Final Fantasy - All Series Fan Fiction ❯ Intervention ❯ Getting away with Murder ( Chapter 8 )

Story title Intervention

Rating R

Story Description Reno finally succumbs to the dark and destructive nature of his unstable emotions. When his bosses Tseng and Rufus do nothing & his partner and friend Rude stands in the wings and watches mutely, it's up to Elena to step in and save him from himself. (Post Game, Elena/Reno, Het, Yaoi, Drug & Alcohol abuse)

Author's Note Characters may appear OOC. Tried to keep them as close to cannon as possible, but considering I'm writing this not the people at SquareEnix, you'll have to deal.

Author's Note 2 Sorry for such a long time since I last updated. The Fic I was working on previous to this was being a real pain. I was lucky to get a paragraph a day done on it. I originally had more planned for this chapter with it hitting over 3500 words I decided to split it into 2 chapters instead. Don't worry I hope to have more chapters done faster. But I do still have a few requested fics to work on as well. Hope you enjoy & again, sorry for the delay

Disclaimers I don't own the boys and girls of Final Fantasy 7, SquareEnix does.

 

*************************

 

8 - Getting away with Murder

 

Somewhere beyond happiness and sadness
I need to calculate
What creates my own madness
And I'm addicted to your punishment
And you're the master
And I am craving this disaster

-- Getting away with Murder by Papa Roach

 

 

 

Elena was perhaps best known for her stubborn determination, her gung-ho attitude and that she was the `baby' of the group as it were. Once she set her mind to something, it took a direct order from her superior to derail her from whatever it was she was doing or going after. And even then, whatever it was just got set to the back burner for the moment and was pursued in her off time, like her current project.

 

When she was on duty she was unable to leave physically but that didn't stop her from using the resources at hand to search though the network of cameras and other surveillance devices that were still active throughout the city and surrounding areas. She wasn't a master computer hacker for nothing, though none of the others really seemed to pay attention to that little fact. Not that she minded either. She also had managed to `convince' a group of private investigators to search the city for her missing co-worker. It's amazing what sort of information was still accessible and what could be used as a means of rewards. Especially if it was damaging information that just vanished.

 

The first day Reno had not shown up for work, anger and annoyance was the major emotions of the day. But as each day passed by without the redheaded Turk, those emotions shifted. Annoyance became fear and concern, anger stayed there just simmering in the background. She was angry that he never asked for help, that he tried to do everything on his own without thinking of how those around him would act or react. At times she just wanted to beat the shit out of him while others she wanted to embrace him and never let go. By the end of the week Elena looked like hell, she was no longer her usual pristine self. In fact she could probably give Reno a run for his money by the way she was dressed.

 

Rude seemed to be taking things better then Elena did, but not by much. Instead of showing any outward reaction, he bottled it up inside. Not that he showed much in the first place. His short sentences became shorter. Soft grunts instead of words. Cold silence was shown to even his co-worker and bosses.

 

Also during that time, the casts came off of Rufus' legs and he started doing some light physical therapy. He was glad to be able to get out of the bed and move around. Especially when it came to taking care of some personal needs. He found the nursing staff a bit more invasive then he cared to tolerate. The advantage of all the political wheeling and dealing he had to do over the past few years was that it gave him tolerance for dealing with people in general and people he disliked in specific.

 

For Tseng, he enjoyed the thought of Rufus being out of the casts for a different reason. It meant he and Rufus could have a little fun. But as days passed Tseng ultimately came to the conclusion that without Reno around, they had a harder time of guarding Rufus. Their hours were longer now in order to have at least two Turks there at all times. His and Rufus' `intended fun' never materialized.

 

It was on the eighth day, not long after arriving on duty, when Elena received a call from one of the private investigators. They had finally located Reno. There was no information on his condition and whereabouts other then he was still alive and that he was being held in an old abandoned warehouse on the west side of the city, closest to the ruins of old Midgar. Though she wanted to leave right then and there, she forced herself to wait till the end of her shift. It was difficult and nerve racking not knowing how bad Reno was fairing or knowing pinpoint where he was located at and what she was going to be dealing with in getting him out. But at least she could make arrangements to get her hands on weapons, armor and if lucky, some help.

 

The morning of the ninth day, she had everything packed and ready to leave as soon as Tseng arrived. It was also the morning that that imp of the perverse decided to have fun. Rufus had woken up in a foul mood and took it out on everyone around him. To the point where the Nurses refused to go back in and deal with him until he either calmed down or apologized. Tseng was of course late. Not just by a few minutes either. He was almost two hours late. With no explanation what so ever, not like he ever needed to give one to Elena anyway.

 

It didn't help matters that Rufus' foul temper had rubbed off on the usually perky blonde Turk. “Nice to see you chose to show up boss,” Elena said with a snide, Reno-ish tone of voice. “Unlike some people, I have more important things to do other then sit around making kissy faces and groping the President when there's no one around.”

 

Tseng froze in momentary shock at Elena's words. That shock flashed into cold anger seconds later. Putting his briefcase down, he set the paper and his coffee cup on the small table so not to spill it. Turning on his heel he stalked over to the young blonde. Eyes narrowed dangerously, he got right into her personal space. “What was that Elena?” he asked in a quiet, even tone of voice.

 

“You heard me,” Elena snapped back. “Your too damned busy pawing and groping Rufus to give a shit about Reno.” She was too furious to be intimidated by him. “Oh, excuse me you don't give a shit about your `broken toy' as you called him.”

 

The Wutain Turk finally lost his famous cool façade. White-hot fury blazed though the icy mentality as he reached up and grabbed Elena by the throat, his anger giving him the strength to do so one-handed. “IF you do not wish to become the `replacement toy', I would advise to never to speak to me again that way. Or if you prefer I am sure I can end both your career as a Turk and your life now.” He watched as Elena's face started to turn red. “It is your choice; become a toy, your silence or death. Do you understand me Elena?” he asked, squeezing once more before letting up enough that she could gasp out her answer.

 

“My.. answer.. is… THIS!” she gasped out as she drove her knee up into his groin with all the strength she could muster. There was a ten second delay in which Tseng's hand on her throat tightened again then suddenly was gone as she heard the Wutain choke out a pained gasp. She reached up to rub her throat knowing there would be bruising then glared down at the doubled over male. “I use to have the greatest respect for you but now I see I misplaced it.” She reached down and grabbed Tseng by his tie, jerking him upright with her left hand, drawing her right back. “I've wanted to do this for the longest time you asshole!” Elena summarily punched Tseng with all her might.

 

 

Rufus' temper had finally started to abate. The nursing staff had left him alone all morning, Elena hadn't bothered him either, though Tseng had yet to arrive which was very odd. And very unusual for the normally punctual Turk. The blonde president had settled down to look over reports on what was left of the company; it's finances and resources, etc., when the door to his hospital room was thrown open. A navy blue clad body landed with a thud and a groan as it slid across the floor for several feet before coming to a rest against the opposite wall. Rufus blinked several times as he stared at his lover and the leader of the Turks before turning his head and looking at Elena who was standing in the doorway, fist clenched and glaring daggers. “Well I guess I was wrong, she doesn't worship the ground you walk on Tseng,” he murmured to himself with a quiet laugh.

 

“President Rufus, my relief is here and I am now off duty. I don't know if I'll be back to resume my duty at the appointed time. I'm going after Reno,” she told the older blonde. As she started to turn away she stopped and looked back at him. “Oh, and if I ever find out that you are attempting to turn Reno into your `toy' again, I'll not only break your legs again, but your arms and your back as well.”

Rufus leaned back against the head of the bed. “Is that a threat Elena?”

 

Elena smiled sweetly. “No sir, that's a promise. Have a pleasant day.” She turned and left.

 

Once more Rufus looked back at Tseng who was now attempting to get up and the open door from which Elena had departed then back to Tseng. “Remind me not to piss her off,” he informed Tseng then went back to his reports.

 

Tseng spat out several curses in Wutai as he clambered to his feet. “That little bitch is going to pay dearly for crossing the line.” He words were muffled behind his hand as he tested the extent of the damage done.

 

“That's where you are wrong Tseng,” Rufus commented as he continued reading. “It's about time you were knocked from your perch and brought down to reality. And before you say a word, the same goes for me.” He gave a small humorless laugh, “My fall unfortunately came from the planet, not a sub-ordinate. I think you received the easier blow.”

 

Tseng was not happy. “I've killed for less,” he said tilting his head back after his fingers came back bloodied and the warm liquid started to make it's way down his face. He was able to grab some tissue and halt it's progress before his shirt was stained.

 

Rufus put the paper to the side as he looked at his dark haired lover. “And now it is time to stop killing. Now is the perfect time to start over. The company is in tatters, the only surviving senior executives are Reeve and Palmer. Everyone else is dead, which is not a bad thing considering who they were, but still.” He reached up and brushed his hair out of his face in a long ingrained habit. “I'm tired of always being the villain Tseng. I'd like to be the hero for once.”

 

Tseng stared at Rufus for a good long while, not saying anything as he mulled over his fair-haired lover's words. He never saw himself as the villain or the hero. He was simply a Turk. Nothing more, nothing less. “There is no black and white in our world Rufus. There's only shades of gray.” Dabbing away the blood with a tissue, he straightened himself up as best as possible and left the room. His coffee and paper waited for him in the other room.

 

Rufus sighed, looking at his hands a moment then settled back. “And blood red,” he muttered softly to himself as he lay back in the bed, closing his eyes.

 

In the outer room, Tseng checked his reflection in the small bathroom mirror. Short of using Restore material or a potion, there was no way he could prevent the spectacular bruise that would be forming across his face. He considered himself fortunate that his nose hadn't been broken. And considering how hard he had been kneed in the groin, he was having a hard time of it as is. He doubted he'd have much functionality in that area for the next day or so. Not that he was planning any sexual escapades any time soon.

 

Exiting the small room, he turned the light off by habit, then crossed the room to the small table like desk and settled with a wince onto the chair. He was still rather angry at what Elena had done and said, and the more he thought about it the more that anger simmered and expanded. Rufus had forbid him from doing anything to the girl, but he hadn't forbidden him from ordering Rude to do something to her. Pulling out his cell, he hit the speed dial programmed for Rude's number.

 

Before the phone ran for the third time, Rude managed to roll over from a dead sleep, grab the phone and answer it. “Yes?” he asked not bothering with anything else.

 

“Rude, I need you to go detain Elena. She's apparently snapped this morning. She attacked me and threatened President Rufus.” The phone disconnected.

 

Rude grunted as he swung his legs over the side of his bed. Rubbing his face he sighed then looked at the phone. Closing it, he set it on the nightstand. Glancing at the clock, he would have been getting up in a few hours for work so it wasn't like he'd lost a lot of sleep. Tseng didn't say it was an emergency so he had time to at least shower before going after Elena. With lumbering steps he traversed the bedroom and entered the bathroom. Fifteen minutes later he exited, with nothing but a towel wrapped about his waist. His uniform had been laid out before he went to bed so he didn't have to hunt anything down. Another ten minutes later and he was leaving his apartment, uniform clean and neat, shades perched on his nose.

 

When Rude arrived at Elena's current place of residency, he adjusted his gloves as he approached her door. He figured she would be asleep at this time so it would make the whole ordeal much easier all around. When he used the spare key she had given him a while back to open the door he discovered that things would not go as planed. Elena was wide-awake sitting in the middle of her living room with a crate of weapons and ammo, wearing combat fatigues. “Elena?” he asked puzzled as to what was going on. Tseng had said she'd snapped. Apparently more then either thought. “What's going on here Elena?”

 

The blonde woman in question thumbed the safety back on the pistol she was aiming at the big guy and lowered her arm. “What's it look like?” she asked sarcastically as she checked the gun over and holstered it at the small of her back. “I'm presuming Tseng told you?” she asked as she picked up a handful of rounds and started loading them into a clip.

 

“Yeah, he told me,” Rude answered as he cautiously worked his way around his co-worker.

 

“So, are you going to help me or not? That's why you're here right?” She reached up, tucking golden colored strands behind her ear before continuing on. She finished loading one clip and picked up another.

 

Rude reached up and adjusted his tie once more. This made the whole situation a lot more dangerous, especially for him. “I don't know Elena if I should help you or not. You did threaten the boss and attacked Tseng.”

 

Elena paused in what she was doing and snorted, shaking her head. “Yeah.” She paused glancing up then shrugged then continued, “Yes I did. You would have too big guy if you heard them. So are you going to help or not?”

 

Rude shook his head as he flexed his fingers through the leather gloves. “I'm afraid not,” he said quietly. “I don't want to hurt you Elena, but I'm afraid I can't let you do whatever your going to do.” He reached down and placed a heavy hand on her shoulder.

 

Elena stiffened, anger flaring though her. “I can't believe you Rude. I just can't fucking believe you'd turn against me and side with them.” She twisted out from under his hand, slapping it away from her shoulder as she did. Rolling forward she tossed the items in hand to the sides then placed her hands flat against the floor. Unfolding her legs she kicked backwards.

 

Rude, though expecting this, didn't think she would react so fast. It had been a while since he'd seen her fight against anyone in hand to hand and had forgotten how fast she could be. He sucked in his gut, bowing his back as he hopped backwards just out of range of her mule kick. “Elena! Don't make this harder then it is,” he tried to reason with her. He didn't want to hurt her but if it meant not getting hurt himself then he'd do it.

 

“Fuck you Rude! Your just as bad as they are! Reno was your partner for years and when something happened to him you just went and threw him away like Tseng and Rufus,” she yelled at him after gaining her feet and dropping into a easy stance, fists raised for a strike should she get the opportunity to do so.

 

“What!?” Her words caught him completely off guard. He stared at her as if she grew a second head and tentacles, dropping his defensive stance and leaving himself open for her next series of strikes.

 

Elena spun on the ball of her right foot, the heel of her left leading as she twisted her leg up into a roundhouse kick to the side of Rude's head. She had just enough remaining power in her kick that she was able to continue the spin, dropping down and taking his legs out from under him dropping him to the floor like a sack of rocks. Not giving Rude a chance to recover or get up, she snatched the pistol out of it's holster and walked over to the seemingly stunned man. Stepping over him, her feet to either side of his waist, she dropped down onto his chest. Her knees pressed against his upper arms and shoulders as she leaned forward. Taking the safety off, she put the barrel of the pistol under his chin. “Tell me Rude. Why the Fuck shouldn't I just blow your brains out here and now? I can go after Reno and no one will ever know what happened. Rufus and Tseng can rot in hades for all I care after this shit.”

 

Rude lay there stunned, not by what Elena had done to him but by her words. Reno had been found and she was accusing him of turning his back on his long time partner. He'd never turn his back on Reno. He hadn't turned his back when he dropped the plate and not when he started to succumb to his own mental instability. “You found Reno?”

 

“Yeah, I found Reno.” Elena said now it was her turn to be confused. She thought Rude already knew that she'd found their redheaded fellow Turk. “I thought Tseng or Rufus had told you that I had found him.” She flipped the safety back on the pistol and holstered it again. But she didn't move from her place straddling Rude.

 

Rude mentally sighed when the cold barrel of the gun was removed from under his chin. “No, I wasn't told. All I was told was that you snapped then attacked Tseng and threatened the boss.”

 

Elena snorted then reached up, running her fingers over her bruised throat. “Yeah I snapped then attacked alright. After that bastard tried to choke me. I kneed him in the balls and punched him in the nose then told Rufus if he ever tried to lay hands on Reno again I'd break not only his legs but his arms and back.”

 

He didn't move, didn't feel like moving either as he pondered everything that had been said and done over the last few years. It was all starting to make sense in a twisted sick sort of way. The way Reno had behaved all those times after coming back from duty with Tseng or guarding Rufus. The way he refused to allow himself to be touched and the way he went on self destructive streak afterwards, hitting bar after bar drinking till he was too drunk to stand up straight, much less anything else. The amount of drugs he'd found in Reno's apartment and the number of times he had to sober the kid up before dragging him into work.

 

When Elena didn't get a response right immediately, she settled on watching the expressions play across Rude's face. His blue-gray eyes were quite expressive too, maybe that's why he always wore shades. “So big guy, you going to join me or lay around on my living room floor until I get back?”

 

“When are you planning the strike and do I have enough time to change into something less formal?” Rude asked, his eyes hardening to storm cloud gray.

 

Elena chuckled in amusement as she got up off of Rude. “You got enough time to leave, change and get back. Then we can do some improvised planning and get some rest. I want to hit them late afternoon, early evening.” She smiled sheepishly at him suddenly. “Your not.. you know, all pissed off that I hit you are you?”

 

Rude took his time in standing up. Once he was, he brushed himself off and retrieved his shades. “Yes and no.”

 

“Eh?” Elena looked puzzled.

 

“Yes because it meant I let my guard down. And No because you forced me to open my eyes about what's been going on. Reno has never cared for anyone getting into his personal affairs, and because I never pushed the issue I never saw what was happening to him until it was too late,” Rude explained.

 

Elena stared wide-eyed then nodded. “I guess we're all to blame. Now go get changed Rude so we can go kick some serious ass and get Reno back!”

 

The big Turk chuckled lightly as he turned and headed towards the door. “Don't start without me Rookie,” he said as he exited her apartment.