Disclaimer: I own nothing.

Warnings: A wee bit of language...I think.

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Taking Back Control

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Mondays had never been Reno's favourite day. It was barely six am as he stared down at a fresh cup of coffee with cross-eyed suspicion.

To his mothers great disappointment, school had never really been his thing, and the knowledge one could find in books had never come in first hand on his part. School hadn't teached him the things he knew now, like breaking an entry, hot-wiring cars and how to make fake ID's.

He closed his eyes and poured the last drops of coffee to his mouth. The past was dead.

This day he had three things on his agenda. A meeting with Rude at Castello's in a few hours. Then the break-in at Genesis', and to wrap it all up, the tape-theft - in case the tape even existed. His doubt about the video was the result of the fishy people he surrounded himself with on a daily basis. He'd learned not to trust anything.

But lately, things had begun to change. He felt different. Happier. Purer. More like a human being.

All thanks to her.

A certain Yuffie Kisaragi, with eyes that made him feel like the biggest man on Earth. Okay, he had to confess that her petite, lanky figure also made him feel like a man. A very sex-hungry man.

In the shower, he allowed himself a few extra minutes of sexual fantasies. Probably the last thing he should be thinking about when it came to her, since trouble had a tendency to come bite him in the ass. And Yuffie Kisaragi would be better off without the shitload of the messy gore that was his existence to seep into her life.

To keep his promises he read Ave Maria a couple of times for extra measure which, according to his mother, was a better protection than an insurance in Allstates.

Castello's was a combination of diner and billiard-salon. Many thought the worn-down place had gone down to history and no longer held any importance, but Reno'd been taught otherwise.

The Midgar PD always tried to have someone keeping an eye at the mob. Not the most well-credited of works, Al Capone was just a fairytale - today's criminals acted discreetly and stayed away from front page news.

This was something that appealed to Reno. Nobody believed that the investigation about bribings in the business of energy supplements would lead anywhere. A view not shared by Reno and his colleague, the superintendent.

As Reno entered the diner, he noticed that the early group of regular costumers had already seated themselves by the counter. Old Castello himself was cutting up sammon and pouring coffee, and Rude was reading the morning paper at a table in the back.

Reno settled with a glass of orange juice that he brought with him to Rude's table.

"Mornin' Rude."

Rude glared at him over his ever-present shades. "Devilish Wings dived in the fifth lap," he grunted. "That damn chocobo was too good to be true."

Reno put a frown on his face. "I told you that Billy-kid drove him too hard. You should have staked on Black Swan instead. Twelve times the money."

"With my luck I would've lost anyways."

Reno took a swig of his juice. "You just need something to turn your luck around, man."

Rude straighened up his paper and continued reading. "I'm not that superstitious."

Time to bait the hook.

"I might have the right thing."

Rude halted in his reading. "What?"

The redhead pretendedly swept his gaze across the room in vigilance. "It's a bunch of cash-cards, with codes and everything. Thought it'd be a good moment to bring in a companion. Maybe even Shinra himself, if he'd want to."

"You've always been quiet about your business. Why're you bringing this up now?" Rude asked suspiciously.

This was the tricky part. He didn't want to act too open, but not too avoiding and secretive either.

"You wanna know the truth?" he said.

"Yes."

"I think I can help you out."

"You don't have to pity me. I'm fine on my own."

"I know you've had some bad luck lately, while I've made some really good deals."

Rude nodded. "Thanks for the thought, but I'm counting on a change of luck in September."

"Something big comin'?" Reno wondered, trying not to seem too eager.

"Very gainful, if you get what I'm saying."

Rude kept his cards hidden, and it was too early for Reno call them, so he just grabbed the sports-pages and started reading. "It's nothing but fair that your luck turn up for you. And I'm happy for you."

"Can I ask you something?"

Reno lowered the paper in curiosity. "Go for it."

"You get your way with the chicks, right?"

He shrugged indifferently, disappointed by the topic-change.

"There's this special lady I like, but I don't know how to approach her."

"Has she given you the looks?"

"No. She doesn't even know I'm interested."

"Then it's a problem," Reno sighed.

"I know," Rude sneered and pushed up his shades, effectively hiding any feelings evident in his dark eyes.

"Have you talked to her, asked her out and stuff?"

"I've talked to her… Some small talk about chocobos."

"Nothing more, eh? Hmm… Can I make a suggestion?"

"I've been hoping you would."

"Send her flowers."

Rude frowned.

"I'm not sure I should do that."

"Why not, man?"

"It's not really my thing, flowers and crap like that," the large man mumbled and fidgeted on his chair.

"Just send her a card saying 'From a secret admirer'. It's a winner, and you can ask her about it later. Then you'll see her reaction, and if you don't want to tell her, she'll never know it was you."

A light lit up Rude's eyes behing his shades."Cool, that'll give it all some mysticism. Is that popular with the chicks?"

"They love it, yo," Reno assured him, pretending to know exactly what he was talking about.

Which he didn't. He was just a sad case of a man, having the hots for a woman who didn't even want to tell him her real name.

Reno pondered over the oddity of how Rude seemed willing to share his lovelife with him, but not the bait he'd laid out for him. Ever since Reno had taken the assignment of infiltrating the maffia, everybody kept telling him that the mob was dead, but Reno wanted to prove them all wrong.

Something he was about to do right now. Rude was a level higher than him and if Reno did him the favour of helping him out with this mystery-woman, it could grant him access to the inner circle.

It sure was proving to be a good day.

Since Reno'd left Castello's, he'd changed his clothes into a jacket and a cap of the same sort the messengers at FedEx used, just in case someone would get curious to his whereabouts, but there was no one near as he found his way to Genesis' apartment.

Housebreakings was something he'd learned as a youngster, and he had yet to find a place where he couldn't find his way in. If the lock couldn't be picked, there was always the windows. The criminal gene in him was in a way Reno's biggest asset. Sadly, not all in the Cordano family was as blessed as he was. His brother had put his life on the line in his first attempt of crime.

Reno fumbled to grip the could medallion aroud his neck, pressing it hard against his skin. Pain was more bearable than guilt.

But right now he had a job to do.

The door was equipped with a regular safety lock. Ridiculously easy. He reminded himself to give Yuffie a call about safety measures. He could only hope she was better equipped than this moron.

With a few quick operations he could step into the hallway. Just as Yuffie'd told him, Genesis was out. With the exception of her name and identity, she'd obviously told him the truth. But as soon as he'd found that tape, he'd put an end to the lies.

He searched through the apartment with discreet efficiency. By the TV he found a couple of unlabeled video-casettes. He was going to have to look through them all since it wasn't likely Genesis would label the tape: "Sex with Yuffie".

Suddenly, the sex-fantasies returned, but without Genesis (he did not swing that way). Just him and Yuffie. A very naked Yuffie.

Reno shook his head and concentrated on his task. He found six episodes of True Blood and a couple of baseball-games. But no Yuffie.

As the tapes gave him nothing, he looked around for other means.

On the table by the couch were some books with titles such as Spies of Sovjet, A history of Blackmails and a few books with instructions to how one write a good thriller.

So Genesis was interested in authoring spy novels, eh? Interesting, but not illegal.

Reno started up the computer and went through the files. There was some semi-pornografic movies, but nothing with Yuffie. In a folder he found the first draft of a detective novel, but he only skimmed through the first pages before giving it up.

And that was it. If Genesis had the tape, he didn't keep it at home.

If there even was a tape.

Maybe he'd lied to Yuffie. She'd said she'd heard the tape, not that she'd seen it.

After one last quick survey, Reno left the apartment and headed for his car.

The conversation with Yuffie was short and business-like. He heard the disappointment in her voice, and he wished he'd been a better cop.

"Reno?"

"Yeah, sugar?" he answered, hoping she'd laugh at the nickname.

But she didn't. "You'll keep on looking, right?"

"I'll keep it up," he promised. "Just don't go off doing anything stupid."

"No, I promise," she said.

But Reno knew that tone. Instead of shadowing Genesis, it was time to go after Yuffie. He had a feeling she was up to something and the most important thing right now was to keep her safe.

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Yuffie hung up the phone and peered over her computer towards the disgusting slimebag. She'd been so sure Reno would get her that tape, but since he hadn't, she knew it was up to her to put a stop to it.

She took a deep calming breath and braced herself for the encounter with The Enemy.

"WhatdoIhavetodotogetthattape?" she asked in one breath.

Genesis looked up in surprise. Then he smiled, one of the nice smiles that didn't work with his behaviour towards her at all.

"One more time should be enough."

"Just one time?" Yuffie asked just to make sure there wasn't any loopholes in his conditions.

"Yes, it's all about research."

Research? That had to be the worst joke of the year.

"What a friggin' excuse!" she sneered. "Where's the tape?"

He glanced to his computer. "This is the age of digital technology, Yuffie."

"You copied it, didn't you?" she asked, pondering as to if murder would be such a bad solution after all.

Genesis looked up at her with the air of complete innocence. "Perhaps."

She needed a little more information than that. Just a few more clues, Watson, and this case is closed.

"Then you could erase it right now. No, even better, I'll erase it myself," she said and leaned forward. "Show me where it is."

Genesis smiled and even pointed. "Right there. You can erase it."

She pressed down the delete-button swiftly, but sadly, he was still smiling. It's never that simple, Sherlock.

"It's in your personal computer, isn't it?"

"Yes."

But computers aren't more secure than the people who use them. Yuffie kept her grin to herself.

"Okay, I'll come to your apartment tonight. Nine o'clock."

"Do you remember where I live?"

"Yeah yeah, I remember."

"Don't be late," he said and brushed her off, going back to whatever it was he was working on.

Yuffie wanted to punch him into next Thursday, but refrained. This called for absolute sneaky-ness and discretion.

She glanced over to the clock on the wall. Five hours to go.

Half an hour later, she had the solution to her problems. Then she spent the rest of the day by her computer. Once again, her brain had come to the rescue. She worked intensely until the result was flawless.

It was a lovely feeling, taking back control.

Genesis would learn to never again underestimate the power and determination of a pissed off woman.

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Reno parked outside the laboratory of the Research Center and witnessed Genesis' old Mustang roll out from the parking lot. Yuffie's Mazda was still there. Seemed she was working late.

Then he had no choice but to wait. He pushed his chair back and made himself comfortable. The radio tuned in a lecturer who was convinced that universe was expanding, and apparantly, he had proof. Bullshit.

Reno sighed sceptically and readied himself for a long wait.

Clock hit 7.30 PM, and that's when it happened. He got his first real look at Yuffie Keiko Kisaragi. Without the blonde wig and ridiculous clothes. In reality, her hair was dark, straight and cut in a lengthy bob-style. It was a perfect frame to her round, heart-shaped face. Now she'd changed the bimbo-dress to a sleeveless buttondown shirt and a pair of tight, low-cut jeans.

So this was the real Yuffie.

Then why did she pretend to be someone else?

Reno laughed at himself. He already had the answer to that. Because you have something to hide. Because no one else ever could be allowed to guess your secret. But Yuffie was different in another way than he was. Her secrets weren't even close to being as awful as his was.

As she drove away, he was ready and glided in behind her, with two cars inbetween.

It was a peaceful ride towards the city, but instead of keeping the course to her home, she made a right turn. Fuck it! Reno instantly knew where she was going and furiously gave his gear a blow.

Why couldn't she trust him? For being such a smart woman, she was about to do something really stupid.

She was on her way to Genesis.

Reno dialed up his boss at Midgar PD and postponed their meeting. Tonight he had more important things to take care of.

Yuffie needed him, whether she knew it or not.

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What is Yuffie up to now? And what's gonna happen when Reno get his hands on her? (he is seemingly quite upset) And who's Rude's mystery woman? I guess we'll all find out in the next chapter. It seems to become quite filled with action.

Also, I apologize for the shortness of this chapter. I wanted a nice build-up for the next one, and I finally managed to cram out a, in my opinion, pretty good cliffhanger. I wanna do more of those! Btw, I have some references to explain here too. The chocobo Black Swan mentioned in the beginning is in fact the name of a song by Diablo (if anyone here is interested in metal). Then there's the recordings of True Blood at Genesis' apartment, have you seen that show? I LOVE IT TO DEATH! (insert pained sigh by boyfriend here)

Big thanks to MyIncentive, you know you made my day! As will any other review I might receive on this, they're quite vital for us writers you know...

Until next time

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