Adult-FanFiction.org : Final Fantasy

Diversification	By : RandiLynne Category: Final Fantasy VII > Het - Male/Female Views: 798 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Final Fantasy VII, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 7
- 8
- 9
Extract information from
Ava. It was one of the simplest missions ever delegated to him, yet Reno found himself on an
impossibly pointed tip of a sword. One wrong move and he would be paying
dearly. On one hand, if he failed to find the right information in time, he
would likely pay with the lives of his colleagues. On the other, if he was
barking up the wrong tree, which he doubted but was still a possibility, the
results could be exactly the same. His attention would be distracted from the
real attacker, thus leaving them all vulnerable.
On the tip of a sword,
that summed up the situation well. The best course of action would be one in
which the fallout was minimized. Even if Slater wasn�t behind the attacks, they
would need to find such information quickly. If they came to the conclusion
without wasting time, it would be far less likely to give the real attacker
time to take advantage of their distraction. That settled his plan of action.
He would have no choice but to reveal his suspicions to Ava and gain her
cooperation. She would know Slater better than most, and perhaps her insight
would help the case. Elena would be proud. Normally, he did not think such
decisions through quite so thoroughly. However, this situation was far more important
than a crime lord getting out of hand or a rebel faction attempting to blow up
reactors. This meant the very existence of Shin-Ra. The existence of Rufus,
Reeve, Rude, Tseng, Elena, himself and now Ava, and all this rested on his
shoulders. About time he stepped up to the plate.
Around the hall, he
inspected the door that hid the meeting from the world. A closer listen
provided him with the notion that the meeting was still underway. He would have
a bit of time to manipulate this situation. Manipulation was definitely in his
tool box of skills. With a light swagger, he trailed into the room where he�d
left Ava. She was sitting in the same position, toying with her cell phone in
her hands, perhaps the perfect opportunity to interject some comments about
Slater. All he could hope is that she was loyal to her job and would not
divulge such information to her fianc�.
�Did he call?� Reno asked, moving from
the doorway to sit across from Ava.
�Yep,� she nodded, the
corners of her mouth tugging downward.
�Still being an ass?� he
asked, not quite concerned with the actual answer, but that was part of the
act.
�Of
course. Get this, he�s having a party with only close friends and
whatnot. He actually expected me to drop everything and rush over there to
decorate his arm and smile at his dip shit friends,� she said, nearly laughing.
�Smooth,� he remarked. �So
will your pops be going?� He hoped she would answer; the wheels in that
scheming mind of his were turning on this party idea.
�No. Nor will Slater�s
father. Only his seedy friends from Edge and Junon and whomever they bring
along,� she answered.
�I have to be straight
with you, Ava.� The look on his face concerned Ava quite a bit, almost as if he
were about to tell her something compromising. �We�ve been looking into
Slater�s files. He�s a fucking suspect.�
�You suspect him in the
attacks? Why, exactly?� she asked, looking anything but surprised.
�The way he tracked you
down, the bad blood, the resources he has access to� this list is pretty damn
long.�
�I�m not sure why I hadn�t
thought of him and linked him with what has been going on. I can�t say that I�m
surprised. I figured after he showed up with such contempt in his eyes, he�d be
drawing suspicion. I wonder why he risked that��
�Either he�s obsessed with
you enough to risk anything, or he�s playing a game.�
�I�m sure it�s the
latter,� she said with a distant smirk. �You want information on him beyond his
case file. Perhaps you�d like me to tell you any reasons not to suspect him, as
well?�
�You took the words right
outta my mouth,� he answered.
�Well, the only reason not
to suspect him, at least that I can think of is� chance. There�s always that
slim possibility it isn�t whom you suspect. I can�t imagine after fighting so
hard to keep his father out of this war that he would�� she paused and lowered
her eyes, thoughts crashing in her mind all at once. �It makes sense. I�d be
willing to bet he is attempting one of two things. Either he�s trying to save
his father from falling back into hatred by eliminating the threat, or he is
being controlled by his father. The first seems more like him, but I
really can�t be sure. I can�t believe I was so blind as to miss this� Reno,� she finished,
touching a finger to her temple in frustration.
�Why would you want to
suspect the person you�re supposed to be spending the rest of your life with?�
The point was very true, although as the words left his mouth in all their sentimental splendor, he felt the taste of iron
and a tinge of disgust. Many women often overlooked the sins of men in the name
of love. For the first time, he realized exactly why Rufus had turned a blind
eye to relationships within the workplace while being very skeptical of
relationships people outside Shin-Ra. Other companies were opposite, and
frowned upon fraternizing with business associates. Being blinded to one�s
faults simply because of love was absolutely homicidal. And usually those
within Shin-Ra could be trusted.
�It is beautifully lethal,
isn�t it?� she mused, realizing her own mistakes. She should have thought of
it, before Reno.
Just how would this affect her standing with Rufus? She had the thought in the
back of her mind, but voicing her suspicion proved to be the hardest part. �I
can honestly say he�s capable of all this. When he gets something in his head,
it becomes his oxygen. He obsesses over things, and he�d never give up. That�s why�� she paused, almost eating her words.
�That�s why what?� he
asked, cocking a brow.
�That�s why we�re
together, basically. We had something once, we were unstoppable. The feeling
was amazing� but then the politics of his family became involved, and the
feelings began to fade. We got engaged anyhow, but I feel like it�s meant to be
more of a business arrangement than a marriage.�
�Yeah�� he resisted the
urge to tell her how ridiculous that sounded. Being committed simply for the
sake of politics? Please.
�I guess I�m off topic,�
she said with a light laugh.
�Ya think?� he said with a
bit of sarcasm.
His dismissive attitude
reminded Ava of exactly who she was speaking with. She was quite sure he didn�t
want a history of the relationship she and Slater shared. �Back on topic, I
think it�s quite possible that he has a hand in this. But how are you going to
figure that out? I know for a fact that his record is spotless.�
�We need to get an inside
look,� he said. As soon as the words left his lips, he realized precisely how
they would get that inside look. �We go undercover. You know the layout of his
villa, right?�
�Yes, but you aren�t suggesti��
�That we attend the party
undercover and do a little research.� He gave a suave gesture, realizing
the simple brilliance of his plan.
�That�ll never work!� Ava
exclaimed.
�Why the hell not?� he
questioned, looking rather displeased with her doubt.
�You think he won�t
recognize me beneath a change of clothes and a wig? We�ll be caught in
seconds,� she snapped her finger as if to signify how quickly they would be
found out.
�This is my plan. I
don�t do half-ass scheming, McCall. Have you seen what the so-called makeup
artists at Shin-Ra are capable of? They could make you look like a total
stranger,� he boasted.
�So say we successfully
disguise ourselves. We still have the problem of getting in. How do you suggest
we accomplish that?�
�We�ll worry about that
when we get there,� he said, rising to his feet.
�You can�t be serious�?�
she asked, wide eyed and nearly laughing.
�As a
fuckin� heart attack, babe.� A suave grin perched along with an ever conceited
expression.
�Holy
hell. What am I
thinking? If I�m not loyal even to my fianc� then where� where do my loyalties
lie?�
�Rethink that one a
minute�� he said, rolling his eyes.
�I know, Reno. Shin-Ra� but it seems so scandalous to
back-stab the person I�m supposed to marry.�
�If he�s behind this shit,
back-stabbing will be the least of his worries. And if he is, you should feel
nothing for him.�
Was it really so simple?
The direness of the situation hit Ava at once, making her feel sick to her
stomach. In the span of an hour, she�d gone from a relatively normal life to
some confusing life of betrayal and webs weaved so intricately that none of a
million spiders could cross. Welcome to Shin-Ra.
�You�re right. The party
isn�t until next weekend, so we�ve plenty of time to prepare.� She opted to
ignore the faint tremor that rocked her spine beneath the cool fa�ade she wore.
�I haven�t been undercover
in a while, this is gonna be fuckin� fun.� With that, he brushed his hair back
and strode toward the door where he peeked around the corner impatiently. If
they were to actually put this plan to action, they would need Rufus and
Tseng�s cooperation.
While Reno went to explain his devious plans to
Tseng, Ava sat in the silence of the room. The feeling that swelled in her was
utterly disconnected. Life was changing, and she would need to change with it
or be left in the dust. If Slater really was behind the attacks, she would
surely witness his demise. So much for the security she�d found in her arranged
future. One question floated in her mind: how could she possibly have such
horrid taste in men?
�
After what seemed an
eternity of daylight, the sun slowly began to descend to the western expanse of
the sky. Tseng had just flipped his cell phone across the room in frustration,
though his face showed no emotion. Carefully, he laced his fingers together and
rested them in his lap. He was downright boiling.
Why had Reno�s plan frustrated him so? It was no more
dangerous than anything they�d done before, but he hated the idea of sending Reno and the rookie into
such an explosive situation on such little evidence. Reno had been as argumentative as ever, and
his resistance to the word �no� kept Tseng on his toes throughout the
conversation. They needed more evidence, and more time. If something happened
because the situation hadn�t been thought through, it would hang over him like
a blanket of shame. Then again, if they were to hesitate and Slater made
another move, the guilt would be immeasurable. If there was one thing to be
said about Reno�s
impatience, it was that the trait provided views more analytical minds would
never consider. But that was precisely the problem these days: analytical
minds. Tseng�s mind worked constant overtime, and perhaps it was time he
trusted his instincts and Reno�s,
for that matter.
The heat pent up in his
mind began to dissipate, but the sight through the bedroom door helped to
further calm him. Elena had finally finished changing from her uniform,
adorning a slight black camisole and thinly striped shorts in exchange. She
usually favoured pajamas rather than clothing when in
the privacy of their apartment. They�d moved in together not three months ago.
The events of Kadaj and his brothers had been over a short time when he and
Elena finally gave in to desire. Things had escalated since, and one week she
began staying every night. Her transition into living with him went without
words. Neither suggested it, she because she was avoiding rejection and he
because of his passive-aggressive nature. Now that she had been here every
night since, he couldn�t quite imagine the apartment without her presence.
Though she was not one to cook gourmet meals and dote on his every need, she
surprised him with nurturing and care. And then there was her wild nature
hidden well beneath dormant brown eyes. To say she was amazing behind closed
doors would be a grave understatement.
�You look tense,� she said
in a husky sort of pitch.
�That was Reno��
�I figured, you never strain your voice with anyone else. What was
wrong?� she asked, moving close and brushing her fingers down his back. Her
true concern comforted him as it shone in her doe-like eyes.
�Nothing at all was wrong.
Reno called
with a plan. One of those schemes he spawns on a whim. He wants to go into
Slater�s villa undercover to investigate and see if he can find concrete
evidence that links to the attacks,� he paused, watching Elena�s eyes.
�Not unlike investigations
we�ve done in the past. Why is this any different?�
�In those cases, we had a
bit more to run off. Here, I feel it is like diving into a hole blind. I�ve no
idea whether there is a bottom, and if so, whether it�s water or rock.� Tseng
shifted on the couch, looping an arm around one of Elena�s thighs and pulling
her close.
�I see what you mean. Reno can handle it
though, Tseng. You know he can,� she said while caressing his head as it lay
against her stomach.
�I�m not as much worried
about Reno as I
am Ava. Usually we try to test the waters before sending a rookie in on such a
mission.� The camisole smelled of roses, and for a moment he attempted to bury
his thoughts in her scent.
�I know, I remember my
first missions were quite a breeze. But Ava will do fine. Especially
under Reno.
I know that sounds odd to say, but he really knows what he�s doing. She�ll pick
up on that and follow in the confidence.�
�It is especially odd
coming from you. When did you grow such a soft spot for Reno?� The question was truly quite honest.
Ever since she and Tseng had been kidnapped, Elena had begun to change. She was
still impetuous as ever, but she held a sense of maturity about her that
offered a feminine grace. When they finally succumb to temptation with one
another, she took on a new light. If anything, she was kinder, though she could
still dish Reno
a hard time.
�I don�t know� disturbing,
isn�t it?� she said, feigning a scoff.
�Very.�
�So did you already give Reno the go ahead?�
�I did. Though now, I�m
glad that I did.� He lifted the hem of the camisole and placed a delicate kiss
on her skin. She had really been his voice of reason when analysis ran rampant
in his mind. The relationship meant much to him and it seemed that despite
their opposite personalities, they were perfectly matched.
�And we�ll have to go to
Rufus?� she asked, cocking a brow.
�Well, for the time that
Ava and Reno
are traveling and working the mission. I�m sending Rude along with you, but
I�ll be staying here.�
�Oh,� she paused,
displaying a little disappointment. �I won�t miss you one bit.�
�Oh really?� he asked,
looking rather unconvinced.
�
The meeting in Wutai had
ended, and the journey began again. The helicopter was waiting when they
arrived, and Reno
busied himself with working up how he�d introduce his scheme. By the time Reno had actually finished telling Rufus of his plan, he�d
navigated the helicopter all the way to Rocket Town.
Rufus had explained that an interested party had requested a meeting there, and
Reno was more
than disappointed. The little town was boring. More so than many of the other
small towns; he always preferred Midgar and Junon to anything. They�d only be
there for one night, and that was quite long enough.
�I hope this plan of yours
is successful,� Rufus stated, breaking the silence that had wrapped the
helicopter since their destination was learned.
�It will be,� Reno assured.
�Ah, there�s the helipad,�
Reeve said, sounding relieved to see that ground was approaching.
The helipad was indeed
only a little ways off, adjacent to the launch pad for purposes Reno guessed to be the
delivery of goods and astronauts. Of course, that was before the program was
all but abandoned. The sun was but a sliver of orange above the hills, but that
was perfect. That meant even less time spent in Rocket Town.
Reno piloted the helicopter to another
safe landing, and assisted in getting their things out and ready to travel. The
motel was nothing shy of a large home turned into a business. When they arrived
before the ragged building, Reno
found a rather distinct frown on his lips. There would be no comfort in this
place. The door opened with a horrendous squeak, stinging the ears of anyone
within a mile. The musty smell burst forth, offending his nose. The dim
chandelier above the foyer provided enough light to make a path across to the
front desk without tripping, but no more.
Rufus approached the front
desk, a distasteful glance given to the clerk. The young woman looked like a
rag-doll trying to play the part of a princess. What a combination. He reserved
two rooms, as they had only two vacancies, and led the way upstairs to the
designated rooms. The four pooled in the hallway, peering at one another in
curiosity.
�I guess considering the
vacancies and set up, Reeve and I will take one room while the two of you take
the other,� Rufus instructed, glancing at Reno.
�And what are we to do for
the remainder of the evening?� Ava asked, rather curious given the early
evening time.
�Reeve and I are going to
dinner to discuss a few things, the two of you can tag along or whatever. The
restaurant is just next door, we should be okay without your presence,� Rufus
replied.
�In that case�� Reno grabbed his canvas
bag and turned for the door, using the bronze key to gain entrance to the room
opposite the hall from where he supposed Rufus would want to stay given his
proximity to the door.
With the door opened to
reveal quite the odd motel room, Reno
shot a wink back at the three in the hall and disappeared into the expanse of
green paisley walls. Ava politely took her leave, opting to abandon Reeve and
Rufus to their own for the evening. The idea of a noisy restaurant did not
sound appealing, nor did listening to the business banter likely to surface at
the table.
Just as she closed the
door, a rather disturbing squeak sounded from the bedsprings as Reno sat against the
mattress. A look of mischief crossed his face, a look that made Ava want to turn and flee the room. Without missing a beat, he
began to move his weight just so, causing the springs to wail their protest
loudly enough to wake the entire motel. Seconds after the mattress serenade
began, he took the liberty of yelling her name in quite the cheesy insinuation.
�Oooh Ava!� he roared,
sounding desperately passionate.
Ava was positive that each
and every guest had overheard the entire chorus of rantings
he bellowed out in the minute that passed until her face grew so red she
imagined it to look like a tomato. It was assuredly ridiculous to think Rufus
and Reeve would believe that she and Reno
would go at it the instant after she closed the door, but their neighbors
certainly did not know any better. Despite the fact, she couldn�t help but feel
the urge to giggle when his noisy rant faded and he sat with a cocky grin, just
staring at her. He was outrageously annoying and immature at times, but somehow
in the light of cobwebs and green shag carpet, she found him hilarious. Reno really was
complicated, despite his simple outer layers. At first glance, one might assume
him cocky, cold hearted, troubled and comedic. In actuality, he seemed all of
those with a little depth and intelligence. A cautious person would see the
more evil side buried beneath the comedy he sought to exert. Perhaps he had a
heart only for things he cared for? Or was it that he did feel guilt, but hid
it well beneath the layers of humor?
�Well, I�m glad you got
that out of your system,� she said, feeling the blush creep out of her skin as
quickly as it came.
�Damn� no one could get
away with having sex in a bed like this.� As if to emphasize his statement, he
provided another squeak by moving into the mattress.
�Perhaps some find the
idea that people are listening to be stimulating?�
�Stimulating? Can�tcha just say hot or erotic or something a little less�
prude?� he laughed, clearly amused by her desire to come off as such the
professional.
�You�re impossible,� she
said, throwing an arm out dramatically.
�And you�re a
prude,� he teased.
�If you only knew�� she
trailed off, biting her tongue to keep from revealing such information to him.
There was no need to get defensive over childish antics.
�Whatever. You�re prude
until you prove me wrong�� he shook his head, glancing over at the ancient oak
chair in the corner. His eyes wandered the room, finding a dresser and small
nightstand. The bathroom branched off, and the closet stood beside the
bathroom� but something was missing. The prude would have to be a little
daring. �There�s only one bed.�
�So I�ve noticed,� she
sighed and observed the furniture. �You�re probably perfectly used to sleeping
on the floor, aren�t you?�
An incredulous scoff wiped
the smile off Ava�s lips, �No way. I�m not sleeping on that carpet. Who
knows what the fuck is hidden in there�� he said, glancing at the carpet in
disgust.
�Well, we�re in quite a
predicament then�� A brow rose, her lips pursed to avoid smiling. What could
possibly be funny about sharing a ragged bed with a womanizer? She hadn�t a
clue, but nevertheless she was hopelessly amused by the situation.
�
Rufus quickly finished the
final bite of his dinner, setting the silver fork down on his napkin. Despite
the quaint appearance of the restaurant, the food was delicious. Though he
attempted to distract himself from the mystery of the black haired creature
alone in a corner, he found his eyes locked on the pout of her lips once again.
Reeve followed his gaze, all too aware of his staring for the nth time since
they arrived.
�Would you just go and
talk to her if you�re so interested?� Reeve whispered, watching the smirk Rufus
formed.
�I think I will,� he said.
�Be my guest. I�ll have a
drink,� Reeve said, waving over the waitress as Rufus began to approach his
prey. It was rare that a woman ever filled the standards Rufus kept, and when
one came along who at least met the physical standards, Rufus was quick to
flirt.
A hand swept back through
blonde hair, all but a few strands heeding the instruction. With a cool
confidence, he brought even steps to this woman�s table. Her black hair was
like long silk, cascading to an end near her lower back. Though Rufus was more
concerned with the delicate break of her pale features and deep eyes, he found
the aura she held about her fascinating. This woman was clearly Wutainese, and
quite alluring. He touched the top of the unoccupied table, giving little
thought to what a woman such as she would be doing in a Rocket Town
restaurant.
�May I?� he asked,
gesturing to the chair as her focus shifted to him.
�Certainly,� she replied, offering
a faint smile as he sunk into the chair.
�Do you enjoy dining
alone?� he questioned.
�Not usually, but I am
traveling alone.�
�How lonely,� he
exaggerated.
�Excruciatingly
so.� She
elegantly swept her hair away, settling her posture while holding his eyes.
�Forgive me, but I would
be a fool not to mention that you are impeccably beautiful.� As the words
flowed, he leaned closer to observe her with a debonair smile.
The woman feigned a sweet
blush, shifting as if to prove her shyness. �Thank you, my dear stranger.�
�Please, call me Rufus.
And what might I call you?�
�Akina will be fine,� she
said with a slight bow.
�Ah, the spring flower, a fitting name.� He swept her hand from the
table, applying a light kiss to the tops of her knuckles.
�Perhaps��
Across the room, Reeve
watched with faint dissatisfaction. This strange woman was too familiar. He
felt as though he�d seen her somewhere, and he was sure it was recent. In fact,
he thought he�d seen her in Wutai. This would be no surprise, given her supposed
heritage, but the idea that she had come to Rocket Town
at the same time after being in Wutai was too much a coincidence. Nonetheless,
sitting her watching Rufus lay on his thick, clich�d charm was not in his to-do
list. He paid his due, and excused himself from the table, heading through the
door.
Rufus distracted himself
with Reeve�s exit a short time, before glancing back at Akina. She took notice
of his gaze, �A partner of yours?�
�Reeve, yes. He tends to
turn in early, don�t mind him,� Rufus explained.
�So then I would not be
welcome to return with you?� she asked, giving the quite the sultry look.
�So you are thinking as I
am�� he laughed ever so slightly.
�How could I not? Perhaps
you would like to come to my ro�� she began to offer,
but was interrupted by the crash of a hand thumping down upon the table.
�Rufus Shinra� well,
well,� came the drunken slur of a blonde man. Akina observed his ruffled
appearance; shabby stubble occupying his jaw along with pilot�s goggles atop his
head. This man was in his thirties, for certain, and obviously a man of no
refinement.
�Cid Highwind,� Rufus
scowled, glaring down the pilot.
�What in the fucking hell
are you doing here?� Cid grumbled, glancing at Akina for only a moment.
�I am enjoying a
conversation with a lovely young woman. A conversation you are
interrupting. Now, if you don�t mind�� Rufus began.
�Actually, I do fucking
mind. Get�yer sleazy ass out of Rocket Town,�
Cid prompted, crossing muscular arms over his chest.
�I�ll be gone tomorrow,
Cid.�
�Tomorrow ain�t good
enough. Now,� Cid boomed.
It was clear the
conversation was about to get physical. Cid was belligerently drunk, and had
long forgotten the fact that he had no reason to come after Rufus. Perhaps, in
his mind, he was reliving the glory days. When Rufus refused to move, Cid took
him by the collar of his immaculate white suit and lifted him roughly from the
chair. With a strong arm, he swung him around and tossed him toward the bar in
a crash of splintering wood and shattering glass. Rufus was glaring from his
throne of massacred furniture when Akina sheepishly stood and slipped out
unnoticed, listening to the chorus of a brawl.
Just outside Akina
stumbled over a curb when she was forced to duck out of the way as the man she knew
to be Reeve walked perilously close. Behind him, a redhead and a brunette
dressed in black suits flanked the path. As a heavy crash sounded from inside
the bar, the three began to run and Akina dipped around a dark corner. She
opened her clenched hand, gazing upon the treasure hidden in her palm. At
least I accomplished my goal, she thought with a sly smile.
------------------------

Oh, Cid� always getting into trouble with that mouth and those
alcoholic tendencies. Forgive the silliness of this chapter :) Next up, chapter
nine!
To publicly answer Nentikobe�s (FFN) observation that Reno
is not over-the-top zaney in this fiction (for anyone
wondering): I think Reno
is quite different than some perceive him to be. I think there is a darkness inside that he hides with humor and whatnot, but
I don�t believe him to be slightly on the dumb side or immature side just
because of that comedic attitude. I think he�s well rounded, more so than we
can see through his actions. As for what goes through his mind, one author�s
guess is as good as the next. I do think he is cocky and rude, sometimes. I do
think he can be very funny, and sometimes even a little silly. I think he likes
his women and liquor, but I also think he has a side that is more serious (as
observed a bit in the first part of the chapter). Though he may get annoyed
with Rufus and Elena, I think he has a lot of respect there as well. Loyal
would fit, too. I feel he would rise above in a crisis and go to any lengths
for his purpose, otherwise� why would he be second in command? I really think
he likes to give people a run for their money, though. Teasing and whatnot seem
to fit him well. Hence his games of embarrassing Elena and
Ava (as demonstrated in the later pieces of this chapter).
- 7
- 8
- 9
You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.
Report Story

Diversification