I Tried- Chapter 23
Knight in a Dark Blue Suit

The others were looking at him strangely. Reno didn't give a fuck. For the first time, Reno'd been stoic during the briefing, totally silent in the chopper, and now he was literally rocking back and forth as the personnel chopper started touching down. They were taking too long. He moved to stand, looking down at the waving meadow.

Reeve's voice barely registered in his ears. "Reno, what are you-"

Reno jumped from the descending aircraft to the grass, landing in a crouch and bolting off to the smoldering town. He knew the others were yelling at him, but he didn't care to turn around or listen. They'd catch up to him sooner or later. He had to find Tifa.

All the Turks had agreed on one thing about Sephiroth. He was a powerhouse that even the legends barely touched. When even Rude and Tseng concede to be no match for someone, they had to be amazing. If Sephiroth really was that strong, then any time Reno spent lingering could be too late. He wasn't going to be too late again, not this time.

Bethany, Mariah, and his mother were gone. He hadn't been able to protect them, he'd been too late. Being late couldn't be an option now. Reno ran to where Tifa's house used to be. He had never been there himself, but her pictures and descriptions of town were good enough for him to walk Nibelheim with his eyes closed.

There were ShinRa personal running around here and there, medical units stained with blood, search animals were leading their handlers around the rubble. Everywhere he turned people were yelling for medical help, all the while SOLDIERs- first class ones, not the third classes Reno was used to dealing with- kept swords at the ready.

Reno skidded to a halt outside of Tifa's. The fire was still licking up the frame and caressing the sunken roof. No one would be alive in that. He knew no one would be alive. His heart pounded in his chest and he grabbed the nearest medical person. "I need a status report, where are the survivors?"

She blinked at him, then realized he was a Turk. "Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't recognize you." She pointed up the hill to the mansion, Tifa had never much liked the building. "Everything's being taken care of up there. If you're hoping to question survivors I wouldn't expect much, so far there's only three and Hojo's already remaindered two of them."

Reno wanted to punch her, scream at her. But this wasn't the rescue worker's fault. He nodded sharply and turned to rush up the hill. Out of the corner of his eyes he saw the other Turks looking at him, it would be unprofessional for them to stop him and if they bitched at him later, he didn't give a damn.

Near the mountain reeked of Jenova. It was the same choking smell that permeated Hojo's basement. Speaking of, he could see Hojo up near the doors to the mansion, motioning wildly to four of his personal guards as they carried two stretchers into the building. One had a tuft of shockingly blond hair; the other stretcher occupant had an arm hanging from under the bloody sheet. They weren't Tifa. It left him with one survivor to find.

He walked quickly, scanning the bodies. None of them were familiar…

…his stomach bottomed out. Tifa's father was laying to the end of one of the rows, they had obviously tried to stop the bleeding, his shirt had been cut away and there were tubes still in his nose.

Another doctor was shaking his head and looking down at him. He wiped his eyes when he saw Reno approach, leaving a crimson stain across them. "Did you know him?" Reno had to give the doctor props, his voice held steady.

Reno was trying to make his do the same. "I-" He couldn't just say that it was a friend, they wouldn't tell him anything about Tifa if he wasn't related. "It's my uncle." He lied swiftly. "He's got a daughter, where is she?"

The doctor motioned for Reno to come closer to him. In a disgusted tone he said hurriedly, "I'm not supposed to say anything. Hojo was going to take all the survivors, but Shiva, I've seen too many people die today." He pointed to a tent. "They took the girl in there. She was going to make it-" he took a deep breath- "but I doubt saving her was what those SOLDIERs had in mind. But you've got authority, you're a Turk. I wasn't going to say anything, but it's your family."

Reno nodded sharply and ran to the tent. If someone so much as touched her, he'd kill them. He jerked the tent flap back, causing the occupants to jump. Reno's eyes moved to each one of the three SOLDIERs before settling in the corner. Part of him was just relieved that she was alive. The other part of him was ready to eviscerate those bastards where they stood.

Tifa looked at him, blinked and then slowly shook her head. From where she had been standing, she collapsed down on her hands and knees, folding straight down in a near faint.

The nightstick hummed to life in his hand. "I think you assholes need to pack your dicks back and leave."

SOLDIERs first classes were not like the other groups Reno had dealt with. Third class SOLDIERs would obey an order. But not the first classes, they were a bunch unused to people challenging them. Large, vicious, and apparently, not very easily intimidated. The largest of the three- who easily had over 30lbs on Reno in muscle mass- looked over to Tifa, who was losing her battle with consciousness. "You'll get a turn Turk, we took forever wearing her down."

Reno slid in-between Tifa and the SOLDIERs. "You aren't grasping the situation here. Leave before I make you regret waking up this morning."

They sneered at him, though they didn't advance. Smaller than they were or not, Reno was still very obviously a Turk. He had that going for him. However, that also meant that no one would be underestimating him. They fanned out, and the apparent leader spoke up again, trying to divert the fight. "Three on one aren't good odds, even for a Turk."

"Perhaps two on three then? I recall reading somewhere that a good Turk was worth three SOLDIERs." Tseng's voice drifted from the side of the tent, causing the others to look at him. "Of course, if you would rather leave, we could avoid the needless violence."

The SOLDIERs snorted. "We could curl you two. I think you're on."

"Pft. You should talk…" Rude's deep grating voice drifted from the second opening. After ducking to get into the tent, the big Turk's head still nearly brushed the top.

The three SOLDIERs exchanged nervous looks with each other. They hadn't wanted to fight one Turk, and now they were faced with three. The leader opened his mouth to say something but then yet another Turk entered the room. Reeve glared around the room before speaking.

"What the hell is going on in here?" He demanded. The SOLDIERs clamped their mouths shut. Reeve glared at them a moment then continued in his level voiced manner. "You three, out of here immediately. We are going to remand this survivor."

"But… Hojo-" one SOLDIER started.

Reeve blinked at him, cocking his head to the side. "I'm sorry, I missed the part of this where I stuttered or was otherwise unclear. The girl comes with us."

Now outnumbered, the SOLDIERs lost their fight and left out the tent, glaring at Tseng as he opened the flap for them.

Reno hit the ground next to Tifa, catching her as she slumped over onto his shoulder. He shook her, "Teef? Teef, come on, stay awake for me."

He was close enough to finally get a good look at her injuries. Her shirt was ripped almost totally down the front. It was not red has he had previously thought. The wound on her chest was healed in a crude fashion with low level materia. She'd lost more than enough blood to make someone pass out. Her eyes focused on him, "Re? Am… did I die?" She wobbled again. "Is Cloud here? I- I saw him." Finally, Tifa Lockheart lost the ability to stay awake; she collapsed, falling into Reno.

The other Turks watched him as Reno took off his jacket and put it over Tifa's shoulders. He picked her up gently and took moment to clear his head before he turned around to face his partners. They all looked at him, various stages of confusion and annoyance on their faces.

"What?" Reno asked as though what had just happened was perfectly normal.

Reeve and Tseng looked at each other, finally they both nodded. "All right, let's get your cousin out of here then, before Hojo shows up." Reeve said. "And when we get some stitches on that wound and put her to bed, you are going to fucking explain this to us."

Reeve called ahead, making a report via phone to Rufus. Everything was quieted and under control, it was decided that rebuilding the city and covering up the losses would be the easiest thing to do. Not many people had ties to Nibelheim, those that did could be removed or written off as crazy. It left a foul taste in the back of Turks's mouths; however, they had no say in the matter. Even if they did, they wouldn't have gone against Rufus.

Reno was sitting next to Rude; Tifa laid out on his other side, her head on his lap. The others were not asking him questions. Though he knew that once in his apartment he'd have to explain a few things. Though, looking down at her, there wasn't much to explain. He'd known her for basically his whole life. No one could just leave a childhood friend to die like that.

Rude sighed from next to Reno prompting everyone to look at him. He looked downright dejected.

"Hey big guy, don't be sad. I promise to get us into a nice big bar fight this weekend to make up for not kicking some SOLIDER ass today. Howzat?"

Rude cracked a half smile at that and Tseng laughed from across the chopper. "And here I was worried the two of you wouldn't get along."

Reno swirled his coffee as he looked over his balcony. Rude stood next to him- as had become their habit- a cigarette hanging from his mouth. Tseng was sitting in one of the patio chairs, his lean legs propped up on the railing next to Rude's other side. The sun was rising above Midgar, making the city appear to be made of gold. It had been a very long night.

Reeve went to give the president a full report of Nibelheim, minus the Tifa incident. Meanwhile Reno, Rude and Tseng rushed Tifa to Scarlet. The four of them worked for more than four hours on Tifa, giving her a blood transfusion along with stronger cure materia.

Reno stood up, going into Suzanna's room to check on her. The little girl was sleeping peacefully, curled on her side and clutching her toy dragon tightly. He couldn't help but smile when he saw her so content. Before, she would be crying now because she was hungry. That had killed him, listening to her cry because she wanted food and he didn't have the money to get it for her. After closing her door, Reno peered into his room, checking on Tifa.

Tifa was now clad in Reno's tee-shirt and a pair of running shorts, asleep in his bed. She had been that way for the better part of an hour. Reno walked back out onto the balcony just in time to see Tseng cast another empty pack of cigarettes into the trash can and pop a new one from the carton they were sharing. "So tell me Reno, are you going to explain that knightly dashing to the rescue and disobeying direct orders? Or are we going to have to beat it out of you?"

"Hojo doesn't sign my checks." Reno replied. He extended his hand to Rude, who placed a lighter in his waiting palm. After lighting a cigg and returning Rude's lighter, Reno continued. "I met her when I was six. She's been my best friend ever since. She's family to me, the only friend that I have left. I couldn't leave her. You know what those men would have done to her. And Hojo..." He shuddered involuntarily. "Over my dead body."

A short snort, then silence was his answer for a while. Tseng took a few long drags off the paper before spitting out various sized smoke rings. "So, cousin was the best you could come up with? You've got a daughter; I'd have said that she was your girlfriend or your wife or something."

"An' how exactly would I explain me living here and her living THERE?" Reno asked, finishing off his coffee.

"Point conceded." Tseng tried to sip from his coffee mug, looked into it sadly, turned the cup over, and began to shake it. "We need to think about that. More coffee?"

Rude extended his cup without a word.

"Yep...on both counts." Reno frowned, leaning on the balcony while Tseng got up to get more coffee. He knew that Turks worked together, but they weren't what worried him. Hojo did. They fell into silence, and then Reno's PHS started ringing. Reno jumped slightly before putting the phone to his ear. "Yeah?"

Reeve's voice greeted him. "Rufus wants to see you, immediately. I'll meet you outside the elevator."

Reno wished that he hadn't drunk so much coffee. He felt jittery; the idea of meeting Rufus just after disobeying an order didn't do much to calm his nerves. He was worried about Tifa, and he felt silly for being worried. She was safer in his apartment, surrounded by Turks then she'd be anywhere else in her current state.

The elevator opened up, and Reeve frowned at him. "Rufus wants to discuss something with you. He wouldn't let me know more about it."

"Is he pissed? How should I act?" Reno realized, looking at Reeve, who was fully in his Turk suit, that he was in a very rumpled white shirt, sans tie and jacket.

Reeve shrugged. "I don't know and just don't be stupid." He stuck his hand out behind Reno, catching the elevator doors before they had a chance to slide shut. "Is everyone in your apartment?"

"Yeah, Scarlet had ta clean up her place after Tifa, but she should be showing up any time." Reno was a bit irked that Reeve didn't tell him anything else. But before he could ask, Reeve disappeared into the elevator. Alone, Reno started into Rufus' office.

Unlike the last time, Reno was not left standing for long. Rufus motioned to a chair in front of him and then took a drink from a whiskey glass. "You want a drink, Reno?"

Reno blinked, not sure of what to do. Something told him that saying no to Rufus wasn't wise, no matter what he asked you. Reno nodded slowly. "Yeah…sure."

Rufus stood, sitting a glass identical to the one he was drinking on the dark wooden liquor cabinet. He started talking while he was filling Reno's glass. "I know it's late, but I'm a rather particular person at times. You see, I have this need to be in control." Rufus turned around and handed the glass to Reno. He sat and continued. "And when I owe something to someone, I feel like I lose part of that control, do you understand?"

Reno took a sip and surveyed Rufus. The VP had not asked to see or speak to Rufus since the Jenova incident, but Reno knew that was what Rufus meant. "Yes. I know where you're coming from."

Rufus slid a file across the top of the table in front of Reno. "Then perhaps you can already tell me where this is going so we can both get to bed."

Reno flipped the folder open and blinked. Newspaper clippings and photos of Tifa filled the manila file. They dated all the way back to when she just started wining Gold Saucer competitions. Finally, Reno caught a photo of the time he and Tifa both took home a first place. It'd been a really big day for Zangan's students, nearly everyone placed.

Rufus took a drink and waited till Reno sat the file down. "Now, I commend your quick thinking about claiming her as your cousin. But both you and I are well aware that this is not the case."

Leaning back in the chair, Reno took a drink himself and swirled the contents in his glass. "No, she isn't. But I wasn't going to leave her."

"So you disobey an order from Hojo?"

"I did."

With a nod, Rufus finished his glass and pulled the file back to him. "So, now we can get to the point. I'll allow this to slide, the girl can stay with you and you can have whatever sort of relationship you want to with her. However, I want you to know that I will consider any debt to you paid off."

Reno returned the gesture to Rufus. "Fine. I'll accept that."

Rufus smiled, steepling his fingers. "Very well then, you can go back to your apartment. Just, make sure she's worth it, Reno. I'm a very powerful man to be in debt to anyone."

Reno stood, nodded again and turned to leave. Rufus' tone wasn't the sort he was used to when dealing with people. There was no undertone in his words at all. He was honestly asking Reno if Tifa was worth canceling a life debt with the single most powerful man on the planet. Reno knew without a doubt that she would have done the same for him. If it meant ShinRa would take care of her, Reno wouldn't worry about debts.

Back in his apartment, Reno was greeted with questioning looks. "Rufus cleared her. She's fine to live here."

Turks never asked too many questions, and this was a fine example of that. They all now knew that Rufus was fine with Tifa's presence; they no longer had to worry about it. Reeve and Scarlet stood up, stretching. They made some excuses about reports and having to be up in two hours before both leaving the apartment.

"Report writing… is that what they call it now?" Tseng asked, smirking.

This earned a laugh from both Reno and Rude. "As opposed to what?" Rude asked.

Reno opened his mouth to say something not particularly pleasant when he noticed Tifa standing in the door of his bedroom. She swayed unsteadily and he rushed to help her stand. Tifa sagged into his arms and looked around the apartment with eyes that seemed to refuse to focus.

"Reno?" She asked.

"Yeah, it's me Teef."

Instead of relief or more confusion, her eyes flashed in anger quickly. "Where the hell have you been! I found out about Mar and I tried to reach you!" Her face flushed red, though she wasn't crying yet. "What happened! Where have you been? Where's my dad? Wha-I – I" -now the tears overpowered her- "I thought that you were dead!" She clung to him like he was her lifeline to the planet itself.

Rude put his hand on Reno's shoulder. When Reno looked up Rude pointed to the door. He and Tseng made a quiet exit from the apartment, totally unnoticed by Tifa.

She choked back the tears and stiffened, remembering. "Sephiroth, and… Oh my gods. My dad… He's dead, isn't he?"

Reno put his arms further around her and pushed messy hair out of her face. He nodded slowly. "I got there too late, I'm sorry."

"Those SOLDIERs… They were-" she shivered. "Everything was burning and they were going to- to-" Tifa broke down again, she was shaking.

"Shush, Teef. You don't have ta explain to me. I'm sorry I wasn't there. I won't take off on you again." He rubbed her back lightly, his other hand on her waist.

Tifa's hands made fists in the front of his shirt; she pushed her head into his chest. "Promise?"

Reno sat his chin on the top of her head. "Promise." They stood there for a long time. The sun was already pouring light onto the carpet through the windows.

Reno spoke up again first. "Come on, you need to sleep." She didn't object. He guided her back into the bedroom and helped her under the covers. He turned to leave, but she grabbed his arm.

"Don't leave me alone," She pleaded. "Just not now, please Re?"

Reno didn't see the harm in one time. He slid in bed next to her, Tifa rolled over into his chest. She was asleep again before Reno even shut his eyes.