Author's Note:

Reno: (Insert welcome)

Reeve: (Insert bitter comment)

Reno: (Insert joke)

Reeve: (Insert comment about Reno's stupidity)

Reno: (Insert proof of previous statement)

Reeve: (Insert desire to end life)

Reno: (Insert comment that will only drive Reeve more nuts)

Reeve: (Insert bitter comment then disclaimer saying Tyramir doesn't own the rights to Final Fantasy)

Reno: (Insert thanks to Nisus for coming up with the idea of Barret leaving his gun arm behind and helping with the last chapter) (Insert comment about how he didn't want to thank anyone for anything)

Chapter Eleven

Treaty

Reno always liked to put on a show. It was a part of him as much as the rumpled suit and tied back red hair. His flamboyant strutting, his cocky attitude, his view on life that he allowed everyone to see. It was all an act, of course. People thought he was an idiotic peacock because that's what he allowed them to see. He considered himself sophisticated, a creature that no one but a very few could ever hope to understand. Only two people really understood the real Reno, and one of those was dead, and the other had joined a rebel group just for a good lay.

It was this in mind that Reno purposefully walked into Rufus' office, nearly doing a little dance as he walked in, whistling off key all the while. He made especially sure to go for all the high notes and just miss them every time he Rufus' disgusted look turned into a wince. Doing this kind of thing made his day.

When the two came to a halt directly in front of Rufus' desk, Reno ceased his whistling, but left an amused grin on his face, as if to say, I know this annoys you. That's why I do it.

It was Reno's new favourite game. Had been ever since Rude had left. Tweaking Rufus' nose every chance he got.

"I see you finally managed to find your way back to Junon," was Rufus' comment at their arrival. Contempt nearly dripped from his voice. He was really angry. Reno's day got a little bit brighter.

"Yeah, well, y'know... with all the monsters on the road, that slowed us down a bit," Reno said. "And it's not like we're on salary or you're paying us by the hour, anyway."

Rufus' face contorted more, his normal facade of cool arrogance disappearing into a sea of anger. Elena elbowed Reno in the ribs gently, her way of telling him to knock it off. Sighing, Reno made a mental note to tone it down.

"Anything to report?" Rufus asked.

"Yes, sir," Elena said, immediately holding out the rolled document that Cloud had given her and laying it on the desk before her. Reno made a face. During the trip back, she hadn't looked at it, or let him look at it either. All he had wanted was just to see if what Strife had said was true. What if it really said "Dear Mr. President, you suck, love Cloud"? Then Reno would have missed out on all the good laughs leading up to Rufus' moment of pure fury.

The President of Shinra took the document, unravelled the ribbon holding it shut, opened it, and began to read. The look of anger quickly faded, taking on a look of concern, then suspiscion, and then suddenly, out of nowhere, Rufus threw back his head and laughed. It wasn't the evil sounding chuckle of Heidegger, or even the ear-piercing cackle of Scarlet. It was just a normal laugh. Reno took a step back reflexively. Rufus laughing? That couldn't be good.

"If I may ask..." Elena said, sounding as taken aback as Reno had been.

"You may, and the answer is this. Cloud has asked for a truce between Shinra and Avalanche. At first, I thought it had to be some sort of trick, but... The way he wrote it. As if trying to get peace between two towering powers. Shinra isn't as powerful as it once was, and his is just a little group of terrorists. Hardly the powers he is making us out to be, but it's there. He even..." A grin cracked Rufus' face as he paused, "...humbly asked for forgiveness for trying to kill me after Sephiroth killed my father, and apologized for thwarting me in the past, although he's very clear about saying that given a second chance, he'd do it again."

Reno inwardly groaned. He was really hoping for that 'you suck' version of the letter he had formed in his own head. "So... does Cloud say why he would want a truce?"

Rufus' grin disappeared, replaced by a frown. "Yes. Something about a new threat to the Planet. Or maybe an old one. He obviously doesn't know much even if this supposed threat were real. Which I'm not sure of. This could still be some sort of deception. I'll have to talk to Reeve about this, see what he thinks. Elena, will you go get him for me?"

The blond Turk nodded, then turned and left the room. After the door clicked shut behind her, Reno nearly gulped. He hadn't anticipated being alone with Rufus like this. Oh, what the crap. This job was starting to suck recently anyway.

"Reno, I've been meaning to talk to you alone recently. It's about your performance."

Here it comes. 'Reno, I hate you, I want you to die, I'm sick of you hogging all the ladies, you're fired'. He tried to think of the last Turk that had gotten fired, and couldn't remember a single one. Usually, Turks that deserved to be fired ended up dying on missions. Oh crap.

"My performance?"

"Yes. Your dress slovenly, you drink far too much, you are disrespectful, and you have managed to emotionally shatter several of the secretaries here."

He couldn't help himself, so he said, "What can I say? The ladies love me. It's not my fault I don't have time for all of them."

"I don't care for you, Reno. At all. If this were a better world, it would have been you that had defected to Avalanche and not Rude. But this isn't a perfect world, or even a good one. So I'm stuck with you. And unfortunately, you're the most experienced soldier and field operative that I have right now. You are a master of armed and unarmed combat, espionage, kidnap, and stealth. For that, I need you."

Do I smell 'raise'? I think I do.

Rufus continued, "Your experience is unprecedented, since all others are dead in the wake of recent events. As such, you're being promoted to acting leader of the Turks. You will be put on salary, in addition to any money you make for specific contracts."

"Sweet!"

"There is, however, a price tag."

I don't like the sound of that. "What is it?"

Rufus' cold gaze focused on Reno, staring him down until he was forced to look away from it. Normally, he wouldn't have backed down, but those Mako eyes unsettled him.

"First, you will no longer disrespect me in any fashion. I will have no more of your insolence, your arrogance, or your... whistling. You will not challenge me while we are in front of others. You will be allowed to voice any contrary opinions to me while we are alone, however. Your new rank does entitle you some privileges."

The whistling got to him! Aww yeah. Too bad I can't do it anymore. "Okay, gotcha. You're the boss, I start treating you like it. I think I can deal. What else?"

"Your dress, your drinking habits, or your merry making with Shinra employees after hours. I don't expect miracles, so I will allow you to keep one of these bad habits. The other two will stop. I will allow you to decide which one."

Drinking, duh. I can order Elena to iron my uniforms now, and I can always get chicks somewhere else.

"Lastly, you will be given the responsibility of locating and training a new batch of Turks. With Tseng dead and Rude defected, we need two permanent replacements. That will be your job between missions. Do you think you can handle it all?"

"Sure, why not?" Reno said, shrugging. Rufus' glare hardened, and the Turk corrected himself, "I mean... uh... yes, sir."

This sucks already. But money's money. Hmmm... I wonder if I can get that Aeris chick to like me. Then I can join Avalanche, too, and hang out with Rude again.

The door opened, and Reno turned to see Elena walk in. Alone.

"Where's Reeve?" Rufus asked.

"About that, sir," she said. "I think we have a bit of a problem."