Final Fantasy - All Series Fan Fiction ❯ Hazard Pay ❯ Part 9 ( Chapter 9 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]
Rude drove Reno back to his apartment without further comment. A pissy Reno was never good company anyway. Rude much preferred silence to the bitching, whining and moaning that would ensue if he questioned Reno anymore. After Vincent's late night visit and having a pretty good idea why Reno was limping and cupping a protective hand over his jewels, Rude assumed that Reno had told Cloud the truth. Obviously the blond hadn't taken the news well and tried to emasculate his very recent lover. Years of stern self-control helped Rude keep the amused smirk off his face.

It had been very pleasant for Rude to wake up with Vincent still beside him, a very rare occurrence. Then Vincent had awakened abruptly, saying that he needed to get to the 7th Heaven. Rude never questioned how his lover just seemed to know certain things. It was all a part and parcel of the very attractive and mysterious package of Vincent Valentine. Mildly disappointed that there would be no morning activities, Rude had let Vincent go with just an exchange of quietly affectionate looks and had showered and gotten into his suit right before Reno called.

Now, the redhead in question was slumped against the passenger door, muttering quiet curses and keeping a protective hand over his crotch. Once they reached the apartment building Reno hesitated before getting out, turning to his partner.

"You've been more in the loop than I have, partner, while I've been hanging with Cloud. You got any more information on these trouble makers?"

Rude seemed hesitant to answer. He rubbed a hand over his bald head and smoothed his goatee.

"They managed to get as far as the inner lobby of the new Shinra building," Rude finally said.

Reno gasped in disbelief and his eyes bugged at the news. Anyone who could who could even get through the front doors that were manned by Turk trained security were more of a threat than they had initially thought. The little group of followers had just been upgraded from mere trouble makers to terrorist status in Reno's mind.

"Fuck!" Reno blurted. "How did that happen? And, Gods, what did the President have to say about it?" He paused as another thought occurred to him. "Why in hell wasn't I called in, Rude?"

"Tseng, himself, uncovered the ruse and took down two of them. The others scattered. It was handled, Reno. Unfortunately, the two Tseng got committed suicide with cyanide capsules before they could be questioned."

Reno punched the dashboard in frustration.

"Damn it, Rude! I should have been there with you. I might have been able to follow the ones that got away!"

Rude pushed down his sunglasses low enough to look at his long time partner over the top. Reno was overreacting and not thinking clearly.

"Reno," Rude said, "You aren't the only Turk with those kinds of skills. Tseng has it covered. Your job was to stay with Cloud and cover his ass."

Reno actually blushed and mumbled, "Covered it, all right."

Rude coughed into his fist and pushed his sunglasses back up.

"Yeah. I figured that out for myself. You've got some impressive bites and bruises on your neck and collar bone. You might want to try and actually button up your shirt for a few days."

Reno flipped his partner the bird in response and opened the passenger door. He circled around to the driver's side and stuck his head in the window.

"I'm going to get another shower and change into warmer clothes, then I'll head back to 7th Heaven to get my bike. Valentine's gone after chocobo head. Fine with me. I could use the break, especially since the little shit mashed my nuts."

Rude started to put the window back up when Reno's hand shot through it and plucked a black hair from the shoulder of Rude's suit jacket. Reno narrowed his eyes in speculation. A bald man with hair on his suit. Now wasn't that something? Reno knew Rude had no pets. He smiled mischievously at his partner and waved the hair in front of his nose.

"So, you finally decide to break that celibacy streak? Who's the lucky lady, partner?" Reno feigned a mock pout of heartbreak. "You've been holding back on me, your own partner. I'm hurt."

Rude peered over his sunglasses again, covered Reno's face with a large hand and shoved his partner's head out the window.

"A gentleman, Reno, doesn't kiss and tell," Rude said.

"A gentleman?" Reno laughed. "We're Turks, man, not gentlemen."

Rude shrugged. "Doesn't mean I still can't have some class. Get inside, you idiot. Your lips are almost the same color as your eyes."

Reno fluttered his eyelashes and put on his best pouty face, but he saw that Rude wouldn't be budged. He waved off his partner and snickered as he let himself into his apartment. Once inside he completely forgot about any thoughts of Rude's sex life and the foiled attack on the Shinra building as the throbbing in his crotch made itself known again.

"Damn, Cloud," Reno muttered to himself. "That was cold, man. You seemed to like my goods well enough last night."

Reno started the water running into the large and deep, old claw foot bathtub he had scavenged from one of the ritzier above plate homes that had been destroyed by Meteor. It was long and deep enough for him to submerge himself completely and one of his greatest indulgences. Reno shed his twice worn clothes and padded naked into his small kitchen. The clock on the stove told him it was still before noon, but he said hell with it and grabbed a beer from the refrigerator and took it back to the bathroom with him. Easing into the hot water with a heartfelt groan, Reno laid his head back against the porcelain and tried to think of a new game plan.

His growing attraction to Cloud and last night's sex hadn't been in any of his plans, but now that it had happened Reno didn't think that he wanted the one night to be the end of it, no matter how pissed Cloud was at him at the moment. Reno took a swig of beer and closed his eyes. He could still see the warm and needy glow in Cloud's eyes as they kissed. He remembered how Cloud had opened to him so readily and pushed back with abandon into his thrusts.

Reno thought of pale, lightly scarred skin, soft to the touch and sweet tasting even dewed with sweat from their exertions. He thought of Cloud's hands in his hair, demanding more, harder, faster. He thought of the wildly powerful strength of his own orgasm that had drained him of all energy and thought. Lastly, he could still see Cloud's hesitant smile in the shower, standing there naked with his soft hair plastered to his head with water.

Reno banged his head on the edge of the tub. Damn! No, he didn't want that one night to be the end of it. He had to talk to Cloud and make him understand. Reno clambered from the cooling water and wrapped a towel around his waist. He grabbed his cell phone and dialed Cloud's number. All he got was the voice mail message. Figured.

Reno sighed and got dressed. He would get a quick bite to eat and get a lift back to 7th Heaven to get his bike then head into headquarters. At least he could report to Tseng and find out more about the attack and get more information on the terrorists. Reno slipped his cell phone into the pocket of his pants and hoped Valentine was able to find Cloud. It didn't sound like even someone like Cloud would be able to take on this group alone and escape unscathed. Reno scrubbed his face harshly. Fuck! He was starting to really worry about the blond. What had Rufus gotten him into with this assignment? Worse, what had he gotten himself into by acting like a hormone addled teenager?