Disclaimer: Don't own Final Fantasy but I do own Jenna.

A/N: Another chapter for you guys, blimey, it's the return of the quick updates. Not a lot to say this time around, except please read and reviews, as reviews do mean a lot to me! I like to know what my readers think.

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Chapter 9:

The car ride to Rude's apartment was silent, if it wasn't for the hum of the engine then you would be able to hear a pin drop. Jenna didn't like the atmosphere at all, and she was not sure she liked Rude very much either. He seemed very scary to her, and she wondered why Reno liked him. However, she was not going to ask now, hell, she was too scared to speak. She didn't want the bald man to get angry, as she wasn't sure what he was like. He didn't seem to say much, in fact, Reno hadn't even said much since they got out of Shinra. The only words that had been spoken by the redhead were to tell the young girl not to eat the cookies in the car, as they would make a mess. She had been fine with that, as she was going to save them until they got back to wherever they were going.

Reno didn't want to speak for fear of what he might say. Deep down, he wasn't even sure what he wanted to say. However, he knew that it would be best to speak away from Jenna, as Reno wasn't sure whether the chat Rufus wanted him to have with Rude would end in an argument or not. A fight between two Turks was not something Reno wanted Jenna to witness.

Rude let out a long sigh before looking in his rear view mirror to make sure Jenna was ok. He didn't know if she got travel sick or anything like that, and the last thing he wanted to be doing was scrubbing vomit off of the back seats.

On the plus side, at least they're leather, nice and easy to clean.

After what seemed like forever, they finally arrived at Rude's apartment. They all stepped out silently and Rude unlocked the door, before walking in and taking his jacket off. Reno took Jenna's hand and led her to the kitchen, he didn't feel right confining her there, but he felt he should talk to Rude as soon as possible. At least then the young girl may not feel so awkward.

"You stay in here, with your cookies, I need to talk to Rude." He told her with a warm smile, and ruffled her hair.

"OK Reno, he scares me…" she said timidly, and Reno laughed.

"He's a gentle giant, you'll see soon enough." Reno said to her and walked out of the kitchen.

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Rude was sitting down when Reno came back into the room. The bald man wasted no time in getting down to business.

"You're not going to stay, are you?" the bald man asked, and watched as Reno began to pace. Rude watched as his partner stopped, removed his jacket, and began pacing again. Rude sighed as he noticed just how badly the shirt hung off of Reno, and the sight made him feel sick.

I have to get some meat on his bones, even if it's the last thing I do.

"I already said, whatever happens, happens." The redhead answered, and nearly yelped in surprise as Rude grabbed his shoulders and threw him to the sofa.

"What the hell was that for, Rude?!" Reno shouted in anger, and this time it was Rude's turn to pace.

"What has happened to you, Reno? What happened to the fun loving redhead that I fell in love with, huh? You used to be so full of life, so confident, so happy, nothing could get you down, and Tseng says one thing to you and you turn into this…imposter!" Rude shouted back, and Reno immediately jumped to his feet.

"You don't know how much the truth hurts, Rude! Tseng is right, why can't you understand that? Another sector has been crushed because of me, I may as well have detonated it myself! Even when I'm back where I belong, people are still in danger! It seems that I can't go anywhere without putting people in danger, have you any idea how that feels? I stop being a Turk, and I think everything will be fine, but no, for some fucked up reason Tseng is STILL after me! I don't know why, and I bet you don't know why! So what can I do? The only option I see is staying down in the slums, and rotting away, though knowing me, even in death I'll probably put people in danger, what with all the diseases there are down there." Reno said, and wrapped his arms around himself, avoiding eye contact with the bald man.

Reno, I had no idea you felt that way. Why did you not say any of this to me before? Elena and I, we're your friends, hell, me and you are more than that. Why did you not come to us? No, I know why, Tseng. Let us deal with him, as long as we're around, as long as I'm around, no harm will come to you. I won't allow him to hurt you anymore, please, let me help you.

Rude walked over and wrapped his arms around the smaller man, and was relieved to feel Reno relax.

"You don't belong down there, you fit in up here, and you know you do. Once we catch Tseng, stay up here, with me. Don't go back down there." Rude said softly, and Reno let out a small sigh.

"What about Jenna? I can't send her back down there on her own, I have to go back down there with her."

Damn, I forgot about her. I'm crap with kids, I haven't got the patience for them. I suppose sacrifices will have to be made, anything to get you to stay.

Rude let go of Reno and walked over to the sofa and sat down. Taking a deep breath, he exhaled slowly and turned to face the redhead.

"Reno, she seems like a nice kid. I have no problem with her staying here. I can see you both share a close bond. I don't know the full details of what happened to her down there, but I can see she has grown on you, and you mean a lot to her. Stay, at least until Tseng is caught, and put on trial." Rude said, silently hoping that Reno would say yes.

Come on, I've offered a home for Jenna as well. What more can you possibly want?

A long silence passed between the pair, and it was only interrupted when Jenna peered out from behind the kitchen door.

"Excuse me, Mr Rude?" she asked timidly, and Reno had to resist the urge to laugh. Nobody had ever called his partner Mr Rude before.

"What is it?" The bald man asked, doing his best not to sound impatient or irritated.

"Could I please get a drink?" Jenna asked softly.

"Yes, of course you can. If you need help, just ask." Rude said, and watched as the girl went back into the kitchen.

Reno sat down next to his bald partner and smiled, running his hand over the bald head.

"You'll be fine with her." He said with a warm smile.

"Though will you have room for both of us?" The redhead asked, and was surprised when Rude pulled him into his lap and began nibbling his neck.

"You'll be sleeping with me, like old times." He said, and the impish grin that Rude knew so well returned to Reno's face.

"I like that plan…but enough, in case Jenna comes in again." Reno warned, and was practically thrown off of Rude as the door opened again.

"Mr Rude…could you help me get a glass please?"

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Elena had finally arrived in Wutai, and not a moment too soon in her opinion. She was tired from the travelling, and wanted to do nothing except go to sleep. She decided it would be best to search when she was wide awake, and that way, she would be able to think more clearly as to how she would go about her search.

The blonde sighed when she finally got into the inn room she'd booked, and wondered how Reno and Rude were getting on. She hoped they would be able to rebuild the relationship that shattered when Reno left for the slums.

Please stay, Reno. We all need you, we don't want you to go. Believe it or not, everyone has missed you while you have been gone!

With a yawn, she removed her suit and put on her pyjamas before climbing into bed, planning to sleep for the night and start her search in the morning.

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A/N: Sorry this chapter is shorter than the other one, but the next one will have a lot more happening, as the search for Tseng really heats up. Relationships also begin to develop more as well. As per usual, thanks for reading and please review!