I Tried- Chapter 25
Forcing Her Hand

Tifa woke up from the couch. There was a blanket over her. She sat up quickly, pitching the blanket to the floor. On the table next to her was a note: Reno, took Trigg for the day, get rest. Rude

Rude had Suzanna… meaning that Reno'd come home. Something made her jump to her feet. The urge to just see him was something that Tifa didn't think would be so strong. She opened his door and nearly tripped. Leather pants and a mesh shirt seemed out of place in Reno's bedroom. Worse was the jacket cleaved nearly in two that sat next to them. What had Reno been doing in clothes like that?

She picked the jacket up, it was heavy, designed to hold guns, from the feel of things it still had Reno's in them. She shook it once and the jacket fell in two, one half flopped back to the floor with a dull "thud". Reno didn't make a sound from where he slept, and he wasn't a sound sleeper. Worried, Tifa dropped the other half of the jacket and walked to the bed.

It hit her then; she'd never really watched him sleep before. Part of her wanted to leave him be. It was more than obvious Reno had a very terrible night. She lifted his covers a bit, just to tuck him in. Tifa wanted to ignore the bruise that ran totally over his tattooed back. As she pushed the blanket against his shoulder, Reno flinched in his sleep. A plaintive sound worked its way from his mouth.

God she was angry, she clenched her fist so hard that her hand shook. How could they just let this happen? How could any of them? What was so bad about ShinRa that they were this afraid?

Why was she so angry? Tifa swallowed, making up her mind. She eased into the bed behind him, putting her arm around his waist. Her knees bent not exactly behind his, but close. Reno moved a little, letting her other arm slide under the pillow. Laying her head against his shoulder blades, Tifa closed her eyes. She was angry at herself too, everything he'd done for her, and all she could do was hold him.

Reno woke up slowly. His back was stiff, though he knew that he'd be totally recuperated by the end of the day. Every once and a while, mako came in handy. From behind him he could feel Tifa move, her arm tightened around him. Her hand rested on his chest. She curled against his back.

Reno could feel her mouth against the nape of his neck. Still half asleep he rolled to his back. Tifa immediately curled to his chest, hooking one leg over his, just above his knees. Yawning, Reno let his eyes drift closed again, it was too comfortable to get up just at that moment.

When he woke up again, she was still pressed against him. Groggy and still sleepy, Reno kissed the top of her head. When Tifa tilted her head up, their lips brushed. Her hand slid down his chest, and before Reno knew what was happening, he had rolled to his side, one hand against the small of Tifa's back and the other in her hair.

The pillows moved bumping against the alarm clock and making it fall to the floor with a loud cracking sound. Reno hissed in a breath then, backing away and blinking.

Tifa looked confused, he couldn't blame her, he was too. It wasn't as if he didn't want her, not that at all. But gods, she got jealous when other woman were involved. And no matter what happened between them, Reno would still be a Turk. He'd still have to do whatever was needed. Reno pushed himself off the bed without a word, making his way to his bathroom. He pretended he didn't hear her whisper his name.

Something started that night that Reno both wanted and wished never happened. No matter how much he wanted her, he couldn't have her. It didn't stop the passionate moments that always turned to a cold shower and an argument. It didn't stop the look of betrayal that showed on her face whenever she knew he was with another woman.

And she always knew.

Damnit, if it hurt her now how would she take sharing?

Why didn't he tell her to go to her own room, then? Why did he let the once and a while become every night?

Because he wanted her. Even though she would get upset, she knew he did. Tifa wasn't stupid and she was planning something. These past few months she'd been gone a lot. Reno left his shower and looked around the living room. Still no Tifa. He was beginning to wonder if letting her read his files was a bad idea. He'd thought it would scare her off - maybe he just wanted her to understand.

Trigger was in her room, playing with that toy dragon. Poor thing was pushing three years old by now, and its tail had gone through countless re-sewings. She blinked up at him and waved a second toy at him. "Auntie Teef said she had to go talk to someone."

Reno cocked an eyebrow, but didn't say anything other then "okay".

When Tifa did come back she had a backpack with her, and she went directly into her room. It shocked him. Reno looked from her room to his and back twice before he realized something was very out of the normal. "Teef?"

She came out of her room and closed the door behind her, both hands covering the knob. "Re? We have-"

They both jumped when Reno's door slammed open. Suzanna's head poked out of her bedroom and then ducked back in when Tseng and Rude rushed into the apartment. Tseng didn't have to order, Reno knew what it meant. Whatever Tifa would have to say or do would have to wait. He cast an apologetic look to her before going to get his gun belts.

When he left his room Tifa and Trigger were standing in the living room. Tifa nodded at him. "Come home." She said, though the comment was nothing new, her tone was.

Reno hugged them both, muttered "I always try to" and left without a backwards glance. He hated this.

Cigarette smoke clouded at the roof of the black car. Once again, Reno was sitting in the backseat and Tseng was driving. However, Rude was the third occupant. Reno smiled a bit; it was strange how some things never changed. "So," he started, letting his cigarette bounce out into the night air, "does this trip involve fun costumes?"

Rude shook his head. "Naw, actually, we don't need bait. Hopefully." He added the last part after dragging on his own cigarette. Most people would elaborate further, but not Rude. He simply shrugged his broad shoulders and continued to smoke.

"This time even the people working for him are scared of him. They complain that he is unstable and contacted ShinRa. This is one that we wouldn't have noticed otherwise." Tseng responded. "They say it's like two people are there, just they look identical."

Reno quirked an eyebrow up at this information. "So… what'cher tell'n me is that we are walking into a clusterfuck?"

Though there was no answer from the front of the car, Rude gave Reno a thumbs up.

With a deep sigh, Reno fell back against the seat. He really didn't like the way this looked. Something nagged at him about these clones. Somehow he always knew they weren't the real thing, despite his first fears to the contrary. They didn't feel right. Of course, the fact that something like Sephiroth could feel right to him made totally no sense whatsoever. No one would have cared anyway, Reno figured. They still had four more clones to locate, and the real thing.

They pulled into a parking garage, next to an occupied van. Professionalism took over. Three doors opened in unison, slamming shut with the sound of one. The people in the van shifted nervously, watching as Tseng waited for Reno and Rude to flank him.

Seeming to realize that she needed to speak, the supposed leader scrambled out of the passenger side of the van. "I- ah-"

"Talia" Tseng responded, though he did not offer a hand to her. Arms crossed over his chest he nodded his head in Rude's direction and then Reno's. "We are here to take care of your problem."

"Well, that's ah, that's just the problem." Talia responded, as she spoke five other people walked from the van. When the Turks made a motion for their side arms all of them lifted their hands.

Reno was struck with the stray thought about how much like them he used to be. He'd transitioned to the smooth working structure of a Turk, and now, what he had been before? He sneered a bit. At least he'd pretended that he was unafraid.

"Define problem." Tseng responded flatly.

Talia swallowed and cleared her throat; she seemed unwilling to make eye contact. "There are two of-"

She fell silent as Reno, Tseng and Rude all glanced to the side. Turning back to the group, Tseng only said one word. "Rude."

And as if an entire order had been given out, the large man slid away from Reno's side and around to where the sound had come from. The group standing with Talia continued to fidget before the assassins. Reno couldn't really blame them; they were playing two different leagues. However, now that Turks were here, things would go smoothly. Or else.

There was a scuffling sound; a sharp cry was cut off almost before it could be heard. A moment later Rude came back, pushing a frightened man in front of him. The new comer had a large red mark up the side of his head, telling that one hit was all it took to shut him up.

He was dismissed quickly by both Reno and Tseng who looked expectantly up at their partner. Rude lifted three fingers in the air and then tucked his gun back into a holster. So he'd killed the other two and kept this one. Tseng looked at his hand a moment, then picked at something from under his nail. "And what would you be doing here?"

The man- who seemed to be in his early thirties- opened his mouth and then closed it. He was obviously one of the old hats to whatever it was that was going on in this warehouse. Talia and her gang looked as though they knew who he was, though they were as shocked to see him as he was to see Tseng. If he'd been prepared to deal with resistance it was not one that included Turks.

After a few moments of silence Tseng let out an annoyed sigh.

Reno knew what was expected of him. Tseng was the "cool collected" talker and Reno was the one that people watched. He distracted them, he was the one that scared them, when all the while, Tseng was the real threat. The mag rod extended at the same moment Reno spin stepped forward. The side of the rod connected with the man's ribs, the electrical shock brought a soundless gasp out his lips before he fell to the floor.

There was a light whimper as Rude lifted the man with one hand firmly on the back of his shirt.

"My partner just asked you a question. It's mighty rude not to answer someone's question." He bounced the mag rod a bit on his shoulder and looked up at Rude for a moment. They shared a short laugh over nothing before Reno turned back to the hapless victim. "Particularly when ya crash someone else's private conversation. Now, how's about you tell us whatcher doing here, bucko, before I get angry."

"He- he'll kill me," came the response. Rude let go of the man's collar and he staged a bit before facing Reno and Tseng. "He'll kill me."

"That, my friend, is exactly what we are going to do. And whoever sent you, and maybe everyone you've ever said more than three words to in your entire life. Now, do fill in the missing details. We've got little time to deal with this." Tseng asked, arms still loosely crossed in front of his chest. He hadn't moved from his spot yet, nor had he even fully turned to face the man he questioned.

"I'm Conner, he sent us to take care of them-" he pointed to the people near the van. "He- he…" Conner stammered and fell silent once again.

Reno's mag rod connected three more times before Conner yelled out "He said that he'd take care of the clone! I don't know what he means, but he won't- won't let you kill him."

"And that means?" Reno asked, twirling the mag rod around in his hand.

"Fuck you." Conner hissed. "Fuck you, you're a bunch of monsters, you all are… everyone, everyone's already dead." His tone was enough to set a chill up Reno's back. Conner laughed. "The other has a few running around… sooner or later, they'll find you. But they aren't him. He'll gut you, Turk. I saw h-"

The steel toe of Reno's boot connected with Conner's jaw before the rest of the sentence left his lips. Conner connected with the van before falling limp on the pavement. No one bothered to see if Reno had killed him or not.

Tseng didn't allow silence to linger further. "Talia, are you and your men armed?"

"Yes." She'd somehow located a spine, for the time being at least. "They are."

All three Turks checked their clips. "He came from that way, so let's go into the warehouse. Keep silent; if you scream for help do not expect it. Understood?"

Reno and Rude were already starting to the passageway; they didn't need to hear this speech again.

Scattered boxes and assorted parts from machines littered the passageway. Reno nudged one with his foot, though nothing came of it. The three Turks had taken a lead; the poorly lit, thin, passage left much to be desired in the way of fighting. There was little to hide behind, and as it stood, Reno, Rude, and Tseng were literally shoulder to shoulder. Something started pricking at the side of Reno's mind. He could hear a faint scratching sound. Like a rat in a wall, a loose hiss. The hallway curved, the lights flickered dimly twice before going out completely in front of a steel door. The hissing sounded very much like the word "closer".

He watched as Tseng's hand slowly reached for the doorknob. He caught that smell again. The smell that infected Hojo's rooms. Dried blood, vomit, trash, a sickly sweet aroma, Jenova… His hand covered Tseng's wrist before Reno knew what he was really doing.

The angry glare from Tseng faded. Reno knew he looked afraid. "No, just… don't go in there, Se." He whispered harshly. "Please, just trust me, please don't go in that room."

A glance behind Reno, probably to make sure Talia's group didn't hear the fear in Reno's voice and then Tseng's eyes settled on Reno. For a moment, Reno was afraid that Tseng would toss his hand back and throw the door open. Tseng would do that. He'd then yell at Reno for being afraid of a boogieman. Instead, Tseng nodded and turned to continue down the hall. Reno was confused, though he let out a relieved sigh, and followed.

The machine gun went off from behind them, causing Reno, Rude and Tseng to hit the floor. They looked behind as one of Talia's men fired without aiming, hitting many of his own people and knocking out the lights totally. Even though the lights went out, all of the Turks saw why the man was out of control.

The Masamune gleamed from the middle of his chest.

Talia's people became Reno's previously described "clusterfuck". They were shooting themselves, and new weapons roared to life from further behind them. Ambush. The Turks shared a look, and used Talia's people as a distraction.

"Retreat." Tseng ordered, knowing that a close quarter fight with Sephiroth couldn't turn out well when he was backed with armed men. All three of the Turks bolted down the hallway, throwing boxes down to cover their path.

Reno was faster then both Tseng and Rude by quite a bit. In fact, he held the ShinRa sprint record. However, he loped beside them, though he couldn't tell if it was because he felt safer with them, or because he didn't want to lead. The sounds of the gunfight faded, and easily heard over the Turk silence, the stampede of a mob followed. Finally the hall opened out into the warehouse. The lights were almost too bright in comparison to the hall.

Tseng pulled out both of his weapons and fired at the lights. Reno and Rude did the same. They had night vision, and they were going to use it. Finally the hall opened out into the warehouse. The lights were almost too bright in comparison to the hall. Tseng pulled out both of his weapons and fired at the lights. Reno and Rude did the same. They had night vision, and they were going to use it. Their clips clattered to the ground amidst the broken glass. Tseng pulled his sunglasses out of his pocket, sliding them on his nose. Reno slid his goggles down to hide the mako glow of his eyes. In the center, they stood waiting, guns drawn.

They weren't waiting long, a pair of green eyes glowed brightly down the hall. The people that followed him were running blind. The Turks opened fire, mowing down the first rank. Though the second was smarter, they scrambled, some pulled on night vision goggles.

Four simply ran to a catwalk. They were going for the emergency lights. Reno tucked his gun and bolted after them. The sound of metal sliding against metal froze him on the steps. Looking down, he could see Sephiroth, and Tseng. The blade of the Masamune clipped the Turk's glasses in half and sparked off the barrel of his death penalty.

Rude, in the midst of dealing with the full second rank of men, yelled for Tseng and tossed a length of piping at him. Tseng was fast; he dropped his gun and spun, throwing an elbow into Sephiroth's ribcage. There was an audible crack, and then the Turk rolled to the ground. Once again the blade missed him, the second time it connected with the pipe.

Sparks flew again from the force of the razor sharp blade against steel. Tseng fell back, knocking over a fuel canister. Both Sephiroth and Tseng froze. Reno couldn't hear him, but they both cursed lowly and ducked for cover. The catwalk blew apart with the force of the explosion; it was followed by many others. He could hear people yelling, both Rude and Tseng's voices were sharp, though the fire was building and he couldn't see anyone.

Anyone, but Sephiroth.

He was burned badly, how he got up in front of Reno was a mystery. One that Reno didn't care to think about. He pulled two of his guns and fired till they were empty. Sephiroth staggered back with every impact, though he remained fully on his feet. At the same moment Reno emptied his clips, he saw Sephiroth fall.

Another large explosion blew him through the glass of the control room. Standing, glass rained down from his jacket and hair. His vision blurred, He swore he saw Sephiroth, dead on the catwalk… but then, why was he also in the doorway?

Dirty little thing… there you are…

His lungs hurt. Looking down, Reno noticed that he had a shard of glass protruding from his ribcage; he couldn't feel the blood as it soaked up his pant leg. Sinking to his knees, everything started fading…

… he didn't remember anything else.

Tifa paced the living room, doing laps around the couch. She'd been alright till Suzanna was put to bed, and from that moment on, she paced. "Why haven't they checked in yet?"

"For the last time, Tifa, I do not know." Reeve responded from the porch. A cigarette burned in his hand. The ringing of his phone caused him to drop it when he jumped. Oblivious to the half smoked cigarette that was plummeting to the alley, Reeve pulled his phone to his ear. "Se?"

Tifa let out a rush of air, hurrying to the balcony. Though Reeve's expression clearly told her all was not well. "No.. he … oh gods. No, you find him. Find something. No… of course not. I'll meet you out there. Just, please, don't give up on him yet."

Her legs didn't work right. Reeve shoved his phone back into his coat and stormed out past her. Tifa staggered a bit, "Reeve?" He wouldn't look at her. "Reno, where is he?"

"They don't know." Reeve responded harshly.

"What!" She started, the remembered to be more quiet. "No, no, he can't be missing. What do I tell Trigger?" Oh dear gods, what would she tell Trigger? How could she- Tifa shook her head. "You can't just tell me he's gone. What am I supposed to tell Trigg?"

Reeve took a deep breath and opened Reno's door. "The truth. We are looking for him. We will bring him home."

"Alive?" For some reason Tifa couldn't move from the wall.

"If I can."

And Emmerson Reeve was gone.

He remained gone for two days. Every time she called, they didn't answer. At about midnight, the start of the third day, she pitched her PHS against the wall in frustration. Tears threatened the backs of her eyes, and there was nothing she could do. Nothing. That was what bothered her the most. Reno could be dead, dying, worse, and there was nothing she could do at all.

"Where's Daddy?"

Suzanna, throwing the phone must have woke her up. Tifa took a breath, she couldn't loose it in front of a three year old child. She couldn't. Turning around, Tifa tried to smile. "They are looking, Trigg. Soon, I promise."

She was scared, big green eyes looked around the room and she hugged herself. "When? You said soon yesterday." She bit her lip. "I want my daddy."

Tifa bent down and hugged Suzanna closely. The hug she got back was vicious. "You should go to bed, honey. We will know more tomorrow, I promise."

"I don't wanna be alone, don't leave me." She whispered, crying on Tifa's shoulder. "Please don't leave me."

Tifa wished that they had lied to Suzanna. She wished that the little girl thought that everything was alright. But that wouldn't have been fair. Tifa stood, "common, let's both go to bed then, things will be better tomorrow."

Blood was literally everywhere. It covered everything, including the ground. Tseng threw Reno's door open with a loud crack, still gripping Reno's shoulders. Rude had the younger man's feet, and Reeve followed, slamming the door shut behind them. Tifa gaped at them all from Reno's bedroom doorway. Tseng's authority snapped loudly. "Keep Trigg in the bedroom, don't let her out."

He could hear the little girl, even from her room. "Daddy? Oji Se? Tee, whatsamatter? I wanna see my daddy!"

"Don't you fucking die on me, Reno." Tseng cursed in Wutain, not noticing as he scraped the length of his forearm along the kitchen counter. He had known what to do a moment ago; now, they were just maneuvering to move.

Reno gasped once, thin chest rising as they sat him on Tifa's bed. He fell silent, halting both Rude and Tseng in mid dash to get the things they needed to remove the bullet. Both of them spun around, blocking the door, from behind his shoulder, he could hear Tifa. "What's wrong, Reno?" She was strong, he already knew this, but once again, his arm was abused as she cast him to the doorframe. "Reno!"

The shirt she had on was too large for her, it was Reno's. It was ruined the moment she touched him as well. One hand on his forehead and the other was on his chest. "RENO!" She yelled, forgetting that there was a five year old child in the next room who didn't need to know what was happening.

Weakly, Reno coughed. Blood came out of his mouth. It was enough, he was alive, Tseng and Rude ran to get what they needed. Tifa had to be shoved out of the way, in the end, Reeve hauled her physically from the room and held both her and Trigger up in Reno's room. It seemed like hours, but only twenty minutes later, Reno was breathing shallowly. He'd live, and Tseng desperately needed a smoke.

Tseng leaned over the balcony, a cigarette burning in his hand, it would be meeting the five previous ones in the ashtray in a moment, after lighting the but of his seventh. His hands were shaking, though the nicotine wasn't helping, Tseng had a lack of anything else to do. Rude was in the kitchen, nursing a wound of his own, he could hear the big man grunting as he did his own stitches. Reeve was making a report and Tifa refused to let Reno out of her sight. It was a bit shocking then, when he heard a little voice behind him. "Oji Se?"

Trigger. He spun, blinking and very glad she wasn't really looking at him. Her eyes were glued to the drying trail of blood. It had become black in places, though patches as red as the child's hair shone through. The same could be said about himself, though the dark colored suit hid the stains well; his white shirt was another matter. "Trigg, go in your-" He stopped himself, he noticed it then, that unnatural Midgar maturity.

Her knuckles were white, and her green eyes seemed near tears. She was taking quick breathes trying to control herself, though she'd been sheltered. Sheltered, right, if you can call it that, not that any of it was anyone's fault, but you couldn't be the child of an assassin and not figure it out. "I- I'm scared." They stood there for a moment, but she moved forward, hugging him. Reno's blood made its way from his slacks to his daughter. "Daddy's not gonna- gonna-" It was too much, the child broke into sobs.

Forgetting about his goal to smoke an entire pack in one go, Tseng crouched, pushing a bang from the girl's face and leaving a red smear. It was the same shade as her fathers- bright. In fact, until he saw Trigger, he had been convinced Reno's hair was dyed that color. Right now though, the similarity between the two ended. Reno had already been abused enough for a lifetime at her age. Trigger wasn't like that at all; she was actually getting a bit of what had been denied to her father- childhood. That didn't stop the fact that Tseng felt responsible now more then ever. "No, no, Trigg, your daddy's going to be alright."

She gripped his shirt, not noticing that now everyone in the apartment was head to toe with blood. She turned her chin up to him, eyes asking him for power he just didn't have. "Promise?"

"He'll be fine tonight. Promise." Tseng confirmed, though it wasn't what he wanted to be able to tell her.

"What about later?" The question he wished the child hadn't asked. "What about you and Uncle Rude? What about tomorrow?"

He picked Trigger up, sitting down on a chair with her on his lap. Big green eyes still begged him. "I'm not going to lie to you. I can't make that promise, Trigger. I can just promise tonight."

She looked at her hands, just noticing that they were red. First they balled into fists, but then they grabbed the knees of her pajama pants. "I don't like this." She said simply. "I don't want to just have tonight."

"I'm so sorry honey, there's nothing we can do. We don't want to lie to you." It was the second time that he said that, the second time and it sounded worse then the time before. Part of him wanted to lie to her, badly, just to keep her happy. Though they all knew that it wouldn't last and better to be trusted and hurt then lied to.

She leaned into him, still holding the jacket. Tseng wondered if she had fallen asleep, and then she spoke up again, in a small voice. "Oji?"

"What Trigg?"

"Are you the bad guys?"

His eyes closed. "Sometimes, a lot of the time."

She curled up a bit, closer to him. "Is it wrong of me to want you to be okay?"

There was a lump in his throat now, it was an unaccustomed feeling. "No Trigger, I don't know that there are good guys to cheer for anyway."

She nodded, but didn't say anything else. The two sat there, while the sun came up, an assassin and a little girl, desperately wanting her hero to be the good guy. He looked down after a while, Trigger was sleeping.