Wow. It sure has been a long time since I've worked on this *sheepish grin*. But since my break starts next week, I should have plenty of time to write a little. *Coughs*
Thank you for all your great reviews! I love getting the little email from Fanfiction.bot, and I'm looking forward to more!
Rating: PG-13, I guess.
Disclaimer: My name is Hironobu Sakaguchi and I own FF7. Wait, what am I doing writing fiction?!
*whaps self in head and runs off to remake FF7 on PS2*
Hell, that's what I'd do.
Chapter 5: Dead friends and herbal cigarettes.
The tall neo-Shinra Building had always been a hub of activity and noise. Now, however, it's 64 floors were scaled by cranes, ladders, and all sorts of machinery as Midgar Building Company ©® repaired the massive extent of damage incurred by a classified Shinra incident. An incident which involved four mysterious demons destroying most of the upper levels of the skyscraper. But Eddie Forsythe didn't usually ask questions. The manager of Midgar Building Company ©® was a short, burly man with thinning blonde hair under his construction cap (It was rumoured that he never took it off, even in bed).
He wasn't paid to ask questions, and President Reeve was paying him rather generously. And besides, everyone knew that Shinra did some weird projects, and they couldn't all go right. Right… Eddie reassured himself with a nod, and signalled for the crane to move up some more, transporting the tall columns that would hold the floors together. The crane driver waved his acknowledgement, but Eddie was already beginning work with his drill.
Further inside the building, deep into the newly painted Turk Lounge, Elena rubbed the bridge of her nose and downed a few more asprin. It would be a few more days before the usual sound proofing technology was installed on their level, and the constant drilling and construction work was destroying their usually silent workplace.
"Heeeeeeeyy, y'all!" The automatic doors hissed open and Reno added to the unwelcome noise as he waltzed through them. As his shirt buttons were all done up a set lower than the buttonholes, and his pants were on backwards, it was pretty clear to Elena that Reno was still drunk. It proved her assumption when Reno attempted to sit at his work chair, missed, crashed on the ground and began snoring. Tseng's office door opened slightly, and the Wutan Turk took in the scene with experienced passivity.
"Should I wake him, sir?" Elena asked her boss with a slightly malicious gleam in her eye. Taking out her headache on Reno sounded like a terrific idea.
Tseng pondered it for a second. He'd much rather do it himself – Reno had come to work still drunk from the night before three times this week, and it was only Thursday. However, he was denied the chance to get his petty revenge when his phone rang. A scowl darkened his features as he waved his approval to Elena, and answered the damn phone.
"Yes?" He idly watched through the doorway as Elena picked up Reno's nightstick.
"Tseng, it's Reeve here."
"…" Tseng could smell the bitter electric odour of the nightstick; he could almost taste in on his tongue.
"I'm going on a business trip to Costa De Sol this afternoon-"
*Bzzzzt*
"ARGH!!!!"
"Tseng, what was that?!" Reeve demanded, sounding panicked.
Tseng gave a benign smile. "Nothing, sir. Is there anything else?"
"Yes, I'm leaving you in charge of the building while I'm gone. Make sure the repairs keep on schedule."
"ELENA!!!!!"
Reeve paused. Something was going on down there, he wasn't sure what it was, and he didn't know if he wanted to know or not.
"Is there any business you want me to attend to?" Tseng asked him. He didn't sound fazed by the strange buzzing and screaming Reeve could hear in the background. In fact, the Turk sounded remarkably cheerful.
"Welll…"
"ELENA WHEN I CATCH YOU I AM GOING TO SHOVE THIS SO FAR UP YOUR ASS!"
"… not really. Just keep the building intact, alright?" Reeve finished, and hung up the phone with a nervous little sigh. He'd tried to install a camera in the Turks' offices so many times, but the little cameras always found their way back on to his desk the following day. Sure, Reeve thought as he began to pack his briefcase; never try to outsmart a Turk… or Tseng at least. Maybe my most recent one will work…
With another mournful sigh, Reeve took his bags and headed for the roof.
Rude had actually been in his office the entire morning, unnoticed and unwilling to interfere with Reno and Elena's antics. His pale gray eyes were closed behind his shades; Rude was sleeping off a hangover of his own. Of course he didn't make such a spectacle of it as Reno did, and that was because Rude was smart enough to know when to sneak in and sleep in his office. Reno, in his six years as a Turk, hadn't learnt that yet. And it was unlikely he ever would.
Tseng could still feel the electricity in the air when he returned the receiver. He placed the latest of Reeve's security cameras in his pocket as he went back into the lounge. Narrowly avoiding an angry-nightstick-welding Reno, he went over to the coffee machine. Anticipating the steaming brew, he turned around and watched his two Turks tear up the reception again. Elena was skilfully avoiding the fully-charged nightstick, fully aware that Reno would be more than happy to carry out his threat, but knowing that he was a lot slower than usual.
And then, abruptly, it got boring. Tseng had his coffee, Reno switched off his nightstick, and Elena went to get Rude.
Reno sank into the lounge with a content sigh. Kicking his feet up on the coffee table, he shot Tseng a grin, knowing his boss would have wanted to be the one to wake him up. After all, Tseng did it yesterday, and the day before that…
All in all, he got off pretty lightly today.
"So what's news, boss?" he asked cheerily as the head Turk sat down at the couch opposite with his mug and several case folders. Tseng just shot him a look before returning his attention to his notes.
"Aww, c'mon Tseng, at least I came to work on time, right..?" Reno smirked, enjoying the sour look his boss was giving him. "Don't be bitter that I got off lightly from Elena."
"Oh, I'm not." Tseng replied with such an unamused expression that Reno was reduced to silence. "Oh, by the way…"
"Yeah?" Reno replied cautiously.
"Your pants are on backward." Tseng informed him in a suspiciously dry voice.
"…fuck." Reno looked down, leapt up and stalked to his office, slamming the door behind him. A few moments later, he emerged, ran a hand through his hair, and slouched down in his original position.
They waited in silence until Elena had dragged Rude from his office and joined them before Tseng laid out the day's business.
*~*
At Tifa's request, Cloud trailed Cid out to the back garden, following the trail of smoke that permanently surrounded the old pilot. Cid was leaning against the wooden fence, one boot resting against the posts, the perfect image of male comfort. But instead of chewing on a wheat stalk to complete the picture, he had his usual cigarette, puffing away at the self-rolled cancer stick, and blowing out the smoke in a way where the tendrils would catch on the wind and be swept out to the ocean.
"Mind if I join you?" Cloud asked as he approached the fence, picking across the tufts of dry grass and weeds.
Cid shifted his eyes in his direction and remarked dryly, "I didn't know you smoked, kid." He smirked slightly as Cloud scratched his head in embarrassment.
"That's not what I meant," he replied, coming up beside the pilot and resting in a similar pose. Reaching down, he pulled free a stalk of grass and began absently chewing on it.
They both stared out to the sea for a few moments. Cid was enjoying his smoke, and Cloud was trying to figure out what to say. After all, how do you tell someone as stubborn as Cid to stop smoking?
Finally, Cloud began, "Cid-"
"What?"
"Uh…"
"Well, spit it out, kid!"
"Have you ever tried not smoking so much?" Cloud finally asked. Cid turned around and stared at him.
"Have you ever not put gel in your hair?" he countered.
"No…"
"Well there's your answer."
Cloud mentally whacked himself in the head. "Come on, Cid. You're smoking way too much, and you don't think about the consequences. For yourself, as well as us." He added hastily.
Cid drew in, and expelled a mouthful of smoke into Cloud's face. "You don't like that, do ya?"
Cloud glared. "Where'd you get that idea?" his expression softened; although it was no less determined. "Cid… it's getting to the point where-"
"Yeah, yeah…" Cid grumbled, dropping the cigarette and stubbing it out with the toe of his boot. "Satisfied? $^&%^@&…"
Cloud grinned. He knew it was only temporary, but he wasn't quite ready for Cid to drop off dead from lung cancer just yet. "That's great."
"HAHAHA!" Yuffie's nasal laugh assaulted their ears as she swept into view. "You two look soo funny like that! Heey Cid," she turned to the cigarette-less pilot. "You've got no smokes! The world is coming to an end!!"
Cid's left eye began to twitch slightly. "Piss off, brat," he muttered darkly.
But, as Yuffie's nature dictated, she just couldn't give up this prize opportunity. "I think your lungs are gonna overload from lack of smoke! They can't take the change! Nyuk nyuk! Did Cloudy tell you off? Aww you got in trouble-" she suddenly slumped to the ground unconscious.
Cloud turned to Cid in surprise. He was holding a green material, and there was a satisfied smirk on his face. "I love a little peace and quiet, don't you kid?" he remarked in his gruff voice. "I'm goin' inside. For &^%@&'s sake, don't wake her."
And with that, Cid turned and slouched off, leaving Cloud staring at the fallen Yuffie, who promptly opened her mouth and began to snore loudly.
*~*
"…And Reeve's left for Costa, so-"
"Did he leave that fat old bastard in charge?" Reno interrupted quickly. The 'fat old bastard' was Reeve's Vice President Rolfe, an old, bumbling man who could hardly see without his horn rimmed spectacles, and constantly got himself lost in the lower levels of the building.
"Rolfe went on leave, Reno, remember?" Elena reminded him sharply.
Reno got a thoughtful look. "So Rolfe's not in charge…Great!" He leapt up and strolled towards the exit, a happy grin on his face.
"Where are you going?" Tseng demanded wearily.
Reno stopped and spun around with a wounded expression. "To a bar." He answered as if it were obvious.
"…Why?" Rude rumbled, if only to remind the others he was still awake.
"There's no one in charge! Let's go-"
"I've been left in charge." Tseng explained.
Reno's face fell. "Oh, fuck this." He muttered, turning back to the exit. And suddenly froze, eyes wide as figurative saucers.
Elena jumped up in surprise. "Reno, what-" hurrying over to where Reno was standing, she gasped in shock.
"Oh come on, you two," Tseng scowled, watching their antics and being completely unimpressed.
Reno turned back to his boss, mouth working but no words coming out. He looked out the doorway, then back to Tseng, confusion and surprise shadowing his mako-blue eyes.
"S-sir…" Elena murmured, watching the figure walk down the long corridor towards them. Tseng's curiosity finally got the better of him, and he came to take a look at what all the fuss was about. Rude followed him, and opened the door.
"Why can't you people stay dead…?" He muttered.
Rufus shot him a look, and tossed his blonde forelock. "How am I supposed to know?" he retorted, brushing past them all with his customary arrogant expression. "After all, I am dead."
"You were," Reno commented, regaining his voice. "You look pretty fucking alive to me."
"You don't say." Rufus retorted, his voice dripping with sarcasm. Turning to Tseng, he demanded, "What's happened to this place? Didn't you repair it after meteor? Why is there all this construction?"
"Oh, we repaired it after Meteor," Elena piped in. "It's only because of some… demons who destroyed most of the upper levels again…"
"Demons." Rufus repeated flatly, an eyebrow raised in disbelief.
"Yes, demons." Reno drawled. "Vincent's, actually."
"Vincent's demons." Rufus said again.
"Yes, Vincent's demons." Reno repeated, an amused tic forming on the side on his mouth. "And-"
"Is my office intact?" Rufus abruptly demanded of Tseng.
Tseng hesitated. He knew this was coming. "Well, Reeve's the new President-"
"Reeve?!" Rufus balked in complete surprise.
"YES, REEVE!" Reno bellowed. "So stop repeating whatever we say, god dammit!"
"Reno!" Elena squawked, tugging on his ponytail to shut him up.
But, to her surprise, Rufus didn't take out his shotgun and shoot the lanky Turk. Instead, he just smirked, did his trademark hair-flick, and headed out the door.
"…" Rude said/didn't say.
"No fucking kidding…" Reno agreed with the mute statement with a shake of his head.
"Where is he going?" Elena asked, following Tseng, who was tailing Rufus.
Tseng didn't pause in his stride. "To his office."
"I don't suppose we can change his mind," Elena mused aloud. "He always was stubborn."
"Stubborn?!" Reno repeated incredulously, giving the blonde a whack over the head. "No need to understate, Laney."
"Alright, so he's completely immovable," Elena scowled, pressing her hair back into place.
"…He's just retaking his job." Rude pointed out. "After all, he was the previous President."
Reno and Elena did a twin double take at Rude's insightful comment.
"Rude's right," Tseng agreed, hitting the elevator button with the flat of his hand. "Once he goes in there, we're never going to get him out again."
"ARGH!" Reno abruptly wailed, slumping against the wall in mock despair. "How can I scam off the system when Rufus is back! It's not fair!"
Elena snickered. "Give it a rest, Reno. You and Rufus were like brothers!"
Reno glowered back at her. "Yeah. He was my brat sibling who I wanted to throw out the top floor window every day."
"Yeah, like I said!" Elena retorted. "That's brotherly love!"
Reno face faulted.
Elena blushed. "Err…"
Rude smirked.
Tseng rolled his eyes.
Reno gave Elena a dark glare. "You're the next one to go out that window, Laney."
She huffed. "I'd like to see you try!"
"No one is going to throw anyone out of that window." Tseng interjected firmly. "Besides, it's bolted down."
The elevator halted; the doors slid open. Elena danced out, making sure to keep clear of Reno – her Freudian slip was going to cost her. The others followed, heading for the President's Office. Tseng opened the thick wooden door open, and they headed up the staircase.
"Ahh, I was waiting for you to arrive," Rufus greeted cordially from his resting place behind the massive desk. His white jacket was hanging in the usual place: on the hook to the left of the bookshelf, and his feet were propped up next to the keyboard. Just like old times.
"I have your assignments." Rufus continued, reaching into a drawer and pulling out some folders.
As Tseng hesitantly reached over to take them, Reno muttered to Rude, "Talk about hitting the ground running."
"…" Rude nodded. No one understood what he said/didn't say, but it was probably something like "No shit, Reno."
Tseng was flicking through the files.
"Any questions?" Rufus asked him.
"I've got one," Reno muttered.
"I wasn't asking you, Reno." Rufus retorted with a smirk. His eyebrow rose (again) as he gave the messy Turk a one-over. "Can't you even get dressed in the morning?" he demanded.
Reno glanced down, and realized his buttons were all wrong. He glowered at Tseng. "You forget to mention that?"
Tseng just shrugged. "I'm not your nursemaid." He replied mildly. "Learn to dress yourself for a change."
"Bastard…" Reno muttered, turning away to re-do his buttons.
"So what happens when Reeve comes back?" Elena asked curiously. She was directing the question to Tseng, but Rufus replied.
"Elena, think of it this way. He took my job while I was dead, and now I'm reclaiming my job. It's all quite simple."
"… Don't think Reeve's going to take it that way…" Rude commented.
"Was I asking for your opinion, Rude?" Rufus demanded shrilly. "You know what? You talk too much!"
Rude scowled.
"That's right! Now get out of my office!" Rufus added, feeling nice and rich and powerful.
"Shut the fuck up Rufus - or I'll throw you down that staircase," Reno threatened, anticipation of danger flickering in his eyes. "You got 13 stitches last time…" he let the threat fade away with a grin. "Your daddy wasn't too impressed."
Rufus' triumphant expression drooped into what could almost be called a pout. "Oh, I remember how enjoyable that was for you. Three weeks cleaning duty." The smirk re-appeared.
Reno scowled. "No shit," he muttered, conceding the argument.
"Good. Now get out."
Tseng rolled his eyes at his sulking Turk as the group returned downstairs.
"See Reno?" Elena giggled. "Brotherly lo-"
"The window is just over there, Elena…" Reno retorted, giving her a shove so that she teetered on the staircase for a moment.
"There's plenty of cleaning to be done, Reno." Tseng warned idly, setting Elena straight before going in to the elevator. Elena put her chunky heels to good use, giving Reno a good kick in the shin before following her boss.
Rude gave his partner a sympathetic glance, who was hopping around on one foot, slinging wild curses in the elevator's direction, before propelling Reno inside and closing the door.
Well, that went longer than expected. It just kinda went, and weeeeeeent…
Oh well! R&R is welcome, duh, so leave a comment darlings!