A Dish Best Served Cold,

By Ealinesse

DISCLAIMER: I don't own Final Fantasy, just the plot to this story, and a couple of painfully annoying original characters. Woohoo. ^_^

Summary: A stakeout doesn't go as planned, and the two people least happy about it are the same two who have to drop everything and work together to keep themselves alive… and sane.

Warnings: Language, (Kiwi Spelling).

Category: Action/Adventure.

Chapter 1...

"Ready, Reno."

"Armed."

Reno blew his breath out in an effort to get his nerves to abate. He placed his gun in its holster at his back and repositioned his locator in his bum-bag so it wasn't easily visible. His nightstick lay in the pizza box, charged and ready. Even so, he checked it again before making his way down the ladder and into the alleyway. Just in case.

As he crept to the edge of the wall that led to the house he screwed up his face in an effort to rid it of any expression. "Rude, Elena?"

"Yes?"

"Yes."

"Remember what to do if anything goes wrong. I don't fully trust this disguise, no matter what Reeve says. Get yourself to the safehouse in Junon. I mean it. If Donovan recognises me then don't do anything stupid. Haul ass and I'll meet you there, all right? If not, I'll see you in hell. Take as many out as you can while you're up there before having to come down."

"Understood."

"Roger that."

"Here goes," he muttered under his breath as he made his way out of the alley. He waited for the almost whispered plea that he knew would follow.

"Be careful, Reno. Please don't get yourself shot, that damned disguise doesn't allow for a flak jacket."

Reno allowed himself a rueful smile. "Tell me something I don't know."

He reached the door a lot faster than he would have liked, and couldn't help the brief pause of where his hand refused to make contact with the door bell. He forced his tried nerves to comply, however, and pushed the dreaded button. The wait seemed to take forever, and he was at least glad of the cap to hide his expression.

All-too soon the door opened and Reno felt himself looking into the heated, but amused gaze of his ex-partner. A chill ran down his spine and he took an unconscious step backward as Donovan brought up a gun.

"Hello, Reno. I must admit I thought you'd try something more original."

That was about the same time that all hell broke loose.

* * * * *

"What the hell's going on! How did he know!" Elena hissed through her headset as she watched Reno dart out of the road just in time to avoid a bullet in the head.

"I've no idea. Be careful. If he knew about Reno perhaps he knows about us."

"Affirmative," Elena muttered, then growled in frustration as Donovan disappeared behind another beam. "Damn it! I can't get a clear shot of him!" She reset her gun, and kept her eyes trained on the two figures.

"Rude, where are the six guards that he keeps with him all the time? "

"Not sure."

"Shit. What do we do?"

"Stick with the plan. Try and take him out, though by the way Donovan is steering away from us they already know we're here."

She hated how Rude managed to sound so calm. "How can that be?"

"I don't know, but be careful."

This time she heard the strain of tension in his voice. The sound of a single shot rung through the alley, followed by one more. Elena continued shooting, wincing as a bullet zipped past her just to her right. She ducked as low as she could without losing her target.

"You're right. He does know we're here. But how?"

"A little more than that, darling. We know what you're doing here."

Elena spun as fast as her position allowed her, and only just managed to roll in time to avoid being hit by a throwing knife. She leapt to her feet, gun in hand as she moved away from the edge of the roof. She surveyed the two men who had their own weapons trained on her, wincing as they began to circle like birds of prey.

"Found them," she muttered in to her earpiece. "But how the hell did they know?" she dodged another shot, and darted behind an old outcrop of concrete. She fired a shot of her own and heard a satisfying scream as one of the men sunk to the ground holding his leg.

"… Rude?"

But silent static was her only answer, and her heart leapt at the implications. Silently she wished her two companions luck and dived into the fight, hoping against hope that they'd all make it out of this okay like they had so many times before.

* * * * *

Reno spun as he heard a sound behind him and quickly reactivated his nightstick just in time to hit a man behind him. He grabbed the figure as it slumped and spun back to allow the body to absorb the shots that had been meant for him. As soon as Donovan had been through a round he dropped the body and ducked around the corner of the alley, allowing himself just a second to reload his gun.

"Now that's not very nice, Reno," called a voice over the sound of gunshots. "Don't make me shoot my men just to get to you."

"You know it's not very nice to let your men sneak up on me like that," he called back as he let off a shot. "But then again, you've always sacrificed your assets for the good of your health. Why would you stop now?"

His only reply was a short laugh, and so he reached his arm around the corner and fired again.

"You cheapen my motives, my friend."

"I never said your motives were cheap, Donovan. You sold Ashley and I out for a pretty hefty price, and managed to gain not only a whole new lifestyle, but also a whole heap of men. What could be better than knowing you're a turncoat?"

"Knowing you're dead."

"Apart from that." Reno bit back a groan as a bullet hit the wall by his head, showering powdered brick all over him as it chipped off. He moved further back and raised his gun as Donovan darted into the same alley. He let off a quick shot and ducked as Donovan did the same. He heard a satisfying gasp in reply.

"Now that wasn't very nice."

Reno faced Donovan more readily this time, smirking when he realised the blonde man had dropped his gun and was holding his arm tightly. Blood was seeping out from between his fingers, though his face was the very incarnation of calm. Reno shrugged, weapon still raised. "Nor was what you did to us."

"Ah, but surely you've forgiven me for that."

Reno's scowl darkened and his grip on his gun tightened. "What do you think?"

"I think five years is a long time. Perhaps people have changed."

"You sold him out for me, and me out for your own ass. Change isn't an option for you, Donovan."

There was a short laugh. "Touché."

Reno frowned at the comment but said nothing. He cocked his gun and willed his arms to stop shaking. Why the hell was he so nervous? No, not nervous. Anxious. Why was he delaying this? A simple bullet to the head and this mission was over, as was any affiliation to his past…

Donovan seemed to sense his hesitation for he smiled wryly, lifting his chin in the briefest acknowledgement. "Ah, poor, poor, Reno. You still can't do it after all this time, now can you? Not until I tell you where it is…"

Reno's eyes narrowed. "Give me one reason why I shouldn't."

"Simple, my friend. You may be a Turk, but then again so was I. It'll give you no satisfaction to kill me like this. Wouldn't you rather fight it out like we used to? Or are you afraid you'll lose to an injured man?"

"Losing to you isn't an option, Donovan."

"Then what are you afraid of? One on one, like we always did. No weapons."

"… Fine." Seemingly without thinking, Reno slowly lowered his gun, not sure why he was even bothering to comply, but knowing that Donovan was right. He placed his gun on the ground almost mechanically, without ever taking his eyes off the man in front of him.

"I knew you'd see it my way, Reno."

"I'm not doing it because of you."

Donovan smirked; a bitter reproach that held no sympathy whatsoever. "That's what I thought you'd say."

Then Donovan leapt forward, and Reno parried the shot and offered one of his own. Blow after blow was traded even as Reno heard the gut-wrenching sound of gunfire from above. As a sweeping kick flew out beneath him Reno stepped almost casually over the attack, offering a punch of his own, ignoring whatever else was going on around him. As he'd anticipated Donovan dodged the shot, and Reno continued with his tirade until his one-time sparring partner retaliated again.

It seemed for a moment that it was no different than it had ever been between them, but he knew better.

This was growing far too similar. Rashly, Reno grew quickly tired of the routine they had followed years back, and fired two successive punches even as Donovan tried desperately to get out of the way. One of the blows connected with the man's injured shoulder and he watched as reflexively, Donovan grabbed the wound in pain. Reno took the opportunity to aim a kick at the man's side, a quick punch to the face; and then to the ribcage as he began to slip to the ground.

As Donovan curled around his ribs on the grimy pavement Reno allowed himself the luxury of stepping back and crossing his arms. That had been almost too easy. Almost as if…

"You always were easy to fool, Reno."

Reno's blood ran cold as the voice spoke up beneath him. It suddenly became clear what Donovan had been planned all along, and he silently berated himself for his carelessness.

No time…

'Never let anger get in your way,' echoed Tseng's voice through his mind.

Too late he saw the blood-covered hand reach for the weapon. Reno scowled as he backed up a step, his heel contacting with the forbidding confines of the alley's wall. There was nowhere to run. Too soon he felt the familiar white-hot pain tear through his side even as he stared unwaveringly at the gun Donovan held in his hands. A bitter grin spread across his face as he raised his eyes to the mirrored look in those of his ex-partner's. He refused to show his pain or even acknowledge his wound, but he knew then that nothing had changed.

Reno cocked his head in understanding. "Always the one to stack the odds when you knew you were going to lose, weren't you, Donovan?"

"Wouldn't want to disappoint you, now would I?"

As Donovan began to bring the gun up for a second shot Reno dived to the left and rolled to recover the second gun on the alley floor. From a mere grip on the handle he could tell it was Donovan's weapon that he was holding. As he took aim with the gun he ignored the ancient plaster as it showered white, flaky powder over him when the bullet connected with the wall behind him. He allowed himself a satisfied smirk, and shoved any pain he felt from his mind. Even in the darkness he could see Donovan's injured arm shaking with fatigue.

"You're tiring."

"… So are you."

"Not yet."

"Ah, but you will."

They fell silent for a second, and Reno could only watch as Donovan began to fiddle with the gun coyly. He bit back a curse and frowned, glad the darkness hid his annoyance. "What?"

Donovan shrugged. "Just so you know. It's kind of a pointless little stand off, really. My gun is empty."

'… And mine has two more shots left.'

"So what's it going to be?"

Reno armed the gun and pulled the trigger in the hopes of it all being a bluff; nothing. At the same moment he heard Donovan fire, and although he darted to the left to avoid the shot he knew had been coming, he felt the stinging pain of a heated bullet grazing his right shoulder.

He smirked and looked up, again ignoring any pain he felt. He could deal with that later. "One left, Donovan, and your aim's off."

"One more left than you though, Reno, and you're forgetting who always was the better shot."

"Even with an injured arm?"

"Even with an injured arm. This time you're not getting away."

Reno refused to close his eyes; refused to face away from the gun as Donovan pulled the trigger. Perhaps he almost deserved it, anyway. He'd failed Ashley again, and fallen right into Donovan's trap. For a moment even the shadows seemed bright, and even though he was so focussed on the smirk on Donovan's face he couldn't help but notice the way even the shadows seemed to writhe with the tension…

Or was there something there?

Reno barely managed to stop his eyes from widening as he heard the sound of the gun go off. The pain of the injury never came, nor did any bright lights, and suddenly, instead of facing Donovan he was facing Yuffie, who was wiping her hands disgustedly against her shorts.

He blinked, then narrowed his eyes at Donovan's slumped figure to cover his shock. "What are you doing here!"

Yuffie shrugged and gathered her shuriken from where it had been drilled into the wall, as well as the gun that had been pinned there by the weapon. She poked at Donovan's figure with her toe. "Saving your ass, by the looks of things. Goddamn, why is it that Midgar always breeds the power-hungry dipshits?"

Reno resisted the urge to allow himself to smile in relief. Instead of looking her in the eye he crouched by his ex-partner and felt his pulse. "Damn it."

Without thinking, he placed one hand against the back of the unconscious man's head, then another at the base of his neck. Out of the corner of his eye he saw Yuffie turn away with a brief wince, knowing undoubtedly what he was going to do. Feeling his muscles tense, his grip tightened, feeling strength willingly flow into his fingers.

Killing me like this won't give you any satisfaction, Reno…

Reno jumped as if struck. He didn't know why, but at the voice echoing inside his head, he paused perhaps for longer than was safe. His grip loosened, and any preparation he had previously had for this moment flew out of the proverbial window. And then it was too late. Voices began to ring throughout the night – voices that replaced the gunshots. Reno's breath caught in his throat at that, and he spared a moment to look up. The voices were growing steadily nearer.

Torn between the knowledge that he was now holding not only Donovan's life in his hands, but Yuffie's as well, Reno found himself faced with a very potent decision.

Beneath him there was a sudden movement and Reno glanced down to see the unconscious man's hand twitch reflexively. So he was waking up. He looked around frantically as Yuffie handed him back his empty weapon, and Reeve's earlier words about the safehouse in Junon sprung to mind. The deciding factor was the muffled groan beneath them, and the way his wounds suddenly began to throb in remembrance.

With a scowl of dissatisfaction, Reno realised that the opportune moment had passed, and now it wasn't Donovan's life in danger, but Yuffie's - and his own. If he lived another day, then that was a day longer he could wait to meet up again with Donovan, a day longer he would have to wait. A sudden heated anger filled him, but was quickly gone as a startled yell made the hairs on the back of his neck prickle.

Reno grabbed Yuffie's arm and she began to follow reluctantly behind him, her eyes pinned on the figure behind him even as he knew what he had to do. "Come on!"

"Where are we going?"

"I'm getting us out of here, like I told you to do before."

"But-"

"No arguing, Yuffie. I told you to get out of here and you didn't listen, now you're leaving with me."

Reno stopped dead as a thought occurred to him and he spun in his tracks as voices behind them began to manifest into whole words, then sentences. The sound of heavy footfalls in the distance told him whoever it was, was in no way worried about announcing their presence loudly. Donovan's thugs. Looking around behind him, he nearly jumped at the light touch on his shoulder.

"Reno."

"What?"

"There's a ladder over there."

Without further need for words Reno led them up the old fire escape and onto the rooftops. At least this way he could find out what had happened to Rude and Elena. He glanced around quickly, getting his bearings as he scrambled over the top of the ladder. When he found the rooftop that Rude had been situated on he squared his shoulders, eyeing the gap in between buildings. Easy enough.

He made the jump easily and without words, though his side throbbed fiercely. Instinctively he put a hand to the wound and cringed at the torn, bloody fabric he felt around the area. About to look down at it, he caught himself just in time to stop himself from doing so. 'Later,' he thought quickly. 'You can check it out later. Find them first…'

As he straightened his knees from the impact he spun to face Yuffie, ready to ask if she could make the jump without puking her guts out. His eyes widened as he failed to find her figure in front of him. Reno took a hesitant step forward, crouching silently and peering over the edge of the building. No one but Donovan's men. Shit.

"Where… "

"Get you worried, did I, Turk?"

This time he did jump. He turned to face Yuffie, scowling at her mischievous grin. A sardonic comment flew to his lips, but it was quickly lost as he caught sight of the slumped, broken-bodied figures that littered the ground just beyond them.

"Fuck… "

Reno took an involuntary step forward, his eyes searching the immediate area for anything remotely recognisable. Nothing. He kept walking, checking the slumped bodies with a grim efficiency that belied his hidden fear. When he finally finished searching he bit back a sigh of relief, hoping that Rude and Elena had somehow managed to get away.

"What is it?"

Reno turned at Yuffie's whispered voice. "Rude and Elena are gone."

"They were here?"

"Were, being the operative word."

Yuffie frowned. "Where do you think they are now?"

"At the safehouse, one can only hope."

"… Oh."

A sudden noise behind them broke the silence, and Reno cursed his lack of attentiveness. Hastily he crouched by one of the fallen figures and retrieved the body's forgotten weapon, all the while steering Yuffie in the other direction. She darted the way he'd pointed silently, leaping over the rooftop to the next with a flippant grin. He followed quickly, and soon they were relatively out of sight.

On the second-to last rooftop, his previous guarding post, familiar objects assailed him. He looked around, sure he was near the rooftop he'd been on earlier when he spotted it. With no more than a flick of his wrist he showed Yuffie the ladder that would lead to their eventual freedom and crouched next to the small object. He contemplated it with a raised eyebrow for a moment before scowling and placing safely inside his bag.

At the sound of gunfire began behind him Reno bit back a curse and darted after Yuffie, his hand pressed tightly against his side. She owed him for that. She really did.

* * * * *

Donovan pulled himself to his feet, shrugging off the callused hands of the man trying to help him up. He resisted the urge to break into curses as he realised Reno had essentially got away…

Again.

He steeled his expression, rubbing at a spot at the base of his neck as he eyed the five men in front of him. "The two on the roof?"

"They got away, sir."

"And Reno. What of him?"

There was a hesitant pause. "He also got away, sir."

"How?"

"He and the other girl got away over the rooftops, sir."

This made Donovan frown. "Other girl? There were only three Turks before."

"This one wasn't a Turk."

"You're sure?"

"She didn't look the part, and when we were waking you up Jackson and Nev were following them. He didn't look too happy to see her. Looked like they were arguing about something, but they went off together in the end."

"They didn't separate?"

"No. It seems they know each other, sir."

Donovan narrowed his eyes. "But she wasn't immediately involved."

"Not that we can figure, sir."

There was a brief pause, in which a low rumbling echoed through the alley. Donovan saw the others stiffen, and frowned. "What is it?"

"Sounds like a truck, sir." The man tried valiantly to keep his expression neutral, but failed miserably.

"A truck?"

"O-our truck."

"Have you unpacked the Ven-tox yet?"

"I… "

Donovan took a menacing step forward and grabbed the man's collar. "Answer my question."

"N-no, sir. W-we were in the process of doing so when you c-called-"

"Enough! Jackson, establish a team and go after them. We can't afford to let Reno and his little friend know just what he's gotten himself into. I will have my PHS. Maxwell, go find that kid. I'm sure he can't have gone far, and he may very well have the information we need."

"And if we should find them, sir?"

Donovan leered, a bitter smirk creeping across his face as he fingered the long chain around his neck. "Kill them."

* * * * *

"Come on, come on… "

"Why isn't it working?" Yuffie hissed beside him, eyeing the entrance of the alleyway they had escaped moments before with wide eyes. "Why won't it start?"

"Because it's a piece of shit, is what it is!" Reno stepped back and aimed a punch at the dashboard. More wires fell free from the already torn external casing. "Goddamn it!"

He fell silent for a moment before trying the two wires again. Just when he thought he had it there was a tap on his shoulder, and because his nerves were already well past fried, he dropped one of the wires and it fell back into the tangled mess that he'd ripped free from the cover.

"… Reno?"

Reno blew his breath out through his lips slowly. No time to count to ten to calm down. "What?" he hissed, without looking up.

"They're coming."

"I know that-"

"No, seriously, Reno. They're almost here."

If it weren't for the tension in her voice Reno would have snapped something back. Near panic filled him, and he fumbled for the wires as a gunshot rang out behind them. He jumped again as this time a shot took out his side mirror. Beside him Yuffie crouched over and ducked, her hands flying over her head as another bullet took out both the back and front windows.

He wouldn't be caught by Donovan again…

Reno closed his shaking hands around the wires again as glass continues to shatter around them. He bit his lip in anticipation as the engine continued to rev hopelessly. In frustration he flattened his foot on the accelerator and kept his head down.

"Why the hell isn't it going? We'd be better off-"

Reno scowled as a bullet flew past his ear. "Shut up, it's going to-"

"No it's not. It's just a piece of shit!" To emphasise her last word Yuffie slammed her fist down onto the dashboard and swore as her fist throbbed in pain. "Shit! Stupid piece of junk! I can't believe-"

"Wait!"

Relief filled Reno as Yuffie fell silent and the low purring of an engine rose to his ears. For a moment he felt himself able to think clearly and he put his foot on the clutch, relieved when the car's rev count didn't drop to zero. He ignored the pain in his side as he slammed the car into gear and began to drive off. He flagged the seatbelt; there'd be time later for that, anyway.

When they finally made it out of range of the bullets and out into the publicity of the streets of Midgar, a slow grin began to play along his lips. When they finally made their way onto the highway that headed out of town the grin crept into that of a laugh.

Beside him, Yuffie frowned. "What?"

"I don't think old faithful likes to be called a piece of shit."

Yuffie snorted rudely and fixed him with a blank stare when he said nothing more. "You've named the car."

"Of course I have."

"Let me rephrase that. You've give the car you stole not five minutes ago a pet name."

"You bet."

They lapsed into a lengthy silence, during which Reno found himself painfully aware that he was injured. He tried hard to focus on the trees that rose up along the patchy old roads, but felt his vision become spotty as the rough old truck bounced over a particularly bad pothole. He sucked in a breath and pressed his firmly against his side. He felt the warm stickiness of blood seeping down his side and hoped like hell Yuffie hadn't noticed it in the darkness.

Yuffie's mind, it seemed, was more concerned about other things.

"We're going away from Midgar, aren't we?"

Reno's wince shifted into that of a smirk as he found himself glad of a voice to focus on. "You bet, brat, I'm getting as far away from there as I can."

"To where?"

"If I told you that I'd have to kill you."

Silence. Okay, so apparently the brat was feeling as intolerant as he was, also.

"… A safehouse in Junon."

There was a pained sigh to his left. "You're kidding me."

"Unfortunately not."

"We're driving three hours to a safehouse in Junon."

"It's not safe to get anywhere near him. Not Midgar."

"But… How do you know him?"

Reno stayed blissfully silent. That was a question he would not answer.

"Come on, Reno. What harm does it do to tell me?"

"It doesn't concern you," he replied shortly.

"Oh yes it does. I could have been killed in that alley, but I saved your ass. Who is he, and why are you after him?"

"I didn't ask you tag along! Quit your whining, and keep-"

The car swerved suddenly, and Reno grabbed for the steering wheel, only to find that it had locked on him and wouldn't move. His face paled alarmingly as he ran a hand over his eyes, slamming his foot on the brakes instinctively as the truck swayed, angling onto its side and sliding swiftly toward a nearby embankment at the side of the road.

Not bothering to fight the spots dancing around in front of his eyes, Reno could only think about when it would all end as the car suddenly began to roll, teetering briefly over the edge of the road before toppling forlornly down the grass verge. All too soon sight and sound began to fade, and Reno's last thought before everything passed into oblivion was that perhaps he should have put on his seatbelt after all.

tbc…

* * * * *

Well, there's my second chapter up. My computer got reformatted, so I had to rewrite the whole thing, so I'm sorry I took so long. The third one should be up soon. Enjoy, and feel free to review! ~_^

Cheers!

~Ealinesse.