body.
It fell back to the floor shaking its head. But the dog wasn't defeated, not yet. It had been bred for endurance as well as for killing and a few seconds after clearing its head it charged again.
Reno swerved and brought the EMR up again this time trying to stab at the dog's more vulnerable underbelly. The dog however twisted its body in midair hitting the side of the EMR with such force that it was almost torn from Reno's grasp.
Fuck, this sucker knows how ta fight. And it's too damn stupid ta even be afraid o' the rod.
Scarcely had the dog hit the floor when it spun around and leaped at Reno again. Reno stabbed the EMR towards its head and when it twisted around to avoid the rod he kicked it viciously in the belly. The animal yelped and hit the ground hard on its side. Before it could right itself, Reno slugged it with the rod sending an arc of electrical energy sizzling over the animal's body.
And then the dog did an incredible thing. As Reno raised the rod for another blow, the dog leaped again. Only this time it didn't leap towards Reno's throat, instead it leaped at the EMR itself and the animal's massive jaws closed over the rod in an unbreakable grip. The sheer weight of the animal dragged the rod downward and brought Reno to his knees.
And the dog then held onto the rod growling low in its throat. The EMR's electrical field whined in demonic fury. An acrid odor of ozone as well as burnt fur and flesh filled the room. But the dog hung on, ignoring what must have been agonizing pain. Then the dog began worrying at the rod as if it were some kind of bone.
What the fuck is it doin'...oh SHIT!
Gradually the dog was worrying its way up the rod closer and closer to Reno's hand. And if it reached his hand, Reno knew what the dog would do next. The Turk swore and kicked again and again at the dog, trying to get it to release the EMR. But the dog stubbornly hung on though now there were burnt pieces of its flesh peeling off from its mouth. Either Reno's hand would be it's ultimate target or he would be forced to let go of the EMR. Neither option was attractive.
Reno became aware of noises behind the doors. The house's occupants were awake and what's more they were aware of a commotion going on in the common room. Reno yanked out his gun and shot the dog point-blank in the head. He had to shoot it three times before the dog succumbed, the rage fading from its eyes. But even in death its massive jaws remained closed over the EMR.
Reno swore again, trying to pry the rod from the dog's jaw to no avail. It was no use, if he had had enough time he would have taken one of his knives and just decapitated the dog but he didn't have the time. He was soon going to have company and he didn't know just how many there would be or what kind of weapons they would have.
Reno reached under the dog's body and hauled it up to carry it. At least that was going to be the idea. Instead he found himself dragged down to the floor again, the dog's body slipping from his grasp. The animal was too large and too heavy for easy transport. He could just see himself staggering through the streets stopping every few feet in order to hoist the animal up again. And of course the dog's owners would patiently wait for him to secure the animal before trying to kill him...not.
He clawed at the leather band around his wrist to which a chain was embedded the opposite end of which was attached to a ring at the end of the EMR's handle. He had just managed to undo the fastenings when one of the doors opened.
Reno didn't stop to see who had opened the door. He sprang up and ran to the exterior door. It was of course locked and he raised his gun and sent a stream of bullets into the locks shattering them. Now was not the time for elegant exits. A solid kick finished the job and the door flung open.
Reno ran out of the house, his mind having only enough time to grasp the bare essentials of his surroundings, automatically checking for snipers on the roofs and danger on the streets, before he darted through a nearby alley.
He didn't know how long he ran only that he had gone on autopilot relying on years of training in shaking off pursuit. Finally though he came to a stop at a makeshift square, panting slightly, sweat running down his face. He let himself sit down on the stoneborder of a dry fountain that had not seen water for years even before the fall of Meteor.
Reno took several deep breaths, recovering from his enforced run. Then he eyed the bare space on his wrist where the leather band of the EMR had been fastened and groaned.
Tseng will kill me, he will fucking kill me. And when he's done then Rufus'll kill me. That makes how many rods I've lost? What is it with me and weapons? Rude don't lose his weapons. Even Elena don't lose her weapons. Only I lose my weapons. It ain't fair. Why do these things always have ta happen ta me?
He rose and tried to brush himself off as best he could but soon gave up. His coat and shirt were soaked in the blood of the slain dog. Reno then looked around and tried to get his bearings. Sector Five. He was in Sector Five. Or rather he was in what was left of Sector Five. He still had a hike before him to get to the Healing Lodge.
About an hour later he was wearily making his way up the walk to the entrance of the Healing Lodge where Rufus Shinra and his Turks had made their home since Rufus had been stricken by Geostigma. It was actually a nice area being more on the edge of Midgar rather than in the city itself. Which no doubt explained the name of the settlement which was Edge.
But right now Reno was in no mood to contemplate the trees and grass that surrounded him. He was trying to think up an explanation for his lost EMR...an explanation that of course hid what had really happened.
Before he could reach the door of the lodge, he sensed someone standing in front of him. He stopped and looked up. A bald-headed, dark complexioned man in a black suit and sunglasses stood on the walk before him. There was an aura of strength surrounding the man. One received the distinct impression that this was not a man one would want to mess with.
At the moment however he was regarding Reno. It was impossible to see what expression his eyes held because of the sunglasses but the corner of his mouth curled slightly as he looked at the redhead.
"Reno," the man finally said. "Where the hell have you been?"
There was no rancor in that deep, bass voice, no hint of emotion. The man might have been inquiring about the weather.
Reno looked at his partner sourly. "Takin' a walk, Rude."
Rude raised an eyebrow skeptically. "You were taking a walk?"
Reno raised his chin. "That's right."
The corner of the bald-headed man's mouth twitched. He pointedly looked at Reno's blood, bone, and brain tissue spattered uniform.
"Reno?"
"Yeah?"
"Where's your EMR?"
"Um..."
"You weren't taking a walk without it were you?"
"Um..."
Rude raised his head and fixed his partner with a stare that was disconcerting coming from behind sunglasses. Then he pulled his glasses down and gazed at Reno over the top of them. Reno decided that that was even more disconcerting.
"Reno?"
"Yeah?"
"You lost it again, didn't you?"
"Um..."
Rude returned his sunglasses to their former position and shook his head. Then he turned on his heel and headed towards the door.
"Rufus wants to see us all ASAP."
Reno's eyes widened. "Rufus?"
"Yeah, you know, Rufus? The guy who pays us?" Rude reached the door and looked back at Reno. "Oh and partner? I'd go change my uniform before meeting with Rufus if I were you." Rude opened the door and went into the Lodge closing the door after himself.
Reno looked down at his soiled uniform and sighed.
Why do things like this always have ta happen ta me?
Besides Rude, Tseng and Elena were already present in Rufus' makeshift office when Reno finally entered. The office was a far cry from the office that Rufus had had in the Shin-Ra Tower. But then that had been when Shin-Ra had been at the vertex of its power and the extent of its power had been reflected in the luxurious furnishings and decor of its headquarters.
Now Shin-Ra Tower lay in ruins. Rufus wasn't bankrupt, far from it. But it took time to rebuild from the ashes of Midgar and until the new headquarters of the Shin-Ra Electric Company was ready, its President was forced to conduct his business from a sterile room of what had formerly been a sanatorium for those waiting to die.
The fact wasn't lost on Rufus Shinra who shifted in his wheelchair. The chair had been a ruse to disguise his true condition and also to disguise a metal box containing part of Jenova that alien malignant being that was really what was responsible for the ruins of Midgar, the death of so many and the tortured insanity of former General Sephiroth wanting to destroy the Planet.
Who seems to have decided that he's going to keep coming back from the dead until he gets it right. Lucky us.
Rufus hated having to remain at the Healing Lodge even though he was cured of Geostigma. He hated the memory of being totally helpless of seeing his body attacked daily...no hourly from the obscenity of that disease. And even though he could walk, the wheelchair was now needed to conserve his strength until he was fully recovered.
If that ever happens. Maybe I'll never really recover. Oh yes, Rufus by all means continue to whine. That will do an immense amount of good.
Rufus shifted again in the hated wheelchair which caught the attention of the tall, slender Wutaian man standing just behind him. The man bent down, his long black silky hair lightly brushing against Rufus' face causing a suppressed shiver in the blonde and softly whispered in Rufus' ear.
"Are you all right, Sir? Do you need anything?"
Rufus compressed his lips. He most hated appearing weak to the Wutaian who had been with him since Rufus had been a child, and who had been the only one back then who had seemed to give a damn about the Shinra heir.
"I'm fine, Tseng," Rufus said. "Where the hell is Reno?"
"I believe," the answer came with a hint of suppressed irony in the voice," that he has just arrived."
Rufus looked up to see that the redheaded Turk was trying to unobtrusively slink into the room. The blonde frowned.
"Reno, "he snapped out, "you're late."
Reno jumped and gave his boss what he hoped was an ingratiating smile though it appeared more to be rictus.
"Yeah, Boss. Sorry 'bout that. Was quite a party last night, ya know."
Rufus sighed. He supposed that he really couldn't blame his Turks for not being on time when they had spent the previous night attending a party in order to forge better relations between Shin-Ra and Avalanche. So Rufus simply sighed again and waved his hand at an empty chair at the table.
Reno lost no time in sitting down and trying to look as innocent as possible. Unfortunately for Reno that only made him look more scheming.
Rufus coughed, clearing his throat. Then he glanced irritably behind him where the Wutaian still stood.
"Tseng, sit down. You're making me nervous."
One finely sculpted eyebrow rose at that remark but Tseng said nothing, instead seating himself in a chair by Rufus. Elena and Rude exchanged glances. Rufus was obviously not in a good mood. Part of that was due to hangover. Though Rufus made a point of never drinking too much when surrounded by people he did not trust, somehow last night his glass had kept getting refilled and he had not noticed it because he was too busy watching Tseng and Elena.
The blond would have rather died than reveal that the sight of Tseng smiling softly at the female Turk raised the green-eyed monster in him. But it had. He acknowledged to himself that Tseng had a right to get involved with whom he pleased, the only proviso being that the object of his attentions not cause any kind of security risk to the President. He also knew that the horrible experience that Tseng and Elena had gone through at the hands of the Sephiroth remnants had formed a greater intimacy between the two.
But he couldn't help feeling jealous at anyone else getting close to Tseng. Tseng had been his personal bodyguard, devoted only to him ever since Rufus was twelve. And the young Tseng had taken his duties very seriously as well as having developed a strong bond with the blonde since no one else...especially old man Shinra... gave a thought at all to Rufus' well being. Emotionally the blonde considered the Wutaian to be his property.
He was of course aware that it was completely unacceptable to voice such a viewpoint. So he said nothing whenever he detected any hint of Tseng returning affection to another. He suffered silently. He could order Tseng to maintain an emotional distance from others and the Wutaian would actually obey such an order. But deep down he would resent it and that would drive a wedge between the two.
If only Rufus knew for certain just how Tseng felt towards him. Of course he knew that Tseng cared for him, after all the man had proven his devotion time and time again. But there was a difference between caring about someone and actually being in love with someone. Rufus knew for a fact that Tseng had had female lovers. And there were rumors that Tseng occasionally had male lovers. But that was never fully confirmed. The man was the epitome of discretion.
I don't want to make any moves only to have him tell me that he doesn't...what is the phrase that people use?...ah yes..."swing that way". He wouldn't be offended, no but he'd feel sorry for me and damn if I'm going to have Tseng feeling sorry for me. I hate pity.
A slight cough, ever so discreet brought him out of his thoughts. Rufus looked up to find all the Turks staring at him. He blinked and looked down at the table as he could feel the heat rising in his face. Hastily he pulled a stack of folders that had been sitting in the center of the table towards him and fanned them out.
"I'm sorry I couldn't just give you all the day off given the fact of last night's party but a disturbing report has come in and I feel we need to discuss it. Because the report concerns a formal request that has been delivered to me."
"Request from whom, Sir?"
And that would be Elena of course. She was much better at keeping her mouth shut than she had been when first made a Turk but even so now and then she just couldn't contain herself.
"I'll get to that in a moment, Elena," Rufus replied mildly. Elena blushed. Rufus smiled at her to show that he wasn't really annoyed at her interruption.
I wonder if Tseng is fucking her? No...focus, Rufus, focus dammit. It's none of your business what they're doing in their off hours. Even if they are fucking each other. Especially if they're fucking each other. Why can't I stop thinking of them fucking each other?!
Rufus took a deep breath. "The report concerns the Costa del Sol region. There have been several accounts of people disappearing. "
He handed a copy of the report to each Turk and for several moments there was only the sound of paper rustling as the group read it over. Then Tseng raised his head and frowned.
"Strange. All the disappearances happened at night while the victims presumably were sleeping in their own homes."
Rufus nodded. "And there were no signs of forced entry or even signs of a struggle. In every case. Without exception. For all intents and purposes these people just went to bed and then vanished into thin air."
Elena shivered, "That is so creepy." she said. Reno smirked at her and she glared back at him.
"Don't even start, you two," Tseng muttered without even looking at them. They both gaped at him. "So what we have is either an individual or a group of individuals who somehow gain entrance and then subdue their target and remove them without raising any alarm and leaving any trace of their presence."
Rufus grimaced. "And that sounds patently impossible. One occasion yes, two maybe, three difficult to believe. Yet there has been seven disappearances. "
"Hey Boss, " Reno said to Rufus. Rufus gave his attention to Reno without commenting on the casual address. Both Rufus and Tseng had long ago given up on getting Reno to address his superiors with any resemblance of propriety. It just wasn't in the man.
"This is all interesting and stuff," Reno went on. "But what's it got ta do with us?"
Rufus nodded approvingly at Reno. "A good question. Normally it wouldn't have much to do with us. It would be left in the hands of the local authorities...such as they are. But ever since Meteor fall it seems that the only organization with any real trained investigative agents as well as the resources to provide facilities for forensics is ...well...us. And given that Costa del Sol's major means of income is tourism they can't afford a sinister mystery to frighten tourists off"
"So what do they want us ta do?"
"They have requested that the Turks look into these unusual disappearances. Since it would enhance the reputation of the Shin-Ra Corp. as well as perhaps lessen the distrust that the people continue to hold against the company..."
Despite spending nearly my entire fortune rebuilding the city for them and helping put their lives back together...although I do owe them that...
"I have agreed to the request. You will leave in the morning for Costa del Sol."
Tseng cleared his throat. "We cannot all go to Costa del Sol, Sir. One of us must remain to guard you."
"That won't be necessary," Rufus replied, "Because I will be accompanying you."
There was a moment's silence then Tseng spoke. "That would not be wise, Mr. President. Your safety is of paramount concern and having you actually enter an area where people have been disappearing is taking an unnecessary risk."
Rufus' face took on an expression that Tseng knew all too well. It was an expression that said, "I have made up my mind and nothing you can do or say will change it."
"I'm fully aware of the danger, Tseng. But I'm going. And that is final."
Don't treat me as though I am a child, Tseng. I left my childhood behind a long time ago.
Tseng in turn gave Rufus a look that said, "we will discuss this further in private," then inclined his head. "As you wish, Mr. President."
"Rufus," the blonde muttered.
"Sir?"
"Rufus. Stop with the Mr. President stuff. All of you. After all we've been through together I don't want stupid formality when we're alone. When outsiders are present fine, otherwise the name is Rufus."
Tseng pursed his lips. "It will take some time to break the habit, Mr...er...I mean, Rufus."
"Then start practicing."
There was a glint of amusement in Tseng's eyes, Reno smirked at Rufus, Elena gave him a heartfelt smile while Rude ...was just Rude.
"All right then," Rufus said. "You all should start making your preparations for the journey and the investigation."
All of them rose and stepped back from the table. Suddenly Rufus paused, looking at Reno.
"Reno? Where is your EMR?"
Reno froze, his eyes darting from side to side as if looking for an escape route. Rufus frowned at him. Rude stared at the ceiling. Elena made a tsk, tsk, sound while Tseng narrowed his eyes at the redhead.
Reno tried to look nonchalant. The effort failed.
I'm dead, I'm dead, I'm so fucking dead.
"You didn't forget it in your quarters, did you Reno?" Rufus asked. "Because that is not like you."
"Um, no Boss, I didn't forget it."
"Then why don't you..." Rufus paused, thought a moment and then his frown became a scowl.
"You lost it, didn't you." he said flatly.
"No, no I didn't lose it, Boss," Reno frantically waved his hands in front of him. "I know where it is."
"And that is?" Rufus prodded.
There was a moment of silence and then Reno's shoulders slumped.
"A dog has it." he said in a small voice.
Rufus blinked at Reno as his mind tried to process this. When his mind rejected the data, he blinked at Reno again.
"A dog has it?"
Reno nodded. Rufus glanced at Tseng who had closed his eyes and was massaging his temples. Getting no help from that quarter, Rufus returned his attention to Reno who seemed to feel that if he stared down at the tabletop long enough he would blend in and disappear.
Do I really want to know why a dog has Reno's EMR? Perhaps it's just best to let sleeping dogs lay...wait, did I just make a pun? Dear Gaia, I must be losing my mind.
Rufus braced himself. "Reno?"
Reno flinched.
"Why does a dog have your EMR?"
"'Cause it grabbed onto it and wouldn't let go."
"Why in Gaia's name would an animal just seize hold of your EMR in the first place?"
"The dog was pissed."
Rufus was beginning to feel Tseng's headache. Tseng gave him a sympathetic look as if to say, see what I have to put up with every day?
"Why was the dog pis...," Rufus caught himself, "Why was the dog angry at you?"
"Well Boss, I guess it figured I was where I wasn't suppose ta be so it got mad and came at me and I was using the rod to fight it off when it just grabbed hold of it and wouldn't let go."
"Well why didn't you..."
Reno interrupted. "But ya should've seen it Boss! It was the most fucking crazy thing I ever saw in my life!"
Tseng winced at the profanity used in front of Rufus and glared at Reno. "Watch your mouth, Reno." he snapped.
"Huh? Oh. Sorry, Boss. Anyway I had the rod at high power and dam...er...darned if that dog didn't just ignore a few thousand volts o' electricity going through it. If it'd been a human I'd have recruited him for the Turks."
"But..." Rufus began.
"And I was kickin' the hel...ah...the heck outta it but it still wouldn't let go. The rod was squealing like a son of...I mean like a ...like a...well it was makin' a lot o' noise. And then the flesh actually started coming away from the dog's mouth, just peelin' right from the bone, turnin' black and drippin' down ta the floor..."
A distinct expression of distaste appeared on Rufus' face.
"Reno!" Tseng snapped.
The redhead paused in his enthusiastic account.
"It's coming out of your paycheck," Rufus suddenly muttered. "No, I don't want to hear another word about it," he said, holding up one hand as Reno opened his mouth to continue. "The cost for replacement will be docked from your pay."
The blonde looked around the table at the Turks and nodded. "That will be all for now. Dismissed...Tseng, you stay." Tseng, who had been about to head after Reno, stopped and gave Rufus a respectful nod.
Outside, Elena shook her head at Reno but apparently had pressing plans to tend to elsewhere for she left it at that and headed towards her quarters.
Reno turned to Rude who simply stood silently regarding his partner. The redhead grinned. "Well that didn't go too bad."
Rude snorted.