An update for you in honour of this fic's five year anniversary.
Outer Edge: Reno's Apartment
Yuffie x Reno
Reno didn't go to the fourth-floor barracks. He went home. The Turk was absolutely in no mood to be lectured further by Elena and sure as shit did not want to explain to Tseng the state of discord between him and his partner.
Partner. Reno scoffed at the thought. Maybe he should ask to go solo from now on, or pair up with Laney instead. How was he supposed to even look at Rude after this?
People in the street gave him strange looks as he passed by, some concerned, others impartial or even repulsed. None were brave enough to approach him. Except one. Yuffie Kisaragi was waiting outside his apartment door.
"What are you doing here?" he blurted dumbly. How did she even know where he lived?
"Reno!" she gasped when she saw him, "Leviathan, did Yazoo come back from the Lifestream to knock you around some more? What the hell happened?"
Despite himself, despite everything, Reno grinned, "Got into a fight on the way home. I'm a Turk, it happens. No big deal. You didn't answer my question."
In answer, Yuffie placed her hands on her hips, "So, what, you're telling me some random citizen with a vendetta against Shinra got the drop on you? Don't make me laugh, Reno, you said it yourself, you're a Turk. Besides, I have reliable intel. Reeve texted me to come get you because he was afraid you were gonna burn down HQ."
He sighed. Reeve Tuesti was a damn snitch, and Reno would be sure to tell him as much later, "Look Yuffie, I don't wanna talk about it. Right now I want painkillers and an icepack."
The ninja frowned, unhappy with being brushed off, "Fine. I'm helping to patch you up though, and that's not up for discussion, understand?"
"Yes ma'am," Reno mumbled, fishing out his door key from the lining of his jacket.
She ushered him inside and instructed him to sit down on the couch, bossing him around in his own apartment. He smiled fondly – even though it aggravated his split lip – as she boldly swept through the place like she owned it, searching for medical supplies. His apartment was somewhat cluttered, and some furniture was a tad worn, but it was cosy and clean. Small, like the one he grew up in. He liked it that way. Med kit in hand, Yuffie dragged forward the low coffee table until she could sit on the edge and face him.
"Alright, let's see the damage," the ninja gently insisted, tilting his chin up. She first fixed his broken nose with a Cure materia she happened to have on her person, because of course she did. It probably wasn't even hers, but Reno astutely kept that comment to himself.
"What are you smiling at?" asked the ninja suspiciously. He shrugged, and she had moved on to disinfecting the cuts on his face with a damp cloth before he spoke.
"It's just that we've been here before, huh?" he pointed out humorously, "You healing me up after I decided to get into a fight over you."
"Over me?" she questioned tersely, "What do you mean?"
Reno took a patient breath, "I know what happened, between you and Rude. He told me."
Yuffie stilled before suddenly pulling back, "Oh. Reno-"
"Don't, Yuffs," he entreated, "You don't have to explain anything. I wouldn't wanna hear it, anyway."
She grew uncharacteristically quiet and worried at the cloth between her hands. What could she say? That she didn't know how he felt at the time? Would that make a difference?
His hands reached out to cover hers, "Hey. Still bleeding, over here."
That brought her back to the present. The ninja blinked harshly and examined him again, finally homing in on a wound at his side that was not immediately apparent before.
"Gods Reno, these are claw marks!" she exclaimed, "I thought you got into a fight with Rude?"
"Yeah, but we kinda had thunderbirds to contend with too."
Deciding to cease questioning him for now, she spoke firmly, "Take off your shirt."
"Damn, this whole time I just had to get my ass kicked for you to want me? You should've said, that happens all the time."
"Reno," she admonished, hiding a smile and struggling to supress her amusement. She would get mad at him for this later.
His grin as he removed his jacket swiftly turned into a grimace when his blood-soaked shirt stuck obstinately to his wound.
"Shit," he hissed in pain.
"Here, let me."
Gently, Yuffie tugged at the hem until the fabric slowly came free inch by inch and held it there while her other hand pulled apart the buttons. Their eyes met as she pushed the shirt down over his shoulders to help him shrug out of it. The warm feeling from the last time they had spoke was back, swooping low in her stomach and rising in her cheeks. Glancing down didn't help; his body was sinewy and chiselled, gracefully streamlined for the greatest output of strength from a naturally lean frame. No use in trying to deny to herself he was attractive now she knew that.
Reno tried to breathe normally as the air seemed to grow thicker between them. The sharp sting of the saturated cloth pressing into his side helped him refocus. Once the wound was clean enough to her standards, Yuffie carefully fastened a sheet of gauze over the angry marks. Her fingertips brushed along warm skin as she wrapped a roll of bandages around his waist to keep it in place.
He watched her face as she worked, seeming wholly absorbed in her task. She met his eyes again while securing the bandages.
"Last time, this was the part where you kissed me," she murmured with a smile.
He spoke just as softly, hopeful and soothing, "We could try again, if you want?"
Yuffie's heart fluttered restlessly as she made her decision. She slowly leaned in closer, until their noses touched, and her eyes found the inviting shape of his lips. Reno kept still dutifully, letting her set the pace she was comfortable with.
Unlike their last, this kiss was drawn-out and unhurried. When Yuffie pressed her mouth to his he responded readily but gently. She was the one to deepen the kiss by sliding a hand around the nape of his neck to pull him closer. He went gladly, bringing his own hands up to settle on her waist.
When they stopped to catch their breath, he spoke hoarsely, "Let me take you on a date?"
Yuffie's smile was blinding, "Alright."
WRO: Department of Espionage and Intelligence
Elena was flustered when she came to collect Rude from floor twenty-eight much sooner than anticipated. Reno had apparently bailed, and she was disgruntled but not surprised. The whole team knew he was their wild card.
Which meant Rude was left to explain what happened in the Training Block to Tseng. Only, when he entered the office, the director was not alone.
"Boss," Rude acknowledged Rufus with a respectful nod, who nodded in turn from his seat behind Tseng's desk. Internally, Rude was cursing every deity he knew of for having Rufus stop by HQ with such inopportune timing.
"Good afternoon, Rude," greeted Rufus amicably. Then Tseng stepped forward, all business.
"Elena briefed us already," he informed briskly, "There was an altercation between you and Reno."
Rude nodded once in confirmation and waited for further questioning. When none was forthcoming, he glanced up. Rufus had evidently made a gesture to silence Tseng and seemed to be pondering something.
"Tseng, would you leave Rude and I alone for the moment? I wish to speak with him privately about this."
Ah, shit. He was in serious trouble.
"Certainly," came the reply. Tseng headed for the door as Rufus signalled to Rude that he should sit. The Turk did so reluctantly.
"There is some speculation," began Rufus, "as to the cause of the tension between our team members lately. The two of you have been acting rather strangely. Elena and Tseng believed the reason immediately apparent, but I was not so certain. I wished to ask you myself."
Rude took a moment to steel himself. Turned out he and Reno were not the best actors after all, and now they might well be fired for allowing the conflict between them to erupt so spectacularly. One did not generally assault a co-worker and stay employed.
So, either both Turks would lose their jobs, or just the one would, providing he could play his cards right.
"It was my fault, sir," he declared sombrely, "I provoked Reno and he responded as any Turk would. He's not to blame."
His employer observed him silently, so he continued, "If you feel someone needs to be disciplined, it should be me. I'm the one who threw the first punch."
"I find that difficult to believe," the blond stated shrewdly, "Reno is usually the loose cannon, not you."
"Anyone can fuck up once in a while, sir."
Rufus simpered sardonically, "I think employees of mine know that all too well."
A small smirk made it's way to Rude's face in response.
"Still, we also know how to turn our mistakes into advantages."
At this the Turk stilled, overcome with a sudden sense of foreboding. Rufus was unquestioningly the smartest man he knew, and he respected him for it, but the man also had a proclivity for manipulation that ran deep.
"As I'm sure you are aware, Miss Kisaragi is the heir to Wutai. You are also aware that it is nothing but a tourist town, yet it possesses somewhat reliable economic value. I have reason to believe, however, that Miss Kisaragi plans to put an end to this status in future."
"So what if she does?" Rude asked disinterestedly, careful not to get defensive.
"My company still has a reasonable stake in Wutai's tourist industry, for one," explained Rufus, "Which Godo is content to let continue for the moment because he sees no other option. I am not certain Miss Kisaragi feels the same way. For one, she does not trust me, and rightly so. She despises Tseng even more, though she is at least civil enough to hide it most days. It would be helpful to know how deep her distrust for Shinra runs."
"You want to understand her political leanings, so you'll know how to control her," the other man summarized bluntly.
"Exactly," the blond agreed, "and I believe you are the man to do it."
Rude's stomach felt tied in knots.
"I might have asked Reno, but it seems he is particularly enamoured with her. It would be quite the conflict of interest, and I wouldn't wish to place undue stress upon him. But the attachment between the two of you is not so profound, is it?"
The silence stretched as Rude scrambled for an answer, and Rufus' eyes narrowed.
"Or was I mistaken, and in fact a fight broke out because the both of you are in competition for her affection?"
"No," Rude had to admit defeat, "It's not like that."
"I suspected as much," Rufus reassured, "Then you would have no objections? It would not require much effort to learn of her plans for the future, I imagine. She seems to trust you."
And yet, he was going to violate that trust. Someone should hand him the shittiest friend of the year award, here and now.
*Confetti emoji* Happy fifth birthday to this fic.
Another update will likely take a reasonable amount of time now, just to let you know. As always, thank you for reading.
