Chapter 10: Truth and Lies
Disclaimer: I don't own Final Fantasy VII or any of the characters. They are all the intellectual property of Square Enix and the respective artists.
Author's Note: Double digit party! XD Woot Woot! *tosses confetti around like a fool* I admit it has been a long ass time since I have even written fan fiction or anything creative but I have been finding the inspiration here and there to write my stories that I have here again. Almost a full two years later, forgive me for that. Having a baby, getting married and going back to school is pretty crazy lol. Add to that I have thought about my stories just didn't know when I would be able to sit down and think about writing but I am trying. Thank you to everyone who is patiently waiting and everyone that adds to their favorites or updates and huge thanks to everyone who has had the patience to wait to read a new chapter. I am trying my best and hope you continue to cheer for my favorite ragtag group.
Now on to the CHAPTER! Chapter 10: Truth and Lies
'For as long as I could remember mom and dad have always been at odds. Not wanting to have anything to do with each other, especially when it came to taking care of me. My grandfather is the person who raised me. Because my mother was a former Shinra scientist and my father was a member of the TURKS himself, I was naturally going to follow in their footsteps somehow. I have serious smarts. The teachers would even complain to pops that I was too damn smart for them to teach, or that I was always hacking into the school's mainframe, one step away from expulsion as the principal said one meeting when I was ten.
Dad was never really around much but we always received a stipend of cash from him at the start of every month. I felt like some welfare kid, getting money from a parent that never wanted me but had a moral obligation to take care of me. My mother died when I was two so I don't have very much memory of her. I do have pictures of her though. She was a beauty, five five, skinny as could be, had the appetite of four grown men, long crimson hair that was straight and silky; grandpa said she had a nice set of knockers but I pass that off as too much info from my father's side of the family. She had crystal clear blue eyes, kind of like Rufus and you would swear she was staring into your soul. I saw a photo of her in Hojo's office but I had to restrain myself from stealing it.
Last thing I need is someone finding out that the person who invented the SOLDIER/Mako infusion program was not Hojo but my mother. Might be why dad always kept a distance except for when he was asking her to use me as an experiment. I don't get why the hell she would agree to his idea. She did say to me he was handsome and smart. He used to be the leader of the TURKS before Verdot took over. Grandpa said he was second in command when dad was in charge. I wonder if they killed him.'
The phone rings, knocking Reno out of a deep thought. "Hello?"
"Is that you Reno?" an older man questioned on the other end.
"Grandpa?"
"It's been a while since you have made any form of contact with me. I have been horribly worried."
"Aw," Reno smiled. "I'm not a baby anymore pops. I am a big boy. Let me go a while without telling you I am okay."
"Reno…" his voice sounded stern. "Or rather should I call you by your real name, Raziel?"
"That's not my name!"
"Then I take it as you will call me in the future more often?" The tension in his voice lifted, making his tone sound almost as if he was joking.
"Yes." Reno replied in complete defeat. "I will check in with you more. I hope that we can sit down for a cup of coffee some time. But you are always so busy taking care of the kids in the neighborhood that I worry about the local thugs trying to hurt you."
A chuckle. "That sounds like the Reno I know. Always worrying about his grandpa rather than himself. I raised your father here. I raised you here. I haven't had a problem yet. Besides," he chuckled some more. "They would be stupid to try and fight me. I trained you and your father. Then you both ran off to be TURKS! SO they would be rather stupid to try and mess with me." The old man began to laugh on the phone. Reno felt himself smile at the phone.
"How did you get the number pops?"
"It wasn't that hard, really."
"Figures, still a ninja about how you get your information." Reno shakes his head at this fact. 'Even after all these years he still manages to catch me off guard. Why Shinra never recruited him is beyond me.' "Are you spying on me pops?"
"Reno," he calmly stated. "I have eyes and ears everywhere. In places so deep in Shinra that even the president would be jealous of my network."
"Figures."
"Anyways I just wanted to check up on you and make sure you are still in one piece. Also I was wondering if you're coming home for your birthday?"
"I haven't decided but I am sure you already have."
"Well you can call the house with an answer at a later date."
"Sure thing pops. I'll call soon."
"Bye Reno."
"Later pops."
Reno hung up the phone, smiling slightly. "Back to work." He went back to his laptop and began to download the information he stole from Hojo's office to his computer, analyzing the data carefully. "It looks like Sephiroth receives the most injections than anyone else. After him, it's his generals and Zack along with the entire SOLDIER 1st Division. I wonder how much Mako they have been exposed to without poisoning them? But then again, the old bastard was injecting me till I was born. Mom had to administer anti-Mako shots to combat it." He rubbed his forehead in frustration. "Damn Hojo, he was warned that effects would be dangerous if he did it more than he needed to." He took a sip of coffee. It was five thirty and Rufus hadn't come out of his room yet. He got up and walked up the stairs wondering why he hadn't gotten up yet.
"It's stressful to go from one moment of your life to the next when the whole damn company is watching you." He reached Rufus' door and knocked gently.
"Rufus?"
No reply.
"Boss?"
"Meow?"
"Dark Nation?"
The sound of scratching on the door made Reno nervous, he slammed the door open. He whistled to Dark Nation who came to him and rubbed herself against his leg. "Where's daddy?" He asked. Looking around he saw no sign of Rufus but heard the sound of the shower running. He walked towards the joint bathroom to see lots of steam and the door slightly cracked open. "Rufus?" "In the shower Reno." Reno chuckled and entered the bathroom, removing his jacket and shirt. "Really, why can't you just tell me things without making me worry?" Rufus smirked, "Because it is entertaining non the less to see you worry about some one like me." Rufus was in the middle of rinsing his hair of the shampoo when he noticed Reno wasn't in the room anymore. "Reno?"
"Right behind you." He replied sultrily. Rufus turned around to see the red head in the shower, grinning at him with a devious grin. "You are just one hell of a temptation." Reno stated.
"Me?"
"No the hot guys I work with."
"Really now? I wonder if we share an interest in the same people."
"Now if this is how you return a come on then I should walk out," Reno replied smartly. "After all, if I wanted them in bed, I would try to seduce them but I am sure my age would be a factor to stop them from sleeping with me. You however, I cannot resist you. There is something about you Rufus Shinra that sends chills up my spine. I have to have you in my bed, boss or not." Rufus moaned slightly as he was pushed against the wall, Reno closing the gap between the two of them.
Downstairs…. (I know, I am evil!)
"The reason why we are here is to make sure my brother is okay." Lazard stated calmly. "Look I understand your concern but we are talking about Reno, he would make sure that the president is okay." Zack responded coolly. "Right Seph?"
"Reno has done some things that make Director Lazard nervous. He stood up to the president on his first day, he has bought Rufus a pet with no real reason answered for that, add insult to injury, he has tried to intervene twice when it comes to you and your temper. Lazard is suspicious. Add to Hojo telling him about the firewall breach in the labs yesterday."
"But it's Reno, he's just a kid!"
"I doubt that Zack," Lazard answered.
"Why do you say that?"
"Something about him makes me doubt he is only fifteen. Sephiroth can agree to that as well." Zack looks to Sephiroth, "Seriously?" "Yes Zack."
The group proceeds to the kitchen where they see Reno's laptop with the stolen files on the screen. "What's this?" Zack asked, as he got closer to the screen. "These look like the kind of files on Hojo's screen when you go to his office. Why does Reno have them on this portable? Is this President Shinra's computer?" Lazard looked at the computer, "No, this is not a Shinra issue computer. This is someone else's computer."
"Where the hell is Reno?" Sephiroth questioned. "Even more questionable, where is our president?"
Back upstairs…"Reno…" Rufus moaned.
"Not now," he replied. "I just wanted to see if my touch was enough. Apparently it is, get finished, you have work to get to. Or we could play hookie and go on a date." He stepped out of the shower and dried himself before getting dressed. "I'll make breakfast."
"Bastard…."
"I know. But admit it," Reno looked at Rufus. "You love this bastard." He was grinning at the young president.
'He knows me too well.' Rufus thought to himself smiling like a schoolgirl.
Downstairs…"Do you think Rufus knows about this, Lazard?" Sephiroth asked calmly, observing the screen with deep intent. "Seriously, is the kid using the corporation to steal secrets?"
"I don't know, Sephiroth." Lazard answered. "All I do know is that this is more than enough to get fired and criminally charged. He is looking at an espionage charge that can get him killed. My question is why would he be so reckless?"
"Because I need to find my father."
The trio of men turned around to see Reno standing taller than they saw him yesterday, with a more mature look to him. His eyes were piercing turquoise and he was leaning against the doorframe. "Don't you guys know it's rude to snoop through people's things?"
"I should say the same to you Reno." Sephiroth responded. His aura had grown darker towards the red head.
"You want answers? Leave and wait for me to call you. AND not a word of my true form to Rufus." Reno answered sternly, with a maturity that was odd for everyone in the room. "You didn't see anything."
"Reno?" The quartet all turned to the sound of Rufus, terrified that they were caught. But there was no blonde so they nodded their heads in agreement and left silently. Reno closed the laptop and began to make breakfast, a circle of magic surrounding him changing him back into a fifteen-year-old kid.
"It's not time for him to see the truth…."
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