Who do you go to when you have no one to talk to? For once in my life I needed advice, and all the people I'd have talked to were not right for the job. I knew what Rude's reaction would be:

"Reno, you be with whoever you want, but I don't want to know all the details about it, alright? If you wanna gossip, go find Elena."

I was way too nervy to talk to Tseng, and I wasn't sure I wanted to know what Elena'd say. I thought I might talk to Tifa, but I had a feeling she'd just find some way to kick the shit out of me. I vaguely considered Valentine, but I had a feeling he'd stay dead silent before he put a bullet in-between my eyes. At this point, I was assuming that the Avalanche crew thought my jumping Strife was a bad thing, if they even knew about it at all.

I leaned over the edge of the railing, looking at the scenery around Healin. What the hell was I going to do? I hadn't seen Strife in weeks. I wanted to talk to him, maybe even try to kick the shit out of him—anything to make things go back to being something familiar. Going back to 'normal' was definitely not an option.

I'm betting that my attacking the kid and making out with him scared him away. Not that I'm not good—my prowess is known far and wide—but I still think he's in over his head. I mean, he always seemed the straight type, right? Eye candy, but definitely still straight. I'm thinking he's just seen the light, that big lifetime realization. I bet he's miles away having volunteered to deliver some 'package'. That's why it's good to be me, and never have that realization. I've always held that good, hot sex shouldn't be defined by what's below the belt. I sighed as I heard Rufus open the front door. He stood next to me, pushing a glass of scotch into my hand.

"You look like you need it." His tone was as nonchalant as ever as he sipped his own. I cursed the fact that he could always be so calm and collected but still know how to piss the shit out of me. I mumbled something along the lines of 'Thanks' and took a gulp, letting the burn travel down my throat and warm my stomach.

It was then that I realized that I didn't even have to talk to anyone. Rufus knew everything. The bastard knew everything.

"How is it that you know every goddamn thing I'm thinking?" I grumbled, bringing the glass to my lips.

"If you actually took a second to watch yourself, you'd see that almost anyone could realize something was wrong." He smirked to himself as he straightened up. "I just happen to be attentive, along with the fact that I'm stuck here having to see you mope about." He went to the door, turning the handle but not quite opening it. "I hope you can forget him long enough to protect me if you have to, Reno." He smiles at some personal joke in his head.

"You'd better hope so." I mumbled into the glass. Rufus refrained from biting at my well placed bait, merely doing his trademark hair-flip in annoyance as he went back inside. I swallowed the last of the scotch, turning the glass around in my hands. Rufus was the type to dance around the subject, but always seemed to drive his point in somehow. He wouldn't tell anyone, but he'd hold this over my head forever.

'Well, at least that's a weight off my shoulders…kinda.'

a/n: Why can't I resist le Rufus? Since the Reno muse was off on his Scotch break --damn drunk-- I guess the Rufus muse had to step in. I have to give him credit, hence why the chapters are Rufus Shinra: (title) chapters...except for Mistaken Identity. And I finally put in the trademark Rufus Shinra hair-flip! YAY! Oh, and yes, I changed a sentance or two in Mistaken Identity for this to have correct continuity.

Okay, I need to do a lemon chapter soon...I know, I know, it's been a while. The lots-o-comedy and trying to go back to angst has gotten me away from teh sex.

Also, I feel like dropping in some FFVII characters I haven't used yet...hmm. Is it enough to have mentioned them? Maybe I'll throw some Vincent in there--Reno likes to complain about him. I have a feeling the Scotch bottle is getting low, and the Reno muse is stumbling back to me! Yay!

Review, por favor!